Analysis of operating parameters of hybrid vehicle under real traffic condition

ArticleNowadays, protecting the environment and reducing harmful emissions is an increasingly discussed topic. One way to reduce vehicle emissions, especially for individual car traffic, is to use a hybrid drive. The advantages of the electric drive and the classic combustion engine are used here. By combining both types of drive, a synergetic effect is achieved, where both drives can be used in optimal operating mode. The aim of the experiment was to demonstrate the benefit of a hybrid vehicle in real driving. The operating parameters of the Lexus LX400h hybrid vehicle was compared to a conventional lowclass vehicle Škoda Fábia 1.2 HTP with a classic SI engine. The experiment took place on a route including typical urban, extra-urban and motorway traffic condition. During experiment, the engine operating parameters and CO, CO2, HC and NOX emissions were measured. The results show that the emission production and fuel consumption of the hybrid vehicle are significantly lower in urban traffic condition than the vehicle with classic internal combustion engine. On the contrary, in motorway conditions, the hybrid vehicle must use both drives, as higher performance is required to overcome higher driving resistances and therefore achieves higher fuel consumption and higher emissions than a conventional vehicle

Reliability of palms security under difficult conditions

ArticleReliability of biometric identification systems is a much discussed topic and nowadays security of premises is very important. The work is focused on palms security research and reliability of the system under adverse conditions, the aim of the measurement was to determine the reliability of readers under adverse conditions that may occur in an industrial environment. Difficult conditions include dirty surface of hand by water, dust, oil and writing accessories. First, a sample measurement was carried out, where the hands of the subjects were washed and thoroughly dried. This measurement was used to compare with measurements under adverse conditions. The results show that the more viscous the fluid the lower the reliability and also dusty hands caused considerably distorted results. The reliability of biometric systems still needs to be improved, as it often happens that the real values do not match the parameters that are declared by the manufacturers. Certain conditions must be met for the proper functioning of palms security, so that identifying persons are allowed access to the protected areas and have not been repeatedly denied

Reliability of parking assistants depending on the material of detected obstacles

ArticleToday's modern vehicles are equipped with a range of assistance systems to enhance road safety. The standard equipment of most cars are parking assistants. It turns out that not always sensors can reliably detect the obstacle on the travel path of the vehicle. The aim of the paper is to determine the reliability of the parking sensors depending on the material of the obstacle detected. The original parking assistants of Škoda Rapid, Škoda Octavia II, and Škoda Superb have been tested in laboratory conditions using obstacles made of various materials (glass, mirror, plastic, metal, cardboard ...) located at distance of 100 cm from the vehicle. Distance values of the original sets of parking assistants were measured during the measurement from onboard diagnostic vehicle using diagnostic kit VAG-COM. The real distance was checked using a calibrated gauge. The results of the research show, that original sets of parking assistants achieve significantly more accurate results with a wider coverage of the space being scanned. Material composition of obstacles has a great influence on the reliability of parking systems. Not every material can respond properly to parking sensors

Dynamics of a cantilever beam with piezoelectric sensor: Parameter identification

This work has been supported by the grant 23-06220S of the Czech Science Foundation within institutional support RVO:61388998

Neuro-inflammatory effects of photodegradative products of bilirubin

Phototherapy was introduced in the early 1950\u2019s, and is the primary treatment of severe neonatal jaundice or Crigler-Najjar syndrome. Nevertheless, the potential biological effects of the products generated from the photodegradation of bilirubin during phototherapy remain unknown. This is very relevant in light of recent clinical observations demonstrating that the use of aggressive phototherapy can increase morbidity or even mortality, in extremely low birthweight (ELBW) infants. The aim of our study was to investigate the effects of bilirubin, lumirubin (LR, its major photo-oxidative product), and BOX A and B (its monopyrrolic oxidative products) on the central nervous system (CNS) using in vitro and ex vivo experimental models. The effects of bilirubin photoproducts on cell viability and expression of selected genes were tested in human fibroblasts, three human CNS cell lines (neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y, microglial HMC3, and glioblastoma U-87 cell lines), and organotypic rat hippocampal slices. Neither bilirubin nor its photo-oxidative products affected cell viability in any of our models. In contrast, LR in biologically-relevant concentrations (25\u2009\u3bcM) significantly increased gene expression of several pro-inflammatory genes as well as production of TNF-\u3b1 in organotypic rat hippocampal slices. These findings might underlie the adverse outcomes observed in ELBW infants undergoing aggressive phototherapy

Clinically Translatable Cell Tracking and Quantification by MRI in Cartilage Repair Using Superparamagnetic Iron Oxides

Background: Articular cartilage has very limited intrinsic regenerative capacity, making cell-based therapy a tempting approach for cartilage repair. Cell tracking can be a major step towards unraveling and improving the repair process of these therapies. We studied superparamagnetic iron oxides (SPIO) for labeling human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs) regarding effectivity, cell viability, long term metabolic cell activity, chondrogenic differentiation and hBMSC secretion profile. We additionally examined the capacity of synovial cells to endocytose SPIO from dead, labeled cells, together with the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for intra-articular visualization and quantification of SPIO labeled cells. Methodology/Prinicipal Findings: Efficacy and various safety aspects of SPIO cell labeling were determined using appropriate assays. Synovial SPIO re-uptake was investigated in vitro by co-labeling cells with SPIO and green fluorescent protein (GFP). MRI experiments were performed on a clinical 3.0T MRI scanner. Two cell-based cartilage repair techniques were mimicked for evaluating MRI traceability of labeled cells: intra-articular cell injection and cell implantation in cartilage defects. Cells were applied ex vivo or in vitro in an intra-articular environment and immediately scanned. SPIO labeling was effective and did not impair any of the studied safety aspects, including hBMSC secretion profile. SPIO from dead, labeled cells could be taken up by synovial cells. Both injected and implanted SPIO-labeled cells could accurately be visualized by MRI in a clinically relevant sized joint model using clinically applied cell doses. Finally, we quantified the amount of labeled cells seeded in cartilage defects using MR-based relaxometry. Conclusions: SPIO labeling appears to be safe without influencing cell behavior. SPIO labeled cells can be visualized in an intra-articular environment and quantified when seeded in cartilage defects.Biomechanical EngineeringMechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineerin

Antiinflammatory Therapy with Canakinumab for Atherosclerotic Disease

Background: Experimental and clinical data suggest that reducing inflammation without affecting lipid levels may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Yet, the inflammatory hypothesis of atherothrombosis has remained unproved. Methods: We conducted a randomized, double-blind trial of canakinumab, a therapeutic monoclonal antibody targeting interleukin-1β, involving 10,061 patients with previous myocardial infarction and a high-sensitivity C-reactive protein level of 2 mg or more per liter. The trial compared three doses of canakinumab (50 mg, 150 mg, and 300 mg, administered subcutaneously every 3 months) with placebo. The primary efficacy end point was nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, or cardiovascular death. RESULTS: At 48 months, the median reduction from baseline in the high-sensitivity C-reactive protein level was 26 percentage points greater in the group that received the 50-mg dose of canakinumab, 37 percentage points greater in the 150-mg group, and 41 percentage points greater in the 300-mg group than in the placebo group. Canakinumab did not reduce lipid levels from baseline. At a median follow-up of 3.7 years, the incidence rate for the primary end point was 4.50 events per 100 person-years in the placebo group, 4.11 events per 100 person-years in the 50-mg group, 3.86 events per 100 person-years in the 150-mg group, and 3.90 events per 100 person-years in the 300-mg group. The hazard ratios as compared with placebo were as follows: in the 50-mg group, 0.93 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.80 to 1.07; P = 0.30); in the 150-mg group, 0.85 (95% CI, 0.74 to 0.98; P = 0.021); and in the 300-mg group, 0.86 (95% CI, 0.75 to 0.99; P = 0.031). The 150-mg dose, but not the other doses, met the prespecified multiplicity-adjusted threshold for statistical significance for the primary end point and the secondary end point that additionally included hospitalization for unstable angina that led to urgent revascularization (hazard ratio vs. placebo, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.73 to 0.95; P = 0.005). Canakinumab was associated with a higher incidence of fatal infection than was placebo. There was no significant difference in all-cause mortality (hazard ratio for all canakinumab doses vs. placebo, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.83 to 1.06; P = 0.31). Conclusions: Antiinflammatory therapy targeting the interleukin-1β innate immunity pathway with canakinumab at a dose of 150 mg every 3 months led to a significantly lower rate of recurrent cardiovascular events than placebo, independent of lipid-level lowering. (Funded by Novartis; CANTOS ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01327846.

The feasible study of the water flow in the micro channel with the Y-junction and narrow structure for various flow rates

Here we present the results of measurement in micro-channel with the Y-junction and narrow structure for various flow rates. There was used BSG micro-channel with trapezoidal cross-section. The parameters of the channel are described in the paper. The flow in the micro-channel was invested with micro-PIV technique and various flow rates were set on each inlet. The resulting flow rate in the steady area follows the laminar flow with very low Re 30. Here we are focused on the flow characteristic in the Y-junction and in selected narrow structure. The fluid flow is evaluated with vector and scalar maps and the profile plots that were taken in the point of interest

Measurement of fluid motion and temperature changes in the real model of the heat exchanger using pLIF

The aim of this project is a qualitative and quantitative experimental description of a development of the fluid flow inside the real model of a stratification tank of the heat exchanger. The experimental research deals with the Particle Image Velocimetry method and Planar Laser Induced Fluorescence Method. The results of this project provide the worthy information about the fluid behaviour, boundary condition and risen fluid flow inside the tank model. This final outcome is necessary for the verification and validity of the analysis models and simulations