Reliable V2V Communication Networks: Applications in Fuel-Efficient Platooning

Technical ReportThe project investigated the ability of CV2X and DSRC communication systems to accurately send and receive data between vehicles which have lost their line-of-sight due to occluding obstacles. A propagation model to predict received radio power is developed using WinProp. The power prediction from the model is combined with packet reception data from actual radios to obtain a logistic distribution for packet reception rates as a function received power. We also offer a comparison of the relative performance of DSRC and CV2X systems using their respective logistic distributions and interpret our results to suit those planning vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication systems.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/166585/4/Reliable V2V Communication Networks - Applications in Fuel-Efficient Platooning.pd

Computational studies on new Leishmanial drug targets against Quercetin

Leishmaniasis, a parasitic disease caused by Leishmania parasite which resides in the infected sand flies. Control of Leishmaniasis remains a source of grave concern worldwide. Studies on Leishmaniasis triggered because of its outbreak in tropical and subtropical regions of Asia, East Africa and South America. There is an urgent need for new therapeutic interventions such as vaccine and new drug targets as it develops resistance towards the available drugs. Quercetin, a derivative of polyphenolic flavonoid exhibits various biological activities by interacting with proteins and nucleic acids. In this study, computational analysis was performed to identify the potential drug target of Quercetin in Leishmania species by molecular docking. The newly predicted targets were subjected for subcellular localization prediction and determined the protein-protein interaction networks that would aid in the development of anti-Leishmanial drugs. This study helps in the identification of targets and development of anti-Leishmanial drugs

Acquired rifampicin resistance in thrice-weekly antituberculosis therapy: impact of HIV and antiretroviral therapy

Risk factors for acquired rifampicin resistance (ARR) among tuberculosis patients on thrice-weekly antituberculosis therapy were baseline isoniazid resistance and HIV. Among HIV-infected patients, higher mycobacterial burden and lower CD4 count, but not highly active antiretroviral therapy, were significantly associated with ARR. Background: Risk factors for acquired rifampicin resistance (ARR) in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/tuberculosis coinfection, in the highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) era, needs evaluation. We studied the impact of HIV and HAART on ARR among patients taking thrice-weekly antituberculosis therapy. Methods: This cross-protocol analysis included patients with newly diagnosed, rifampicin-susceptible pulmonary tuberculosis, with and without HIV, enrolled in clinical trials (who took >80% of medication) at the National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis between 1999 and 2013. All patients received rifampicin and isoniazid for 6 months reinforced with pyrazinamide and ethambutol in the first 2 months, given thrice-weekly throughout the study along with HAART in one of the groups. Outcomes were categorized and multivariate logistic regression analysis performed to identify risk factors for ARR. Results: The per-protocol results included patients with tuberculosis: 246 HIV-uninfected patients (HIV–TB+), 212 HIV patients not on HAART (non-HAART), and 116 HIV-infected patients on HAART. Median CD4 counts of the latter 2 groups were 150 and 93 cells/μL, respectively, and the median viral loads were 147 000 and 266 000 copies/mL, respectively. Compared with HIV–TB+, the relative risks (RRs) for an unfavorable response in the coinfected, non-HAART and HAART groups were 2.1 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.7–14.8; P<.0001) and 2.1 (95% CI, .9–5.2; P=.3), whereas for ARR, the RRs were 21.1 (95% CI, 2.6–184; P<.001) and 8.2 (95% CI, .6–104; P=.07), respectively. Conclusions: HIV-infected patients with tuberculosis treated with a thrice-weekly antituberculosis regimen are at a higher risk of ARR, compared with HIV-uninfected patients, in the presence of baseline isoniazid resistance. HAART reduces but does not eliminate the risk of ARR

Industry/University Collaboration at the University of Michigan-Dearborn: A Focus on Relevant Technology

https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/154104/1/kampfner1996.pd

Predictors of unfavorable responses to therapy in rifampicin-sensitive pulmonary tuberculosis using an integrated approach of radiological presentation and sputum mycobacterial burden

INTRODUCTION: Despite the exalted status of sputum mycobacterial load for gauging pulmonary tuberculosis treatment and progress, Chest X-rays supplement valuable information for taking instantaneous therapeutic decisions, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Even though literature on individual parameters is overwhelming, few studies have explored the interaction between radiographic parameters denoting severity with mycobacterial burden signifying infectivity. By using a sophisticated approach of integrating Chest X-ray parameters with sputum mycobacterial characteristics, evaluated at all the three crucial time points of TB treatment namely pre-treatment, end of intensive phase and completion of treatment, utilizing the interactive Cox Proportional Hazards model, we aimed to precisely deduce predictors of unfavorable response to TB treatment. MATERIALS AND METHOD: We extracted de-identified data from well characterized clinical trial cohorts that recruited rifampicin-sensitive Pulmonary TB patients without any comorbidities, taking their first spell of anti-tuberculosis therapy under supervision and meticulous follow up for 24 months post treatment completion, to accurately predict TB outcomes. Radiographic data independently obtained, interpreted by two experienced pulmonologists was collated with demographic details and, sputum smear and culture grades of participants by an independent statistician and analyzed using the Cox Proportional Hazards model, to not only adjust for confounding factors including treatment effect, but also explore the interaction between radiological and bacteriological parameters for better therapeutic application. RESULTS: Of 667 TB patients with data available, cavitation, extent of involvement, lower zone involvement, smear and culture grade at baseline were significant parameters predisposing to an unfavorable TB treatment outcome in the univariate analysis. Reduction in radiological lesions in Chest X-ray by at least 50% at 2 months and 75% at the end of treatment helped in averting unfavorable responses. Smear and Culture conversion at the end of 2 months was highly significant as a predictor (p2 zones, were 3.05 (95% CI: 1.12–8.23) and 1.92 (95% CI: 0.72–5.08) respectively. Patients without cavitation, zonal involvement 2 zones and 3+ smear grade individually and independently forecasted a poorer TB outcome. The interaction model revealed that Zonal involvement confined to 2 zones, without a cavity and smear grade up to 2+, constituting “minimal disease”, had a better prognosis. Radiological clearance >50% along with smear conversion at the end of intensive phase of treatment, observed to be a reasonable alternative to culture conversion in predicting a successful outcome. These parameters may potentially take up key positions as stratification factors for future trials contemplating on shorter TB regimens

Fibers for hearts: A critical review on electrospinning for cardiac tissue engineering

Cardiac cell therapy holds a real promise for improving heart function and especially of the chronically failing myocardium. Embedding cells into 3D biodegradable scaffolds may better preserve cell survival and enhance cell engraftment after transplantation, consequently improving cardiac cell therapy compared with direct intramyocardial injection of isolated cells. The primary objective of a scaffold used in tissue engineering is the recreation of the natural 3D environment most suitable for an adequate tissue growth. An important aspect of this commitment is to mimic the fibrillar structure of the extracellular matrix, which provides essential guidance for cell organization, survival, and function. Recent advances in nanotechnology have significantly improved our capacities to mimic the extracellular matrix. Among them, electrospinning is well known for being easy to process and cost effective. Consequently, it is becoming increasingly popular for biomedical applications and it is most definitely the cutting edge technique to make scaffolds that mimic the extracellular matrix for industrial applications. Here, the desirable physico-chemical properties of the electrospun scaffolds for cardiac therapy are described, and polymers are categorized to natural and synthetic.Moreover, the methods used for improving functionalities by providing cells with the necessary chemical cues and a more in vivo- like environment are reported

Some basic results on the use of Gaussian Markov random fields in image modelling

This dissertation addresses three basic issues that arise in the use of Gaussian Markov random fields (GMRFs) in image modelling: the multi-resolution properties, the valid parameter space, and the existence of Maximum Likelihood (ML) and Maximum Entropy (ME) parameter estimates. For the multi-resolution properties, we study GMRFs under two types of resolution transformations, Sampling and Block-to-Point. We show that under both these transformations the coarser level fields are non-Markov, and obtain exact descriptions for their covariances and power spectra. To approximate the coarser level non-Markov fields as GMRFs, we propose a new methodology called the Covariance Invariance Approximation (CIA) and study its measure-theoretic properties. We argue that CIA is better suited to image processing than the free-energy based approximations used in renormalization group studies. On the valid parameter space issue, for both 1-D infinite-length GM processes and 2-D infinite-lattice GMRFs, we present a complete procedure for verifying the validity of a given set of parameters. We illustrate this result by applying it to second-order fields in both 1-D and 2-D, and obtain an explicit and simple description of the respective parameter spaces. We observe that in both these examples, the valid parameter space is considerably larger than the space implied by the previously known sufficient condition. For both 1-D and 2-D finite-lattice fields, we show that the valid parameter space does not admit a simple description. The infinite-lattice conditions, however, provide a tight lower-bound approximation to the valid parameter space of finite-lattice fields. Finally, we consider the existence of the ML and the ME estimates for GMRF parameters. The existence of ME estimates is closely related to the extendibility of covariance sequences. Using this fact in conjunction with our results on the valid parameter space of GMRFs, we obtain analytical and computational solutions to the existence problem. For several examples, we obtain an explicit set of conditions that ascertain extendibility and hence existence. For the general case, we propose a cutting-plane algorithm as an alternative to the two numerical procedures that already exist for determining extendibility, namely, the linear programming algorithm and expanding-hull algorithm. Next, we explore the duality between the valid parameter space of GMRFs and the space of extendible covariances, and their relationships with the space of admissible covariances for finite-size data sequences. Using duality, we also relate the existence of ML estimates to extendibility and show that the existence of ML estimates would have to be ascertained through a computationally intensive linear programming procedure. Finally, we present some results regarding the extendibility of covariances over increasing window sizes

Continuum Robots for Manipulation Applications: A Survey

This paper presents a literature survey documenting the evolution of continuum robots over the past two decades (1999–present). Attention is paid to bioinspired soft robots with respect to the following three design parameters: structure, materials, and actuation. Using this three-faced prism, we identify the uniqueness and novelty of robots that have hitherto not been publicly disclosed. The motivation for this study comes from the fact that continuum soft robots can make inroads in industrial manufacturing, and their adoption will be accelerated if their key advantages over counterparts with rigid links are clear. Four different taxonomies of continuum robots are included in this study, enabling researchers to quickly identify robots of relevance to their studies. The kinematics and dynamics of these robots are not covered, nor is their application in surgical manipulation

xBOT — A Versatile Robot to Assist Testing of Autonomous-Connected Vehicles

his project aims to develop a robot (xBOT) that is customized for testing autonomous-connected vehicles. xBOT itself would be an automated-connected robot that behaves, and be perceived, as a free-moving Pedestrian, Scooter, Bicycle, Motorbike, or full-sized Vehicle. The project’s original intention was to build xBOT by modifying the Segway Ninebot©. As such, the objectives of the project were to ruggedize the platform, provide a user-friendly interface to easily program the platform’s motion, integrate the platform into the Mcity OS, allow the platform to communicate, and be synchronized, with other static and dynamic traffic elements, and achieve all this under a complete life-cycle cost of $10,000 per robot. The pitfall in developing on top of the Segway Ninebot is that when the commercial manufacturer modifies the firmware, it requires a major update of our (developer’s) side. This issue was only realized in July 2023, towards the end of the CCAT project. To circumvent this problem, an alternate platform is being pursued and the results of that effort will be reported in the parallel Mcity project.U.S. Department of Transportation Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technologyhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/192632/1/xBOT — A Versatile Robot to Assist Testing Autonomous-Connected Vehicles Final Report.pdf-1Description of xBOT — A Versatile Robot to Assist Testing Autonomous-Connected Vehicles Final Report.pdf : Final Repor