A 9-DOF Tractor-Semitrailer Dynamic Handling Model for Advanced Chassis Control Studies

A nonlinear dynamic handling model for a tractor-semitrailer combination vehicle is presented in this report. The equations of motion are derived from the fundamental equations of dynamics in Euler's formulation without approximations. The model is modular in the sense that it is easy to change axle configuration, tyre model, suspension model, or to add new features. The primary aim of the model is simulations of handling scenarios with active yaw control, using unilateral braking and possibly tractor rear wheel steering. Other applications of the model may include real-time hardware-in-the-loop simulations of tractor-semitrailer handling scenarios. The model is formulated as a state-space model that may be implemented in standard simulation environments. A Simulink (TM) implementation is presented. Simulation results are compared with experiments to validate the model

Disassociated relation between plasma tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6 and increased body weight in Amerindian women: A long-term prospective study of natural body weight variation and impaired glucose tolerance

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Inflammatory cytokines are linked to obesity-related insulin resistance and may predict type 2 diabetes independently of obesity. We previously reported that a majority of a cohort of 73 non-diabetic women with normal plasma (p-)glucose with Amerindian heritage in Lima, Peru, during a 5-year period increased both body weight and p-glucose levels, yet p-insulin was unaltered. A high proportion of palmitoleic acid (16:1n-7) in serum (s) and systolic blood pressure (SBP) were independent predictors of high p-glucose. Whether cytokines also contributed is, however, not known.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>During 5 years we prospectively investigated the relation between changed concentrations of p-tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, p-interleukin (IL)-6 and circulating insulin and glucose in relation to the natural variation of body weight. Study variables included anthropometric measurements, p-insulin, TNF-α, IL-6, SBP and the proportion of 16:1n-7 in s-fatty acid composition.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Weight and waist differences correlated negatively to the difference in p-TNF-α but positively to differences in p-IL-6 and p-insulin, whereas the increase of p-glucose from baseline to follow-up did not correlate with changes in levels of the two cytokines. In multiple regression analysis changes of TNF-α and insulin contributed independently to the variance in weight. P-insulin at baseline and weight change were determinants of fasting p-insulin at follow-up. Multiple regression analysis revealed that weight change (t-value = - 2.42; P = 0.018) and waist change (t-value = 2.41; P = 0.019) together with S-16:1n-7 (p < 0.0001) and SBP (p = 0.0005) at baseline were significant predictors of p-glucose at follow-up.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our prospective study of Amerindian women revealed disassociations between changes in p-TNF-α and p-IL-6 in relation to variation in body weight. A high proportion of s-16:1n-7, SBP at baseline together with weight and waist changes were independent predictors of p-glucose at follow-up. The exact role of the opposite effects and clinical impact of p-TNF-α and p-IL-6 on loss and gain of body weight and indirectly on the development of glucose intolerance is not known.</p

Obesity in Tibetans Aged 30–70 Living at Different Altitudes under the North and South Faces of Mt. Everest

Risk factors for chronic diseases in Tibetans may be modified due to hypobaric hypoxia. The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of obesity at varying altitudes of 1,200, 2,900 and 3,700 meters above sea-level in Tibet and Nepal; to estimate the effect of altitude on body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR). Three cross-sectional studies with simple random sampling were performed on 617 men and women. BMI, WC and WHtR decreased with increasing altitude. It is likely that the physical conditions such as low temperatures and low oxygen levels have a direct catabolic effect

En bortglömd 1700­-talspoet. Greta Giädda om äktenskapets ve, väl och välsignelse

A forgotten 18th-Century Poet: Greta Giädda on the Bales, Boons and Blessings of Marriage (En bortglömd 1700-talspoet. Greta Giädda om äktenskapets ve, väl och välsignelse In this paper we meet Greta Giädda (ca 1680–1753), a (minor) poet fairly unknown to posterity from the first part of the 18th century. However, she happened to enter the history of Swedish literature when she rose strong objections to the Swedish poet, Johan Runius, and his energetic defence in a wedding poem, 1712, of matrimony and the supposed happy life together as hus­band and wife. As a matter of fact, she started a versified quarrel with her "Contra-vers" — the term is hers. This quarrel is well known but not her identity as author of this "Contra-vers", nor her text. Thanks to the discovery of her manuscripts in the Linköping Diocese Library, we can now get a better knowledge of this controversy about marriage, compulsion and freedom. Some of her poems handed down to us, foremost occasional poetry, were printed. An appendix registers all of her poems. Another appendix presents an early text by Samuel Triewald, who in this way contributed to the on-going discussion. The paper also describes two cultural places that were very likely important to Greta Giädda, namely first a vicarage in Stockholm and later on, a manor in Östergötland. Not least this rural manor was obviously a place where the burning questions in the controversy between Greta Giädda and Johan Runius in the year 1712 were continuously discussed