The levels and correlations of FeNO, blood eosinophils and lung function in well-controlled asthma

Introduction: Whether biomarkers (i.e., fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) and blood eosinophils) or lung function are additional ultimate outcomes in asthma treatment among patients with clinical remission has been the subject of previous research, the study of the correlations between FeNO, blood eosinophils and lung function among well-controlled asthmatic patients is less clear. To investigate the clinical application of  the correlation between FeNO, blood eosinophils and lung function parameters in well-controlled asthmatic patients. Material and methods: This was a prospective cross-sectional study. We measured FeNO, blood eosinophil and lung function in 84 asthmatic patients with clinical remission who were assessed by asthma control questionnaires. The correlation coefficient was used to ascertain among those parameters. The diagnostic accuracy of blood eosinophil to identify low FeNO ( < 25 ppb) was calculated using the area under the receiver operating characteristics (AUROC).    Results: Of 84 patients analyzed, the median ACT was 25 and the median ACQ-7 was 0.43. The median duration of being well-controlled asthma was 14.5 months. The median FeNo was 23 ppb and the median blood eosinophils was 375 cell/mm3. A significant positive correlation was found between FeNo and blood eosinophil (r = 0.310, p = 0.004). No correlation was detected between either FeNO or blood eosinophil and all lung function parameters. The AUROC results for blood eosinophils was 64.4% (p = 0.024) to detect FeNO < 25 ppb at a cutoff point of 295 cell/mm3 (sens tivity = 83.5%, specificity = 50%). Conclusion: Measuring FeNO and blood eosinophils in patients with a clinical remission of asthma may determine which of those patients have achieved complete remission. As the level of blood eosinophils has a significant correlation with FeNO, it may easily be a feasible biomarker to evaluate inactive airway inflammation before stepping down asthma treatment

Evidence of Dose Variability and Dosing Below the FDA and EMA Recommendations for Intravenous Colistin (Polymyxin E) Use in Children and Neonates.

Intravenous colistin (polymyxin E) has renewed interest as a last-line treatment against antimicrobial-resistant gram-negative bacterial infections, despite limited literature on pediatric prescribing practices. Point-prevalence surveys were used to obtain intravenous colistin prescribing data from 78 children and neonates, showing high variability, and 60.3% received doses below the Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency recommendations

Improved Methods in Neural Network-Based Adaptive Output Feedback Control, with Applications to Flight Control

Utilizing the universal approximation property of neural networks, we develop several novel approaches to neural network-based adaptive output feedback control of nonlinear systems, and illustrate these approaches for several flight control applications. In particular, we address the problem of non-affine systems and eliminate the fixed point assumption present in earlier work. All of the stability proofs are carried out in a form that eliminates an algebraic loop in the neural network implementation. An approximate input/output feedback linearizing controller is augmented with a neural network using input/output sequences of the uncertain system. These approaches permit adaptation to both parametric uncertainty and unmodeled dynamics. All physical systems also have control position and rate limits, which may either deteriorate performance or cause instability for a sufficiently high control bandwidth. Here we apply a method for protecting an adaptive process from the effects of input saturation and time delays, known as ``pseudo control hedging". This method was originally developed for the state feedback case, and we provide a stability analysis that extends its domain of applicability to the case of output feedback. The approach is illustrated by the design of a pitch-attitude flight control system for a linearized model of an R-50 experimental helicopter, and by the design of a pitch-rate control system for a 58-state model of a flexible aircraft consisting of rigid body dynamics coupled with actuator and flexible modes. A new approach to augmentation of an existing linear controller is introduced. It is especially useful when there is limited information concerning the plant model, and the existing controller. The approach is applied to the design of an adaptive autopilot for a guided munition. Design of a neural network adaptive control that ensures asymptotically stable tracking performance is also addressed.Ph.D.Committee Chair: Anthony J. Calise; Committee Member: Eric N. Johnson; Committee Member: J. Eric Corban; Committee Member: J.V.R. Prasad; Committee Member: Naira Hovakimya

Dynamics modeling of a semi-submersible autonomous underwater vehicle with a towfish towed by a cable

In this paper, we employ a dynamics modeling method for investigating a multi-body dynamics system of semi-submersible autonomous underwater vehicles consisting of a towing vehicle operated near the water surface, a tow cable, and a towfish. The towfish, which is towed by a marine cable for the purposes of exploration or mine hunting, is modeled with a Six-Degree-of-Freedom (6-DOF) equation of motion that reflects its hydrodynamics characteristics. The towing cable, which can experience large displacements and deformations, is modeled using an absolute nodal coordinate formulation. To reflect the hydrodynamic characteristics of the cable during motion, the hydrodynamic force due to added mass and the drag force are imposed. To verify the completeness of the modeling, a few simple numerical simulations were conducted, and the results confirm the physical plausibility of the model

Integrated dynamics modeling for supercavitating vehicle systems

We have performed integrated dynamics modeling for a supercavitating vehicle. A 6-DOF equation of motion was constructed by defining the forces and moments acting on the supercavitating body surface that contacted water. The wetted area was obtained by calculating the cavity size and axis. Cavity dynamics were determined to obtain the cavity profile for calculating the wetted area. Subsequently, the forces and moments acting on each wetted part-the cavitator, fins, and vehicle body-were obtained by physical modeling. The planing force-the interaction force between the vehicle transom and cavity wall-was calculated using the apparent mass of the immersed vehicle transom. We in-tegrated each model and constructed an equation of motion for the supercavitating system. We performed numerical simulations using the integrated dynamics model to analyze the characteristics of the supercavitating system and vali-date the modeling completeness. Our research enables the design of high-quality controllers and optimal supercavita-ting systems