Real-time performance of control allocation for actuator coordination in heavy vehicles

This paper shows how real-time optimisation for actuator coordination, known as control allocation, can be a viable choice for heavy vehicle motion control systems. For this purpose, a basic stability control system implementing the method is presented. The real-time performance of two different control allocation solvers is evaluated and the use of dynamic weighting is analysed. Results show that sufficient vehicle stability can be achieved when using control allocation for actuator coordination in heavy vehicle stability control. Furthermore, real-time simulations indicate that the optimisation can be performed with the computational capacity of today's standard electronic control units. © 2009 IEEE

Heavy quarkonia in a medium as a quantum dissipative system: Master-equation approach

The problem of the evolution of a heavy quarkonium in a medium can be recast as that of a quantum dissipative system. Within the framework of the master-equation approach to open quantum systems, we consider the real-time dynamics of quarkonia. We find that in a plasma at fixed temperature, the populations of the various quarkonium states evolve together, while their momentum distribution satisfies a Fokker-Planck equation.Comment: 12 pages, 8 figures. Version 2 matches the published versio

Dedicated plug based closure for large bore access -The MARVEL prospective registry

Objectives To study safety and performance of the MANTA Vascular closure device (VCD) under real world conditions in 10 centers. Background The MANTA is a novel plug-based device for large bore arteriotomy closure. Methods We included all eligible patients who underwent transfemoral large bore percutaneous procedures. Exclusion criteria were per operator's discretion and included severe calcification or marked tortuosity of the access vessel, presence of marked obesity/cachexia or a systolic blood pressure above 180 mmHg. The primary performance endpoint was time to hemostasis. Primary and secondary safety endpoints were major and minor access site related vascular complications up to 30 days, respectively. Vascular complications were adjudicated by an independent clinical event committee according to VARC-2 criteria. We performed multivariable logistic regression to estimate the effect of baseline and procedural characteristics on any and major vascular complications. Results Between February 2018 and July 2019 500 patients were enrolled undergoing Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR, N = 496), Balloon aortic valvuloplasty (BAV, N = 2), Mechanical circulatory support (MCS, N = 1) or Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR, N = 1). Mean age was 80.8 +/- 6.6 years with a median STS-score of 2.7 [IQR 2.0-4.3] %. MANTA access site complications were major in 20 (4%) and minor in 28 patients (5.6%). Median time to hemostasis was 50 [IQR 20-120] sec. Severe femoral artery calcification, scar presence in groin, longer procedure duration, female gender and history of hypertension were independent predictors for vascular complications. Conclusion In this study, MANTA appeared to be a safe and effective device for large bore access closure under real-world conditions.Peer reviewe

New Respiratory Enterovirus and Recombinant Rhinoviruses among Circulating Picornaviruses

Increased genomic diversity of these viruses is demonstrated

Jejum intermitente no emagrecimento: uma revisão sistemática

Among the various nutritional strategies that exist to facilitate weight loss, one of the most popular is the Intermittent Fasting (JI) diet. Typically, JI is defined as a total or partial restriction in energy intake between one to three days per week, or a complete restriction on energy intake for a defined period of the day. This study is a review article that aimed at the broad view of the intermittent fasting diets and evidenced the effects of the evaluation process of the nutritional strategy. A search was carried out in the Pubmed, Lilacs, Medline and the Scielo e-libraries to identify scientific papers published between 2007 and 2017. A total of 44 articles were selected, containing the descriptors in Portuguese and English: "fasting", "Calorie restriction" and "weight loss". Overall, many of the studies reviewed suggest that JI is effective for weight reduction, including benefits such as improved glucose metabolism, cardiovascular health, and maintenance of lean mass. However, it can be verified that of the studies developed in humans, published in the timeframe of the research, involved mainly short-term JI and groups with small numbers of individuals, thus questioning possible biological adaptations and future effects on The risk of diseases that may occur in individuals who practice this diet.Dentre as várias estratégias nutricionais que existem para faciltiar a perda de peso, uma das mais populares é a dieta do Jejum Intermitente (JI). Normalmente, JI é definido por uma restrição total ou parcial na ingestão de energia entre um a três dias por semana, ou uma restrição completa na ingestão de energia por um período definido do dia. Este estudo trata-se de um artigo de revisão que objetivou fornecer visão ampla das dietas de jejum intermitentes e evidenciar os possíveis efeitos no processo de emagrecimento por meio dessa estratégia nutricional. Foi realizada uma busca nas bases de dados Pubmed, Lilacs, Medline e a biblioteca eletrônica Scielo a fim de identificar artigos científicos publicados no período de 2007 a 2017. Foram selecionados 44 artigos, contendo os descritores, em português e inglês: “jejumâ€, “restrição calórica†e “emagrecimento’’. De forma geral, muitos dos estudos analisados sugerem que o JI é eficiente para redução de peso, incluindo benefícios como, melhora do metabolismo da glicose, saúde cardiovascular e manutenção de massa magra. No entanto, pode ser verificado que dos estudos desenvolvidos em humanos, publicados no intervalo de tempo foco da pesquisa, envolveram principalmente JI de curto prazo e grupos com número reduzido de indivíduos, ficando, desta forma, questionamento sobre possíveis adaptações biológicas e efeitos futuros sobre o risco de doenças que possam ocorrer em indivíduos que praticam essa dieta

Group III secreted phospholipase A2 transgenic mice spontaneously develop inflammation

PLA2 (phospholipase A2) group III is an atypical sPLA2 (secretory PLA2) that is homologous with bee venom PLA2 rather than with other mammalian sPLA2s. In the present paper, we show that endogenous group III sPLA2 (PLA2G3) is expressed in mouse skin and that Tg (transgenic) mice overexpressing human PLA2G3 spontaneously develop skin inflammation. Pla2g3-Tg mice over 9 months of age frequently developed dermatitis with hyperkeratosis, acanthosis, parakeratosis, erosion, ulcer and sebaceous gland hyperplasia. The dermatitis was accompanied by infiltration of neutrophils and macrophages and by elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, chemokines and prostaglandin E2. In addition, Pla2g3-Tg mice had increased lymph aggregates and mucus in the airway, lymphocytic sialadenitis, hepatic extramedullary haemopoiesis, splenomegaly with increased populations of granulocytes and monocytes/macrophages, and increased serum IgG1. Collectively, these observations provide the first demonstration of spontaneous development of inflammation in mice with Tg overexpression of mammalian sPLA2

USF-1 Is Critical for Maintaining Genome Integrity in Response to UV-Induced DNA Photolesions

An important function of all organisms is to ensure that their genetic material remains intact and unaltered through generations. This is an extremely challenging task since the cell's DNA is constantly under assault by endogenous and environmental agents. To protect against this, cells have evolved effective mechanisms to recognize DNA damage, signal its presence, and mediate its repair. While these responses are expected to be highly regulated because they are critical to avoid human diseases, very little is known about the regulation of the expression of genes involved in mediating their effects. The Nucleotide Excision Repair (NER) is the major DNA–repair process involved in the recognition and removal of UV-mediated DNA damage. Here we use a combination of in vitro and in vivo assays with an intermittent UV-irradiation protocol to investigate the regulation of key players in the DNA–damage recognition step of NER sub-pathways (TCR and GGR). We show an up-regulation in gene expression of CSA and HR23A, which are involved in TCR and GGR, respectively. Importantly, we show that this occurs through a p53 independent mechanism and that it is coordinated by the stress-responsive transcription factor USF-1. Furthermore, using a mouse model we show that the loss of USF-1 compromises DNA repair, which suggests that USF-1 plays an important role in maintaining genomic stability

EMBO Mol Med

Mutations in amphiphysin-2/BIN1, dynamin 2, and myotubularin are associated with centronuclear myopathy (CNM), a muscle disorder characterized by myofibers with atypical central nuclear positioning and abnormal triads. Mis-splicing of amphiphysin-2/BIN1 is also associated with myotonic dystrophy that shares histopathological hallmarks with CNM. How amphiphysin-2 orchestrates nuclear positioning and triad organization and how CNM-associated mutations lead to muscle dysfunction remains elusive. We find that N-WASP interacts with amphiphysin-2 in myofibers and that this interaction and N-WASP distribution are disrupted by amphiphysin-2 CNM mutations. We establish that N-WASP functions downstream of amphiphysin-2 to drive peripheral nuclear positioning and triad organization during myofiber formation. Peripheral nuclear positioning requires microtubule/Map7/Kif5b-dependent distribution of nuclei along the myofiber and is driven by actin and nesprins. In adult myofibers, N-WASP and amphiphysin-2 are only involved in the maintenance of triad organization but not in the maintenance of peripheral nuclear positioning. Importantly, we confirmed that N-WASP distribution is disrupted in CNM and myotonic dystrophy patients. Our results support a role for N-WASP in amphiphysin-2-dependent nuclear positioning and triad organization and in CNM and myotonic dystrophy pathophysiology