Vibrotactile pedals : provision of haptic feedback to support economical driving

The use of haptic feedback is currently an underused modality in the driving environment, especially with respect to vehicle manufacturers. This exploratory study evaluates the effects of a vibrotactile (or haptic) accelerator pedal on car driving performance and perceived workload using a driving simulator. A stimulus was triggered when the driver exceeded a 50% throttle threshold, past which is deemed excessive for economical driving. Results showed significant decreases in mean acceleration values, and maximum and excess throttle use when the haptic pedal was active as compared to a baseline condition. As well as the positive changes to driver behaviour, subjective workload decreased when driving with the haptic pedal as compared to when drivers were simply asked to drive economically. The literature suggests that the haptic processing channel offers a largely untapped resource in the driving environment, and could provide information without overloading the other attentional resource pools used in driving

Electrical and Thermal Conductivities of Some Sulphate Compounds

The electrical conductivity σ and the thermal conductivity λ were investigated at varying temperature (40 < T < 120°C) for two sulphate compounds, anhydrous mercury(II) sulphate HgSO$\text{}_{4}$ and cerous(III) sulphate Ce$\text{}_{2}$(SO$\text{}_{4}$)$\text{}_{3}$·H$\text{}_{2}$O. It seems likely that each of the two sulphate salts undergoes structural phase transition around 90°C. The differential thermal analysis thermogram was carried out as an aid for confirming of the observed phase transitions. The mechanism of the heat transfer is mainly due to phonons. Interpretation of the obtained data was given on the basis of the reorientational motion of the SO$\text{}_{4}$‾ ‾ ions

Oral Administration of Thymoquinone Attenuates Diazinon-induced Renal Injury in Rat: The Involvement of Keap1/Nrf2/HO1/NQO Signaling Pathway

The most prevalent component of the volatile oil found in Nigella sativa seeds is thymoquinone (TQ). As well as being used as food supplements, the seeds and oil are also utilized in traditional medicine to treat a variety of ailments. The purpose of this investigation was to determine whether TQ could protect rats from acute nephrotoxicity caused by diazinon (DZN). Six equal groups of thirty six adult’s male Wistar rats were created at random. Group 1 (G1) was maintained in typical control circumstances and given saline daily intragastric (IG) for 4 weeks; G2 was administered 0.1 mL olive oil IG for 4 weeks; G3 was administered 0.1 mL DMSO IG for 4 weeks; G4 was administered IG TQ at a dose of 10 mg/kg B.W. daily for 4 weeks; G5 was administered IG DZN at a dose of 15 mg/kg B.W. daily for 4 weeks; G6 was administered IG TQ daily one hour before DZN at the same dose in G4 and G5 for 4 weeks. The findings shown that TQ reduces the renal dysfunctions brought on by DZN by restoring urea and creatinine levels as well as oxidative indicators. Although the expression of Keap-1 was also elevated, overexpression of Nrf2 also enhanced the expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), and NFκB in renal tissue. Also, TQ increased antiapoptotic (BCL2) factors and decrease proapoptotic (BAX) factors. As a result, it is hypothesized that TQ may be helpful in the prevention and management of acute nephrotoxicity brought on by DZN

Nephroprotective Effect of N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine against Diazinon-induced Nephrotoxicity in Rats via IKβ, NFκB, NLRP3 Signaling Pathway

The present study analyzes the efficacy of N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) against diazinon (DZN)-induced nephrotoxicity in male Wistar rats. Rats were divided into five groups with six animals in each group: Group 1 (G1) was maintained in typical control circumstances and given saline once daily intragastric (IG) for 4 weeks; G2 was administered 0.1 mL olive oil IG for 4 weeks; G3 was administered IG NAC 150 mg/kg daily as an aqueous solution for 4 weeks; G4 was administered IG diazinon at a dose of 15 mg/kg daily for 4 weeks; and G5 was administered IG NAC daily one hour before diazinon at the same dose in G3 and G4 for 4 weeks. Sub-chronic exposure to DZN impairs the kidney structure and function, as evidenced by the histopathology, immunohistochemistry, and gene expression of NLRP3, NFκB, IKB, BCL2, BAX mRNA. Our findings showed that NAC reduces the renal dysfunctions induced by DZN by restoring urea and creatinine levels as well as oxidative indicators. Moreover, serum inflammatory markers (IL-1β and TNF-α) concentrations were ameliorated by NAC treatment. However, NAC has shown to play a beneficial role against nephrotoxicity by reversing the cytoarchitecture and downregulation of inflammatory (NLRP3, NFκB, IKB) and apoptotic (BAX) as well as upregulated BCL2 genes and proteins in kidney tissues, bringing them to near-normal levels. Moreover, IHC examination of renal tissue revealed the attenuation of expression of TNF-α. Therefore, NAC could be potentially used to protect the kidneys from pathological changes induced by DZN