Real-Time Energy Management Strategy of a Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle With Global Optimal Learning

[EN] This article proposes a novel energy management strategy (EMS) for a fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV). The strategy combines the offline optimization and online algorithms to guarantee optimal control, real-time performance, and better robustness in an unknown route. In particular, dynamic programming (DP) is applied in a database with multiple driving cycles to extract the theoretically optimal power split between the battery and fuel cell with a priori knowledge of the driving conditions. The analysis of the obtained results is then used to extract the rules to embed them in a real-time capable fuzzy controller. In this sense, at the expense of certain calibration effort in the offline phase with the DP results, the proposed strategy allows on-board applicability with suboptimal results. The proposed strategy has been tested in several actual driving cycles, and the results show energy savings between 8.48% and 10.71% in comparison to rule-based strategy and energy penalties between 1.04% and 3.37% when compared with the theoretical optimum obtained by DP. In addition, a sensitivity analysis shows that the proposed strategy can be adapted to different vehicle configurations. As the battery capacity increases, the performance can be further improved by 0.15% and 1.66% in conservative and aggressive driving styles, respectively.This work was supported in part by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant 62111530196, in part by the Technology Development Program of Jilin Province under Grant 20210201111GX, and in part by the China Automobile Industry Innovation and Development Joint Fund under Grant U1864206.Hou, S.; Yin, H.; Pla Moreno, B.; Gao, J.; Chen, H. (2023). Real-Time Energy Management Strategy of a Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle With Global Optimal Learning. IEEE Transactions on Transportation Electrification (Online). 9(4):5085-5097. https://doi.org/10.1109/TTE.2023.3238101508550979

A phase I dose-escalation study of MEDI-575, a PDGFRα monoclonal antibody, in adults with advanced solid tumors

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to evaluate safety and determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of MEDI-575, a fully human monoclonal antibody that selectively binds to platelet-derived growth factor receptor-α (PDGFRα), in patients with advanced solid tumors. METHODS: This phase I multicenter, open-label, single-arm study enrolled adults in a 3 + 3 dose escalation design to receive MEDI-575 (3, 6, 9, 12, or 15 mg/kg) once weekly (QW) until toxicity or disease progression occurred. One 0.5-mg/kg dose was given before the first dose in the 3-mg/kg cohort to determine pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics under unsaturated conditions. After completion of dose escalation in the QW cohorts, patients were enrolled in two additional cohorts and received MEDI-575 25 or 35 mg/kg every 3 weeks (Q3W). Secondary measures included assessments of PK, immunogenicity, and antitumor activity. RESULTS: A total of 35 patients received MEDI-575 QW (n = 23) or Q3W (n = 12). Most treatment-related adverse events were grade 1 or 2 in severity across all dose levels, with fatigue (n = 12) and nausea (n = 8) being reported most frequently. With no reports of dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs), the MTD was not reached. MEDI-575 exhibited a nonlinear PK profile and increased plasma platelet-derived growth factor-AA levels in a dose-dependent manner with limited immunogenicity. Stable disease was reported as the best tumor response in 9 of 29 evaluable patients; however, no objective responses were reported. CONCLUSION: Administration of MEDI-575 QW or Q3W resulted in a favorable safety profile, including a lack of DLTs, but without evidence of antitumor activity in patients with refractory solid tumors

Modulation of the microbiota across different intestinal segments by Rifaximin in PI-IBS mice

Abstract Background Rifaximin has been increasingly applied in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) treatment. Whether there were differences in the effects of rifaximin on microbiota from different intestinal segments, especially the small intestine where rifaximin predominantly acted, has not been confirmed. Methods In this study, we used Trichinella spiralis infection to induce post infectious irritable bowel syndrome (PI-IBS) and measured visceral sensitivity of mice by means of abdominal withdrawal reflex (AWR) tests to colorectal distention (CRD). We compared the effects of rifaximin on the composition of ileal, colonic mucosal and fecal microbiota in PI-IBS mice. Results Rifaximin significantly reduced AWR scores and increased pain threshold in PI-IBS mice, and this effect was associated with the change in the relative abundance of ileal mucosal microbiota. Rifaximin could obviously decrease ileum mucosal microbiota alpha diversity assessed by Shannon microbial diversity index. Meanwhile, the analysis of beta diversity and relative abundance of microbiota at phylum, family and genus levels showed that rifaximin could improve the microbiota structure of ileal mucosa. However, for colonic mucosal and fecal microbiota, this effect of rifaximin was not obvious. Rifaximin could reshape the correlation of genera between different intestinal segments. Conclusion Rifaximin improved visceral hypersensitivity in PI-IBS mice. Rifaximin mainly affected ileal mucosal microbiota, and its improvement effect on IBS might be closely related to the improvement of ileal microbiota structure

Multihorizon predictive energy optimization and lifetime management for connected fuel cell electric vehicles

[EN] A reliable energy optimization strategy incorporating vehicle connectivity is of great importance for the performance enhancement of fuel cell electric vehicles. In this paper, a multihorizon hierarchical model predictive control framework is proposed, which reduces energy consumption while incorporating fuel cell lifetime management though real-time speed preview. Specifically, the trajectories of battery state of charge are explored via convex optimization in the upper layer to provide a suboptimal reference for real-time optimization, and the concept of multihorizon is introduced into convex optimization for the first time. At the lower level, an equivalent consumption minimum strategy-based model predictive control is designed, which improves energy utilization efficiency and prolongs the lifetime of fuel cells. The main contribution of this paper is to use multihorizon optimization to solve the energy optimization and lifetime management of fuel cell electric vehicles over different timescales. Experimental results show that the proposed strategy has great potential in cost saving, which can reduce 10.10% to 16.95% of the total cost in real driving conditions compared with the rule-based strategy.This work was supported by the National Natural Science Founda-tion of China (Grant No. 62111530196) , the Technology Development Program of Jilin Province, China (Grant No. 20200501010G X) and the China Automobile Industry Innovation and Development Joint Fund (Grant No. U1864206).Hou, S.; Yin, H.; Xu, F.; Pla Moreno, B.; Gao, J.; Chen, H. (2023). Multihorizon predictive energy optimization and lifetime management for connected fuel cell electric vehicles. Energy. 266. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2022.12646626

Phase II Study of Medi-575 an Anti-Platelet-Derived Growth Factor-Alpha Antibody in Patients With Recurrent Glioblastoma

MEDI-575, an immunoglobulin G2κ monoclonal antibody, selectively binds to platelet-derived growth factor-α receptor (PDGFR-α) with high specificity. This multicenter, single-arm, open-label, phase II study evaluated the efficacy and safety of MEDI-575 in patients with recurrent glioblastoma. Adults with first recurrence of glioblastoma following surgery, temozolomide, and radiation received MEDI-575 25 mg/kg intravenously over 60 min every 21 days until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Six-month progression-free survival rate (PFS-6) was the primary end point; secondary measures included response rate, overall survival (OS), and safety/tolerability. PDGFR-α expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Fifty-six patients were enrolled; median age was 56.5 years (range 23€“79), 66 % were male, and 66 % were aged ‰¥65 years. PFS-6 was 15.4 % [90 % confidence interval (CI) 8.1€“24.9]. No complete or partial responses were observed; 23 (41.1 %) patients had stable disease as best response. Median PFS was 1.4 months (90 % CI 1.4, 1.8); median OS was 9.7 months (90 % CI 6.5, 11.8). The most common treatment-related adverse events (AEs) were diarrhea (16 %), nausea (13 %), and fatigue (13 %). Twelve (21 %) patients reported grade ‰¥3 AEs, with hydrocephalus (n = 3), dysphagia (n = 2), and convulsion (n = 2) reported in more than 1 patient. Two patients had treatment-related Grade ‰¥3 AEs of decreased lymphocyte count and asthenia (n = 1 each). Seven patients (13 %) discontinued MEDI-575 owing to AEs. Labeling of PDGFRα in glioblastoma cells and tumor-associated stromal cells was highly variable, with no correlation with PFS. MEDI-575, although well tolerated, had limited clinical activity in recurrent glioblastoma

Incorporation of Porphyrin to π‑Conjugated Backbone for Polymer-Dot-Sensitized Photodynamic Therapy

The photosensitizers used in photodynamic therapy are mainly based on porphyrin derivatives. However, clinical applications encounter several limitations regarding photosensitizers such as their low absorption coefficients, poor water-solubility, and leaching from delivery carriers. Here, we describe covalent incorporation of porphyrin in conjugated polymer backbone for development of efficient polymer-dot photosensitizer. Spectroscopic characterizations revealed that the light-harvesting polymer dominantly transfer the excitation energy to the porphyrin unit, yielding efficient singlet oxygen generation for photodynamic therapy. The polymer dots (Pdots) also possess excellent stability that overcomes the photosensitizer leaching problem as encountered in other nanoparticle carriers. In vitro cytotoxicity and photodynamic efficacy of the Pdots were evaluated in MCF-7 cells by in vitro assay, indicating that the Pdots can efficiently damage cancer cells. In vivo photodynamic therapy by using the Pdots was further investigated with xenograft tumors in Balb/c nude mice, which show that the tumors were significantly inhibited or eradicated in certain cases. The high-yield singlet oxygen generation and excellent stability of porphyrin-incorporated Pdots are promising for photodynamic treatment of malignant tumors

EFFECTS OF CIJI HUA'AI BAOSHENG GRANULE FORMULA (CHBGF) ON LIFE TIME, PATHOLOGY, PERIPHERAL BLOOD CELLS OF TUMOR CHEMOTHERAPY MODEL MOUSE WITH H-22 HEPATOMA CARCINOMA CELLS

Xiamen Science and Technology Key Program Plan Grant [3502Z20100006]; National Natural Science Foundation of China [81202659]; Scientific Research Start Foundation for New Teacher of Xiamen University [ZK1014]Background: Ciji Hua'ai Baosheng Granule Formula (CHBGF) is a traditional Chinese empirical formula that can help the tumor patients who have received chemotherapy antagonize the toxin and side-effects so as to improve and prolong the life. This study is to evaluate the effects of CHBGF on improving life quality in terms of survival time, pathology of tumor tissue and ameliorating peripheral blood cells in mouse chemotherapy model with subcutaneous transplanted tumor or ascitic tumor of H-22 hepatoma carcinoma cells at an overall level. Materials and Methods: 71 mice among the 92 Kunming mice were injected subcutaneously into the right anterior armpit with H-22 hepatoma carcinoma cells, after 7 days, which had formed tumors and were used peritoneal injection of Cytoxan (CTX) (200mg/kg) to establish the mouse chemotherapy model with transplanted tumor, and then which were commensurately divided into 8 groups by random digits table. 21 mice were injected into peritoneal cavity to use CTX and the same method to establish the model. The groups for evaluating the effects on the survival time were the model, CHBGF and positive control group respectively with 7 mice in each group. The groups for evaluating the effects on anti-cancer were the model group, three treatment groups and positive control group with 10 mice in each group. The survival-time-observing groups were given intragastric administration of normal saline, CHBGF (64g/kg) once a day, and peritoneal injection of 5-Fluorouracil (25mg/kg) once every other day respectively. The survival time of each group was observed. The five anti-cancer-observing groups were given intragastric administration of normal saline, CHBGF (64g/kg, 32g/kg and 16g/kg) once a day, and peritoneal injection of 5-Fluorouracil (25mg/kg) once every other day respectively. After treatment for 21 days, the transplanted tumors were peeled off. Blood was collected through pricking eyeball and analyzed by hematology analyzer. And postchemotherapy transplanted tumor inhibition ratios were calculated. Pathological changes of tumor tissues and blood smears were observed with light microscope. Results: The life prolonging rate of CHBGF (64g/kg) group with transplanted tumor is 20.14%, and their survival time was longer than that of the 5-Fluorouracil group (P<0.05). Life prolonging rate of CHBGF (64g/kg) group with ascitic tumor is 64.15%, the survival time was longer than that of the model group (P<0.01) and the 5-Fluorouracil group (P<0.05). The growth of the transplanted tumor in model group was faster than that in CHBGF (64g/kg) group and 5-Fluorouracil group (P<0.05). The tumor average weight of the positive drug and the CHBGF (64g/kg, 32g/kg) groups was lighter than that of the model group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The inhibition ratios of CHBGF (64g/kg, 32g/kg and 16g/kg) groups are 31.15%, 21.31%, and 13.11% respectively. Under light microscope, in the positive drug and three CHBGF groups the pathological deteriorated severity of tumor tissue observed was milder than that in the model group, the distribution of WBC in CHBGF groups was more obvious than that of the model and 5-Fluorouracil groups. The WBC and PLT decrease in CHBGF (64g/kg, 32g/kg and 16g/kg) groups is less than the model and the 5-Fluorouracil group (P<0.05 or P<0.01), the number of RBC and HGB just in the CHBGF (64g/kg) group was more than that of the model group or the 5-Fluorouracil group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Ciji Hua'ai Baosheng Granule Formula can prolong the survival time of the mice chemotherapy model of both subcutaneous transplanted tumor and ascitic tumor of H-22 hepatoma carcinoma cells, has some determinate inhibitory effects on the growth of subcutaneous transplanted tumor chemo-treated, and has the therapeutic effect on antagonizing decrease of WBC and PLT caused by chemotherapy