Electrical Vehicles: Current State of the Art, Future Challenges, and Perspectives

The goal of the study presented in this article is to provide a general overview of the various aspects related to electric vehicles (EVs), along with all associated emerging challenges and perspectives. In this context, the basic types of EVs and the corresponding charging technologies are analyzed. Since EVs are expected to be a key component of future smart electrical grids (SEG), connection to the grid issues, along with advanced charging techniques (i.e., wireless power transfer), are analyzed as well. To this end, the main features, the requirements of vehicle to grid (V2G) communications, as well as future developments and scenarios of electrification, are also presented and analyzed. Moreover, integration issues with currently deployed fifth generation (5G) mobile wireless networks are also outlined, in order to ensure optimum transmission and reception quality in V2G communications and improved user experience. This integration is also expanded in autonomous vehicles (AVs) technology (self-driving objects), since optimized information processing from various diverse sources is required in order to ensure advanced traffic management aspects. Document type: Articl

Localino T-shirt: The Real-time Indoor Localization in Ambient Assisted Living Applications

In the last decade, smart textiles have become very popular as a concept and have found use in many applications, such as military, electronics, automotive, and medical ones. In the medical area, smart textiles research is focused more on biomonitoring, telemedicine, rehabilitation, sport medicine or home healthcare systems. In this research, the development and localization accuracy measurements of a smart T-shirt are presented, which will be used by elderly people for indoor localization in ambient assisted living applications. The proposed smart T-shirt and the work presented is considered to be applicable in cases of elderly, toddlers or even adults in indoor environments where their continuous real-time localization is critical. This smart T-shirt integrates a localization sensor, namely the Localino sensor, together with a solar panel for energy harvesting when the user is moving outdoors, as well as a battery/power bank that is both connected to the solar panel and the Localino sensor for charging and power supply respectively. Moreover, a mock-up house was deployed, where the Localino platform anchors were deployed at strategic points within the house area. Localino sensor nodes were installed in all the house rooms, from which we obtained the localization accuracy measurements. Furthermore, the localization accuracy was also measured for a selected number of mobile user scenarios, in order to assess the platform accuracy in both static and mobile user cases. Details about the implementation of the T-shirt, the selection and integration of the electronics parts, and the mock-up house, as well as about the localization accuracy measurements results are presented in the paper

Utvđivanje nivoa rezistentnosti Myzus persicae (Sulzer) biohemijskim metodama

Peach/potato aphid Myzus persicae (Sulzer) has developed three mechanisms of resistance: overproduction of one or two closely related carboxylesterases (E4 and FE4), production of modified acetylcholinesterase (MACE and knockdown resistance). Biochemical diagnostic methods can be used to identify levels of carboxylesterase production and sensitivity of modified acetylcholinesterase and, based on the values acquired we can classify aphids into one of the resistance cathegories. We used two tests: the total esterase activity test and test for checking sensitivity of acetylcholinesterase (MACE). Myzus periscae persicae from peach and Myzus persicae nicotianae from tobacco were tested. The total esterase activity test showed that 65% of the aphids tested were moderately resistant and 35% were highly resistant. Resistance based on the production of modified acetylcholinesterase is less represented because 80% of the aphids tested were susceptible to pirimicarb, which was used in the experiment. Also, both tests showed that aphids from tobacco were more susceptible than aphids from peach.Kod Myzus persicae (Sulzer) do sada su utvrđena tri tipa rezistentosti: povećana produkcija karboksilesteraza E4 i FE4, stvaranje modifikovane acetilholinesteraze i „knock-down” rezistentnost. Biohemijskim metodama moguće je izmeriti količinu karboksilesteraza, kao i aktivnosti modifikovane acetilholinesteraze i na osnovu dobijenih vrednosti, vaši svrstati u neku od kategorija rezistentnosti. Korišćena su dva testa, test totalne esterazne aktivnosti i test za proveru aktivnosti modifikovane acetilholinesteraze (MACE). Testirane su Myzus persicae persicae sa breskve i Myzus persicae nicotianae sa duvana. Test totalne esterazne aktivnosti pokazao je da 65% testiranih jedinki pripada kategoriji umereno rezistentnih vašiju, dok je 35% veoma rezistentno. Rezistentnost koja se zasniva na stvaranju modifikovane acetilholinesteraze manje je zastupljena, jer je čak 80% testiranih vašiju osetljivo na dejstvo pirimikarba, koji je korišćen u testu. Takođe, oba testa su pokazala da su vaši sa duvana osetljivije na dejstvo insekticida od vašiju sa breskve

Utvđivanje nivoa rezistentnosti Myzus persicae (Sulzer) biohemijskim metodama

Peach/potato aphid Myzus persicae (Sulzer) has developed three mechanisms of resistance: overproduction of one or two closely related carboxylesterases (E4 and FE4), production of modified acetylcholinesterase (MACE and knockdown resistance). Biochemical diagnostic methods can be used to identify levels of carboxylesterase production and sensitivity of modified acetylcholinesterase and, based on the values acquired we can classify aphids into one of the resistance categories. We used two tests: the total esterase activity test and test for checking sensitivity of acetylcholinesterase (MACE). Myzus periscae persicae from peach and Myzus persicae nicotianae from tobacco were tested. The total esterase activity test showed that 65% of the aphids tested were moderately resistant and 35% were highly resistant. Resistance based on the production of modified acetylcholinesterase is less represented because 80% of the aphids tested were susceptible to pirimicarb, which was used in the experiment. Also, both tests showed that aphids from tobacco were more susceptible than aphids from peach.Kod Myzus persicae (Sulzer) do sada su utvrđena tri tipa rezistentosti: povećana produkcija karboksilesteraza E4 i FE4, stvaranje modifikovane acetilholinesteraze i "knock-down" rezistentnost. Biohemijskim metodama moguće je izmeriti količinu karboksilesteraza, kao i aktivnosti modifikovane acetilholinesteraze i na osnovu dobijenih vrednosti, vaši svrstati u neku od kategorija rezistentnosti. Korišćena su dva testa, test totalne esterazne aktivnosti i test za proveru aktivnosti modifikovane acetilholinesteraze (MACE). Testirane su Myzus persicae persicae sa breskve i Myzus persicae nicotianae sa duvana. Test totalne esterazne aktivnosti pokazao je da 65% testiranih jedinki pripada kategoriji umereno rezistentnih vašiju, dok je 35% veoma rezistentno. Rezistentnost koja se zasniva na stvaranju modifikovane acetilholinesteraze manje je zastupljena, jer je čak 80% testiranih vašiju osetljivo na dejstvo pirimikarba, koji je korišćen u testu. Takođe, oba testa su pokazala da su vaši sa duvana osetljivije na dejstvo insekticida od vašiju sa breskve

MindSpaces:Art-driven Adaptive Outdoors and Indoors Design

MindSpaces provides solutions for creating functionally and emotionally appealing architectural designs in urban spaces. Social media services, physiological sensing devices and video cameras provide data from sensing environments. State-of-the-Art technology including VR, 3D design tools, emotion extraction, visual behaviour analysis, and textual analysis will be incorporated in MindSpaces platform for analysing data and adapting the design of spaces.</p

Σχεδιασμός μεταλλικής πεζογέφυρας

Εθνικό Μετσόβιο Πολυτεχνείο--Μεταπτυχιακή Εργασία. Διεπιστημονικό-Διατμηματικό Πρόγραμμα Μεταπτυχιακών Σπουδών (Δ.Π.Μ.Σ.) “Δομοστατικός Σχεδιασμός και Ανάλυση των Κατασκευών

Study the bio-ecology, the population genetics and the insecticide resistance of the aphid Myzus persicae and her natural enemies

The aim of the present work was the study of the genetics and the biology of populations of the aphid Myzus persicae Sulzer, the resistance status to insecticides with emphasis on neonicotinoids and pyrethroids, as well as the recording, study of the biology and the resistance to insecticides of natural enemies of aphids. In the framework of this thesis, bioassays with the method of dip test and topical application were made in population samples of the M. persicae that derived from peach tree orchards and tobacco fields. Emphasis was given to the dip test method in imidacloprid, while other insecticides, acetamiprid, pirimicarb, methamidophos, bifenthrin, deltamethrin and chlorpyriphos methyl were also examined. Neonicotinoids and pyrethroids, were mainly study as it is known that the aphid has developed strong resistance to other classes of insecticides. The results showed the development of resistance of M. persicae to organophosphates, pyrethroids and carbamates. Low tolerance/resistance was found to aphid neonicotinoids as well as the natural enemies of aphids total. In the present study the developmental period of the immature stages of the predatory coccinellids H. variegata and H. undecimnotata and the larval aphid consumption were examined in five constant temperatures (17, 20, 23, 26, and 29 oC) and at 23 oC for C. septempunctata at L16:D8. A red M. persicae clone on tobacco leaves was used as prey. In addition, the demographic parameters of the three predators were examined at 23oC. In H. variegata and H. undecimnotata the developmental temperature threshold was 12.5oC and 12.7 οC respectively. The day-degree requirements for the preimaginal development were 211 and 257 in H. variegata and H. undecimnotata, respectively. The intrinsic rate of increase (rm, female/female/day), the mean generation time (T, days), the net reproductive rate (Ro female/female) and the population duplication time (DT, days) in H. variegata was 0,129, 42,4, 241,9 and 5,4 respectively, while the corresponding values in H. undecimnotata were 0,084, 59,1, 142,7 and 8,3 and finally for C. septempunctata they were 0,061, 69,3, 67,3 and 11,4. The total aphid consumption by a pair of adult male and female was 2,381 and 3,242 aphids in H. variegata and H. undecimnotata, respectively. Finally, we compared patterns of intraspecific polymorphism of two markers with contrasted modes of evolution, nuclear ribosomal DNA (rDNA) and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), in the aphid predator C. septempunctata. The first internal transcribed spacer (IT1S) of rDNA and a fragment in the mtDNA gene coding for 16sRNA, were PCR-amplified and sequenced in samples of various geographical origins distributed worldwide. IT1S or 16sRNA showed no phylogeographical structure.Σκοπός της παρούσας εργασίας είναι η διερεύνηση της γενετικής και της βιολογίας πληθυσμών της αφίδας Myzus persicae Sulzer, της ανθεκτικότητάς της σε εντομοκτόνα, με έμφαση στα νεονικοτινοειδή και πυρεθροειδή, καθώς και στην καταγραφή, μελέτη της βιολογίας και της ανθεκτικότητας σε εντομοκτόνα ορισμένων αρπακτικών ειδών, φυσικών εχθρών της αφίδας. Στα πλαίσια της διδακτορικής διατριβής πραγματοποιήθηκαν βιοδοκιμές με τη μέθοδο της στιγμιαίας εμβάπτισης και της τοπικής εφαρμογής σε δείγματα πληθυσμών του M. persicae, που προέρχονταν τόσο από καλλιέργειες ροδακινιάς όσο και καπνού. Έμφαση δόθηκε στη μέθοδο της στιγμιαίας εμβάπτισης στο imidacloprid, ενώ εξετάστηκαν επίσης τα εντομοκτόνα acetamiprid, pirimicarb, methamidophos, bifenthrin deltamethrin και το chloropyriphos methyl. Τα αποτελέσματα της διδακτορικής διατριβής δείχνουν την ανάπτυξη ισχυρής ανθεκτικότητας της αφίδας M. persicae σε οργανοφωσφορικά, πυρεθροειδή και καρβαμιδικά εντομοκτόνα, ενώ αντίθετα δεν παρατηρήθηκαν υψηλά επίπεδα ανθεκτικότητας στα νεονικοτινοειδή. Στα πλαίσια της διδακτορικής διατριβής μελετήθηκε επίσης η ανθεκτικότητα των φυσικών εχθρών της αφίδας, στο νεονικοτινοειδές εντομοκτόνο imidacloprid με την μέθοδο της τοπικής εφαρμογής. Τα αποτελέσματα δεν έδειξαν υψηλά επίπεδα ανθεκτικότητας στους φυσικούς εχθρούς της αφίδας. Στα είδη H. variegata, Η. undecimnotata και C. septempunctata υπολογίστηκε η διάρκεια ανάπτυξης των ατελών σταδίων, η κατανάλωση αφίδων από τις προνύμφες σε πέντε διαφορετικές θερμοκρασίες (17, 20, 23, 26, 29οC, στο C. septempunctata μόνο στους 23 οC) και φωτοπερίοδο L16:D8. Ως θήραμα χρησιμοποιήθηκε ένας κόκκινος κλώνος M. persicae σε φύλλα καπνού. Η κατώτερη ουδός ανάπτυξης ήταν 12,5οC και 12,7 οC ενώ οι απαραίτητοι ημεροβαθμοί για την ολοκλήρωση των ατελών σταδίων ήταν 211 και 257 ημέρες για το H. variegata και H. undecimnotata, αντίστοιχα. Στην ίδια θερμοκρασία η συνολική και ημερήσια κατανάλωση για το H. variegata ήταν 129,1 και 9,4 αφίδες, αντίστοιχα. Η συνολική και ημερήσια κατανάλωση για το C. septempunctata ήταν 190 και 10,9 αφίδες, αντίστοιχα στους 23οC. Ο ενδογενής ρυθμός αύξησης (rm, θηλυκό/θηλυκό/ημέρα), η μέση διάρκεια γενιάς (T, ήμερες), ο καθαρός αναπαραγωγικός ρυθμός (R0 θηλυκό/θηλυκό) και ο χρόνος διπλασιασμού πληθυσμού (DT, ημέρες) για το H. variegata ήταν 0,129, 42,4, 241,9 και 5,4, για το H. undecimnotata ήταν 0,084, 59,1, 142,7 και 8,3 και για το C. septempunctata ήταν 0,061, 69,3, 67,3 και 11,4 αντίστοιχα. Το ζεύγος αρσενικού και θηλυκού C. septempunctata κατανάλωσε τις 50 πρώτες ημέρες 3404 αφίδες. Συμπερασματικά και τα τρία είδη αποτελούν αποτελεσματικούς θηρευτές του Μ. persicae, όπως έχει αναφερθεί και για άλλα είδη αφίδων, με το C. septempunctata να υπερτερεί ελαφρώς λόγω της μεγαλύτερης κατανάλωσης αφίδων και την χαμηλή θνησιμότητα που βρέθηκε. Για τη βελτίωση προγραμμάτων ολοκληρωμένης καταπολέμησης αποφασιστικό ρόλο παίζουν οι πληροφορίες των εντόμων-εχθρών από μελέτες γενετικής διαφοροποίησης των πληθυσμών. Για αυτό έγινε μια πρώτη προσπάθεια μελέτης της γενετικής πληθυσμών του αρπακτικού κολεοπτέρου, C. septempunctata από διάφορες περιοχές της Ελλάδας, Κύπρου, Ιταλίας και Σερβίας. Τα αποτελέσματα δεν μπόρεσαν να διαχωρίσουν τους πληθυσμούς μεταξύ τους

Exosomes as Novel Diagnostic Biomarkers and Therapeutic Tools in Gliomas

Exosomes constitute small extracellular vesicles that contain lipids, proteins, nucleic acids, and glycoconjugates from the secreted cells and are capable of transmitting signals between cells and coordinating cellular communication. By this means, they are ultimately involved in physiology and disease, including development, homeostasis, and immune system regulation, as well as contributing to tumor progression and neurodegenerative diseases pathology. Recent studies have shown that gliomas secrete a panel of exosomes which have been associated with cell invasion and migration, tumor immune tolerance, potential for malignant transformation, neovascularization, and resistance to treatment. Exosomes have therefore emerged as intercellular communicators, which mediate the tumor–microenvironment interactions and exosome-regulated glioma cell stemness and angiogenesis. They may induce tumor proliferation and malignancy in normal cells by carrying pro-migratory modulators from cancer cells as well as many different molecular cancer modifiers, such as oncogenic transcripts, miRNAs, mutant oncoproteins, etc., which promote the communication of cancer cells with the surrounding stromal cells and provide valuable information on the molecular profile of the existing tumor. Moreover, engineered exosomes can provide an alternative system for drug delivery and enable efficient treatment. In the present review, we discuss the latest findings regarding the role of exosomes in glioma pathogenesis, their utility in non-invasive diagnosis, and potential applications to treatment

Electrical Vehicles: Current State of the Art, Future Challenges, and Perspectives

The goal of the study presented in this article is to provide a general overview of the various aspects related to electric vehicles (EVs), along with all associated emerging challenges and perspectives. In this context, the basic types of EVs and the corresponding charging technologies are analyzed. Since EVs are expected to be a key component of future smart electrical grids (SEG), connection to the grid issues, along with advanced charging techniques (i.e., wireless power transfer), are analyzed as well. To this end, the main features, the requirements of vehicle to grid (V2G) communications, as well as future developments and scenarios of electrification, are also presented and analyzed. Moreover, integration issues with currently deployed fifth generation (5G) mobile wireless networks are also outlined, in order to ensure optimum transmission and reception quality in V2G communications and improved user experience. This integration is also expanded in autonomous vehicles (AVs) technology (self-driving objects), since optimized information processing from various diverse sources is required in order to ensure advanced traffic management aspects