Experimental Analysis of Open-Circuit Voltage Hysteresis in Lithium-Iron-Phosphate Batteries

This paper aims at investigating and modelling the hysteresis in the relationship between state-of-charge and open-circuit voltage of lithium-iron-phosphate batteries. A first-order charge relaxation equation was used to describe the hysteresis dynamics. This equation was translated into a voltage-controlled voltage source and included within an equivalent electric circuit of the battery used in online state-of-charge estimators. The effectiveness of the obtained battery model was verified comparing simulated and experimental data

On the functional test of the BTB logic in pipelined and superscalar processors

Electronic systems are increasingly used for safety-critical applications, where the effects of faults must be taken under control and hopefully avoided. For this purpose, test of manufactured devices is particularly important, both at the end of the production line and during the operational phase. This paper describes a method to test the logic implementing the Branch Prediction Unit in pipelined and superscalar processors when this follows the Branch Target Buffer (BTB) architecture; the proposed approach is functional, i.e., it is based on forcing the processor to execute a suitably devised test program and observing the produced results. Experimental results are provided on the DLX processor, showing that the method can achieve a high value of stuck-at fault coverage while also testing the memory in the BT

Comparative study of three low-tech soilless systems for the cultivation of geranium (Pelargonium zonale): A commercial quality assessment

The study evaluated the feasibility of simplified hydroponics for the growth of rooted cuttings of geranium (Pelargonium zonale) for commercial purposes in local farms in Northern Italy. Tested systems included a control where soilless system on substrate (peat) (T-1), usually adopted by local farmers, was compared against an open-cycle drip system on substrate (peat) (T-2), and a Nutrient Film Technique system (T-3). For commercial features, assessed parameters included flowering degree (flowering timing, numbers of inflorescences plant−1, and number of flowers inflorescence−1), numbers of leaves plant−1, number of branches plant−1, final height of plant, and the aesthetic-commercial assessment index. Assessed parameters also included fresh and dry weight, SPAD Index, the water consumption, and the water use efficiency (WUE). The soilless systems typology significantly affected rooted cuttings growth, commercial features, and WUE. The adoption of an open-cycle drip system (T-2) resulted in a significant improvement of all the crop commercial characteristics as compared with other treatments, making plants more attractive for the market. The water consumption was higher in T-2 as compared with T-1 and T-3, but it allowed for the highest fresh weight, and therefore also the highest WUE. The results indicate that the typology of soilless system significantly enhances the commercial characteristics of geranium

A Method for Generation of Bone Marrow-Derived Macrophages from Cryopreserved Mouse Bone Marrow Cells

The broad use of transgenic and gene-targeted mice has established bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDM) as important mammalian host cells for investigation of the macrophages biology. Over the last decade, extensive research has been done to determine how to freeze and store viable hematopoietic human cells; however, there is no information regarding generation of BMDM from frozen murine bone marrow (BM) cells. Here, we establish a highly efficient protocol to freeze murine BM cells and further generate BMDM. Cryopreserved murine BM cells maintain their potential for BMDM differentiation for more than 6 years. We compared BMDM obtained from fresh and frozen BM cells and found that both are similarly able to trigger the expression of CD80 and CD86 in response to LPS or infection with the intracellular bacteria Legionella pneumophila. Additionally, BMDM obtained from fresh or frozen BM cells equally restrict or support the intracellular multiplication of pathogens such as L. pneumophila and the protozoan parasite Leishmania (L.) amazonensis. Although further investigation are required to support the use of the method for generation of dendritic cells, preliminary experiments indicate that bone marrow-derived dendritic cells can also be generated from cryopreserved BM cells. Overall, the method described and validated herein represents a technical advance as it allows ready and easy generation of BMDM from a stock of frozen BM cells

Klotho pathways, myelination disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, and epigenetic drugs

In this review we outline a rationale for identifying neuroprotectants aimed at inducing endogenous Klotho activity and expression, which is epigenetic action, by definition. Such an approach should promote remyelination and/or stimulate myelin repair by acting on mitochondrial function, thereby heralding a life-saving path forward for patients suffering from neuroinflammatory diseases. Disorders of myelin in the nervous system damage the transmission of signals, resulting in loss of vision, motion, sensation, and other functions depending on the affected nerves, currently with no effective treatment. Klotho genes and their single-pass transmembrane Klotho proteins are powerful governors of the threads of life and death, true to the origin of their name, Fates, in Greek mythology. Among its many important functions, Klotho is an obligatory co-receptor that binds, activates, and/or potentiates critical fibroblast growth factor activity. Since the discovery of Klotho a little over two decades ago, it has become ever more apparent that when Klotho pathways go awry, oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction take over, and age-related chronic disorders are likely to follow. The physiological consequences can be wide ranging, potentially wreaking havoc on the brain, eye, kidney, muscle, and more. Central nervous system disorders, neurodegenerative in nature, and especially those affecting the myelin sheath, represent worthy targets for advancing therapies that act upon Klotho pathways. Current drugs for these diseases, even therapeutics that are disease modifying rather than treating only the symptoms, leave much room for improvement. It is thus no wonder that this topic has caught the attention of biomedical researchers around the world.https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/biores.2020.0004Published versio

Recurrence in the dynamical system (X,〈Ts〉s∈S) and ideals of βS

A dynamical system is a pair ( X , 〈 T s 〉 s ∈ S ) , where X is a compact Hausdorff space, S is a semigroup, for each s ∈ S , T s is a continuous function from X to X , and for all s , t ∈ S , T s ∘ T t = T s t . Given a point p ∈ β S , the Stone-Čech compactification of the discrete space S , T p : X → X is defined by, for x ∈ X , T p ( x ) = p − lim s ∈ S T s ( x ) . We let β S have the operation extending the operation of S such that β S is a right topological semigroup and multiplication on the left by any point of S is continuous. Given p , q ∈ β S , T p ∘ T q = T p q , but T p is usually not continuous. Given a dynamical system ( X , 〈 T s 〉 s ∈ S ) , and a point x ∈ X , we let U ( x ) = p ∈ β S : T p ( x ) is uniformly recurrent . We show that each U ( x ) is a left ideal of β S and for any semigroup we can get a dynamical system with respect to which K ( β S ) = ⋂ x ∈ X U ( x ) and c ℓ K ( β S ) = ⋂ U ( x ) : x ∈ X and U ( x ) is closed . And we show that weak cancellation assumptions guarantee that each such U ( x ) properly contains K ( β S ) and has U ( x ) ∖ c ℓ K ( β S ) ≠ ∅

Superluminal X-shaped beams propagating without distortion along a coaxial guide

In a previous paper [Phys. Rev. E64 (2001) 066603; e-print physics/0001039], we showed that localized Superluminal solutions to the Maxwell equations exist, which propagate down (non-evanescence) regions of a metallic cylindrical waveguide. In this paper we construct analogous non-dispersive waves propagating along coaxial cables. Such new solutions, in general, consist in trains of (undistorted) Superluminal "X-shaped" pulses. Particular attention is paid to the construction of finite total energy solutions. Any results of this kind may find application in the other fields in which an essential role is played by a wave-equation (like acoustics, geophysics, etc.). [PACS nos.: 03.50.De; 41.20;Jb; 83.50.Vr; 62.30.+d; 43.60.+d; 91.30.Fn; 04.30.Nk; 42.25.Bs; 46.40.Cd; 52.35.Lv. Keywords: Wave equations; Wave propagation; Localized beams; Superluminal waves; Coaxial cables; Bidirectional decomposition; Bessel beams; X-shaped waves; Maxwell equations; Microwaves; Optics; Special relativity; Coaxial metallic waveguides; Acoustics; Seismology; Mechanical waves; Elastic waves; Guided gravitational waves.]Comment: plain LaTeX file (22 pages), plus 15 figures; in press in Phys. Rev.

A Dynamic Objective Evaluation of Peripheral Arterial Disease by Near-Infrared Spectroscopy

AbstractObjectivesNear-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS), suitable for dynamic measurements, is not routinely used for peripheral arterial disease (PAD). We propose a dynamic NIRS-based measurement to quantify variations in muscle metabolism in PAD.MethodSixty-seven consecutive PAD patients (males=56, age 71.6±8.7 years) and 28 healthy subjects (males=12, age 30.4±11.9 years) were studied. An echo-colour Doppler (ECD) was performed and the ankle–brachial index (ABI) was calculated. Participants performed an incremental treadmill test with NIRS probes on the gastrocnemius. Variations in oxygenated (HbO2), deoxygenated (HHb), total (tHb=HbO2+HHb), and differential (dHb=HbO2−HHb) haemoglobin were recorded and quantified as area-under-curve (AUC) within the range 1.7–3.0kmh−1. Heart rate was recorded, and the number of beats in the same interval was calculated (dHr).ResultsO2HbAUC, HHbAUC and dHbAUC differed between diseased and non-diseased legs (P<0.0001) and exhibited different patterns related to PAD severity according to the ABI value. A compensatory heart rate increase was observed in PAD patients. Compared with the ECD positivity for occlusions/stenoses or multiple plaques, only the receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) analysis of dHbAUC (area=0.932, P<0.0001) showed a sensitivity/specificity of 87.6/93.4 for values ≤−197 (LR+LR−: 13.36/0.13).ConclusionThe dynamic NIRS-based test, quantifying muscle metabolic response according to presence and degree of PAD, allows the evaluation of patients with walking disabilities

Survival and clinical outcomes of diabetic peripheral artery disease patients following a pain-free homebased walking program

Aim: We retrospectively examined the impact on the rate of survival of pain-free home-based exercise in diabetic peripheral artery disease patients compared to patients receiving usual care. Methods: In total, 202 patients at Fontaine's Stage II with diabetes were studied. Half were enrolled in a structured home-based exercise program (E), whereas the other half received walking advice as the active control group (C). Long-term clinical outcomes at five years were gathered from the Emilia-Romagna Health Service Registry, with survival probability selected as the primary outcome. Results: At baseline, the two groups did not differ for any demographic or clinical characteristics. High adherence to the program was recorded in Group E (88% of home-walking sessions executed, with an average distance walked during the program of 174 km). After five years, a survival rate of 90% for Group E and 60% for Group C was observed, with a significantly (P &lt; 0.001) higher mortality risk for Group C [Hazard ratio (HR) = 3.92]. Additionally, among secondary outcomes, Group E showed a significantly (P = 0.048) lower rate of peripheral revascularizations than Group C (15% vs. 24%, respectively; HR = 1.91), all-cause hospitalizations (P = 0.007; 61% vs. 80%, HR = 1.58), and amputations (P = 0.049; 6% vs. 13%, HR = 2.47). In a Cox multivariate-proportional regression model of the entire population, the predictors of survival probability were age (HR = 1.05), Charlson index (HR = 1.24), lower ankle-brachial index (HR = 6.66), and control group (HR = 4.99). Conclusion: A simple sustainable program aimed at improving mobility of diabetic patients with claudication at high cardiovascular risk was associated with better survival and long-term clinical outcomes