Taking the First Step Toward Autonomous Quadruped Robots: The Quadruped Robot Challenge at ICRA 2023 in London [Competitions]

Last year, the IEEE Robotics and Automation Society (RAS) CAB Competition Committee proposed the Quadruped Robot Challenge (QRC) as an exemplary robot challenge organized by RAS at RAS’s major conferences. As a part of the project, the first version of the QRC was held in ICRA 2023 in London. In this column, we would like to introduce the challenges and the results

Lane-Level Map Generation and Management Framework Using Connected Car Data

This study proposes a lane-level map generation and management framework using connected sensor data to reduce the manpower and time required for producing and updating high-definition (HD) maps. Unlike previous studies that relied on the onboard processing capabilities of vehicles to collect map-constructing elements, this study offloads computing for map generation to the cloud, assigning vehicles solely the role of transmitting sensor data. For efficient data collection, we divide the space into a grid format to define it as a partial map and establish the state of each map and its transition conditions. Lastly, tailored to the characteristics of the road elements composing the map, we propose an automated map generation technique and method for selectively collecting data. The map generation method was tested using data collected from actual vehicles. By transmitting images with an average size of 350 KB, implementation was feasible even with the current 5G upload bandwidth. By utilizing 12,545 elements, we were able to achieve a position accuracy and regression RMSE of less than 0.25 m, obtaining 651 map elements to construct the map. We anticipate that this study will help reduce the manpower and time needed for deploying and updating HD maps

Isometry property and inversion of a spherical mean Radon transform with centers on a hyperplane

The spherical mean Radon transform maps a suitable function f to the integral of f over a sphere. This transform is used in photoacoustic tomography based on the wave equation. There have been studies on the spherical mean Radon transform, including a method that uses an isometry property. In this paper, we demonstrate that the spherical mean Radon transform can be expressed as a convolution with specific (generalized) functions. Additionally, we provide an inversion formula for the spherical mean Radon transform, which is derived from the isometry property of the spherical mean Radon transform

Dysregulation of inflammasome activation in glioma

Abstract Gliomas are the most common brain tumors characterized by complicated heterogeneity. The genetic, molecular, and histological pathology of gliomas is characterized by high neuro-inflammation. The inflammatory microenvironment in the central nervous system (CNS) has been closely linked with inflammasomes that control the inflammatory response and coordinate innate host defenses. Dysregulation of the inflammasome causes an abnormal inflammatory response, leading to carcinogenesis in glioma. Because of the clinical importance of the various physiological properties of the inflammasome in glioma, the inflammasome has been suggested as a promising treatment target for glioma management. Here, we summarize the current knowledge on the contribution of the inflammasomes in glioma and therapeutic insights. Video Abstrac

Hydrogen Gas Sensors Using Palladium Nanogaps on an Elastomeric Substrate

With the recent reillumination of the hydrogen economy around the world, the demand for H2 sensors is expected to increase rapidly. Due to safety issues caused by the highly flammable and explosive character of hydrogen gas (H2), it is imperative to develop the sensors that can quickly and sensitively detect H2 leaks. For the development of H2 sensors, Pd-based materials have been extensively used due to the high affinity of Pd metal for H2. Among Pd-based H2 sensors, Pd nanogap-based sensors have been extensively investigated because these sensors can operate in an on–off manner, which enables them to have improved sensing capabilities, including high sensitivity, rapid response, short recovery time, and good reliability. Importantly, significant advances in H2-sensing performance have been achieved by simply using an elastomeric substrate to form Pd nanogaps. Herein, the progress and advanced approaches achieved over the last decade for Pd nanogap-based H2 sensors supported on elastomeric substrates are reviewed, with a focus on strategies to reduce detection limits and increase reliability, sensitivity, and stability. © 2021 Wiley-VCH GmbH1

Hypouricemic Effects of Chrysanthemum indicum L. and Cornus officinalis on Hyperuricemia-Induced HepG2 Cells, Renal Cells, and Mice

Hyperuricemia, abnormally excess accumulation of uric acid, is caused by an imbalance between the production and excretion of uric acid and is a major cause of gout. We compared the effects of extracts from Chrysanthemum indicum L. (Ci) and Cornus officinalis Siebold and Zucc. (Co) on hyperuricemia, both individually and in combination (FSU-CC), using hypoxanthine-treated human liver cancer (HepG2) cells, primary mouse renal proximal tubule cells, and potassium oxonate induced hyperuricemic mice. The Ci contained 7.62 mg/g luteolin and 0 mg/g loganin, Co contained 0 mg/g luteolin and 4.90 mg/g loganin, and FSH-CC contained 3.95 mg/g luteolin and 2.48 mg/g loganin. We found that treatment with Ci, Co, and FSU-CC suppressed the activity of xanthine oxidase and mRNA expression of xanthine dehydrogenase while inducing an increase in the expression levels of the organic anion transporter 1 (OAT1) and organic anion transporter 3 (OAT3) proteins and a decrease in the expression levels of glucose transporter 9 (GLUT9) and urate transporter 1 (URAT1) proteins. Particularly, treatment and supplementation with FSU-CC showed stronger effects than those of supplementation with either Ci or Co alone. We observed that the excretion of creatinine and uric acid in the combination of Ci and Co was higher than that observed in their individual supplementations and was similar to that of the normal group. Therefore, our data suggest that a combination of Ci and Co may potentially be used for the development of effective natural anti-hyperuricemic functional foods

A protective role of urban greenspace on the association between night-time heat and suicide in Seoul, South Korea

Suicide, a leading cause of death among the youth, has shown a positive association with high temperatures. However, few studies have explored the association between tropical nights and suicide and the potential role of greenness on this association. We investigated the association between suicide and two hot night indices: hot night duration (HNd) and hot night excess (HNe), representing heat duration and excess heat during night-time. We also explored whether the association was modified by urban greenspace, measured by satellite-derived normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), across 25 districts in Seoul, South Korea from 2000 to 2020. Based on the multi-district daily time-series data, we performed a space-time-stratified case-crossover analysis with a distributed lag linear model with lags of up to 7 d for HNd and HNe, adjusting for daily mean temperature and relative humidity. We added an interaction term between the hot night index and NDVI to assess the effect modification of greenness. In total, 14 693 suicides were included in this study. The relative risk (RR) of suicide per a 10% increase in HNd was 1.059 (95% CI: 1.017–1.103) in low NDVI areas and 1.031 (95% CI: 0.988–1.075) in high NDVI areas. The RR per a 1 °C increase in HNe was 1.011 (95% CI: 0.998–1.024) and 1.005 (95% CI: 0.992–1.018) in low and high NDVI areas, respectively. Greenspaces have expanded over time in all districts of Seoul, and the risk of suicide for night-time heat decreased over time in both low and high NDVI areas. Our findings suggest that exposure to night-time heat is associated with an increased risk of suicide, but this risk may be mitigated by greater greenspaces in urban areas. Prioritizing development and maintenance of urban greenspaces will be a critical co-benefit strategy for promoting public mental health in changing climates