Development of a semi-empirical physical model for transient NOx emissions prediction from a high-speed diesel engine.

With emissions regulations becoming increasingly restrictive and the advent of real driving emissions limits, control of engine-out NOx emissions remains an important research topic for diesel engines. Progress in experimental engine development and computational modelling has led to the generation of a large amount of high-fidelity emissions and in-cylinder data, making it attractive to use data-driven emissions prediction and control models. While pure data-driven methods have shown robustness in NOx prediction during steady-state engine operation, deficiencies are found under transient operation and at engine conditions far outside the training range. Therefore, physics-based, mean value models that capture cyclic-level changes in in-cylinder thermo-chemical properties appear as an attractive option for transient NOx emissions modelling. Previous experimental studies have highlighted the existence of a very strong correlation between peak cylinder pressure and cyclic NOx emissions. In this study, a cyclic peak pressure-based semi-empirical NOx prediction model is developed. The model is calibrated using high-speed NO and NO2 emissions measurements during transient engine operation and then tested under different transient operating conditions. The transient performance of the physical model is compared to that of a previously developed data-driven (artificial neural network) model, and is found to be superior, with a better dynamic response and low (<10%) errors. The results shown in this study are encouraging for the use of such models as virtual sensors for real-time emissions monitoring and as complimentary models for future physics-guided neural network development.

Performances of rapid and connected salivary RT-LAMP diagnostic test for SARS-CoV-2 infection in ambulatory screening.

In the context of social events reopening and economic relaunch, sanitary surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 infection is still required. Here, we evaluated the diagnostic performances of a rapid, extraction-free and connected reverse-transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) assay on saliva. Nasopharyngeal (NP) swabs and saliva from 443 outpatients were collected simultaneously and tested by reverse-transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) as reference standard test. Seventy-one individuals (16.0%) were positive by NP and/or salivary RT-qPCR. Sensitivity and specificity of salivary RT-LAMP were 85.9% (95%CI 77.8-94.0%) and 99.5% (98.7-100%), respectively. Performances were similar for symptomatic and asymptomatic participants. Moreover, SARS-CoV-2 genetic variants were analyzed and no dominant mutation in RT-LAMP primer region was observed during the period of the study. We demonstrated that this RT-LAMP test on self-collected saliva is reliable for SARS-CoV-2 detection. This simple connected test with optional automatic results transfer to health authorities is unique and opens the way to secure professional and social events in actual context of economics restart.

Pivotal Role for Cxcr2 in Regulating Tumor-Associated Neutrophil in Breast Cancer.

Chemokines present in the tumor microenvironment are essential for the control of tumor progression. We show here that several ligands of the chemokine receptor Cxcr2 were up-regulated in the PyMT (polyoma middle T oncogene) model of breast cancer. Interestingly, the knock-down of Cxcr2 in PyMT animals led to an increased growth of the primary tumor and lung metastasis. The analysis of tumor content of PyMT-Cxcr2-/- animals highlighted an increased infiltration of tumor associated neutrophils (TANs), mirrored by a decreased recruitment of tumor associated macrophages (TAMs) compared to PyMT animals. Analysis of PyMT-Cxcr2-/- TANs revealed that they lost their killing ability compared to PyMT-Cxcr2+/+ TANs. The transcriptomic analysis of PyMT-Cxcr2-/- TANs showed that they had a more pronounced pro-tumor TAN2 profile compared to PyMT TANs. In particular, PyMT-Cxcr2-/- TANs displayed an up-regulation of the pathways involved in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and angiogenesis and factors favoring metastasis, but reduced apoptosis. In summary, our data reveal that a lack of Cxcr2 provides TANs with pro-tumor effects.

Hallucinations Under Psychedelics and in the Schizophrenia Spectrum: An Interdisciplinary and Multiscale Comparison.

The recent renaissance of psychedelic science has reignited interest in the similarity of drug-induced experiences to those more commonly observed in psychiatric contexts such as the schizophrenia-spectrum. This report from a multidisciplinary working group of the International Consortium on Hallucinations Research (ICHR) addresses this issue, putting special emphasis on hallucinatory experiences. We review evidence collected at different scales of understanding, from pharmacology to brain-imaging, phenomenology and anthropology, highlighting similarities and differences between hallucinations under psychedelics and in the schizophrenia-spectrum disorders. Finally, we attempt to integrate these findings using computational approaches and conclude with recommendations for future research.

Enculturation without TTOM and Bayesianism without FEP: Another Bayesian theory of culture is needed.

First, I discuss cross-cultural evidence showing that a good deal of enculturation takes place outside of thinking through other minds. Second, I review evidence challenging the claim that humans seek to minimize entropy. Finally, I argue that optimality claims should be avoided, and that descriptive Bayesianism offers a more promising avenue for the development of a Bayesian theory of culture.

The multi-dimensional approach to drug-induced states a commentary on Bayne and Carter's "dimensions of consciousness and the psychedelic state".

Bayne and Carter argue that the mode of consciousness induced by psychedelic drugs does not fit squarely within the traditional account of modes as levels of consciousness, and favors instead a multi-dimensional account according to which modes of consciousness differ along several dimensions-none of which warrants a linear ordering of modes. We discuss the assumption that psychedelic drugs induce a single or paradigmatic mode of consciousness, as well as conceptual issues related to Bayne and Carter's main argument against the traditional account. Finally, we raise a set of questions about the individuation of dimensions selected to differentiate modes of consciousness that could be addressed in future discussions of the multi-dimensional account.

Association between family dynamics and the length of screen time of preschool children in Quezon City: A cross-sectional study / The Health Sciences Journal

INTRODUCTION@#Excessive screen time has been found to be detrimental to a child’s development. Despite its prevalence, there is a dearth of studies relating family dynamics and screen time. This study aimed to determine the association between family dynamics and the length of screen time among preschool children.@*METHODS@#Participants were selected through convenience sampling and interviewed using the Family APGAR questionnaire. Families were classified as functional or dysfunctional. The adult respondents estimated the total screen time and this was classified as low-level or excessive. The association between screen time and APGAR classification was determined using prevalence rate ratio.@*RESULTS@#Majority of 115 families had an APGAR classification of highly functional, with the children having an average screen time of five hours. Children from dysfunctional families were 1.23 times more likely to have an excessive amount of screen time than those with highly functional families and the difference was significant (p = 0.041).@*CONCLUSION@#Majority of the families in this study were highly functional and the average screen time of the children included in the study was five hours. Children from dysfunctional families were 1.23 times more likely to have an excessive amount of screen time than those with highly functional families.

An optical method for measuring exhaust gas pressure from an internal combustion engine at high speed.

Measurement of exhaust gas pressure at high speed in an engine is important for engine efficiency, computational fluid dynamics analysis, and turbocharger matching. Currently used piezoresistive sensors are bulky, require cooling, and have limited lifetimes. A new sensor system uses an interferometric technique to measure pressure by measuring the size of an optical cavity, which varies with pressure due to movement of a diaphragm. This pressure measurement system has been used in gas turbine engines where the temperatures and pressures have no significant transients but has never been applied to an internal combustion engine before, an environment where both temperature and pressure can change rapidly. This sensor has been compared with a piezoresistive sensor representing the current state-of-the-art at three engine operating points corresponding to both light load and full load. The results show that the new sensor can match the measurements from the piezoresistive sensor except when there are fast temperature swings, so the latter part of the pressure during exhaust blowdown is only tracked with an offset. A modified sensor designed to compensate for these temperature effects is also tested. The new sensor has shown significant potential as a compact, durable sensor, which does not require external cooling.

A clinical monitoring system for clozapine.

OBJECTIVE: To describe a framework for the initiation and ongoing monitoring of patients on clozapine, and detail support materials that can be used in clinical settings, including general practice, to support this process. CONCLUSIONS: A framework is described. Clozapine has a special place in the management of treatment-resistant schizophrenia. However, it has certain side-effects that require its use to be carefully evaluated on an individual patient basis, and encompass excellent documentation and discussion with all relevant parties. Comprehensive longitudinal monitoring is required.