24 research outputs found
Analysis of the expression and effects of vascular endothelial growth factor family of molecules on Fragile X Syndrome abnormalities in a mouse model
Get PDFFragile X Syndrome (FXS) is the most common form of inherited mental retardation affecting 1:3600 males and 1:8000 females (Cornish et al., 2008). The primary cause is a silencing of the FMR1 gene, via increased CGG trinucleotide repeats, which encodes for the Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein (FMRP) (Santoro et al., 2012). The current prevailing theory for the molecular mechanism mediating FXS molecular, physical, and behavioral phenotypes is centered around dysregulation of down-stream products of the metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR) (mGluR Theory) (Bear et al., 2004). However recent clinical trials using mGluR inhibitors have all failed, attributing to various factors such as a need for optimized dosage, developmental time for intervention, better metrics for human studies, and most prominently complexity of the mGluR pathway (Scharf et al., 2015). With this ubiquitous failure of mGluR inhibitors, new thrusts have been initiated to determine which of the downstream components of the mGluR pathway is leading to and causing FXS phenotypes.
In the pursuit of isolating and determining potential causes/therapeutic targets for intervention, the current dissertation explored the role of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A), a downstream component of mGluR. This dissertation will outline a series of studies where we demonstrate that VEGF-A is elevated in adult FXS mice and that modulation of this elevated VEGF-A can attenuate many FXS abnormalities. In Chapter 2, we obtain developmental expression profiles of the VEGF Family of molecules and their Receptors to help understand where this dysregulation occurs and how it manifests throughout development. Next, Chapter 3 we found that through blocking VEGF-A, Synapsin-1 levels (a presynaptic marker) were reduced to wildtype (WT) levels and resulted in a rescue of physical and behavioral FXS phenotypes (Belagodu et al., 2017). Chapter 4 explored and characterized ultrasonic vocalization (USV) abnormalities in FXS mice to find more human relevant behavioral metrics to assess potential therapeutic interventions (Belagodu et al., 2016). Utilizing these studies, Chapter 5 assessed the extent to which blocking VEGF-A can rescue many FXS behavioral abnormalities, such as USV production profiles and behavioral measures of locomotion, anxiety, and stereotypy. Finally, to determine which of the VEGF Receptors are driving the beneficial effects of blocking VEGF-A, Chapter 6 utilized VEGF Receptor specific blockers to assess similar molecular and behavioral properties examined following blocking of VEGF-A. Overall these studies will help to provide further insight into which of the downstream components of the mGluR pathway are playing a role in FXS. In particular these studies will establish which of the VEGF Family and Receptors are driving FXS abnormalities and thus may serve as a viable target for future FXS therapeutics.Submission published under a 24 month embargo labeled 'U of I Access', the embargo will last until 2019-05-01The student, Amogh Belagodu, accepted the attached license on 2017-04-21 at 12:09.The student, Amogh Belagodu, submitted this Dissertation for approval on 2017-04-21 at 12:26.This Dissertation was approved for publication on 2017-04-21 at 15:17.DSpace SAF Submission Ingestion Package generated from Vireo submission #10973 on 2017-08-10 at 15:06:49Made available in DSpace on 2017-08-10T20:33:20Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2
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Previous issue date: 2017-04-21Embargo set by: Colleen Fallaw for item 102822
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Practical Approaches towards Complete Real-time Gaze Tracking
No full textVisual context plays a key role in many computer vision tasks, and performance of eye/gaze-tracking methods also benefit from it. However, the size of contextual information (e.g. full face image) is very large w.r.t the primary input i.e. cropped image of the eye. This adds large computational costs to the algorithm and makes it inefficient, severely lim- iting its utility in real-time applications. In this paper, we perform a (computational) cost vs benefit analysis of var- ious input types that include context, leaning towards an efficient gaze-tracking system. We further study the effect of an alternate ranking loss based training strategy. Finally, we demonstrate some practical calibration techniques that can convert gaze-vectors into points-on-screen, an impor- tant application that is often overlooked in literature. We examine how data-efficient these techniques are in terms of how well they utilise expensive calibration data.Computer Science | Data Science and Technolog
Process Chain Development of a ReSOC System with ammonia as fuel and steam electrolysis
No full textEnergy storage systems are an emerging field of interest for the future of electrical grids. With the rapid growth of renewable but intermittent sources of electricity, energy storage systems can help smooth the variations, making the grid more stable and reducing the need for maintaining an overcapacity of power production infrastructure. Among energy storage solutions, power-to-chemical storage is of particular interest due to the high energy density of chemicals and seasonal storage capabilities. Developments made in power-to-chemical technologies can also go a long way towards making the transportation and chemical industries sustainable. The chemical considered in this work is ammonia (NH3), which has advantages of being an easily liquefiable fuel, and has also been in industrial use for over a century. This thesis project aims towards the development of an efficient power-to-ammonia energy storage system using reversible solid oxide cells. The system designed in this thesis is based on direct ammonia utilisation in fuel cell mode, and steam electrolysis coupled with Haber-Bosch ammonia synthesis in the electrolysis mode. A steady state process model is designed in Aspen Plus. This is followed by extensive thermodynamic exergy analysis, used as the basis for the further design and optimisation of the system, with a goal to maximise the round trip efficiency. Exergy analysis is used to identify the sources with most scope for improvement. The final system can attain a maximum round trip efficiency of 61.20 %, improved from a basic system efficiency of 19.79 %. The maximum round trip efficiency is comparable to values reported in recent times for thermodynamically studied models from literature using other fuels, such as 56.72 % for methanol. The optimised system attains high efficiencies without the need for thermal energy storage or an afterburner. Further, it is demonstrated that the designed system is efficient enough that heat integration across modes with high temperature energy storage does not provide any significant benefit.Balance Projec
Institutional Analysis of Direct Air Capture in the context of Aviation Sustainability
No full textThe aviation industry is one of the most challenging sectors to decarbonise. There is an urgent need to reduce emissions in order to meet its committed goal of achieving net-zero flying by 2050. Along with the existing and proposed decarbonization options such as electric aircraft, hydrogen fuel, and operationalimprovements, a hard-to-abate sector like aviation would require large amounts of carbon dioxide removal in order to achieve net zero. One such technology-based carbon removal option is Direct Air Capture (DAC) which has the potential to emerge as a potential game-changer to mitigate aviation’s environmental impact. This thesis report presents an analysis of the suitability of adopting DAC for aviation sustainability, viewed through an institutional analysis lens using the Institutional Analysis and Development (IAD) framework. DAC is framed as a technology niche from the Multi-Level Perspective to get a descriptive understanding of the problem context and the interconnected parts in the larger picture of aviation sustainability innovations. Specific to DAC, multiple dimensions of DAC integration in the aviation sector, including technology, actors, and policy analysis are carried out. Employing the IAD framework, the underlying institutional arrangements, rules, and incentives influencing the adoption of DAC for carbon removal in the aviation industry are examined.Data was collected from grey literature, industry reports and interviews with aviation industry professionals. To assess the suitability of DAC for aviation sustainability, various evaluative criteria such as carbon emission reduction potential, technological feasibility, cost-effectiveness, and market acceptancewere considered. There are trade-offs in using DAC for aviation such as complexity in carbon markets, uncertainties in carbon credit pricing, and challenges in accurately measuring DAC’s carbon removal effectiveness. It is seen that DAC holds promise as an innovative carbon removal technology with potential applications in aviation including but not limited to the use in sustainable aviation fuel production. The current state of technology is nascent but the proposed policies under the EU have the potential to drive the commercialization of this technology. The aviation industry stakeholders, alongwith carbon market operators, DAC providers, and government policymakers, are key actors involved. The incentives and motivations of actors in determining the success and scalability of DAC for aviation are illustrated.Based on the analysis, the following recommendations are provided. To minimize residual emissions from aviation, several strategic approaches can be undertaken. Firstly, fostering collaborative research and development among airlines, DAC technology providers, and research institutions can be vital totackle technological challenges and creating tailored DAC solutions for aviation. Secondly, governments should extend their support through policy incentives and research grants, encouraging DAC development and integration within the aviation industry. Thirdly, establishing robust standards and certification for DAC-derived Sustainable Aviation Fuel ensures the credibility and quality of carbon removal achieved, further supporting aviation sustainabilityComplex Systems Engineering and Management (CoSEM
Primary care in a rural set up in Nepal: Perspectives of a generalist
No full textThis article deals with the author′s personal perspectives while having to serve as a generalist in a rural hospital in one of the most underdeveloped and far away regions of Nepal. Having been deputed in Kalikot District Hospital (KDH) through Nick Simons Institute′s (NSI) Rural Staff Support Program (RSSP), the author mentions the technical hardships and resource constraints of the government hospital. Highlighting the improvement in the hospital profile after the arrival of the RSSP, the article cursorily mentions the modalities of primary care spanning the common clinical presentations. Particularly, the difficulties related to the provision of Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric Care (CEOC) services are highlighted. Also, a brief introduction as to the NSI, Kathmandu is provided
Chandonuśāsana of Vāgbhaṭa: An Unpublished Jain Text on Prosody
Get PDFThe article aims to introduce the unpublished text Chandonuśāsana by Vāgbhaṭa, accompanied by his own commentary titled vivaraṇa. Two manuscripts of this text are available. The main points covered in this article include an overview of the manuscripts, a thorough examination of the text, and information about its author, Vāgbhaṭa. Additionally, the article delves into the complexities surrounding the identity of four different individuals who share the same name, Vāgbhaṭa
The Stone-Čech compactification and its applications to combinatorics, number theory, and topological dynamics
No full textWe examine topological dynamical systems, their relations to semigroups, and the Stone-Čech Compactification. Further, we show how these concepts can be used to prove Schur's Theorem, Hindman's Theorem, Van Der Waerden's Theorem, and the Hales-Jewett Theorem. We give characterizations of various notions of recurrence using the Stone-Čech Compactification for topological dynamical systems.M.S.Includes bibliographical reference
Hot air recirculation enlarges efficient operating window of reversible solid oxide cell systems:A thermodynamic study of energy storage using ammonia
Get PDFEnergy storage is vital for the energy transition, enabling reliable power grids based on intermittent renewables. Reversible solid oxide cell (rSOC) technology is promising for seasonal energy storage. The novel finding from this work is that optimised air recirculation for rSOC in endothermic electrolyser mode leads to efficiency being nearly independent of current density. Thereby the operating region of highest efficiency is expanded from the thermoneutral point to the entire endothermic region, leading to highly efficient part-load operation. Air recirculation increases fuel cell mode efficiency too, particularly at higher loads. This widens the efficient operating window in both modes. These findings emerge from a thermodynamic study of an rSOC-based energy storage system with ammonia as fuel. A process design is developed and optimised for efficiency, supported with detailed exergy analysis. First, ammonia synthesis subsystem integrated with the rSOC system in electrolyser mode is optimised. Second, rSOC outlet air recirculation is optimised for high system efficiency. Finally, rSOC operating points are optimised for highest round-trip efficiency. We find the least exergy destruction for the ammonia synthesis subsystem at 170 bar synthesis pressure and 30 °C condensation temperature (without needing refrigeration). The overall system achieves round-trip efficiencies up to 60.3%
Negative CO<sub>2</sub> Emissions for Transportation
Get PDFNegative emission technologies have recently received increasing attention due to climate change and global warming. One among them is bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS), but the capture process is very energy intensive. Here, a novel pathway is introduced, based on second-generation biofuels followed by carbon circulation in an indefinitely closed chain, effectively resulting in a sink. Instead of using an energy-intensive conventional CCS process, the application of an on-board solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) running on biofuels in an electric vehicle (FCEV) could result in negative emissions by capturing a concentrated stream of CO2, which is readily stored in a second tank. A CO2 recovery system at the fuel station then takes the CO2 from the tank to be transported to storage locations or to be used for local applications such as CO2-based concrete curing and synthesis of e-fuels. Incorporating CO2 utilization technologies into the FCEVs-SOFC system can close the carbon loop, achieving carbon neutrality through feeding the CO2 in a reverse-logistic to a methanol plant. The methanol produced is also used in SOFCs, leading to an infinite repetition of this carbon cycle till a saturation stage is reached. It is determined this pathway will reach typical Cradle-to-Grave negative emissions of 0.515 ton CO2 per vehicle, and total negative CO2 emission of 138 Mt for all passenger cars in the EU is potentially achievable. All steps comprise known technologies with medium to high technology readiness level (TRL) levels, so principally this system can readily be applied in the mid-term.</p
Real-Time Webcam Heart-Rate and Variability Estimation with Clean Ground Truth for Evaluation
No full textRemote photo-plethysmography (rPPG) uses a camera to estimate a person’s heart rate (HR). Similar to how heart rate can provide useful information about a person’s vital signs, insights about the underlying physio/psychological conditions can be obtained from heart rate variability (HRV). HRV is a measure of the fine fluctuations in the intervals between heart beats. However, this measure requires temporally locating heart beats with a high degree of precision. We introduce a refined and efficient real-time rPPG pipeline with novel filtering and motion suppression that not only estimates heart rates, but also extracts the pulse waveform to time heart beats and measure heart rate variability. This unsupervised method requires no rPPG specific training and is able to operate in real-time. We also introduce a new multi-modal video dataset, VicarPPG 2, specifically designed to evaluate rPPG algorithms on HR and HRV estimation. We validate and study our method under various conditions on a comprehensive range of public and self-recorded datasets, showing state-of-the-art results and providing useful insights into some unique aspects. Lastly, we make available CleanerPPG, a collection of human-verified ground truth peak/heart-beat annotations for existing rPPG datasets. These verified annotations should make future evaluations and benchmarking of rPPG algorithms more accurate, standardized and fair.Pattern Recognition and BioinformaticsBiomechatronics & Human-Machine Contro
