63 research outputs found
Lithium-Ion batteries for Electric Vehicles:Characterization, Modeling, State-of-Charge estimation and Disequalization phenomena
No full textThe increased sensibility on environmental problems and the growing price of oil have focused research during the past few years on reducing energy consumption. As for the automotive field, research is devoted to increase vehicle efficiency and reduce pollutant emissions. In that context, the increasing interest on vehicle electrification (HEV, PHEV, EV) brought manufacturers and researchers to invest significant resources in the research and development of advanced energy storage systems, particularly in advanced battery systems. The Book focuses on lithium-ion technology because of its superior characteristics suitable for electric vehicles. Even if batteries are so common in day-by-day life, thanks to portable electronic systems, the need to use them in EVs and HEVs has underlined new issues with respect to the ones already solved for mobile electronic systems. Characterization, modeling, State-of-Charge etimations and disequalization phoenomena are the subjects of this Book
The mix estimation algorithm for state-of-charge estimator analysis of the sensitivity to model errors
No full textMOTORCYCLE EQUIPPED WITH DEVICE FOR DETECTING VEHICLE COMING FROM BEHIND
No full textA motorcycle (1) comprises a frame mounted on wheels and has a front part (5) and a rear part (6), a handlebar (7) being located at the front part, means being provided to detect at least the speed and roll angle of the motorcycle when in movement, the frame having a longitudinal median plane (W) joining such front part (5) and the rear part (6). A device (10) for detecting a vehicle (V) which is moving towards the rear part (7) of the motorcycle when such motorcycle is in movement is provided, said device (10) comprising a radar detector or a television camera (12) rigidly of one piece with the motorcycle (1), said radar detector (12) being rigidly associated with the rear part (6) of the motorcycle (1) and following its movement, said radar detector (12) being connected to means (15) for evaluating the presence and movement of said vehicle (V) moving towards the rear part of the motorcycle (1) and capable of determining a variable hazard indication which identifies a time to collision between the vehicle and the motorcycle, said evaluation means (15) activating warning means (38) on the basis of such hazard indication which generate a warning for the rider's attention when said hazard indication reaches a predetermined value
Management of angular speed sensors for control at the power-zero condition of a continuously variable transmission: a describing-function approach
No full textCannabis-based treatment induces polarity-reversing plasticity assessed by theta burst stimulation in humans
No full textBackgroundIn animal models, the cannabinoid system has been convincingly implicated in the regulation of long-lasting synaptic plasticity. Both long-term potentiation (LTP) and depression (LTD) phenomena can beinduced in the human motor cortex by transcranial magnetic theta burst stimulation (TBS).Objective/HypothesisHere, we explored the potential involvement of the cannabinoid system in TBS-induced synapticplasticity in humans.MethodsWe tested the effects of a cannabis-based preparation (Sativex) on continuous TBS (cTBS) andintermittent TBS (iTBS) protocols in subjects with multiple sclerosis.ResultsWe observed a shift in the polarity of synaptic plasticity induced by cTBS. In these subjects, in fact,cTBS induced the expected inhibition of motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) before Sativex exposure,whereas it caused a persisting enhancement of MEP amplitude 4 weeks after. The LTP-likephenomenon induced by iTBS was conversely unaffected by Sativex.ConclusionsOur results indicate that cannabis ingredients have metaplastic effects on the motor cortex, and stronglysuggest that the cannabinoid system is involved in the modulation of synaptic plasticity not only inrodents but also in human
Effects of Anodal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Chronic Neuropathic Pain in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis
No full textAbstract: Neuropathic pain in patients with MS is frequent and is associated with a great interference with daily life activities. In the present study, we investigated whether anodal transcranial direct
current stimulation (tDCS) may be effective in reducing central chronic pain in MS patients. Patients
received sham tDCS or real tDCS in a 5-day period of treatment in a randomized, double blind, shamcontrolled study. Pain was measured using visual analog scale (VAS) for pain and the short form
McGill questionnaire (SF-MPQ). Quality of life was measured using the Multiple Sclerosis Quality
of Life-54 scale (MSQoL-54). Depressive symptoms and anxiety were also evaluated as confounding
factors using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and VAS for anxiety. Evaluations were performed at
baseline, immediately after the end of treatment, and once a week during a 3-week follow-up period.
Following anodal but not sham tDCS over the motor cortex, there was a significant pain improvement as assessed by VAS for pain and McGill questionnaire, and of overall quality of life. No depression or anxiety changes were observed. Our results show that anodal tDCS is able to reduce
pain-scale scores in MS patients with central chronic pain and that this effect outlasts the period
of stimulation, leading to long-lasting clinical effects.
Perspective: This article presents a new, noninvasive therapeutic approach to chronic, central neuropathic pain in multiple sclerosis, poorly responsive to current conventional medications. tDCS is
known to cause long-lasting changes of neuronal excitability at the site of stimulation and in the
connected areas in healthy subjects. This led us to hypothesize that pain decrease may be the result
of functional plastic changes in brain structures involved in the pathogenesis of chronic neuropathic
pain.Neuropathic pain in patients with MS is frequent and is associated with a great interference with daily life activities. In the present study, we investigated whether anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) may be effective in reducing central chronic pain in MS patients. Patients received sham tDCS or real tDCS in a 5-day period of treatment in a randomized, double blind, sham-controlled study. Pain was measured using visual analog scale (VAS) for pain and the short form McGill questionnaire (SF-MPQ). Quality of life was measured using the Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life-54 scale (MSQoL-54). Depressive symptoms and anxiety were also evaluated as confounding factors using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and VAS for anxiety. Evaluations were performed at baseline, immediately after the end of treatment, and once a week during a 3-week follow-up period. Following anodal but not sham tDCS over the motor cortex, there was a significant pain improvement as assessed by VAS for pain and McGill questionnaire, and of overall quality of life. No depression or anxiety changes were observed. Our results show that anodal tDCS is able to reduce pain-scale scores in MS patients with central chronic pain and that this effect outlasts the period of stimulation, leading to long-lasting clinical effects. Perspective: This article presents a new, noninvasive therapeutic approach to chronic, central neuropathic pain in multiple sclerosis, poorly responsive to current conventional medications. tDCS is known to cause long-lasting changes of neuronal excitability at the site of stimulation and in the connected areas in healthy subjects. This led us to hypothesize that pain decrease may be the result of functional plastic changes in brain structures involved in the pathogenesis of chronic neuropathic pain. © 2010 American Pain Society
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