46 research outputs found
E-Mission: 'support decisions on transport emissions'
No full textDe verkeer- en vervoerssector is de op één na grootste bron van broeikasgasemissies in Nederland en de enige sector waar de emissies nog toenemen. Zakelijk verkeer en woon-werkverkeer vormen ongeveer 35% van het personenverkeer en zijn samen goed voor zo’n 7 Mton emissies (CO2- equivalenten). Volgens het Sectorakkoord mobiliteit, logistiek en infrastructuur 2008-2020 hebben“partijen behoefte aan inzicht in hun besparingspotentieel. Zij willen daarom over een inzichtelijk en verifieerbaar overzicht van hun CO2-balans kunnen beschikken, dat inzicht geeft in de huidige CO2-uitstoot van Partijen en dat een helder beeld geeft van de potentie en te verwachten effectiviteit van CO2-gerelateerde maatregelen”. Volgens de Taskforce Mobiliteitsmanagement is nu vaak nog sprake van een hoge mate van abstractie en is er veel behoefte aan praktische tools. In dit onderzoek is een dergelijke tool (of ‘beslissingsondersteunend systeem’) ontwikkeld die een organisatie concreet moet vertellen wat de omvang is van zijn verkeersemissies (monitoren), wat het hieraan kan doen en wat er potentieel bespaard kan worden (adviseren), zonder dat de bereikbaarheid van de organisatie in het geding komt. Ook krijgt de organisatie met de tool inzicht in kosten en/of baten van de verschillende maatregelen en inzicht krijgen in hoe de emissies zich verhouden tot andere bedrijven (benchmark). In het advies dat de tool geeft wordt per persoon een ´optimale´ reiswijze bepaald op basis van de potentie voor twee typen maatregelen op het gebied van mobiliteitsmanagement (modal shift en carpoolen). Hiermee wordt op bedrijfsniveau gekeken naar waar in de vervoerswijzekeuze van werknemers (modal split) winst valt te halen (zonder overigens mensen persoonlijk aan te spreken en bijvoorbeeld te verplichten om te gaan fietsen). Door met reiskostenvergoedingen te schuiven kan de organisatie wel proberen om een bepaald reisgedrag te stimuleren of juist te ontmoedigen. De uitkomsten van de tool zijn onder andere geëvalueerd aan de hand van een aantal casestudies bij verschillende organisaties. Hieruit blijken de resultaten die uit de tool komen redelijk te kloppen. Hoewel op sommige punten de nauwkeurigheid wel verbeterd kan worden, hoeft dit niet problematisch te zijn. De tool lijkt in principe een goed bruikbaar instrument voor CO2-reductie. Gebruik van de tool heeft daarnaast een aantal positieve neveneffecten voor het bedrijf. De tool bekijkt echter maar een deel van het probleem, namelijk het woon-werkverkeer. Het uitbreiden van de tool voor zakelijke ritten zal de complexiteit van de tool behoorlijk kunnen vergroten, waardoor uitbreiding van de tool niet een eenvoudige taak zal zijn.Transport & PlanningCivil Engineering and Geoscience
Nonlinear Control For a Small-Scale Helicopter UAV in Autorotation
No full textWith the increased use of small unmanned systems, and even automated flight, safety is becoming an issue. For helicopters specifically, engine failure typically results in a crash. For manned helicopters, autorotation is a manoeuvre used to reduce the downward speed and land at safe velocities. In this thesis, we examine a technique of modelling and control for such a small unmanned helicopter. Port-Hamiltonian (PH) modelling is a technique to construct a passive system, that can be controlled with Passivity-Based Control (PBC) in order to guarantee stability in the controlled system. This thesis used these techniques to control a helicopter model composed of a basic physical model and an accurate model of the rotor airflow and thrust generation, with the ultimate aim to provide control during total engine failure. An Interconnection and Damping Assignment (IDA) controller was constructed for both the vertical and lognitudinal models, with a relatively novel damping method based on exponential damping functions. Use of this controller allowed fast and smooth control of velocities for the vertical and longitudinal models. Finally, the controller succeeds in following the textbook manoeuvres for an autorotative landing: first generating forward speed to slow down the descent, and ending in a flare manoeuvre to land with as little speed as possible. The final landing could still be considered rough, but the actions of the controller provide a larger chance that the airframe survives touchdown. This thesis is a preliminary step in developing a full PH helicopter model. Recommendations are made to extend and augment the model to implement a more detailed representation of helicopter mechanics. As for the controller, a control strategy for an automated autorotative landing is examined and discussed. It is shown that the suggested controller guides the helicopter model through the autorotation strategy, reducing the downward speed up to landing at the cost of energy stored in the main rotor. A limitation of the controller is that it does not yet implement actuator limits, resulting in a stronger control action than would normally be possible.Mechanical, Maritime and Materials EngineeringDelft Center for Systems and Control (DCSC
Identifying 3D expression domains by graph clustering
No full textIn this work we explore 3D expression domains by using Hi-C contact information to construct an interaction network in combination with TRIP expression and position data. After clustering this network using a community finding algorithm, resulting clusters are analysed for enrichment of Gene Ontology terms. Our work demonstrates a link between the presence of expression measuring reporters and GO enrichments. Furthermore we find that the presence of an insignificant number of a single type of these reporters is generally not linked to these enrichments. In clusters containing a large number of these reporters, enrichment of GO terms is more prevalent. By performing analyses on presence of 3D expression domains we hope to gain more insight into permissive / non-permissive chromatin domains and how these domains interact over longer distances.BioInformaticsBioInformaticsElectrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Scienc
Pathogenesis of antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody-associated vasculitis and potential targets for biologic treatment
No full textAntineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitides (AAV) are autoimmune diseases in which the small vessels are inflamed. Clinical observations suggest a pathogenic role for ANCA. Such a role is supported by in vitro experimental data and animal models, particularly for myeloperoxidase-ANCA. An in vivo pathogenic role of ANCA directed to proteinase 3 has, however, not been fully substantiated. Additionally, the pathogenic role of B cells, T cells, and the alternative pathway of complement in AAV have been elucidated. Insight into these pathogenic pathways involved in AAV has opened and will further open new ways for targeted biologic treatment. In this review the pathogenesis of AAV and potential targets for biologic treatment are discussed
Urinary matrix metalloproteinases reflect renal damage in anti-neutrophil cytoplasm autoantibody-associated vasculitis
No full textRenal expression of MMP-2, -9, and tissue inhibitor of MMP-1 (TIMP-1) correlates with histological disease activity in anti-neutrophil cytoplasm autoantibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV). We studied whether urinary and plasma levels of MMP-2, -9, and TIMP-1 reflect renal expression of these proteins and renal disease-activity in AAV. Urine and plasma samples of patients with AAV who underwent a renal biopsy were collected (n = 32). Urinary activity of MMP-2 and -9 was measured by activity assays. Urinary and plasma levels of MMP-2, MMP-9, and TIMP-1 proteins were measured by ELISA. Healthy controls provided plasma and urine for comparison (n = 31). In patients, the relationship of urinary and plasma levels with renal expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 and clinical and histological disease activity was studied. Renal MMP expression was compared between patients and controls (n = 8). Urinary MMP-2 and MMP-9 activity and urinary and plasma TIMP-1 levels were significantly higher in patients than in controls. In glomeruli of patients, both MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression reflected active glomerular inflammation. Urinary activity of MMP-2 and MMP-9 did not correlate with renal MMP expression or plasma levels. Urinary MMP activity correlated negatively with glomerular inflammation, but positively with fibrous crescents. Urinary MMP-2 and TIMP-1 levels showed a positive correlation with tubulointerstitial damage and a negative correlation with creatinine clearance. Urinary MMP-2, MMP-9, and TIMP-1 are elevated in AAV but do not reflect renal MMP expression and glomerular inflammation. However, urinary MMP-2 activity and TIMP-1 levels reflect tubulointerstitial damage and correlate negatively with creatinine clearance at biopsy. Copyright © 2007 the American Physiological Society
OP0050 Gene polymorphisms of the glucocorticoid receptor and 11Β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 affect relevant clinical outcomes in anca associated vasculitis
No full textRenal scintigraphy for post-transplant monitoring after kidney transplantation
No full textBackground: Clinicians use several diagnostic modalities to recognize post-transplant complications, such as acute tubular necrosis, acute rejection, urologic and vascular complications. Currently, there is no consensus about the best procedural approach to evaluate post-transplant renal dysfunction. Renal needle-biopsy is often required, however, this is invasive and may lead to sample errors and complications, and most clinicians prefer using one of the noninvasive diagnostic modalities. Methods: A systematic literature search was performed using PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, MEDLINE (OvidSP), Web of Science, and Google Scholar to identify relevant articles. This review provides a literature overview of the technical aspects, new developments and clinical value of renal scintigraphy (RS), after kidney transplantation. Additionally, the advantages and limitations of RS in comparison to other diagnostic modalities are addressed. The study protocol is registered with PROSPERO, protocol number CRD42017078391. Results: A total of 32 studies were included. Studies were categorized in the following groups: tracer pharmacokinetics; acute rejection and acute tubular necrosis; vascular complications; urological complications; postoperative fluid collections; early transplant outcomes; one-year transplant outcomes. Conclusions: Several studies have described the use of RS for the diagnosis of acute rejection, however, differentiating between rejection and acute tubular necrosis remains difficult. For the diagnosis of vascular complications, RS has been described as an alternative for invasive procedures. For urologic complications, studies support the use of RS in combination with routine ultrasonography (US) surveillance. For the diagnosis of postoperative fluid collections, RS provides information to differentiate lymphoceles and urinomas. Altogether, RS should be considered in case of non-acute complications, and if US provides insufficient results. (C) 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved
Desarrollo de un prototipo de panel de control de servicio de hosting java para la empresa Kapyasoft basado en Test-Driven Development.
No full textEl principal objetivo fue desarrollar un prototipo de panel de control de servicio de hospedaje web para aplicaciones desarrolladas en JAVA, para lo cual fue importante definir todos los procesos necesarios para realizarlo manualmente y poder automatizar dicho proceso. Se escogió una disciplina de programación poco usual llamada Test-Driven Development que se fundamenta en la escritura de pruebas de software al inicio del proyecto para construir la aplicación. Para lograr este propósito fue indispensable definir los principios básicos sobre pruebas, en especial pruebas de integración y pruebas unitarias y utilizar la herramienta de integración continua, JENKINS. Las pruebas son una etapa fundamental en el proceso de desarrollo de software y aunque la idea de realizar pruebas antes de tener el código fuente de un proceso, programa o aplicación pueda parecer ilógico, según el autor de la técnica Kent Beck, afirma que está más que comprobado que el desarrollo guiado por pruebas, garantiza principalmente la funcionalidad y calidad del proyecto. El prototipo desarrollado con el framework J.S.F., denominado PROTPANEL, entre sus principales funcionalidades, permite el registro de usuarios, la autenticación de los mismos, la gestión de aplicaciones y bases de datos, gestión de dominios, compilación del código fuente y despliegue de las aplicaciones web. La aplicación fue probada por el cliente del proyecto, propietario de la empresa KAPYASOFT y también en un experimento aplicado a dos grupos de estudiantes de la Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo siendo el prototipo, 3 veces más rápido a una guía de despliegue de aplicaciones web en la nube. En conclusión, el software creado mejora el tiempo de despliegue de aplicaciones web en JAVA y se recomienda el uso de herramientas informáticas para realizar los planes de pruebas, casos de pruebas, así como también para realizar la integración continua.The main objective was to develop a prototype of control panel of web hosting service for applications developed in JAVA, which was important to define all the processes necessay to perform it manually and to be able to automate that process. An unusual programming discipline called Test-Driven Development was chosen based on writing software tests at the beginning of the project to build the application. To achieve this proyect, it was essential to define the basic principles of tests, especially integration tests, unit tests, and to use a continuous integration tool called JENKINS. Testing is a fundamental step in the software development process and although the idea of testing before having the source code for a process, program or application may seem illogical, according to author of the technique Kent Beck, says that it is more proved that the development guided by tests, mainly guarantees the functionality and quality of the project. The phototype developed with the framework J.S.F, called PROTPELEL, among its main functionalities, allows the registration of domains, compilation ofthe source code and deployment of the web applications. The application was tested by the client of the project, owner of the company KAPYASOFT and also in an experiment applied to two groups of students of the Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo being the prototype three times faster to a guide of deployment of web applications in the cloud. In conclusion, the software created improves the time of deployment of web applications in JAVA and it is recommended to use computer tools to perform test plans, as well as to perform continuous integration
Long-term cardiovascular outcome of renal transplant recipients after early conversion to everolimus compared to calcineurin inhibition: results from the randomized controlled MECANO trial
No full textNephrolog
Pre-donation cognitions of potential living organ donors: The development of the Donation Cognition Instrument in potential kidney donors
No full text
