Showing papers by "Ford Motor Company published in 2005"

Atorvastatin Induction of VEGF and BDNF Promotes Brain Plasticity after Stroke in Mice

Abstract: Molecular mechanisms underlying the role of statins in the induction of brain plasticity and subsequent improvement of neurologic outcome after treatment of stroke have not been adequately investigated. Here, we use both in vivo and in vitro studies to investigate the potential roles of two prominent factors, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), in mediating brain plasticity after treatment of stroke with atorvastatin. Treatment of stroke in adult mice with atorvastatin daily for 14 days, starting at 24 hours after MCAO, shows significant improvement in functional recovery compared with control animals. Atorvastatin increases VEGF, VEGFR2 and BDNF expression in the ischemic border. Numbers of migrating neurons, developmental neurons and synaptophysin-positive cells as well as indices of angiogenesis were significantly increased in the atorvastatin treatment group, compared with controls. In addition, atorvastatin significantly increased brain subventricular zone (SVZ) explant cell migration in vitro. Anti-BDNF antibody significantly inhibited atorvastatin-induced SVZ explant cell migration, indicating a prominent role for BDNF in progenitor cell migration. Mouse brain endothelial cell culture expression of BDNF and VEGFR2 was significantly increased in atorvastatin-treated cells compared with control cells. Inhibition of VEGFR2 significantly decreased expression of BDNF in brain endothelial cells. These data indicate that atorvastatin promotes angiogenesis, brain plasticity and enhances functional recovery after stroke. In addition, VEGF, VEGFR2 and BDNF likely contribute to these restorative processes.

MPC-Based Approach to Active Steering for Autonomous Vehicle Systems

Abstract: In this paper a novel approach to autonomous steering systems is presented. A model predictive control (MPC) scheme is designed in order to stabilize a vehicle along a desired path while fulfilling its physical constraints. Simulation results show the benefits of the systematic control methodology used. In particular we show how very effective steering manoeuvres are obtained as a result of the MPC feedback policy. Moreover, we highlight the trade off between the vehicle speed and the required preview on the desired path in order to stabilize the vehicle. The paper concludes with highlights on future research and on the necessary steps for experimental validation of the approach.

Gliosis and brain remodeling after treatment of stroke in rats with marrow stromal cells

Abstract: The long-term (4-month) responses to treatment of stroke in the older adult rat, using rat bone marrow stromal cells (MSCs), have not been investigated. Retired breeder rats were subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo) alone, or injected intravenously with 3 x 10(6) MSCs, at 7 days after MCAo. Functional recovery was measured using an adhesive-removal patch test and a modified neurological severity score. Bromodeoxyuridine, a cell proliferation marker, was injected daily for 14 before sacrifice. Animals were sacrificed 4 months after stroke. Double immunostaining was used to identify cell proliferation and cell types for axons, astrocytes, microglia, and oligodendrocytes. MSC treatment induced significant improvement in neurological outcome after MCAo compared with control rats. MSC treatment reduced the thickness of the scar wall (P < 0.05) and reduced the numbers of microglia/macrophages within the scar wall (P < 0.01). Double staining showed increased expression of an axonal marker (GAP-43), among reactive astrocytes in the scar boundary zone and in the subventricular zone in the treated rats. Bromodeoxyuridine in cells preferentially colocalized with markers of astrocytes (GFAP) and oligodendrocytes (RIP) in the ipsilateral hemisphere, and gliogenesis was enhanced in the subventricular zone of the rats treated with MSCs. This is the first report to show that MSCs injected at 7 days after stroke improve long-term neurological outcome in older animals. Brain tissue repair is an ongoing process with reactive gliosis, which persists for at least 4 months after stroke. Reactive astrocytes responding to MSC treatment of ischemia may also promote axonal regeneration during long-term recovery.

Many-Objective optimization: an engineering design perspective

Abstract: Evolutionary multicriteria optimization has traditionally concentrated on problems comprising 2 or 3 objectives. While engineering design problems can often be conveniently formulated as multiobjective optimization problems, these often comprise a relatively large number of objectives. Such problems pose new challenges for algorithm design, visualisation and implementation. Each of these three topics is addressed. Progressive articulation of design preferences is demonstrated to assist in reducing the region of interest for the search and, thereby, simplified the problem. Parallel coordinates have proved a useful tool for visualising many objectives in a two-dimensional graph and the computational grid and wireless Personal Digital Assistants offer technological solutions to implementation difficulties arising in complex system design.

Radon transform orientation estimation for rotation invariant texture analysis

Abstract: This paper presents a new approach to rotation invariant texture classification. The proposed approach benefits from the fact that most of the texture patterns either have directionality (anisotropic textures) or are not with a specific direction (isotropic textures). The wavelet energy features of the directional textures change significantly when the image is rotated. However, for the isotropic images, the wavelet features are not sensitive to rotation. Therefore, for the directional textures, it is essential to calculate the wavelet features along a specific direction. In the proposed approach, the Radon transform is first employed to detect the principal direction of the texture. Then, the texture is rotated to place its principal direction at 0 degrees. A wavelet transform is applied to the rotated image to extract texture features. This approach provides a features space with small intraclass variability and, therefore, good separation between different classes. The performance of the method is evaluated using three texture sets. Experimental results show the superiority of the proposed approach compared with some existing methods.

Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase Regulates Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Expression and Neurogenesis after Stroke in Mice

Abstract: Here, we investigate the effects of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) on angiogenesis, neurogenesis, neurotrophic factor expression, and neurological functional outcome after stroke. Wild-type and eNOS knock-out (eNOS-/-) mice were subjected to permanent occlusion of the right middle cerebral artery. eNOS-/- mice exhibited more severe neurological functional deficit after stroke than wild-type mice. Decreased subventricular zone (SVZ) progenitor cell proliferation and migration, measured using bromodeoxyuridine, Ki-67, nestin, and doublecortin immunostaining in the ischemic brain, and decreased angiogenesis, as demonstrated by reduced endothelial cell proliferation, vessel perimeter, and vascular density in the ischemic border, were evident in eNOS-/- mice compared with wild-type mice. eNOS-deficient mice also exhibited a reduced response to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-induced angiogenesis in a corneal assay. ELISAs showed that eNOS-/- mice have decreased brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression but not VEGF and basic fibroblast growth factor in the ischemic brain compared with wild-type mice. In addition, cultured SVZ neurosphere formation, proliferation, telomerase activity, and neurite outgrowth but not cell viability from eNOS-/- mice were significantly reduced compared with wild-type mice. BDNF treatment of SVZ cells derived from eNOS-/- mice restored the decreased neurosphere formation, proliferation, neurite outgrowth, and telomerase activity in cultured eNOS(-/-) SVZ neurospheres. SVZ explant cell migration also was significantly decreased in eNOS-/- mice compared with wild-type mice. These data indicate that eNOS is not only a downstream mediator for VEGF and angiogenesis but also regulates BDNF expression in the ischemic brain and influences progenitor cell proliferation, neuronal migration, and neurite outgrowth and affects functional recovery after stroke.

A Study on Biocomposites from Recycled Newspaper Fiber and Poly(lactic acid)

Abstract: Recycled newspaper cellulose fiber (RNCF) reinforced poly(lactic acid) (PLA) biocomposites were fabricated by a microcompounding and molding system. RNCF-reinforced polypropylene (PP) composites were also processed with a recycled newspaper fiber content of 30 wt % and were compared to PLA/RNCF composites. The mechanical and thermal−mechanical properties of these composites have been studied and compared to PLA/talc and PP/talc composites. These composites possess similar mechanical properties to talc-filled composites as a result of reinforcement by RNCF. The tensile and flexural modulus of the biocomposites was significantly higher when compared with the virgin resin. The tensile modulus (6.3 GPa) of the PLA/RNCF composite (30 wt % fiber content) was comparable to that of traditional (i.e. polypropylene/talc) composites. The DMA storage modulus and the loss modulus of the RNCF−PLA composites were found to increase, whereas the mechanical loss factor (tan δ) was found to decrease. Differential scanning c...

Erythropoietin enhances neurogenesis and restores spatial memory in rats after traumatic brain injury

Abstract: Erythropoietin (EPO) is neuroprotective in models of stroke and traumatic brain injury (TBI) when administered prior to or within the first few hours after injury. We seek to demonstrate that EPO also has neurorestorative effects when administered late (i.e., 1 day) after TBI in the rat. Twelve rats were subjected to TBI. Six rats were treated with EPO daily for 14 days starting 1 day after injury, and an additional six rats were treated with saline. Bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) was administered daily for 14 days. Memory tests using a Morris Water Maze were performed prior to and after injury and treatment. Animals were sacrificed at 15 days after TBI, and their brains were prepared for histological analysis of damage to the dentate gyrus (DG) and for evaluation of newly formed neurons using double labeling of BrdU and MAP-2. The data revealed a significant improvement in spatial memory and significant increase in the number of newly formed neurons with EPO treatment compared with control animals. These data suggest that EPO treatment initiated 1 day after TBI is neurorestorative by enhancing neurogenesis, as well as neuroprotective.

Simpl_eTS: a simplified method for learning evolving Takagi-Sugeno fuzzy models

Abstract: This paper deals with a simplified version of the evolving Takagi-Sugeno (eTS) learning algorithm - a computationally efficient procedure for on-line learning TS type fuzzy models It combines the concept of the scatter as a measure of data density and summarization ability of the TS rules, the use of Cauchy type antecedent membership functions, an aging indicator characterizing the stationarity of the rules, and a recursive least square algorithm to dynamically learn the structure and parameters of the eTS model

On-road vehicle detection using evolutionary Gabor filter optimization

Abstract: Robust and reliable vehicle detection from images acquired by a moving vehicle is an important problem with numerous applications including driver assistance systems and self-guided vehicles. Our focus in this paper is on improving the performance of on-road vehicle detection by employing a set of Gabor filters specifically optimized for the task of vehicle detection. This is essentially a kind of feature selection, a critical issue when designing any pattern classification system. Specifically, we propose a systematic and general evolutionary Gabor filter optimization (EGFO) approach for optimizing the parameters of a set of Gabor filters in the context of vehicle detection. The objective is to build a set of filters that are capable of responding stronger to features present in vehicles than to nonvehicles, therefore improving class discrimination. The EGFO approach unifies filter design with filter selection by integrating genetic algorithms (GAs) with an incremental clustering approach. Filter design is performed using GAs, a global optimization approach that encodes the Gabor filter parameters in a chromosome and uses genetic operators to optimize them. Filter selection is performed by grouping filters having similar characteristics in the parameter space using an incremental clustering approach. This step eliminates redundant filters, yielding a more compact optimized set of filters. The resulting filters have been evaluated using an application-oriented fitness criterion based on support vector machines. We have tested the proposed framework on real data collected in Dearborn, MI, in summer and fall 2001, using Ford's proprietary low-light camera.

Design and performance of a thermal-neutron double-crystal diffractometer for USANS at NIST

Abstract: An ultra-high-resolution small-angle neutron scattering (USANS) double-crystal diffractometer (DCD) is now in operation at the NIST Center for Neutron Research (NCNR). The instrument uses multiple reflections from large silicon (220) perfect single crystals, before and after the sample, to produce both high beam intensity and a low instrument background suitable for small-angle scattering measurements. The minimum detector background to beam intensity ratio (noise-to-signal, N/S) for q ≥ 5 × 10−4 A−1 is 4 × 10−7. The instrument uses 2.38 A wavelength neutrons on a dedicated thermal neutron beam port, producing a peak flux on the sample of 17300 cm−2 s−1. The typical measurement range of the instrument extends from 3 × 10−5 A−1 to 5 × 10−3 A−1 in scattering wavevector (q), providing information on material structure over the size range from 0.1 µm to 20 µm. This paper describes the design and characteristics of the instrument, the mode of operation, and presents data that demonstrate the instrument's performance.

Control system for a hybrid electric vehicle to anticipate the need for a mode change

Abstract: A parallel hybrid electric vehicle method and system including an internal combustion engine (ICE), an electric traction motor/generator, and a controller. A control strategy is provided to prevent unpredicted or undesired engine starts by anticipating the need for the vehicle engine, while avoiding “false starting” the engine or allowing an annoying lag in performance that will occur if the engine is not started in advance of an actual requirement. The invention anticipates the need for engine starts and electromotive driving by monitoring vehicle speed and driver commands and their rates of change. The invention allows consistent performance and establishes seamless transitions between engine driving and electromotive driving.

Functional Recovery in Aged and Young Rats After Embolic Stroke: Treatment With a Phosphodiesterase Type 5 Inhibitor

Abstract: Background and Purpose— Advanced age is associated with a decrease in brain plasticity compared with the young adult. Sildenafil, a phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitor promotes brain plasticity and improves functional outcome after stroke in the young animal. Here, we test the hypothesis that sildenafil provides restorative therapeutic benefit to the aged animal. Methods— Male Wistar rats (aged, 18-month old; young, 3-month old) were subjected to embolic stroke. Saline or sildenafil was administered daily at a dose of 2 mg/kg orally or 10 mg/kg subcutaneously for 7 consecutive days starting 24 hour after stroke onset. Results— Aged rats exhibited significant impairment of functional recovery and reductions of vascular density, and endothelial cell proliferation compared with young rats. Aged rats treated with sildenafil at a dose of 10 mg/kg but not 2 mg/kg, showed significant improvements of functional recovery and concomitant increases in cortical cyclic guanosine 3′,5′-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP)...

Cloud condensation nucleus production from nucleation events at a highly polluted region

Abstract: [1] Atmospheric nucleation events have received increasing attention as a potentially important source of aerosol particles affecting climate and human health. Here, we report 2.5 years of continuous nucleation observations from San Pietro Capofiume, Italy (44°39′N, 11°37′W). We show that nucleation events occur frequently in the Po Valley region, even though the region is rather polluted with high pre-existing particle concentrations. The nucleation events are often very intensive, and the newly formed particles can grow to sizes as large as 100–200 nm in diameter within a few hours. Our calculations of the enhancement of particle number concentrations in different size ranges and comparison with steady-state and regional emission estimates indicate that the nucleation events produce a significant fraction of particles larger than 100 nm, and thus constitute an important source of cloud condensation nuclei (CCN).

Method and system for redirecting a request to a server-selected domain

Abstract: Embodiments of the instant invention are directed to a domain management system, apparatus and method for hosting and assigning domain names. Embodiments of the domain management system comprise a name assignment system and a hosting system, wherein the hosting system comprises a domain retrieval system and a data storage apparatus. The name assignment system verifies availability and assigns domain names to requesting clients. The name assignment system comprises an input component, a confirmation mechanism and a name storage means. Preferred embodiments of the domain retrieval system comprise a scheduler, a parsing member having a plurality of redirectors and a plurality of servers. The domain retrieval system locates the domain referenced by the domain name by parsing header information and utilizing a wildcard DNS. Once the domain is located, the domain retrieval system forwards the domain to the user computer.

Rotation-invariant multiresolution texture analysis using Radon and wavelet transforms

Abstract: A new rotation-invariant texture-analysis technique using Radon and wavelet transforms is proposed. This technique utilizes the Radon transform to convert the rotation to translation and then applies a translation-invariant wavelet transform to the result to extract texture features. A k-nearest neighbors classifier is employed to classify texture patterns. A method to find the optimal number of projections for the Radon transform is proposed. It is shown that the extracted features generate an efficient orthogonal feature space. It is also shown that the proposed features extract both of the local and directional information of the texture patterns. The proposed method is robust to additive white noise as a result of summing pixel values to generate projections in the Radon transform step. To test and evaluate the method, we employed several sets of textures along with different wavelet bases. Experimental results show the superiority of the proposed method and its robustness to additive white noise in comparison with some recent texture-analysis methods.

Neurogenesis in the Adult Ischemic Brain: Generation, Migration, Survival, and Restorative Therapy

Abstract: This article reviews current data on the induction of neurogenesis after stroke in the adult brain. The discussion of neurogenesis is divided into production, migration, and survival of these newly formed cells. For production, the subpopulations and the types of cell division are presented. Discussion of cell migration entails presenting data on both the pathways as well as the molecular targeting of newly formed neural progenitor cells to sites of injury. The role of the vascular and the astrocytic microenvironment in promoting the survival and integration of progenitor cells is also presented. Cell-based and pharmacological therapies designed to restore neurological function that promote neurogenesis are described. These therapies also induce angiogenesis and astrocytic changes that brain tissue, which prime the ischemic brain to foster the survival of the newly formed progenitor cells. Signaling pathways that regulate neurogenesis and angiogenesis are also addressed. This review summarizes recent data on neurogenesis and provides insight into the potential for restorative treatments of stroke.

The Effect of Tool–Sheet Interaction on Damage Evolution in Electromagnetic Forming of Aluminum Alloy Sheet

Abstract: A study of the effect of tool-sheet interaction on damage evolution in electromagnetic forming is presented. Free form and conical die experiments were carried out on 1 mm AA5754 sheet. Safe strains beyond the conventional forming limit diagram (FLD) were observed in a narrow, region in the free form experiments, and over a significant region of the part in the conical die experiments. A parametric numerical study was undertaken, that showed that tool-sheet interaction had a significant effect on damage evolution. Metallographic analysis was carried out to quantify damage in the parts and to confirm the numerical results.

Central Venous-Arterial Carbon Dioxide Difference as an Indicator of Cardiac Index

Abstract: Objective: The mixed venous-arterial (v-a) pCO2 difference has been shown to be inversely correlated with the cardiac index (CI). A central venous pCO2, which is easier to obtain, may provide similar information. The purpose of this study was to examine the correlation between the central venous-arterial pCO2 difference and CI. Design: Prospective, cohort study. Setting: Intensive care unit of an urban tertiary care hospital. Patients and participants: Eighty-three consecutive intensive care unit patients. Measurements: Simultaneous blood gases from the arterial, pulmonary artery (PA), and central venous (CV) catheters were obtained. At the same time point, cardiac indices were measured by the thermodilution technique (an average of three measurements). The cardiac indices obtained by the venous-arterial differences were compared with those determined by thermodilution. Results: The correlation (R2) between the mixed venous-arterial pCO2 difference and cardiac index was 0.903 ( p <0.0001), and the correlation between the central venous-arterial pCO2 difference and cardiac index was 0.892 ( p <0.0001). The regression equations for these relationships were natural log (CI)=1.837−0.159 (v-a) CO2 for the PA and natural log (CI)=1.787−0.151 (v-a) CO2 for the CV ( p <0.0001 for both). The root-mean-squared error for the PA and CV regression equations were 0.095 and 0.101, respectively. Conclusion: Venous-arterial pCO2 differences obtained from both the PA and CV circulations inversely correlate with the cardiac index. Substitution of a central for a mixed venous-arterial pCO2 difference provides an accurate alternative method for calculation of cardiac output.

Enhanced system for yaw stability control system to include roll stability control function

Abstract: A yaw stability control system ( 18 ) is enhanced to include roll stability control function for an automotive vehicle and includes a plurality of sensors ( 28–39 ) sensing the dynamic conditions of the vehicle. The sensors may include a speed sensor ( 20 ), a lateral acceleration sensor ( 32 ), a yaw rate sensor ( 28 ) and a longitudinal acceleration sensor ( 36 ). The controller ( 26 ) is coupled to the speed sensor ( 20 ), the lateral acceleration sensor ( 32 ), the yaw rate sensor ( 28 ) and a longitudinal acceleration sensor ( 36 ). The controller ( 26 ) generates both a yaw stability feedback control signal and a roll stability feedback control signal. The priority of achieving yaw stability control or roll stability control is determined through priority determination logic. If a potential rollover event is detected, the roll stability control will take the priority. The controller for roll stability control function determines a roll angle of the vehicle from the lateral acceleration sensor signal and calculates the feedback control signal based on the roll angle.

Friction Stir Spot Welding of Advanced High-Strength Steels - A Feasibility Study

Abstract: An exploratory study was conducted to investigate the feasibility of friction stir spot welding advanced high-strength steel sheet metals. The fixed pin approach was used to weld 600MPa dual phase steel and 1310MPa martensitic steel. A single tool, made of polycrystalline cubic boron nitride, survived over one hundred welding trials without noticeable degradation and wear. Solid-state metallurgical bonding was produced with welding time in the range of 2 to 3 seconds, although the bonding ligament width was relatively small. The microstructures and hardness variations in the weld regions are discussed. The results from tensile-shear and cross-tensile tests are also presented.

Relation of chronic and acute glycemic control on mortality in acute myocardial infarction with diabetes mellitus.

Abstract: Acute hyperglycemia during myocardial infarction predicts adverse short-term outcomes and mortality in diabetic patients. Conversely, chronic hyperglycemia is associated with an increased incidence of long-term cardiovascular complications, although its effect on acute hyperglycemic response and mortality after acute myocardial infarction is unknown. We investigated the prognostic relation of the glucose concentration at admission and the baseline average glycohemoglobin on acute myocardial infarction mortality. Of 808 consecutive diabetic patients with acute myocardial infarction, the most significant independent predictor of in-hospital mortality was the glucose concentration at admission. Baseline glycohemoglobin strongly correlated with admission hyperglycemia but did not predict mortality independently.