Powertrain system and its energy control strategies are studied in order to improve fuel consumpt... more Powertrain system and its energy control strategies are studied in order to improve fuel consumption of a kind of series hybrid tracked bulldozer. Mathematical models of engine's output power, fuel consumption, and generator's efficiency are established base on their dynamic working characteristic analysis and experimental data on test bench. By utilizing series-parallel topological structure between ultracapacitor and resistance, an ultracapacitor's dynamic working model is setup, and its working scope of state of charge(SOC) is build. The lowest fuel consumption curve is found after above models' optimization, and a power flowing control strategy based on the engine's optimal fuel consumption is proposed. This power flowing control strategy is simulated under a bulldozer's typical working duty. The variations of ultracapicitor's charge and discharge parameters, like voltage, current, and SOC are demonstrated. The engine's rotate speed, output torque, fuel consumption and the position of accelerate pedal are revealed comparing to these of the prototype tracked bulldozer with traditional mechanical powertrain structure. The results show that the proposed control strategy is verified well, and, the engine fuel economy can be improved 13.1% compared to the prototype one under the same typical working duty of the bulldozer.
We assessed the safety and efficacy of reconstructive therapy with facial fillers for the treatme... more We assessed the safety and efficacy of reconstructive therapy with facial fillers for the treatment of HIV-associated facial lipoatrophy (FLA) through a randomized, controlled, open-label single-center study. A total of 134 HIV-infected patients with severe FLA were randomly assigned to receive immediate (67 patients) or delayed (67 patients) facial injections of poly-l-lactic acid (PLA) or polyacrylamide gel (PAIG). Outcome measures included changes in physician and patient FLA severity scale, adverse events, and changes in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and anxiety using validated measures. The mean average study follow-up was 27 weeks for the immediate and 25 weeks for the delayed subjects. Adverse events were mild and resolved after a mean of 4 days. Compared to patients randomized to the delayed treatment group, patients assigned to the immediate treatment group had significantly lower physician-rated (0.0 versus -3.0; p < 0.0001) and patient-rated (0.1 versus -1.8; p < 0.0001) FLA severity scores. By contrast, measures exploring HRQoL and anxiety did not show any significant difference between patients randomized to the immediate and deferred groups. Reconstructive therapy with facial fillers was effective and safe and led to significant improvements in FLA severity. However, no significant gains in HRQoL, relational and psychological consequences of body changes, and anxiety-related concerns were observed. Studies should be performed to identify patients who could maximally benefit from filling interventions for FLA.
Background:
Facial lipoatrophy (FLA) is one of the most distressing and stigmatizing expression ... more Background: Facial lipoatrophy (FLA) is one of the most distressing and stigmatizing expression of the antiretroviral-associated lipodys-trophy syndrome. It may deeply affect the patient's life quality, rendering them more exposed in being identified as HIV-positive, thus leading to a decreased self-esteem and social withdrawal. Despite the improved knowledge on FLA etiology and risk factors, successful medical treatments for the management of this side effect are still troublesome. Recently, surgical interventions for FLA have been increasingly considered as they appear to be a remedy in giving patients an immediate psychological relief. Up to day, moreover, the effects of lipofilling surgery on patients reported outcomes (PROs) as health related quality of life (HRQoL), anxiety and psychological consequences of body changes are poorly understood and need to be studied. Design and method: The study was a randomized, controlled, and open-label study of immediate versus delayed surgical intervention with filling components for the correction of severe HIV-associated FLA. A wide number of PROs instruments were used in this study. To measure HRQoL, the EuroQoL 5 domains (EQ-5D) and the Isti-tuto Superiore di Sanità Quality of Life (ISSQoL) self-administered instruments were adopted. To evaluate the relationships between the lipodystrophy syndrome and the quality of life the ABCD (Assessment of Body Change and Distress) self-administrated questionnaire was used. To measure the person's anxiety perception the Zung self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) was used. Objective: The study was aimed at evaluating the efficacy of the lipo-filling surgery in the treatment of HIV-related FLA, in terms of both FLA severity grade (assessed by physicians) and PROs [changes in FLA severity grade as determined by the patient, HRQoL measures, relationships between the lipodystrophy syndrome and the quality of life, and patient's anxiety perception] Results: Compared to patients randomized to the delayed treatment, patients assigned to the immediate treatment group had significantly lower physician-rated (0.0 versus –3.0; p<0.0001) and patient-rated (0.1 versus-1.8; p<0.0001) FLA severity scores. However, no significant differences between the immediate and delayed treatment groups were observed in terms of PROs. In particular, our study was not able to show any significant gain in HRQoL (EQ-5D and (ISSQoL), in social aspects, in relational-psychological consequences of body changes (ABCD), as well as in anxiety related concerns (SAS). Adverse events were mild and resolved after a mean of 4 days. Conclusion: Reconstructive therapy with facial fillers was effective, safe and lead to significant improvements in FLA severity. No significant improvement in patients reported evaluations were observed. However, in spite of wide number of the PROs measures used in this study, the lack at present of a specific lipoatrophy instruments evaluating correctly the full impact of lipoatrophy on psychosocial and HRQoL dimensions in HIV-infected people does not allow definitive conclusions.
Powertrain system and its energy control strategies are studied in order to improve fuel consumpt... more Powertrain system and its energy control strategies are studied in order to improve fuel consumption of a kind of series hybrid tracked bulldozer. Mathematical models of engine's output power, fuel consumption, and generator's efficiency are established base on their dynamic working characteristic analysis and experimental data on test bench. By utilizing series-parallel topological structure between ultracapacitor and resistance, an ultracapacitor's dynamic working model is setup, and its working scope of state of charge(SOC) is build. The lowest fuel consumption curve is found after above models' optimization, and a power flowing control strategy based on the engine's optimal fuel consumption is proposed. This power flowing control strategy is simulated under a bulldozer's typical working duty. The variations of ultracapicitor's charge and discharge parameters, like voltage, current, and SOC are demonstrated. The engine's rotate speed, output torque, fuel consumption and the position of accelerate pedal are revealed comparing to these of the prototype tracked bulldozer with traditional mechanical powertrain structure. The results show that the proposed control strategy is verified well, and, the engine fuel economy can be improved 13.1% compared to the prototype one under the same typical working duty of the bulldozer.
We assessed the safety and efficacy of reconstructive therapy with facial fillers for the treatme... more We assessed the safety and efficacy of reconstructive therapy with facial fillers for the treatment of HIV-associated facial lipoatrophy (FLA) through a randomized, controlled, open-label single-center study. A total of 134 HIV-infected patients with severe FLA were randomly assigned to receive immediate (67 patients) or delayed (67 patients) facial injections of poly-l-lactic acid (PLA) or polyacrylamide gel (PAIG). Outcome measures included changes in physician and patient FLA severity scale, adverse events, and changes in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and anxiety using validated measures. The mean average study follow-up was 27 weeks for the immediate and 25 weeks for the delayed subjects. Adverse events were mild and resolved after a mean of 4 days. Compared to patients randomized to the delayed treatment group, patients assigned to the immediate treatment group had significantly lower physician-rated (0.0 versus -3.0; p &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt; 0.0001) and patient-rated (0.1 versus -1.8; p &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt; 0.0001) FLA severity scores. By contrast, measures exploring HRQoL and anxiety did not show any significant difference between patients randomized to the immediate and deferred groups. Reconstructive therapy with facial fillers was effective and safe and led to significant improvements in FLA severity. However, no significant gains in HRQoL, relational and psychological consequences of body changes, and anxiety-related concerns were observed. Studies should be performed to identify patients who could maximally benefit from filling interventions for FLA.
Background:
Facial lipoatrophy (FLA) is one of the most distressing and stigmatizing expression ... more Background: Facial lipoatrophy (FLA) is one of the most distressing and stigmatizing expression of the antiretroviral-associated lipodys-trophy syndrome. It may deeply affect the patient's life quality, rendering them more exposed in being identified as HIV-positive, thus leading to a decreased self-esteem and social withdrawal. Despite the improved knowledge on FLA etiology and risk factors, successful medical treatments for the management of this side effect are still troublesome. Recently, surgical interventions for FLA have been increasingly considered as they appear to be a remedy in giving patients an immediate psychological relief. Up to day, moreover, the effects of lipofilling surgery on patients reported outcomes (PROs) as health related quality of life (HRQoL), anxiety and psychological consequences of body changes are poorly understood and need to be studied. Design and method: The study was a randomized, controlled, and open-label study of immediate versus delayed surgical intervention with filling components for the correction of severe HIV-associated FLA. A wide number of PROs instruments were used in this study. To measure HRQoL, the EuroQoL 5 domains (EQ-5D) and the Isti-tuto Superiore di Sanità Quality of Life (ISSQoL) self-administered instruments were adopted. To evaluate the relationships between the lipodystrophy syndrome and the quality of life the ABCD (Assessment of Body Change and Distress) self-administrated questionnaire was used. To measure the person's anxiety perception the Zung self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) was used. Objective: The study was aimed at evaluating the efficacy of the lipo-filling surgery in the treatment of HIV-related FLA, in terms of both FLA severity grade (assessed by physicians) and PROs [changes in FLA severity grade as determined by the patient, HRQoL measures, relationships between the lipodystrophy syndrome and the quality of life, and patient's anxiety perception] Results: Compared to patients randomized to the delayed treatment, patients assigned to the immediate treatment group had significantly lower physician-rated (0.0 versus –3.0; p<0.0001) and patient-rated (0.1 versus-1.8; p<0.0001) FLA severity scores. However, no significant differences between the immediate and delayed treatment groups were observed in terms of PROs. In particular, our study was not able to show any significant gain in HRQoL (EQ-5D and (ISSQoL), in social aspects, in relational-psychological consequences of body changes (ABCD), as well as in anxiety related concerns (SAS). Adverse events were mild and resolved after a mean of 4 days. Conclusion: Reconstructive therapy with facial fillers was effective, safe and lead to significant improvements in FLA severity. No significant improvement in patients reported evaluations were observed. However, in spite of wide number of the PROs measures used in this study, the lack at present of a specific lipoatrophy instruments evaluating correctly the full impact of lipoatrophy on psychosocial and HRQoL dimensions in HIV-infected people does not allow definitive conclusions.
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Facial lipoatrophy (FLA) is one of the most distressing and stigmatizing expression of the antiretroviral-associated lipodys-trophy syndrome. It may deeply affect the patient's life quality, rendering them more exposed in being identified as HIV-positive, thus leading to a decreased self-esteem and social withdrawal. Despite the improved knowledge on FLA etiology and risk factors, successful medical treatments for the management of this side effect are still troublesome. Recently, surgical interventions for FLA have been increasingly considered as they appear to be a remedy in giving patients an immediate psychological relief. Up to day, moreover, the effects of lipofilling surgery on patients reported outcomes (PROs) as health related quality of life (HRQoL), anxiety and psychological consequences of body changes are poorly understood and need to be studied.
Design and method:
The study was a randomized, controlled, and open-label study of immediate versus delayed surgical intervention with filling components for the correction of severe HIV-associated FLA. A wide number of PROs instruments were used in this study. To measure HRQoL, the EuroQoL 5 domains (EQ-5D) and the Isti-tuto Superiore di Sanità Quality of Life (ISSQoL) self-administered instruments were adopted. To evaluate the relationships between the lipodystrophy syndrome and the quality of life the ABCD (Assessment of Body Change and Distress) self-administrated questionnaire was used. To measure the person's anxiety perception the Zung self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) was used.
Objective:
The study was aimed at evaluating the efficacy of the lipo-filling surgery in the treatment of HIV-related FLA, in terms of both FLA severity grade (assessed by physicians) and PROs [changes in FLA severity grade as determined by the patient, HRQoL measures, relationships between the lipodystrophy syndrome and the quality of life, and patient's anxiety perception]
Results:
Compared to patients randomized to the delayed treatment, patients assigned to the immediate treatment group had significantly lower physician-rated (0.0 versus –3.0; p<0.0001) and patient-rated (0.1 versus-1.8; p<0.0001) FLA severity scores. However, no significant differences between the immediate and delayed treatment groups were observed in terms of PROs. In particular, our study was not able to show any significant gain in HRQoL (EQ-5D and (ISSQoL), in social aspects, in relational-psychological consequences of body changes (ABCD), as well as in anxiety related concerns (SAS). Adverse events were mild and resolved after a mean of 4 days.
Conclusion:
Reconstructive therapy with facial fillers was effective, safe and lead to significant improvements in FLA severity. No significant improvement in patients reported evaluations were observed. However, in spite of wide number of the PROs measures used in this study, the lack at present of a specific lipoatrophy instruments evaluating correctly the full impact of lipoatrophy on psychosocial and HRQoL dimensions in HIV-infected people does not allow definitive conclusions.
Facial lipoatrophy (FLA) is one of the most distressing and stigmatizing expression of the antiretroviral-associated lipodys-trophy syndrome. It may deeply affect the patient's life quality, rendering them more exposed in being identified as HIV-positive, thus leading to a decreased self-esteem and social withdrawal. Despite the improved knowledge on FLA etiology and risk factors, successful medical treatments for the management of this side effect are still troublesome. Recently, surgical interventions for FLA have been increasingly considered as they appear to be a remedy in giving patients an immediate psychological relief. Up to day, moreover, the effects of lipofilling surgery on patients reported outcomes (PROs) as health related quality of life (HRQoL), anxiety and psychological consequences of body changes are poorly understood and need to be studied.
Design and method:
The study was a randomized, controlled, and open-label study of immediate versus delayed surgical intervention with filling components for the correction of severe HIV-associated FLA. A wide number of PROs instruments were used in this study. To measure HRQoL, the EuroQoL 5 domains (EQ-5D) and the Isti-tuto Superiore di Sanità Quality of Life (ISSQoL) self-administered instruments were adopted. To evaluate the relationships between the lipodystrophy syndrome and the quality of life the ABCD (Assessment of Body Change and Distress) self-administrated questionnaire was used. To measure the person's anxiety perception the Zung self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) was used.
Objective:
The study was aimed at evaluating the efficacy of the lipo-filling surgery in the treatment of HIV-related FLA, in terms of both FLA severity grade (assessed by physicians) and PROs [changes in FLA severity grade as determined by the patient, HRQoL measures, relationships between the lipodystrophy syndrome and the quality of life, and patient's anxiety perception]
Results:
Compared to patients randomized to the delayed treatment, patients assigned to the immediate treatment group had significantly lower physician-rated (0.0 versus –3.0; p<0.0001) and patient-rated (0.1 versus-1.8; p<0.0001) FLA severity scores. However, no significant differences between the immediate and delayed treatment groups were observed in terms of PROs. In particular, our study was not able to show any significant gain in HRQoL (EQ-5D and (ISSQoL), in social aspects, in relational-psychological consequences of body changes (ABCD), as well as in anxiety related concerns (SAS). Adverse events were mild and resolved after a mean of 4 days.
Conclusion:
Reconstructive therapy with facial fillers was effective, safe and lead to significant improvements in FLA severity. No significant improvement in patients reported evaluations were observed. However, in spite of wide number of the PROs measures used in this study, the lack at present of a specific lipoatrophy instruments evaluating correctly the full impact of lipoatrophy on psychosocial and HRQoL dimensions in HIV-infected people does not allow definitive conclusions.