BackgroundAutoantibodies against the second extracellular loop of the β1-adrenergic receptor (β1-AA) not only contribute to increased susceptibility to heart failure, but also play a causative role in myocardial remodeling through their sympathomimetic-like effects that are induced upon binding to the β1-adrenergic receptor. However, their role in the function of T lymphocytes has never been previously investigated. Our present study was designed to determine whether β1-AA isolated from the sera of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) patients caused the proliferation of T cells and the secretion of cytokines.MethodsBlood samples were collected from 95 DCM patients as well as 95 healthy subjects, and β1-AA was detected using ELISA. The CD3+T lymphocytes were selected separately through flow cytometry and the effect of β1-AA on T lymphocyte proliferation was examined by CCK-8 kits and CFSE assay. Western blotting was used to analyze the expressions of phospho-VASP and phospho-p38 MAPK.Resultsβ1-AA enhanced the proliferation of T lymphocytes. This effect could be blocked by the selective β1-adrenergic receptor antagonist metoprolol, PKA inhibitor H89, and p38 MAPK inhibitor SB203580. Furthermore, the expression of the phosphorylated forms of phospho-VASP and phospho-p38 MAPK were markedly increased in the presence of β1-AA. β1-AA also inhibited the secretion of interferon-γ (IFN-γ) while promoting an increase in interleukin-4 (IL-4) levels.ConclusionsThese results demonstrate that β1-AA isolated from DCM patients binds to β1-AR on the surface of T cells, causing changes in T-cell proliferation and secretion through the β1-AR/cAMP/PKA and p38 MAPK pathways.

Dual clutch transmissions (DCTs) are recognized as being suitable for electric drive applications as they can drive with high efficiency and achieve good shifting comfort. A two-speed DCT electric drivetrain is described in this paper, comprised of only two gear pairs and a final drive gear in the two-speed gearbox. The fundamental shifting control algorithm is provided. On the testing rig of University of Technology, Sydney (UTS) powertrain lab, shifting controls and some driving cycle controls were realized. The results demonstrated that the control algorithm functioned well both in transient shifting control process and in the driving cycle conditions.

As pure electric vehicles are considered to be a major growth trend in the automotive industry, research into and development of efficient electric powertrain systems and related control technologies have become popular research topics. The growing importance and use of multi-speed transmissions in these vehicles make shift schedule design and research a crucial aspect of the powertrain systems design of pure electric vehicles. This paper provides a gear shift schedule calculation method for pure electric vehicles, which includes a dynamic shift schedule and an economic shift schedule calculation method, demonstrating how to optimize the shift points and to produce the upshift and downshift lines based on the motor efficiency map. Through the establishment of a pure electric vehicle model, simulation results show that a properly designed shift schedule can improve the working region of the motor and can refine the dynamic performance and the economic performance of the vehicle. Finally, rig testing results are demonstrated to be comparable with simulations and indicate the correctness of the method.

Dual-clutch transmissions have increased in prevalence through the combination of high efficiency and shift quality. This is achieved through the automation of conventional manual transmission synchronisers for gear selection with automated clutch-to-clutch shift control, minimising loss of traction to the road. This article derives a suitably detailed model of a dual-clutch transmission equipped powertrain for the transient simulation and analysis of combined synchroniser engagement and gear shifts. Models are derived for a powertrain equipped with a wet dual-clutch transmission with particular focus on a detailed synchroniser mechanism model, including speed synchronisation, ring unblocking and indexing stages of engagement. To demonstrate the combination of synchroniser engagement with clutch-to-clutch shifting, several simulations are conducted to study the variation of chamfer alignment, vehicle speed and synchroniser engagement timing on powertrain response. Results indicate that vehicle speed and chamfer alignment have only limited impact on the quality of shifting. Synchroniser timing can have a more significant influence on shift quality, stressing the need for independence of these processes.

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