A novel approach of overtaking maneuvering using modified RG method

Intelligent and safe overtaking maneuvering is always a challenging task for autonomous vehicles. This paper proposes and experimentally implements a novel approach of overtaking maneuvering using modified form of Rendezvous Guidance (RG) algorithm for trajectory planning and obstacle avoidance, considering driver safety and comfort during autonomous overtaking. The simulations for all possible scenarios are conducted to ensure the effectiveness of proposed modified RG algorithm. These scenarios involved presence and absence of obstacle vehicle in overtaking lane alongside leading vehicle in driving lane. In addition, the enhanced performance of modified RG algorithm is established over conventional RG algorithm by comparative analysis. The results indicate that overtaking maneuvering period could be decreased by 10% using a modified RG algorithm and vehicle will cover less distance to complete overtaking. The efficacy of proposed method is justified by performing experiments using mobile robots. The experimental results and simulation results of modified RG algorithm are compared, and their plots are almost identical.

The Interrelation of Neurological and Psychological Symptoms of COVID-19: Risks and Remedies

COVID-19 has catastrophically affected the world’s panoramic view of human well-being in terms of healthcare and management. With the increase in the number of cases worldwide, neurological symptoms and psychological illnesses from COVID-19 have increasingly upsurged. Mental health illness and affective disorders, including depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety, phobia, and panic disorders, are highly impacted due to social distress. The COVID-19 pandemic not only affected people with pre-existing mental and affective illnesses, but also healthy individuals with anxiety, worrying, and panic symptoms, and fear conditioning. In addditon, the novel coronavirus is known to impact the central nervous system in the brain, resulting in severe and certain long-lasting neurological issues. Owing to the significance of neurological and psychological events, the present perspective has been an attempt to disseminate the impact of COVID-19 on neural injury through inflammation, and its interrelation with psychological symptoms. In this current review, we synthesize the literature to highlight the critical associations between SARS-CoV-2 infection and the nervous system, and mental health illness, and discuss potential mechanisms of neural injury through psycho-neuroimmunity.

Psychological and neurobiological aspects of suicide in adolescents: Current outlooks

Suicidality is one of the leading causes of death among young adults in the United States and represents a significant health problem worldwide. The suicide rate among adolescents in the United States has increased dramatically in the latest years and has been accompanied by considerable changes in youth suicide, especially among young girls. Henceforth, we need a good understanding of the risk factors contributing to suicidal behavior in youth. An explanatory model for suicidal behavior that links clinical and psychological risk factors to the underlying neurobiological, neuropsychological abnormalities related to suicidal behavior might predict to help identify treatment options and have empirical value. Our explanatory model proposes that developmental, biological factors (genetics, proteomics, epigenetics, immunological) and psychological or clinical (childhood adversities) may have causal relevance to the changes associated with suicidal behavior. In this way, our model integrates findings from several perspectives in suicidality and attempts to explain the relationship between various neurobiological, genetic, and clinical observations in suicide research, offering a comprehensive hypothesis to facilitate understanding of this complex outcome. Unraveling the knowledge of the complex interplay of psychological, biological, sociobiological, and clinical risk factors is highly essential, concerning the development of effective prevention strategy plans for suicidal ideation and suicide.