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This paper presents a novel method, advisory dynamic programming (AD-DP), for power management of a fuel cell hybrid vehicle (FCHEV). The presented method embraces a new understanding of vehicle states as driver-dependent and -independent states in time domain to define a suitable state space to be used for dynamic programming. Driver-dependent states are defined in terms of multiple characteristic parameters for vehicle speed and power demand, corporately. Driver-independent states are defined in terms of discrete values for supercapacitor's state of charge $SoC_{sc}$. Transition costs between all states in the state space are calculated offline and tabulated in look-up tables for online implementation. A state predictive model is developed based on the transition statistics of driver-dependent states for a suitable number of driving cycles. Backward calculation of the total transition cost for the predicted horizon in state space is used to define optimal power split strategy for the powertrain. The formulation of optimal control problem, in terms of situation-based solutions related to vehicle states, enables a significant reduction of computational steps and hence addresses the main challenge of real-time applications. The algorithm is adapted in terms of optimization horizon and number of discrete states for DIS to suit the real-time application. Experimental application of AD-DP, using an emulation test-rig, is conducted over different driving cycles. The obtained results reveal an improvement in energy efficiency up to 29% compared to the adaptive rule-based method. The contribution of this paper can be identified as: first, development of a corporate definition for vehicle states, that can be further implemented in optimization-based power management methods. Second, the formulation of an adaptive DP that requires lower computational steps and hence suits real-time applications in hybrid electric vehicles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Widespread usage of different chemical drugs for therapeutic purposes may impair spermatogenesis. Since calcium channels are present in the plasma membrane of many cells including sperm, the present study aimed at examining the effects of amlodipine (a calcium-channels inhibitor) and also pentoxifylline on sperm parameters in mice. Materials and Methods: Syrian male mice received 2.5 mg/kg/day amlodipine orally for 3 months and the sperms in culture medium exposed to 0.5 mmol pentoxifylline. After epididymal biopsy, total number of sperms, number of dead sperms, number of sperms with progressive and slow and in situ motility, and also sperms with acrosome reaction were studied by a light microscope. Results: There was no difference in total sperm numbers between control and treatment groups (P=0.44). After staining with eosine Y, number of dead sperms in the amlodipine receiving group increased significantly (P<0.001). Number of sperms with progressive motility in amlodipine group decreased significantly (P<0.001). Number of sperms with slow motility and in situ and sperms with acrosoaml reaction in amlodipine group decreased significantly (P<0.001). Conclusion: Oral amlodipine administration reduces the sperm progressive motility and acrosomal reaction, whereas oral pentoxifylline administration enhances the sperm progressive motility and acrosomal reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]