In this article, we introduce a new paradigm of control, called hands-off control, which can save energy and reduce CO2 emissions in control systems. A hands-off control is defined as a control that has a much shorter support than the horizon length. The maximum hands-off control is the minimum support (or sparsest) control among all admissible controls. With maximum hands-off control, actuators in the feedback control system can be stopped during time intervals over which the control values are zero. We show the maximum hands-off control is given by L1 optimal control, for which we also show numerical computation formulas.

Pulmonary embolism (PE) can only be diagnosed with imaging techniques, which in practice is performed using ventilation/perfusion scintigraphy(V/P scintigraphy) or multi-detector computed tomography of the pulmonary arteries (MDCT). The basic principle for the diagnosis of PE based upon V/P scintigraphy is to recognize lung segments or subsegments without perfusion but preserved ventilation, i. e. mismatch. Ventilation/ perfusion single photon emission tomography - V/P SPECT has during the last 10 years started to replace V/P planar based on higher sensitivity, specificity and low non-diagnostic findings. A twenty seven year old woman was suspected for PE when presented to the out-patient clinic due to dyspnea, frequent yawing, oppression in the throat, 3 days after being treated of superficial varices cruris with foam sclerotherapy - UGFS. She was first examined with chest x-ray, MDCT, hearth ultrasonography and V/P planar. V/P planar was reported as very low probability for PE. All the other initial examinations were normal. Patient symptoms did not decline, and reffering clinitian put her on therapy with LMWH. Fifth days later reffering doctor recomended V/P SPECT. V/P SPECT has shown billateral PE, with the cca 35% extent of PE. Patient was followed up clinically and with V/P SPECT one month later. The control V/P SPECT was normal. This case presented importance of high clinical probability and value of V/P SPECT over another imaging technique for detection of PE.

microRNAs (miRNAs) are widespread regulators of gene expression, but little is known of their potential roles in congenital muscular dystrophy type 1A (MDC1A). MDC1A is a severe form of muscular dystrophy caused by mutations in the gene encoding laminin α2 chain. To gain insight into the pathophysiological roles of miRNAs associated with MDC1A pathology, laminin α2 chain-deficient mice were evaluated by quantitative PCR. We demonstrate that expression of muscle-specific miR-1, miR-133a, and miR-206 is deregulated in laminin α2 chain-deficient muscle. Furthermore, expression of miR-223 and miR-21, associated with immune cell infiltration and fibrosis, respectively, is altered. Finally, we show that plasma levels of muscle-specific miRNAs are markedly elevated in laminin α2 chain-deficient mice and partially normalized in response to proteasome inhibition therapy. Altogether, our data suggest important roles for miRNAs in MDC1A pathology and we propose plasma levels of muscle-specific miRNAs as promising biomarkers for the progression of MDC1A.