Planning Reliability Assurance Tests for Autonomous Vehicles

Artificial intelligence (AI) technology has become increasingly prevalent and transforms our everyday life. One important application of AI technology is the development of autonomous vehicles (AV). However, the reliability of an AV needs to be carefully demonstrated via an assurance test so that the product can be used with confidence in the field. To plan for an assurance test, one needs to determine how many AVs need to be tested for how many miles and the standard for passing the test. Existing research has made great efforts in developing reliability demonstration tests in the other fields of applications for product development and assessment. However, statistical methods have not been utilized in AV test planning. This paper aims to fill in this gap by developing statistical methods for planning AV reliability assurance tests based on recurrent events data. We explore the relationship between multiple criteria of interest in the context of planning AV reliability assurance tests. Specifically, we develop two test planning strategies based on homogeneous and non-homogeneous Poisson processes while balancing multiple objectives with the Pareto front approach. We also offer recommendations for practical use. The disengagement events data from the California Department of Motor Vehicles AV testing program is used to illustrate the proposed assurance test planning methods.Comment: 29 pages, 5 figure

An Empirical Model for Estimating Soil Thermal Diffusivity from Texture, Bulk Density, and Degree of Saturation

Soil thermal diffusivity κ is an essential parameter for studying surface and subsurface heat transfer and temperature changes. It is well understood that κ mainly varies with soil texture, water content θ, and bulk density ρb, but few models are available to accurately quantify the relationship. In this study, an empirical model is developed for estimating κ from soil particle size distribution, ρb, and degree of water saturation Sr. The model parameters are determined by fitting the proposed equations to heat-pulse κdata for eight soils covering wide ranges of texture, ρb, and Sr. Independent evaluations with published κdata show that the new model describes the κ(Sr) relationship accurately, with root-mean-square errors less than 0.75 × 10−7 m2 s−1. The proposed κ(Sr) model also describes the responses of κ to ρb changes accurately in both laboratory and field conditions. The new model is also used successfully for predicting near-surface soil temperature dynamics using the harmonic method. The results suggest that this model provides useful estimates of κ from Sr, ρb, and soil texture

2-Amino-nicotinamide induces apoptosis of prostate cancer cells via inhibition of PI3K/AKT and phosphorylation of STA3/JAK2

Purpose: To study the cytotoxicity of 2-amino-nicotinamide against prostate cancer (PCa) cells, and the underlying molecular mechanism.Methods: The effect of 2-amino-nicotinamide on cell viability and apoptosis was determined by 3-(4,5- dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium (MTT) and flow cytometry, respectively, while its effect on cellular production of fluorescent-oxidized product from DCFH-DA was measured using flow cytometry. Apoptosis-related protein expressions were evaluated by western blot assay.Results: 2-Amino-nicotinamide produced cytotoxicity against MCF-7, SGC7901, PCa 22Rv1 and LNCaP cancer cell lines (p < 0.05). Mechanistic data revealed that 2-amino-nicotinamide activated apoptosis, and enhanced cleavage of PARP and caspase-3 in PCa 22Rv1 and LNCaP cells. In PCa 22Rv1 and LNCaP cell lines, cytochrome C and Bax levels were enhanced by treatment with 2-aminonicotinamide, while Bcl-2 protein level was suppressed (p < 0.05). Activated expressions of PI3K, Akt and ERK in PCa 22Rv1 and LNCaP cells were down-regulated, while p38 expression was increased.Moreover, 2-amino-nicotinamide suppressed the activation of JAK2 and STAT3, but did not alter total JAK2 and STAT3 levels in PCa 22Rv1 and LNCaP cells (p < 0.05).Conclusion: 2-Amino-nicotinamide exerts cytotoxic effects on prostate carcinoma cells via activation of apoptosis and down-regulation of PI3K/AKT and STA3/JAK2. Thus, 2-amino nicotinamide is a potential bioactive agent for prostate cancer management. Keywords: 2-Amino-nicotinamide, Apoptosis, Fluorescent-oxidized, Cytotoxicit

An Improved Thermo-TDR Technique for Monitoring Soil Thermal Properties, Water Content, Bulk Density, and Porosity

The thermo-time domain reflectometry (thermo-TDR) technique is valuable for monitoring in situ soil water content (θ), thermal properties, bulk density (ρb), porosity (n), and air-filled porosity (na) in the vadose zone. However, the previous thermo-TDR sensor has several weaknesses, including limited precision of TDR waveforms due to the short probe length, small measurement volume, and thermal property estimation errors resulting from finite probe properties not accounted for by the heat pulse method. We have developed a new thermo-TDR sensor design for monitoring θ, thermal properties, ρb, n, and na. The new sensor has a robust heater probe (outer diameter of 2.38 mm and length of 70 mm) and a 10-mm spacing between the heater and sensing probes, which provides a sensing volume three times larger than that of the previous sensor. The identical cylindrical perfect conductors and the tangent line–second-order bounded mean oscillation theories were applied to analyze the raw data. Laboratory tests showed that θ values determined with the new sensor had a RMSE of 0.014 m3 m−3 compared with 0.016 to 0.026 m3 m−3 with the previous sensor. Soil thermal property estimates with the new sensor agreed well with modeled values. Soil ρb, n, and na derived from θ and thermal properties were consistent with those derived from gravimetric measurements. Thus, the new thermo-TDR sensor provides more accurate θ, thermal properties, ρb, n, and na values than the previous sensor

Permeability enhancement and coal fines removal through oxidation treatment in coalbed methane reservoirs

This study utilized anthracite coal samples from Zhijin Block and applied NaClO as the oxidant to investigate the effects of oxidation treatment on permeability enhancement and coal fines migration. Subsequent to oxidation treatment, the coal samples demonstrated an average increase of 42.17% in the equivalent hydraulic aperture (EHA). This treatment also resulted in the expansion of fluid flow channels, contributing to an average permeability enhancement of 108.85% in the coal samples. Resulting from the non-uniform dissolution of the oxidant on the fracture surface of coal, self-propping fractures were formed, effectively maintaining the conductivity of fractures. The oxidation treatment converted the wettability of fracture surface from hydrophilic to hydrophobic. This transformation proved advantageous for the dewatering process within the fractures. Moreover, even under high confining stress, the 5 wt% NaClO solution still exhibited a favorable permeability enhancement effect on coal. The oxidation treatment resulted in a particle size degradation rate of 40.38%. Considering the properties and particle size distribution characteristics of both the coal fracture surface and coal fines, the affirmative impact of oxidation treatment on coal fines removal was analyzed based on the extended DLVO theory. The calculated results showed that the adhesion force between coal fines and fracture surface was weakened. Coupled with the effect of fracture widening, the outcome was a notable 26.99% increase in the quantity of coal fines that migrated with the fluid under the drag force after oxidation treatment. The research results presented in this paper provide another option for enhancing permeability of coalbed methane reservoirs, which has important reference significance for the broader economic development of such reservoirs

Summary of Advances in the Heat-Pulse Technique: Improvements in Measuring Soil Thermal Properties

This essay provides a summary of “Advances in the Heat-Pulse Technique: Improvements in Measuring Soil Thermal Properties” recently appearing in Methods of Soil Analysis. Series

IMECE2002-32838 CONVECTION EFFECTS IN THREE-DIMENSIONAL DENDRITIC GROWTH

ABSTRACT A phase-field model is developed to simulate free dendritic growth coupled with fluid flow for a pure material in three dimensions. The preliminary results presented here illustrate the strong influence of convection on the three-dimensional (3D) dendrite growth morphology. The detailed knowledge of the flow and temperature fields in the melt around the dendrite from the simulations allows for a detailed understanding of the convection effects on dendritic growth

Summary of Thermo–Time Domain Reflectometry Method: Advances in Monitoring In Situ Soil Bulk Density

Soil bulk density (ρb) is a key indicator of soil compaction and soil health that relates to water infiltration, plant rooting depth, nutrient availability, and soil microbial activity. Under field conditions, ρb usually varies with time and depth because of agronomic practices, root growth, and environmental processes (e.g., rainfall events, wetting/drying, and freezing/thawing). The traditional technique (i.e., the coring method) for determining ρb has the problems of destructive sampling, labor intensive, and is unable to capture the spatial and temporal variations. In a chapter of the recent Methods of Soil Analysis book, we present a review of the theory, instrumentation, and procedures of the thermo–time domain reflectometry (thermo-TDR) technique for monitoring in situ ρb (Lu et al., 2017)

Applications of Thermo-TDR Sensors for Soil Physical Measurements

Advanced sensors provide new opportunities to improve the understanding of soil properties and processes. One such sensor is the thermo-TDR sensor, which combines the functions of heat pulse probes and time domain reflectometry probes. Recent advancements in fine-scale measurements of soil thermal, hydraulic, and electrical properties with the thermo-TDR sensor enable measuring soil state variables (temperature, water content, and ice content), thermal and electrical properties (thermal diffusivity, heat capacity, thermal conductivity, and bulk electrical conductivity), structural parameters (bulk density and air-filled porosity) and fluxes (heat, water, and vapor) simultaneously. This chapter describes the theory, methodology, and potential applications of the thermo-TDR technique