Application of Artificial Intelligence in Detection and Mitigation of Human Factor Errors in Nuclear Power Plants: A Review

Human factors and ergonomics have played an essential role in increasing the safety and performance of operators in the nuclear energy industry. In this critical review, we examine how artificial intelligence (AI) technologies can be leveraged to mitigate human errors, thereby improving the safety and performance of operators in nuclear power plants (NPPs). First, we discuss the various causes of human errors in NPPs. Next, we examine the ways in which AI has been introduced to and incorporated into different types of operator support systems to mitigate these human errors. We specifically examine (1) operator support systems, including decision support systems, (2) sensor fault detection systems, (3) operation validation systems, (4) operator monitoring systems, (5) autonomous control systems, (6) predictive maintenance systems, (7) automated text analysis systems, and (8) safety assessment systems. Finally, we provide some of the shortcomings of the existing AI technologies and discuss the challenges still ahead for their further adoption and implementation to provide future research directions

Immunoglobulin G1 and immunoglobulin G4 antibodies in multiple sclerosis patients treated with IFNβ interact with the endogenous cytokine and activate complement

A subset of patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) on therapy with interferon beta (IFNβ) develop neutralising anti-drug antibodies (ADA) resulting in reduced, or loss of, therapeutic efficacy. The aims were to characterise the relative contributions of anti-IFNβ antibody isotypes to drug neutralising activity, ability of these antibodies to cross-react with endogenous IFNβ, to form immune complexes and activate complement. IFNβ-specific ADA were measured in plasma from RRMS patients treated with IFNβ1a (Rebif(®)). Neutralisation of endogenous and therapeutic IFNβ by ADA was determined by IFNβ bioassay. IFNβ-ADA profile was predominantly comprised of IgG1 and IgG4 antibody isotypes. The contribution of IgG4-ADA towards neutralising activity was found to be minimal. Neutralising IFNβ-ADA blocks endogenous IFNβ activity. ADA interaction with therapeutic IFNβ results in immune complex formation and complement activation. In summary, IgG1 and IgG4 IFNβ-ADA have the ability to neutralise therapeutic and endogenous protein and to activate complement