A hybrid human and organisational analysis method for railway accidents based on STAMP-HFACS and human information processing

Safety is a constant priority for the railway industry and there are numerous hazards in and around the rail system which may result in damage to train and environment, human injury and fatalities. Low levels of human and organisational performance have been shown to be a prime cause of railway accidents and a number of accident models and methods have been developed in order to probe deeper into the role played by organisational factors in accident causation. The Systems–Theoretical Accident Modelling and Processes (STAMP) method for example, represents a promising systematic and systemic way of examining sociotechnical systems such as the railway. Another method, the Human Factors Analysis and Classification System (HFACS), based upon Reason’s model of human error in an organisational context, has also proved popular as a human factors accident analysis framework. However, human factors elements are still somewhat limited and under-specified and these managerial and social issues within an organisation are simply regarded as sources of failure in the control constraints of STAMP. HFACS likewise, categorises accident data rather than analysing it in more depth. In this context, a hybrid human and organisational analysis method based on HFACS-STAMP (HFACS-STAMP method for railway accidents, HS-RAs) is proposed to identify and analyse human and organisational factors involved in railway accidents. Using the categories of human errors derived from HFACS and the structured systematic analysis process of STAMP, the HS-RAs method provides a mechanism by which active failures can promulgate across organisations and give a systemic analysis of human error in accidents. Combined with human information processing, the HS-RAs method gives a detailed causal analysis of human errors from receiving information to implement control actions. At last, the HS-RAs method is demonstrated using a case study of the 2011 Yong-Wen railway collision. A number of prominent accident causes of human factors are revealed and necessary countermeasures are proposed to avoid the recurrence of similar accidents. The HFACS-STAMP hybrid method has several advantages and can contribute to railway safety by providing a detailed analysis of the role of human error in railway accidents

DataSheet_1_Pan-cancer genetic analysis of cuproptosis and copper metabolism-related gene set.docx

BackgroundA recent paper has revealed a novel cell death pathway, cuproptosis, a programmed cell death based on copper. This study aimed to evaluate the pan-cancer genomics and clinical association of cuproptosis and copper metabolism-related cell death genes, including SLC25A3, SLC25A37, SLC31A1, FDX1, DLAT, LIAS, ATP7A, ATP7B, COX17, SCO1, SCO2, COX11, and COX19.MethodsBy mining multi-omics profiling data, we performed a comprehensive and systematic characterization of cuproptosis genes across more than 9,000 samples of over 30 types of cancer.ResultsATP7B and ATP7A were the two most frequently mutated copper cell death genes in cancer. UCEC and SKCM were the two cancer types that have the highest mutation rates while the mutation of LIAS was associated with worse survival of BRCA. Brain cancer was potentially affected by copper cell death because of the difference in copper cell death gene expression among subtypes and stages. On the contrary, KIRC might have a lower cuproptosis activity because of the decrease in copper cell death gene expression. In lung cancer and kidney cancer, most of the cancer–noncancer expression patterns of copper cell death genes were consistent between mRNA and protein levels. Some of the cuproptosis gene expression was associated with the survival of LGG, KIRC, and ACC. The top five expression-copy numbers correlating cancer types were BRCA, OV, LUSC, HNSC, BLCA, and LUAD. Generally, the copy number variations of these genes in KIRC, UCEC, and LGG were associated with survival. The expression of DLAT, LIAS, and ATP7B was negatively correlated with the methylation in most of the cancer types. The copper cell death genes regulating miRNA and pathway regulation networks were constructed. The copper cell death genes were correlated with immune cell infiltration levels of multiple immune cells. These genes were correlated with the sensitivity of cancer cells to multiple drugs.ConclusionCopper cell death genes are potentially involved in many cancer types and can be developed as candidates for cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutic biomarkers.</p

Density Functional Theory-Based Kinetic Modeling of Reactions of Hydrogen Isotopes (H₂, D₂, T₂) and Carbonaceous Gases (CO₂, CO, CH₄) on the ZrCo(110) Surface

ZrCo and its alloys have attracted extensive attention as promising hydrogen isotope storage materials for nuclear fusion reactors. However, ZrCo can be readily poisoned by carbonaceous impurity gases like CO2 and CO introduced by input hydrogen isotopes or produced during the fusion reactor operation procedure. In this work, with density functional theory calculations and microkinetic modeling, the poisoning effects of CO2 and CO are identified by predominantly occupying active sites on the metal surface when reaching equilibrium. Surface reaction events related to CO2 are mostly molecular adsorption–desorption steps due to its strong binding strength. Dissociation of CO occurs readily even at room temperature, and the resident time length for the coverage of hydrogen being higher than other species is longer than CO2, indicating that the ZrCo alloy is more resistant to CO-poisoning compared to CO2. Interaction between CH4 and ZrCo is not active with the coexistence of hydrogen, making this impurity inert in deteriorating hydrogen storage performance. Hydrogen isotope effects are characterized by comparing reactions among H2 + CO2(CO), D2 + CO2(CO), and T2 + CO2(CO) mixing gases, with hydrogen resident time lengths decreasing from H2 to T2

The lingual epithelium is thicker at the back than at the tip of the tongue, and this difference is attenuated by elimination of <i>Igf1r</i> from the epithelium.

<p>(A) In the samples used for taste bud quantification at P80 we measured epithelial thickness adjacent to taste buds in the tip and back portion of the tongue (10 taste buds for each location, tip vs. back, in each mouse; n = 3/genotype). The cartoon inset of a tongue section illustrates what is meant by tongue tip and back. Epithelial thickness was measured at three locations (B, C, D) with respect to each taste bud. The epithelium adjacent to the fungiform papilla (B), the taste bud (C), and dorsal to the taste bud (D) was thicker at the back portion of the tongue compared with the tongue tip. This difference was ameliorated by elimination of <i>Igf1r</i>. ***p<0.001, ** p<0.01, * p<0.05.</p

Sequences of primer pairs and probes used for real-time RT-PCR.

<p>Sequences of primer pairs and probes used for real-time RT-PCR.</p

IGF1R is not required for maintenance of normal fungiform taste bud numbers in adulthood.

<p>Taste buds were counted in H&E-stained sections at P30 and P80 in <i>Igf1r</i>^{<i>lox/lox</i>} (A) and <i>K14-Cre</i>::<i>Igf1r</i>^{<i>lox/lox</i>} mice (B). There were fewer taste buds in <i>K14-Cre</i>::<i>Igf1r</i>^{<i>lox/lox</i>} mice (n = 3) than in littermate <i>Igf1r</i>^{<i>lox/lox</i>} (n = 3) at P30, (C). By adulthood (P80), taste bud numbers were identical between both genotypes (<i>Igf1r</i>^{<i>lox/lox</i>}, n = 3<i>; K14-Cre</i>::<i>Igf1r</i>^{<i>lox/lox</i>} n = 4). Scale bar is 50 μm in A and B. ** p<0.01.</p

IGF2 is expressed in the geniculate ganglion, while IGF1R is expressed in taste buds.

<p>Relative expression of growth factors expressed in the geniculate ganglion (A) and receptors expressed in fungiform taste buds (B) (n = 4). IGF1R expression in the taste bud (keratin 8, green) was confirmed with immunohistochemistry (Igf1r, red). The scale bar is 20 μm for both C and D. (E) For each receptor ligand pair in (A) and (B) we plotted the relative expression of the receptor on the X-axis and the ligand on the Y-axis. IGF2 and its receptor, IGF1R, had the highest relative expression among the growth factors examined (arrow).</p

Elimination of <i>Igf1r</i> has no major effect on taste bud size.

<p>Taste buds at P80 are larger at the back of the fungiform taste field than they are at the tongue tip. The number of cells in individual taste buds and taste bud volumes were measured. The borders of taste buds were determined by staining for cytokeratin-8 (green, A-D), and cells in the taste bud were defined by a single DAPI-stained nucleus (blue, E-H). Taste buds contained more cells (I) and were larger (J) at the back of the tongue compared to the tip in <i>Igf1r</i>^lox/lox (n = 3 mice per region), and this difference was slightly attenuated by elimination of <i>Igf1r</i> from the tongue epithelium K14-Cre <i>Igf1r</i>^lox/lox (n = 3 per region). The cartoon inset of a tongue section illustrates what is meant by tip and back. The scale bar is 20 μm and applies to all panels. * p<0.05.</p

Origin of Near-Infrared Absorption for Azulene-Containing Conjugated Polymers upon Protonation or Oxidation

A series of azulene-containing conjugated polymers were studied to elucidate their tunable absorption properties in near-infrared (NIR) regions (i.e., 1.2–2.5 μm) upon protonation/oxidation. Density function theory (DFT) revealed that protonation-induced intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) in the polymer backbone lead to strong NIR absorption. Distinct spectral change was observed when tiny amount of peroxide was added to the protonated polymer in trifluoroacetic acid/chloroform solution. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) study confirmed the presence of radical cation, which results in the occurrence of newly formed absorption band after the addition of peroxide. The spectro-electrochemical results and DFT study indicate that polarons and polaron pairs were formed during p-doping process, and both the chemical oxidation and electrochemical oxidation could be facilitated by TFA protonation. This represents the first reported mechanisms of NIR absorption under various protonation/oxidation conditions in a single polymer system

Evolution of <i>Protanancus</i> (Proboscidea, Mammalia) in East Asia

<div><p>ABSTRACT—</p><p>Interspecific competition and species replacement explain many evolutionary successions, but these processes are difficult to test. According to recent paleontological research, amebelodontines were predominant proboscideans in faunas of the early to middle Miocene of East Asia. In addition to the abundant <i>Platybelodon</i>, other amebelodontines are known, but they have been largely neglected by researchers. Here we describe two species of <i>Protanancus</i>, <i>Pr. tobieni</i> and <i>Pr. brevirostris</i>, sp. nov., from China. The former was present during the middle Miocene in Tongxin and Qin’an and was previously attributed to <i>Amebelodon</i> or <i>Serbelodon</i>; the latter was present during the early Miocene in the Linxia Basin. Cladistic analysis indicates that the two species appear to represent primitive members of <i>Protanancus</i>. However, the phylogenetic relationship among <i>Protanancus</i>, <i>Platybelodon</i>, and <i>Amebelodon</i> remains unresolved because of their strong parallel evolution. Our study suggests intensive competition between <i>Protanancus</i> and <i>Platybelodon</i> based on similarities in their mandibular morphologies and dental microwear patterns, with the former genus disappearing from East Asia by the late middle Miocene. This scenario is supported by a mechanical model, in which lower tusks with dentinal tubules, as occur in <i>Platybelodon</i>, show greater resistance to the adverse effects of both a heavy load and abrasion than those with concentric laminae, present in <i>Protanancus</i>. The model aids in interpreting the evolution of the inner structure of the lower tusks of amebelodontines, which may have provided a competitive advantages for these species.</p><p>http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:4D33BD71-CB05-4058-B9DD-337060B0B7CB</p><p>SUPPLEMENTAL DATA——Supplemental materials are available for this article for free at www.tandfonline.com/UJVP </p></div