Furthering Intelligent Mobility Through the Adoption of AI in Autonomous Vehicles

Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) are set to remodel future transport; not only in terms of increased road safety and efficiency but also in the way passengers travel and experience each trip. Future driverless cars, enabled by Artificial Intelligence (AI), have the potential to revolutionise journeys and user experiences at a deeper level to provide more intelligent, responsive, and emotionally connected on-board assistance and solutions. Within this context, this paper provides an account of a multidisciplinary design-led innovation project which explored mobility to develop an understanding of the role of AI and AVs within tomorrow’s society. The aim was also to identify pain points of mobility and areas of opportunity, to simulate a set of future journeys and realise a series of design principles, value propositions and recommendations for stakeholders to action. A series of design thinking processes and tools were employed to investigate extreme journey scenarios in order to start questioning and then addressing tangible user needs and concerns in specific and unexpected situations. The research work conducted with a panel of industry experts proposes a distinctive approach to designing future travel experiences, which can help redefine autonomy whilst ensuring users’ needs and value are integrated into R&D processes

Association of mechanical bowel preparation with oral antibiotics and anastomotic leak following left sided colorectal resection:an international, multi-centre, prospective audit

Introduction: The optimal bowel preparation strategy to minimise the risk of anastomotic leak is yet to be determined. This study aimed to determine whether oral antibiotics combined with mechanical bowel preparation (MBP+Abx) was associated with a reduced risk of anastomotic leak when compared to mechanical bowel preparation alone (MBP) or no bowel preparation (NBP). Methods: A pre-planned analysis of the European Society of Coloproctology (ESCP) 2017 Left Sided Colorectal Resection audit was performed. Patients undergoing elective left sided colonic or rectal resection with primary anastomosis between 1 January 2017 and 15 March 2017 by any operative approach were included. The primary outcome measure was anastomotic leak. Results: Of 3676 patients across 343 centres in 47 countries, 618 (16.8%) received MBP+ABx, 1945 MBP (52.9%) and 1099 patients NBP (29.9%). Patients undergoing MBP+ABx had the lowest overall rate of anastomotic leak (6.1%, 9.2%, 8.7% respectively) in unadjusted analysis. After case-mix adjustment using a mixed-effects multivariable regression model, MBP+Abx was associated with a lower risk of anastomotic leak (OR 0.52, 0.30–0.92, P = 0.02) but MBP was not (OR 0.92, 0.63–1.36, P = 0.69) compared to NBP. Conclusion: This non-randomised study adds ‘real-world’, contemporaneous, and prospective evidence of the beneficial effects of combined mechanical bowel preparation and oral antibiotics in the prevention of anastomotic leak following left sided colorectal resection across diverse settings. We have also demonstrated limited uptake of this strategy in current international colorectal practice

Dynamic Landscapes, Emerging Territories

As a result of the pressing environmental and technological conditions dominant today, new frontiers for architectural production are emerging. Fueled by accelerated change and increased connectivity, these trajectories operate across multiple scales and domains. The evolving relationship between place, technology, and occupancy formulates a complex active structure that tends to have fluctuating levels of activity and impact. These conditions are giving way to hybridized settings where the interdependence of digital and analog is altering the very politics of place and identity. In response to the prevalence of amalgamated settings, the paradigm of “Dynamic Landscapes, Emerging Territories” is presented. Dynamic Landscapes have definitions and presence in multiple locations simultaneously, requiring new methods of documentation and assessment in order to conceive appropriate design responses. The paper uses the Syrian Refugee Crisis as a case study for deciphering the implications inherent in displacement in the context of dynamic landscapes. Furthermore, it presents an opportunity to think of new architectural trajectories rooted and driven by the animation of such sites. Inherently dynamic, forced displacement presents rich emerging territories where design carries significant impact and facilitates a tangible reassessment of a refugee’s narrative. Supported by robust information networks and active feedback loops, displaced landscapes as such can learn from their residents and inform their imminent futures specifically, as well as our collective human occupancy at large. Within constantly changing milieus, architecture’s premises and processes are being challenged to respond to fluctuating contexts and provide for transient occupancies. While some may see this as a loss of spatial agency when it comes to design, these conditions present an opportunity to think of new architectural trajectories that are rooted and driven by the dynamism of multilayered landscapes and new approaches towards practice

Evaluating the incidence of pathological complete response in current international rectal cancer practice

The mainstay of management for locally advanced rectal cancer is chemoradiotherapy followed by surgical resection. Following chemoradiotherapy, a complete response may be detected clinically and radiologically (cCR) prior to surgery or pathologically after surgery (pCR). We aim to report the overall complete pathological response (pCR) rate and the reliability of detecting a cCR by conventional pre-operative imaging.A pre-planned analysis of the European Society of Coloproctology (ESCP) 2017 audit was performed. Patients treated by elective rectal resection were included. A pCR was defined as a ypT0 N0 EMVI negative primary tumour; a partial response represented any regression from baseline staging following chemoradiotherapy. The primary endpoint was the pCR rate. The secondary endpoint was agreement between post-treatment MRI restaging (yMRI) and final pathological staging.Of 2572 patients undergoing rectal cancer surgery in 277 participating centres across 44 countries, 673 (26.2%) underwent chemoradiotherapy and surgery. The pCR rate was 10.3% (67/649), with a partial response in 35.9% (233/649) patients. Comparison of AJCC stage determined by post-treatment yMRI with final pathology showed understaging in 13% (55/429) and overstaging in 34% (148/429). Agreement between yMRI and final pathology for T-stage, N-stage, or AJCC status were each graded as 'fair' only (n = 429, Kappa 0.25, 0.26 and 0.35 respectively).The reported pCR rate of 10% highlights the potential for non-operative management in selected cases. The limited strength of agreement between basic conventional post-chemoradiotherapy imaging assessment techniques and pathology suggest alternative markers of response should be considered, in the context of controlled clinical trials

Moving in the digital era. Envisioning innovative interior solutions for future driverless cars in responsive urban spaces

La ricerca riguarda lo studio degli interni delle future auto a guida autonoma, progettate per essere condivise all’interno del contesto urbano. La metodologia utilizzata include interviste semi-strutturate con esperti nei vari settori di interesse e questionari ai potenziali futuri utenti. Designer professionisti sono stati coinvolti nella ricerca, per svolgere attività creative. Il tutto con l’intento di investigare possibili scenari e definire approcci innovativi al design di questo tipo di veicoli per la mobilità urbana del futuro.This research identifies and addresses existing gaps in the design of of the interior of future driverless vehicles meant to be shared in the urban environment. This involved interaction with experts (including in the early stages of the design process) and potential future customers. The methodology included both one-on-one structured interviews with experts in the various fields of urban mobility and car design, and an online survey in which people were asked to express their qualitative/quantitative opinions about a wide range of topics related to urban mobility and driverless vehicles. Design professionals (though not specifically involved with car design) were also asked to complete an exercise to investigate noval approaches to the design of driverless car interiors, which have not been considered by the mainstream automotive industry.DIPARTIMENTO DI DESIGN28GUERRINI, LUCAGUERRINI, LUC

S.l.i.m. bike. Bicicletta pieghevole per uso urbano

LAUREA SPECIALISTIC

Challenges and Opportunities for Seaports Towards Future Sustainability: The UK’s North East Smart Ports Testbed Case Study

Globalisation and technological advancements in the transport sector have entailed a significant expansion of the maritime and offshore energy industry, whilst redefining the role of shipping and ports in global and national supply chains. Ports (often urban-based) also play a significant role in their hinterland, through on-land business operations including logistics, renewable energy generation and decommissioning/recycling activities. However, the ports and maritime sector have been identified as lagging behind other fields in terms of both a digital transformation strategy (to monitor, manage, and support decision-making and investment) and their readiness to accommodate technological innovation and sustainable development (especially vis-a-vis carbon emissions reductions) at a time of increasingly stringent environmental requirements in the domain of sustainability and energy efficiency.As these are strategic objectives for ports to achieve, the North East of England Smart Ports Testbed project, as part of a wider set of engagement activities by key actors in this remit, was developed by a multi-disciplinary research team at Northumbria University together with stakeholders from local ports and businesses to tackle specific global-scale challenges at a regional level. Opportunities for sustainable growth, cleaner and integrated logistics were investigated through desk-top study and service design action research methods (workshops and interviews). Key research areas, which are also embedded into the UK’s Industrial Strategy Grand Challenges in terms of the future of mobility (the optimisation of freight, and increased safety), Artificial Intelligence, the data economy (understanding the types of data generated by ports, and how to valorise them), and clean growth (cutting carbon and other emissions/pollution) were explored. Furthermore, this project focus directly connects to the UN Sustainable Development Goals 9 (“Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure”), 11 (“Affordable and Clean Energy”) and well as 8 (“Decent Work and Economic Growth”).The project contributed towards furthering the aims of the wider Smart Ports Testbed initiative by providing valuable insights to determine the focus areas of future technical and organisational solutions to be trialled at the ports in their quest to become smarter ports. The chapter will also provide an outlook on how some of those objectives can be framed and contribute towards increased circular economy efforts