Implementation of CVIS ITS Application in a Driving Simulator Environment

In order to test an IVIS (In-Vehicle Information System) in a simulated environment a concept for using CVIS (Cooperative Vehicle-Infrastructure System) based application in a driving simulator is proposed. The system provides the application, an incident warning application, with position data for the simulated vehicle and data regarding the road network. For the test described here, an existing demonstrator application for a real vehicle was modified to accommodate the needs of the simulator. The core functionality for the application remained the same as for the real life system, while components providing positioning and incident data were changed. This paper describes the technical implementation of the system and outlines some of the experience gained from the test. It also gives a presentation of the importance of testing cooperative systems in a simulated environment

Hvordan oppnå bedre samhandling mellom bilist og aktiv syklist ved passering?

I denne oppgaven har vi sett nærmere på samhandlingen mellom bilister og aktive syklister ved passering. Det har i de senere årene blitt veldig populært og trene med sykkelen sin på landevei. Dette har vært med på og skape en problematikk når biler som bruker veien må passere et mer saktegående kjøretøy. Vi har forsket på problemet. I den første delen av oppgaven har vi sett på problemet. For å belyse dette har vi laget en slags dokumentarfilm. Vi valgte oss ut en strekning som går fra Trondheim til Flakk, en del av riksvei 715. Vi har også sett på problemet ut ifra sosiale medier, og hvordan myndighetene via Nasjonal transportplan ser på problemet. Vi fant ut at det ikke er gjort så mye på området som omhandler samhandling mellom bilist og syklist på landevei. Det er derimot masse kampanjer og forskning med fokus på sykkel når det er snakk om bymiljø eller tettsteder. All satsning fra myndighetene er også mest rettet inn mot byer og tettsteder. I del 2 av oppgaven kommer vi derfor med forslag til hva som kan gjøres for og bedre samhandlingen. Vi kommer med et forslag til kampanje med et eget slagord: Bedre deal mellom sykkel og bil. I denne folderen som vi kan levere ut til bilister og syklister tar vi for oss flere deler vi mener kan være med på og øke samarbeidet. Vi har laget den slik at den ene siden er rettet mot syklisten, og den andre siden er rettet mot bilisten og hvordan den kan være med på og bedre samhandlingen

Improving Safety by Learning from Automation in Transport Systems with a Focus on Sensemaking and Meaningful Human Control

Automated transport systems are deployed in many areas and transport modes. The predominant engineering perspective has been to automate as much as possible and minimize human interaction. However, a balanced integration between human factors and technology is often missing, as well as the “hand-over” process between humans and machine. The risks of automated and autonomous systems are emerging, and there is a need to explore how risks can be mitigated through design, focusing on sensemaking, meaningful human control and resilience engineering. This chapter presents key issues from an ongoing research project exploring safety, security and human control of autonomous transport systems in road, sea, rail and air. The chapter aims to answer: (1) What are the major safety and security challenges of autonomous industrial transport systems? (2) What can the various transport modes learn from each other? (3) What are suggested key measures related to organizational, technical and human issues? We have performed literature reviews, interviews and reviewed on-going automation projects. We see the importance of involving humans in the loop during design and operations, support sensemaking, focus on learning from projects through data gathering and risk-based regulation. Unanticipated deviations are key challenges in automated systems, together with how to design for human–automation interaction and meaningful user involvement. Limiting the operational envelope seems to be a key issue for successful implementation and operation of autonomous systems.publishedVersio

Temporomandibular joint pain and associated magnetic resonance findings: a retrospective study with a control group

Background To better understand and evaluate clinical usefulness of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in diagnosis and treatment of temporomandibular disorders (TMD), parameters for the evaluation are useful. Purpose To assess a clinically suitable staging system for evaluation of MRI of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and correlate the findings with age and some clinical symptoms of the TMJ. Material and Methods Retrospective analysis of 79 consecutive patients with clinical temporomandibular disorder or diagnosed inflammatory arthritis. Twenty-six healthy volunteers were included as controls. Existing data included TMJ pain, limited mouth opening (<30 mm) and corresponding MRI evaluations of the TMJs. Results The patients with clinical TMD complaints had statistically significantly more anterior disc displacement (ADD), disc deformation, caput flattening, surface destructions, osteophytes, and caput edema diagnosed by MRI compared to the controls. Among the arthritis patients, ADD, effusion, caput flattening, surface destructions, osteophytes, and caput edema were significantly more prevalent compared to the healthy volunteers. In the control group, disc deformation and presence of osteophytes significantly increased with age, and a borderline significance was found for ADD and surface destructions on the condylar head. No statistically significant associations were found between investigated clinical and MRI parameters. Conclusion This study presents a clinically suitable staging system for comparable MRI findings in the TMJs. Our results indicate that some findings are due to age-related degenerative changes rather than pathological changes. Results also show that clinical findings such as pain and limited mouth opening may not be related to changes diagnosed by MRI.publishedVersio

Left ventricular dysfunction after two hours of polarizing or depolarizing cardioplegic arrest in a porcine model

Introduction: This experimental study compares myocardial function after prolonged arrest by St. Thomas’ Hospital polarizing cardioplegic solution (esmolol, adenosine, Mg2+) with depolarizing (hyperkalaemic) St. Thomas’ Hospital No 2, both administered as cold oxygenated blood cardioplegia. Methods: Twenty anaesthetized pigs on tepid (34°C) cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) were randomised to cardioplegic arrest for 120 min with antegrade, repeated, cold, oxygenated, polarizing (STH-POL) or depolarizing (STH-2) blood cardioplegia every 20 min. Cardiac function was evaluated at Baseline and 60, 150 and 240 min after weaning from CPB, using a pressure-conductance catheter and epicardial echocardiography. Regional tissue blood flow, cleaved caspase-3 activity and levels of malondialdehyde were evaluated in myocardial tissue samples. Results: Preload recruitable stroke work (PRSW) was increased after polarizing compared to depolarizing cardioplegia 150 min after declamping (73.0±3.2 vs. 64.3±2.4 mmHg, p=0.047). Myocardial tissue blood flow rate was high in both groups compared to the Baseline levels and decreased significantly in the STH-POL group only, from 60 min to 150 min after declamping (p<0.005). Blood flow was significantly reduced in the STH-POL compared to the STH-2 group 240 min after declamping (p<0.05). Left ventricular mechanical efficiency, the ratio between total pressure-volume area and blood flow rate, gradually decreased after STH-2 cardioplegia and was significantly reduced compared to STH-POL cardioplegia after 150 and 240 min (p<0.05 for both). Conclusion: Myocardial protection for two hours of polarizing cardioplegic arrest with STH-POL in oxygenated blood is non-inferior compared to STH-2 blood cardioplegia. STH-POL cardioplegia alleviates the mismatch between myocardial function and perfusion after weaning from CPB.publishedVersio

Prospective Study of Surgery for Traumatic Brain Injury in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: Surgical Procedures, Complications, and Postoperative Outcomes

Under embargo until: 2022-06-02Background Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an important cause of trauma-related mortality and morbidity in Ethiopia. There are significant resource limitations along the entire continuum of care, and little is known about the neurosurgical activity and patient outcomes. Methods All surgically treated TBI patients at the 4 teaching hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia were prospectively registered from October 2012 to December 2016. Data registration included surgical procedures, complications, reoperations, discharge outcomes, and mortality. Results A total of 1087 patients were included. The most common procedures were elevation of depressed skull fractures (49.5%) and craniotomies (47.9%). Epidural hematoma was the most frequent indication for a craniotomy (74.7%). Most (77.7%) patients were operated within 24 hours of admission. The median hospital stay for depressed skull fracture operations or craniotomies was 4 days. Decompressive craniectomy was only done in 10 patients. Postoperative complications were seen in 17% of patients, and only 3% were reoperated. Cerebrospinal fluid leak was the most common complication (7.9%). The overall mortality was 8.2%. Diagnosis, admission Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score, surgical procedure, and complications were significant predictors of discharge GCS score (P < 0.01). Age, admission GCS score, and length of hospital stay were significantly associated with mortality (P ≤ 0.005). Conclusions The injury panorama, surgical activity, and outcome are significantly influenced by patient selection due to deficits within both prehospital and hospital care. Still, the neurosurgical services benefit a large number of patients in the greater Addis region and are qualitatively comparable with reports from high-income countries.acceptedVersio

Prospective Study of Surgery for Traumatic Brain Injury in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: Trauma Causes, Injury Types, and Clinical Presentation

Under embargo until: 2022-04-27Background Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a public health problem in Ethiopia. More knowledge about the epidemiology and neurosurgical management of TBI patients is needed to identify possible focus areas for quality improvement and preventive efforts. Methods This prospective cross-sectional study (2012–2016) was performed at the 4 teaching hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. All surgically treated TBI patients were included, and data on clinical presentation, injury types, and trauma causes were collected. Results We included 1087 patients (mean age 29 years; 8.7% females; 17.1% 50 km from the hospitals, whereas 46% of road traffic accident victims came from the urban area. Delayed admission was associated with higher Glasgow Coma Scale scores and nonsevere TBI (P < 0.01). Conclusions The injury panorama, delayed admission, and small number of operations performed for severe TBI are linked to a substantial patient selection bias both before and after hospital admission. Our results also suggest that there should be a geographical framework for tailored guidelines, preventive efforts, and development of prehospital and hospital services.acceptedVersio

Human Toll-like Receptor 8 (TLR8) Is an Important Sensor of Pyogenic Bacteria, and Is Attenuated by Cell Surface TLR Signaling

TLR8 is an endosomal sensor of RNA degradation products in human phagocytes, and is involved in the recognition of viral and bacterial pathogens. We previously showed that in human primary monocytes and monocyte derived macrophages, TLR8 senses entire Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus agalactiae (group B streptococcus, GBS), resulting in the activation of IRF5 and production of IFNβ, IL-12p70, and TNF. However, the quantitative and qualitative impact of TLR8 for the sensing of bacteria have remained unclear because selective inhibitors have been unavailable. Moreover, while we have shown that TLR2 activation attenuates TLR8-IRF5 signaling, the molecular mechanism of this crosstalk is unknown. We here used a recently developed chemical antagonist of TLR8 to determine its role in human primary monocytes challenged with S. aureus, GBS, Streptococcus pneumonia, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and E. coli. The inhibitor completely blocked cytokine production in monocytes stimulated with TLR8-agonists, but not TLR2-, and TLR4-agonists. Upon challenge with S. aureus, GBS, and S. pneumonia, the TLR8 inhibitor almost eliminated the production of IL-1β and IL-12p70, and it strongly reduced the release of IL-6, TNF, and IL-10. With P. aeruginosa infection, the TLR8 inhibitor impaired the production of IL-12p70 and IL-1β, while with E. coli infection the inhibitor had less effect that varied depending on the strain and conditions. Signaling via TLR2, TLR4, or TLR5, but not TLR8, rapidly eliminated IRAK-1 detection by immunoblotting due to IRAK-1 modifications during activation. Silencing of IRAK-1 reduced the induction of IFNβ and TNF by TLR8 activation, suggesting that IRAK-1 is required for TLR8-IRF5 signaling. The TLR-induced modifications of IRAK-1 also correlated closely with attenuation of TLR8-IRF5 activation, suggesting that sequestration and/or modification of Myddosome components by cell surface TLRs limit the function of TLR8. Accordingly, inhibition of CD14- and TLR4-activation during E. coli challenge increased the activation of IRF5 and the production of IL-1β and IL-12p70. We conclude that TLR8 is a dominating sensor of several species of pyogenic bacteria in human monocytes, while some bacteria attenuate TLR8-signaling via cell surface TLR- activation. Taken together, TLR8 appears as a more important sensor in the antibacterial defense system than previously known

Toll-Like Receptor 8 Is a Major Sensor of Group B Streptococcus But Not Escherichia coli in Human Primary Monocytes and Macrophages

TLR8 is the major endosomal sensor of degraded RNA in human monocytes and macrophages. It has been implicated in the sensing of viruses and more recently also bacteria. We previously identified a TLR8-IFN regulatory factor 5 (IRF5) signaling pathway that mediates IFNβ and interleukin-12 (IL-12) induction by Staphylococcus aureus and is antagonized by TLR2. The relative importance of TLR8 for the sensing of various bacterial species is however still unclear. We here compared the role of TLR8 and IRF5 for the sensing of Group B Streptococcus (GBS), S. aureus, and Escherichia coli in human primary monocytes and monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM). GBS induced stronger IFNβ and TNF production as well as IRF5 nuclear translocation compared to S. aureus grown to the stationary phase, while S. aureus in exponential growth appeared similarly potent to GBS. Cytokine induction in primary human monocytes by GBS was not dependent on hemolysins, and induction of IFNβ and IL-12 as well as IRF5 activation were reduced with TLR2 ligand costimulation. Heat inactivation of GBS reduced IRF5 and NF-kB translocation, while only the viable E. coli activated IRF5. The attenuated stimulation correlated with loss of bacterial RNA integrity. The E. coli-induced IRF5 translocation was not inhibited by TLR2 costimulation, suggesting that IRF5 was activated via a TLR8-independent mechanism. Gene silencing of MDM using siRNA revealed that GBS-induced IFNβ, IL-12-p35, and TNF production was dependent on TLR8 and IRF5. In contrast, cytokine induction by E. coli was TLR8 independent but still partly dependent on IRF5. We conclude that TLR8-IRF5 signaling is more important for the sensing of GBS than for stationary grown S. aureus in human primary monocytes and MDM, likely due to reduced resistance of GBS to phagosomal degradation and to a lower production of TLR2 activating lipoproteins. TLR8 does not sense viable E. coli, while IRF5 still contributes to E. coli-induced cytokine production, possibly via a cytosolic nucleic acid sensing mechanism

Trafikksikkerhet for automatiserte kjøretøy - SmartFeeder: Erfaringer fra norske piloter med selvkjørende minibusser

Vi presenterer her resultater fra fem norske pilotprosjekt i perioden 2018‐2020 med automatiserte minibusser. Deretter settes resultatene inn i en bredere kontekst med oppdatert kunnskap fra litteraturundersøkelser (State‐of‐the‐art). Denne delen gir innblikk i status på teknologi og trafikksikkerhet innen utvikling av automatiserte privatbiler og tilsvarende selvkjørende busser internasjonalt. Resultatene fra omfattende pilotering i Norge med selvkjørende minibusser viser at det tross betydelig eksponering i trafikk, ikke har vært alvorlige hendelser. Det har det heller ikke vært internasjonalt med denne typen selvkjørende minibusser med sikkerhetsoperatør ombord. Det er fremdeles svakheter ved teknologien. Både funksjonelle og trafikksikkerhetsmessige svakheter er avdekket i de norske pilotene og med tilsvarende minibusser internasjonalt. Det kommer også frem av ulykker med kjøretøy på SAE nivå 2‐4 (Tesla, Uber, Google, AGV) som det er redegjort for i denne rapporten. Evnen til å gjenkjenne objekter, forutse uventede situasjoner og samhandle med andre myke trafikanter og kjøretøy bør forbedres. For å kompensere for disse svakhetene kan det i en overgangsfase være fornuftig å etablere et kontrollrom for overvåkning og eventuelt gripe inn. Automatisering har skapt nye typer ulykker, men automatiserte kjøretøy kjører ikke i ruset tilstand, er ikke uoppmerksomme, søvnige, aggressive og de følger trafikkregler til punkt og prikke dersom trafikkreglene digitaliseres. Selv om de forårsaker noen nye ulykker, vil det skje en stadig forbedring av teknologien. Pågående utvikling innen kunstig intelligens (AI) og lærende systemer vil være viktig for å heve dagens automatiserte kjøretøy opp på et høyere nivå som tillater høyere hastigheter og bruk i alle typer trafikkmiljø.Automatiserte kjøretøy tar lærdompublishedVersio