Detection of Pilot's Mental Workload Using a Wireless EEG Headset in Airfield Traffic Pattern Tasks.

Elevated mental workload (MWL) experienced by pilots can result in increased reaction times or incorrect actions, potentially compromising flight safety. This study aims to develop a functional system to assist administrators in identifying and detecting pilots' real-time MWL and evaluate its effectiveness using designed airfield traffic pattern tasks within a realistic flight simulator. The perceived MWL in various situations was assessed and labeled using NASA Task Load Index (NASA-TLX) scores. Physiological features were then extracted using a fast Fourier transformation with 2-s sliding time windows. Feature selection was conducted by comparing the results of the Kruskal-Wallis (K-W) test and Sequential Forward Floating Selection (SFFS). The results proved that the optimal input was all PSD features. Moreover, the study analyzed the effects of electroencephalography (EEG) features from distinct brain regions and PSD changes across different MWL levels to further assess the proposed system's performance. A 10-fold cross-validation was performed on six classifiers, and the optimal accuracy of 87.57% was attained using a multi-class K-Nearest Neighbor (KNN) classifier for classifying different MWL levels. The findings indicate that the wireless headset-based system is reliable and feasible. Consequently, numerous wireless EEG device-based systems can be developed for application in diverse real-driving scenarios. Additionally, the current system contributes to future research on actual flight conditions.

Driver Stress Detection Using Ultra-Short-Term HRV Analysis under Real World Driving Conditions.

Considering that driving stress is a major contributor to traffic accidents, detecting drivers' stress levels in time is helpful for ensuring driving safety. This paper attempts to investigate the ability of ultra-short-term (30-s, 1-min, 2-min, and 3-min) HRV analysis for driver stress detection under real driving circumstances. Specifically, the t-test was used to investigate whether there were significant differences in HRV features under different stress levels. Ultra-short-term HRV features were compared with the corresponding short-term (5-min) features during low-stress and high-stress phases by the Spearman rank correlation and Bland-Altman plots analysis. Furthermore, four different machine-learning classifiers, including a support vector machine (SVM), random forests (RFs), K-nearest neighbor (KNN), and Adaboost, were evaluated for stress detection. The results show that the HRV features extracted from ultra-short-term epochs were able to detect binary drivers' stress levels accurately. In particular, although the capability of HRV features in detecting driver stress also varied between different ultra-short-term epochs, MeanNN, SDNN, NN20, and MeanHR were selected as valid surrogates of short-term features for driver stress detection across the different epochs. For drivers' stress levels classification, the best performance was achieved with the SVM classifier, with an accuracy of 85.3% using 3-min HRV features. This study makes a contribution to building a robust and effective stress detection system using ultra-short-term HRV features under actual driving environments.

Global sensitivity analysis of VISSIM parameters for project-level traffic emissions: a case study at a signalized intersection.

Combining traffic micro-simulation models and emission models is a primary method to estimate traffic emissions. However, there has been limited research on the impact of traffic micro-simulation model parameters on simulator outputs, which are critical to emissions calculations. Based on combining VISSIM and MOVES, this study uses the Morris and Sobol methods to explore the impact of parameters in VISSIM on operating mode distribution and travel time distribution. Taking an urban signal control intersection with three traffic scenarios in Chengdu, China as an example, this study verifies the methods' feasibility. Apart from these parameters, which have been proved to be necessary calibration parameters, including the desired speed distribution, the desired acceleration function, and the desired deceleration function, an additional 24 parameters related to simulation setting and driving behaviour models are selected as the initial parameters. The number of interaction objects, maximum look-ahead distance, average standstill distance, additive part of safety distance, and safety distance reduction factor close to a stop line, are considered to be the important parameters for this case study. The impact of these five parameters on the bins of operating mode distribution and travel time distribution are further analyzed with One-at-a-time, and these parameters are compared with those reported in previous studies. It is concluded that the important parameters selected in this study are reasonable and can support the calibration of VISSIM parameters for this case's traffic emissions.

Bayesian hierarchical spatial count modeling of taxi speeding events based on GPS trajectory data.

Speeding behavior, especially serious speeding, is more common in taxi driver than other driving population due to their high exposure under traffic environment, which increases the risk of being involved in crashes. In order to prevent the taxi and other road users from speed-related crash, previous studies have revealed contributors of demographic and driving operation affecting taxi speeding frequency. However, researches regarding road factors, and spatial effect are typically rare. For this sake, the current study explores the contributions of 10 types of road characteristics and two kinds of spatial effects (spatial correlation and spatial heterogeneity) on taxi total speeding and serious speeding frequency. Taxi GPS trajectory data in a Chinese metropolis were used to identify speeding event. The study then established four kinds of Bayesian hierarchical count models base on Poisson and negative binominal distribution to estimate the contributor impacts, respectively. Results show that Bayesian hierarchical spatial Poisson log-linear model is optimum for fitting both total and serious speeding frequency. For the analysis, it is found that drivers are more likely to commit speeding on long multilane road with median strip, and road with non-motorized vehicle lane, bus-only lane and viaduct or road tunnel. Roads with low speed limit, and work zone are associated with increasing speeding as well. In terms of serious speeding, bus-only lane is not a contributor, while road speed camera number and one-way organization are significantly positive to the speeding frequency. Furthermore, it reveals that two spatial effects significantly increase the occurrence of speeding events; the impact of spatial heterogeneity is more critical.

Impact of right-turn channelization on pedestrian safety at signalized intersections.

Channelized right turns or slip lanes have been widely implemented as an effective countermeasure of reducing traffic delay and number of conflicts between vehicles at signalized intersections. However, only a few studies have investigated the impact of channelized right turns (in left-band driving countries) on pedestrian safety. Channelized right turns may increase the risks for pedestrians since they bring pedestrian-vehicle interactions in a fully non-signalized environment. Furthermore, the increased turning radius at channelized lanes can lead to higher vehicle speeds. This paper investigates the impact of channelized right turns on pedestrian safety based on surrogate safety and behavior measures. Video data were collected from twelve signalized intersections in the city of Zunyi, China, involving three main types of right-turn designs: 1) non-channelized right-only lanes, 2) non-channelized right-through lanes, and 3) channelized right-turn lanes. Different measures are used, including interaction and behavior measures based on a recent-proposed Distance-Velocity model, the PET measurement, speed measurements, and observations of failures in interactions (pedestrian retreats and evasive maneuvers from pedestrians or vehicles). Results indicate that the design of channelized right-turn lane increases pedestrian risks at signalized intersections from different dimensions of safety. The impact of the nighttime condition on pedestrian safety was also compared. Pedestrians are safer at nighttime at non-channelized locations, while the impact of nighttime conditions on pedestrian safety at channelized intersections was not ascertained. Consequently, cities should be cautious to install channelized intersections as a safety countermeasure. Treatments are needed to improve pedestrian safety if channelized right turns are implemented.

Erratum: Hepatic carcinoma with indolent T-lymphoblastic proliferation (iT-LBP).

[This corrects the article on p. 1674 in vol. 11, PMID: 31938268.].

Design of the Fall-Block Sensing of the Railway Line Pantograph Based on 3D Machine Vision Sensors.

As an important part of the electric locomotive in railway transportation, the sensing and inspection of the pantograph has a significant effect on the safe operation of the train. In general, the pantograph carbon slip detection items include slide wear detection, slip strip crack detection, carbon slip fall-block detection and slip strip wear detection. The emergence and development of structured light measurement technology with 3D sensors provide new technical means for the acquisition of spatial 3D information. The three-dimensional data can not only obtain more information but also reduce the data deviation, thereby improving the measurement accuracy and work efficiency. At present, few studies have been conducted on the slide block and partial wear of the carbon slide. Therefore, this paper studies the detection of the pantograph slide block based on 3D sensor measurement technology. The experimental results indicate that it is feasible to adopt 3D measurement technology to detect the fall-block of the pantograph slide. In addition, a sound detection effect can also be obtained.

Hepatic carcinoma with indolent T-lymphoblastic proliferation (iT-LBP).

Although indolent T-lymphoblastic proliferation (iT-LBP) in the extrathymic location have been shown to be a distinct clinicopathologic entity, carcinoma composed iT-LBP are rare. We retrospectively analyzed the clinicopathological features of 7 hepatic carcinoma cases with iT-LBP. There were 5 male and 2 female patients, aged from 37-54 (mean 47) years. All patients had a clinical history of chronic hepatitis B viral infection with high serum AFP level. Microscopically, these carcinomas were characterized by admixed with increased amounts of fibrous and small lymphocytes composed of regressive germinal centers. Immunohistochemically, in lymphoid tissues, some TDT+ cells were highlighted in the CD3+ area. These lymphoblasts localized predominantly between the cords of the carcinoma and interfollicular regions, diffused or only focal presented more than 50 TdT+ lymphoblasts/HPF. No EBV infection cells and T-cell antigen clonal rearrangement was detected. 3/4 cirrhotic patients developed HCC recurrence, while the 4-y survival rate was 100% in non-cirrhosis patients. It-LBP is a rare unusual proliferation and easily be misdiagnosed in HC patients. It does not seem to be associated with a specific HCC type. If HC companied with numerous small lymphocytes infiltration and showed high Ki67 index, a primary HC with iT-LBP should be considered in the lists of diagnosis.

Anti-Runaway Prevention System with Wireless Sensors for Intelligent Track Skates at Railway Stations.

Anti-runaway prevention of rolling stocks at a railway station is essential in railway safety management. The traditional track skates for anti-runaway prevention of rolling stocks have some disadvantages since they are operated and monitored completely manually. This paper describes an anti-runaway prevention system (ARPS) based on intelligent track skates equipped with sensors and real-time monitoring and management system. This system, which has been updated from the traditional track skates, comprises four parts: intelligent track skates, a signal reader, a database station, and a monitoring system. This system can monitor the real-time situation of track skates without changing their workflow for anti-runaway prevention, and thus realize the integration of anti-runaway prevention information management. This system was successfully tested and practiced at Sunjia station in Harbin Railway Bureau in 2014, and the results confirmed that the system showed 100% accuracy in reflecting the usage status of the track skates. The system could meet practical demands, as it is highly reliable and supports long-distance communication.

Percutaneous liver biopsy: retrospective study of primary and secondary hepatic lymphoma in twenty-one patients.

BACKGROUND: Hepatic lymphoma (HL) is categorized as primary and secondary hepatic lymphoma (PHL and SHL). This disorder can present as hepatic mass or mass-like lesion. Chemotherapy often is the first line treatment for patients with HL. Thus, an accurate pre-management histological diagnosis is essential to potentially improve clinical outcomes. The present study was to explore the prevalence of HL in ultrasound guided liver biopsies for hepatic mass or mass-like lesions, to investigate HL associated clinicopathological features, to raise the awareness of early recognition and proper diagnosis of this entity, and to assess specimen adequacy in needle core biopsy. METHODS: Twenty-one cases of HL were enrolled. Clinical and pathological characteristics were evaluated, quality of biopsies was assessed and pertinent literature was reviewed. RESULTS: HL was diagnosed in 0.94% of 2242 liver biopsy cases with ambiguous clinical presentation, laboratory tests and image studies. There were two cases of PHL (0.09%), and nineteen cases of SHL (0.85%). Histopathologically, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma was the most common type, followed by B-cell lymphoma not otherwise specified, T-cell lymphoma, Hodgkin's lymphoma, and B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma. Additionally, three lymphocytic infiltration patterns were documented microscopically. The nodular infiltration was the most common type. CONCLUSIONS: HL is a rare entity and histopathology along with ancillary tests remains the only way to make the diagnosis. Clinicians' awareness of this entity and early liver biopsy are essential in patient management.

Paraffin-embedded Tissue Fragment Suspension (PETFS): A Novel Method for Quality Control Preparation in Immunohistochemistry.

Immunohistochemistry (IHC) is one of the most important adjunctive techniques in surgical pathology. Quality controls are essential for staining interpretation. The most common controls are cut from the formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue blocks in advance. In contrast, we developed paraffin-embedded tissue fragment suspension (PETFS), a novel method in liquid form, for quality control preparation. The liquid form controls were cut from the donor formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded paraffin blocks, stored in the 4°C fridge easily, and added to the top and bottom of the test slide directly by pipetting. The tissue fragments from the PETFS had a comparable IHC staining pattern to that of the control sections from the original donor blocks. Over a 180-day testing period, the IHC staining pattern and intensity remained strong and specific. The clinical value of PETFS method was further validated by their successful application as controls for the expression of estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and C-erbB-2 in 240 breast invasive ductal carcinomas. We concluded that PETFS is a fast, low-cost, and less donor tissue consumption robust technique as quality controls for routine IHC staining in surgical pathologic practice.

MicroRNA-452 promotes stem-like cells of hepatocellular carcinoma by inhibiting Sox7 involving Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway.

The decrease of microRNA-452 (miR-452) in gliomas promoted stem-like features and tumorigenesis. However, the role of miR-452, especially in regulating cancer stem cells (CSCs) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains ambiguous. We enriched stem-like HCC cells by serial passages of hepatospheres with chemotherapeutic agents. Stem-like characteristics including the capabilities of chemo-resistance, stemness-related gene expression profiling, self-renewal, tumorigenicity and metastasis formation were detected. MiR-452 was markedly increased in the chemo-resistant hepatospheres and human HCC tissues. and the overexpression of miR-452 in HCC patients predicted poor overall survival. MiR-452 significantly promoted stem-like characteristics in vitro and in vivo. Further, Sox7 was identified as the direct target of miR-452, which could physically bind with ß-catenin and TCF4 in the nucleus and then inhibit the activity of Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway. Finally, the combined chemotherapy of doxorubicin and all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) showed dramatically efficiency in suppressing HCC metastasis. These data suggested that miR-452 promoted stem-like traits of HCC, which might be a potential therapeutic target for HCC. The combination of doxorubicin and ATRA might be a promising therapy in HCC management.