Not in Control,but Liable?Attributing Human Responsibility for Fully Automated Vehicle Accidents

Human agency has become increasingly limited in complex systems with increasingly automated decision-making capabilities.For instance,human occupants are passengers and do not have direct vehicle control in fully automated cars(i.e.,driverless cars).An interesting question is whether users are responsible for the accidents of these cars.Normative ethical and legal analyses frequently argue that individuals should not bear responsibility for harm beyond their control.Here,we consider human judgment of responsibility for accidents involving fully automated cars through three studies with seven experiments(N=2668).We compared the responsibility attributed to the occupants in three conditions:an owner in his private fully automated car,a passenger in a driverless robotaxi,and a passenger in a conventional taxi,where none of these three occupants have direct vehicle control over the involved vehicles that cause identical pedestrian injury.In contrast to normative analyses,we show that the occupants of driverless cars(private cars and robotaxis)are attributed more responsibility than conventional taxi passengers.This dilemma is robust across different contexts(e.g.,participants from China vs the Republic of Korea,participants with first-vs third-person perspectives,and occupant presence vs absence).Furthermore,we observe that this is not due to the perception that these occupants have greater control over driving but because they are more expected to foresee the potential consequences of using driverless cars.Our findings suggest that when driverless vehicles(private cars and taxis)cause harm,their users may face more social pressure,which public discourse and legal regulations should manage appropriately.

Stem cell transplantation in cerebrovascular accidents:A global bibliometric analysis(2000-2023)

BACKGROUND Cerebrovascular accident(CVA)is a major global contributor to death and disability.As part of its medical management,researchers have recognized the importance of promising neuroprotective strategies,where stem cell transplantation(SCT)is thought to confer advantages via trophic and neuroprotective effects.AIM To evaluate the current state of research on SCT in patients with CVA,assess key trends and highlight literature gaps.METHODS PubMed was screened for SCT in CVA-related articles in October 2023,for each country during the period between 2000 and 2023.Using the World Bank data,total population and gross domestic product were collected for comparison.VOSviewer_1.6.19 was used to create the VOS figure using the results of the same query.Graphs and tables were obtained using Microsoft Office Excel.RESULTS A total of 6923 studies were identified on SCT in CVA,making 0.03%of all published studies worldwide.Approximately,68%were conducted in high-income countries,with a significant focus on mesenchymal stem cells.The journal“Stroke”featured the largest share of these articles,with mesenchymal SCT having the highest rate of inclusion,followed by hematopoietic SCT.Over time,there has been a noticeable shift from in vitro studies,which assess stem cell proliferation and neurogenesis,to in vivo studies aimed at evaluating efficacy and safety.Additionally,the number of reviews increased along this approach.CONCLUSION This bibliometric analysis provides a comprehensive guide for physicians and researchers in the field through an objective overview of research activity,and highlights both current trends and gaps.Having a potential therapeutic role in CVA,more research is needed in the future to focus on different aspects of SCT,aiming to reach a better treatment strategy and improve life quality in patients.

Exploring the Factors Associated with 12-Month Non-Return to Work among Motorcyclists Involved in Road Accidents

Introduction: Motorcyclists bear a disproportionate burden of morbidity and mortality from road accidents. In addition, the consequences of these accidents affect the ability of victims to return to work. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with non-return to work among surviving motorcyclists involved in road accidents 12 months after the event. Materials and Methods: It was a cross-sectional study conducted using data from a cohort of motorcyclists involved in accidents and recruited in five hospitals in Benin from July 2019 to January 2020. The dependent variable was non-return to work 12 months after the accident (yes vs no). The independent variables were categorized into two groups: baseline and 12-month follow-up variables. Logistic regression was used to determine the factors associated with non-return to work at 12 months among the participants. Results: Among the 362 participants, 55 (15.19%, 95% CI = 11.84 - 19.29) had not returned to work 12 months after the accident. Risk factors for non-return to work identified were: smoking (aOR = 4.41, 95% CI = 1.44 - 13.56, p = 0.010), hospitalization (aOR = 2.87, 95% CI = 1.14 - 7.24, p Conclusion: The prevalence of non-return to work at 12 months was high among surviving motorcyclists involved in road accidents in Benin. Integrated support for patients based on identified risk factors should effectively improve their return to work.

Assessing the Variability of Extreme Weather Events and Its Influence on Marine Accidents along the Northern Coast of Tanzania

The marine accidents are among the main components of the Zanzibar Disaster Management Policy (2011) and the Zanzibar Blue Economy Policy (2020). These policies aimed to institute legal frame works and procedures for reducing both the frequency of marine accidents and their associated fatalities. These fatalities include deaths, permanent disabilities and loss of properties which may result into increased poverty levels as per the sustainable development goal one (SDG1) which stipulates on ending the poverty in all its forms everywhere. Thus, in the way to support these Government efforts, the influence of climate and weather on marine accidents along Zanzibar and Pemba Channels was investigated. The study used the 10 years (2013-2022) records of daily rainfall and hourly wind speed acquired from Tanzania Meteorological Authority (TMA) (for the observation stations of Zanzibar, Pemba, Dares Salaam and Tanga), and the significant wave heights data, which was freely downloaded from Globally Forecasting System (GFS-World model of 13 km resolution). The marine accident records were collected from TASAC and Zanzibar Maritime Authority (ZMA), and the anecdotal information was collected from heads of quay and boat captains in different areas of Zanzibar. The Mann Kendal test, was used to determine the slopes and trends direction of used weather parameters, while the Pearson correlations analysis and t-tests were used to understand the significance of the underlying relationship between the weather and marine accidents. The paired t-test was used to evaluate the extent to which weather parameters affect the marine accidents. Results revealed that the variability of extreme weather events (rainfall, ocean waves and wind speed) was seen to be among the key factors for most of the recorded marine accidents. For instance, in Pemba high rainfall showed an increasing trend of extreme rainfall events, while Zanzibar has shown a decreasing trend of these events. As for extreme wind events, results show that Dar es Salaam and Tanga had an increasing trend, while Zanzibar and Pemba had shown a decreasing trend. As for the monthly variability of frequencies of extreme rainfall events, March to May (MAM) season was shown to have the highest frequencies over all stations with the peaks at Zanzibar and Pemba. On the other hand, high frequency of extreme wind speed was observed from May to September with peaks in June to July, and the highest strength was observed during 09:00 to 15:00 GMT. Moreover, results revealed an increasing trend of marine accidents caused by bad weather except during November. Also, results showed that bad weather conditions contributed to 48 (32%) of all 150 recorded accidents. Further results revealed significant correlation between the extreme wind and marine accidents, with the highest strong correlation of r = 0.71 (at p ≤ 0.007) and r = 0.75 (at p ≤ 0.009) at Tanga and Pemba, indicating the occurrence of more marine accidents at the Pemba channel. Indeed, strong correlation of r = 0.6 between extreme rainfall events and marine accidents was shown in Pemba, while the correlations between extremely significant wave heights and marine accidents were r = 0.41 (at p ≤ 0.006) and r = 0.34 (p ≤ 0.0006) for Pemba and Zanzibar Channel, respectively. In conclusion, the study has shown high influence between marine accidents and bad weather events with more impacts in Pemba and Zanzibar. Thus, the study calls for more work to be undertaken to raise the awareness on marine accidents as a way to alleviate the poverty and enhance the sustainable blue economy.

Conceptual Strategy for Mitigating the Risk of Hydrogen as an Internal Hazard in Case of Severe Accidents at Nuclear Power Plant Considering Existing Risks and Uncertainties Associated with the Use of Traditional Strategies

Hydrogen challenge mitigation stands as one of the main objectives in the management of severe accidents at Nuclear Power Plants (NPPs). Key strategies for hydrogen control include atmospheric inertization and hydrogen removal with Passive Autocatalytic Recombiners (PARs) being a commonly accepted approach. However, an examination of PAR operation specificity reveals potential inefficiencies and reliability issues in certain severe accident scenarios. Moreover, during the in-vessel stage of severe accident development, in some severe accident scenarios PARs can unexpectedly become a source of hydrogen detonation. The effectiveness of hydrogen removal systems depends on various factors, including the chosen strategies, severe accident scenarios, reactor building design, and other influencing factors. Consequently, a comprehensive hydrogen mitigation strategy must effectively incorporate a combination of strategies rather than be based on one strategy, taking into consideration the probabilistic risks and uncertainties associated with the implementation of PARs or other traditional methods. In response to these considerations, within the framework of this research it has been suggested a conceptual strategy to mitigate the hydrogen challenge during the in-vessel stage of severe accident development.

Child Victims of Road Traffic Accidents: Epidemiological and Clinical Aspects in the Medical and Surgical Emergency Department of the Donka National Hospital

Introduction: Children involved in road accidents most often suffer head or limb injuries. The severity of these injuries varies according to the age of the child, the type of road user and whether or not protective devices are used. The aim of this study was to carry out a census of admissions and to identify the epidemiological and clinical profile of children involved in road traffic accidents at Donka National Hospital. Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study of children involved in traffic accidents over a 3-month period from September 1 to November 30, 2021. All children admitted to the emergency department for a traffic accident were included in the study. Results: During the study period, 435/530 children (82.1%) were victims of road accidents. Boys accounted for 54.94% of cases, compared with 45.06% for girls. The age group most affected was 12-17 years old (48.97%). October had the highest accident rate (36.4%). Pedestrians are most affected (52.87%). Bicycles and mopeds were involved in 59.77% of accidents. Head injury was the most frequent pathology (33.33%). The study showed that 12.64% of victims were referred to intensive care, pediatric surgery, etc. We recorded 8 cases of death (1.84%). Conclusion: This study highlighted the characteristics, incidence and risk factors for accidents in children admitted to emergency departments. Accident prevention, particularly serious accidents in children, requires more precise knowledge of the factors and circumstances leading to their occurrence.

Otorhinolaryngological (ORL) and Cervicofacial Injuries Resulting from Road Accidents within the Otorhinolaryngology (ORL) Department of the Regional Hospital of Mamou

Introduction: Otorhinolaryngological (ORL) and cervicofacial traumas encompass injuries affecting the neck, face, and ORL region, resulting from external influence. The objective of this study was to conduct an epidemiological and clinical analysis of ORL and cervicofacial injuries observed in victims of road accidents treated at the Otorhinolaryngology (ORL) department of the Regional Hospital of Mamou. Materials and Methods: This prospective and descriptive study was conducted over a period of 12 months, from January 1st to December 31st, 2021, within the Otorhinolaryngology (ORL) department of the Regional Hospital of Mamou. It included patients hospitalized for ORL and/or cervicofacial traumas resulting from road accidents during the study period. Results: A total of 348 cases were included, representing 36.22% of all traumas related to road accidents (AVP) within the Regional Hospital of Mamou. The average age of the patients was 26.44 years, with a sex ratio of 3.83, favoring males. The dominant socio-professional category was students, encompassing 32.47% of cases. Road accidents were mainly associated with motorcycle use (31.32% motorcycle-to-motorcycle, 24.43% motorcycle skidding, 13.51% motorcycle-pedestrian). Facial region injuries were the most common, accounting for 69.03% of cases, followed by rhinological injuries (17.28%) and otological injuries (13.69%). Associated injuries were predominantly closed head traumas (52.55%) and lower limb fractures (20.41%). Imaging was underutilized. Regarding surgical interventions, reconstructive surgery was the most predominant, accounting for 52.51% of cases, with a management timeframe of 30 minutes to 12 hours for 99.72% of patients. Conclusion: Road traffic accidents remain a serious public health issue, primarily affecting young males. Emphasis should be placed on road safety measures to reduce the frequency of these accidents.

Analysis of Traffic Accidents in Vietnam

Understanding the causes and solutions of road traffic accidents is important for developing road and action plans in a country. In Vietnam, awareness of traffic participants is the main cause of serious traffic accidents. In recent years, the number of road traffic accidents in Tuyen Quang province with deaths has decreased, but the number of accidents has increased significantly. The article uses data on traffic accidents in Tuyen Quang over the (2016-2023) has been analytically reviewed. From there, analyze accident characteristics and causes of traffic accidents in Tuyen Quang province, and propose solutions to improve traffic safety in Tuyen Quang, Vietnam. The findings can be information for managers and researchers interested in studying the province of Tuyen Quang, Vietnam road traffic safety. Additionally, the findings have led the government to achieve national targets in reducing the number of accidents and serious injuries.

A Workable Solution for Reducing the Large Number of Vehicle and Pedestrian Accidents Occurring on a Yellow Light

Traffic intersections are incredibly dangerous for drivers and pedestrians. Statistics from both Canada and the U.S. show a high number of fatalities and serious injuries related to crashes at intersections. In Canada, during 2019, the National Collision Database shows that 28% of traffic fatalities and 42% of serious injuries occurred at intersections. Likewise, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA) found that about 40% of the estimated 5,811,000 accidents in the U.S. during the year studied were intersection-related crashes. In fact, a major survey by the car insurance industry found that nearly 85% of drivers could not identify the correct action to take when approaching a yellow traffic light at an intersection. One major reason for these accidents is the “yellow light dilemma,” the ambiguous situation where a driver should stop or proceed forward when unexpectedly faced with a yellow light. This situation is even further exacerbated by the tendency of aggressive drivers to inappropriately speed up on the yellow just to get through the traffic light. A survey of Canadian drivers conducted by the Traffic Injury Research Foundation found that 9% of drivers admitted to speeding up to get through a traffic light. Another reason for these accidents is the increased danger of making a left-hand turn on yellow. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA), left turns occur in approximately 22.2% of collisions—as opposed to just 1.2% for right turns. Moreover, a study by CNN found left turns are three times as likely to kill pedestrians than right turns. The reason left turns are so much more likely to cause an accident is because they take a driver against traffic and in the path of oncoming cars. Additionally, most of these left turns occur at the driver’s discretion—as opposed to the distressingly brief left-hand arrow at busy intersections. Drive Safe Now proposes a workable solution for reducing the number of accidents occurring during a yellow light at intersections. We believe this fairly simple solution will save lives, prevent injuries, reduce damage to public and private property, and decrease insurance costs.

Analysis of the Necessity of Stellate Ganglion Block after Anesthesia to Reduce the Risk of Cardiovascular Accidents in Coronary Heart Disease

Objective:To adjust the sympathetic nervous system through preoperative ultrasound-guided stellate ganglion block and to explore and analyze the situation and necessity of postanesthesia stellate ganglion block to reduce the risk of cardiovascular accidents in coronary heart disease.Methods:80 patients with cardiovascular risk factors in Songshan Hospital of Chifeng were selected,and the time span would cover from October 2022 to June 2024,with 80 cases of elective surgery and combined coronary heart disease.They will be randomly divided into blocked groups and conventional groups,40 cases each.Conventional block was performed after anesthesia in patients in the conventional group,and planetary ganglion block was performed after anesthesia in patients in the blocked group.The cardiovascular responses of patients in the two groups were observed,and the number of intraoperative cardiovascular active drugs and the occurrence of cardiovascular adverse events were recorded in patients in the two groups.Results:Analysis of the mean arterial pressure(MAP)and heart rate(HR)values of the two groups of patients at the time points before anesthesia(T0),the moment of tracheal intubation(T1),the moment of surgical skin cutting(T2),the end of the operation(T3),and the 6h postoperative period(T4)showed that the MAP and HR of the blocked group were lower than those of the conventional group at the time points of T1 to T4,and the differences in MAP and HR values of the two groups in different time points compared with the T0 time point were statistically significant(P<0.05)and the differences in cardiovascular response(P<0.05)were statistically significant(P<0.05).significance(P<0.05).The number of intraoperative cardiovascular active drugs used in the blocked group was shorter than that in the conventional group,and the incidence of cardiovascular adverse events was lower than that in the conventional group,with a statistically significant difference(P<0.05).Conclusion:By implementing preoperative ultrasound-guided stellate ganglion block in patients with cardiovascular risk factors,the frequency and degree of coronary heart disease symptoms will be reduced,thus reducing the risk of patients,which is worth promoting.

Grey-Markov Model for Road Accidents Forecasting

In order to improve the forecasting precision of road accidents, by introducing Markov chains forecasting method, a grey-Markov model for forecasting road accidents is established based on grey forecasting method. The model combines the advantages of both grey forecasting method and Markov chains forecasting method, overcomes the influence of random fluctuation data on forecasting precision and widens the application scope of the grey forecasting. An application example is conducted to evaluate the grey-Markov model, which shows that the precision of the grey-Markov model is better than that of grey model in forecasting road accidents.

Analysis of the Relationship between the Number of Traffic Accidents and the Traffic Flow &Section Location in Extra Long Tunnel

In order to study the influence of the traffic characteristics on traffic accidents in extra long tunnel, the main measurement indicators of traffic flow during the time of traffic accidents are matched with the accident information to form a data set of the number of traffic accidents and the hourly traffic flow of the accident. Vehicle ratio and the number of accidents are mainly used as the characteristic indicators of traffic flow. At the same time, the longitudinal distribution law of the average speed of traffic flow and the number of traffic accidents in the extra long tunnel is studied. Based on the superposition principle, the extra long tunnel is divided into 5 traffic safety zones. This paper analyzes the distribution of time, morphology, cause of accident, and other characteristics in different traffic safety zones, finding that the shape of traffic accidents in extra long tunnel is mainly rear-end collisions. Improper operation and illegal lane changes are the main causes of accidents.

Reservoir operation schemes for water pollution accidents in Yangtze River

After the Three Gorges Reservoir starts running, it can not only take into consideration the interest of departments such as flood control, power generation, water supply, and shipping, but also reduce or eliminate the adverse effects of pollutants by discharge regulation. The evolution of pollutant plumes under different operation schemes of the Three Gorges Reservoir and three kinds of pollutant discharge types were calculated with the MIKE 21 AD software. The feasibility and effectiveness of the reservoir emergency operation when pollution accidents occur were investigated. The results indicate that the emergency operation produces significant effects on the instantaneous discharge type with lesser effects on the constant discharge type, the impact time is shortened, and the concentration of pollutant is reduced. Meanwhile, the results show that the larger the discharge is and the shorter the operation duration is, the more favorable the result is.

Finding Main Causes of Elevator Accidents via Multi-Dimensional Association Rule in Edge Computing Environment

In order to discover the main causes of elevator group accidents in edge computing environment, a multi-dimensional data model of elevator accident data is established by using data cube technology, proposing and implementing a method by combining classical Apriori algorithm with the model, digging out frequent items of elevator accident data to explore the main reasons for the occurrence of elevator accidents. In addition, a collaborative edge model of elevator accidents is set to achieve data sharing, making it possible to check the detail of each cause to confirm the causes of elevator accidents. Lastly the association rules are applied to find the law of elevator Accidents.

Injury patterns of seniors in traffic accidents: A technical and medical analysis

AIM:To investigate the actual injury situation of seniors in traffic accidents and to evaluate the different injury patterns.METHODS:Injury data,environmental circumstances and crash circumstances of accidents were collected shortly after the accident event at the scene.With these data,a technical and medical analysis was performed,including Injury Severity Score,Abbreviated Injury Scale and Maximum Abbreviated Injury Scale.The method of data collection is named the German InDepth Accident Study and can be seen as representative.RESULTS:A total of 4430 injured seniors in traffic accidents were evaluated.The incidence of sustaining severe injuries to extremities,head and maxillofacial region was significantly higher in the group of elderly people compared to a younger age(P<0.05).The number of accident-related injuries was higher in the group of seniors compared to other groups.CONCLUSION:Seniors are more likely to be involved in traffic injuries and to sustain serious to severe injuries compared to other groups.

Weather and traffic accidents in Hong Kong

The influence of rainfall and thermal stress in accident occurrence for the period 1985 through 1994 in Hong Kong was investigated. The existence of seasonal variations and weekly cycle was also examined. Daity accident and meteorological data were obtained from the Transport Department and the Hong Kong Observatory respectively. Utilizing regression analyses and ANOVA, it is discovered that seasonal variation was not important in contributing traffic accidents, and Saturday peak was not ascertained. A non linear relationship between accident occurrence and various rain conditions was found. Accident numbers increased till rain exceeded 50.0 mm. High traffic volume and low speed urban driving in Hong Kong can be the major cause of traffic accidents on rainy days. The impact of heat stress on accident occurrence was found to be statistically significant.

Development of a subchannel code for blockage accidents of LMFRs based on the 3D fuel rod model

To predict the thermal-hydraulic(T/H)parameters of the reactor core for liquid-metal-cooled fast reactors(LMFRs),especially under flow blockage accidents,we developed a subchannel code called KMC-FB.This code uses a time-dependent,four-equation,singlephase flow model together with a 3D heat conduction model for the fuel rods,which is solved by numerical methods based on the finite difference method with a staggered mesh.Owing to the local effect of the blockage on the flow field,low axial flow,increased forced crossflow,and backflow occur.To more accurately simulate this problem,we implemented a robust and novel solution method.We verified the code with a low-flow(~0.01 m/s)and large-scale blockage case.For the preliminary validation,we compared our results with the experimental data of the NACIE-UP BFPS blockage test and the KIT19ROD blockage test.The results revealed that KMC-FB has sufficient solution accuracy and can be used in future flow blockage analyses for LMFRs.

Influence of driver’s yielding behavior on pedestrian-vehicle conflicts at a two-lane roundabout using fuzzy cellular automata

The roundabouts are widely used in China,some of which have central islands as scenic spots.The crosswalks connecting to the central islands,normally full of pedestrians,have negative impact on roundabout capability and pedestrian safety.Therefore,this study proposes a fuzzy cellular automata(FCA)model to explore the safety and efficiency impacts of pedestrian-vehicle conflicts at a two-lane roundabout.To reason the decision-making process of individual drivers before crosswalks,membership functions in the fuzzy inference system were calibrated with field data conducted in Changsha,China.Using specific indicators of efficiency and safety performance,it was shown that circulating vehicles can move smoothly in low traffic flow,but the roundabout system is prone to the traffic congestion if traffic flow reaches to a certain level.Also,the high yielding rate of drivers has a negative impact on the traffic efficiency but can improve pedestrian safety.Furthermore,a pedestrian restriction measure was deduced for the roundabout crosswalk from the FCA model and national guideline of setting traffic lights.

Informational uncertainties of risk assessment about accidents of chemicals

An analysis system of informational uncertainties for accidental risk assessment of chemicals is introduced. Statistical test methods and fuzzy sets method can do the quantitative analysis of the input parameters. The uncerainties of the model can be used by quantitative compared method for the leakage accidents of chemicals. The estimation of the leaking time is important for discussing accidental source term. The uncertain analyses of the release accident for pipeline gas (CO) liquid chlorine and liquid propane gas (LPG) have been discussed.

Cause Analysis of Consumer‑Grade UAV Accidents Based on Grounded Theory‑Bayesian Network

In order to reduce the accident rate of consumer-grade unmanned aerial vehicles(UAVs)in daily use scenarios,the accident causes are analyzed based on the accident cases of consumer-grade UAVs.By extracting accident causing factors based on the Grounded theory,the relationship between these factors is analyzed.The Bayesian network for consumer-grade UAV accidents is constructed.With the Grounded theory-Bayesian network,the probability of four types of accidents is inferred:fall,air collision,disappearance,and personal injury.With the posterior probability of each factor being reversely reasoned,the causal chain with the maximum probability of each accident is obtained.After the sensitivity of each factor is analyzed,the key nodes in the network accordingly are inferred.Then the causing factors of consumer-grade UAV accidents are analyzed.The results show that the probability of fall accident is the highest,the fall accident is associated with the probabilistic maximum causal chain of personal injury,and the sensitivity analysis results of each type of accident as the result node are inconsistent.