bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gut microbiota dysbiosis contributes to α-synuclein-related pathology associated with C/EBPβ/AEP signaling activation in a mouse model of Parkinson's disease
Authors: Fang Xiaoli , Liu Sha , Muhammad Bilal , Zheng Mingxuan , Ge Xing , Xu Yan , Kan Shu , Zhang Yang , Yu Yinghua , Zheng Kuiyang , Geng Deqin , Liu Chun-Feng
Published: January 2024

JOURNAL/nrgr/04.03/01300535-202409000-00042/figure1/v/2024-01-30T062302Z/r/image-tiff

Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by motor and gastrointestinal dysfunction. Gastrointestinal dysfunction can precede the onset of motor symptoms by several years. Gut microbiota dysbiosis is involved in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease, whether it plays a causal role in motor dysfunction, and the mechanism underlying this potential effect, remain unknown. CCAAT/enhancer binding protein β/asparagine endopeptidase (C/EBPβ/AEP) signaling, activated by bacterial endotoxin, can promote α-synuclein transcription, thereby contributing to Parkinson's disease pathology. In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of the gut microbiota in C/EBPβ/AEP signaling, α-synuclein-related pathology, and motor symptoms using a rotenone-induced mouse model of Parkinson's disease combined with antibiotic-induced microbiome depletion and fecal microbiota transplantation. We found that rotenone administration resulted in gut microbiota dysbiosis and perturbation of the intestinal barrier, as well as activation of the C/EBP/AEP pathway, α-synuclein aggregation, and tyrosine hydroxylase-positive neuron loss in the substantia nigra in mice with motor deficits. However, treatment with rotenone did not have any of these adverse effects in mice whose gut microbiota was depleted by pretreatment with antibiotics. Importantly, we found that transplanting gut microbiota derived from mice treated with rotenone induced motor deficits, intestinal inflammation, and endotoxemia. Transplantation of fecal microbiota from healthy control mice alleviated rotenone-induced motor deficits, intestinal inflammation, endotoxemia, and intestinal barrier impairment. These results highlight the vital role that gut microbiota dysbiosis plays in inducing motor deficits, C/EBPβ/AEP signaling activation, and α-synuclein-related pathology in a rotenone-induced mouse model of Parkinson's disease. Additionally, our findings suggest that supplementing with healthy microbiota may be a safe and effective treatment that could help ameliorate the progression of motor deficits in patients with Parkinson's disease.
Factors associated with mortality among patients with tuberculosis in a tertiary hospital in South West Nigeria
Authors: Odeyemi Abimbola Ololade , Odeyemi Abiona Oluwadamilola , Ojewuyi Abiodun Ronke , Olasinde Yetunde Toyin , Oni Opeyemi Olalekan , Ojo Oluwafemi Tunde
Published: January 2024

Abstract

Background:

Tuberculosis (TB) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality, particularly in developing countries.

Objective:

To identify the factors contributing to TB mortality.

Materials and Methods:

This is a retrospective review of TB patients managed at the TB Clinic of a Teaching Hospital in Southwest Nigeria, from January 2015 to December 2021. The patient’s demographic characteristics, TB type, and coinfection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) were studied. The factors associated with mortality were examined.

Results:

1259 TB cases were studied, with a mean (standard deviation) age of 42.6 (16.33) years. There was a male predominance of 64.9%. One hundred and fifty-one subjects died while receiving treatment; hence, the mortality rate was 12.0%. Age (P: 0.000), HIV status (P: 0.028), sputum smear-negative (P: 0.038), and extra-pulmonary TB (P: 0.019) were factors with statistically significant association with TB mortality. Older age (odds ratio [OR]: 1.017, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.007–1.028, P: 0.001) and HIV-positive status (OR: 1.911, 95% CI: 1.083–3.372, P: 0.025) were found to be independently associated with TB mortality.

Conclusion:

The proportion of patients who die during TB treatment is still high, particularly among those with older age (>60 years) and those with HIV coinfection. Prevention of HIV infection will have a substantial impact on the reduction of TB burden and mortality. More attention should be given to TB patients who are elderly and those with HIV/TB coinfection in order to improve the disease outcome.
Study of the antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli isolated from urinary tract
Authors: Al-Khikani Falah Hasan Obayes
Published: January 2024

Abstract

Background:

Escherichia coli is a common bacteria that can be pathogenic and develop resistance to various antibiotics in different ways, making them difficult to treat with standard therapies. So, monitoring antibiotic resistance is urgent.

Materials and Methods:

Escherichia coli was isolated from the urinary tract and cultured in three media (blood agar, McConkey agar, and EMB agar), then they were incubated for 24 h at a temperature of 37oC to grow. The antibiotics discs (Ciprofloxacin, Gentamicin) were used by disc diffusion method. All the statistical analysis was done by using SPSS 26 software and the Excel app.

Results:

The participants in this study were 70% women, while 30% were men, with significant differences (P < 0.05). Gentamicin showed a high rate of sensitivity (85%). The sensitive isolates to ciprofloxacin were 75%.

Conclusions:

We have found that 85% of bacteria are sensitive to gentamicin, and thus, it can be used as an empirical treatment. Ciprofloxacin showed a high rate of sensitivity against E. coli, 75%.
Serial analysis of hematological, biochemical, and immunological parameters alterations in regular healthy voluntary donors during plateletpheresis donation
Authors: Hans Rekha , Pahwa Deepak , Paul Preeti , Kaur Jyotdeep , Saikia Biman , Sharma Ratti Ram , Marwaha Neelam
Published: January 2024

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:

The long-term effect of regular plateletpheresis on donors has not been characterized. Hence, we planned to study the long-term alterations in hematological, biochemical, and immunological parameters in regular repeat platelet apheresis donors.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Thirty-three healthy voluntary regular repeat apheresis donors presenting for platelet donation, fulfilling the requisite donor selection criteria, underwent sequential analysis of the hematological, biochemical, and immunological parameters over 1 year.

RESULTS:

A total of 33 regular repeat donors were enrolled in the study; out of these, 22 could be followed up to 3 months, 12 up to 6 months, and 10 donors up to 12 months for their hematological, biochemical, and immunological parameters. Overall, there was no significant change in hematological profile except a rise in platelet count at 3 months (P = 0.023) with no significant difference at 6 and 12 months from the baseline. In addition, serum thrombopoietin levels at 3 months (P = 0.010) and serum erythropoietin at 6 months (P = 0.01) were significantly higher than baseline. Mean platelet volume was significantly higher from baseline at 12 months (P = 0.00). Serum protein, lymphocyte subpopulation, and serum ferritin did not show any significant change from baseline over 12 months of follow-up. However, there was a significant decline (P = 0.00) in serum calcium and an increase in serum magnesium from baseline (P = 0.03) at 12 months.

INTERPRETATIONS AND CONCLUSIONS:

To conclude, apheresis platelet donation is a safe procedure. However, a complete hematological, biochemical, immunological profile and bone marrow density at regular intervals (3–6 months) are recommended to ensure the safety of regular repeat plateletpheresis donors.
Autologous blood transfusion in a neurosurgical patient with multiple alloantibodies
Authors: Sam Angel Mary , Nair Amita Radhakrishnan , Gupta Debasish
Published: January 2024

There are many challenges to obtain antigen-negative, crossmatch compatible blood for a patient with multiple alloantibodies. We present a case report of a 31-year-old female patient with a recurrent pontine cavernoma who was to undergo a neurosurgical procedure. We identified alloantibodies anti-Fya and anti-c in her blood sample. To meet her intraoperative blood requirement, we attempted with autologous blood transfusion using both predeposit autologous donation and acute normovolemic hemodilution. Autologous blood alone was sufficient despite anticipating surgical blood loss and a postoperative surgical site infection.
Implementation of an international barcode labeling standard, International Society of Blood Transfusion 128, and its integration with local regulations at a blood center in India: Step-by-step journey
Authors: Aggarwal Geet , Tiwari Aseem Kumar , Pabbi Swati , Bhardwaj Gunjan , Khurana Naresh , Rawat Ganesh , Joseph Nixon P.
Published: January 2024

The International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT) 128 is an internationally endorsed, electronically readable labeling standard that provides a convenient and accurate means of identification, traceability, publication, and storage of information for blood and blood products. The authors’ center recently registered with the International Council for Commonality in Blood Banking Automation (ICCBBA) and progressed to ISBT 128 labeling standard. This manuscript was written with the objective of sharing the authors’ experience with respect to the implementation of ISBT 128 standards for whole blood donations and integration of ISBT 128 standards with Indian licensing regulations. The authors explore the process of implementation of ISBT 128 standards through a step-by-step journey that included facility registration with International Council for Commonality in Blood Banking Automation (ICCBBA), allotment of facility identification number, development of four-quadrant label for blood components, and integration of local regulatory requirements in the final “composite” label. Acknowledging the lack of any published report from India on ISBT 128 standards implementation, the authors wish to attempt help their peers in understanding and implementation of this global standard at their respective facilities.
Indian clinical practice consensus guidelines for the management of hypopharyngeal cancer: Update 2022
Authors: Babu K Govind , Prabhash Kumar , Chaturvedi Pankaj , Kuriakose Moni , Birur Praveen , Anand Anil K. , Kaushal Ashish , Mahajan Abhishek , Syiemlieh Judita , Singhal Manish , Gairola Munish , Ramachandra Prakash , Goyal Sumit , John Subashini , Nayyar Rohit , Patil Vijay M. , Rao Vishal , Noronha Vanita , Roshan Vikas , Rath G. K.
Published: January 2024

In early hypopharyngeal cancer, definitive radiotherapy (RT) is the preferred modality of treatment. The surgical treatment options are transoral laser microsurgery with selective neck dissection or a partial laryngopharyngectomy plus neck dissection. In locally advanced disease, concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CTRT) is the treatment of choice. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) is also a recommended treatment option followed by radical RT/CTRT or surgery followed by adjuvant RT/CTRT, depending on the response. Some patients with locally advanced disease may require total or near total laryngectomy/total or partial pharyngectomy with appropriate neck dissection. Adding targeted therapies like nimotuzumab to cisplatin-based CTRT in locally advanced head-and-neck squamous cell carcinoma improves progression-free survival, locoregional control, and disease-free survival without negatively impacting the quality of life.
Novel therapeutic targets for the treatment of oral cancer with compounds identified in Wrightia tinctoria: An in silico docking study with oncogenic pathways
Authors: Magesh Karuppur Thiagarajan , Chandrasekharan Deepak
Published: January 2024

Introduction: Oral cancer is the sixth most common cancer worldwide. According to scientific data on oral cancer, the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) are two important causative pathways responsible for cellular proliferation in oral cancer. In the current research, two chemical compounds, 3-O-methyl-d-glucose and squalene, identified in Wrightia tinctoria extract, were used to study their action on the EGFR and MAPK pathways using molecular docking to prevent oral cancer progression. Materials and Methods: A molecular docking analysis was carried out based on the chemical makeup and similarities of chemicals derived from the plant with the target oncogenic proteins EGFR and MAPK. Following protein synthesis by Biovia Discovery Studio Visualizer, ligands were imported for virtual screening using PyRx, a program for computational drug discovery for the virtual screening of libraries of compounds against therapeutic targets. Results: The molecular docking investigation between 3-O-methyl-d-glucose, squalene, and the oncogenic pathways EGFR and MAPK was conducted using the Biovia Discovery Studio Client 2021 and AutoDock Vina software. In contrast to squalene, which exhibited an inhibitory constant of 44.99 µM and a ligand efficacy of 0.20, 3-O-methyl-d-glucose had an effective inhibitory constant (10.5 mM) on EGFR and MAPK. Both substances hindered the LSY721 binding site, which in turn suppressed the activity of oncogenic progression. Conclusion: 3-O-methyl-d-glucose and squalene found in W. tinctoria can inhibit the progressive activity of cancer-causing proteins (EGFR, MAPK) in oral cancer. 3-O-methyl-d-glucose was found to inhibit the oncogenic proteins more efficiently than squalene.
miRNA-20a: A Dual Regulator of Cell Migration and Apoptosis in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma:– An In Vitro Study
Authors: Thomas Priya , Selvakumar Sushmaa Chandralekha , Preethi K. Auxzilia , Ramasubramanian Abilasha , Ramani Pratibha , Sekar Durairaj
Published: January 2024

Introduction: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is one of the many cancer types where microRNAs (miRs) are often found to be overexpressed. STAT3, a significant component of human cancer, is now well recognized in recent research and is regarded as an attractive target for the creation of novel anti-cancer medications. We assessed the expression, functions, and mechanisms of miR-20a-3p and STAT3 in the regulation of OSCC cell proliferation, migration, and apoptosis to highlight the significance of miRNA dysregulation in cancer etiology. Materials and Methods: miR-20a-3p’s function was examined by transfecting KB cells with the miR-20a-3p and STAT3 plasmids, followed by cell proliferation (CCK-8) assays, migration, and apoptosis. Furthermore, the impact of miR-20a-3p on the expression of its target gene was investigated using a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The expression of miR-20a-3p, STAT3, and IL-6 was investigated using a quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Results: The findings indicated that miR-20a-3p was downregulated ad STAT3 was upregulated in OSCC cells. Elevated STAT3 levels in OSCC cells were associated with enhanced tumor cell proliferation, migration, decreased apoptosis, and upregulated IL-6 expression. In OSCC cells, the overexpression of miR-20a-3p was accompanied by a reduction in the production of STAT3 and IL-6. Conclusion: In conclusion, our work showed that miR-20a-3p served as a tumor suppressor in OSCC by reducing the proliferation and migration of cancer cells by inhibiting STAT3 expression.
Evaluation of salivary Chemerin in oral leukoplakia, oral squamous cell carcinoma and healthy controls
Authors: Susha Karthika Pradeep , Ravindran Rathy
Published: January 2024

Introduction: Chemerin is a multifunctional chemoattractant cytokine, encoded by RARRES2 gene. Its role in oral carcinogenesis is largely unexplored. Study was undertaken to evaluate the role of salivary chemerin as a potential biomarker in the early diagnosis of oral cancer and to elucidate the clinicopathologic and prognostic significance of chemerin in different grades of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC) and oral leukoplakia. Materials and Methods: The study comprised 96 subjects, divided into 3 groups, each consisting of 32 subjects. These groups were clinically and histopathologically diagnosed with OSCC, oral leukoplakia, and healthy controls, respectively. The whole unstimulated saliva (1.5 mL) was collected from the subjects using passive drool technique and immediately centrifuged at 3000 rpm for 10 minutes. The salivary chemerin level was estimated using the competitive sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. The statistical analysis was performed using R software EZR version 1.32. Independent t-tests, analysis of variance tests, and Scheffe Multiple Comparisons were carried out to compare quantitative parameters. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was plotted to assess diagnostic accuracy of salivary chemerin. Results: Significantly higher levels of salivary chemerin were observed in OSCC and oral leukoplakia patients compared to healthy controls (P < 0.05). The study further established an increase in salivary chemerin concentration in different histological grades of OSCC and oral leukoplakia. ROC curve analysis suggested that salivary chemerin is a highly sensitive and specific indicator for early screening and detection of oral leukoplakia and OSCC. Conclusion: Salivary chemerin can be considered as a reliable and specific indicator for the early screening and detection of oral leukoplakia and OSCC and a highly sensitive biomarker which may aid in detection of malignant transformation of oral leukoplakia.
Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma: A Real-World, Retrospective Study
Authors: Lee Junho , Lim Sung Hee , Chung Jae Hoon , Song Wan , Sung Hyun Hwan , Jeong Byong Chang , Park Se Hoon
Published: January 2024

Purpose The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the efficacy of adjuvant cisplatin-based chemotherapy in patients with locally advanced upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC), administered following radical nephroureterectomy.Materials and Methods Patients with UTUC, arising from renal pelvis or ureter, staged pT3/T4 or N+ were treated with adjuvant chemotherapy following surgery. The chemotherapy consisted of gemcitabine 1,000 mg/m2 on days 1 and 8, cisplatin 70 mg/m2 on day 1. Treatment was repeated every 3 weeks for up to 4 cycles. Endpoints included disease-free survival (DFS), metastasis-free survival (MFS), and safety.Results Among 89 eligible patients, 85 (95.5%) completed at least 3 cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy. Chemotherapy was well tolerated, the main toxicities being mild-to-moderate gastrointestinal toxic effects and pruritus. With a median follow-up of 37 months, median DFS was 30 months (95% confidence interval, 22 to 39), and the median MFS was not reached. The 3-year DFS and MFS were 44% and 56%, respectively. Multivariate analyses revealed that the main factor associated with DFS and MFS was the lymph node involvement, whereas age, T category, grade, or the primary site of UTUC were not significantly associated with DFS or MFS.Conclusion Adjuvant cisplatin-based chemotherapy after radical surgery of pT3/T4 or N+ UTUC was feasible and may demonstrate benefits in DFS and MFS. Whether novel agents added to the chemotherapy regimen, as a concurrent combination or maintenance, impacts on survival or reduces the development of metastases remains to be studied.
Long-Term Risk of Reduced Cognitive Performance and Associated Factors in Discharged Older Adults with COVID-19: A Longitudinal Prospective Study
Authors: Demir Elif , Veizi Betül Gülsüm Yavuz , Naharci Mehmet Ilkin
Published: January 2024

Background: Increasing numbers of reports have suggested a deterioration in cognitive performance after recovery from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), however insufficient information is available regarding long-term brain health and risk factors related to reduced cognitive performance in advanced age. We investigated the prevalence of reduced cognitive performance and its associated factors among older adults after COVID-19. Methods: This prospective observational study enrolled older individuals (aged ≥65 years) hospitalized for COVID-19. Discharged patients were contacted after an average of 15 months and a brief battery was administered during telephone interviews to assess their mental status.Results: Among the 174 patients, 77 (44.3%) showed reduced cognitive performance at follow-up. Multivariate analysis revealed that female sex, education level, and increased Deyo/Charlson Comorbidity Index score, which is an objective indicator of chronic disease burden, were independent risk factors for long-term cognitive performance. Depression and anxiety symptoms, assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-2 and Generalized Anxiety Disorder 2-item questionnaire at the end of the study, were not associated with reduced cognitive performance.Conclusions: Our findings provide key insights into discharged older adults with COVID-19 at risk of long-term cognitive impairment, and help to ascertain the factors associated with this problem.
Brain–computer interface in critical care and rehabilitation
Authors: Oh Eunseo , Shin Seyoung , Kim Sung-Phil
Published: January 2024

This comprehensive review explores the broad landscape of brain–computer interface (BCI) technology and its potential use in intensive care units (ICUs), particularly for patients with motor impairments such as quadriplegia or severe brain injury. By employing brain signals from various sensing techniques, BCIs offer enhanced communication and motor rehabilitation strategies for patients. This review underscores the concept and efficacy of noninvasive, electroencephalogram-based BCIs in facilitating both communicative interactions and motor function recovery. Additionally, it highlights the current research gap in intuitive “stop” mechanisms within motor rehabilitation protocols, emphasizing the need for advancements that prioritize patient safety and individualized responsiveness. Furthermore, it advocates for more focused research that considers the unique requirements of ICU environments to address the challenges arising from patient variability, fatigue, and limited applicability of current BCI systems outside of experimental settings.
Novel Method for Vehicle Pulse Prediction
Authors: Kumar Ayush
Published: January 2024

Airbags are crucial elements of passive safety in vehicles that help minimizing occupant injuries during various crash scenarios such as frontal, side, and oblique impacts. Airbags in cars are now mandatory in many countries, and their performance depends on how well the system is designed. A well-tuned airbag deployment algorithm is necessary to score superior NCAP safety ratings. Tuning of airbag deployment algorithms requires several data points which are obtained through actual crash testing. This is a cumbersome and expensive process as it involves crash tests for each scenario (e.g., full front barrier, offset deformable barrier, angled impact, etc.) at multiple test speeds. These tests are destructive and render the vehicles only worthy of scrap. The data gathered from various sensors (acceleration, pressure, etc.) is used to develop robust vehicle model specific algorithms that must correctly identify the crash scenario and send airbag firing signal at the optimal pre-decided time. The question is, can we reduce the number of crash tests and still develop an equally robust airbag deployment system?

In this work, we discuss a novel method of crash pulse sensing. It is a semi-empirical model that uses both physics-based and data-based approach. Our proposed model uses logged crash data for certain speeds and generates crash pulse for the remaining required speeds - thus reducing the number of required actual tests. Model is validated for different crash scenarios. We estimate that this model could potentially reduce a significant cost and development time.
Digital Methodology for Simulating Autonomous Vehicle Sensor Cleaning
Authors: Shah Srishty , Pattankar Rohan , Varghese Rixson , Pai B H Ankita , Yenugu Srinivasa , Wolbeck Andreas , Balluff Simon , Schmid Heiko , Duggirala Ravi
Published: January 2024

The automotive world is progressing fast towards autonomous vehicles making sensors one of the critical components. There is a requirement for constant exchange of information between the vehicle and its surrounding environment, which is assisted by sensors such as Camera, LiDAR, and RADAR. However, exposure to harsh environmental conditions such as rain, dirt, snow, and bird droppings can hamper the functioning of the sensors and in turn interrupt accurate vehicle maneuvers.

Sensor-cleaning mechanisms are required to be tested under various weather conditions and vehicle operating situations. Besides wind tunnel tests, digitalizing this whole process becomes important to take decision on design changes in early vehicle development stage. This work presents a digital methodology to test the LiDAR cleaning system in the advent of mud clearing at different vehicle speeds.

The cleaning mechanism consists of a telescopic nozzle placed above the LiDAR translating back and forth. As the dirt or mud is deposited on screen, water jet is sprayed from nozzle. The developed numerical method models the motion of telescopic arm along with flat jet sprays of cleaning fluid. FVM based steady state aerodynamic simulations are employed to capture airflow while multiphase phenomenon involving interaction of air with cleaning fluid, mud particles and LiDAR screen is analyzed using an SPH solver. The correlations from this study and the wind tunnel show possible potential for optimization of existing cleaning systems e.g., by inspecting the surrounding airflows with increasing vehicle speeds. The qualitative comparison of these simulation outcomes based on preliminary design evaluation indicates that there exists an inflexion point in vehicle velocity for cleaning efficiency of the system post which there is considerable degradation of its performance.

Hence the proposed numerical method provides capability of evaluating and qualitatively comparing the performance of distinctive designs of water cleaning systems for LiDAR.
Helmet Detection in 2-Wheeler
Authors: D Bhavanash Rai
Published: January 2024

Wearing Helmet is a critical safety measure not only for riders but also for passengers. However, people often tend to skip wearing these protective headgears, thereby leading to, increased risk of injury or death in the event of an accident. There is a growing necessity to develop innovative methods that automatically monitor and prevent unsafe driving. To address this issue, we have developed a computer vision-based helmet detection system that can detect if a rider has his helmet on in real-time.

We use state-of-the-art computer vision-based techniques for helmet detection. This paper covers various aspects of helmet detection, including image pre-processing, feature extraction, and classification. The system is evaluated on performance metrics such as accuracy, precision, and recall. Further enhancement of the system is proposed in the potential directions for future research. The results demonstrate that computer vision-based helmet detection systems hold significant potential to reduce the risk of accidents and improve safety for riders.
Prediction of Involuntary Knee Engagement on Dashboard Controls to Prevent Potential Accidents for Drivers in a Passenger Car
Authors: Rajakumaran Sriram , Devan Rohan Maruti , Manekar Rahul , Babaleshwar Vinod , Kunnanath Jasar
Published: January 2024

Ergonomics plays an important role in safety, comfort, and convenience of occupants in passenger cars. Customers come in different sizes; have different preferences and exhibit different seating behaviors while driving a car. With sophisticated interior styling themes aimed at satisfying the increasing customer demands, dashboard packaging and its integration in the vehicle has become a challenging task. This has a deteriorating effect on the driver knee clearance since dashboard has penetrated more into cockpit area to house the complex integration. With drivers having significant workload, their postures are within a presumable range of prediction. However, there still exists ‘out-of-customary’ behaviors while driving a vehicle. Drivers tend to sit in a slouched posture, and this leads to an involuntary knee engagement resulting in activation of critical controls like EPB (Electronic Parking Brake). EPB is an Active Safety feature and on activating it, the vehicle stops immediately. If this is not an intended action, it will potentially result in an accident, especially when the vehicle is traveling at a high speed. Although there are several recommended measurement standards by SAE to measure the design intent of vehicle, these do not directly address the situation explained above. The aim of this research is to prevent the involuntary action of knee engagement with dashboard controls by analyzing driver knee clearance in correlation with the ‘out-of-customary’ behaviors and making necessary corrections in the early design phase of the vehicle. In this study, we represent ‘out-of-customary’ driver behavior in the form of a slouched posture for subsequent assessments. This ‘out-of-customary’ characteristic of driver become more pronounced in autonomous vehicles where driver workload is significantly reduced and there are lot more unconventional driver behaviors that are possible. We aim to arrive at a mathematical model that predicts involuntary knee engagement based on architecture parameters for a given vehicle and a given anthropometry. This model can be deployed in early design phase of a vehicle to develop dashboard metrics. This model will act as a guiding principle to specify the threshold knee clearance of driver necessary to avoid potential accidents arising due to ‘out-of-customary’ behaviors.
RAMP Bracket Angle Optimization Coupled with Improved Head Room
Authors: D Gowtham , L Dharshan , Bornare Harshad , Ritesh Kakade , Deoli Manish , Bhaskararao Pathivada , Gangapuram Suresh , Kakani Phani Kumar
Published: January 2024

Restraint systems in automotives are inevitable for the safety of passengers. Curtain airbag is one such restraint system in automotives that reduces the risk of injury to passengers during crash, without which head injury is inevitable during side crash of a vehicle. So successful deployment of curtain airbag (henceforth called as CAB) is very important in automotive safety during crash.

This paper dwells about the optimization done in ramp bracket angle with successful deployment of curtain airbag. This optimization has paved the way for increasing the head-roominess by ~15% and to respect the safety and styling intent in the vehicle successfully.

Providing a ramp bracket at the lower bottom side of CAB guides the airbag successfully during deployment. Ramp bracket angle plays a vital role in guiding the airbag inside the passenger’s cabin without any obstruction. This paper challenges the conventional ramp bracket angle followed for CAB deployment with an alternate angle and has successfully validated the same. This paper also throws light upon the flushness criteria to be followed between ramp bracket and environment parts.
CNG Leakage Detection and Sensor Diagnostic in Bus with CAN Interface
Authors: Yadav Sharad , Joshi Anil Prabhakar , Gaikwad Prathmesh , Gaikwad Rohit , Sangle Abhijit
Published: January 2024

Methane (CH4) is main constituent of compressed natural gas (CNG). CNG is compressed to less than 1% of the volume, which it occupies at atmospheric pressure. CNG contains almost 70% to 90% methane, one of the most significant greenhouse gas contributing directly into climate change. The effects caused due to gas leakages that results in fire and bursting of cylinder can be prevented by continuous monitoring of gas leakage in the Gas transmission pipeline of the commercial vehicles. In order to detect the methane leaks and resolve as early as possible, effective sensors need to be researched, analyzed and developed. This paper discusses about the usage of sensor with digital output replacing the previous gas leak detection sensor module, which gives analog output. The previously used Gas leakage detection module implements a design of a gas leakage detector system with, LED and audio indication that notifies the leakage in gas to the users. A sensor-based device easily detects a CNG leakage, with an analog sensor as its gas leakage detection sensor. However, the implementation of Digital sensor instead of analog sensor will be more advantageous in many aspects such as quick data rates, noise immunity, cost efficient and user friendly. So, the implementation of the proposed paper which uses a ZC41 (Digital sensor) will display the detected gas leakage in the instrument cluster of the vehicle, since it has a CAN interfaced output. The discussed material includes the implementation, working, design parameters and latest developments in these sensors. The paper is mainly focused on comparing different methods, advantages and disadvantages of previously used modules and proposed system.
Synthetic Scenario Generation from Real Road Data for Indian Specific ADAS Function Verification and Validation
Authors: Pachhapurkar Ninad , R Manish , Kale Jyoti Ganesh , Karle Manish , Karle Ujjwala
Published: January 2024

Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) play a crucial role in enhancing road safety by providing intelligent assistance to drivers. To ensure the reliability and effectiveness of ADAS functions, rigorous verification and validation processes are necessary. One critical aspect of this process is scenario generation, which involves creating diverse and representative driving scenarios for testing and evaluating ADAS functions.

This paper proposes a novel approach for synthetic scenario generation specifically tailored for Indian road conditions. The approach leverages real-time road data collected from various sources, including camera sensors, Lidar sensor, GPS devices, and traffic monitoring systems. The collected data is processed and analyzed to extract relevant information, such as road geometries, traffic patterns, and environmental conditions.

Based on the extracted data, a synthetic scenario generation algorithm is developed, which takes into account the unique characteristics of Indian roads, including complex traffic scenarios, diverse road conditions, and challenging driving situations. The algorithm incorporates statistical models and machine learning techniques to generate realistic and diverse scenarios that mimic real-world driving conditions.

The synthetic scenarios generated by the proposed approach are used for the verification and validation of ADAS functions specific to the Indian context. The scenarios cover a wide range of critical scenarios, including lane changes, pedestrian crossings, intersection scenarios, and adverse weather conditions. By using synthetic scenarios, the testing process becomes more efficient and cost-effective, as it reduces the reliance on physical testing and enables comprehensive coverage of various challenging scenarios.

The effectiveness of the synthetic scenario generation approach is evaluated through extensive simulations and real-world testing. The results demonstrate that the generated scenarios effectively capture the intricacies of Indian road conditions and provide valuable insights into the performance and robustness of ADAS functions. Furthermore, the approach can be customized and adapted for other regional contexts, making it a versatile tool for ADAS verification and validation.
Adaptive Steering System for Improved User Experience
Authors: Deore Dhruv , Iqbal Shoaib , Bhambri Mihir , Sheth Malav , Salunkhe Swapnil
Published: January 2024

The steering system of an automobile serves as the initial point of contact for the driver and is a crucial determinant in the purchasing choice of the vehicle. The present steering system is equipped with a singular Electric Power Assisted Steering (EPAS) map, resulting in a consistent steering sensation during maneuvers conducted at both low and high velocities. Certain vehicles are equipped with a steering system that includes fixed driving modes that require manual intervention. This paper presents a proposed Machine Learning based Adaptive Steering System that aims to address the requirements and limitations of fixed mode steering systems. The system is designed to automatically transition between comfort and sports modes, providing users with the desired soft or hard steering feel. The system utilizes vehicle response to driver input in order to identify driving patterns, subsequently adjusting steering assist and torque automatically. The system consists of driving pattern recognition module which classifies driver intention into sport or comfort driving. The system functionality is supported by the existing vehicle CAN data executing in real-time. Decision tree algorithm is employed to classify the driving patterns, with a physical data based accuracy rate of 98%. Additionally, mode holding logic is introduced in the system to avoid fluctuations between the two modes. The system has been effectively validated through the execution of maneuvers such as double lane changes and high-speed cornering both in digital and physical domains.
Bi-Directional Adjustable Holder for LiDAR Sensor
Authors: Pratap Amit , Rangarej Sanjeev
Published: January 2024

LiDAR stands for Light Detection and Ranging. It works on the principle of reflection of light. LiDAR is one among the other sensors like RADAR and Camera to help achieve a higher level (Level 3 & above) of Autonomous driving capabilities. LiDAR, as a sensor, is used to perceive the environment in 3D by calculating the ‘Time of flight’ of the Laser beam transmitted from LiDAR and the rays reflected from the Object, along with the intensity of reflection from the object. The frame of perception is plotted as a point cloud.

LiDAR is integrated in front of the vehicle, precisely in the grill of the car having a high vantage point to perceive the environment to extract the best possible sensor performance. LiDAR sensor needs to be held within the front panel cutout with uniform gap and flush condition. However, due to tolerance reasons it may have following issues:

Sensor functional degradation will happen if it is not aligned properly at the center to the cutout, because the view cones will interfere with grill cutout edges.

Aesthetic compromise is not acceptable by customers.

Based on the above problems, we have defined a solution. Since we need to maintain LiDAR sensor equidistant from grill cutout in Y and Z direction, Bracket architecture has 3 components,

One sheet metal bracket

2 plastic brackets.

These 3 brackets are connected by screws and adjustable components to have the LiDAR movement in Y and Z direction. A unique design rack and adjustor pin is used for the same.

With this solution, we were able to solve both the problems mentioned above.
Anomaly Detection and Quality Indicators for Digital Maps Used in ADAS Applications
Authors: Veber Christophe , Bai N Niha , Bhat Goutam , Kumar Vikas , Nair Priyanka , Li Yu
Published: January 2024

With the evolution of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), the gap towards Autonomous Driving (AD) is continuously narrowing. This progress is made possible using digital maps as one of the critical sources along with other ADAS sensors. Correct map data is crucial for the proper functioning of ADAS functions. This demands the need to evaluate the correctness of the map data regularly and efficiently. This work proposes a framework to quantify the map data correctness systematically. The framework algorithmically detects error locations in a map database and then derives KPIs from these error locations. The framework helps to identify issues in the map data related to the internal data consistency or heuristic rules. The framework consists of process automation in Python and map database checks in SQL. The proposed framework defines validation methodology that achieves goals like: (1) KPIs for map data reliability (2) systematic error identification. The framework was evaluated with maps from various sources. The framework yields results quickly and efficiently so that it can be regularly executed well before vehicle testing. In addition, the efficient KPI calculation permits the control of relevant map properties over subsequent map releases.
Comprehensive Assessment of Driver Monitoring System for Commercial Vehicle Applications Using Innovative Lab Testing Approach
Authors: Sudarshan BV , Jarhad Manoj , Dey Susanta Kumar , Joshi Kedar Shrikant , Gadekar Ganesh
Published: January 2024

The commercial vehicle sector (especially trucks) has major role in economic growth of a nation. With improving infrastructure, increasing number of commercial vehicles and growing amount of Vulnerable Road Users (VRUs) on roads, accidents are also increasing. As per RASSI (Road Accident Sampling System India) FY2016-21 database, commercial vehicles are involved in 43% of total accidents on Indian roads. One of the major causes of these accidents is Driver Drowsiness and Inattention (DDI) (approx. 10% contribution in total accidents).

This paper describes novel driver-in-loop performance assessment methodology for comprehensive verification of Driver Monitoring System (DMS) for commercial vehicle application. Novelty lies in specification of test subjects, driving styles and variety of road traffic scenarios for verification of DMS system. Test setup is made modular to cater to different platform environments (Heavy, Intermediate, Light) with minor modifications.

The test setup development involved integration of three systems a) on-board cameras, b) modular driver-in-loop setup, and c) camera-based Driver Monitoring System; in unique way to validate the operational performance of the system. DMS system interfacing is ensured through vehicle's Controller Area Network (CAN) architecture, which provides accurate timestamps and duration measurements. The evaluation of the DMS was conducted under various conditions, including different Indian driver categories, facial structures, eyewear usage, skin complexions, and road scenarios.

DMS verification using this novel methodology could successfully predict driver drowsiness and inattention accurately and verified timely warnings. The detailed analysis also investigated the excellent correlation between the driver's actual state and the system's predictions. This innovative driver in loop assessment methodology enabled recommendations of critical improvements in proposed DMS system to enhance its operational performance.
Evaluating Forward Collision Warning and Autonomous Emergency Braking Systems in India Using Dashboard Cameras
Authors: Shaikh Junaid , Lubbe Nils
Published: January 2024

Road traffic fatalities in India have been increasing, reaching around 150,000 fatalities a year. To reduce fatalities, some prospective studies suggested using active safety technologies such as Forward Collision Warning (FCW), and Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB). However, the effectiveness of FCW and AEB on Indian roads using retrospective studies is not known. Vehicle data such as radar, and controller area network signals could be used for the evaluation of the systems (FCW and AEB). However, these data are not readily accessible. This exploratory study aims to explore the opportunities and limitations of using simple dashboard cameras for a Field Operational Test. One European car with state-of-the-art FCW and AEB systems was rented. Fifteen drivers shared the vehicle, driving almost 10,000 km over 29 days. The vehicle was mounted with a set of dashboard cameras. The navigator noted the “system activated” events and “no activation” events in the logbook during the drive. Post completion of the driving activity, the system activated events: single event (only FCW) or combined event (FCW + AEB), and no activation events were analyzed. Three evaluators classified each system activated event as either a true positive or a false positive. Further, no activation events, where the driver felt the FCW should but did not activate, were classified as false negatives. A total of 79 single and combined events were identified. The AEB system produced 2.9 true positives and 0.2 false positives per 1000 km, while the FCW system produced 6.3 true positives and 2.1 false positives per 1000 km. For the FCW system, there were also 0.3 false negatives per 1000 km. The inter-rater reliability for the three evaluators was moderate indicating that not enough data is provided to accurately understand and classify the events. Reliable performance evaluation with the chosen simple approach seems highly challenging.
Enhanced Impeller Blade Design for Water Coolant Pump in IC Engines
Authors: Barve Amol , Roy Pratihar Sudeshna , Mokashi Onkar , Patil Naveen
Published: January 2024

This paper presents investigation study done on improvement in coolant pump hydraulic efficiency by proposing novel design of impeller blade for internal combustion engine. In typical coolant pump design, hydraulic efficiency plays a very important role in defining performance characteristics of coolant pump. Hydraulic efficiency is inversely proportional to drag imposed on impeller blades. In current investigation, coolant pump’s impeller blade design is optimized by taking inspiration from Biomimicry. Tubercles design is adopted on tip of impeller blades. Considerable literature study indicates tubercle design has never been tested in IC Engines in automotive industry. Design calculations along with CFD work has been carried out in order to adopt tubercles design on impeller blade tip. The virtual results are encouraging, with efficiency improvement in range of 1% to 4% by means of analytical & CFD calculations at coolant pump component level.

Though investigation is carried out on belt-driven/mechanical coolant pump in IC engine, it can also be implemented with necessary design changes with respect to new boundary conditions for coolant pump in other applications.
Cost Effective Pathways toward Highly Efficient and Ultra-Clean CI Engines, Part I: Combustion System Optimization
Authors: Shah Ashish , Kumar Praveen , Sari Rafael , Cleary David , Gothekar Sanjeev , G Bhat Prasanna , Thipse Sukrut S
Published: January 2024

Following global trends of increasingly stringent greenhouse gas (GHG) and criteria pollutant regulations, India will likely introduce within the next decade equivalent Bharat Stage (BS) regulations for Diesel engines requiring simultaneous reduction in CO2 emissions and up to 90% reduction in NOx emission from current BS-VI levels. Consequently, automakers are likely to face tremendous challenges in meeting such emission reduction requirements while maintaining performance and vehicle total cost of ownership (TCO), especially in the Indian market, which has experienced significant tightening of emission regulation during the past decade. Therefore, it is conceivable that cost effective approaches for improving existing diesel engines platforms for future regulations would be of high strategic importance for automakers. In this first of a two-part article, cost effective means of improving the combustion process in a Diesel engine to reduce engine-out emissions, specifically of NOx and smoke, are discussed in detail. The primary focus is on the co-optimization of fuel injector and piston bowl design to improve air utilization and hence reduce net soot formation. Additionally, novel dilute combustion strategies driven by geometry guided fuel-air mixing aided by tailored multi-lip piston bowl design are presented to suppress in-cylinder NOx formation. Both modelling and experimental data are provided to aid the discussion and demonstrate the potential for engine out NOx as low as 1 g/kW.h and smoke below 0.2 FSN with peak injection pressure of 1800 bar, achievable only by implement component level changes such as piston bowl design and injector nozzle configuration. Finally, the cost-to-performance trade-off of several combustion strategies is presented to discuss application-specific consideration for diesel engines – namely light-duty and heavy-duty.