Reliability-based analysis of horizontal curve design by evaluating the impact of vehicle automation on roadway departure crashes and safety performance.

Roadway departure (RwD) crashes are significant safety concerns, especially at horizontal curves. The design of these curves plays a crucial role in mitigating RwD crashes. Thus, a thorough understanding of the interaction between driver behavior, vehicle automation, and geometric design is vital. Substantive safety, which emphasizes the inherent safety in a road's design and function, serves as the foundation of our approach. Building on this, the study employs a safe system approach to investigate the performance of horizontal curves under both non-automated and partially automated conditions, using a reliability-based analysis focusing on Stopping Sight Distance as the primary driver demand. Factors including Perception-Brake Time and Take-Over Time for automated vehicles are examined. The analysis covers horizontal curves, characterized by their geometric design and crash data. Our findings highlight a shift in the performance of horizontal curves under automation, emphasizing the need to consider automation in roadway design within the safe system approach. This study demonstrates how a reliability-based analysis can guide designers in making informed decisions regarding the geometric design of horizontal curves to reduce RwD crashes. To enhance transportation safety in the era of increasing automation, ongoing exploration of the relationships between driver behavior, automation, and road design is indispensable.

Effect of Zinc Dialkyl Dithiophosphate Replenishment on Tribological Performance of Heavy-Duty Diesel Engine Oil.

Soot is the main contamination that affects oil performance and increases the frequency of oil changes in heavy-duty engine oil. Several studies discussed that additive concentration in engine oil can be influenced due to additive depletion over time and additive adsorption on soot particles. To extend oil drain intervals and improve oil performance, filter manufactures explore removing the soot to a certain level and replenishing the consumed additives. Zinc dialkyl dithiophosphate (ZDDP) is one of the most favored antiwear additives that react very rapidly with rubbing surfaces to form tribofilm that reduces wear. In this study, the experimental work aims to investigate the effect of ZDDP replenishment on tribological performance in the existence of soot and after removing soot from heavy-duty used oil. The study reveals that reclaiming the used oil can be achieved by removing the soot to a certain level. The results demonstrate that the reclaimed oil after removing soot is still not as good as the fresh oil. This study proves that additive depletion, additive adsorption on soot, and the decomposition of antiwear additive adversely influence the reclaimed oil performance. However, replenishing the consumed additive by adding a small amount of ZDDP helps to improve the reclaimed oil performance compared to a large amount of ZDDP which is required to re-gain the oil performance in the existence of soot.

Efficacy and safety of oral mega pulse methylprednisolone for severe therapy resistant Alopecia areata.

OBJECTIVE: To use intensive regimen of pulse steroid in the severe forms of Alopecia areata. METHODS: This prospective randomized study was conducted at King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia between 2003 to 2009. Patients with Alopecia universalis, Alopecia totalis, or Alopecia ophiasis were assigned to one of the 3 treatment groups: Group A received oral mega pulse methylprednisolone (MP) for 3 consecutive days once every 2 weeks for 24 weeks; Group B received 2 consecutive daily pulses every 3 weeks; and Group C received 3 consecutive daily pulses every 3 weeks. Patients who showed regrowth of 75% or more at 24 or 36 weeks continued their treatment, while intervals were increased gradually. RESULTS: Forty-two patients were included in this study, and 52.4% of them had atopic diathesis, while 35.7% had autoimmune thyroiditis. At 36 weeks, 12 (28.6%) patients had adequate response, 9 (21.4%) had inadequate response, and 21 (50%) patients had poor response. The response rate shows no statistically significant difference between treatment groups. There were statistically significant differences in age of onset, duration of the disease, and presence of subclinical hypothyroidism between different response groups. At follow-up: 13 (38.2%) patients relapsed; 5 (14.7%) patients developed moderate hair fall; 3 (8.8%) patients developed mild hair fall; 7 (20.1%) patients maintained their hair regrowth; and 6 (17.6%) patients were lost follow up. It was relatively well-tolerated among groups B and C. CONCLUSION: Oral mega pulse MP use in severe forms of Alopecia areata has relative efficacy and tolerance but with high relapse rate.

Treatment of linear IgA bullous dermatosis of childhood with flucloxacillin.

BACKGROUND: Linear IgA bullous dermatosis of childhood is a rare autoimmune bullous disease that mainly affects preschool-aged children. Dapsone is considered the first-line therapy with prompt response from most patients. However, it may be contraindicated in certain conditions such as glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency. OBJECTIVE: We sought to assess the efficacy of flucloxacillin in the treatment of linear IgA bullous dermatosis. METHODS: This is an observational study in which all confirmed cases of linear IgA bullous dermatosis (by both histological and immunofluorescence studies) will be treated with flucloxacillin. Flucloxacillin will be continued according to the response or otherwise will be discontinued after 8 weeks in the case of resistance. RESULTS: We describe 7 patients with linear IgA bullous dermatosis of childhood treated with flucloxacillin. In 4 cases, it induced complete remission within 3 to 4 months of starting therapy with no relapses. In the other 3 cases, it successfully controlled the disease but with prompt relapse on discontinuation of the treatment. LIMITATIONS: This is a case series study with a small number of patients. CONCLUSION: Flucloxacillin may be considered among the first alternative therapies for linear IgA bullous dermatosis of childhood. Further evaluation of the efficacy and safety of the long-term use is required.

Unusual local cutaneous reactions to insulin injections: a case report.

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