Holistic Vehicle Instrumentation for Assessing Driver Driving Styles

Nowadays, autonomous vehicles are increasing, and the driving scenario that includes both autonomous and human-driven vehicles is a fact. Knowing the driving styles of drivers in the process of automating vehicles is interest in order to make driving as natural as possible. To this end, this article presents a first approach to the design of a controller for the braking system capable of imitating the different manoeuvres that any driver performs while driving. With this aim, different experimental tests have been carried out with a vehicle instrumented with sensors capable of providing real-time information related to the braking system. The experimental tests consist of reproducing a series of braking manoeuvres at different speeds on a flat floor track following a straight path. The tests distinguish between three types of braking manoeuvre: maintained, progressive and emergency braking, which cover all the driving circumstances in which the braking system may intervene. This article presents an innovative approach to characterise braking types thanks to the methodology of analysing the data obtained by sensors during experimental tests. The characterisation of braking types makes it possible to dynamically classify three driving styles: cautious, normal and aggressive. The proposed classifications allow it possible to identify the driving styles on the basis of the pressure in the hydraulic brake circuit, the force exerted by the driver on the brake pedal, the longitudinal deceleration and the braking power, knowing in all cases the speed of the vehicle. The experiments are limited by the fact that there are no other vehicles, obstacles, etc. in the vehicle's environment, but in this article the focus is exclusively on characterising a driver with methods that use the vehicle's dynamic responses measured by on-board sensors. The results of this study can be used to define the driving style of an autonomous vehicle

Effects of Combined HIIT and Stroop on Strength Manifestations, Serve Speed and Accuracy in Recreational Tennis Players

Background: The importance of the serve in tennis players' performance is well known but no previous studies have analyzed the effects of both physical and cognitive fatigue on the speed and accuracy of the serve. This study analyzed the effect of a High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) with and without cognitive load on serve speed and accuracy, spirometry, and strength manifestation. Methods: 32 recreational players (25 men and 7 women; aged 21.40 +/- 1.52 years) performed a HIIT and a HIIT with a Stroop in recovery phases before performing a series of tennis services. Speed and accuracy of the services, spirometry, and strength manifestations were registered. Results: The main findings of the study showed that strength manifestations and spirometry were not affected by either protocol. A decrease in serve speed was observed in both protocols (p < 0.001) but service accuracy did not show impairments (p = 0.66). Conclusion: A combination of physical and mental fatigue may decrease serve speed but will not affect strength manifestations or spirometry negatively. These results could be caused by a response of the central nervous system to maintain the accuracy of the ball in presence of fatigu

Clutch Pedal Sensorization and Evaluation of the Main Parameters Related to Driver Posture

An improper decision for the design, selection and adjustment of the components needed to control a vehicle could generate negative effects and discomfort to the driver, where pedals play a very important role. The aim of the study is to provide a first approach to develop an embedded monitoring device in order to evaluate the posture of the driver, the influence of the clutch pedal and to advise about the possible risk. With that purpose in mind, a testbed was designed and two different sets of tests were carried out. The first test collected information about the volunteers who were part of the experiment, like the applied force on the clutch pedal or the body measurements. The second test was carried out to provide new insight into this matter. One of the more significant findings to emerge from this study is that the force applied on the clutch pedal provides enough information to determine correct driver posture. For this reason, a system composed of a pedal force sensor and an acquisition/processing system can fulfil the requirements to create a healthcare system focused on driver posture

Tratamiento curricular de la imagen corporal, autoestima y autoconcepto en España

La adolescencia es un periodo del desarrollo del ser humano en el que proliferan problemas con la percepción de la imagen corporal, la autoestima y el autoconcepto, mientras el niño se encuentra cursando estudios de Educación Secundaria Obligatoria. Este estudio analiza el tratamiento curricular que se dedica a la imagen corporal, la autoestima y el autoconcepto en los diferentes elementos legislativos en el ámbito educativo de la Comunidad Valenciana (España), mediante una metodología cualitativa, a través de la técnica del análisis documental no interactiva. Los resultados del análisis de los documentos, correspondientes a la ordenación académica de la etapa en esta comunidad autónoma, mostraron una presencia de estos contenidos tanto en los planteamientos del ámbito nacional concerniente a la LOE (2006) y el Real Decreto 1631/2006, como en los regionales materializados en el Decreto 112/2007. Aparecen específicamente en algunos elementos del currículo de materias como Educación Física, Educación para la Ciudadanía, Matemáticas, Biología y Geología, Ciencias de la Naturaleza y Música, a pesar de que no en todas ellas adquieren el mismo protagonismo, destacando en este sentido la Educación Física como materia que más se centra tanto en el trabajo como en el desarrollo de estos aspectos. Dentro de ella se muestra un desequilibrio en cuanto al protagonismo alcanzado en lo que se pretende que aprendan (objetivos) y en su ínfima plasmación en las herramientas para alcanzarlo (contenidos), así como en el cómo evaluarlo (criterios de evaluación).Adolescence is a period of human development in which problems with the perception of body image, self-esteem and self-concept proliferate, while the child is studying for Secondary Education. This study analyses the curricular treatment given to body image, self-esteem and self-concept in different legislative elements in the region of Valencia (Spain), using a qualitative methodology, through the technique of non-interactive documentary analysis. The results of the analysis of relevant academic planning stage documents in this region showed a presence of these statements contained in both thenational Education Law and the regional education Law. They specifically appear in some elements of curriculum subjects such as Physical Education, Citizenship Education, Mathematics, Biology and Geology, Natural Science and Music, although not all of them take on the same role, emphasizing in this sense Physical Education as a subject that focuses more both on working and developing these aspects. Within the latter, an imbalance is shown in terms of prominence achieved in what is intended to learn (objectives) and its negligible representation in the tools proposed to achieve it (content) as well as how to evaluate it (evaluation criteria)

Higher use of techniques studied and performance in melee combat produce a higher psychophysiological stress response

We aimed to analyse the effectiveness of an operative training in soldiers' psychophysiological and melee combat performance. Nineteen soldiers performed a 50-hr training for 10 weeks. After training, they were divided into two groups: higher performance group (HPG) and lower performance group (LPG), then they conducted a realistic melee simulation where psychophysiological response, task performance, and the utilization of techniques learned were measured. HPG presented a significantly (p < 0.05) higher heart rate, blood lactate, and jump height; a lower blood oxygen saturation, task performance mark, use of studied techniques than LPG after the simulation; and a higher low frequency/high frequency ratio of heart rate variability previous the simulation than LPG. Independent of performance and the use of studied techniques by the participants, the melee simulation produced an increase in fight or flight response, increasing rated of stress and perceived exertion, sympathetic modulation, and physiological response. A specific melee combat training program induced different modifications in psychophysiological and task performance depending on the level of studied technique used. HPG presented a significantly higher cardiovascular response than LPG and time perception, and memory presented no differences between groups; also HPG presented a significantly higher use of studied techniques

The effect of the deposition strategy and heat treatment on cold spray additive manufactured 316L stainless steel

Herein, the effect of heat treatment on the characteristics and properties of cold spray additive manufactured 316L stainless steel employing traditional and a new metal knitting strategy is investigated. 316L feedstock powder characteristics, the geometry of the bulk, microstructure, porosity, microhardness, mechanical isotropy, and residual stress are analyzed in both strategies in as-sprayed and heat-treated conditions. Results show that the traditional deposition strategy produced higher mechanical resistance, whereas metal knitting presents a better part geometry accuracy. The heat treatment significantly improves the material strength and the quality of the parts by recovery and recrystallization phenomena. The same microhardness and planar isotropy are achieved after heat treatment of samples produced by both strategies. A discussion about the mechanisms, microstructural, and residual stress evolution is presented.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Validation of a low-cost Electromyography (EMG) system via a commercial and accurate EMG device : pilot study

Electromyography (EMG) devices are well-suited for measuring the behaviour of muscles during an exercise or a task, and are widely used in many different research areas. Their disadvantage is that commercial systems are expensive. We designed a low-cost EMG system with enough accuracy and reliability to be used in a wide range of possible ways. The present article focuses on the validation of the low-cost system we designed, which is compared with a commercially available, accurate device. The evaluation was done by means of a set of experiments, in which volunteers performed isometric and dynamic exercises while EMG signals from the rectus femoris muscle were registered by both the proposed low-cost system and a commercial system simultaneously. Analysis and assessment of three indicators to estimate the similarity between both signals were developed. These indicated a very good result, with spearman’s correlation averaging above 0.60, the energy ratio close to the 80% and the linear correlation coefficient approximating 100%. The agreement between both systems (custom and commercial) is excellent, although there are also some limitations, such as the delay of the signal (1 s) and noise due to the hardware and assembly in the proposed system

Nearly Complete Genome Sequences of Human Norovirus Belonging to Several Genotypes from Valencia, Spain

Human noroviruses are responsible for most nonbacterial acute gastroenteritis cases. The GII.2, GII.4, and GII.17 genotypes of human noroviruses have recently arisen as the most frequent genotypes found in humans worldwide. We report here seven nearly complete genomes of these genotypes from patients with acute gastroenteritis in Valencia, Spain

Nearly complete genome sequence of a human norovirus GII.P17-GII.17 strain isolated from Brazil in 2015

Human noroviruses are the most common cause of nonbacterial acute gastroenteritis worldwide. We report here the nearly complete genome sequence (7,551 nucleotides) of a human norovirus GII.P17-GII.17 strain detected in July 2015 in the stool sample from an adult with acute gastroenteritis in Brazil

Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score applied to CT angiography source images is a strong predictor of futile recanalization in acute ischemic stroke

The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00234-016-1652-7Introduction Reliable predictors of poor clinical outcome despite successful revascularization might help select patients with acute ischemic stroke for thrombectomy. We sought to determine whether baseline Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS) applied to CT angiography source images (CTA-SI) is useful in predicting futile recanalization. Methods Data are from the FUN-TPA study registry (ClinicalTrials.gov; NCT02164357) including patients with acute ischemic stroke due to proximal arterial occlusion in anterior circulation, undergoing reperfusion therapies. Baseline non-contrast CT and CTA-SI-ASPECTS, timelapse to image acquisition, occurrence, and timing of recanalization were recorded. Outcome measures were NIHSS at 24 h, symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage, modified Rankin scale score, and mortality at 90 days. Futile recanalization was defined when successful recanalization was associated with poor functional outcome (death or disability). Results Included were 110 patients, baseline NIHSS 17 (IQR 12; 20), treated with intravenous thrombolysis (IVT; 45 %), primary mechanical thrombectomy (MT; 16 %), or combined IVT+MT (39 %). Recanalization rate was 71 %, median delay of 287 min (225; 357). Recanalization was futile in 28 % of cases. In an adjusted model, baseline CTA-SI-ASPECTS was inversely related to the odds of futile recanalization (OR 0.5; 95 % CI 0.3–0.7), whereas NCCT-ASPECTS was not (OR 0.8; 95 % CI 0.5–1.2). A score ≤5 in CTA-SIASPECTS was the best cut-off to predict futile recanalization (sensitivity 35 %; specificity 97 %; positive predictive value 86 %; negative predictive value 77 %). Conclusions CTA-SI-ASPECTS strongly predicts futile recanalization and could be a valuable tool for treatment decisions regarding the indication of revascularization therapie