G. A. Bremner (ed.), Architecture and Urbanism in the British Empire

Contribution majeure à l’histoire impériale britannique, Architecture and Urbanism in the British Empire, édité par G. A. Bremner, constitue la première synthèse des problématiques liées à l’architecture sous l’Empire, par le prisme des études postcoloniales, de la New British History et d’une histoire globale. L’ouvrage a l’ambition inégalée de couvrir cinq continents et quatre siècles, afin de proposer une introduction à la question du bâti dans les territoires sous domination britannique, ..

Investigating the effects of passive exoskeletons andfamiliarization protocols on arms-elevated tasks

International audienceEvery year, companies spend millions of euros for Work related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs). In order to reduce this cost and pain at work, they started to integrate Physical Assistance Device (PAD) such as exoskeletons. These new products aim to provide physical assistance to the operator but their integration is facing many barriers such as morphological adaptability, bad usability and a negative perception among workers. Exoskeletons are bringing a new type of interaction with human that is crucial to understand. This paper addresses the emerging issue of the impact of PAD on the hardness of manufacturing working tasks and on the usability satisfaction of workers. The use case focuses on a sanding operation on a catamaran hull, with an upper body passive exoskeleton provided by our partner Skel-ex. Experimental measurements such as cardiac cost, posture analysis and usability tests are carried out on a set of participants during finishing tasks. In order to better understand how exoskeletons support able-bodied people at work and reduce fatigue, we present results that show a positive impact of the assistance on physical workload

Experimental study of the physical impact of a passive exoskeleton on manual sanding operations

International audienceEvery year, companies spend millions of euros for Work related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs). In order to reduce this cost and pain at work, they started to integrate Physical Assistance Device (PAD) such as exoskeletons. These new products aim to provide physical assistance to the operator but their integration is facing many barriers such as morphological adaptability, bad usability and a negative perception among workers. Exoskeletons are bringing a new type of interaction with human that is crucial to understand. This paper addresses the emerging issue of the impact of PAD on the hardness of manufacturing working tasks and on the usability satisfaction of workers. The use case focuses on a sanding operation on a catamaran hull, with an upper body passive exoskeleton provided by our partner Skel-ex. Experimental measurements such as cardiac cost, posture analysis and usability tests are carried out on a set of participants during finishing tasks. In order to better understand how exoskeletons support able-bodied people at work and reduce fatigue, we present results that show a positive impact of the assistance on physical workloa

Human-Centered AI to Support an Adaptive Management of Human-Machine Transitions with Vehicle Automation

This article is about the Human-Centered Design (HCD), development and evaluation of an Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithm aiming to support an adaptive management of Human- Machine Transition (HMT) between car drivers and vehicle automation. The general principle of this algorithm is to monitor (1) the drivers' behaviors and (2) the situational criticality to manage in real time the Human-Machine Interactions (HMI). This Human-Centered AI (HCAI) approach was designed from real drivers' needs, difficulties and errors observed at the wheel of an instrumented car. Then, the HCAI algorithm was integrated into demonstrators of Advanced Driving Aid Systems (ADAS) implemented on a driving simulator (dedicated to highway driving or to urban intersection crossing). Finally, user tests were carried out to support their evaluation from the end-users point of view. Thirty participants were invited to practically experience these ADAS supported by the HCAI algorithm. To increase the scope of this evaluation, driving simulator experiments were implemented among three groups of 10 participants, corresponding to three highly contrasted profiles of end- users, having respectively a positive, neutral or reluctant attitude towards vehicle automation. After having introduced the research context and presented the HCAI algorithm designed to contextually manage HMT with vehicle automation, the main results collected among these three profiles of future potential end users are presented. In brief, main findings confirm the efficiency and the effectiveness of the HCAI algorithm, its benefits regarding drivers' satisfaction, and the high levels of acceptance, perceived utility, usability and attractiveness of this new type of ?adaptive vehicle automation?

Human-Centered AI to Support an Adaptive Management of Human-Machine Transitions with Vehicle Automation

This article is about the Human-Centered Design (HCD), development and evaluation of an Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithm aiming to support an adaptive management of Human-Machine Transition (HMT) between car drivers and vehicle automation. The general principle of this algorithm is to monitor (1) the drivers’ behaviors and (2) the situational criticality to manage in real time the Human-Machine Interactions (HMI). This Human-Centered AI (HCAI) approach was designed from real drivers’ needs, difficulties and errors observed at the wheel of an instrumented car. Then, the HCAI algorithm was integrated into demonstrators of Advanced Driving Aid Systems (ADAS) implemented on a driving simulator (dedicated to highway driving or to urban intersection crossing). Finally, user tests were carried out to support their evaluation from the end-users point of view. Thirty participants were invited to practically experience these ADAS supported by the HCAI algorithm. To increase the scope of this evaluation, driving simulator experiments were implemented among three groups of 10 participants, corresponding to three highly contrasted profiles of end-users, having respectively a positive, neutral or reluctant attitude towards vehicle automation. After having introduced the research context and presented the HCAI algorithm designed to contextually manage HMT with vehicle automation, the main results collected among these three profiles of future potential end users are presented. In brief, main findings confirm the efficiency and the effectiveness of the HCAI algorithm, its benefits regarding drivers’ satisfaction, and the high levels of acceptance, perceived utility, usability and attractiveness of this new type of “adaptive vehicle automation”

Clinical heterogeneity and phenotype/genotype findings in 5 families with<i> GYG1 </i> deficiency

International audienceObjective: To describe the variability of muscle symptoms in patients carrying mutations in the GYG1 gene, encoding glycogenin-1, an enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of glycogen, and to discuss genotype-phenotype relations.& para;& para;Methods: We describe 9 patients from 5 families in whom muscle biopsies showed vacuoles with an abnormal accumulation of glycogen in muscle fibers, partially alpha-amylase resistant suggesting polyglucosan bodies. The patients had either progressive early-onset limb-girdle weakness or late-onset distal or scapuloperoneal muscle affection as shown by muscle imaging. No clear definite cardiac disease was found. Histologic and protein analysis investigations were performed on muscle.& para;& para;Results: Genetic analyses by direct or exome sequencing of the GYG1 gene revealed 6 different GYG1 mutations. Four of the mutations were novel. They were compound heterozygous in 3 families and homozygous in 2. Protein analysis revealed either the absence of glycogenin-1 or reduced glycogenin-1 expression with impaired glucosylation.& para;& para;Conclusions: Our report extends the genetic and clinical spectrum of glycogenin-1-related myopathies to include scapuloperoneal and distal affection with glycogen accumulation

The space of diplomacy

This thematic section of ABE features contributions on the role and meanings of embassies and other structures designed for diplomacy, in urban fabrics situated east and south of the Mediterranean. Albeit inherently representative objects, embassies are seldom considered as architectural signifiers, or as parts of the cultural landscape of a city. Starting from Addis Abeba and moving on to Ankara, Kabul and Beijing, the four papers of the section show that while the architecture of diplomacy displaces a fragment of the nation beyond its territorial borders, this movement is never limited to the transfer of technologies and architectural styles. The making of diplomatic landmarks can be assessed as a dialogic process of space production, entailing negotiation and domestication in the foreign context, appropriation and reworking of local symbolic and material resources, interaction with the surrounding social and physical landscape

Convergence of patient- and physician-reported outcomes in the French National Registry of Facioscapulohumeral Dystrophy

International audienceFacioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is among the most prevalent muscular dystrophies and currently has no treatment. Clinical and genetic heterogeneity are the main challenges to a full comprehension of the physiopathological mechanism. Improving our knowledge of FSHD is crucial to the development of future therapeutic trials and standards of care. National FSHD registries have been set up to this end. The French National Registry of FSHD combines a clinical evaluation form (CEF) and a self-report questionnaire (SRQ), filled out by a physician with expertise in neuromuscular dystrophies and by the patient, respectively. Aside from favoring recruitment, our strategy was devised to improve data quality. Indeed, the pairwise comparison of data from 281 patients for 39 items allowed for evaluating data accuracy. Kappa or intra-class coefficient (ICC) values were calculated to determine the correlation between answers provided in both the CEF and SRQ. Results Patients and physicians agreed on a majority of questions common to the SRQ and CEF (24 out of 39). Demographic, diagnosis- and care-related questions were generally answered consistently by the patient and the medical practitioner (kappa or ICC values of most items in these groups were greater than 0.8). Muscle function-related items, i.e. FSHD-specific signs, showed an overall medium to poor correlation between data provided in the two forms; the distribution of agreements in this section was markedly spread out and ranged from poor to good. In particular, there was very little agreement regarding the assessment of facial motricity and the presence of a winged scapula. However, patients and physicians agreed very well on the Vignos and Brooke scores. The report of symptoms not specific to FSHD showed general poor consistency. Conclusions Patient and physician answers are largely concordant when addressing quantitative and objective items. Consequently, we updated collection forms by relying more on patient-reported data where appropriate. We hope the revised forms will reduce data collection time while ensuring the same quality standard. With the advent of artificial intelligence and automated decision-making, high-quality and reliable data are critical to develop top-performing algorithms to improve diagnosis, care, and evaluate the efficiency of upcoming treatments