Exploring novel auditory displays for supporting accelerated skills acquisition and enhanced performance in motorsport

This paper explores the design, development and evaluation of a novel real-time auditory display system for accelerated racing driver skills acquisition. The auditory feedback provides concurrent sensory augmentation and performance feedback using a novel target matching design. Real-time, dynamic, tonal audio feedback representing lateral G-force (a proxy for tire slip) is delivered to one ear whilst a target lateral G-force value representing the ‘limit’ of the car, to which the driver aims to drive, is panned to the driver’s other ear; tonal match across both ears signifies that the ‘limit’ has been reached. An evaluation approach was established to measure the efficacy of the audio feedback in terms of performance, workload and drivers’ assessment of self-efficacy. A preliminary human subject study was conducted in a driving simulator environment. Initial results are encouraging, indicating that there is potential for performance gain and driver confidence enhancement based on the audio feedback

Cholinergic receptors on intestine cells of Ascaris suum and activation of nAChRs by levamisole

Cholinergic agonists, like levamisole, are a major class of anthelmintic drug that are known to act selectively on nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) on the somatic muscle and nerves of nematode parasites to produce their contraction and spastic paralysis. Previous studies have suggested that in addition to the nAChRs found on muscle and nerves, there are nAChRs on non-excitable tissues of nematode parasites. We looked for evidence of nAChRs expression in the cells of the intestine of the large pig nematode, Ascaris suum, using RT-PCR and RNAscope in situ hybridization and detected mRNA of nAChR subunits in the cells. These subunits include components of the putative levamisole receptor in A. suum muscle: Asu-unc-38, Asu-unc-29, Asu-unc-63 and Asu-acr-8. Relative expression of these mRNAs in A. suum intestine was quantified by qPCR. We also looked for and found expression of G protein-linked acetylcholine receptors (Asu-gar-1). We used Fluo-3 AM to detect intracellular calcium changes in response to receptor activation by acetylcholine (as a non-selective agonist) and levamisole (as an L-type nAChR agonist) to look for evidence of functioning nAChRs in the intestine. We found that both acetylcholine and levamisole elicited increases in intracellular calcium but their signal profiles in isolated intestinal tissues were different, suggesting activation of different receptor sets. The levamisole responses were blocked by mecamylamine, a nicotinic receptor antagonist in A. suum, indicating the activation of intestinal nAChRs rather than G protein-linked acetylcholine receptors (GARs) by levamisole. The detection of nAChRs in cells of the intestine, in addition to those on muscles and nerves, reveals another site of action of the cholinergic anthelmintics and a site that may contribute to the synergistic interactions of cholinergic anthelmintics with other anthelmintics that affect the intestine (Cry5B)

Mechanisms underpinning interventions to reduce sexual violence in armed conflict: A realist-informed systematic review

Sexual violence is recognised as a widespread consequence of armed conflict and other humanitarian crises. The limited evidence in literature on interventions in this field suggests a need for alternatives to traditional review methods, particularly given the challenges of undertaking research in conflict and crisis settings. This study employed a realist review of the literature on interventions with the aim of identifying the mechanisms at work across the range of types of intervention. The realist approach is an exploratory and theory-driven review method. It is well suited to complex interventions as it takes into account contextual factors to identify mechanisms that contribute to outcomes. The limited data available indicate that there are few deterrents to sexual violence in crises. Four main mechanisms appear to contribute to effective interventions: increasing the risk to offenders of being detected; building community engagement; ensuring community members are aware of available help for and responses to sexual violence; and safe and anonymous systems for reporting and seeking help. These mechanisms appeared to contribute to outcomes in multiple-component interventions, as well as those relating to gathering firewood, codes of conduct for personnel and legal interventions. Drawing on pre-existing capacity or culture in communities is an additional mechanism which should be explored. Though increasing the risk to offenders of being detected was assumed to be a central mechanism in deterring sexual violence, the evidence suggests that this mechanism operated only in interventions focused on gathering firewood and providing alternative fuels. The other three mechanisms appeared important to the likelihood of an intervention being successful, particularly when operating simultaneously. In a field where robust outcome research remains likely to be limited, realist methods provide opportunities to understand existing evidence. Our analysis identifies the important potential of building in mechanisms involving community engagement, awareness of responses and safe reporting provisions into the range of types of intervention for sexual violence in crises

The evolution of strategic environmental assessment from the Law 20.417

La evaluación ambiental estratégica se incorporó el año 2010, como instrumento de gestión ambiental a través de la Ley N° 20.417, que creó el Ministerio del Medio Ambiente, el Servicio de Evaluación Ambiental y la Superintendencia del Medio Ambiente, la cual introdujo reformas importantes en la regulación del medio ambiente. Casi seis años más tarde, el reglamento para la Evaluación Ambiental Estratégica, fue aprobado mediante el Decreto 32/2015 del Ministerio del Medio Ambiente. Durante la ausencia de norma reglamentaria, Contraloría General de la República dio ciertas directrices a seguir por los Órganos Responsables al momento de evaluar ambientalmente los Instrumentos de Planificación Territorial, Planes y Políticas, estableciendo como ley supletoria para llevar a cabo el procedimiento administrativo a la Ley N° 19.880. Con ello se debió implementar abruptamente la EAE considerando ciertos vacíos legales que con la llegada del Reglamento se esperaban resolver.The strategic environmental assessment was incorporated in 2010 as an instrument of environmental management through the Law N° 20.417, that created the Ministry, the Environment Assessment Authority and the Superintendence, which made on the environment regulation, important reforms. Nearly six years later, the strategic environmental assessment regulation, was approved by Decree 32/2015 of the Environment Ministry. During the absence of regulatory standard, Contraloría General gave some guidelines to be followed by the responsible institutions that have to elaborate the strategic environmental assessment of the Territorial Planning Instruments, Plans and Public Policies, establishing as a suppletive law to this administrative procedure, the Law N° 19.880. This was an abrupt implementation, considering certain loopholes that are expected to be solved with the recently approved regulation

Iowa State University ADVANCE Collaborative Transformation Project: Enhancing Departmental Cultures, Practices and Structures

“The Iowa State University ADVANCE program is […] designed to create an infrastructure at ISU for transforming structures, cultures, and practices in ways that enable and support recruitment and retention of a diverse, highly qualified and cohesive faculty. This infrastructure is designed to include “top down” university policies and procedures as well as “bottom up” initiatives involving departmental work climate and strategies for improving recruitment, retention and promotion of faculty” (Bird and Hamrick 2008). To this end, ISU ADVANCE: • collects base-line quantitative data on the faculty recruitment, retention and promotion, and on faculty work issues such as satisfaction with departmental work climate and resource distributions, • supports policies designed to enhance faculty productivity and job satisfaction, • has implemented new programs such as faculty networking events and a mentoring program for faculty of color, • supports three Equity Advisors in the three focal colleges, • provides training to STEM faculty and department Chairs about subtle biases and how they operate, • supports ADVANCE Professors in each of 9 focal departments who work with the ADVANCE Leadership Team, focal department Chairs, and fellow faculty members to develop and implement department-level transformation strategies as part of a process called “Collaborative Transformation.

An aeroplane without wings : educational psychology support for a children's home staff team prior to and following a critical incident

Outcomes for looked after children and young people tend to be poor across numerous domains. To address this, some children's homes in England are supported by educational psychologists using Pillars of Parenting. This 'Emotional Warmth' approach is based on the theoretical and empirical knowledge base of applied psychology. It has been shown to have a positive impact on the lives of looked after children and young people (Cameron, 2017; Cameron & Das, 2019). This paper shares the story of a traumatic incident which occurred in a children's home supported by a Pillars of Parenting psychologist consultant. Using the strong relationships built up with staff through Pillars of Parenting sessions, other tools were used to provide support for staff over two meetings. This support was given in the lead up to this event and following it. Prior to the incident, the psychologist consultant used the MAPS tool to help staff acknowledge their gifts and plan for a positive future. A critical incident response to the event was provided by two educational psychologists using a bespoke process shared in this paper. Anecdotal evidence suggests that this support was appreciated and beneficial

The HIF-1 Hypoxia-Inducible Factor Modulates Lifespan in C. elegans

During normal development or during disease, animal cells experience hypoxic (low oxygen) conditions, and the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) transcription factors implement most of the critical changes in gene expression that enable animals to adapt to this stress. Here, we examine the roles of HIF-1 in post-mitotic aging. We examined the effects of HIF-1 over-expression and of hif-1 loss-of-function mutations on longevity in C. elegans, a powerful genetic system in which adult somatic cells are post-mitotic. We constructed transgenic lines that expressed varying levels of HIF-1 protein and discovered a positive correlation between HIF-1 expression levels and lifespan. The data further showed that HIF-1 acted in parallel to the SKN-1/NRF and DAF-16/FOXO transcription factors to promote longevity. HIF-1 over-expression also conferred increased resistance to heat and oxidative stress. We isolated and characterized additional hif-1 mutations, and we found that each of 3 loss-of-function mutations conferred increased longevity in normal lab culture conditions, but, unlike HIF-1 over-expression, a hif-1 deletion mutation did not extend the lifespan of daf-16 or skn-1 mutants. We conclude that HIF-1 over-expression and hif-1 loss-of-function mutations promote longevity by different pathways. These data establish HIF-1 as one of the key stress-responsive transcription factors that modulate longevity in C. elegans and advance our understanding of the regulatory networks that link oxygen homeostasis and aging

The effect of endothelial cell overexpression of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 on smooth muscle cell migration

AbstractIntroduction: Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), a known inhibitor of plasminogen activators, may regulate smooth muscle cell migration (SMC) through alteration in matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity. Methods: To study the effect of endothelial cell (EC) PAI-1 overexpression on SMC migration, RT-PCR was used to clone the full length PAI-1 gene, which was ligated into the pCMV/myc/ER expression vector. With electroporation, bovine aortic ECs were transfected with either the PAI-1 construct or the empty vector as control. EC PAI-1 overexpression was shown with a specific PAI-1 activity assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The effect of EC PAI-1 overexpression on SMC migration was measured with a modified Boyden-chamber assay. SMC MMP expression was measured with zymography. Results: Selected clones (EC9, EC21) had a three-fold to five-fold increase in PAI-1 activity compared with untransfected EC and empty vector EC (ECC). Similarly, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay results showed a 3.5-fold to 5.5-fold increase in PAI-1 levels in EC9 and EC21 versus ECC. Untransfected EC and ECC had similar effects on SMC migratory patterns. Migration of SMC exposed to PAI-1 overexpressing EC was inhibited by 35% to 57% compared with ECC. This inhibitory effect was reversed with addition of exogenous urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA). Zymography showed downregulation of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in SMCs exposed to PAI-1 overexpressing EC. Conclusion: PAI-1 overexpression with transfected EC inhibits SMC migration. This effect may be mediated through decreased SMC MMP activity. (J Vasc Surg 2002;36:164-71.