UQE-3D: a usability evaluation method of 3D user interfaces for the elderly

Health professionals could use 3D user interfaces to support elderly rehabilitation, offering fun and engagement during physical and cognitive activities. The evaluation of these immersive applications needs instruments designed for the specific context. This study presents and validates a new usability evaluation method for 3D user interfaces for the elderly. We developed the UQE-3D questionnaire from previous studies keeping in mind the 3D aspects and technological language suitable for the target public. To apply it, we used a protocol considering a demographic questionnaire, the Mini-Mental State Exam, the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale, the SUS Scale, the UQE-3D, and a structured interview. We also executed an experiment considering a heterogeneous group with 30 subjects (60+ years), where seven participants were institutionalized elderly. UQE-3D presented good results showing a mean score of 82.60 (range 1-100). UQE-3D and SUS scores did not show a statistically significant difference, highlighting the UQE-3D to be sufficient and effective in identifying the usability issues seen in the assessment of 3D user interfaces for the elderly. The method has the potential to evaluate and ensure the quality of 3D context-specific applications, considering appropriate terminology and contributing to the development of technologies fitting for the elderly

Identifying Relationships between Physiological Measures and Evaluation Metrics for 3D Interaction Techniques

Abstract. This project aims to present a methodology to study the relationships between physiological measures and evaluation metrics for 3D interaction techniques using methods for multivariate data analysis. Physiological responses, such as heart rate and skin conductance, offer objective data about the user stress during interaction. This could be useful, for instance, to evaluate qualitative aspects of interaction techniques without relying on solely subjective data. Moreover, these data could contribute to improve task performance analysis by measuring different responses to 3D interaction techniques. With this in mind, we propose a methodology that defines a testing protocol, a normalization procedure and statistical techniques, considering the use of physiological measures during the evaluation process. A case study comparison between two 3D interaction techniques (ray-casting and HOMER) shows promising results, pointing to heart rate variability, as measured by the NN50 parameter, as a potential index of task performance. Further studies are needed in order to establish guidelines for evaluation processes based on welldefined associations between human behaviors and human actions realized in 3D user interfaces

Driver mutations in <i>GNAQ</i> and <i>GNA11</i> genes as potential targets for precision immunotherapy in uveal melanoma patients

Uveal melanoma (UM) is the most common ocular malignancy in adults. Nearly 95% of UM patients carry the mutually exclusive mutations in the homologous genes GNAQ (amino acid change Q209L/Q209P) and GNA11 (aminoacid change Q209L). UM is located in an immunosuppressed organ and does not suffer immunoediting. Therefore, we hypothesize that driver mutations in GNAQ/11 genes could be recognized by the immune system. Genomic and transcriptomic data from primary uveal tumors were collected from the TCGA-UM dataset (n = 80) and used to assess the immunogenic potential for GNAQ/GNA11 Q209L/Q209P mutations using a variety of tools and HLA type information. All prediction tools showed stronger GNAQ/11 Q209L binding to HLA than GNAQ/11 Q209P. The immunogenicity analysis revealed that Q209L is likely to be presented by more than 73% of individuals in 1000 G databases whereas Q209P is only predicted to be presented in 24% of individuals. GNAQ/11 Q209L showed a higher likelihood to be presented by HLA-I molecules than almost all driver mutations analyzed. Finally, samples carrying Q209L had a higher immune-reactive phenotype. Regarding cancer risk, seven HLA genotypes with low Q209L affinity show higher frequency in uveal melanoma patients than in the general population. However, no clear association was found between any HLA genotype and survival. Results suggest a high potential immunogenicity of the GNAQ/11 Q209L variant that could allow the generation of novel therapeutic tools to treat UM like neoantigen vaccinations

A pair of Sub-Neptunes transiting the bright K-dwarf TOI-1064 characterised with CHEOPS

Funding: TGW, ACC, and KH acknowledge support from STFC consolidated grant numbers ST/R000824/1 and ST/V000861/1, and UKSA grant ST/R003203/1.We report the discovery and characterization of a pair of sub-Neptunes transiting the bright K-dwarf TOI-1064 (TIC 79748331), initially detected in the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) photometry. To characterize the system, we performed and retrieved the CHaracterising ExOPlanets Satellite (CHEOPS), TESS, and ground-based photometry, the High Accuracy Radial velocity Planet Searcher (HARPS) high-resolution spectroscopy, and Gemini speckle imaging. We characterize the host star and determine Teff,⋆=4734±67K⁠, R⋆=0.726±0.007R⊙⁠, and M⋆=0.748±0.032M⊙⁠. We present a novel detrending method based on point spread function shape-change modelling and demonstrate its suitability to correct flux variations in CHEOPS data. We confirm the planetary nature of both bodies and find that TOI-1064 b has an orbital period of Pb = 6.44387 ± 0.00003 d, a radius of Rb = 2.59 ± 0.04 R⊕, and a mass of Mb=13.5+1.7−1.8 M⊕, whilst TOI-1064 c has an orbital period of Pc=12.22657+0.00005−0.00004 d, a radius of Rc = 2.65 ± 0.04 R⊕, and a 3σ upper mass limit of 8.5 M⊕. From the high-precision photometry we obtain radius uncertainties of ∼1.6 per cent, allowing us to conduct internal structure and atmospheric escape modelling. TOI-1064 b is one of the densest, well-characterized sub-Neptunes, with a tenuous atmosphere that can be explained by the loss of a primordial envelope following migration through the protoplanetary disc. It is likely that TOI-1064 c has an extended atmosphere due to the tentative low density, however further radial velocities are needed to confirm this scenario and the similar radii, different masses nature of this system. The high-precision data and modelling of TOI-1064 b are important for planets in this region of mass–radius space, and it allow us to identify a trend in bulk density–stellar metallicity for massive sub-Neptunes that may hint at the formation of this population of planets.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Rationale, study design, and analysis plan of the Alveolar Recruitment for ARDS Trial (ART): Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is associated with high in-hospital mortality. Alveolar recruitment followed by ventilation at optimal titrated PEEP may reduce ventilator-induced lung injury and improve oxygenation in patients with ARDS, but the effects on mortality and other clinical outcomes remain unknown. This article reports the rationale, study design, and analysis plan of the Alveolar Recruitment for ARDS Trial (ART). Methods/Design: ART is a pragmatic, multicenter, randomized (concealed), controlled trial, which aims to determine if maximum stepwise alveolar recruitment associated with PEEP titration is able to increase 28-day survival in patients with ARDS compared to conventional treatment (ARDSNet strategy). We will enroll adult patients with ARDS of less than 72 h duration. The intervention group will receive an alveolar recruitment maneuver, with stepwise increases of PEEP achieving 45 cmH(2)O and peak pressure of 60 cmH2O, followed by ventilation with optimal PEEP titrated according to the static compliance of the respiratory system. In the control group, mechanical ventilation will follow a conventional protocol (ARDSNet). In both groups, we will use controlled volume mode with low tidal volumes (4 to 6 mL/kg of predicted body weight) and targeting plateau pressure &lt;= 30 cmH2O. The primary outcome is 28-day survival, and the secondary outcomes are: length of ICU stay; length of hospital stay; pneumothorax requiring chest tube during first 7 days; barotrauma during first 7 days; mechanical ventilation-free days from days 1 to 28; ICU, in-hospital, and 6-month survival. ART is an event-guided trial planned to last until 520 events (deaths within 28 days) are observed. These events allow detection of a hazard ratio of 0.75, with 90% power and two-tailed type I error of 5%. All analysis will follow the intention-to-treat principle. Discussion: If the ART strategy with maximum recruitment and PEEP titration improves 28-day survival, this will represent a notable advance to the care of ARDS patients. Conversely, if the ART strategy is similar or inferior to the current evidence-based strategy (ARDSNet), this should also change current practice as many institutions routinely employ recruitment maneuvers and set PEEP levels according to some titration method.Hospital do Coracao (HCor) as part of the Program 'Hospitais de Excelencia a Servico do SUS (PROADI-SUS)'Brazilian Ministry of Healt

Uma metodologia para especificar intera??o 3D utilizando Redes de Petri

Made available in DSpace on 2015-04-14T14:50:08Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 388456.pdf: 5013053 bytes, checksum: 84575b0c4a9de44bcbed52209cdfc492 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006-12-21Este trabalho apresenta uma metodologia para modelar e construir tarefas de intera??o 3D em ambientes virtuais usando Redes de Petri, uma taxonomia de decomposi??o de t?cnicas e conceitos de orienta??o a objetos. Para tanto, um conjunto de classes e uma biblioteca gr?fica s?o requisitos para constru??o de uma aplica??o e para controlar o fluxo de dados da rede. Opera??es podem ser desenvolvidas e representadas como nodos de uma Rede de Petri. Estes nodos, quando interligados, representam as etapas do processo interativo. A integra??o destas abordagens resulta em uma aplica??o modular, baseada no formalismo de Redes de Petri que permite especificar uma tarefa de intera??o, e tamb?m o reuso dos componentes existentes em novos projetos de ambientes virtuai

Avalia??o da qualidade de t?cnicas de intera??o em ambientes virtuais imersivos utilizando medidas fisiol?gicas

Made available in DSpace on 2015-04-14T14:49:32Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 432222.pdf: 4111216 bytes, checksum: 5724a344776e54a4b792587d8bf99d02 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-04-28Medidas fisiol?gicas, como frequ?ncia card?aca (HR) e condut?ncia de pele (SC), oferecem dados objetivos a respeito dos estados f?sico e emocional do usu?rio durante o processo interativo em ambientes virtuais. Isto pode ser ?til, por exemplo, na avalia??o de aspectos qualitativos de t?cnicas de intera??o tridimensionais, sem depender de dados subjetivos e considerando as diferentes rea??es do usu?rio. Com base nisto, o objetivo deste trabalho ? apresentar uma nova metodologia para avaliar a qualidade de t?cnicas de intera??o em ambientes virtuais imersivos, fundamentada no estudo do relacionamento entre m?tricas de usabilidade e medidas fisiol?gicas utilizando an?lise multivariada de dados. Para tanto, esta metodologia define um protocolo de testes, um processo de normaliza??o de medidas fisiol?gicas, e um conjunto de m?todos estat?sticos capazes de relacionar m?ltiplas medidas. Aplicando esta metodologia, um estudo de caso comparativo entre duas t?cnicas de intera??o (ray-casting e HOMER) mostra resultados fortemente significantes, apontando para a variabilidade da freq??ncia card?aca, medida pelo n?mero de diferen?as dos intervalos entre batimentos consecutivos superiores a 50ms (NN50), como um potencial ?ndice para determinar o tempo gasto para desempenhar uma tarefa. O estudo tamb?m mostra que as medidas de HR e SC refletem o desempenho do usu?rio durante uma tarefa. Apesar desses resultados, o trabalho revela que medidas fisiol?gicas ainda n?o podem ser consideradas como substitutas de m?tricas de usabilidade, mas podem ser ?teis no processo de interpreta??o e compreens?o destas. Discuss?es tamb?m determinam a necessidade de aprofundar o estudo das medidas fisiol?gicas na predi??o de resultados, como forma de estabelecer diretrizes futuras baseadas numa associa??o bem definida entre comportamentos do organismo e a??es desempenhadas nas interfaces tridimensionai

Rota do Tropeiro: a cultural entertainment game for Android platform

This paper presents a cultural entertainment game entitled “Rota do Tropeiro”. The aim of our article is to briefly present well-known tools that can be integrated and used by beginners to develop games with quality and optimized performance, especially for the Android platform. The document describes our game prototype, showing techniques and methodologies applied and highlighting new challenges. As a result, we produced a mobile game for end-users, and creative stuffs like animations, geometric models and artificial intelligence scripts