An Autonomous Intelligent Driving Simulation Tutor for Driver Training and Remediation: A Concept Paper

An intelligent tutoring model for use in a driving simulation training platform is proposed. Driving simulators by themselves cannot teach and staffing driving simulators with live trainers limits their ability to reach a wide audience. Research has shown that customized feedback, coupled with active practice in a simulator is very effective in changing a driver’s behavior for the better. A driving simulation training program which utilizes an intelligent tutoring system (ITS) can diagnose driver errors, tailor feedback to the student’s specific needs, determine when a student has mastered a specific skill set and can provide remediation as necessary. A brief discussion of basic ITS architecture is provided. An ITS model that has been successful in teaching individual skills in other domains (such as mental rotation) is applied to driving simulator instruction. The various critical components of the ITS, including the domain model, student model and tutoring model, are discussed in detail and a working example provided

Strategies for improving reproductive performance in gilts

ABSTRACT Efficient pork production is largely dictated by the reproductive success of the sow. Identifying gilts with the ability to produce an optimal number of pigs over successive parities, and do so in as few days as possible is the fundamental key to improving sow lifetime productivity. Low heritability and effect of external factors such as heat stress, makes selecting for reproductive success problematic. Age at puberty is predictive of sow longevity and has been associated with vulva development at approximately 100 days of age. To determine the effectiveness of scoring gilts according to prepubertal vulva width as a means of identifying reproductive superior replacements, physical measurements were recorded at 15 weeks of age and performance was tracked through production. Gilts assigned lowest possible scores based on prepubertal vulva development proved to be less likely to farrow a litter, had an increased age at first farrowing, and showed poorer productivity through their second parity. In addition to maximizing productivity, mitigating negative influences on reproduction is also vital for sow farm sustainability. Heat stress contributes to significant economic losses annually in the swine industry, and results in decreased farrowing rates, smaller litters, and greater wean-to-estrus intervals. To determine the effect of heat stress (HS) on corpus luteum function and the effect on early conceptus development, gilts were assigned to HS or thermal neutral (TN) conditions and either received altrenogest (a progesterone receptor agonist) supplementation or a control group that was not supplemented. Corpus luteum weight was affected by environment and supplementation, however, this change was not reflected in luteal or circulating progesterone concentrations. Conceptus development was accelerated in those supplemented with altrenogest with a higher percentage of conceptuses transitioned into a filamentous conformation. Conceptus stage of development remained unaffected when environmental assignments were compared. Collectively, these findings provide new insight into the areas of gilt development and selection, and the possible effects heat stress has on early pregnancy, and provide potential management strategies that can be implemented by pork producers

Effects of Cognitive and Physical Decline on Older Drivers\u27 Side-to-Side Scanning for Hazards While Executing Turns

Age related declines in cognitive and physical ability significantly impair an older adult’s ability to safely drive. As we age it gradually becomes more difficult to scan for, detect, process, and ultimately react to critical elements in our driving environment. Older drivers are over represented in angled impacts in intersections. Research has shown that older drivers tend to execute fewer side-to-side glances while in the process of turning than middle-aged drivers. This decrease in scanning can directly lead to an increase in angled impacts. The present research investigates the correlation between cognitive and physical decline and the likelihood that an older driver will execute side-to-side glances at the beginning and during a turn. Results of both simulator and field drive sessions with fifty-four older drivers 70-89 years of age demonstrated that cognitive, but not physical, decline was significantly correlated with a decrease in side-to-side scanning while turning

Using Situation Awareness as a Measure of Driver Hazard Perception Ability

The present study investigated the effectiveness of a tablet-based hazard anticipation training program on teenage drivers. Verbal and eye tracking protocols were mapped to Endsley’s three level model of situation awareness (SA) as a means of measuring schema development. Participants were trained with a tablet based training program containing hazard identification scenarios. After six months they were asked to drive a simulator and on-road drive with various hazard scenarios. Results showed a significant difference between trained teen drivers and placebo teen drivers, both in eye tracking and verbal protocol. Verbal protocol and eye tracking protocol of trained teen drivers showed higher order of situation awareness in either of Endsley’s model levels. This means trained group were more capable of identifying and mitigating the hazards and verbalizing the future states of the environment. In conclusion, the tablet based hazard identification and anticipation training program could be an effective post-licensure training program to give better insight of “what is going on” in driving environment

Can Young Drivers Learn to Anticipate Hidden Hazards: A Driving Simulator Study

Modern technology makes possible improvements in training programs designed to develop young drivers’ abilities to anticipate hazardous situations. These improvements which come from increases in the range of scenarios to which young drivers are exposed and the number of times young drivers can practice the skills they are learning. In this study, a new Flash-based, PC training program that runs on the web, Road Aware® (RA), is evaluated using a driving simulator. The program was developed by State Farm. Twenty-four young trained drivers and twenty four young untrained drivers were asked to drive various simulated hazardous scenarios while their gaze was monitored by an eye tracking system. The results show that trained drivers were more likely to anticipate hazards than their untrained peers, a difference which was present for both near transfer (scenarios that appeared in training) and far transfer scenarios. The effectiveness of RA is compared with other hazard anticipation training programs that were evaluated on a driving simulator and in the field. It appears every bit as effective in general and more effective for some scenarios. Additionally, there is evidence suggesting that, for the first time, young drivers can be trained to anticipate hazards as well as drivers who are older and more experienced

The Use of a Driving Simulator to Assess Senior Driver Performance: Increasing Situational Awareness Through Post-Drive One-on-One Advisement

Older drivers are over-represented in angled impact crashes and experience a higher fatality rate than their younger counterparts. Due to the gradual deterioration of the senses, diminished cognitive processing capabilities and decreased mobility and flexibility, it is more difficult for older drivers to gather and process information about their environment. This can lead older drivers to incorrectly perceive their driving environment as safe, when in reality it is not. The current study investigates whether post-drive feedback following a simulated drive can effectively change older drivers’ attitudes about their own driving ability and influence them to incorporate additional compensatory behaviors into their day-to-day driving

Physiological mechanisms through which heat stress compromises reproduction in pigs

Seasonal variations in environmental temperatures impose added stress on domestic species bred for economically important production traits. These heat‐mediated stressors vary on a seasonal, daily, or spatial scale, and negatively impact behavior and reduce feed intake and growth rate, which inevitably lead to reduced herd productivity. The seasonal infertility observed in domestic swine is primarily characterized by depressed reproductive performance, which manifests as delayed puberty onset, reduced farrowing rates, and extended weaning‐to‐estrus intervals. Understanding the effects of heat stress at the organismal, cellular, and molecular level is a prerequisite to identifying mitigation strategies that should reduce the economic burden of compromised reproduction. In this review, we discuss the effect of heat stress on an animal\u27s ability to maintain homeostasis in multiple systems via several hypothalamic‐pituitary‐end organ axes. Additionally, we discuss our understanding of epigenetic programming and how hyperthermia experienced in utero influences industry‐relevant postnatal phenotypes. Further, we highlight the recent recognized mechanisms by which distant tissues and organs may molecularly communicate via extracellular vesicles, a potentially novel mechanism contributing to the heat‐stress response

A Review of Hazard Anticipation Training Programs for Young Drivers

Poor hazard anticipation skills are a risk factor associated with high motor vehicle crash rates of young drivers. A number of programs have been developed to improve these skills. The purpose of this review was to assess the empirical literature on hazard anticipation training for young drivers

The impact of dietary supplementation of arginine during gestation in a commercial swine herd: II. Offspring performance

Arginine (Arg) is an important amino acid of pig fetal development; however, whether Arg improves postnatal performance is ill-defined. Therefore, the influence of Arg supplementation at different gestational stages on offspring performance was evaluated in a commercial swine herd. Sows (n = 548) were allocated into 4, diet by stage of gestation treatments: Control (n = 143; 0% suppl. Arg), or dietary treatments supplemented with 1% L-Arg (free-base; Ajinomoto Animal Nutrition North America, Inc., Chicago, IL): from 15 to 45 d of gestation (n = 138; Early-Arg); 15 d of gestation to farrowing (n = 139; Full-Arg); and from day 85 of gestation to farrowing (n = 128; Late-Arg). All offspring were individually identified and weighed at birth; at weaning, a subset was selected for evaluation of carcass performance at market. All data were analyzed using birth weight (BiWt) and age as covariates. Wean weights (WW) and prewean (PW) ADG tended to increase (P = 0.06) in progeny from sows supplemented with Arg, as compared to progeny from Control sows. Preplanned contrast comparisons revealed an increased (P = 0.03) BiWt for pigs from sows receiving 1% L-Arg prior to day 45 of gestation (Early-Arg and Full-Arg; 1.38 kg/pig), as compared to pigs from sows not supplemented prior to day 45 of gestation (Control and Late-Arg; 1.34 kg/pig). No difference in BiWt was observed (1.36 kg/pig; P = 0.68) for Arg supplementation after day 85 of gestation (Full-Arg and Late-Arg), as compared to those not receiving Arg supplementation after day 85 (Control and Early-Arg); although WW and PW ADG were greater (P = 0.02), respectively. A 3.6% decrease (P = 0.05) in peak lean accretion ADG occurred when dams received 1% L-Arg prior to day 45 of gestation (Early-Arg and Full-Arg), however, no other significant differences were detected in finishing growth parameters or carcass characteristics (P ≥ 0.1). Pig mortality rates tended (P = 0.07) to decrease in progeny of dams supplemented Arg after day 85 (3.6%) compared to dams not provided additional Arg during late gestation (4.9%). Collectively, these data suggest that Arg provided during late gestation may improve WW and PW ADG, however, finishing performance was not affected. While Arg supplementation provided some moderate production benefits, further investigation is warranted to comprehensively understand the gestational timing and biological role of Arg supplementation during fetal and postnatal development in commercial production systems