Alles eine Frage des persönlichen Optimums – Validierung des DLR-Workload Assessment Tools

In der heutigen Zeit verändert sich die Arbeit des Menschen aufgrund von Digitalisierung und Automatisierung immer mehr in die Richtung von Kontroll- und Überwachungsaufgaben. In solchen Situationen kann Über- oder Unterbeanspruchung entstehen. Diese unmittelbaren Auswirkungen aufgrund von externen Einflüssen können mit einer Vielzahl an Instrumenten erhoben werden. Mittels einer Simulationsstudie im Bahnkontext und einer Studie mit acht Teilexperimenten im Universitätskontext sollte überprüft werden, ob der neu entwickelte Fragebogen, der DLR-WAT, sich ebenfalls zur Erfassung von Beanspruchung eignet. Die Objektivität wurde positiv bewertet, Cronbachs Alpha für die Reliabilität ergab gute bis exzellente Werte (α= .8-.9). Für die Bestimmung der Validität wurden Korrelationen zwischen den DLR-WAT-Skalen und Skalen des bewährten Instrumentes, dem NASA-TLX berechnet. Die Korrelationen der Gesamtskalen belaufen sich auf r = .67-.81. Hinsichtlich von Zusammenhängen mit Leistungsmaßen korrelierten höhere Bewertungen der Beanspruchung meist mit schnelleren zeitlichen Reaktionen, jedoch mit schlechterer sonstiger Leistung. Zur Überprüfung der Sensitivität wurden t-Test bei abhängigen Stichproben gerechnet. In vier von fünf Situationen hat der DLR-WAT empfindlich auf Veränderung der Belastung reagiert. Zur Überprüfung der Spezifität wurden für die zweite Studie deskriptiv Mittelwertdifferenzen analysiert, wobei in drei von vier Fällen der DLR-WAT die schwerpunktartig induzierte Belastung erkannte. Aufgrund der gewonnenen Erkenntnisse kann der DLR-WAT geprüft, als Instrument zur Erfassung von Beanspruchung, eingesetzt werden. Der DLR-WAT sollte in praktischen Anwendungen untersucht werden, um die Annäherung an ein optimales Beanspruchungsniveau zu testen

The escape fraction of ionizing photons during the Epoch of Reionization:Observability with the Square Kilometre Array

One of the most important parameters in characterizing the Epoch of Reionization, the escape fraction of ionizing photons, fesc, remains unconstrained both observationally and theoretically. With recent work highlighting the impact of galaxy-scale feedback on the instantaneous value of fesc, it is important to develop a model in which reionization is self-consistently coupled to galaxy evolution. In this work, we present such a model and explore how physically motivated functional forms of fesc affect the evolution of ionized hydrogen within the intergalactic medium. Using the 21 cm power spectrum evolution, we investigate the likelihood of observationally distinguishing between a constant fesc and other models that depend upon different forms of galaxy feedback. We find that changing the underlying connection between fesc and galaxy feedback drastically alters the large-scale 21 cm power. The upcoming Square Kilometre Array Low Frequency instrument possesses the sensitivity to differentiate between our models at a fixed optical depth, requiring only 200 h of integration time focused on redshifts z = 7.5-8.5. Generalizing these results to account for a varying optical depth will require multiple 800 h observations spanning redshifts z = 7-10. This presents an exciting opportunity to observationally constrain one of the most elusive parameters during the Epoch of Reionization

A participatory qualitative analysis of barriers of public transport by persons with disabilities from seven European cities

Although there is literature published by a considerable number of scientific publications regarding disability and transport, the affected persons are only very rarely involved in the research. The paper presents the results of two qualitative studies conducted jointly with persons with different forms of disabilities: i) a social media content analysis and ii) peer-to-peer interviews with persons with disabilities (N = 49). The studies aimed to identify barriers that persons with access needs face during their trips with public transport. In line with a participatory approach, persons with disabilities from seven European cities were involved in conducting the research allowing for new interpretations of transport equity issues. Qualitative content analysis of both studies revealed barriers clustered into eight categories: regulations, public awareness and assistance, information provision and communication, infrastructure, vehicles, general service quality, stops and stations and emotional barriers. The two studies highlight important factors that influence disabled users’ experiences of public transport. Upon reflection, the paper derives research hypotheses and demonstrates the value of involving people with disabilities in the analysis of disability research to derive in-depth insights about equity in transport.Peer Reviewe

Acute corneal melt and perforation - A possible complication after riboflavin/UV-A crosslinking (CXL) in keratoconus.

Purpose To report two cases of acute corneal melting and perforation requiring emergency penetrating keratoplasty after corneal crosslinking (CXL) in advanced keratoconus. Observations Case 1 was a 34 and case 2 was a 16-year old male, both with progressive keratoconus, who underwent CXL (Dresden protocol). After riboflavin imbibition, patients had a minimal pachymetry of 337 μm and 347 μm, and therefore required stromal swelling by hypoosmolar riboflavin resulting in pachymetries of 470 μm and 422 μm, prior to the 30 minute UV-irradiation with 3mW/cm2. In case 1, on the 7th postoperative day a 4mm linear perforation occurred. Extensive post-hoc examinations revealed no infectious cause. In case 2, a corneal melting developed within 24 hours, from which Staphylococcus aureus was cultured. Conclusions and importance Acute corneal melting and perforation may occur after CXL. Dysfunctional collagen metabolism, atopia, thin preoperative pachymetry and the use of hypoosmolar substances may have initiated this complication in our cases

Prevalence of sleep-disordered breathing after stroke and TIA: A meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis on the prevalence of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) after stroke. METHODS We searched PubMed, Embase (Ovid), the Cochrane Library, and CINAHL (from their commencements to April 7, 2017) for clinical studies reporting prevalence and/or severity of SDB after stroke or TIA. Only sleep apnea tests performed with full polysomnography and diagnostic devices of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine categories I-IV were included. We conducted random-effects meta-analysis. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42017072339. RESULTS The initial search identified 5,211 publications. Eighty-nine studies (including 7,096 patients) met inclusion criteria. Fifty-four studies were performed in the acute phase after stroke (after less than 1 month), 23 studies in the subacute phase (after 1-3 months), and 12 studies in the chronic phase (after more than 3 months). Mean apnea-hypopnea index was 26.0/h (SD 21.7-31.2). Prevalence of SDB with apnea-hypopnea index greater than 5/h and greater than 30/h was found in 71% (95% confidence interval 66.6%-74.8%) and 30% (95% confidence interval 24.4%-35.5%) of patients, respectively. Severity and prevalence of SDB were similar in all examined phases after stroke, irrespective of the type of sleep apnea test performed. Heterogeneity between studies () was mostly high. CONCLUSION The high prevalence of SDB after stroke and TIA, which persists over time, is important in light of recent studies reporting the (1) feasibility and (2) efficacy of SDB treatment in this clinical setting

Reciprocal regulation of aurora kinase A and ATIP3 in the control of metaphase spindle length

International audienceMaintaining the integrity of the mitotic spindle in metaphase is essential to ensure normal cell division. We show here that depletion of microtubule-associated protein ATIP3 reduces metaphase spindle length. Mass spectrometry analyses identi-ied the microtubule minus-end depolymerizing kinesin Kif2A as an ATIP3 binding protein. We show that ATIP3 controls metaphase spindle length by interacting with Kif2A and its partner Dda3 in an Aurora kinase A-dependent manner. In the absence of ATIP3, Kif2A and Dda3 accumulate at spindle poles, which is consistent with reduced poleward microtubule lux and shortening of the spindle. ATIP3 silencing also limits Aurora A localization to the poles. Transfection of GFP-Aurora A, but not kinase-dead mutant, rescues the phenotype, indicating that ATIP3 maintains Aurora A activity on the poles to control Kif2A targeting and spindle size. Collectively, these data emphasize the pivotal role of Aurora kinase A and its mutual regulation with ATIP3 in controlling spindle length