Real-Time Distributed Aircraft Simulation through HLA

This paper presents some ongoing researches carried out in the context of the PRISE (Research Platform for Embedded Systems Engineering) Project. This platform has been designed to evaluate and validate new embedded system concepts and techniques through a special hardware and software environment. Since many actual embedded equipments are not available, their corresponding behavior is simulated using the HLA architecture, an IEEE standard for distributed simulation, and a Run-time infrastructure called CERTI and developed at ONERA. HLA is currently largely used in many simulation applications, but the limited performances of the RTIs raises doubts over the feasibility of HLA federations with real-time requirements. This paper addresses the problem of achieving real-time performances with HLA. Several experiments are discussed using well-known aircraft simulators such as the Microsoft Flight Simulator, FlightGear, and X-plane connected with the CERTI Run-time Infrastructure. The added value of these activities is to demonstrate that according to a set of innovative solutions, HLA is well suited to achieve hard real time constraints

Validation of a Portable Game Controller to Assess Peak Expiratory Flow Against Conventional Spirometry in Children: Cross-sectional Study

Background: International asthma guidelines recommend the monitoring of peak expiratory flow (PEF) as part of asthma self-management in children and adolescents who poorly perceive airflow obstruction, those with a history of severe exacerbations, or those who have difficulty controlling asthma. Measured with a peak flow meter, PEF represents a person’s maximum speed of expiration and helps individuals to follow their disease evolution and, ultimately, to prevent asthma exacerbations. However, patient adherence to regular peak flow meter use is poor, particularly in pediatric populations. To address this, we developed an interactive tablet-based game with a portable game controller that can transduce a signal from the user’s breath to generate a PEF value. Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the concordance between PEF values obtained with the game controller and various measures derived from conventional pulmonary function tests (ie, spirometry) and to synthesize the participants’ feedback. Methods: In this cross-sectional multicenter study, 158 children (aged 8-15 years old) with a diagnosis or suspicion of asthma performed spirometry and played the game in one of two hospital university centers. We evaluated the correlation between PEF measured by both the game controller and spirometry, forced expiratory volume at 1 second (FEV1), and forced expiratory flow at 25%-75% of pulmonary volume (FEF25-75), using Spearman correlation. A Bland-Altman plot was generated for comparison of PEF measured by the game controller against PEF measured by spirometry. A post-game user feedback questionnaire was administered and analyzed. Results: The participants had a mean age of 10.9 (SD 2.5) years, 44% (71/158) were female, and 88% (139/158) were White. On average, the pulmonary function of the participants was normal, including FEV1, PEF, and FEV1/forced vital capacity (FVC). The PEF measured by the game controller was reproducible in 96.2% (152/158) of participants according to standardized criteria. The PEF measured by the game controller presented a good correlation with PEF measured by spirometry (r=0.83, P<.001), with FEV1 (r=0.74, P<.001), and with FEF25-75 (r=0.65, P<.001). The PEF measured by the game controller presented an expected mean bias of –36.4 L/min as compared to PEF measured by spirometry. The participants’ feedback was strongly positive, with 78.3% (123/157) reporting they would use the game if they had it at home. Conclusions: The game controller we developed is an interactive tool appreciated by children with asthma, and the PEF values measured by the game controller are reproducible, with a good correlation to values measured by conventional spirometry. Future studies are necessary to evaluate the clinical impact this novel tool might have on asthma management and its potential use in an out-of-hospital setting

Crystallization behavior and morphological features of ethylene-vinyl alcohol 44 copolymer

This work is a first attempt to study the crystallization behavior of ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer with 44 mol% of ethylene units (EVOH44) and to observe the supermolecular structures developed during its crystallization. Thermal analysis has evidenced a very fast crystallization and the formation of different crystal populations during isothermal crys-tallization. In-situ wide-angle X-ray scattering experiments using a synchrotron radiation source have shown a unique or-thorhombic morphology, independently of the crystallization conditions. Small spherulites (with an average radius of about 1 µm) were observed using polarized optical microscopy and confirmed by typical four-leaf patterns obtained by small-angle light scattering. In-situ atomic force microscopy has revealed stacked lamellae growing from common centers to form small spherulitic entities. Finally, studies of isothermal crystallization have evidenced the existence of partial crystallization (especially at high crystallization temperatures) and the need for higher undercooling to complete crystallization. © BME-PT

Mutual care taking: collectively creating our respiratory wellbeing with open sciences

Background: Worldwide, 6 people out of 10 have no access to treatment, or are not encouraged to follow it. Air pollution alone kills 7 million people yearly, reduces our life expectancy by 20 months, and costs 6% the gross world product. Devices to assess lung capacity remain often unavailable in low / middle income countries. Actions: We co-create inclusive, open science knowledge: open source breath and air quality controllers, and libre / gratis education to reduce risks and make care fun. Learnings: Awareness: breath as a way to feel life, from childhood. Universal health: mutualizing resources to end poverty. Partnership: reducing barriers with remote participation

Human MCTS1-dependent translation of JAK2 is essential for IFN-γ immunity to mycobacteria.

Human inherited disorders of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) immunity underlie severe mycobacterial diseases. We report X-linked recessive MCTS1 deficiency in men with mycobacterial disease from kindreds of different ancestries (from China, Finland, Iran, and Saudi Arabia). Complete deficiency of this translation re-initiation factor impairs the translation of a subset of proteins, including the kinase JAK2 in all cell types tested, including T lymphocytes and phagocytes. JAK2 expression is sufficiently low to impair cellular responses to interleukin-23 (IL-23) and partially IL-12, but not other JAK2-dependent cytokines. Defective responses to IL-23 preferentially impair the production of IFN-γ by innate-like adaptive mucosal-associated invariant T cells (MAIT) and γδ T lymphocytes upon mycobacterial challenge. Surprisingly, the lack of MCTS1-dependent translation re-initiation and ribosome recycling seems to be otherwise physiologically redundant in these patients. These findings suggest that X-linked recessive human MCTS1 deficiency underlies isolated mycobacterial disease by impairing JAK2 translation in innate-like adaptive T lymphocytes, thereby impairing the IL-23-dependent induction of IFN-γ

ALIED: Humans as adaptive lie detectors

People make for poor lie detectors. They have accuracy rates comparable to a coin toss, and come with a set of systematic biases that sway the judgment. This pessimistic view stands in contrast to research showing that people make informed decisions that adapt to the context they operate in. The current article proposes a new theoretical direction for lie detection research. I argue that lie detectors make informed, adaptive judgments in a low-diagnostic world. This Adaptive Lie Detector (ALIED) account is outlined by drawing on supporting evidence from across various psychological literatures. The account is contrasted with longstanding and more recent accounts of the judgment process, which propose that people fall back on default ways of thinking. Limitations of the account are considered, and future research directions are outlined

Vaccine breakthrough hypoxemic COVID-19 pneumonia in patients with auto-Abs neutralizing type I IFNs

Life-threatening `breakthrough' cases of critical COVID-19 are attributed to poor or waning antibody response to the SARS- CoV-2 vaccine in individuals already at risk. Pre-existing autoantibodies (auto-Abs) neutralizing type I IFNs underlie at least 15% of critical COVID-19 pneumonia cases in unvaccinated individuals; however, their contribution to hypoxemic breakthrough cases in vaccinated people remains unknown. Here, we studied a cohort of 48 individuals ( age 20-86 years) who received 2 doses of an mRNA vaccine and developed a breakthrough infection with hypoxemic COVID-19 pneumonia 2 weeks to 4 months later. Antibody levels to the vaccine, neutralization of the virus, and auto- Abs to type I IFNs were measured in the plasma. Forty-two individuals had no known deficiency of B cell immunity and a normal antibody response to the vaccine. Among them, ten (24%) had auto-Abs neutralizing type I IFNs (aged 43-86 years). Eight of these ten patients had auto-Abs neutralizing both IFN-a2 and IFN-., while two neutralized IFN-omega only. No patient neutralized IFN-ss. Seven neutralized 10 ng/mL of type I IFNs, and three 100 pg/mL only. Seven patients neutralized SARS-CoV-2 D614G and the Delta variant (B.1.617.2) efficiently, while one patient neutralized Delta slightly less efficiently. Two of the three patients neutralizing only 100 pg/mL of type I IFNs neutralized both D61G and Delta less efficiently. Despite two mRNA vaccine inoculations and the presence of circulating antibodies capable of neutralizing SARS-CoV-2, auto-Abs neutralizing type I IFNs may underlie a significant proportion of hypoxemic COVID-19 pneumonia cases, highlighting the importance of this particularly vulnerable population

Aggregation issues in activity-based cost systems. A possible approach

International audienc

Habiletés en recherche d’information des étudiants de première année universitaire en sciences de l’éducation

L’article présente les résultats d’une recherche s’appuyant sur une observation effectuée auprès d’étudiants de première année universitaire en sciences de l’éducation, afin de vérifier leurs habiletés en recherche d’information dans les bases de données. La méthodologie choisie comprend une approche qualitative par observation directe et une approche quantitative par questionnaire. Un total de 24 étudiants ont accepté de participer au projet. Les résultats démontrent que les difficultés rencontrées par les étudiants se situent à la première étape du processus de recherche, au moment de la définition du besoin d’information. L’élaboration du sujet en concept est l’habileté première à développer.This article presents the results of a survey of the data base searching abilities of first-year education students. The methodology used was two-fold: a qualitative approach based on the direct observation of the students and a quantitative approach using a questionnaire. A total of 24 students participated in this project. The results indicate that the students experienced difficulties in the first stage of the research process, namely the definition of the information need. Therefore, it becomes apparent to improve their ability to define the topic to be researched.El artículo presenta los resultados de investigación de la observación aplicada a estudiantes del primer año universitario de Ciencias de la Educación y realizada con la finalidad de verificar sus habilidades en la búsqueda de información en las bases de datos. La metodología escogida comprende un enfoque cualitativo a través de la observación directa y un enfoque cuantitativo a través de un cuestionario. Un total de 24 estudiantes aceptaron participar en el proyecto. Los resultados demuestran que las dificultades que encuentran los estudiantes se ubican en la primera etapa del proceso de búsqueda, al momento de definir la necesidad de información. La elaboración del tema es la primera habilidad a desarrollarse

Le problème du regroupement des activités dans la modélisation ABC. Une approche possible

International audienceLa méthode ABC insiste sur la nécessaire homogénéité des activités pour calculer des coûts fiables. Mais cette insistance conduit à un nombre d'activités très élevé et à une complexité trop grande. Pour traiter le problème, les tenants de la méthode proposent des regroupements en oubliant la condition d'homogénéité. Cet article tente de résoudre le paradoxe