Mental workload and visual impairment: differences between pupil, blink, and subjective rating

Este experimento tiene dos objetivos: 1) Estudiar la validez concurrente de tres medidas de carga mental, la escala de juicios NASA TLX, la dilatación de la pupila y la tasa de parpadeo, poniendo a prueba la hipótesis de que, en situaciones de tarea única, arrojan resultados convergentes, pero, en doble tarea, arrojan resultados disociativos. 2) Analizar su capacidad para predecir el deterioro en la búsqueda visual. Las tres medidas fueron analizadas con las mismas tareas cognitivas realizadas en condiciones de tarea simple y de doble tarea (tarea cognitiva y búsqueda visual) en un experimento intrasujetos con veintinueve participantes. Las medidas de carga mental mostraron validez concurrente en las condiciones de tarea única, pero en las condiciones de doble tarea apareció un patrón de resultados complejo que sugiere que NASA TLX consistiría en la adición subjetiva de los juicios de cada tarea; la dilatación de la pupila mediría la activación promedio que subyace a las tareas cognitivas; y la tasa de parpadeo produciría efectos contrapuestos: mientras que la carga mental de las tareas cognitivas incrementa la tasa de parpadeo, las demandas visuales la inhiben. Las tres medidas fueros buenos predoctores del deterioro visual. Se discute la justificación del uso de estas medidas en el campo aplicado de la conducción y otras actividades.This research has two aims: (a) To study the concurrent validity of three measures of mental workload, NASA TLX rating scale, pupil dilation and blink rate, testing the hypothesis that they will provide convergent results using a single-task, and dissociative results for dual-task; and (b) To analyse their capability to predict visual search impairment. These three measures were analyzed in the same cognitive tasks in singletask and dual-task (cognitive task and visual search) conditions in a within-subjects experiment with twenty-nine participants. Mental workload measures showed concurrent validity under single-task condition, but a complex pattern of results arose in the dualtask condition: it is suggested that NASA TLX would be a subjective addition of the rating of each task; pupil dilation would measure the average arousal underlying the cognitive tasks; and the blink rate would produce opposite effects: whereas mental workload of cognitive tasks would increase blink rate, visual demand would inhibit it. All three measures were good predictors of visual impairment. The soundness of these measures is discussed with regard to the applied field of driving and other activities

Animal spirits vs contagion: Which one is the main driver of sovereign yields in Europe?

The objective of this paper is to assess the differences between contagion and investors’ risk aversion in terms of their impact on European sovereign bond yields during the financial crisis. This paper evaluates contagion at banking level, as it has the advantage of capturing the exposure of sovereign debt markets to financial sector’s risk and also the contagion between sovereign spreads that occurs through the financial sector channel. The paper analyzes the period from 2008 to 2012 and also the Greek, Portuguese and Spanish bailout periods. The results indicate that the main driver of yields in Europe is risk aversion and not contagion. The main differences between Central and Southern European countries’ yields are explained by risk aversion. This channel has a much stronger impact on the periphery. On the other hand, contagion exerts a similar influence throughout all European countries

Comparing Speed Estimations from a Moving Vehicle in Different Traffic Scenarios: Absence versus Presence of Traffic Flow

The aim of this research was to study the performance in a speed estimation task of a passenger travelling in a real car in different scenarios: a closed track used in previous experimental studies was compared with interurban traffic environment involving a secondary road and a highway. At the same time, the effect of sex and driving experience on speed estimation was analyzed. Thirty-six participants (18 male and 18 female, half of each group being drivers and half non-drivers) estimated the speed of the car in which they travelled as passengers. The actual speed values varied in the range of 40-100 km/h for the secondary road, 70-120 km/h for the highway condition, and 40-120 km/h for the track. The results obtained for the track in previous studies (Recarte & Nunes, 1996; Recarte, Conchillo, & Nunes, 2004, 2005) were replicated in the same condition and were also verified for the secondary road scenario. However, a different pattern of errors was found for the highway. From the viewpoint of psychophysics, the participants were more accurate on the without-traffic track than in real traffic conditions, considered as a whole. The differences found between road and highway are discussed. No effect was found for between- subject variables, sex, and driving experience.El objetivo de esta investigación es comparar las estimaciones de la velocidad de un coche real circulando en diferentes escenarios: un circuito sin tráfico, utilizado en estudios experimentales previos, se compara con un escenario interurbano abierto al tráfico, consistente en un tramo de carretera convencional y un tramo de autovía. Asimismo se analiza el efecto del sexo y la experiencia de conducción sobre las estimaciones de la velocidad. Treinta y seis participantes (mitad varones, mitad mujeres y, por experiencia, mitad conductores y mitad no conductores) estimaron la velocidad del coche en el que iban sentados como pasajeros. Las velocidades a estimar variaron de 40 a 100 km/h en carretera, de 70 a 120 km/h en autovía, y de 40 a 120km/h en el circuito. Los resultados obtenidos en circuito replicaron los de estudios previos (Recarte y Nunes, 1996; Recarte, Conchillo y Nunes, 2004; 2005), y también los obtenidos en carretera. Sin embargo, la estimación en autovía presentó un patrón de errores diferente a los anteriores. Desde el punto de vista de la psicofísica, los sujetos estimaron con más precisión en el circuito sin tráfico que en las dos condiciones de tráfico real, carretera y autovía, en su conjunto. Se comentan las diferencias entre carretera y autovía. No se encontraron diferencias debidas a las variables inter sujetos, sexo y experiencia en conducción

Instalación de ascensor para edificio residencial de cuatro alturas

Desarrollar satisfactoriamente los diferentes procesos implicados en la instalación de un ascensor en un edificio ya construido de 4 alturas. Para poder instalar un ascensor necesitamos un hueco de ascensor que no existe a priori, que debe estar cerrado y servir de soporte a las guías por las que se desplaza el ascensor. Este hueco podremos construirlo mediante una estructura metálica autoportante. Conseguir esto supone un dotar de un itinerario lo más accesible posible a los residentes de unas viviendas sin ascensor que poco a poco envejecen y ven mermada su independencia a la hora de hacer una vida normal en la que puedan entrar y salir de casa con comodidad. Con este proyecto pretendo resumir los diferentes factores a tener en cuenta a la hora de plantear este tipo de instalaciones. Adicionalmente, quiero que sirva como guía para la planificación y diseño tanto estructural como mecánico de este tipo de aparatos.Ingeniería Técnica en Electrónic

Defining Adaptive Learning Paths For Competence-Oriented Learning

This paper presents a way to describe educational itineraries in a competence-oriented learning system in order to solve the problem of sequencing several independent courses. The main objective is to extract adaptive learning paths composed by the subset of needed courses passed in the right order. This approach improves the courses’ re-usability allowing courses to be included in different itineraries, improving the re-usability of the courses, and making possible the definition of mechanisms to adapt the learning path to the learner’s needs in execution tim

Productive experience and specialization opportunities for Portugal : an empirical assessment

Following Hidalgo et al. (Sci Mag 317: 482–487, 2007), we use the structure of international trade to estimate a measure of “revealed relatedness” for each pair of internationally traded products, which intends to capture similarities in terms of the endowments or capabilities they use in production. Our method departs from the original one, in that we run statistical tests of equality in probabilities, instead of computing conditional probabilities. We estimate a matrix of “Revealed Relatedness Indexes” using 2005 data and we then investigate which “upscale” products in which Portugal didn’t develop comparative advantage are more related to products in which the country is currently specialized. The analysis suggests that more than 60 % of Portugal’s “upscale opportunities” lie in non-traditional sectors, such as “machinery” and “chemicals”.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

an integrative review

The development of motor competence (MC) is essential in childhood. In this respect, previous studies have found several positive associations of the MC with physical activity, cardiorespiratory fitness, physical fitness, and perceived physical competence, as well as an inverse association with weight status. The lack of MC during this stage might, therefore, compromise the future adoption of active and healthier lifestyles. This review aimed at listing and examining the different instruments that have been used to evaluate MC in typically developing children, pointing the weakness and strengths from the perspective of Physical Education (PE) teachers. A systematic search of six electronic databases was conducted. Research designs included cross-sectional, longitudinal or experimental/quasi-experimental. Forty-two articles were identified according to the inclusion criteria. A preference for quantitative measures (21 studies) was verified comparatively to a more qualitative approach (13 studies), although eight studies used both measures. Additionally, we have found that 34 studies used standardized protocol tests and eight studies used protocols developed by the authors. In general the protocols exhibited some strong points, however several presented weaknesses that can limit their application in PE classes, such as the excessive amount of time required, the large number of tasks, the ceiling or floor effects, and the fact that not all MC components are simultaneously evaluated. Different instruments and methodologies have been used to evaluate MC. Finally, a quantitative standardized protocol test is suggested, with proper reliability and validity, which can be used by physical education professionals.4811-99FE-2ECD | Luis Paulo Rodriguesinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Highly water soluble room temperature superionic liquids of APIs

Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia through project (PEst-C/LA0006/2013). The authors also thank Prof. Madalena Dionisio and Dr Natalia Correia for their support with the DSC analyses.Herein a straightforward approach for the enhancement of the water solubility of common antibiotic and NSAID active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) is presented. The APIs are converted into ionic liquids (API-ILs) and molten salts by combination with the organic superbases TMG, DBU and DBN. The prepared superionic liquids were characterized by 1H and 13C NMR as well as FTIR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. Most products are amorphous non-polymorphic room temperature ionic liquids with very high solubility in water, which may enhance the bioavailability of the API-ILs in comparison with the parent drugs.authorsversionpublishe

Aterosclerose Carotídea e Hipodensidades da Substância Branca: uma Relação Controversa

Introdução: As hipodensidades da substância branca de provável etiologia vascular, são uma causa importante de morbilidade, condicionando deterioração cognitiva. No entanto, numerosas dúvidas persistem quanto à sua fisiopatologia. O objectivo deste estudo é clarificar o papel da aterosclerose carotídea e outros factores de risco vascular no desenvolvimento das hipodensidades da substância branca de provável etiologia vascular. Material e Métodos: Realizou-se uma avaliação imagiológica, por tomografia computadorizada crânio-encefálica e ecografia carotídea, com menos de um mês de intervalo. Procedeu-se à recolha de informação sobre os factores de risco vascular. Determinámos associações independentes entre hipodensidades da substância branca de provável etiologia vascular, espessura da íntima média carotídea, estenose carotídea ateromatosa e factores de risco vascular. Resultados: Foram incluídos 472 doentes, idade média de 67,32 (DP: 14.75), 274 (58,1%) sexo masculino. Os preditores independentes da hipodensidades da substância branca de provável etiologia vascular foram: idade (OR: 1,067, 95% IC: 1,049 – 1,086, p < 0,001) e a hipertensão (OR: 1,726, 95% IC: 1,097 – 2,715, p = 0,018). Não foi encontrada uma associação entre a espessura da intima média carotídea (OR: 2,613, 95% IC: 0,886 – 7,708, p = 0,082) ou grau de estenose carotídea (OR: 1,021, 95% IC: 0,785 – 1,328, p = 0,877) e hipodensidades da substância branca de provável etiologia vascular. Discussão: Dos diversos factores de risco analisados, apenas a idade e hipertensão se associaram de forma independente às hipodensidades da substância branca de provável etiologia vascular. Não foi encontrada uma relação entre a aterosclerose extracraniana, expressa pela espessura do complexo intima-média ou grau de estenose, com o desenvolvimento de hipodensidades da substância branca de provável etiologia vascular. Sendo a aterosclerose um fenómeno sistémico, estes achados sugerem que as hipodensidades da substância branca de provável etiologia vascular, tenham um mecanismo alternativo ou concorrente à aterosclerose no seu desenvolvimento. Conclusão: Os dados deste estudo, sugerem que a idade e hipertensão sejam os principais factores de risco no desenvolvimento de hipodensidades da substância branca de provável etiologia vascular. Não foi encontrada uma associação independente entre a aterosclerose carotídea e as hipodensidades da substância branca de provável etiologia vascular.Introduction: White matter hypodensities of presumed vascular origin, are recognized as an important cause of morbidity with established clinical and cognitive consequences. Nonetheless, many doubts remain on its physiopathology. Our goal is to clarify the potential role of carotid atherosclerosis and other vascular risk factors in the development of white matter hypodensities of presumed vascular origin. Material and Methods: We included patients that underwent CT brain scan and neurosonologic evaluation within a one-month period. Full assessment of vascular risks factors was performed. We seek to find independent associations between white matter hypodensities of presumed vascular origin, carotid intima-media thickness and vascular risk factors. Results: 472 patients were included, mean age was 67.32 (SD: 14.75), 274 (58.1%) were male. The independent predictors of white matter hypodensities of presumed vascular origin were age (OR: 1.067, 95% IC: 1.049 – 1.086, p < 0.001) and hypertension (OR: 1.726, 95% IC: 1.097 – 2.715, p = 0.018). No association was found between IMT (OR: 2.613, 95% IC: 0.886 – 7.708, p = 0.082) or carotid artery stenosis (OR: 1.021, 95% IC: 0.785 – 1.328, p = 0.877) and white matter hypodensities of presumed vascular origin. Discussion: Only age and hypertension proved to have an independent association with white matter hypodensities of presumed vascular origin. Carotid atherosclerosis, evaluated by IMT and the degree of carotid artery stenosis, showed no association with white matter hypodensities of presumed vascular origin. Since atherosclerosis is a systemic pathology, these results suggest that alternative mechanisms are responsible for the development of white matter hypodensities of presumed vascular origin. Conclusion: Age and hypertension seem to be the main factors in the development of white matter hypodensities of presumed vascular origin. No association was found between carotid atherosclerosis and white matter hypodensities of presumed vascular origin