A participatory design for the visualization of airspace configuration forecasts

International audienceCurrently, airspace-related activities in Air Traffic Control Centers (ATCC) are dispatched between the Flow Management Position (FMP) operators and the control room manager, and take place in two different time frames. The first activity (FMP) is the planning, 2 days ahead, of airspace usage and anticipated overloads, using coarse-grain and relatively inaccurate workload prediction metrics. The second activity (control room manager) is the day-to-day operation, where workload is re-assessed in real-time and where airspace may be re-configured according to the actual traffic of the day. In previous works, a workload model relying on relevant air traffic complexity metrics was proposed, using a neural network trained on past sector operations. This workload prediction model was combined with tree search algorithms, in order to compute optimal partitions of the airspace in Air Traffic Control (ATC) sectors. This method provides more accurate airspace configuration forecasts than today, thus improving the overall predictability of the Air Traffic Management (ATM)/ATC system. When relying on accurate 4D-trajectory predictions, as expected in the SESAR program, it could contribute towards bridging the current gap between the pre-tactical airspace/flow management and real-time operations. In this paper, we detail the participatory design approach that we used to develop a research prototype displaying the algorithm's results. As there is no such forecasting tool today, the main issue was to create a user interface in the absence of an existing user

The Changing Landscape for Stroke\ua0Prevention in AF: Findings From the GLORIA-AF Registry Phase 2

Background GLORIA-AF (Global Registry on Long-Term Oral Antithrombotic Treatment in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation) is a prospective, global registry program describing antithrombotic treatment patterns in patients with newly diagnosed nonvalvular atrial fibrillation at risk of stroke. Phase 2 began when dabigatran, the first non\u2013vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant (NOAC), became available. Objectives This study sought to describe phase 2 baseline data and compare these with the pre-NOAC era collected during phase 1. Methods During phase 2, 15,641 consenting patients were enrolled (November 2011 to December 2014); 15,092 were eligible. This pre-specified cross-sectional analysis describes eligible patients\u2019 baseline characteristics. Atrial fibrillation disease characteristics, medical outcomes, and concomitant diseases and medications were collected. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results Of the total patients, 45.5% were female; median age was 71 (interquartile range: 64, 78) years. Patients were from Europe (47.1%), North America (22.5%), Asia (20.3%), Latin America (6.0%), and the Middle East/Africa (4.0%). Most had high stroke risk (CHA2DS2-VASc [Congestive heart failure, Hypertension, Age  6575 years, Diabetes mellitus, previous Stroke, Vascular disease, Age 65 to 74 years, Sex category] score  652; 86.1%); 13.9% had moderate risk (CHA2DS2-VASc = 1). Overall, 79.9% received oral anticoagulants, of whom 47.6% received NOAC and 32.3% vitamin K antagonists (VKA); 12.1% received antiplatelet agents; 7.8% received no antithrombotic treatment. For comparison, the proportion of phase 1 patients (of N = 1,063 all eligible) prescribed VKA was 32.8%, acetylsalicylic acid 41.7%, and no therapy 20.2%. In Europe in phase 2, treatment with NOAC was more common than VKA (52.3% and 37.8%, respectively); 6.0% of patients received antiplatelet treatment; and 3.8% received no antithrombotic treatment. In North America, 52.1%, 26.2%, and 14.0% of patients received NOAC, VKA, and antiplatelet drugs, respectively; 7.5% received no antithrombotic treatment. NOAC use was less common in Asia (27.7%), where 27.5% of patients received VKA, 25.0% antiplatelet drugs, and 19.8% no antithrombotic treatment. Conclusions The baseline data from GLORIA-AF phase 2 demonstrate that in newly diagnosed nonvalvular atrial fibrillation patients, NOAC have been highly adopted into practice, becoming more frequently prescribed than VKA in Europe and North America. Worldwide, however, a large proportion of patients remain undertreated, particularly in Asia and North America. (Global Registry on Long-Term Oral Antithrombotic Treatment in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation [GLORIA-AF]; NCT01468701

Designing human-drone interactions with the Paparazzi UAV System

International audienceThis paper presents the Paparazzi Unmanned Aircraft Vehicles (UAV) system and its use for designing novel interaction techniques for human-drone interactions. Paparazzi is a complete system of open source hardware and software for UAVs, including both the airborne autopilot as well as complete ground station mission planning and monitoring software utilizing a bi-directional data link for telemetry and control. We describe three examples of interactive systems built with Paparazzi to illustrate its capabilities to create new interactive UAV systems: augmented-reality glasses for safety pilots, adaptable interactions for pilots with disabilities and embedded interactions

Vizir: A Domain-Specific Graphical Language for Authoring and Operating Airport Automations

International audience; Automation is one of the key solutions proposed and adopted by international Air Transport research programs to meet the challenges of increasing air traffic. For automation to be safe and usable, it needs to be suitable to the activity it supports, both when authoring it and when operating it. Here we present Vizir, a Domain-Specific Graphical Language and an Environment for authoring and operating airport automations. We used a participatory-design process with Air Traffic Controllers to gather requirements for Vizir and to design its features. Vizir combines visual interactionoriented programming constructs with activity-related geographic areas and events. Vizir offers explicit humancontrol constructs, graphical substrates and means to scaleup with multiple automations. We propose a set of guidelines to inspire designers of similar usable hybrid humanautomation syste

Molecular cloning of a cDNA encoding calmodulin from <i>Neurospora crassa</i>

A full-length cDNA encoding Neurospora crassa calmodulin was isolated from λZAP II cDNA expression library. The open reading frame encodes a protein of 148 amino acid residues with a calculated Mr, of 16,865 Da. Using site-directed mutagenesis, the complete cDNA was ligated into a trc promoter-regulated bacterial expression vector to allow expression of N. crassa calmodulin in E. coli. The expressed protein was found to be identical to the native protein on the basis of some of its biochemical properties. Finally, Southern analysis of restriction digests of genomic DNA indicates that calmodulin is encoded by a single-copy gene

Identification of a lectin causing the degeneration of neuronal processes using engineered embryonic stem cells

Unlike the mechanisms involved in the death of neuronal cell bodies, those causing the elimination of processes are not well understood owing to the lack of suitable experimental systems. As the neurotrophin receptor p75(NTR) is known to restrict the growth of neuronal processes, we engineered mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells to express an Ngfr (p75(NTR)) cDNA under the control of the Mapt locus (the gene encoding tau), which begins to be active when ES cell-derived progenitors start elongating processes. This caused a progressive, synchronous degeneration of all processes, and a prospective proteomic analysis showed increased levels of the sugar-binding protein galectin-1 in the p75(NTR)-engineered cells. Function-blocking galectin-1 antibodies prevented the degeneration of processes, and recombinant galectin-1 caused the processes of wild-type neurons to degenerate first, followed by the cell bodies. In vivo, the application of a glutamate receptor agonist, a maneuver known to upregulate p75(NTR), led to an increase in the amount of galectin-1 and to the degeneration of neurons and their processes in a galectin-1-dependent fashion. Section of the sciatic nerve also rapidly upregulated levels of p75(NTR) and galectin-1 in terminal Schwann cells, and the elimination of nerve endings was delayed at the neuromuscular junction of mice lacking Lgals1 (the gene encoding galectin-1). These results indicate that galectin-1 actively participates in the elimination of neuronal processes after lesion, and that engineered ES cells are a useful tool for studying relevant aspects of neuronal degeneration that have been hitherto difficult to analyze

From frog integument to human skin: dermatological perspectives from frog skin biology

For over a century, frogs have been studied across various scientific fields, including physiology, embryology, neuroscience, (neuro)endocrinology, ecology, genetics, behavioural science, evolution, drug development, and conservation biology. In some cases, frog skin has proven very successful as a research model, for example aiding in the study of ion transport through tight epithelia, where it has served as a model for the vertebrate distal renal tubule and mammalian epithelia. However, it has rarely been considered in comparative studies involving human skin. Yet, despite certain notable adaptations that have enabled frogs to survive in both aquatic and terrestrial environments, frog skin has many features in common with human skin. Here we present a comprehensive overview of frog (and toad) skin ontogeny, anatomy, cytology, neuroendocrinology and immunology, with special attention to its unique adaptations as well as to its similarities with the mammalian integument, including human skin. We hope to provide a valuable reference point and a source of inspiration for both amphibian investigators and mammalian researchers studying the structural and functional properties of the largest organ of the vertebrate body