Baselining behaviour: driving towards more realistic simulations

Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) allows systems to be operated by speech input and may potentially improve the usability and safety of in-car systems. SPEECH-IDEAS is a LINK IST project investigating the use of ASR interfaces for in-vehicle systems. The success/application of in-car ASR relies on designing interfaces to match the expectations, preferences and abilities of various user groups. Driver workload (underload or overload) is a primary factor affecting the integration of in-car systems. Using multiple measures of workload, it is possible to assess relationships between actual task difficulty (objective measures), perceptions of task difficulty (subjective measures) and how individuals react to their perception of task difficulty (psychophysiological measures). This experiment sought to define a range of baseline driver workload factors in a simulator. Traffic behaviour (density, flow, speed changes, etc) and road layout/conditions (geometry, speed restrictions, fog, etc) were manipulated to assess the validity of different workload levels. Overall, the findings illustrated that increased workload affected driver performance and provide suitable baseline information for proceeding to assess the impact of in-car ASR on driving behaviour

Reseña de libro: “El viento sigue soplando. Los orígenes de Madres de Plaza 25 de Mayo de Rosario (1977-1985)” de Marianela Scocco

Como demuestran diversas investigaciones recientes, la organización Madres de Plaza de Mayo tuvo surgimientos y desarrollos específicos en distintas ciudades de la Argentina. El viento sigue soplando. Los orígenes de Madres de Plaza 25 de Mayo de Rosario (1977-1985) de la historiadora Marianela Scocco, se inserta dentro de estas indagaciones al intentar analizar la emergencia y la consolidación de Madres y Abuelas de Plaza de Mayo en esa ciudad santafecina en el contexto de apertura democrática. Para tal objetivo, la autora indaga la participación previa de sus integrantes en los organismos de la ciudad y las relaciones que se entablan entre los mismos. Así, da cuenta de una multiplicidad de actores, vínculos, intereses y modos de acción.Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias de la Educació

A case study of virtual team working in the European automotive industry

This paper presents a case study based on some of the results of the Team-based European Automotive Manufacture (TEAM) project. TEAM investigated how advanced information technology and telecommunications (IT&T) could support co-operative working along the automotive engineering supply chain. Based on a user-requirements analysis, a software demonstrator was developed that incorporated video conferencing, shared whiteboard, application sharing and product data management tools. Workplace-based user evaluations took place with this demonstrator, involving approximately 40 engineers in four countries. A non-intrusive, user-centred evaluation approach encompassing real working during the product introduction process (PIP) was used. Results indicate the potential to increase the efficiency and the flexibility of working of distributed engineering teams, with potential time savings of between 10 and 50% for different stages in the PIP. In terms of cost savings, it was found that a potential overall saving of 20% in development time could increase sales volume by about £1 billion, and cut costs by about £90 million. Several human factors issues need careful management, in particular, the effect of legacy systems and data, the requirements for training and support and the impact on roles and the organisation. Finally, some basic requirements for a collaborative engineering environment are outlined

Virtual team working in the european automotive industry: user requirements and a case study approach

The globalization of the automotive industry and increasing competition from U.S. and Asian-Pacific firms are forcing the European automotive industry to introduce information technology and telecommunications that enable more efficient collaboration along the supply chain, and hence a reduction in the time to market for new vehicles. This paper illustrates the nature of the automotive supply chain and summarizes current barriers to collaborative working between European automotive manufacturers and suppliers. To achieve a greater degree of concurrent engineering, organizational and user requirements are outlined, drawn from a series of collaborative European automotive projects. Finally, a case study is presented, based on the development, demonstration, and evaluation of a heterogeneous computer-supported cooperative working platform to support working between virtual teams during the product introduction process

DataSheet1_Real-world outcomes from a series of patients with late onset Pompe disease who switched from alglucosidase alfa to avalglucosidase alfa.pdf

Introduction: Pompe disease is an inherited, progressive neuromuscular disorder caused by deficiency of lysosomal acid α-glucosidase and accumulation of glycogen in tissues, resulting in cellular dysfunction, muscle damage, and functional disabilities. Enzyme replacement therapy with alglucosidase alfa (Myozyme/Lumizyme) has led to better outcomes, but many patients have plateaued or declined despite treatment. The second-generation ERT avalglucosidase alfa (Nexviazyme) was designed to have enhanced cellular uptake via the conjugation of additional bis-mannose-6-phosphate residues. There have been trials comparing the efficacy of alglucosidase and avalglucosidase, but there remains a need for more real-world data on patients who switched from alglucosidase to avalglucosidase.Methods: A chart review was conducted on n = 15 patients with late-onset Pompe disease followed at a single center who switched from alglucosidase to avalglucosidase and continued for at least 6 months.Results: A total of n = 8/15 patients received alglucosidase for more than 3 years prior to switching, and n = 7/15 received it for more than 5 years prior to switching. There were statistically significant improvements in CK, Hex4, and AST with mean differences of −104.8 U/L, −3.0 mmol/molCr, and −14.7 U/L, respectively, post-switch. 6-Minute Walk Test; comfortable gait speed; Gait, Stairs, Gower, Chair; and Quick Motor Function Test scores improved or stabilized in most patients post-switch (n = 8/12, n = 11/12, n = 9/12, n =7/11, respectively). Of n = 7 patients with pulmonary function testing, n = 4/7 had improved upright FVC. Patient-reported outcomes revealed improvements in dyspnea (n = 4/4), physical function (n = 3/4), fatigue (n = 2/3), and lower back pain (n = 3/3). Avalglucosidase was well tolerated without infusion-associated reactions, and all n = 7 patients on home infusions continued receiving ERT at home. Anti-drug antibodies were seen in n = 9/10 of patients on alglucosidase and n = 8/13 of those on avalglucosidase, with titers below 12,800 in a majority of patients. We also present the first outcome data for a patient with LOPD who is non-ambulatory and a full-time wheelchair user; she demonstrated meaningful improvements in quality of life and motor function with the switch.Discussion: In summary, improved outcomes were seen in most patients, with a subset whose decline persisted. This study presents evidence that switching from alglucosidase to avalglucosidase may be associated with improved outcomes in certain patients with LOPD.</p

Additional file 5: of Liver proteome response of pre-harvest Atlantic salmon following exposure to elevated temperature

Components of the top five toxicity pathways as determined by temperature-regulated proteins and predicted by IPA analysis. Exp fold change and Exp p-value correspond with the fold change value and the adjusted p-value (using Benjamini Hochberg correction), respectively, reported in Additional file 3. (XLSX 52 kb

Additional file 2: of Liver proteome response of pre-harvest Atlantic salmon following exposure to elevated temperature

MaxQuant output files of the complete protein-level mass spectrometry. A total of nine biological replicates (fish) per temperature treatment were analysed. (XLSX 2354 kb

Additional file 4: of Liver proteome response of pre-harvest Atlantic salmon following exposure to elevated temperature

Full list of canonical pathways as determined by temperature-regulated proteins and predicted by IPA analysis. The significance of the association between the data set and the pathway is based on the p-value, which determines the probability that the association between the data set genes and the pathway is explained only by chance, and on the ratio value, representing the number of genes from the data found in each pathway over the total number of genes in that pathway. (XLSX 56 kb

Additional file 1: of Liver proteome response of pre-harvest Atlantic salmon following exposure to elevated temperature

MaxQuant output files of the complete peptide-level mass spectrometry. A total of nine biological replicates (fish) per temperature treatment were analysed. (XLSX 5578 kb

Additional file 3: of Liver proteome response of pre-harvest Atlantic salmon following exposure to elevated temperature

Total number of quantifiable proteins. Proteins identified on the basis of two or more unique matching peptide sequences and presence in at least six of the nine biological replicates in either treatment group (XLSX 160 kb