The new Italian SIDAPA Baseline Series for patch testing (2023): an update according to the new regulatory pathway for contact allergens

Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) is a common inflammatory skin disease caused by delayed hypersensitivity to chemical and biotic contact allergens. ACD significantly affects the patients' quality of life negatively impacting both occupational and non-occupational settings. Patch testing is the gold standard diagnostic in vivo test to precise the ACD etiology and to correctly perform prevention. According to the Italian Medicines Agency (AIFA) legislative decree no. 178 of 29th May 1991, allergens are defined as medicines and therefore they are subject to strict regulation. In 2017, AIFA (decree no. 2130/2017) started a procedure to regulate contact allergens on the Italian market and actually the contact allergens temporarily authorized are reported in AIFA decree no. 98/2022, valid until November 2023. The availability on the market of contact allergens to diagnose ACD and continuous updating on the basis of new epidemiological trends are mandatory, jointly with the continuous update of the baseline and integrative series for patch testing. For this reason, the scientific community represented in Italy by the Skin Allergies Study Group of SIDeMaST (Italian Society of Dermatology and Venereology) and SIDAPA (Italian Society of Allergological, Occupational and Environmental Dermatology) are constantly working, in close relationship with the European scientific communities with large expertise in this important sector of the modern Dermatology. Herein, we report the setting up of regulatory legislation by AIFA and the new Italian Adult Baseline Series for patch testing

Virtual Fixtures for Secondary Tasks

Abstract: The insertion of data in personal devices (e.g. mobile phones, GPS devices) tends to distract us from the primary task (e.g driving) that we are executing because of the necessity of deviating our visual attention to a secondary task. In this work we have tested the benefits introduced by the haptic feedback as a facility for a very common secondary tasks, namely the insertion of strings in an input device. Experiments demonstrate that the presence of virtual fixtures improves performances during input tasks and decreases the distraction of the user from the primary task

Human Factors in off-highway vehicles - Design and prototyping of a control and information visualization system

Human Factors in off-highway vehicles - Design and prototyping of a control and information visualization syste

Virtual Fixtures for Secondary Tasks

The insertion of data in personal devices (e.g. mobile phones, GPS devices)tends to distract us from the primary task (e.g driving) that we are executingbecause of the necessity of deviating our visual attention to a secondary task. In thiswork we have tested the benefits introduced by the haptic feedback as a facility for avery common secondary tasks, namely the insertion of strings in an input device. Experimentsdemonstrate that the presence of virtual fixtures improves performancesduring input tasks and decreases the distraction of the user from the primary task

Very high temperature test of InP-based Laser Diodes

The reliability of DHBC and DFB InGaAsP/InP lasers have been evaluated by means of high-temperature operating life tests between 80 and 110°C

Design of an Adaptive Feedback Based Steering Wheel

This paper aims at describing the architectural model of an adaptiveforce-feedback for a By Wire steering wheel system. This solution uses asteering wheel to replicate the reactive torque law which allows the driver tocomplete a precise driving scenario or a task with the higher performances.Then, the steering wheel adapts the reactive torque to the driving scenario.Since the design of this system considers the driver performances, it is calledErgonomic Steer-By-Wire. Now a prototype version of the ESBW is connectedon a professional driving simulator and several tests are going to be conductedin order to tune the system components. Adapting the force feedback to thedriving scenario could be a solution for improving driver’s safety and vehiclecontrol

Development and usability of a novel interactive tablet app (PediAppRREST) to support the management of pediatric cardiac arrest: Pilot high-fidelity simulation-based study

Background: Pediatric cardiac arrest (PCA), although rare, is associated with high mortality. Deviations from international management guidelines are frequent and associated with poorer outcomes. Different strategies/devices have been developed to improve the management of cardiac arrest, including cognitive aids. However, there is very limited experience on the usefulness of interactive cognitive aids in the format of an app in PCA. No app has so far been tested for its usability and effectiveness in guiding the management of PCA. Objective: To develop a new audiovisual interactive app for tablets, named PediAppRREST, to support the management of PCA and to test its usability in a high-fidelity simulation-based setting. Methods: A research team at the University of Padova (Italy) and human\u2013machine interface designers, as well as app developers, from an Italian company (RE:Lab S.r.l.) developed the app between March and October 2019, by applying an iterative design approach (ie, design\u2013prototyping\u2013evaluation iterative loops). In October\u2013November 2019, a single-center nonrandomized controlled simulation\u2013based pilot study was conducted including 48 pediatric residents divided into teams of 3. The same nonshockable PCA scenario was managed by 11 teams with and 5 without the app. The app user\u2019s experience and interaction patterns were documented through video recording of scenarios, debriefing sessions, and questionnaires. App usability was evaluated with the User Experience Questionnaire (UEQ) (scores range from \u20133 to +3 for each scale) and open-ended questions, whereas participants\u2019 workload was measured using the NASA Raw-Task Load Index (NASA RTLX). Results: Users\u2019 difficulties in interacting with the app during the simulations were identified using a structured framework. The app usability, in terms of mean UEQ scores, was as follows: attractiveness 1.71 (SD 1.43), perspicuity 1.75 (SD 0.88), efficiency 1.93 (SD 0.93), dependability 1.57 (SD 1.10), stimulation 1.60 (SD 1.33), and novelty 2.21 (SD 0.74). Team leaders\u2019 perceived workload was comparable (P=.57) between the 2 groups; median NASA RTLX score was 67.5 (interquartile range [IQR] 65.0-81.7) for the control group and 66.7 (IQR 54.2-76.7) for the intervention group. A preliminary evaluation of the effectiveness of the app in reducing deviations from guidelines showed that median time to epinephrine administration was significantly longer in the group that used the app compared with the control group (254 seconds versus 165 seconds; P=.015). Conclusions: The PediAppRREST app received a good usability evaluation and did not appear to increase team leaders\u2019 workload. Based on the feedback collected from the participants and the preliminary results of the evaluation of its effects on the management of the simulated scenario, the app has been further refined. The effectiveness of the new version of the app in reducing deviations from guidelines recommendations in the management of PCA and its impact on time to critical actions will be evaluated in an upcoming multicenter simulation-based randomized controlled trial