Expert evaluation of traffic signs: conventional vs. alternative designs

Traffic sign comprehension is significantly affected by their compliance with ergonomics design principles. Despite the UN Convention, designs vary among countries. The goal of this study was to establish theoretical and methodological bases for evaluating the design of conventional and alternative signs. Thirty-one conventional signs and 1–3 alternatives for each conventional sign were evaluated for their compliance with three ergonomics guidelines for sign design: physical and conceptual compatibility, familiarity and standardisation. Twenty-seven human factors and ergonomics experts from 10 countries evaluated the signs relative to their compliance with the guidelines. Analysis of variance across alternatives revealed that for 19 of the 31 signs, an alternative design received a significantly higher rating in its ergonomics design than the conventional sign with the same meaning. We also found a very high correlation between the experts’ ratings and comprehension from previous studies. In conclusion, many countries use signs for which better alternative designs exist, and therefore UN Convention signs should be re-examined, and ergonomics experts evaluation can serve as a good surrogate for road users’ comprehension surveys.

Practitioner summary: This study presents theoretical and methodological bases for evaluating the design of UN Conventional and alternative traffic signs. Human factors and ergonomics experts evaluated 31 conventional and 68 alternative road signs, based on ergonomics principles for sign design. Results indicated the need to re-examine poorly designed UN Convention signs.     

Nature and etiology of hollow-organ abdominal injuries in frontal crashes

Injuries to the hollow organs of the lower digestive system carry substantial risk of complication due to infection and blood loss, and commonly require invasive abdominal surgery to diagnose and treat. The causes of, and risk factors for, lower abdomen injury in automobile collisions are poorly understood. The goal of this study was to investigate the risk factors and potential mechanisms of hollow-organ, lower abdomen injury in belted automobile occupants in frontal collisions.     

Cocoa polyphenols accelerate vitamin B12 degradation in heated chocolate milk

The rate of vitamin B₁₂ loss was 3X greater in heated, chocolate‐flavoured milk than in unflavoured milk. Studies of B₁₂ stability in the presence of cocoa powder components were performed to identify the reactive agents. Cocoa polyphenols with a strong capacity both for reduction and for peroxide generation accelerated B₁₂ destruction as much as 20‐fold vs. polyphenols without both capacities. Polyphenols with both capacities include the cocoa polyphenol (+)‐catechin and oligomers thereof, but also the structurally related polyphenols gallic acid, caffeic acid and (?)‐epigallocatechin gallate. The demonstrated physical affinity of cocoa powder for B₁₂ was a significant factor in the destructive process. B₁₂ may exhibit decreased stability in heated, neutral pH, polyphenol‐fortified foods.     

Machine learning–based piecewise affine model of wind turbines during maximum power point tracking

In this paper, a discrete‐time piecewise affine (PWA) model of a wind turbine during Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) region is identified. A clustering‐based identification method is utilized to create PWA maps for nonlinear aerodynamic torque and thrust force functions. This method exploits the combined use of clustering, pattern recognition, and parameter identification techniques. The well‐known K‐means clustering method is employed along with a perceptron‐based multiclassifier for pattern recognition and the least squared technique for parameter estimation. The identified maps are approximated the nonlinear static functions of the dynamic model of the wind turbine. Characteristics of a 5‐MW wind turbine are considered and the resulting model, which consists of 25 subregions is compared with the nonlinear dynamic model. Two test cases are studied in order to validate the presented model. Simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness and accuracy of the PWA model such that the response of the identified PWA model is fitted well to the nonlinear one. The PWA model identified in this paper can be widely used for advanced control systems design and long‐term performance and security assessment of the power grid.     

Explicit versus implicit models: What are good languages for modeling?

Software and Systems Modeling -     

SoSyM significantly reduces its backlog

Software and Systems Modeling -     

Cyp1 Inhibition Prevents Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiomyopathy in a Zebrafish Heart-Failure Model

Doxorubicin is a highly effective chemotherapy agent used to treat many common malignancies. However, its use is limited by cardiotoxicity, and cumulative doses exponentially increase the risk of heart failure. To identify novel heart failure treatment targets, a zebrafish model of doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy was previously established for small-molecule screening. Using this model, several small molecules that prevent doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity both in zebrafish and in mouse models have previously been identified. In this study, exploration of doxorubicin cardiotoxicity is expanded by screening 2271 small molecules from a proprietary, target-annotated tool compound collection. It is found that 120 small molecules can prevent doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity, including 7 highly effective compounds. Of these, all seven exhibited inhibitory activity towards cytochrome P450 family 1 (CYP1). These results are consistent with previous findings, in which visnagin, a CYP1 inhibitor, also prevents doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity. Importantly, genetic mutation of cyp1a protected zebrafish against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity phenotypes. Together, these results provide strong evidence that CYP1 is an important contributor to doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity and highlight the CYP1 pathway as a candidate therapeutic target for clinical cardioprotection.     

Data-driven placemaking: Public space canopy design through multi-objective optimisation considering shading,structural and social performance

In the context of ongoing densification of cities and aging urban populations, public spaces are a crucial infrastructure to support the physical and mental wellbeing of urban residents. The design of public space furniture elements is often standardised, and not considered in relation to environmental conditions and mechanisms of social interaction. This article presents a digital workflow to generate site-specific designs for shaded public seating, considering the relationships of local public places to their surroundings. A strategy for customised and site-specific design is developed through the use of multiple software tools, employing evolutionary algorithms and multi-objective optimisation. The method is applied to a small public space canopy prototype installed within a public housing estate in Hong Kong, incorporating additional criteria to achieve a low-cost and light-weight structure. Through multiple stages of refinement and optimisation, a material, structural and social performance-driven outcome was achieved that creates a shaded space for public seating, people watching and social interaction. As part of a larger research agenda exploring architectural form-finding and environmental psychology, the project represents potential new applications in the emerging field of socially driven computational design.     

On the relationship between models and ontologies

Software and Systems Modeling -