The complex role of perceptual organization in visual display design theory.

Two experiments were performed to test and extend the current 'emergent features' approach to display design for dynamic failure detection tasks. It was predicted that a display whose emergent features were well-mapped to goal-relevant task invariants would lead to better failure detection performance than either of two alternative displays. Contrary to prediction. Experiment 1 showed no differences in failure detection speed or accuracy across displays. The reason for this may have been that subjects did not discover the mapping between the mathematical properties of the task and the emergent feature, so in Experiment 2 subjects were explicitly instructed about the mapping and were advised on how to use the display geometry to help their performance. A significant difference in failure detection speed emerged, but the display supporting fastest performance was not the one with the well-mapped emergent feature. These results suggest that alternative perceptual organizational factors were at work which overpowered the intended effect. The results also underscore the difficulty of developing a theory of display design, and their impact on current theories is outlined.     

A New Perspective on Patterns of Aging in Europe by Education and Gender

In this paper, we use the concept of prospective age to illuminate patterns of aging by gender, and education in Europe. We find that, within countries, the patterns of aging of men and women with high education are comparatively similar to one another, but that the patterns of aging are quite dissimilar for men and women in the low education group. Across countries the patterns of aging become more similar as education levels increase. Thus, when we look across educational strata, we find increasing convergence in the pattern of aging both across countries and by gender within countries. The distinctive patterns of aging in the Eastern European countries are largely associated with the comparatively rapid aging of men in the low education category. If aging patterns by education persist, improvements in the education composition of Eastern European countries would result in the patterns of aging there becoming more similar to those in Western European countries.     

Designing for attention with sound: challenges and extensions to ecological interface design

OBJECTIVE: We explore whether ecological interface design (EID) principles can be applied to the design of an auditory display for anesthesia monitoring. BACKGROUND: EID examples focus almost exclusively on visual displays. In the anesthesia work environment, however, auditory displays may provide better individual and team awareness of patient state. METHOD: Using a work domain analysis of physiological monitoring in anesthesia, we identify information to display. Using the skills, rules, and knowledge distinction we identify cognitive control needed. Using semantic mapping we map physiological variables and constraints to auditory dimensions. RESULTS: EID principles do not address when information should be displayed and to whom. An attentional mapping stage helps to specify answers to these questions so that a workable auditory display for anesthesia monitoring is achieved. CONCLUSION: EID principles of representing work domain functional structure and minimizing resource-demanding cognitive control are necessary but insufficient to specify requirements for an effective auditory display. Also needed are analyses of control tasks, strategies, and the social organization of work. Such analyses are an integral part of the broader cognitive work analysis framework from which EID emerged. APPLICATION: Actual or potential uses of this research include the design of displays that support continuous peripheral awareness in collaborative multimodal work environments.     

The multimodal world of medical monitoring displays

A vision of the future of intraoperative monitoring for anesthesia is presented-a multimodal world based on advanced sensing capabilities. I explore progress towards this vision, outlining the general nature of the anesthetist's monitoring task and the dangers of attentional capture. Research in attention indicates different kinds of attentional control, such as endogenous and exogenous orienting, which are critical to how awareness of patient state is maintained, but which may work differently across different modalities. Four kinds of medical monitoring displays are surveyed: (1) integrated visual displays, (2) head-mounted displays, (3) advanced auditory displays and (4) auditory alarms. Achievements and challenges in each area are outlined. In future research, we should focus more clearly on identifying anesthetists' information needs and we should develop models of attention in different modalities and across different modalities that are more capable of guiding design.     

Adipose Tissue Dysfunction and Obesity-Related Male Hypogonadism

Obesity is a chronic illness associated with several metabolic derangements and comorbidities (i.e., insulin resistance, leptin resistance, diabetes, etc.) and often leads to impaired testicular function and male subfertility. Several mechanisms may indeed negatively affect the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal health, such as higher testosterone conversion to estradiol by aromatase activity in the adipose tissue, increased ROS production, and the release of several endocrine molecules affecting the hypothalamus–pituitary–testis axis by both direct and indirect mechanisms. In addition, androgen deficiency could further accelerate adipose tissue expansion and therefore exacerbate obesity, which in turn enhances hypogonadism, thus inducing a vicious cycle. Based on these considerations, we propose an overview on the relationship of adipose tissue dysfunction and male hypogonadism, highlighting the main biological pathways involved and the current therapeutic options to counteract this condition.     

No Shades of Gray: The Binary Discourse of George W. Bush and an Echoing Press

Binary communications represent the world as a place of polar opposites. Such conceptions of reality, although not uncommon in Western thought, take on a heightened importance when political leaders employ them in a concerted, strategic discourse in a mass media environment. With this in mind, this research offers a conception of binary discourse and uses this as a foundation to examine (a) the use of binaries by U.S. President George W. Bush in 15 national addresses, from his inauguration in January 2001 to commencement of the Iraq War in March 2003, and (b) the responses of editorials in 20 leading U.S. newspapers to the president's communications.     

3G与换机将引爆亚太区手机市场

对于终端厂商而言,亚太区是全球最大的市场,并且潜力最大,因为这一地区拥有全球40%的移动用户。随着欧洲和北美等成熟市场增长趋缓,亚太区的重要性正日渐提升。在那些收入存在较大差距的地区,现阶段运营商面临的挑战是既要鼓励高端用户使用数据业务,又要吸引低收入人群入网而对于设备商而言,则必须在保持现有利润水平的前提下为运营商和消费者提供丰富多彩的终端。无论是运营商、终端提供商还是应用开发商在制定战略时都必须对未来的终端技术有一个清楚的认识。与西欧所有运营商只采用GSM和WCDMA不同的是,亚太地区正在或计划使用的技术…     

Immunocytochemical study of alpha 1 and beta 2/3 subunits of GABAA receptors in freehand isolated vestibular Deiters' neurons

Vestibular Deiters' neurons have been isolated from bovine brain by the Hydén's freehand dissection technique and challenged with monoclonal antibodies directed toward the alpha 1 and beta 2/3 subunits of the GABAA receptors. Subsequent challenge with fluorescent secondary antibodies and confocal microscopy allowed the study of the cellular distribution of such subunits. In Deiters' neurons the beta 2/3 subunit displayed a clear presence all along the cell body profile and the initial parts of the dendrites. The alpha 1 subunit was found highly present all over the cell interior except the nuclear profiles. The strong presence inside the cells possibly masked its presence on the plasma membrane. However, in part of the cells studied a distinct presence on the plasma membrane was evident. This subunit was visualized also all along the long dendrites of these neurons. The approach we describe here, involving freehand isolated mature neurons from adult animals, may allow a better characterization of the tridimensional distribution of different types of neuronal GABAA receptors in the respect of the approach with brain slices.