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A difficult challenge for today’s driver monitoring systems is the detection of cognitive distraction. The present research presents the development of a theory-driven approach for cognitive distraction detection during manual driving based on temporal control theories. It is based solely on changes in the temporal variance of driving-relevant gaze behavior, such as gazes onto the dashboard (TDGV). Validation of the detection method happened in a field and in a simulator study by letting participants drive, alternating with and without a secondary task inducing external cognitive distraction (auditory continuous performance task). The general accuracy of the distraction detection method varies between 68% and 81% based on the quality of an individual prerecorded baseline measurement. As a theory-driven system, it represents not only a step towards a sophisticated cognitive distraction detection method, but also explains that changes in temporal dashboard gaze variance (TDGV) are a useful behavioral indicator for detecting cognitive distraction.

The current paper was performed within the HADRIAN project and focuses on exploring the effects of innovative Human–Machine Interface (HMI) prototypes on safety, driving performance, and driver perceptions. Employing driving simulator experiments and questionnaires, this study investigates whether HADRIAN innovative HMI enhances safety and receives positive evaluations from drivers. Specifically, the research centers on a driving simulator experiment that evaluates novel HMI prototypes designed to improve automated driving at SAE Levels 2 or 3. To facilitate HMI assessment, a tailored safety and impact assessment methodology was developed using unique Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). To benchmark and generate a total score for the HADRIAN HMI, data envelopment analysis was deployed based on the aforementioned KPIs. The findings shed light on the influence of HADRIAN HMI innovations on safety and perceived impact when compared to a baseline “state-of-the-art” HMI. Subsequently, a comprehensive discussion unfolds, highlighting the key KPIs that contributed significantly to the safety and perceived impact scores. This method and its outcomes can serve as a valuable resource for other HMI stakeholders, enabling them to employ similar human-centered assessment methodologies to assess the safety and perceived impact of potential HMI configurations.

Prior research examined how controllers plan in their traditional environment and identified various information uncertainties as detriments to planning. A planning aid was designed to reduce this uncertainty by perceptually representing important constraints. This included integrating spatial information on the radar screen with discrete information (planned sequences of air traffic). Previous research reported improved planning performance and decreased workload in the planning aid condition. The purpose of this paper was to determine the source of these performance improvements. Analysis of computer interactions using loglinear modeling showed that the planning interface led to less repetitive - but more integrated - information retrieval compared with the traditional planning environment. Ecological interface design principles helped explain how the integrated information retrieval gave rise to the performance improvements. Actual or potential applications of this research include the design and evaluation of interface automation that keeps users in active control by modification of perceptual task characteristics.

Previous research has proposed Latent Semantic Analysis (LSA) as a model and technique of knowledge representation that represents knowledge differences in single semantic spaces (e.g. Grolier's Academic American Encyclopedia, Landauer & Dumais 1997). In this project, LSA knowledge representations were constructed in multiple semantic spaces to represent user knowledge differences for adaptive information retrieval. Semantic spaces with varying degrees of background knowledge were constructed for two versions of a story that participants had read. The two versions induced either complete or incomplete story comprehension. The results indicated that optimal LSA representations depended on the level of story comprehension: LSA representations that were derived from semantic spaces of any size resembled participants' complete story comprehension but matched incomplete story comprehension only if semantic spaces included sufficient information. Larger semantic spaces captured more background knowledge than smaller spaces (Experiment 2). This led to the conclusion that participants with incomplete comprehension relied more on background knowledge to rate word pair relatedness than in the Solved condition where they relied more on story knowledge. Comparing LSA representations in multiple semantic spaces was found to be a viable means for representing knowledge dependent on a reader's background. Implications of these findings for the representation of user knowledge for automated adaptive information retrieval are discussed.

The Flight Organizer Planning Aid (FOPA) interface was designed to aid strategic planning in air traffic control. In particular, FOPA was designed to address difficulties in solving en route sequencing problems (combining multiple streams of traffic into a single stream heading for a destination). We compared the planning performance of 12 full performance level air traffic controllers using either the FOPA interface or normal flight progress strips. Planning performance was significantly better when using FOPA; subjective workload was also reduced. The results indicate that a key advantage of FOPA lies in its dynamic linkage between the flight organizer screen where aircraft tokens can be categorized into color-coded blocks and their matching spatial representation on the radar.

This chapter shows that the application of the methods which address both explanatory (qualitative) and measurement (quantitative) levels of analysis, in the context of supporting change in the air traffic control tower (ATCT) domain. It provides a brief overview of air traffic control tower operations and some of the macrocognitive functions that controllers perform. The chapter discusses the cognitive analysis and modeling, critical incident analysis, and coordination analysis. The ATCT work domain involves a full spectrum of macrocognitive functions, including naturalistic decision making, sensemaking and situation awareness, planning and replanning, problem detection, and coordination. Thus, to engineer safe and effective procedures and systems in the ATCT domain, it is necessary to model and understand the domain, which is comprised of both the controllers themselves and the work environment, at multiple levels of analysis. The M. F. Peterson framework was used as a starting point for the development of our ATCT coordination framework.

Sodium glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) have proven profound positive effects in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). These effects are independent from the presence of diabetes. Metabolic effects, antiinflammatory, and antifibrotic properties are discussed as underlying mechanisms. Despite a strong correlation of ventricular arrhythmias with HFrEF, the impact of ertugliflozin on the ventricular arrhythmic burden has not been investigated, yet. Therefore, the Ertugliflozin to Reduce Arrhythmic burden in ICD ± CRT patientS (ERASe) trial was designed to investigate the efficacy and safety of ertugliflozin in patients with reduced and midrange ejection fraction (EF) with or without diabetes. Within a multicentre, national, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3b trial we aim to enrol a total of 402 patients across Austria. Patients with reduced or midrange EF and ICD ± CRT therapy >3 months and previous ventricular tachycardia (at least 10 documented VT episodes within the last 12 months) are randomized in a 1:1 ratio to ertugliflozin (5 mg once daily orally administered) or matching placebo. The primary endpoint of the ERASe trial is to investigate the impact of ertugliflozin on total burden of ventricular arrhythmias. Further objectives will include number of therapeutic interventions of implanted devices, atrial fibrillation and heart failure biomarkers. The ERASe trial will be the first trial to test ertugliflozin in heart failure patients with nonpreserved ejection fraction and ongoing ICD ± CRT therapy regardless of their diabetic status. The ERASe trial may therefore extend the concept of SGLT2 inhibition to improve cardiac remodelling, including reduced arrhythmic burden. Trial registration Identifier EudraCT Nr. 2020-002581-14 / ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04600921

Background Pharmacological post-MI treatment is routinely initiated at intensive/cardiac care units. However, solid evidence for an early start of these therapies is only available for dual platelet therapy and statins, whereas data on beta blockers and RAAS inhibitors are heterogenous and mainly limited to STEMI and heart failure patients. Recently, the EMMY trial provided the first evidence on the beneficial effects of SGLT2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) when initiated early after PCI. In patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, SGLT2i are considered “sick days drugs” and it, therefore, remains unclear if very early SGLT2i initiation following MI is as safe and effective as delayed initiation. Methods and results The EMMY trial evaluated the effect of empagliflozin on NT-proBNP and functional and structural measurements. Within the Empagliflozin group, 22 (9.5%) received early treatment (< 24 h after PCI), 98 (42.2%) within a 24 to < 48 h window (intermediate), and 111 (48.1%) between 48 and 72 h (late). NT-proBNP levels declined by 63.5% (95%CI: − 69.1; − 48.1) in the early group compared to 61.0% (− 76.0; − 41.4) in the intermediate and 61.9% (− 70.8; − 45.7) in the late group (n.s.) within the Empagliflozin group with no significant treatment groups—initiation time interaction (p int  = 0.96). Secondary endpoints of left ventricular function (LV-EF, e/e`) as well as structure (LVESD and LVEDD) were also comparable between the groups. No significant difference in severe adverse event rate between the initiation time groups was detected. Conclusion Very early administration of SGLT2i after acute myocardial infarction does not show disadvantageous signals with respect to safety and appears to be as effective in reducing NT-proBNP as well as improving structural and functional LV markers as initiation after 2–3 days.

Sodium glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are established antidiabetic drugs with proven cardiovascular benefit. Although growing evidence suggests beneficial effects on myocardial remodeling, fluid balance and cardiac function, the impact of empagliflozin initiated early after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) has not been investigated yet. Therefore, the impact of EMpagliflozin on cardiac function and biomarkers of heart failure in patients with acute MYocardial infarction (EMMY) trial was designed to investigate the efficacy and safety of empagliflozin in diabetic and non-diabetic patients after severe AMI. Within a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3b trial we will enroll patients with AMI and characteristics suggestive of severe myocardial necrosis are randomized in a 1:1 ratio to empagliflozin (10 mg once daily) or matching placebo. The primary endpoint is the impact of empagliflozin on changes in NT-proBNP within 6 months after AMI. Secondary endpoints include changes in echocardiographic parameters, levels of ketone body concentrations, HbA1c levels and body weight, respectively. Hospitalization rate due to heart failure or other causes, the duration of hospital stay and all-cause mortality will be assessed as exploratory secondary endpoints. The EMMY trial will test empagliflozin in patients with AMI regardless of their diabetic status. The EMMY trial may therefore underpin the concept of SGLT2 inhibition to improve cardiac remodeling, pre-and afterload reduction and cardiac metabolism regardless of its antidiabetic effects. Results will provide the rationale for the conduct of a cardiovascular outcome trial to test the effect of empagliflozin in patients with AMI.