scholarly journals Learning to interpret novel eHMI: The effect of vehicle kinematics and eHMI familiarity on pedestrians' crossing behaviour

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yee Mun Lee ◽  
Ruth Madigan ◽  
Chinebuli Uzondu ◽  
Jorge Garcia ◽  
Richard Romano ◽  
...  

In current urban traffic, pedestrians attempting to cross the road at un-signalised locations are thought to mostly use implicit communication, such as deceleration cues, to interpret a vehicle’s intention to yield. There is less reliance on explicit driver- or vehicle-based messages, such as hand/head movements, or flashing lights/beeping horns. With the impending deployment of Automated Vehicles (AV), especially those at SAE Level 4 and 5, where the driver is no longer in control of the vehicle, there has been a surge in interest in the value of new forms of communication for AVs, for example, via different types of external Human Machine Interfaces (eHMIs). However, there is still much to be understood about how quickly a novel eHMI affects pedestrian crossing decisions, and whether it provides any additional aid, above and beyond implicit/kinematic information from the vehicle. The aim of this between-participant study, funded by the H2020 interACT project, was to investigate how the combination of kinematic information from a vehicle (e.g. Speed and Deceleration), and eHMI designs, play a role in assisting the crossing decision of pedestrians in a cave-based pedestrian simulator. Using an existing, well-recognised, message for yielding (Flashing Headlights - FH) as a benchmark, this study also investigated how quickly a novel eHMI (Slow Pulsing Light Band – SPLB) was learned. To investigate the effect of eHMI visibility on crossing decisions, the distance at which each eHMI was perceivable was also measured. Results showed that, compared to SPLB, the FH led to earlier crossings during vehicle deceleration, especially at lower approaching speeds, and smaller time gaps. However, although FH was visible earlier than SPLB, this visibility does not appear to be the only reason for earlier crossings, with message familiarity thought to play a role. Participants were found to learn the meaning conveyed by FH relatively quickly, crossing around 1 second earlier in its presence (compared to the no eHMI condition), across the three blocks of trials. On the other hand, it took participants at least one block of 12 trials for the new SPLB signal to affect crossing, which only accelerated crossing initiations by around 200ms, compared to the no eHMI condition. The role of comprehension, long-term exposure, and familiarity of novel messages in this context is therefore important, if AVs are to provide safe, trustworthy communication messages, which will enhance traffic flow and efficiency.

2020 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Khuram Shahzad Ahmad ◽  
Muntaha Talat ◽  
Shaan Bibi Jaffri ◽  
Neelofer Shaheen

AbstractConventional treatment modes like chemotherapy, thermal and radiations aimed at cancerous cells eradication are marked by destruction pointing the employment of nanomaterials as sustainable and auspicious materials for saving human lives. Cancer has been deemed as the second leading cause of death on a global scale. Nanomaterials employment in cancer treatment is based on the utilization of their inherent physicochemical characteristics in addition to their modification for using as nano-carriers and nano-vehicles eluted with anti-cancer drugs. Current work has reviewed the significant role of different types of nanomaterials in cancer therapeutics and diagnostics in a systematic way. Compilation of review has been done by analyzing voluminous investigations employing ERIC, MEDLINE, NHS Evidence and Web of Science databases. Search engines used were Google scholar, Jstore and PubMed. Current review is suggestive of the remarkable performance of nanomaterials making them candidates for cancer treatment for substitution of destructive treatment modes through investigation of their physicochemical characteristics, utilization outputs and long term impacts in patients.


2017 ◽  
Vol 144 (2) ◽  
pp. 181-193 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adriana Marcucci ◽  
Socrates Kypreos ◽  
Evangelos Panos

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1 (39)) ◽  
pp. 55-78
Author(s):  
Oana-Maria BÎRLEA

This article aims to explain the use and role of cute, adora- ble characters in Japanese advertising. Kawaii culture or the “culture of cute” has become known worldwide mainly because of Hello Kitty, the cat which led the “pink globalization”, as Yano (2013) states. In this paper we have attempted to reveal the symbolism of these apparent meaning- less cute signs and characters. Starting from Hofstede’s theory of cultural dimensions (2001, 2003, 2010), which shows how a society’s culture influ- ences the values of its members, we intended to show how are these kawaii characters used in Japanese advertising and how they fit cultural specif- ics. Used either in non-commercial, educational or commercial advertising, cute personae can make the target audience feel more comfortable, secure and cooperating (Murakami, 2005). In this paper we have discussed the role of three iconic characters: the emblematic Hello Kitty, Kumamon, the lovely bear created by the government of Kumamoto Prefecture (Japan) and Gudetama, a lazy egg yolk produced by the Japanese company Sanrio in 2014. The selected characters reflect different types and personalities and each of them serves a specific purpose, but via the analysis conveyed we conclude that perhaps their main aim is to persuade and create a long-term relationship with the public.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huixia Ren ◽  
Yanjun Li ◽  
Chengsheng Han ◽  
Yi Yu ◽  
Bowen Shi ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTThe Ca2+ modulated pulsatile secretions of glucagon and insulin by pancreatic α and β cells play a key role in glucose metabolism and homeostasis. However, how different types of islet cells couple and coordinate via paracrine interactions to produce various Ca2+ oscillation patterns are still elusive. By designing a microfluidic device to facilitate long-term recording of islet Ca2+ activity at single cell level and simultaneously identifying different cell types in live islet imaging, we show heterogeneous but intrinsic Ca2+ oscillation patterns of islets upon glucose stimulation. The α and β cells oscillate in antiphase and are globally phase locked to various phase delays, causing fast, slow or mixed oscillations. A mathematical model of coupled phase oscillators quantitatively agrees with experiments and reveals the essential role of paracrine regulations in tuning the oscillation modes. Our study highlights the importance of cell-cell interactions to generate stable but tunable islet oscillation patterns.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 519
Author(s):  
Idoia Mikelez-Alonso ◽  
Antonio Aires ◽  
Aitziber L. Cortajarena

Immunotherapy has become a promising cancer therapy, improving the prognosis of patients with many different types of cancer and offering the possibility for long-term cancer remission. Nevertheless, some patients do not respond to these treatments and immunotherapy has shown some limitations, such as immune system resistance or limited bioavailability of the drug. Therefore, new strategies that include the use of nanoparticles (NPs) are emerging to enhance the efficacy of immunotherapies. NPs present very different pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties compared with free drugs and enable the use of lower doses of immune-stimulating molecules, minimizing their side effects. However, NPs face issues concerning stability in physiological conditions, protein corona (PC) formation, and accumulation in the target tissue. PC formation changes the physicochemical and biological properties of the NPs and in consequence their therapeutic effect. This review summarizes the recent advances in the study of the effects of PC formation in NP-based immunotherapy. PC formation has complex effects on immunotherapy since it can diminish (“immune blinding”) or enhance the immune response in an uncontrolled manner (“immune reactivity”). Here, future perspectives of the field including the latest advances towards the use of personalized protein corona in cancer immunotherapy are also discussed.


2020 ◽  
Vol 47 (4) ◽  
pp. 713-727
Author(s):  
Emmanuel Apergis ◽  
Nicholas Apergis

PurposeThis paper empirically explores the role of skill losses during unemployment behind firms' behaviour in interviewing long-term unemployedDesign/methodology/approachThe analysis makes use of the Work Employment Relations Survey in the UK, while it applies a panel probit modelling approach to estimate the empirical findings.FindingsThe findings document that skill losses during long-term unemployment reduce the likelihood of an interview, while they emphasize the need for certain policies that could compensate for this deterioration of skills. For robustness check, the estimation strategy survives the examination of the same predictors under different types of the working environment.Originality/valueThe original values of the work 1 combines for the first time both duration and technology as predictors of interview probability. Until now, the independent variables were used to test whether an individual has managed to exit unemployment, thus skipping the step of the interview process.


2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 482-512
Author(s):  
Aldo Chircop

AbstractIn 2018 the IMO adopted the initial Strategy for the international shipping industry’s reduction of global greenhouse gas emissions towards achieving the goal set in the 2015 Paris Agreement. At this time the Strategy is no more than a preliminary structure to frame the measures that will need to be adopted for the short, medium and long terms. In the short term (2018–2023) a first suite of measures will be adopted, and the initial Strategy will be revised and adopted as changed in 2023 with proposed measures for the medium term (2023–2030) and long term (2030–2050 and beyond). New international standards, tools and best practices will be needed to supplement the existing energy efficiency management rules in the International Convention on the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973/78. This article discusses the Strategy and the role of the IMO in leading the shipping industry on the road to decarbonization.


2019 ◽  
Vol 167 (4) ◽  
pp. 761-774 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Tuomas Harviainen ◽  
Janne Paavilainen ◽  
Elina Koskinen

AbstractThis article analyzes the business ethics of digital games, using Ayn Rand’s philosophy of Objectivism. It identifies different types of monetization options as virtuous or nonvirtuous, based on Rand’s views on rational self-interest. It divides the options into ethical Mover and unethical Looter designs, presents those logics in relation to an illustrative case example, Zynga, and then discusses a view on the role of players in relation to game monetization designs. Through our analysis of monetization options in the context of Objectivist ethics, the article contributes to discussions on game revenue ethics. It also expands the still understudied area of applying Rand’s ethics to business, in the context of a new sector, game development, and business. This research enables ethicists to apply a wider-than-before perspective on virtue ethics to online business, and helps game developers act in a virtuous manner, which provides them with a long-term business advantage.


2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 265-289
Author(s):  
Gino Cattani ◽  
Franco Malerba

We examine the progress of the evolutionary research on innovation, the firm, and the dynamics of industries in the last four decades. The paper acknowledges that the themes related to knowledge and technological regimes, the evolutionary processes leading to innovation, and the long-term dynamics of technologies have generated, and still remain, relevant research trajectories. The same can be said for the research trajectories on organizational and dynamic capabilities, evolutionary strategies, vertical integration, diversification, niche construction, and authority and power in organizations. Important progress has also been made in understanding the evolutionary trajectories of industries, the link between industry architecture and industry dynamics, the types of knowledge of entrants, the role of focal and vertical spinouts, the relevance of institutions and sectoral innovation systems in industry dynamics, and the catch-up process by firms from latecomer countries. We argue that future developments in the evolutionary camp should continue to be characterized by eclecticism and multidisciplinarity, as well as by the integration of different methodologies from cases to stylized facts, quantitative analyses, appreciative theorizing, and formal modelling. We conclude with an analysis of the main methodologies used by evolutionary scholars and a discussion of the road ahead.


1982 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 233-237 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. J. Triggs ◽  
J. W. Meehan ◽  
W. G. Harris

Previous research has demonstrated the efficacy of road-side posts in providing long term delineation information. In order to explore the role of this type of cue further, an experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of different road-post configurations on the judgements of curve direction by subjects. Specifically, the effect of positioning posts on the inside only, outside only, or both sides of the curve and the influence of post frequency along the road were examined. A range of road contours and distances to the commencement of curves were included in the experimental stimuli. Static views of rural road scenes were presented to subjects in a laboratory situation, and on each trial they were required to make speeded judgements of whether a right-hand or left-hand curve was presented. The results showed that road-side posts provide significantly better information if they are presented on the outside rather than the inside of the curve. Overall, posts on both sides of the road did not result in faster judgements than posts only on the outside of the curve. Subjects performed better in the higher-frequency post condition than in the lower frequency condition, but there was no marked interaction between the post frequency and post location variables. The findings have implications for the cost-benefits of rural road delineation schemes.


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