Reference Center for Research, Development and Innovation in ATM

Abstract Purpose To quantify the impact of ambient lighting conditions on the accuracy (trueness and precision) of an intraoral scanner (IOS) when maxillary complete‐arch and maxillary right quadrant digital scans were performed in a patient. Material and Methods One complete dentate patient was selected. A complete maxillary arch vinyl polysiloxane impression was obtained and poured using Type IV dental stone. The working cast was digitized using a laboratory scanner (E4 Dental Scanner; 3Shape) and the reference standard tessellation language (STL file) was obtained. Two groups were created based on the extension of the maxillary digital scans performed namely complete‐arch (CA group) and right quadrant (RQ) groups. The CA and RQ digital scans of the patient were performed using an IOS (TRIOS 3; 3Shape) with 4 lighting conditions chair light (CL), 10 000 lux, room light (RL), 1003 lux, natural light (NL), 500 lux, and no light (ZL), 0 lux. Ten digital scans per group at each ambient light settings (CL, RL, NL, and ZL) were consecutively obtained (n = 10). The STL R file was used to analyze the discrepancy between the digitized working cast and digital scans using MeshLab software. Kruskal‐Wallis, one‐way ANOVA, and pair‐wise comparison were used to analyze the data. Results Significant difference in the trueness and precision values were found across different lighting conditions where RL condition obtained the lowest absolute error compared with the other lighting conditions tested followed by CL, NL, and ZL. On the CA group, RL condition also obtained the best accuracy values, CL and NL conditions performed closely and under ZL condition the mean error presented the highest values. On the RQ group, CL condition presented the lowest absolute error when compared with the other lighting conditions evaluated. A pair‐wise multicomparison showed no significant difference between NL and ZL conditions. In all groups, the standard deviation was higher than the mean errors from the control mesh, indicating that the relative precision was low. Conclusions Light conditions significantly influenced on the scanning accuracy of the IOS evaluated. RL condition obtained the lowest absolute error value of the digital scans performed. The extension of the digital scan was a scanning accuracy influencing factor. The higher the extension of the digital scan performed, the lower the accuracy values obtained. Furthermore, ambient light scanning conditions influenced differently depending on the extension of the digital scans made.

Recent functional neuroimaging studies have shown differences in brain activation between mathematically gifted adolescents and controls. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between mathematical giftedness, intelligent quotient (IQ), and the microstructure of white matter tracts in a sample composed of math-gifted adolescents and aged-matched controls. Math-gifted subjects were selected through a national program based on detecting enhanced visuospatial abilities and creative thinking. We used diffusion tensor imaging to assess white matter microstructure in neuroanatomical connectivity. The processing included voxel-wise and region of interest-based analyses of the fractional anisotropy (FA), a parameter which is purportedly related to white matter microstructure. In a whole-sample analysis, IQ showed a significant positive correlation with FA, mainly in the corpus callosum, supporting the idea that efficient information transfer between hemispheres is crucial for higher intellectual capabilities. In addition, math-gifted adolescents showed increased FA (adjusted for IQ) in white matter tracts connecting frontal lobes with basal ganglia and parietal regions. The enhanced anatomical connectivity observed in the forceps minor and splenium may underlie the greater fluid reasoning, visuospatial working memory, and creative capabilities of these children.

Managed aquifer recharge (MAR) is part of the palette of solutions to water shortage, water security, water quality decline, falling water tables, and endangered groundwater-dependent ecosystems. It can be the most economic, most benign, most resilient, and most socially acceptable solution, but frequently has not been implemented due to lack of awareness, inadequate knowledge of aquifers, immature perception of risk, and incomplete policies for integrated water management, including linking MAR with demand management. MAR can achieve much towards solving the myriad local water problems that have collectively been termed “the global water crisis”. This special issue strives to elucidate the effectiveness, benefits, constraints, limitations, and applicability of MAR, together with its scientific advances, to a wide variety of situations that have global relevance. This special issue was initiated by the International Association of Hydrogeologists Commission on Managing Aquifer Recharge to capture and extend from selected papers at the 10th International Symposium on Managed Aquifer Recharge (ISMAR10) held in Madrid, Spain, 20–24 May 2019.

This article is a summary of research carried out on Spanish secondary school students 14–16 years of age, with the intention of finding out what contributions fieldwork makes toward the understanding of concepts and principles of ecology, and also to ascertain the effects of fieldwork on the defense of the studied ecosystem. Before further research was conducted, an exploratory study was carried out consisting of an initial diagnosis of the pupils' ideas; fieldwork materials were prepared and an ecology unit for the study of a freshwater ecosystem was designed, along with evaluation instruments. The experimental design was given shape thanks to work done with two groups of students on whom a more exhaustive study was performed. The independent variable consisted of a field trip; the dependent variable was the learning of ecological concepts and their application to the assessment of an environmental problem. The study combined qualitative and quantitative research methods. A result of the research work was the conclusion that fieldwork helps clarify ecological concepts and intervenes directly in the development of more favorable attitudes toward the defense of the ecosystem. Both components are seen when making valid judgments for the resolution of problems which negatively affect the ecosystem and for showing the way toward the type of actions and solutions which should be adopted. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 36: 431–453, 1999

Clustering of trajectories of moving objects by similarity is an important technique in movement analysis. Existing distance functions assess the similarity between trajectories based on properties of the trajectory points or segments. The properties may include the spatial positions, times, and thematic attributes. There may be a need to focus the analysis on certain parts of trajectories, i.e., points and segments that have particular properties. According to the analysis focus, the analyst may need to cluster trajectories by similarity of their relevant parts only. Throughout the analysis process, the focus may change, and different parts of trajectories may become relevant. We propose an analytical workflow in which interactive filtering tools are used to attach relevance flags to elements of trajectories, clustering is done using a distance function that ignores irrelevant elements, and the resulting clusters are summarized for further analysis. We demonstrate how this workflow can be useful for different analysis tasks in three case studies with real data from the domain of air traffic. We propose a suite of generic techniques and visualization guidelines to support movement data analysis by means of relevance-aware trajectory clustering.

The calibration of the erythemal irradiance measured by a Yankee Environmental System (YES) UVB-1 biometer is presented using two methods of calibration with a wide range of experimental solar zenith angles (SZAs) and ozone values. The calibration is performed through simultaneous spectral measurements by a calibrated double-monochromator Brewer MK-III spectrophotometer at "El Arenosillo" station, located in southwestern Spain. Because the range of spectral measurements of the Brewer spectrophotometer is 290-363 nm, a previously validated radiative transfer model was used to account for the erythemal contribution between 363 and 400 nm. Both methods are recommended by the World Meteorological Organization and we present and discuss here a wide range of results and features given by modified procedures applied to these two general methods. As is well established, the calibration factor for this type of radiometric system is dependent on atmospheric conditions, the most important of which are the ozone content and the SZA. Although the first method is insensitive to these two factors, we analyze this behavior in terms of the range used for the SZA and the use of two different mathematical approaches for its determination. The second method shows the dependence on SZA and ozone content and, thus, a polynomial as a function of SZA or a matrix including SZA and ozone content were determined as general calibration factors for the UV radiometric system. We must note that the angular responses of the YES radiometer and Brewer spectroradiometer have not been considered, because of the difficulty in correcting them. The results show in detail the advantages and drawbacks (and the corresponding associated error) given by the different approaches used for the determination of these calibration coefficients.

PURPOSE: To assess the influence of the scan body geometry bevel location and implant angulation and position of complete-arch implant digital scans. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Two definitive casts with 4 implant analogs placed parallel (P group) or angulated up to 30° (NP group) were fabricated. Five subgroups were created based on the scan body geometry bevel position: facial, mesial, distal, lingual, or random (F, M, D, L, and R subgroup). Casts were digitized using a laboratory scanner (reference) (7Series Desktop Scanner) and an intraoral scanner (TRIOS 3). The implant position discrepancies between the reference and experimental scans were calculated. Data was analyzed using 3-way ANOVA and Tukey tests (α = .05). RESULTS: The scan body geometry bevel position (P < .001) and the inter-implant distance (P < .001) were shown as significant predictors of the linear discrepancies obtained. The L subgroup had a significantly lower discrepancy compared with the other subgroups. Implant angulation (P < .001), the scan body geometry bevel position (P < .001), and the inter-implant distance (P < .001) were all significant predictors on the angular discrepancies obtained. CONCLUSIONS: The scan body geometry bevel location and implant angulation and position influenced the accuracy of the IOS tested. The lingual orientation obtained significantly better accuracy values compared with the other positions. The parallel implant analog position obtained better accuracy than the angulated positions. Lastly, the implant positioned in the dental arch where the intraoral digital scan was finished obtained significantly higher distortion than the contralateral implant.

OBJECTIVE: To review the techniques and available 2D and 3D computer-aided design (CAD) software programs to perform a diagnostic waxing for restorative procedures when cone beam computed tomography is not indicated. OVERVIEW: An electronic review was performed in Medline, Embase, and Scopus search engines. A manual search was also conducted. The articles evaluating methods to obtain a 2D or 3D patient's representation for restorative dental procedures were included. A total of 33 articles were included for full text review. CAD programs provide the capability to integrate facial features from 2D photographs or 3D facial scans and facilitate facially driven digital diagnostic waxing procedures. Diagnostic and design tools varied among the programs, and multiple technique descriptions were found. However, the literature evaluating the accuracy of virtual patients and the perception variations between the 2D and 3D dimensional representations is limited. CONCLUSIONS: The integration of digital technologies into treatment planning procedures introduce variation into the conventional interfaces; however, the concepts remain the same. Further studies are needed to evaluate the accuracy of the virtual representations and the influence of the type of dimensional representation on the esthetic perceptions among dental professionals. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The 2D and 3D CAD software programs facilitate the integration of facial features into digital diagnostic waxing procedures; however, the esthetic perception of the patient's virtual representation might vary among the different systems.

A safe integration of drones into the airspace is fundamental to unblock the potential of drone applications. U-space is the drone traffic management solution for Europe, intended to handle a large number of drones in the airspace, especially at very low level (VLL). This paper presents the procedures we have designed and tested in real flights in the SAFEDRONE European project to pave the way for a safe integration of drones into the airspace using U-space services. We include three important aspects: Design of procedures related to no-fly zones, ensure separation with manned aircraft, and autonomous non-cooperative detect-and-avoid (DAA) technologies. A specific U-space architecture has been designed and implemented for flight campaigns with up to eight drones with different configurations and a manned aircraft. From this experience, specific recommendations about procedures to exit and avoiding no-fly zones are presented. Additionally, it has been concluded that the use of surveillance information of manned aircraft will allow a more efficient use of the airspace while maintaining a proper safety level, avoiding the creation of large geofence areas.

INTRODUCTION: Right ventricular (RV) anodal capture (AC) has been reported in cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), when left ventricular (LV) pacing uses pseudobipolar (LV tip to RV proximal electrode) configuration. The aim of the study was to analyze the prevalence of AC and its implications for device programming. METHODS AND RESULTS: When AC occurred, the resulting QRS morphology was evaluated with the following pacing modes: (1) LV tip pacing plus RV AC, (2) Biventricular (BiV) pacing (i.e., both LV and RV tip pacing), and (3) BiV pacing plus RV AC. Several interventricular pacing (VV) intervals from 50 ms of LV preactivation to 30 ms of RV preactivation were tested in modes 2 and 3. From 38 consecutive patients, AC was achieved in 14 (in 74% of the pacemakers and in none of the defibrillators). LV tip pacing plus RV AC obtained narrower QRS than BiV pacing at all VV intervals in seven of the patients with AC (50%). When BiV pacing is combined with RV AC, it produced a ventricular depolarization through two wave fronts (one from the LV tip and the second from either the ring or the tip of the RV lead depending on the VV interval programmed). CONCLUSIONS: AC obtained the narrowest QRS of all tested pacing modes in a significant proportion of patients undergoing CRT. Though the stimulus was delivered from three sites (BiV pacing plus RV AC mode), only two wave fronts of ventricular activation were seen by ECG.

PURPOSE: To compare the shade matching capabilities between an intraoral scanner (IOS) and a spectrophotometer under different ambient light illuminance conditions. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The shade of three teeth of a patient was obtained using an IOS (IOS group) (TRIOS 3; 3Shape) and a spectrophotometer (DS group) (EasyShade V; Vita Zahnfabrik) at 4 ambient illuminances: 10000-, 1000-, 500-, and 0-lx. Ten shade measurements were documented using Vita Classical and 3D-Master guides per tooth at each lighting condition. Data was analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis and Mann Whitney U tests (α = .05). RESULTS: Significant shade discrepancies were obtained between the groups in different lighting conditions (P < .05). The IOS group presented significant shade discrepancies in different lighting conditions when evaluated using either shade guide, with lower variation under the 0-lx condition. However, the DS group did not present significant shade discrepancies among the different lighting conditions with either shade guide, except for the maxillary lateral incisor measured under 10 000-lx condition using the 3D-Master guide. CONCLUSIONS: Lighting conditions influenced the shade matching competency of an IOS. The IOS tested obtained high variation in the different lighting conditions evaluated and provided a lower shade value than the spectrophotometer. The spectrophotometer revealed high consistency amongst the various lighting conditions evaluated. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Ambient light illuminance conditions can impact the shade matching capabilities of IOSs. The results of this investigation suggest the use of a supplementary instrumental method for assessment of tooth shade.

Nowadays Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) applications are increasingly successful in the air traffic (ATC) domain. Paramount to achieving this is collecting enough data for speech recognition model training. Thousands of hours of ATC communication are recorded every day. However, the transcription of these data sets is resource intense, i.e. writing down the sequence of spoken words, and more importantly, interpreting the relevant semantics. Many different approaches including CPDLC (Controller Pilot Data Link Communications) currently exist in the ATC community for command transcription, a fact that e.g. complicates exchange of transcriptions. The partners of the SESAR funded solution PJ.16-04 are currently developing on a common ontology for transcription of controller-pilot communications, which will harmonize integration of ASR into controller working positions. The resulting ontology is presented in this paper.

This study provides a systematic synthesis of empirical research on mental workload (MWL) in air traffic control (ATC). MWL is a key concept in research on innovative technologies, because the assessment of MWL is crucial to the evaluation of such technologies. Our specific focus was on physiological measures of MWL. The used search strategy identified 39 peer-reviewed publications that analysed ATC tasks, examined different levels of difficulty of the ATC task, and considered at least one physiological measure of MWL. Positive relations between measures of MWL and task difficulty were observed most frequently, indicating that the measures indeed allowed the assessment of MWL. The most commonly used physiological measures were brain measures (EEG and fNIR) and heart rate measures. The review revealed a need for more precise descriptions of crucial experimental parameters in order to permit a transition of the field towards more interactive and dynamic types of analysis. Practitioner summary: Research on innovative technology in air traffic control (ATC) depends on assessments of mental workload (MWL). We reviewed empirical research on MWL in ATC. Brain and heart measures often allow assessments of MWL. Better descriptions of experiments are needed to allow comparisons among studies and more dynamic and interactive analyses.

OBJECTIVE: Impaired self-awareness (SA) is a common symptom after suffering acquired brain injury (ABI) which interferes with patient's rehabilitation and their functional independence. SA is associated with executive function and declarative memory, two cognitive functions that are related to participants' daily living functionality. Through this observational study, we aim to explore whether SA may play a moderator role in the relation between these two cognitive processes and functional independence. METHOD: A sample of 69 participants with ABI completed a neuropsychological assessment focused on executive function and declarative memory which also included a measure of SA and functional independence. Two separated linear models were performed including functional independence, SA, and two neuropsychological factors (declarative memory and executive function) derived from a previous principal component analysis. RESULTS: Moderation analysis show a significant interaction between SA and executive function, reflecting an association between lower executive functioning and poorer functional outcome, only in participants with low levels of SA. Notwithstanding, declarative memory do not show a significant interaction with SA, even though higher declarative memory scores were associated with better functional independence. CONCLUSIONS: SA seems to play a moderator effect between executive function, but not declarative memory, and functional independence. Accordingly, participants with executive deficits and low levels of SA might benefit from receiving specific SA interventions in the first instance, which would in turn positively impact on their functional independence.

BACKGROUND: Brain injury survivors often present upper-limb motor impairment affecting the execution of functional activities such as reaching. A currently active research line seeking to maximize upper-limb motor recovery after a brain injury, deals with the combined use of functional electrical stimulation (FES) and mechanical supporting devices, in what has been previously termed hybrid robotic systems. This study evaluates from the technical and clinical perspectives the usability of an integrated hybrid robotic system for the rehabilitation of upper-limb reaching movements after a brain lesion affecting the motor function. METHODS: The presented system is comprised of four main components. The hybrid assistance is given by a passive exoskeleton to support the arm weight against gravity and a functional electrical stimulation device to assist the execution of the reaching task. The feedback error learning (FEL) controller was implemented to adjust the intensity of the electrical stimuli delivered on target muscles according to the performance of the users. This control strategy is based on a proportional-integral-derivative feedback controller and an artificial neural network as the feedforward controller. Two experiments were carried out in this evaluation. First, the technical viability and the performance of the implemented FEL controller was evaluated in healthy subjects (N = 12). Second, a small cohort of patients with a brain injury (N = 4) participated in two experimental session to evaluate the system performance. Also, the overall satisfaction and emotional response of the users after they used the system was assessed. RESULTS: In the experiment with healthy subjects, a significant reduction of the tracking error was found during the execution of reaching movements. In the experiment with patients, a decreasing trend of the error trajectory was found together with an increasing trend in the task performance as the movement was repeated. Brain injury patients expressed a great acceptance in using the system as a rehabilitation tool. CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrates the technical feasibility of using the hybrid robotic system for reaching rehabilitation. Patients' reports on the received intervention reveal a great satisfaction and acceptance of the hybrid robotic system. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Retrospective trial registration in ISRCTN Register with study ID ISRCTN12843006 .

Facial and intraoral scanners as well as additive manufacturing (AM) technologies can be integrated to virtually plan restorative procedures. The present article describes a digital workflow protocol for treatment planning an esthetic rehabilitation using direct composite restorations. The combination of facial digitalization and intraoral scans allowed a facially driven diagnostic waxing, while additive manufacturing technologies facilitate the translation of the digital waxing into the patient´s mouth through an AM 3-piece silicone index which was designed into a buccal and a lingual clear flexible silicone indices that were fitted into a clear and rigid custom tray. This procedure facilitated the treatment planning procedures as well as assisted the direct composite restoration procedures, providing several advantages compared with conventional procedures such as precise translation of the digital diagnostic waxing into the patient´s mouth, horizontal path of insertion of the silicone index, and minimized time of the clinical intervention.

In movement data analysis, there exists a problem of comparing multiple trajectories of moving objects to common or distinct reference trajectories. We introduce a general conceptual framework for comparative analysis of trajectories and an analytical procedure, which consists of (1) finding corresponding points in pairs of trajectories, (2) computation of pairwise difference measures, and (3) interactive visual analysis of the distributions of the differences with respect to space, time, set of moving objects, trajectory structures, and spatio-temporal context. We propose a combination of visualisation, interaction, and data transformation techniques supporting the analysis and demonstrate the use of our approach for solving a challenging problem from the aviation domain.

In a trajectory-based operations’ environment, at some time during the planning phase, shared business trajectories will become reference business trajectories, and not necessarily conflict free. This paper presents a way of obtaining a conflict-free solution for all planned trajectories during the strategic phase (before becoming reference business trajectories). The proposed methodology incorporates 1) a data-driven conflict-resolution model, and 2) a multiobjective global optimization that considers the interests of a variety of actors in the air traffic management community: particularly, air navigation service providers and airlines.

Math-gifted subjects are characterized by above-age performance in intelligence tests, exceptional creativity, and high task commitment. Neuroimaging studies reveal enhanced functional brain organization and white matter microstructure in the frontoparietal executive network of math-gifted individuals. However, the cortical morphometry of these subjects remains largely unknown. The main goal of this study was to compare the cortical morphometry of math-gifted adolescents with that of an age- and IQ-matched control group. We used surface-based methods to perform a vertex-wise analysis of cortical thickness and surface area. Our results show that math-gifted adolescents present a thinner cortex and a larger surface area in key regions of the frontoparietal and default mode networks, which are involved in executive processing and creative thinking, respectively. The combination of reduced cortical thickness and larger surface area suggests above-age neural maturation of these networks in math-gifted individuals. Hum Brain Mapp 37:1893-1902, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Air Traffic Management (ATM) in general, and Air Traffic Control (ATC) systems, in particular, are commonly limited by their capacity, as they are intended to balance demand in order to provide the best possible performance to the overall network.In the case of ATM, Air Traffic Controllers (ATCO) workload is identified as one of the main limiting factors to increase overall system capacity and properly match it to demand. ATCO workload can be measured by various methods, being one of them the identification of all the control events that he performs during his task.One key aspect in ATC is communication with pilots via voice (transmission and reception). Even though new technologies enable datalink communications, voice is still the main source of Ground-Air communications.Thereby, Automated Speech Recognition in ATM communications will lead to automated transcription of communications and, consequently -with a proper system at the back-end- to automated detection of the control events that the controller has performed using voice, allowing calculation of estimated workload.This paper describes a prototype developed to perform this Automated Speech Recognition and controllers event detection, as well as the methodology used to reach it.