Simple Reading Research Articles

공공도서관의 독서프로그램 운영 실태 분석 연구

본 연구에서는 공공도서관의 독서프로그램 운영 실태를 분석하여 문제를 파악하고, 개선방안을 제언하였다. 첫째, 웹 검색엔진을 통해 공공도서관이 2013년-2015년까지 운영한 독서프로그램 관련 기사 350개를 표집하여 분석한 결과, 독서프로그램 관련 보도가 수도권(41.4%)은 높은 반면 여타 지역은 낮았다. 둘째, 순수 독서프로그램이 69.9%를 차지할 정도로 높았으나, 여타의 프로그램이 상당 수 차지하는 것으로 파악되었다. 셋째, 독서프로그램 참가대상 중 초등학생과 유아 및 부모가 51.3%를 차지할 정도로 높은 반면, 소외 계층은 9.0%로 낮았다. 넷째, 독서프로그램 운영기간이 28.4%(86개)가 1일로 파악될 만큼 단기 프로그램 비중이 높았다. 이 같은 분석을 토대로, 독서프로그램을 지역사회 주민에게 홍보하기 위한 홍보팀 또는 전담인력을 도서관이 운영하여 언론과 소통할 것과, 지역 주민의 계층별 요구에 부합하는 보다 과학적이고 체계화된 독서프로그램을 개발하여 적용할 것, 주민 계층별로 전체 주민을 균형 있게 아우르도록 독서 프로그램을 개발하여 운영할 것 등을 제언하였다. This study analyzes the problems in reading program of public libraries and provides some suggestions for the program development and management. For this analysis, I sampled and examined 350 news articles to reading programs done in the public libraries between 2013 and 2015. The result shows that 41.4% of the collected articles were the news about the reading programs in Seoul Metropolitan areas. While the articles about simple reading programs occupied 69.9%, the mixed activity programs reached a significant amount in total. In addition, 51.3% of program participants was under the elementary children and their parents, but only 9.0% program participants came from low socioeconomic status classes. 86 reading programs (28.4%) were designed for one-day events without a long-term policy. Based on such analyses, this study provides three suggestions: utilizing public relation teams and communicating mass media to advertize reading programs to local residents, developing systematic reading programs in users' needs, managing the reading programs for all kinds of local residents.

PWE-144 Predicting Treatment Failure in C.Difficile Infection: A Prospective Observational Cohort Study

Introduction C.difficile-induced diarrhoea is often refractory to treatment and can be life-threatening. As yet, there is no prospectively derived tool with which to predict treatment failure (TF) in C.difficile infection (CDI). We performed a fully powered, pragmatic, prospective observational study to create such a tool. Methods Patients with confirmed CDI were consented to enter the study within 24 hours of testing positive. Demographic data (including age, antibiotic and PPI use, smoking, ward type), clinical variables (pulse, PB, temperature) and blood test results (FBC, urea, creatinine, CRP, albumin) and faecal calprotectin on the day of diagnosis were collected. TF was defined as occurrence of any of: death while admitted, colectomy, ongoing diarrhoea at day 7, recurrent diarrhoea at Results 122 patients were recruited and primarily treated by their routine clinical team with metronidazole (n = 89) or vancomycin (n = 29). 63 patients (52%) failed treatment: 28 died during their admission, 43 had continuing diarrhoea at day 7, 16 had recurrent diarrhoea within 30 days and 1 had a colectomy (some patients had TF on >1 criteria). TF rate was the same whether metronidazole or vancomycin was primary therapy. Of the variables measured, only age and serum albumin predicted TF (age, p = 0.029; albumin, p = 0.0001). An equation with which to predict individual patients’ risk of TF was then derived: for ease of clinical application, a simple read off table was derived allowing prediction of outcome using the patient’s age and serum albumin. The model correctly predicted TF in 79% of cases. By ROC analysis, the model initially had an Area Under the Curve (AUC) of 0.76; in the internal validation assessment the AUC was 0.75. Conclusion A prospectively and internally validated tool with which to predict treatment failure in CDI has been derived. The tool consists of 2 variables (age and serum albumin) on the day of diagnosis of CDI. The predictive tool could be used to highlight those who might benefit from more intensive treatment, for example using fidaxomicin or faecal microbial transplant as primary CDI therapy. Disclosure of Interest None Declared

Model-based shading and lighting controls considering visual comfort and energy use

Dynamic facades with high performance glazing and shading systems have the potential to balance daylighting needs, comfort and energy use, when integrated with lighting and thermal system controls. This paper presents the development and implementation of model-based control (MBC) algorithms for shading and lighting operation, aiming at minimizing lighting energy use while satisfying glare constraints. A fast and reliable lighting-glare model was used to compute real-time interior lighting conditions, lighting energy use and daylight glare probability, for predetermined shade positions (10% increments) at each control time step, based on the readings of two sensors on each building facade. Three visual comfort criteria (DGP, vertical and work plane illuminance) were embedded and compared in the real-time shading control logic, which selects the highest shade position (maximum daylight utilization) that satisfies the visual comfort criteria at each time step. The approach is similar to an optimization scheme for discrete shade positions, using visual comfort constraints as a priority, but here it is applied efficiently with a semi-analytical model in real-time control.The developed MBC strategies were successfully demonstrated in office spaces, controlling shades and electric lighting in real-time, using simple sensor readings as inputs. An innovative, variable control interval logic was also developed and implemented, resulting in reduced shading operation without sacrificing the benefits, creating less disturbance for occupants and extending equipment life. Finally, the developed MBC strategies were evaluated using annual simulation, in terms of frequency of shade movements, annual percentage of working hours with risk of glare, lighting energy use, and fraction of outside view.

A brain electrical signature of left-lateralized semantic activation from single words

Lesion and imaging studies consistently indicate a left-lateralization of semantic language processing in human temporo-parietal cortex. Surprisingly, electrocortical measures, which allow a direct assessment of brain activity and the tracking of cognitive functions with millisecond precision, have not yet been used to capture this hemispheric lateralization, at least with respect to posterior portions of this effect. Using event-related potentials, we employed a simple single-word reading paradigm to compare neural activity during three tasks requiring different degrees of semantic processing. As expected, we were able to derive a simple temporo-parietal left-right asymmetry index peaking around 300ms into word processing that neatly tracks the degree of semantic activation. The validity of this measure in specifically capturing verbal semantic activation was further supported by a significant relation to verbal intelligence. We thus posit that it represents a promising tool to monitor verbal semantic processing in the brain with little technological effort and in a minimal experimental setup.

Delta Activity at Sleep Onset and Cognitive Performance in Community-Dwelling Older Adults.

Frontal intermittent rhythmic delta activity (FIRDA) has long been considered to be an abnormal variant in the electroencephalogram (EEG) among older adults. Prior work also indicates a predominance of slow wave EEG activity among patients with dementia. However, instability of state control occurring with aging generally and among many neurodegenerative diseases raises the possibility that FIRDA might represent the intrusion of sleep related elements of the EEG into the waking state. We examined delta activity at sleep onset (DASO) in community-dwelling, older adults without dementia, and examined whether this activity is related to poorer cognitive performance. 153 community-dwelling, older adults without dementia underwent overnight polysomnography and measures of global cognition, delayed verbal memory, information processing speed, attention, inhibition, verbal naming, and visuospatial ability. Delta activity during sleep/wake transitions (scored either as Waking or N1) was analyzed visually. Participants were 83 women and 70 men, mean age 71.3 ± 0.6 y. DASO was present in 30 participants (19.6%). Age, years of education, sex, and body mass index did not differ between DASO (+) and (-) groups. Multiple regression analyses indicated faster reading of the Stroop color words in DASO (+) subjects (P = 0.007). None of the other cognitive domains differed between the two groups. DASO was relatively common in our sample of community-dwelling, older adults without dementia. DASO was not associated with poorer performance on any cognitive domain. Instead, individuals with DASO demonstrated better performance on a simple reading task. Although these findings suggest that an abnormal EEG activity may represent normal variation, our work underscores the importance of distinguishing DASO from FIRDA when examining sleep in older adults. A commentary on this article appears in this issue on page 725.

A Cooja-Based Tool for Coverage and Lifetime Evaluation in an In-Building Sensor Network

Contiki’s Cooja is a very popular wireless sensor network (WSN) simulator, but it lacks support for modelling sensing coverage, focusing instead on network connectivity and protocol performance. However, in practice, it is the ability of a sensor network to provide a satisfactory level of coverage that defines its ultimate utility for end-users. We introduce WSN-Maintain, a Cooja-based tool for coverage and network lifetime evaluation in an in-building WSN. To extend the network lifetime, but still maintain the required quality of coverage, the tool finds coverage redundant nodes, puts them to sleep and automatically turns them on when active nodes fail and coverage quality decreases. WSN-Maintain together with Cooja allow us to evaluate different approaches to maintain coverage. As use cases to the tool, we implement two redundant node algorithms: greedy-maintain, a centralised algorithm, and local-maintain, a localised algorithm to configure the initial network and to turn on redundant nodes. Using data from five real deployments, we show that our tool with simple redundant node algorithms and reading correlation can improve energy efficiency by putting more nodes to sleep.

Assessment of diffusion parameters of new passive samplers using optical chemical sensor for on-site measuring formaldehyde in indoor air: experimental and numerical studies.

New passive samplers using a sensor consisting of a sol-gel matrix entrapping Fluoral-P as sampling media were developed for the determination of formaldehyde in indoor air. The reaction between Fluoral-P and formaldehyde produces a colored compound which is quantified on-site by means of a simple optical reading module. The advantages of this sensor are selectivity, low cost, ppb level limit of detection, and on-site direct measurement. In the development process, it is necessary to determine the sampling rate, a key parameter that cannot be directly assessed in the case of diffusive samplers using optical chemical sensor. In this study, a methodology combining experimental tests and numerical modeling is proposed and applied at five different radial diffusive samplers equipped with the same optical chemical sensor to assess the sampled material flows and sampling rates. These radial diffusive samplers differ in the internal volume of the sampler (18.97 and 6.14 cm(3)), the position of sensor inside the sampler (in front and offset of 1.2 cm above the membrane) and the width of the diffusion slot (1.4 and 5.9 mm). The influences of these three parameters (internal volume, position of sensor inside the sampler, and width of the diffusion slot) were assessed and discussed with regard to the formaldehyde sampling rate and water uptake by sensor (potential interference of measure). Numerical simulations based on Fick's laws are in agreement with the experimental results and provide to estimate the effective diffusion coefficient of formaldehyde through the membrane (3.50 × 10(-6) m(2) s(-1)). Conversion factors between the sensor response, sampled formaldehyde mass and sampling rate were also assessed.

Perceptions of electricity-use communications: effects of information, format, and individual differences

Electricity bills could be an effective strategy for improving communications about consumers’ electricity use and promoting electricity savings. However, quantitative communications about electricity use may be difficult to understand, especially for consumers with low energy literacy. Here, we build on the health communication and graph comprehension literature to inform electricity bill design, with the goal of improving understanding, preferences for the presented communication, and intentions to save electricity. In a survey-based experiment, each participant saw a hypothetical electricity bill for a family with relatively high electricity use, covering information about (a) historical use, (b) comparisons to neighbors, and (c) historical use with appliance breakdown. Participants saw all information types in one of three formats including (a) tables, (b) bar graphs, and (c) icon graphs. We report on three main findings. First, consumers understood each type of electricity-use information the most when it was presented in a table, perhaps because tables facilitate simple point reading. Second, preferences and intentions to save electricity were the strongest for the historical use information, independent of format. Third, individuals with lower energy literacy understood all information less. We discuss implications for designing utility bills that are understandable, perceived as useful, and motivate consumers to save energy.

(Mis)reading Ibsen: Chinese Noras On and Off the Stage and Nora in Her Chinese Husband’s Ancestral Land of the 1930s as Reimagined for the Globalized World Today

The curtain rises to reveal a stage in semi-darkness--with spotlight on a young female Chinese musician upstage, dressed in red and playing jingerhu, a two-stringed traditional Chinese music instrument, and another young Chinese actress in full dan (female role) costume singing a traditional Peking opera song. As this short overture transits into the opening scene of the play, we see a Chinese home of a yesteryear decor, simply furnished, and two men in their forties, one dressed in a long-sleeved Chinese jacket and one in suit and tie. The man in traditional Chinese attire, Han Ermao, writes on a scroll of red paper with ink and brush while the man dressed in Western clothing, Ruan Ke, comments on Han's calligraphy. Apparently it is the eve of chunjie (spring festival), the Chinese New Year. Enters a woman in her thirties, a European woman in silky traditional Chinese dress, returning from holiday shopping, who greets the two men in Chinese with noticeable foreign accent: Nimen hao (How're you guys). Han, also speaking Chinese, asks Nora to come and take a look at the red scrolls he and Ruan Ke have written and adjudicate whose calligraphy is better. She praises both and hugs and kisses Han who admonishes her, half-jokingly: We the Chinese are not used to this [public display of affection], a habit of yours you can't rid of even after this many years [in China]. Thus begins the 1998 production (reproduced in 2001 and 2006) of Henrik Ibsen's play A Doll's House mounted by China's Central Experimental Theater (zhongyan shiyan huaju yuan) in Beijing, in which Nora follows her Chinese husband Han Ermao (Chinese transliteration of Helmer) to his ancestral land of the 1930s, further complicating the theme of individualism and gender equality with interlingual, intercultural, and transnational twists and tensions. (1) The reception history of Ibsen in China has been well documented by scholars both in and outside China, especially the reception history up to the early 1990s. (2) One of the recurrent themes in such studies is that for a long while, especially in the early decades of the twentieth century, Ibsen's influence in China had been more in the realm of social reform than in the imaginary world of the theatre. In the last decade or so, there has been a backlash in China, not against Ibsen himself, but against members of the May Fourth (New Culture Movement) generation such as Hu Shi (1891-1962). Hu Shi and kindred spirits had introduced Ibsen to China, appropriating the Western playwright as a champion of sorts, and making Nora, the heroine of A Doll's House, a rallying cry for the cause of women's liberation--a gross (wudu), as some scholars have charged recently, that reduced the real and true (zhenshi, zhenzheng) self of one of the greatest modern playwrights into disjointed fragments and misused him most egregiously. (3) It would be tempting to offer a deconstructionist truism that all reading is misreading (4) by way of apologizing for Hu Shi and his May Fourth generation kindred spirits, which according to Edward Said would amount to abrogation of a critic's responsibility because it is perfectly possible to judge misreadings (as they occur) as part of a historical transfer of ideas and theories from one setting to another. (5) If, for the purpose of this discussion, we think of Ibsen--his life, career, and entire oeuvre, dramatic and otherwise--as a text, to borrow from Harold Bloom, it would prove only inevitable that he would invite and engender many strong misreadings instead of being easily reduced to simple or simplistic readings. In the case of Hu Shi and other Ibsen enthusiasts of the May Fourth generation, their misreadings of Ibsen were not motivated by of influence, to rebel against their literary peres and stake out their own place in literary history with their creative supremacy, but by an acute anxiety for the existential crisis China was facing then and by an acute sense of urgency for the renewal of its people and culture. …

Militarized masculinities, heroes and gender inequality during and after the nationalist struggle in Zimbabwe

The article focuses on the gendered character of the nationalist struggle in Zimbabwe in the 1970s, and the establishment and role of the Zimbabwean state. I demonstrate that the much publicized gender equality promised during the struggle has produced little change. The article challenges a simple reading of patriarchal power, and demonstrates the utility of a more nuanced approach to understanding the role of post-conflict militarized masculinities, state heroes and gender inequality in the establishment of patriarchal rule in post-conflict Zimbabwe. It confirms the importance of careful historical analysis of gendered practices and hierarchies and a willingness to move beyond simplistic readings of militarized masculinity and power.

Electrophysiological Responses in the Ventral Temporal Cortex During Reading of Numerals and Calculation.

Recent evidence suggests that specific neuronal populations in the ventral temporal cortex show larger electrophysiological responses to visual numerals compared with morphologically similar stimuli. This study investigates how these responses change from simple reading of numerals to the active use of numerals in an arithmetic context. We recorded high-frequency broadband (HFB) signals, a reliable measure for local neuronal population activity, while 10 epilepsy patients implanted with subdural electrodes performed separate numeral reading and calculation tasks. We found that calculation increased activity in the posterior inferior temporal gyrus (ITG) with a factor of approximately 1.5 over the first 500 ms of calculation, whereas no such increase was noted for reading numerals without calculation or reading and judging memory statements. In a second experiment conducted in 2 of the same subjects, we show that HFB responses increase in a systematic manner when the single numerals were presented successively in a calculation context: The HFB response in the ITG, to the second and third numerals (i.e., b and c in a + b = c), was approximately 1.5 times larger than the responses to the first numeral (a). These results provide electrophysiological evidence for modulation of local neuronal population responses to visual stimuli based on increasing task demands.

ABIF Manager: simple reading and editing of ABIF formatted files.

ABIF Manager is simple application for low-level access to ABIF formatted files. Those are produced by Data Collection software based on the data, collected from capillary sequencing machine. The application shows all the data as readable text, which can be easily edited. The program source code and compiled executable is freely available at: https://sourceforge.net/projects/abifmanager/.

Abstract POSTER-TECH-1131: Next generation protein multiplexing

Abstract While a variety of technologies exist to measure proteins, such as ELISA’s, Mass Spec, and 2D Gel’s, the most promising for screening multiple proteins are biochip or microarray based technologies. However, even with biochip devices, measuring specific interactions between multiple protein combinations remains problematic. Proteins are complex and fragile bio-molecules and often interact in complex and unpredictable ways with other proteins and/or protein analysis equipment, causing non-specific (false) signals. Furthermore, many proteins of interest to the life science industry are present in samples at very different concentrations, limiting which proteins can be screened in a single multiplex test and sample dilution. To address these problems, Inanovate has developed a new multiplexed protein quantification technology called Longitudinal Assay Screening (LAS), combining high sensitivity confocal imaging and microfluidics alongside protein based microarrays. Inanovate has completed testing and benchmarking of the first platform integrating LAS technology across a range of demonstration assays. Instead of depending on a 96-well micro-titer plate, the new LAS platform utilizes a glass slide based protein microarray and microfluidics for dispensing and binding samples and detection antibodies. In its most basic form, the protein microarray is composed of capture antibodies for the proteins being measured, as well as positive and negative quality control features for ensuring sample to sample, run to run, lot to lot, and user to user consistency. Conceptually very similar to a real-time PCR reaction, the LAS platform iteratively flows small volumes of sample and labeled detection antibodies across the protein microarray (housed on Inanovate’s fluidic cartridges) and fluorescently measures the formation of the sandwich between capture antibody, analyte of interest, and detection antibody in real-time. Due to the time-resolved nature of the assay, the resulting data is a rate of reaction, instead of a simple final fluorescent reading. This ‘rate of reaction’ based analysis helps deliver the following core advantages of LAS technology, each of which has been demonstrated through the development and validation of a five-plex assay consisting of CRP, IL-6, IL-1a, IL-8 and IL-1b. 1. Large detection range: LAS enables the accurate quantitation of protein concentrations across a 7 log range in a single multiplex test. This eliminates the need for serial dilutions, making multiplexing faster, cheaper and helping preserve precious samples. 2. Multiplexing flexibility: Due to its large detection range, LAS allows users to run virtually any assay of interest in one test, enabling the development of biologically relevant multiplexes. 3. Improved accuracy: LAS produces and analyses real-time kinetic data on protein interactions (rate of reaction data), improving identification and discrimination of background and nonspecific signals, delivering more accurate quantitation at low analyte concentrations. LAS technology holds the potential to become to proteomics what PCR was to genomics. It offers a new approach to multiplexed protein screening that helps address many of the problems presently affecting the utility of biochips in protein biomarker discovery, validation and clinical screening applications. The Poster will both summarize the technical components of the new LAS based platform and present data from the five-plex demonstration work plus recent work on serology assays. Citation Format: Sloan D, Nelson J, Ure D, Votaw G, Stevens E. Next generation protein multiplexing [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 10th Biennial Ovarian Cancer Research Symposium; Sep 8-9, 2014; Seattle, WA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2015;21(16 Suppl):Abstract nr POSTER-TECH-1131.

Improving Human Activity Recognition in Smart Homes

Even if it is now simple and cheap to collect sensors information in a smart home environment, the main issue remains to infer high-level activities from these simple readings. The main contribution of this work is twofold. Firstly, the authors demonstrate the efficiency of a new procedure for learning Optimized Cost-Sensitive Support Vector Machines (OCS-SVM) classifier based on the user inputs to appropriately tackle the problem of class imbalanced data. It uses a new criterion for the selection of the cost parameter attached to the training errors. Secondly, this method is assessed and compared with the Conditional Random Fields (CRF), Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA), k-Nearest Neighbours (k-NN) and the traditional SVM. Several and various experimental results obtained on multiple real world human activity datasets using binary and ubiquitous sensors show that OCS-SVM outperforms the previous state-of-the-art classification approach.

A new realization of rational functions, with applications to linear combination interpolation, the Cuntz relations and kernel decompositions

We introduce the following linear combination interpolation problem (LCI), which in case of simple nodes reads as follows: given distinct numbers and complex numbers and , find all functions analytic in an open set (depending on ) containing the points such thatTo this end, we prove a representation theorem for such functions in terms of an associated polynomial . We give applications of this representation theorem to realization of rational functions and representations of positive definite kernels.

Capital, richesse et croissance

Le livre de Thomas Piketty Le Capital au XXI e siècle est ambivalent. D’un côté, une lecture théorique trop simple, fondamentalement a-institutionnelle, retient un taux de croissance définitivement exogène et ignore l’hétérogénéité du capital, faisant de la répartition des revenus et des richesses une donnée technique sans influence en retour sur la croissance elle-même. D’un autre côté, les faits stylisés rassemblés et les intuitions qui y sont associées incitent réfléchir sur les tenants et aboutissants de la répartition des revenus et des patrimoines pour lui redonner une place centrale dans la théorie économique et lui restituer sa dimension sociale.

Design criteria for synthetic riboswitches acting on transcription

Riboswitches are RNA-based regulators of gene expression composed of a ligand-sensing aptamer domain followed by an overlapping expression platform. The regulation occurs at either the level of transcription (by formation of terminator or antiterminator structures) or translation (by presentation or sequestering of the ribosomal binding site). Due to a modular composition, these elements can be manipulated by combining different aptamers and expression platforms and therefore represent useful tools to regulate gene expression in synthetic biology. Using computationally designed theophylline-dependent riboswitches we show that 2 parameters, terminator hairpin stability and folding traps, have a major impact on the functionality of the designed constructs. These have to be considered very carefully during design phase. Furthermore, a combination of several copies of individual riboswitches leads to a much improved activation ratio between induced and uninduced gene activity and to a linear dose-dependent increase in reporter gene expression. Such serial arrangements of synthetic riboswitches closely resemble their natural counterparts and may form the basis for simple quantitative read out systems for the detection of specific target molecules in the cell.

Real-time detection of histone deacetylase activity with a small molecule fluorescent and spectrophotometric probe.

Histone deacetylases (HDACs) are central players in transcription regulation and important targets in cancer treatment. Activity assays are critical tools for the study of the function and regulation of these enzymes, as well as for the screening of potential inhibitors. We report a small-molecule probe for single-step, continuous detection of deacetylase activity based on an acetyl-lysine mimic functionalized with an amine-reactive fluorophore, designed to undergo rapid intramolecular imine formation upon deacetylation. The probe exhibits a bathochromic shift in the absorption spectrum and changes in fluorescence emission intensity that enable unprecedented real-time detection of HDAC activity of purified enzymes or in cell lysates, and offers a means to evaluate HDAC inhibitors via simple spectrophotometric or fluorescence readings without the need of additional reagents.

Contribution to the Analytical Equation Resolution Using Charts for Analysis and Design of Cylindrical and Conical Open Surge Tanks

In the event of an instantaneous valve closure, the pressure transmitted to a surge tank induces the mass fluctuations that can cause high amplitude of water-level fluctuation in the surge tank for a reasonable cross-sectional area. The height of the surge tank is then designed using this high water level mark generated by the completely closed penstock valve. Using a conical surge tank with a non-constant cross-sectional area can resolve the problems of space and height. When addressing issues in designing open surge tanks, key parameters are usually calculated by using complex equations, which may become cumbersome when multiple iterations are required. A more effective alternative in obtaining these values is the use of simple charts. Firstly, this paper presents and describes the equations used to design open conical surge tanks. Secondly, it introduces user-friendly charts that can be used in the design of cylindrical and conical open surge tanks. The contribution can be a benefit for practicing engineers in this field. A case study is also presented to illustrate the use of these design charts. The case study’s results show that key parameters obtained via successive approximation method required 26 iterations or complex calculations, whereas these values can be obtained by simple reading of the proposed chart. The use of charts to help surge tanks designing, in the case of preliminary designs, can save time and increase design efficiency, while reducing calculation errors.

Cognitive effort and pupil dilation in controlled and automatic processes.

The Five Digits Test (FDT) is a Stroop paradigm test that aims to evaluate executive functions. It is composed of four parts, two of which are related to automatic and two of which are related to controlled processes. It is known that pupillary diameter increases as the task’s cognitive demand increases. In the present study, we evaluated whether the pupillary diameter could distinguish cognitive effort between automated and controlled cognitive processing during the FDT as the task progressed. As a control task, we used a simple reading paradigm with a similar visual aspect as the FDT. We then divided each of the four parts into two blocks in order to evaluate the differences between the first and second half of the task. Results indicated that, compared to a control task, the FDT required higher cognitive effort for each consecutive part. Moreover, the first half of every part of the FDT induced dilation more than the second. The differences in pupil dilation during the first half of the four FDT parts were statistically significant between the parts 2 and 4 (p=0.023), and between the parts 3 and 4 (p=0.006). These results provide further evidence that cognitive effort and pupil diameter can distinguish controlled from automatic processes.