13 research outputs found
Interacting with the Internet of Lighting
No full textMy PhD focusses on interaction with office lighting systems as part of the Internet of Things. By applying a research-through-design approach, I design and evaluate interfaces for personal lighting control, taking into account stakeholders involved with office lighting. A value chain impact analysis provided insights in implications on design, installation, management and use of office lighting. I have constructed a living lab where several studies regarding lighting control are conducted. At this moment, I am setting up a study in a real-world office to validate expected stakeholder impact and for evaluations of new lighting interfaces
The impact of the internet of lighting on the office lighting value network
No full text\u3cp\u3eLighting systems in offices are becoming an infrastructure to connect people, devices, and systems to each other and to the Internet, creating an Internet of Lighting (IoL). This can bring advantages to stakeholders involved, and is expected to have a disruptive impact on the value chain. This study investigates the impact of IoL on the European office lighting value chain. A qualitative stakeholder study indicates four perspectives with corresponding drivers of change: IP to the end node, standardisation, sharing data, and light as a service. Potential impacts on value have been formulated for each driver, and are operationalised towards stakeholders using the layered value network model. The validity of the model is shown by populating it with the European office lighting value chain. The work concludes with insights in the impact of IoL on stakeholders, and recommendations about the user of the model for synthesis of new stakeholder networks.\u3c/p\u3
Evaluating interface characteristics for shared lighting systems in the office environment
No full textIoT developments make shared systems, such as lighting systems, increasingly connected. From an interaction perspective, this offers opportunities for personal control. Especially for lighting, the benefits of personal control have been underlined by research. However, how to design interfaces that realise these potential benefits is much less investigated. This paper presents a long-term qualitative study in which three interfaces for a shared lighting system are evaluated by 17 people working in an open plan office. The interfaces are designed to vary on a number of characteristics, including the distribution over space, interaction modality, and sequence of interaction. Based on the results, we provide new insights in the impact of interface characteristics on lighting use and experience. We find, i.a., that having an interface on a personal multi-purpose device or on a central interface solely dedicated to lighting, influences whether people make individual or more collective lighting adjustments and decisions
Designing multi-user lighting interfaces: four strategies to implement social translucence
No full textIn this work, we investigate how to design multi-user interfaces for shared environments by implementing social translucence: Visibility of socially relevant information, awareness of other people, and accountability for actions. By designing and analysing 126 multi-user lighting interface concepts, we define four strategies to implement socially relevant information into a user interface. The strategies are: (1) to direct attention towards the context, (2) to present information about previous interactions, (3) to make information about needs and wishes explicit, and (4) to facilitate pre-evaluation of a light setting and its impact
sFAS/sFASL and sMMP-7: New soluble markers of prognosis and response to therapy in advanced colorectal cancer
No full text[cat] 1 INTRODUCCIÓN El cáncer colorrectal (CCR) es la tercera causa de diagnóstico de cáncer en todo el mundo. El 11-27% de pacientes se diagnostican en estadio avanzado o metastático. De los inicialmente diagnosticados de CCR localizado, un 25-50% acabarán presentando metástasis. En los últimos años hemos asistido a un leve decremento de la incidencia y de la mortalidad por CCR, probablemente debido a la mejora en los programas de ¨screening¨ y a las mejoras en las estrategias terapéuticas. El CCRM tiene un pronóstico pésimo. La supervivencia global se sitúa entre los 5-6 meses, en pacientes que no reciben tratamiento. En los últimos años, la implementación de las nuevas terapias ha elevado esta media hasta los 15-18 meses. En la actualidad, ¿existe alguna manera para reconocer con que tipo de CCRM estamos tratando? ¿Cómo podemos determinar de antemano como se comportará el CCRM, en términos de pronóstico y respuesta a los tratamientos? Hasta la fecha se han realizado multitud de estudios con la intención de determinar factores pronósticos y predictivos de respuesta en CCRM. En el texto se recogen detalladamente los más importantes. Sin embargo, existen diferentes factores que explican que estos factores no se hayan implementado en la práctica clínica habitual. Entre ellos está la falta de estudios clínicos prospectivos confirmativos y, por otra parte está la heterogeneidad que impera a la hora de realizar los estudios sobre marcadores. Para solventar este último punto, el Nacional Cancer Institute ha creado unas guías a seguir (REMARK). Actualmente hace falta diseñar convenientemente estudios prospectivos confirmativos. En el Hospital Clínic de Barcelona hemos desarrollado (2001) un algoritmo terapéutico basado en el patrón de metástasis al debut de la enfermedad y los algunos de los factores más utilizados como pronósticos. 2 HIPÓTESIS Y OBJETIVOS: En nuestra hipótesis, hemos seleccionado dos determinantes moleculares (MMP-7 y sFAS/sFASL) como potenciales marcadores pro'osticos y predictivos de respuesta a terapia en CCRM. Matrilisina o metaloproteasa-7 (MMP-7) es una enzima proteolítica perteneciente a la familia de las metaloproteasas. Es sintetizada y secretada al medio por células tumorales. Detalles sobre la regulación de su expresión y función pueden hallarse en el texto original. Entre sus actividades destacamos su capacidad de cortar la proteína de membrana FASL. El receptor FAS y su ligando FASL son receptores transmebrana. Su interacción induce la activación de la vía extrínseca de apoptosis. Existen fracciones solubles de estas proteínas: sFAS y sFASL. sFAS es resultante de fenómenos de "splicing" alternativo. Su función es predominantemente proapoptótica. sFASL resulta de cortar la proteína de membrana, a cargo de proteasas como MMP-7. La función de sFASL es básicamente antiapoptótica. Las fracciones solubles pueden anularse entre sí. Su función final depende de los balances entre ellas, por lo que el ratio pude ser un estimador de la función apoptótica final. FAS y FASL son proteínas que se han relacionado con la respuesta apoptótica al tratamiento quimioterápico. El CCRM muestra un patrón de resistencia a la inducción de apoptosis vía FAS-FASL. El papel de las formas solubles sFAS y sFASL en quimioresistencia nunca ha sido evaluado. MMP-7 se ha relacionado con un fenotipo agresivo de CCRM, aunque también con quimioresistencia, debido a su capacidad de corte de FASL. Los niveles séricos de sFAS han demostrado estar aumentados en pacientes con CCRM. La medición de los niveles séricos de sFASL y MMP-7 nunca se ha llevado a cabo en pacientes con CCRM.Nuestra hipótesis es que los niveles séricos de MMP-7, sFAS y sFASL en pacientes con CCRM puden ser marcadores biológicos que estimen la agresividad y la quimioresistencia. A modo de concepto nuevo y, teniendo en cuenta que el tumor varía en el tiempo, está el hecho que los marcadores biológicos deberían poderse obtener no solo en el momento del diagnóstico sino en cualquier momento durante la evolución de la enfermedad. Si esto fuera así, el método de obtención debería ser fácil y no invasivo. Los niveles séricos de MMP-7, sFAS y sFASL y sus variaciones durante el tiempo deberían ser predictores de quimioresistencia en CCRM en cualquier momento durante la enfermedad.Los objetivos se pueden resumir en:A) Determinar si los niveles séricos basales de MMP-7 en pacientes con CCRM y establecer su valor pronóstico. B) Determinar los niveles séricos de sFAS y sFASL en pacientes con CCRM, antes y durante el tratamiento quimioterápico, y establecer una correlación con la respuesta tumoral, de manera que podamos valorar su papel como marcador predictivo de respuesta. C) En función de los resultados obtenidos, diseñar estudios clínicos prospectivos para validar el valor de los niveles séricos de MMP-7 y sFAS/sFASL como nuevos marcadores solubles de pronóstico y respuesta al tratamiento en CCRM. 3. RESULTADOS: Los resultados han sido hechos públicos en dos artículos, uno de ellos aparecido en 2005 y otro de ellos en prensa. Ambos se recogen en la tesis. 4. CONCLUSIONES: En resumen, concluimos que:-MMP-7 puede medirse en el suero y sus niveles basales son un factor pronóstico independiente en pacientes con CCRM.-Las variaciones de los niveles séricos de sFAS/FASL en pacientes con CCRM en tratamiento quimioterápico correlacionan con la respuesta tumoral.-La detección de un descenso del los valores séricos del ratio sFAS/sFASL, habitualmente debido al incremento de sFASL, se relaciona con quimioresistencia.-Los valores séricos del ratio sFAS/sFASL podrían utilizarse como un predictor dinámico de respuesta al tratamiento quimioterápico en pacientes con CCRM y su valor debería validarse en estudios clínicos prospectivos. -Nuestras observaciones, en los campos básico y clínico, indican que MMP-7 estaría implicada en quimioresistencia primaria o intrínseca y adquirida, en CCRM.-Una hipótesis generada "de novo" es que un patrón sérico consistente en niveles altos de MMP-7 y de FASL, tanto si se detecta antes de iniciar el tratamiento como durante éste, implicaría qumioresistencia y, en consecuencia, mal pronóstico. -MMP-7 y sFAS/sFASL, los nuevos marcadores solubles que proponemos, se pueden detector fácilmente a través de una técnica no invasiva.-MMP-7 y sFAS/sFASL, los nuevos marcadores solubles propuestos, se pueden detectar en cualquier momento a lo largo de la enfermedad y refleja la biología tumoral cambiante, de una manera dinámica. -De acuerdo a los resultados presentados y las hipótesis generadas a partir de éstos, hemos diseñado estudios clínicos prospectivos para determinar la relevancia clínica de los niveles séricos de MMP-7 y sFAS/sFASL, como nuevos marcadores solubles de quimioresistencia en CCRM
Design considerations for interactive office lighting interface characteristics, shared and hybrid control
No full textThe inclusion of IoT in office lighting allows people to have personal lighting control at their workplace. To design lighting control interfaces that fit people’s everyday living, we need a better understanding of how people experience lighting interaction in the real world. Still, lighting control is often explored in controlled settings. This work presents a qualitative field study concerning the user experience of two control interfaces for a state-of-the-art lighting system of 400+ luminaires in a real-life office. In ten weeks, 43 people interacted 3937 times. The findings illustrate the effects of using a smartphone for lighting control, how people experience lighting control in shared situations, and issues with automatic system behavior. We define design considerations for interface characteristics, shared control, and hybrid control. The work contributes to making the potential benefits of interactive office lighting a reality
Share and share alike? Social information and interaction style in coordination of shared use
No full textInterfaces are commonly designed from the perspective of individual users, even though most of the systems we use in everyday life are in fact shared. We argue that more attention is needed for system sharing, especially because interfaces are known to influence coordination of shared use. In this work, we aim to deepen the understanding of this relation. To do so, we design three interfaces for a shared lighting system that vary in the type of social information they allow people to share with others and in their overall interaction style. We systematically compare longitudinal and real-life use of the interfaces, evaluating (1) people's appraisal of three types of social information and (2) the influence of an interaction style on coordination of shared use. The results disclose relations between the interface and the amount of verbal communication, consideration, and accountability. With this work, we urge the need for interaction designers to consider shared use
Neutropenia in cancer patients, risk prediction models of neutropenia, and supportive measures
No full textEpidemiology studies the causes and distribution of population health and disease conditions in defined populations. It identifies risk factors for disease which may help to prevent disease and promote health.
Each year, the American Cancer Society describes the epidemiology of cancer in the USA. Breast cancer and CLL are the most common cancers in women and adults, respectively. European data for CLL are limited. For both cancers, chemotherapy is an important treatment option. But side effects such as neutropenia and infections remain the principal dose-limiting toxicities, which may affect the effectiveness of cancer chemotherapy. Several studies evaluated risk factors for chemotherapy-induced neutropenia (CIN; absolute neutrophil count [ANC] <1.5x10^9/L) and febrile neutropenia (FN; ANC <0.5x10^9/L and oral temperature =38° for more than 1 hour): e.g. older age, recent infection, prior chemotherapy, and planned relative dose intensity greater than 85% of standard chemotherapy dosing. The prophylactic use of granulocyte colony-stimulating factors (G-CSFs) has been shown to be protective.
Based on the above mentioned risk factors, a number of risk prediction models have been developed over the years. Very often, the risk prediction models considered patient-related, tumour-related, treatment-related, or genetic factors. The majority of these models are not validated using an independent dataset. Systematic reviews of G-CSFs to prevent neutropenia are available, but do not include new long-acting G-CSFs or observational study designs.
To address the epidemiology of CLL, the incidence and risk factors of CIN and FN, and to develop and externally validate a risk prediction model for the occurrence of FN including a broad range of risk factors, three quantitative studies were conducted and published. The fourth published study summarised the efficacy, effectiveness and safety of G-CSFs for the prevention of CIN and FN.
For the first study, the author conducted a cohort analysis of the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) to identify the epidemiology of CLL, the incidence of neutropenia, and changes in medical resource utilisation of CLL patients. Due to limited data regarding the incidence of neutropenia, the study focused on the epidemiology of CLL and medical resource utilisation of CLL patients. The incidence of CLL was 6.2 per 100’000 person-years and remained stable between 2006 and 2011. Medical resource utilisation in CLL patients increased over the time period from 2000 to 2012. Primary care data from the UK CPRD seemed to be valid to determine the incidence of CLL. These data may not reflect the total of medical resource use in CLL patients as chemotherapy and treatment of related complications such as infections and neutropenia are mainly performed in secondary or tertiary care.
The second study addressed the identification of risk factors and the development of a risk prediction model for FN in a hospital-based breast cancer cohort. Risk factors for FN were lower platelet count and haemoglobin, higher alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and specific allele variants of two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in a gene involved in multidrug resistance. Genetic testing beforehand might be helpful to identify patients at a very high risk of FN. Predictive performance of the model was improved by adding genetic information but overall remained limited.
The third study used an available risk prediction model for FN in Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) patients and applied its prediction rules to an independent dataset of NHL patients. Age, weight, baseline white blood cell count, and planned chemotherapy dose were confirmed to predict the risk of FN. However, there was a decrease of the predictive performance in the independent validation dataset. This limits its use in clinical practice. But if successful risk prediction models are developed and externally validated, these may help to optimally target prophylaxis with G-CSFs to those patients at high risk of FN.
Finally, a systematic literature review was conducted to identify studies evaluating the efficacy, effectiveness and safety of G-CSFs in the prevention of CIN and FN. Most studies showed better efficacy and effectiveness for the long-acting pegfilgrastim than daily filgrastim. Efficacy and safety profiles of new long-acting G-CSFs such as lipegfilgrastim and balugrastim were comparable to pegfilgrastim. In times of increasing health care costs and scarce resources, the cost-efficient use of supportive measures is necessary.
The studies this work is based on showed that the availability of and access to appropriate data sources are necessary to develop and systematically validate risk prediction models. The findings contribute to the development of an evidence-based, efficient and cost-efficient approach to prevent neutropenia in cancer patients
