Augmented Reality (AR) presentations may be visual or auditory. Auditory presentation has the potential to provide hands-free and visually non-obstructing cues. Recently, we have developed a 3D audio wearable system that can be used to provide alerts and informational cues to a mobile user in such a manner as to appear to emanate from specific locations in the user's environment. In order to study registration errors in 3D Audio AR presentations, we conducted a perceptual training experiment in which visual and auditory cues were presented to observers. The results of this experiment suggest that perceived registration errors may be reduced through head movement and through training presentations that include both visual and auditory cues.

No abstract

No abstract

Rockwell Science Center is investigating novel human-computer interaction techniques for enhancing the situational awareness in future flight decks. One aspect is to provide intuitive displays that provide the vital information and the spatial awareness by augmenting the real world with an overlay of relevant information registered to the real world. Such Augmented Reality (AR) techniques can be employed during bad weather scenarios to permit flying in Visual Flight Rules (VFR) in conditions which would normally require Instrumental Flight Rules (IFR). These systems could easily be implemented on heads-up displays (HUD). The advantage of AR systems vs. purely synthetic vision (SV) systems is that the pilot can relate the information overlay to real objects in the world, whereas SV systems provide a constant virtual view, where inconsistencies can hardly be detected. The development of components for such a system led to a demonstrator implemented on a PC. A camera grabs video images which are overlaid with registered information. Orientation of the camera is obtained from an inclinometer and a magnetometer; position is acquired from GPS. In a possible implementation in an airplane, the on-board attitude information can be used for obtaining correct registration. If visibility is sufficient, computer vision modules can be used to fine-tune the registration by matching visual cues with database features. This technology would be especially useful for landing approaches. The current demonstrator provides a frame-rate of 15 fps, using a live video feed as background with an overlay of avionics symbology in the foreground. In addition, terrain rendering from a 1 arc sec. digital elevation model database can be overlaid to provide synthetic vision in case of limited visibility. For true outdoor testing (on ground level), the system has been implemented on a wearable computer.

The aim of this study is to elucidate in which subset of patients chemotherapy offers a real benefit. Methods: We retrospectively investigated the US National Cancer Data Base and evaluated patients who underwent pancreatic resection (pancreaticoduodenectomy, partial and distal pancreatic resection) for PNET from 2004 to 2014. Differences between two groups, Chemotherapy Group (CH), and Surgery Alone Group (S) were analyzed, and comparison was performed to identify the beneficial effect of chemotherapy. Study end point was overall survival. Results: Population study included 13822 patients, 8259 were in Group CH and 5563 were in Group S The two groups were well matched in demographic profile including age, race distribution, co-morbidities (Charlson/Deyo Score), pathological stage, grading and status of resection margins. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression model demonstrated pathological grade (HR1.680), positive surgical margin (HR 1.403), local invasion (HR 1.645) associated with overall survival, instead lymphovascular invasion (HR 1.030, NS) and positive node (HR 1.175) have a marginal effect on it. Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated no superior survival for Chemotherapy group when compared to Surgery alone group despite positive node (mean OS 27.3 months vs 27.8 months, NS),positive surgical margin (mean OS 27.3 months vs 28.5 months, NS), positive lymphovascular invasion (mean OS 28.4 months vs 36.1 months, NS) and local invasion (mean OS 29.0 months vs 29.9 months, NS). Chemotherapy has a limited effect only with poorly/undifferentiated lesion (mean OS 25.5 months vs 17.6 months, p < .005). Conclusion:Current chemotherapy regimen has a beneficial effect limited to high grade lesion. Extensive surgical resection is the only treatment that offers a survival benefit even for cancer that presents with aggressive features including positive margins, local invasion, positive lymphnode and presence of lymphovascular invasion.