Ss evaluated either numerical size or physical size of stimuli varying along both dimensions. Size congruity, distance, and semantic congruency effects were obtained for numerical comparisons of digit pairs and for comparisons of digits with an internal standard (5). Only the size congruity effect was obtained for physical judgments. It was smaller for pairs in which both stimuli were either both smaller or both larger than 5 than for pairs that contained the digit 5. The results are consistent with the notion that intentional processing is mainly algorithm based, whereas autonomous processing is mainly memory based. Implications of the results for models of numerical processing are discussed. This article is based in part on a thesis prepared by Joachim Meyer under the supervision of Joseph Tzelgov and Avishai Henik in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a Master of Arts degree in psychology. Portions of the results reported in the article were presented at the 21st scientific meeting of the

The effects of a warning's validity and display characteristics on the responses to binary warnings were studied in a categorization task that resembled the control of a simulated production environment. Students performed a visual signal detection task and were aided by a binary warning indicator. Experimental conditions differed in the validity of the warning and its proximity to the judged stimulus. Participants' performance improved over the course of the experiment, and they partly adjusted their responses to the validity of the warnings but continued to respond to nonvalid warnings throughout the experiment. It was particularly difficult to ignore the nonvalid information when it was integrated with the continuous information. There was evidence for nonoptimal use of the information from the warning system, whether it was valid or not valid. The results indicate a possible distinction between two dimensions of users' trust in warning systems: compliance and reliance. Actual or potential implications of this research include improved warning design based on analysis of system and operator characteristics.

A clinical isolate of Klebsiella ozaenae with transferable resistance to broad-spectrum cephalosporins produces a ,(-lactamase determined by plasmid pBP60. The P-lactamase had the same isoelectric point as SHV-1 (7.6). From heteroduplex analysis, an extensive homology between the two bla genes could be deduced; therefore, the new ,l-lactamase was designated SHV-2. Enzymatic studies revealed that SHV-2 was able to hydrolyze broad-spectrum cephalosporins due to an increased affinity of these compounds for the enzyme. The assumption that SHV-2 is a natural mutant of SHV-1 was strongly supported by the isolation of a laboratory mutant of SHV-1 that showed activities similar to those of SHV-2.The main indications for broad-spectrum cephalosporins are life-threatening infections with gram-negative bacteria like those of the family Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. These antibiotics are more or less stable to all 3-lactamases produced by these strains.

This paper presents a conceptual analysis of dynamic hazard warning systems. The normative aspects of responses to warnings are analyzed, and a distinction is made between two forms of responses to a warning system, referred to as compliance and reliance. Determinants of the responses to warnings are identified, and they are broadly classified into normative, task, and operator factors. Existing research on warnings and automation is assessed in view of this conceptual framework, and directions for future research are discussed. Some implications of this analysis for practitioners, designers, and researchers are indicated. Actual or potential applications of this research include recommendations for the analysis, design, and study of dynamic warning systems.

BackgroundThe INSIGHTS-IPF registry provides one of the largest data sets of clinical data and self-reported patient related outcomes including health related quality of life (QoL) on patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). We aimed to describe associations of various QoL instruments between each other and with patient characteristics at baseline.MethodsSix hundred twenty-three IPF patients with available QoL data (St George’s Respiratory Questionnaire SGRQ, UCSD Shortness-of-Breath Questionnaire SoB, EuroQol visual analogue scale and index EQ-5D, Well-being Index WHO-5) were analysed. Mean age was 69.6 ± 8.7 years, 77% were males, mean disease duration 2.0 ± 3.3 years, FVC pred was 67.5 ± 17.8%, DLCO pred 35.6 ± 17%.ResultsMean points were SGRQ total 48.3, UCSD SoB 47.8, EQ-5D VAS 66.8, and WHO-5 13.9. These instruments had a high or very high correlation (exception WHO-5 to EQ-5D VAS with moderate correlation). On bivariate analysis, QoL by SGRQ total was statistically significantly associated with clinical symptoms (NYHA; p < 0.001), number of comorbidities (p < 0.05), hospitalisation rate (p < 0.01) and disease severity (as measured by GAP score, CPI, FVC and 6-min walk test; p < 0.05 each). Multivariate analyses showed a significant association between QoL (by SGRQ total) and IPF duration, FVC, age, NYHA class and indication for long-term oxygen treatment.ConclusionsOverall, IPF patients under real-life conditions have lower QoL compared to those in clinical studies. There is a meaningful relationship between QoL and various patient characteristics.Trial registrationThe INSIGHTS-IPF registry is registered at Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01695408).Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12931-017-0621-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The assessment of the relative value of different design features for users is of great interest for software designers. Users' evaluations are generally measured through questionnaires. We suggest that other evaluation methods, including economic measures, may provide different estimates of the relative value of features. In a laboratory experiment we created four versions of a data-entry application by independently manipulating the system's usability and aesthetics. Users' evaluations of the four experimental systems were obtained in a within-subjects design. In addition, five between-subjects experimental conditions were created, based on the evaluation method (questionnaire alone or auction and questionnaire), monetary incentives (present or absent), and experience in using the system (present or absent). In questionnaire-based responses, the systems' usability affected evaluations of usability as well as aesthetics. Similarly, the systems' aesthetics affected evaluations of both aesthetics and usability. Questionnaire-based evaluations of usability and aesthetics were not affected by experience with the system or by monetary performance incentives. Auction bids were only influenced by the system's usability: bids corresponded to the objective performance levels that could be attained with the different systems. The results suggest that by using economic methods, researchers and practitioners can obtain system evaluations that are strongly related to performance criteria and that may be more valid when the evaluation context favors task-oriented performance.

RationaleThere is a paucity of observational data on antifibrotic therapy for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).ObjectiveWe aimed to assess the course of disease of IPF patients with and without antifibrotic therapy under real-life conditions.MethodsWe analysed data from a non-interventional, prospective cohort study of consecutively enrolled IPF patients from 20 ILD expert centres in Germany. Data quality was ensured by automated plausibility checks, on-site monitoring, and source data verification. Propensity scores were applied to account for known differences in baseline characteristics between patients with and without antifibrotic therapy.ResultsAmong the 588 patients suitable for analysis, the mean age was 69.8±9.1 years, and 81.0% were males. The mean duration of disease since diagnosis was 1.8±3.4 years. The mean % predicted value at baseline for forced vital capacity (FVC) and diffusion capacity (DLCO) were 68.6±18.8 and 37.8±18.5, respectively. During a mean follow-up of 1.2±0.7 years, 194 (33.0%) patients died. The one-year and two-year survival rates were 87% versus 46% and 62% versus 21%, respectively, for patients with versus without antifibrotic therapy. The risk of death was 37% lower in patients with antifibrotic therapy (HR=0.63, 95%CI: 0.45; 0.87; p=0.005). The results were robust (and remained statistically significant) on multivariable analysis. Overall decline of FVC and DLco was slow and did not differ significantly between patients with or without antifibrotic therapy.ConclusionsSurvival was significantly higher in IPF patients with antifibrotic therapy, but the course of lung function parameters was similar in patients with and without antifibrotic therapy. This suggests that in clinical practice premature mortality of IPF patients eventually occurs despite stable measurements for FVC and DLco.

BackgroundQuality of life (QoL) is profoundly impaired in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). However, data is limited regarding the course of QoL. We therefore analysed longitudinal data from the German INSIGHTS-IPF registry.MethodsClinical status and QoL were assessed at enrollment and subsequently at 6- to 12-months intervals. A range of different QoL questionnaires including the St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) were used.ResultsData from 424 patients were included; 76.9% male; mean age 68.7 ± 9.1 years, mean FVC% predicted 75.9 ± 19.4, mean DLCO% predicted 36.1 ± 15.9. QoL worsened significantly during follow-up with higher total SGRQ scores (increased by 1.47 per year; 95% CI: 1.17 to 1.76; p < 0.001) and higher UCSD-SOBQ scores and lower EQ-5D VAS and WHO-5 scores. An absolute decline in FVC% predicted of > 10% was associated with a significant deterioration in SGRQ (increasing by 9.08 units; 95% CI: 2.48 to 15.67; p = 0.007), while patients with stable or improved FVC had no significantly change in SGRQ. Patients with a > 10% decrease of DLCO % predicted also had a significant increase in SGRQ (+ 7.79 units; 95% CI: 0.85 to 14.73; p = 0.028), while SQRQ was almost stable in patients with stable or improved DLCO. Patients who died had a significant greater increase in SGRQ total scores (mean 11.8 ± 18.6) at their last follow-up visit prior to death compared to survivors (mean 4.2 ± 18.9; HR = 1.03; 95% CI: 1.01 to 1.04; p < 0.001). All QoL scores across the follow-up period were significantly worse in hospitalised patients compared to non-hospitalised patients, with the worst scores reported in those hospitalised for acute exacerbations.ConclusionsQoL assessments in the INSIGHTS-IPF registry demonstrate a close relationship between QoL and clinically meaningful changes in lung function, comorbidities, disease duration and clinical course of IPF, including hospitalisation and mortality.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s12931-019-1020-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.