Examining pedestrians' trust in automated vehicles based on attributes of trust: A qualitative study.

Pedestrians' trust in automated vehicles (AVs) needs to be analyzed and deconstructed to update it from its current broad concept into several lower-level attributes for assessment and measurement. In this study, we have employed virtual reality (VR) and scenario-based interviews to examine the trust of pedestrians toward AVs, based on the attributes of trust and trustworthiness. A hybrid approach of inductive and deductive thematic analysis of the responses of 36 participants was undertaken. Eight such attributes emerged from the analysis, including statistical reliability and dependability, competence, predictability, familiarity, authority/subversion, liberty/oppression, care/harm, and sanctity/degradation. The first four are objective attributes concerning automation trustworthiness and human trust in automation, while the remaining four are subjective attributes, analogous to properties of human morality. The findings of this study provide an empirical grounding for trust theories. Specifically, we have highlighted the importance of subjective qualities in constituting pedestrian-AV trust, including "automation morality" and "care/harm".

Isolating the Effect of Off-Road Glance Duration on Driving Performance: An Exemplar Study Comparing HDD and HUD in Different Driving Scenarios.

OBJECTIVE: We controlled participants' glance behavior while using head-down displays (HDDs) and head-up displays (HUDs) to isolate driving behavioral changes due to use of different display types across different driving environments. BACKGROUND: Recently, HUD technology has been incorporated into vehicles, allowing drivers to, in theory, gather display information without moving their eyes away from the road. Previous studies comparing the impact of HUDs with traditional displays on human performance show differences in both drivers' visual attention and driving performance. Yet no studies have isolated glance from driving behaviors, which limits our ability to understand the cause of these differences and resulting impact on display design. METHOD: We developed a novel method to control visual attention in a driving simulator. Twenty experienced drivers sustained visual attention to in-vehicle HDDs and HUDs while driving in both a simple straight and empty roadway environment and a more realistic driving environment that included traffic and turns. RESULTS: In the realistic environment, but not the simpler environment, we found evidence of differing driving behaviors between display conditions, even though participants' glance behavior was similar. CONCLUSION: Thus, the assumption that visual attention can be evaluated in the same way for different types of vehicle displays may be inaccurate. Differences between driving environments bring the validity of testing HUDs using simplistic driving environments into question. APPLICATION: As we move toward the integration of HUD user interfaces into vehicles, it is important that we develop new, sensitive assessment methods to ensure HUD interfaces are indeed safe for driving.

A randomized clinical study to assess the performance of a marketed denture adhesive in a model of food infiltration in healthy, edentulous adults.

OBJECTIVES: An optimized food infiltration methodology was utilized to assess the objective and subjective efficacy of a marketed denture adhesive regarding denture dislodgment and infiltration and perception of food particles under maxillary and mandibular dentures. A pilot study helped optimize methodologies before the efficacy study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Participants were healthy adults (n =48 for both studies) with fair- to well-fitting and well-made full maxillary and mandibular dentures. In the pilot, groups were a denture adhesive applied in a conventional dabbed-on pattern, a denture adhesive applied in continuous strips, or no adhesive. In the efficacy study, groups were the Test denture adhesive (continuous strips pattern application) or no adhesive, employed in a crossover design. Food infiltration was investigated through measurement of peanut particle mass retrieved from under each denture (30-32 g chewed). No formal statistical testing was performed in the pilot. Statistical analysis in the efficacy study was performed using analysis of variance. Primary efficacy evaluation was combined peanut particle mass from both dentures. Secondary efficacy evaluations included peanut particle mass under separate dentures, participant-reported denture dislodgements, and awareness/rates of how bothersome peanut particles under dentures were. RESULTS: In the pilot, the median peanut particle mass was lower with either pattern application compared with no adhesive. In the efficacy study, peanut particle mass under combined dentures was lower with than without adhesive (geometric mean [product of values]: 5.56 vs. 29.13 mg) with a between-group geometric mean ratio (adhesive over no adhesive) of 0.19 (95% confidence interval: 0.12, 0.30) favoring the Test adhesive (p < .0001). Similar Test adhesive beneficial outcomes in both studies included significantly fewer denture dislodgements and awareness and how bothersome peanut particles under dentures were. Treatments were generally well-tolerated. CONCLUSIONS: These findings, including reduced peanut particle infiltration, fewer denture dislodgments, and lower ratings of bothersomeness, corroborate those studies investigating the benefits of denture adhesive in preventing food infiltration.

A Perceptual Color-Matching Method for Examining Color Blending in Augmented Reality Head-Up Display Graphics.

Augmented reality (AR) offers new ways to visualize information on-the-go. As noted in related work, AR graphics presented via optical see-through AR displays are particularly prone to color blending, whereby intended graphic colors may be perceptually altered by real-world backgrounds, ultimately degrading usability. This work adds to this body of knowledge by presenting a methodology for assessing AR interface color robustness, as quantitatively measured via shifts in the CIE color space, and qualitatively assessed in terms of users' perceived color name. We conducted a human factors study where twelve participants examined eight AR colors atop three real-world backgrounds as viewed through an in-vehicle AR head-up display (HUD); a type of optical see-through display used to project driving-related information atop the forward-looking road scene. Participants completed visual search tasks, matched the perceived AR HUD color against the WCS color palette, and verbally named the perceived color. We present analysis that suggests blue, green, and yellow AR colors are relatively robust, while red and brown are not, and discuss the impact of chromaticity shift and dispersion on outdoor AR interface design. While this work presents a case study in transportation, the methodology is applicable to a wide range of AR displays in many application domains and settings.

U can't touch this! Face touching behaviour whilst driving: implications for health, hygiene and human factors.

Analysis of thirty-one hours of video-data documenting 36 experienced drivers highlighted the prevalence of face-touching, with 819 contacts identified (mean frequency: 26.4 face touches/hour (FT/h); mean duration: 3.9-seconds). Fewer face-touches occurred in high primary workload conditions (where additional physical/cognitive demands were placed on drivers), compared to low workload (4.4 and 26.1 FT/h, respectively). In 42.5% of touches (or 11.2 FT/h), mucous membrane contact was made, with fingertips (33.1%) and thumbs (35.6%) most commonly employed. Individual behaviours differed (ranging from 5.1 to 90.7 FT/h), but there were no significant differences identified between genders, age-groups or hand used. Results are of relevance from an epidemiological/hygiene perspective within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic (and can therefore inform the design of practical solutions and encourage behavioural change to reduce the risk of self-inoculation while driving), but they also help to elucidate how habitual human behaviours are imbricated with the routine accomplishment of tasks.

Practitioner summary: The study highlights the propensity of face touching whilst driving through the analysis of on-road video datasets. Results have implications for the design of technological interventions (such as touchless interfaces and driver monitoring systems) and can inform awareness campaigns to reduce the risk of self-inoculation and infection transmission while driving.

Interdental and subgingival microbiota may affect the tongue microbial ecology and oral malodour in health, gingivitis and periodontitis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Oral malodour is often observed in gingivitis and chronic periodontitis patients, and the tongue microbiota is thought to play a major role in malodorous gas production, including volatile sulphur compounds (VSCs) such as hydrogen sulphide (H2 S) and methanethiol (CH3 SH). This study aimed to examine the link between the presence of VSCs in mouth air (as a marker of oral malodour) and the oral bacterial ecology in the tongue and periodontal niches of healthy, gingivitis and periodontitis patients. METHODS: Participants were clinically assessed using plaque index, bleeding on probing (BOP) and periodontal probing depths, and VSC concentrations in their oral cavity measured using a portable gas chromatograph. Tongue scrapings, subgingival and interdental plaque were collected from healthy individuals (n = 22), and those with gingivitis (n = 14) or chronic periodontitis (n = 15). The bacterial 16S rRNA gene region V3-V4 in these samples was sequenced, and the sequences were analysed using the minimum entropy decomposition pipeline. RESULTS: Elevated VSC concentrations and CH3 SH:H2 S were observed in periodontitis compared with health. Significant ecological differences were observed in the tongue microbiota of healthy subjects with high plaque scores compared to low plaque scores, suggesting a possible connection between the microbiota of the tongue and the periodontium and that key dysbiotic changes may be initiated in the clinically healthy individuals who have higher dental plaque accumulation. Greater subgingival bacterial diversity was positively associated with H2 S in mouth air. Periodontopathic bacteria known to be prolific VSC producers increased in abundance on the tongue associated with increased bleeding on probing (BOP) and total percentage of periodontal pockets >6 mm, supporting the suggestion that the tongue may become a reservoir for periodontopathogens. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the importance of the periodontal microbiota in malodour and has detected dysbiotic changes in the tongue microbiota in periodontitis.

Determining the impact of augmented reality graphic spatial location and motion on driver behaviors.

While researchers have explored benefits of adding augmented reality graphics to vehicle displays, the impact of graphic characteristics have not been well researched. In this paper, we consider the impact of augmented reality graphic spatial location and motion, as well as turn direction, traffic presence, and gender, on participant driving and glance behavior and preferences. Twenty-two participants navigated through a simulated environment while using four different graphics. We employed a novel glance allocation analysis to differentiate information likely gathered with each glace with more granularity. Fixed graphics generally resulted in less visual attention and more time scanning for hazards than animated graphics. Finally, the screen-fixed graphic was preferred by participants over all world-relative graphics, suggesting that graphic spatially integration into the world may not always be necessary in visually complex urban environments like those considered in this study.

Gait Parameters Measured from Wearable Sensors Reliably Detect Freezing of Gait in a Stepping in Place Task.

Freezing of gait (FOG), a debilitating symptom of Parkinson's disease (PD), can be safely studied using the stepping in place (SIP) task. However, clinical, visual identification of FOG during SIP is subjective and time consuming, and automatic FOG detection during SIP currently requires measuring the center of pressure on dual force plates. This study examines whether FOG elicited during SIP in 10 individuals with PD could be reliably detected using kinematic data measured from wearable inertial measurement unit sensors (IMUs). A general, logistic regression model (area under the curve = 0.81) determined that three gait parameters together were overall the most robust predictors of FOG during SIP: arrhythmicity, swing time coefficient of variation, and swing angular range. Participant-specific models revealed varying sets of gait parameters that best predicted FOG for each participant, highlighting variable FOG behaviors, and demonstrated equal or better performance for 6 out of the 10 participants, suggesting the opportunity for model personalization. The results of this study demonstrated that gait parameters measured from wearable IMUs reliably detected FOG during SIP, and the general and participant-specific gait parameters allude to variable FOG behaviors that could inform more personalized approaches for treatment of FOG and gait impairment in PD.

Exploring the effectiveness of a digital voice assistant to maintain driver alertness in partially automated vehicles.

OBJECTIVE: Vehicle automation shifts the driver's role from active operator to passive observer at the potential cost of degrading their alertness. This study investigated the role of an in-vehicle voice-based assistant (VA; conversing about traffic/road environment) to counter the disengaging and fatiguing effects of automation. METHOD: Twenty-four participants undertook two drives- with and without VA in a partially automated vehicle. Participants were subsequently categorized into high and low participation groups (based on their proportion of vocal exchanges with VA). The effectiveness of VA was assessed based on driver alertness measured using Karolinska Sleepiness Scale (KSS), eye-based sleepiness indicators and glance behavior, NASA-TLX workload rating and time to gain motor readiness in response to take-over request and performance rating made by the drivers. RESULTS: Paired samples t-tests comparison of alertness measures across the two drives were conducted. Lower KSS rating, larger pupil diameter, higher glances (rear-mirror, roadside vehicles and signals in the drive with VA) and higher feedback ratings of VA indicated the efficiency of VA in improving driver alertness during automation. However, there was no significant difference in alertness or glance behavior between the driver groups (high and low-PR), although the time to resume steering control was significantly lower in the higher engagement group. CONCLUSION: The study successfully demonstrated the advantages of using a voice assistant (VA) to counter these effects of passive fatigue, for example, by reducing the time to gain motor-readiness following a TOR. The findings show that despite the low engagement in spoken conversation, active listening also positively influenced driver alertness and awareness during the drive in an automated vehicle.

Efficacy of an Experimental Occlusion Technology Toothpaste in the Relief of Dentinal Hypersensitivity: An 8-week Randomised Controlled Trial.

PURPOSE: A novel anhydrous toothpaste formulation has been developed containing the anti-dentinal hypersensitivity (DH) ingredient stannous fluoride (SnF2). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This randomised, controlled, examiner-blind, parallel-group, stratified (by baseline Schiff sensitivity score) study compared efficacy of an experimental 'Test' toothpaste (n = 67) containing 0.454% SnF2, 0.072% sodium fluoride and 5% sodium tripolyphosphate (all percentages w/w) with a negative 'Control' 0.76% sodium monofluorophosphate toothpaste (n = 68) in relieving DH in healthy Chinese adults. After 4-6 weeks acclimatisation, DH was assessed at baseline and following 4 and 8 weeks' twice-daily brushing by response to evaporative (air) (Schiff sensitivity score) and tactile (Yeaple probe) stimuli. An analysis of covariance model was used (factor: treatment group; covariate: baseline Schiff sensitivity score). RESULTS: Both Test and Control toothpastes statistically significantly reduced Schiff sensitivity score from baseline after 8 weeks' use; the Test toothpaste also statistically significantly reduced the score after 4 weeks' use (all p < 0.001). The Test toothpaste reduction was statistically significantly superior to the Control toothpaste reduction at both timepoints (p < 0.001). Percentage differences in treatment effects between Test and Control groups were 24.1% at 4 weeks and 31.7% at 8 weeks. Tactile threshold scores for both treatments statistically significantly increased from baseline at both timepoints (all p < 0.001); however, there were no statistically significant differences between Test and Control groups. Both toothpastes were well-tolerated with no adverse events reported. CONCLUSION: The Test toothpaste containing 0.454% SnF2 reduced DH statistically significantly more than the Control as evaluated by the Schiff sensitivity score, but not by tactile threshold.

Randomised study of intra-oral kinetics of fluoride-containing toothpastes.

OBJECTIVES: This randomised, controlled, analyst blind, crossover study aimed to evaluate and compare salivary fluoride and calcium ion concentration over 60 min following brushing with an assigned treatment and following an orange juice (OJ) or deionised (DI) water rinse 60 min post-brushing. METHODS: Study treatments, both containing 1150 ppm fluoride as NaF and 5% w/w KNO3, were the Test (including 1.2 % w/w cocamidopropyl betaine) and Comparator (including tetrasodium pyrophosphate and sodium lauryl sulphate) toothpastes. Twenty nine participants were randomised to treatment. RESULTS: A sharp increase in salivary fluoride ion concentration immediately post-brushing with either toothpaste decreased over time. Fluoride concentration following Test toothpaste use was numerically higher than the Comparator at all timepoints, with a significant difference from 10 min post-brushing (p < .05). Following the 60 min rinse, there were no significant differences between the Test or Comparator + OJ groups in salivary fluoride concentration but the Test + DI water group was significantly lower than Test (p < .001) or Comparator (p < .001) + OJ groups. A reduction in salivary calcium ion concentration was seen immediately post-brushing and after the OJ rinse with both toothpastes. Significant differences were observed in favour of the Test toothpaste at all timepoints (p < .05) and for Test and Comparator + OJ group (p < .001) compared with Test + DI water rinse. Both treatments were generally well-tolerated. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that toothpaste formulations with identical declared fluoride concentrations and the same fluoride source give rise to differing intraoral fluoride concentrations over time, which are potentially related to different formulation excipient effects. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: By understanding the interaction of toothpaste formulation excipients in the oral environment, formulations can be developed that maximise retention of fluoride in the oral environment.

A randomised oral fluoride retention study comparing intra-oral kinetics of fluoride-containing dentifrices before and after dietary acid exposure.

OBJECTIVE: This exploratory, randomised, single-blind, crossover, study evaluated fluoride and calcium ion concentrations and pH following use of one of two 1450 ppm fluoride (NaF), 5% w/w KNO3 dentifrices: (1) test dentifrice (with cocamidopropyl betaine) with an orange juice (OJ) rinse; (2) test dentifrice with a deionized (DI) water rinse or (3) comparator dentifrice (with sodium lauryl sulphate and tetrasodium pyrophosphate) with an OJ rinse. DESIGN: Eighteen participants used their assigned dentifrice, rinsed with DI water, then expectorate was collected. Sixty min post-brushing, participants rinsed with OJ or DI water then expectorate was collected. Saliva samples were collected pre-brushing and at 1, 5, 10, 15, 30 and 60 min post-brushing and following the 60 min OJ/DI water rinse. The pH of samples was taken. RESULTS: Significant differences (p < 0.05) were found in salivary fluoride ion concentrations between test and comparator dentifrices at 30 and 60 min and following the 60 min OJ rinse, favouring the former. Significant differences were also found between test and comparator dentifrices for salivary calcium ion concentration at 1, 5 and 10 min (p < 0.0001), favouring the former, and between test or comparator + OJ rinse and test + water rinse (p < 0.005), favouring the latter. No pH differences were shown prior to OJ/water rinse. Products were generally well-tolerated. CONCLUSIONS: Results confirmed that acid-labile fluoride is released from the oral cavity following a dietary acid challenge and showed that formulation excipients may impact on retention of such.

In situ efficacy of an experimental toothpaste on enamel rehardening and prevention of demineralisation: a randomised, controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: A novel sodium fluoride toothpaste containing lactate ion and polyvinylmethylether-maleic anhydride has been developed to promote enamel remineralisation and resistance to demineralisation. In this in situ study, we compared this toothpaste ('Test') with a stannous fluoride-zinc citrate (SnF2-Zn) toothpaste ('Reference') (both 1100-1150 ppm fluoride) and a fluoride-free toothpaste ('Placebo') using an enamel dental erosion-rehardening model. METHODS: In each phase of this randomised, investigator-blind, crossover study, participants wore palatal appliances holding bovine enamel specimens with erosive lesions. They brushed their natural teeth with either the Test, Reference or Placebo toothpastes, then swished the resultant slurry. Specimens were removed at 2 h and 4 h post-brushing and exposed to an in vitro acid challenge. Surface microhardness was measured at each stage; enamel fluoride uptake was measured after in situ rehardening. Surface microhardness recovery, relative erosion resistance, enamel fluoride uptake and acid resistance ratio were calculated at both timepoints. RESULTS: Sixty two randomised participants completed the study. Test toothpaste treatment yielded significantly greater surface microhardness recovery, relative erosion resistance and enamel fluoride uptake values than either Reference or Placebo toothpastes after 2 and 4 h. The acid resistance ratio value for Test toothpaste was significantly greater than either of the other treatments after 2 h; after 4 h, it was significantly greater versus Placebo only. No treatment-related adverse events were reported. CONCLUSIONS: In this in situ model, the novel-formulation sodium fluoride toothpaste enhanced enamel rehardening and overall protection against demineralisation compared with a fluoride-free toothpaste and a marketed SnF2-Zn toothpaste. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov; NCT03296072; registered September 28, 2017.

Impact of toothpaste on oral health-related quality of life in people with dentine hypersensitivity.

BACKGROUND: Dentine hypersensitivity can impact functional status and everyday activities such as eating and talking. This study aimed to assess changes in oral health-related quality of life measures in individuals with dentine hypersensitivity following long-term use (24 weeks) of a commercially available toothpaste marketed for dentine hypersensitivity relief. METHODS: This study was conducted across two sites and enrolled 75 adults with ≥2 non-adjacent sensitive teeth. Participants were assigned to twice-daily brushing with toothpaste containing 0.454% w/w stannous fluoride (1100 ppm fluoride). Every 4 weeks, participant-reported outcomes were assessed using the Dentine Hypersensitivity Experience Questionnaire (DHEQ), a condition specific oral health-related quality of life scale that has five domains and includes questions on social and emotional impact, restrictions, adaptations and effect on life overall. Responses to a clinically applied evaporative (air) stimulus were assessed using the examiner-observed Schiff sensitivity scale and Labelled Magnitude Scales (LMS), which included dentine hypersensitivity-specific descriptors of intensity, duration, tolerability and descriptive qualities of the participant's response. RESULTS: Participant-reported outcomes demonstrated reduction of the impact of dentine hypersensitivity over time on health-related quality of life, as measured by the DHEQ. This reached statistical significance from Week 8 onwards (p < 0.0001 versus baseline) for the Total DHEQ score, with scores continually decreasing at each timepoint. Most domain scores followed a similar pattern. Statistically significant reductions were also detected for the examiner-observed Schiff Sensitivity Scale scores at all timepoints (including at 4 weeks) (p < 0.05), which were mirrored by LMS responses. The toothpaste was generally well-tolerated. CONCLUSIONS: These results show that long-term use of a sensitivity toothpaste containing 0.454% w/w stannous fluoride has a beneficial, ongoing, impact on the oral health-related quality of life of people with dentine hypersensitivity. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study was registered at Clinicaltrials.gov ( https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02752958 ) on April 27, 2016.

A randomized clinical study to evaluate the effect of denture adhesive application technique on food particle accumulation under dentures.

Food ingress under dentures is a common problem that may be reduced by denture adhesive use. The objective of this study was to explore the effect of the mode of application of a denture adhesive on reducing accumulation of food particles under dentures. This was a single-centre, controlled, single-blind, randomized, three-treatment, three-period, crossover study in participants with complete, removable well-fitting, well-made upper/lower dentures. Treatments were: 1) experimental denture adhesive application (test adhesive) applied with a precision applicator as continuous strips; 2) marketed denture adhesive (positive control) applied using a flat ribbon nozzle as dabs; 3) no adhesive. Food-occlusion testing was performed by assessing peanut particle migration under dentures with denture retention/stability evaluated using the Kapur Index (Olshan modification). Differences were assessed using an ANOVA model. Adhesive oozing and perceptions of the adhesives were assessed by questionnaire. All 83 randomized participants completed the study. There were no significant differences between positive control or test adhesives versus no adhesive, or between test adhesive and positive control, for mass of peanut particles recovered from dentures. Both adhesives had significantly higher retention and stability scores compared with no adhesive (all P < .01). Participants reported significantly higher scores for denture comfort, confidence, satisfaction and movement with both adhesives versus no adhesive (all P < .01). No differences in adhesive ooze were reported between adhesives. No adverse events were reported. In conclusion, there was no difference in performance, as measured by peanut particle mass recovered from upper/lower dentures, for the test adhesive, positive control and no adhesive.

Feel the noise: Mid-air ultrasound haptics as a novel human-vehicle interaction paradigm.

Focussed ultrasound can be used to create the sensation of touch in mid-air. Combined with gestures, this can provide haptic feedback to guide users, thereby overcoming the lack of agency associated with pure gestural interfaces, and reducing the need for vision - it is therefore particularly apropos of the driving domain. In a counter-balanced 2 × 2 driving simulator study, a traditional in-vehicle touchscreen was compared with a virtual mid-air gestural interface, both with and without ultrasound haptics. Forty-eight experienced drivers (28 male, 20 female) undertook representative in-vehicle tasks - discrete target selections and continuous slider-bar manipulations - whilst driving. Results show that haptifying gestures with ultrasound was particularly effective in reducing visual demand (number of long glances and mean off-road glance time), and increasing performance (shortest interaction times, highest number of correct responses and least 'overshoots') associated with continuous tasks. In contrast, for discrete, target-selections, the touchscreen enabled the highest accuracy and quickest responses, particularly when combined with haptic feedback to guide interactions, although this also increased visual demand. Subjectively, the gesture interfaces invited higher ratings of arousal compared to the more familiar touch-surface technology, and participants indicated the lowest levels of workload (highest performance, lowest frustration) associated with the gesture-haptics interface. In addition, gestures were preferred by participants for continuous tasks. The study shows practical utility and clear potential for the use of haptified gestures in the automotive domain.

A randomised bite force study assessing two currently marketed denture adhesive products compared with no-adhesive control.

Unlike other oral care products, there are limited technologies in the denture adhesive category with the majority based on polymethyl vinyl ether/maleic anhydride (PVM/MA) polymer. Carbomer-based denture adhesives are less well studied, and there are few clinical studies directly comparing performance of denture adhesives based on different technologies. This single-centre, randomised, three-treatment, three-period, examiner-blind, crossover study compared a carbomer-based denture adhesive (Test adhesive) with a PVM/MA-based adhesive (Reference adhesive) and no adhesive using incisal bite force measurements (area over baseline over 12 hr; AOB0-12) in participants with a well-made and at least moderately well-fitting complete maxillary denture. Eligible participants were randomised to a treatment sequence and bit on a force transducer with increasing force until their maxillary denture dislodged. This procedure was performed prior to treatment application (baseline) and at 0.5, 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 hr following application. Forty-four participants were included in the modified intent-to-treat population. AOB0-12 favoured both Test adhesive to No adhesive (difference: 2.12 lbs; 95% CI [1.25, 3.00]; p < 0.0001) and Reference adhesive to No adhesive (difference: 2.76 lbs; 95% CI [1.89, 3.63]; p < 0.0001). There was a numerical difference in AOB0-12 for Test versus Reference adhesive (-0.63 lbs; [-1.51, 0.25]); however, this was not statistically significant (p = 0.1555). Treatments were generally well tolerated. Both PVM/MA and carbomer-based denture adhesives demonstrated statistically significantly superior denture retention compared with no adhesive over 12 hr, with no statistically significant difference between adhesives.

Evaluating secondary input devices to support an automotive touchscreen HMI: A cross-cultural simulator study conducted in the UK and China.

Touchscreen Human-Machine Interfaces (HMIs) are a well-established and popular choice to provide the primary control interface between driver and vehicle, yet inherently demand some visual attention. Employing a secondary device with the touchscreen may reduce the demand but there is some debate about which device is most suitable, with current manufacturers favouring different solutions and applying these internationally. We present an empirical driving simulator study, conducted in the UK and China, in which 48 participants undertook typical in-vehicle tasks utilising either a touchscreen, rotary-controller, steering-wheel-controls or touchpad. In both the UK and China, the touchscreen was the most preferred/least demanding to use, and the touchpad least preferred/most demanding, whereas the rotary-controller was generally favoured by UK drivers and steering-wheel-controls were more popular in China. Chinese drivers were more excited by the novelty of the technology, and spent more time attending to the devices while driving, leading to an increase in off-road glance time and a corresponding detriment to vehicle control. Even so, Chinese drivers rated devices as easier-to-use while driving, and felt that they interfered less with their driving performance, compared to their UK counterparts. Results suggest that the most effective solution (to maximise performance/acceptance, while minimising visual demand) is to maintain the touchscreen as the primary control interface (e.g. for top-level tasks), and supplement this with a secondary device that is only enabled for certain actions; moreover, different devices may be employed in different cultural markets. Further work is required to explore these recommendations in greater depth (e.g. during extended or real-world testing), and to validate the findings and approach in other cultural contexts.

Randomized Controlled Clinical Study to Determine the Oral and Dermal Tolerability of an Experimental Denture Wipe.

PURPOSE: To evaluate oral and dermal tolerance following use and user acceptability of an experimental denture-cleansing wipe. An exploratory objective was to develop a method to assess denture wipe effectiveness in removing debris from denture surfaces. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a single-center, randomized, controlled, parallel-group, examiner-blind study in participants with ≥1 full/partial denture. Participants were randomized to clean their dentures with the denture wipe (n = 76) or water (n = 76) up to 4 times per day for 14 days. Tolerability was assessed by treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs), oral soft tissue examination, and lead hand dermatological assessment. Acceptability was assessed by questionnaire. The feasibility of a methodology to assess the efficacy of the wipe at removing food particles was also evaluated through determination of the mass of chewed peanut particles that the wipe removed after a single use (n = 31). RESULTS: The proportion of participants experiencing oral TEAEs by day 14 was 0.039% with the denture wipe (lip injury [n = 1], mouth injury [n = 2]) and 0.013% with the water rinse (coated tongue [n = 1]). There were no dermal TEAEs and no TEAE-related study withdrawals. Skin irritation scores with the denture wipe remained unchanged from baseline. Comparing before vs. after cleaning with the denture wipe, a higher proportion of participants rated their dentures as feeling extremely/very fresh (28.9% pre-/85.5% post-cleaning), feeling extremely/very clean (34.2%/86.8%) and looking extremely/very clean (43.5%/85.5%). More denture-wipe group participants than water-rinse group participants were extremely/very satisfied with the amount of debris removed from their dentures (88.1% vs 72.4%). The methodology used to assess the weight of peanut particles captured from the wipes/dentures appeared to be a feasible investigation technique. CONCLUSIONS: The denture wipe was generally well-tolerated and had good user acceptability. The methodology for assessing the mass of peanut particles removed by denture wipes was successful.

Randomized exploratory study to measure ion release from calcium sodium phosphosilicate-containing dentifrice.

This exploratory study investigated salivary concentrations of silicon, calcium, sodium, and phosphorous over a 60-min time period following the use of a calcium sodium phosphosilicate (CSPS)-containing dentifrice. Participants brushed with a dentifrice containing 5% (w/w) or 0% (w/w) CSPS or swilled with a slurry containing 5% (w/w) CSPS/glycerol. Saliva samples were collected before, and 2, 5, 15, and 60 min after, product use and were analysed using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy. Intra-oral pH measurements were also taken. Primary analysis was of centrifuged saliva supernatant containing only dissolved material. At most time points, the CSPS-containing dentifrice and slurry generated significantly more salivary silicon than the dentifrice containing 0% CSPS. At 2-15 min after brushing there was significantly more salivary calcium after use of the CSPS-containing dentifrice and slurry, compared with the 0% CSPS dentifrice; a significant reduction, from baseline, in salivary calcium after use of dentifrice containing 0% CSPS; and an increase in salivary sodium after use of dentifrices containing either 5% or 0% CSPS, but no differences between them. Salivary phosphorous concentration decreased significantly with all treatments 2-5 min after use. There were no significant between-treatment differences in intra-oral pH. Products were generally well tolerated. This study establishes that it is possible to measure changes in salivary ionic composition derived through oral retention of CSPS, delivered via a dentifrice.