Academic Papers

Dittmar A, Murray DM, van der Veer GC, & Witchel HJ (2021). Cognitive ergonomics: a European take on HCI. Interactions, 28(2), 88-92. download

This thought-leading piece about how the field of cognitive ergonomics should integrate with human computer interaction appeared in Interactions, the glossy magazine for HCI practitioners worldwide published in New York by the Association of Computing Machines.

Nagasubramony A, Player RF, Westling CEI, Galvin K, Witchel HJ (2021). Using wearable inertial sensors to detect different strategies for the sit-to-stand transition in multiple sclerosis.  ECCE 2019 Proceedings of the 38th European Conference on Cognitive Ergonomics (Siena).  Article 14. doi.org/10.1145/3452853.3452862 (4 pages, novel research)

Witchel HJ, Langlands K, MacQueen HA, Kumar P, Torrens C, Hall SK (2020).  Online Learning versus classroom learning: Questioning who learns what. Physiology News, 119, 16-17. doi: 10.36866/pn.119.16 download

This thought-leading piece about physiology teaching appeared in Physiology News, the flagship magazine for all physiologists in the UK.

Witchel HJ, Thompson GA, Jones CI, Westling CEI, Romero J, Nicotra A, Maag B, Critchley HD (2020). Spelling errors and ‘shouting’ capitalization lead to additive penalties to trustworthiness of online health information: Randomized Experiment with Laypersons. Journal of Medical Internet Research 22(6): e15171. doi: 10.2196/15171 download

Witchel HJ, Santos CP, Ackah JK, Chockalingam N, Westling CEI (2020). Proxemics of Screen Mediation: Engagement with reading on screen manifests as diminished variation due to self-control, rather than diminished mean distance from screen. Electronic Journal of Communication, 29(3/4): 4. (9 pages). download

Witchel HJ, Westling CEI (2019). A Manifesto for Cognitive Ergonomics: Re-evaluating technology usability for the 21st century. In Murray DM, van der Veer GC, de Haan G, Dittmar A (eds). ReCogErg 2019: Rethinking Cognitive Ergonomics. CEUR Workshop Proceedings. Vol. 2539: 26-35. Position paper (4 pages). download

Söderström U, Li S, Claxton HL, Holmes DC, Ranji TT, Santos CP, Westling CEI, Witchel HJ (2019). Toward emotional recognition during HCI using marker-based automated video tracking. ECCE 2019 Proceedings of the 37th European Conference on Cognitive Ergonomics. doi: 10.1145/3335082.3335103

Subhani BR, Amos-Oluwole OI, Claxton HL, Holmes DC, Westling CEI, Witchel HJ (2019). Compliant activity rather than difficulty accelerates thought probe responsiveness and inhibits deliberate mind wandering. Behaviour and Information Technology, 38(10), 1048-1059. doi: 10.1080/0144929X.2019.1655095 download

Amos-Oluwole OI, Subhani BR, Claxton HL, Holmes DC, Westling CEI, Witchel HJ (2019). Compliant activity inhibits deliberate mind wandering and accelerates thought probe responsiveness compared to compliant inactivity. ECCE 2019 Proceedings of the 37th European Conference on Cognitive Ergonomics. doi: 10.1145/3335082.3335115

The above manuscript won first prize for best paper (out of 60 papers) at ECCE 2019

Witchel HJ, Westling CEI, Tee J, Ranji TT, Needham R, Healey A, Santos CP, Ackah KJ, Chalkley J, and Chockalingam N (2019). Can fidgeting be used to measure student engagement in online learning tasks? Research Matters: Proceedings of Enhancing Higher Education through Research (University of Brighton).pp. 39-48. https://staff.brighton.ac.uk/clt/Pages/Research/publications.aspx. Review. download

Witchel HJ, Guppy JH, Smith C (2018). The Self-Assessment Dilemma: an open-source, ethical method using Matlab to formulate multiple choice quiz questions for online reinforcement. Advances in Physiology Education, 42(4), 697-703.

Witchel HJ, Oberndorfer C, Needham R, Healy A, Westling CEI, Guppy JH, Bush J, Barth J, Herberz C, Roggen D, Eskofier BM, Rashid W, Chockalingam N and Klucken J (2018). Thigh-Derived Inertial Sensor Metrics to Assess the Sit-to-Stand and Stand-to-Sit Transitions in the Timed Up and Go (TUG) Task for Quantifying Mobility Impairment in Multiple Sclerosis. Frontiers in Neurology. 9:684. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2018.00684

Lavia L, Witchel HJ, Aletta F, Steffens J, Fiebig A, Kang J, Howes C & Healey PG (2018). Non-participant observation methods for soundscape design and urban planning. In Aletta F and Xiao J (eds) Handbook of Research on Perception-Driven Approaches to Urban Assessment and Design (pp. 73-99). IGI Global.

Witchel HJ, Claxton HL, Holmes DC, Ranji T, Chalkley JD, Santos CP, Westling CEI, Valstar MF, Celuszak M, Fagan P (2018). A trigger-substrate model for smiling during an automated formative self-assessment quiz: engagement is the substrate, not frustration. ECCE 2018 Proceedings of the 36th European Conference on Cognitive Ergonomics. doi: 10.1145/3232078.3232084

Witchel HJ, Needham R, Healy A, Guppy JH, Bush J, Oberndorfer C, Herberz C, Westling CEI, Kim D, Roggen D, Barth J, Eskofier B, Rashid W, Chockalingam N and Klucken J. (2017). Using Wearable Inertial Sensors to Compare Different Versions of the Dual Task Paradigm during Walking. ECCE 2017 Proceedings of the 35th European Conference on Cognitive Ergonomics, pp. 150-157. doi: 10.1145/3121283.3121285

Chalkley J, Ranji TT, Westling CEI, Chockalingam N, Witchel HJ (2017). Wearable sensor metric: screen engagement rather than interest causes NIMI of wrist fidgeting more than ankles. ECCE 2017 Proceedings of the 35th European Conference on Cognitive Ergonomics, pp. 158-161. doi: 10.1145/3121283.3121290

Witchel HJ, Santos CP, Ackah JK, Westling CEI, Chockalingam N (2016). Non-Instrumental Movement Inhibition (NIMI) differentially suppresses head and thigh movements during screenic engagement: dependence on interaction. Frontiers in Psychology, 7: 157. 10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00157
http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00157/full

The above manuscript was highlighted by a full column article in: Nuwer R (2016, May). Plugged in or powered down? Scientific American 314(5): 15. download or get it from: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/now-computers-can-tell-when-you-re-bored/

Witchel HJ, Santos CP, Ackah JK, Tee J, Chockalingam N, Westling CEI (2016). The Complex Relationship between Empathy, Engagement and Boredom. ECCE 2016 Proceedings of the 34th European Conference on Cognitive Ergonomics, Article No. 4.

Westling CEI, Santos CP, Ackah JK, Chockalingam N, Witchel HJ (2016). Experience design: video without faces increases engagement but not empathy. ECCE 2016 Proceedings of the 34th European Conference on Cognitive Ergonomics, Article No. 5.

Wilkes S, Wongsriruksa S, Howes, P, Gamester R, Witchel H, Conreen M, Zaughlin Z and Miodownik M (2015). Design tools for interdisciplinary translation of material experiences. Materials and Design, 90: 1228-37.

Easteal, M., Bannister, S., Kang, J., Aletta, F., Lavia, L., & Witchel, H. (2014). Urban Sound Planning in Brighton and Hove. In Forum Acusticum 2014. Polish Acoustical Society Krakow, Poland.

Howes PD, Wongsriruksa S, Laughlin Z, Witchel HJ and Miodownik M (2014).  The perception of materials through oral sensation. PLoS One, 9(8), e105035.

Alexandrou AJ., Milnes JT, Sun SZ, Fermini B, Kim SC, Jenkinson S, Witchel HJ, Hancox JC, Leaney JL (2014). The human ether-à-go-go related gene (hERG) K+ channel blockade by the investigative Selective-Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor CONA-437: limited dependence on S6 aromatic residues. J Physiol Pharmacol, 65(4), 511-523.

Lopez-Mendez A, Westling CEI, Emonet R, Easteal M, Lavia L, Witchel HJ, Odobez J-M (2014). Automated bobbing and phase analysis to measure walking entrainment to music. ICIP 2014 International Conference on Image Processing. Paris

Witchel HJ, Westling C, Tee J, Healy A, Needham R, Chockalingam N (2014).  A time series feature of variability to detect two types of boredom from motion capture of the head and shoulders. ECCE 2014 Proceedings of the 32nd European Conference on Cognitive Ergonomics.

Witchel HJ, Westling C, Tee J, Healy A, Needham R, Chockalingam N (2014).  What does not happen: quantifying embodied engagement using NIMI and self-adaptors. Participations Journal of Audience and Reception Studies. 11(1): Article 18.

Witchel HJ (2013).  Engagement: the Inputs and the Outputs. Proceedings of Inputs-Outputs: An Interdisciplinary Conference on Engagement in HCI and Performance. ACM: New York.  Article 1.  DOI: 10.1145/2557595.2557596

Witchel HJ, Westling CEI, (2013).  Inputs and Outputs: Engagement in Digital Media from the Maker’s Perspective.  Excursions, 4(1).   www.excursions-journal.org.uk/index.php/excursions/article/view/80

Witchel HJ, Westling C, Needham R, Healy A, Chockalingam N (2013).  Mean head and shoulder heights when seated: subconscious postural cycles during discrete, computerised stimuli. ECCE 2013 Proceedings of the 31st European Conference on Cognitive Ergonomics. New York: Association for Computing Machinery, 189-192.

Witchel HJ, Lavia L, Westling CEI, Healy A, Needham R, Chockalingam N (2013).  Using body language indicators for assessing the effects of soundscape quality on individuals.  AIA-DAGA Conference on Acoustics.  Berlin: Deutschen Gesellschaft für Akustik.

Westling CE, Barker L, Healy A, Needham R, Witchel HJ, Chockalingam N (2013). Spatial Data Correlation: An interactive 3D visualisation tool for correlating the motion capture data streams from different devices.  EVA – Electronic Visualisation in the Arts 2013 (London).

Witchel HJ, Healy A, Needham R, Westling C, Chockalingam N (2012).  Comparing four technologies for measuring postural micromovements during monitor engagement. ECCE 2012 Proceedings of the 30th European Conference on Cognitive Ergonomics. New York: Association for Computing Machinery, 189-192.

Lavia, L., Easteal, M., Close, D., Witchel, H., Axelsson, O., Ware, M., & Dixon, M. (2012, August). Sounding Brighton: Practical approaches towards better soundscapes. In INTER-NOISE and NOISE-CON Congress and Conference Proceedings (Vol. 2012, No. 11, pp. 436-444). New York: Institute of Noise Control Engineering.

Lavia, L. R., Dixon, M., Axelsson, O., & Witchel, H. (2011). Using a soundscape approach to develop an acoustic ecology plan for a city. The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 130(4), 2532-2532.

Adeniran I, McPate MJ, Witchel HJ, Hancox JC, Zhang H (2011). Increased Vulnerability of Human Ventricle to Re-entrant Excitation in hERG-linked Variant 1 Short QT Syndrome. PLoS Comput Biol. 7(12):e1002313.

Möller C, Witchel H (2011). Automated electrophysiology makes the pace for cardiac ion channel safety screening. Front Pharmacol. 2:73.

Laughlin Z, Conreen M, Witchel HJ, and Miodownik M (2011).  The use of standard electrode potentials to predict the taste of solid metals. Food Quality and Preference, 22(7): 628-637.

Witchel HJ (2011). Drug-induced hERG block and long QT syndrome. Cardiovasc. Therapeu., 29(4):251-9.

 

Milnes JT, Witchel HJ, Leaney JL, Leishman DJ, Hancox JC (2010). Investigating dynamic protocol-dependence of hERG potassium channel inhibition at 37 degrees C: Cisapride versus dofetilide. J Pharmacol Toxicol Methods 61(2):178-91

 

Witchel HJ (2010). Emerging trends in ion channel-based assays for predicting the cardiac safety of drugs. Investigative Drugs 13(2):90-6.

 

McPate MJ, Zhang H, Cordeiro JM, Dempsey CE, Witchel HJ, Hancox JC (2009). hERG1a/1b heteromeric currents exhibit amplified attenuation of inactivation in variant 1 short QT syndrome. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 386(1):111-7.

 

McPate MJ, Zhang H, Adeniran I, Cordeiro JM, Witchel HJ, Hancox JC (2009).  Comparative effects of the short QT N588K mutation at 37°C on hERG K+ channel current during ventricular, purkinje fibre and atrial action potentials: an action potential clamp study. J. Pharm. Pharmacol., 60(1):23-41.

 

McPate MJ, Duncan RS, Hancox JC, Witchel HJ (2008).  Pharmacology of the short QT syndrome N588K-hERG K+ channel mutation: differential impact on selected class I and class III antiarrhythmic drugs. Br. J. Pharmacol., 155(6):957-66.

 

Belsey MJ, Davies AR, Witchel HJ, Kozlowski RZ (2007).  Inhibition of ERK and JNK Decreases Both Osmosensitive Taurine Release and Cell Proliferation in Glioma Cells. Neurochem. Res., 32(11):1940-9.

 

Witchel HJ (2007).  The hERG potassium channel as therapeutic target.  Expert Opin. Ther. Targets, 11(3):321-36.

 

Duncan RS, McPate MJ, Ridley JM, Gao Z, James AF, Leishman DJ, Leaney JL, Witchel HJ, Hancox JC (2007) Inhibition of the HERG potassium channel by the tricyclic antidepressant doxepin. Biochem. Pharmacol., 74(3):425-37.

 

Milnes JT, Witchel HJ, Leaney JL, Leishman DJ, Hancox JC (2006).  hERG K+ channel blockade by the antipsychotic drug thioridazine: An obligatory role for the S6 helix residue F656.  Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 351(1):273-80.

 

Davies SJ, Hood SD, Argyropoulos SV, Morris K, Bell C, Witchel HJ, Jackson PR, Nutt DJ, Potokar JP (2006) Depleting serotonin enhances both cardiovascular and psychological stress reactivity in recovered patients with anxiety disorders. J Clin Psychopharmacol. 26(4): 414-8

 

McPate MJ, Duncan RS, Witchel HJ, Hancox JC (2006).  Disopyramide is an effective inhibitor of mutant HERG K+ channels involved in variant 1 short QT syndrome. J. Mol. Cell. Cardiol. 41 (3): 563-6.

 

The above manuscript was highlighted in the journal by an accompanying editorial/commentary: Dumaine R and Antzelevitch C (2006). Disopyramide: although potentially life-threatening in the setting oflong QT, could it be life-saving in short QT syndrome. J. Mol. Cell. Cardiol., 41(3): 421-3.

 

McPate MJ, Witchel HJ, Hancox JC (2006).  Short QT syndrome.  Future Cardiology, 2(3):  293-301.

 

Ridley JM, Milnes JT, Witchel HJ, Hancox JC (2006).  Inhibition of the HERG K+ channel by the antifungal drug ketoconazole depends on channel gating and involves the S6 residue F656.  FEBS Lett., 580(8):1999-2005.

 

Alexandrou AJ, Duncan RS, Sullivan A, Hancox JC, Leishman DJ, Witchel HJ, Leaney JL. (2006). Mechanism of hERG K+ channel blockade by the fluoroquinolone antibiotic moxifloxacin.  Br. J. Pharmacol., 147(8):905-16.

 

Duncan RS, Ridley JM, Dempsey CE, Leishman DJ, Leaney JL, Hancox JC, Witchel HJ (2006).  Erythromycin block of the HERG K+ channel: Accessibility to F656 and Y652.  Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 341(2):500-6.

 

Ridley JM, Milnes JT, Hancox JC, Witchel HJ (2006). Clemastine, a conventional antihistamine, is a high potency inhibitor of the HERG K+ channel. J. Mol. Cell. Cardiol., 40(1):107-118.

 

Mitcheson JS, Perry M, Stansfeld P, Sanguinetti MC, Witchel HJ and Hancox JC (2005).  Structural determinants for high affinity block of hERG potassium channels.  In The hERG Potassium channel: structure, function and long QT syndrome, pp. 136-149.  DJ Chadwick and J Goode (eds.).  Novartis Foundation Symposium 266.  John Wiley and Sons: Chichester (UK).

 

McPate MJ, Duncan RS, Milnes JT, Witchel HJ, Hancox JC (2005).  The N588K-HERG K+ channel mutation in the ‘short QT syndrome’: Mechanism of gain-in-function determined at 37ºC. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 334(2):441-449.

 

 

Ridley JM, Milnes JT, Witchel HJ, Hancox JC (2004).  High affinity HERG K+ channel blockade by the antiarrhythmic agent dronedarone: resistance to mutations of the S6 residues Y652 and F656. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 325(3):883-91.

 

Finlayson K, Witchel HJ, McCulloch J, Sharkey J (2004).  Acquired QT interval prolongation and HERG: implications for drug discovery and development.  Eur. J. Pharmacol. 500(1-3): 129-42.

 

Argyropoulos SV, Hood SD, Adrover M, Bell CJ, Rich AS, Nash JR, Rich NC, Witchel HJ, Nutt DJ (2004).  Tryptophan depletion reverses the therapeutic effect of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in social anxiety disorder. Biol. Psychiatry, 56(7): 503-509.

 

Witchel HJ, Dempsey CE, Sessions RB, Perry M, Milnes JT, Hancox JC, Mitcheson JS (2004).  The low potency, voltage-dependent HERG blocker propafenone – molecular determinants and drug trapping. Mol. Pharmacol. 66(5):1201-12.

 

Miller AL, Witchel HJ, Hancox JC, Jeremy JY, Jackson CL, Plane F (2004). Moderately Elevated Plasma Homocysteine Impairs Functional Endothelial Recovery Following Denudation of Mouse Carotid Arteries. Metabolism, 53(6): 760-5.

 

Ridley JM, Dooley PC, Milnes JT, Witchel HJ, Hancox JC (2004).  Lidoflazine is a high affinity blocker of the HERG K+ channel.  J. Mol. Cell. Cardiol., 36(5): 701-5.

 

Yuill KH, Borg JJ, Ridley JM, Milnes JT, Witchel HJ, Paul AA, Kozlowski RZ, Hancox JC (2004). Potent inhibition of human cardiac potassium (HERG) channels by the anti-estrogen agent clomiphene – without QT interval prolongation. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 318(2): 556-61.

 

Lastraioli E, Guasti L, Crociani O, Polvani S, Hofmann G, Witchel H, Bencini L, Calistri M, Messerini L, Scatizzi M, Moretti R, Wanke E, Olivotto M, Mugnai G, and Arcangeli A (2004). herg1 gene and HERG1 protein are overexpressed in colorectal cancers and regulate cell invasion of tumor cells. Cancer Res., 64(2): 606-611.

 

Witchel HJ, Milnes JT, Mitcheson JS and Hancox JC (2003). Troubleshooting problems with in vitro screening of drugs for QT interval prolongation using HERG K+ channels expressed in mammalian cell lines and Xenopus oocytes.  J. Pharmacol. Toxicol Methods, 48(2): 65-80.

 

Belsey MJ, Culliford SJ, Morley RM, Witchel HJ and Kozlowski RZ (2003). Newly identified structurally disparate modulators of osmosensitive taurine efflux inhibit cell cycle progression. Eur. J. Pharmacol., 474(2-3): 185-193.

 

Milnes JT, Dempsey CE, Ridley JM, Crociani O, Arcangeli A, Hancox JC, and Witchel HJ (2003).  Preferential closed channel blockade of HERG potassium currents by chemically synthesized BeKm-1 scorpion toxin. FEBS Lett., 547: 20-26.

 

Milnes JT, Crociani O, Arcangeli A, Hancox JC and Witchel HJ (2003). Blockade of HERG potassium currents by fluvoxamine: incomplete attenuation by S6 mutations at F656 or Y652. Brit. J. Pharmacol., 139(5): 887-898.

 

The above manuscript was highlighted in the journal by an accompanying editorial/commentary: Mitcheson JS (2003). Drug binding to HERG channels: evidence for a ‘non-aromatic’ site for fluvoxamine. Brit. J. Pharmacol., 139: 883-884.

 

Ridley JM, Milnes JT, Benest AV, Masters, JD, Witchel HJ, Hancox JC (2003).  Characterisation of recombinant HERG K+ channel blockade by the Class Ia antiarrhythmic drug procainamide. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 306(2): 388-393.

 

Ridley JM, Milnes JT, Zhang YH, Witchel HJ, Hancox JC (2003).  Inhibition of HERG K+ current and prolongation of the guinea-pig ventricular action potential by 4-aminopyridine. J. Physiol., 549.3: 667-672.

 

We were informed by J. Physiol. that the above manuscript was rated as being in its top ten most electronically accessed articles for June 2003 (its release month), indicating a high level of interest.

 

Witchel HJ, Hancox JC, Nutt DJ and Wilson S (2003).  Antipsychotics, HERG and sudden death.  Brit. J. Psychiatry, 182: 171-172.

 

Witchel HJ, Hancox JC and Nutt DJ (2003). Psychotropic drugs, cardiac arrhythmia and sudden death.  J. Clin. Psychopharmacol., 23(1): 58-77.

 

 

Paul AA, Witchel HJ and Hancox JC (2002).  Inhibition of the current of heterologously expressed HERG potassium channels by flecainide and comparison with quinidine, propafenone and lignocaine. Brit. J. Pharmacol., 136: 717-29.

 

Witchel HJ, Pabbathi VK, Hofmann G, Paul AA and Hancox JC (2002). Inhibitory actions of the selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor citalopram on HERG and ventricular L-type calcium currents. FEBS Lett., 512:59-66.

 

Paul AA, Leishman DJ, Witchel HJ and Hancox JC (2001).  Effects of the class III antiarrhythmic agent dofetilide (uk-38,798) on 1-type calcium current from rabbit ventricular myocytes. J. Pharm. Pharmacol.. 53:1671-1678.

 

Paul AA, Witchel HJ and Hancox JC (2001). Inhibition of HERG potassium channel current by the Class Ia antiarrhythmic agent disopyramide. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 280:1243-1250.

 

Witchel HJ and Hancox JC (2000). Familial and acquired Long QT Syndrome and the cardiac rapid delayed rectifier potassium current. Clin. Exp. Pharmacol. Physiol., 27:753-766.

 

Hancox JC and Witchel HJ (2000).  Psychotropic drugs, HERG, and the heart.  Lancet 356: 428.

 

Teschemacher AG, Seward EP, Hancox JC and Witchel HJ (1999).  Inhibition of the current of heterologously expressed HERG potassium channels by imipramine and amitriptyline.  Brit. J. Pharmacol., 128:479-485.

 

Hancox JC, Witchel HJ and Varghese A (1998).  Alteration of HERG current profile during the cardiac ventricular action potential, following a pore mutation.  Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 253:719-24.

 

Hancox JC, Levi AJ and Witchel HJ (1998).  Time course and voltage dependence of expressed HERG current compared with native ‘rapid’ delayed rectifier K current during the cardiac ventricular action potential.  Eur. J. Physiol. Pflügers Archiv, 436:843-853.

 

Witchel HJ, Maitland NJ and Meech RW.  (1996).  Milligram quantity preparation of RNA from whole Beroë ovata, a marine invertebrate with a high fluid content.  Biotechniques 21:1024-6.

 

Witchel HJ and Steinhardt RA (1990). 1-methyladenine can consistently induce a fura-detectable transient calcium increase which is neither necessary nor sufficient for maturation of oocytes of the starfish Asterina miniata. Dev. Biol. 141:393-8.