bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Generalization of the Ignorance Score: Continuous Ranked Version and Its Decomposition
Authors: Tödter Julian , Ahrens Bodo
Published: January 2012

The Brier score (BS) and its generalizations to the multicategory ranked probability score (RPS) and to the continuous ranked probability score (CRPS) are the prominent verification measures for probabilistic forecasts. Particularly, their decompositions into measures quantifying the reliability, resolution, and uncertainty of the forecasts are attractive. Information theory sets up the natural framework for forecast verification. Recently, it has been shown that the BS is a second-order approximation of the information-based ignorance score (IGN), which also contains easily interpretable components and can also be generalized to a ranked version (RIGN). Here, the IGN, its generalizations, and decompositions are systematically discussed in analogy to the variants of the BS. Additionally, a continuous ranked IGN (CRIGN) is introduced in analogy to the CRPS. The applicability and usefulness of the conceptually appealing CRIGN are illustrated, together with an algorithm to evaluate its components reliability, resolution, and uncertainty for ensemble-generated forecasts.
An empirical case study of a child sexual abuse prevention initiative in Georgia
Authors: Schober Daniel J , Fawcett Stephen B. , Thigpen Sally , Curtis Anna , Wright Renee
Published: January 2012

Objective: This empirical case study describes Prevent Child Abuse Georgia’s effort to prevent child sexual abuse (CSA) by educating communities throughout the state on supporting preventive behaviour. The initiative consisted of three major components: (1) dissemination of CSA prevention messages and materials; (2) a statewide helpline that helped callers respond to the warning signs of CSA and engage in protective behaviours; and (3) a statewide education and training programme.

Design: An empirical case study design was used.

Setting: This prevention initiative took place across the state of Georgia.

Method: Archival records kept by Prevent Child Abuse Georgia were reviewed to determine the outputs of this statewide effort. Additionally, the annual incidence of child sexual abuse substantiated by the Georgia Department of Human Resources (cases per 100,000 children < 18 years of age) was calculated to examine changes in the broader context of Prevent Child Abuse Georgia’s statewide CSA prevention effort (from 1997–2007).

Results: Results show that Prevent Child Abuse Georgia provided 232,822 informational materials to Georgia residents, assisted 1,271 helpline callers to support responses to the warning signs of CSA, and trained 7,700 individuals. According to records from the Georgia Department of Human Services, from 2002–7, the incidence of child sexual abuse decreased four of the five years of the implementation period.

Conclusion: This empirical case study describes the steps a statewide effort can take to promote the primary prevention of CSA. Prevent Child Abuse Georgia engaged in a variety of activities to educate the public, increase CSA prevention knowledge, and promote preventive behaviour.
Optimization of manufacturing process effects on brake friction material wear
Authors: Aleksendrić Dragan , Senatore Adolfo
Published: January 2012

Manufacturing parameters of brake friction materials have a crucial impact on its friction and wear behavior. The effects of manufacturing parameters on wear have been modeled aiming at the optimization of facing behaviors. The influences of the five most important manufacturing parameters, such as molding pressure, molding time, molding temperature, heat-treatment temperature, and heat-treatment time, have been investigated. Their effects have been investigated on different formulations of the friction material and under different brake interface temperatures. The neuro-genetic optimization model was developed to be able to predict and optimize the effects of manufacturing parameters on the brake friction material wear.
Image processing assisted stress estimation method for ring compression tests of polymer composite pipes at large displacements
Authors: Czél G , Czigány T
Published: January 2012

A novel method for estimating the fracture stress of ring specimens cut from polymer composite pipes is presented. The method applies image processing for determining the large displacements of the specimen. For image processing, photographs of the deformed specimen were taken before fracture, and a Fourier polynomial was fitted to the points of the digitalized cross section of the ring specimen. The presented mechanical model is based on the captured deformed shape, and it considers the geometrical nonlinearities of the problem. For stress calculation from bending moments, the Navier formula was selected. It was found that the developed method is capable of estimating the stress at break of polymer composite specimens under ring compression.
Increased Atherogenesis during Streptococcus mutans Infection in ApoE-null Mice
Authors: Kesavalu L. , Lucas A.R. , Verma R.K. , Liu L. , Dai E. , Sampson E. , Progulske-Fox A.
Published: January 2012

Streptococcus mutans, a dental caries pathogen, also causes endocarditis and is detected in atheroscelerotic plaque. We investigated the potential for an invasive strain of S. mutans, OMZ175, to accelerate plaque growth in apolipoprotein E deficient (ApoEnull) mice without and with balloon angioplasty (BA) injury, a model of restenosis. ApoEnull mice were divided into 4 groups (N = 10), 2 with and 2 without BA. One each of the BA and non-BA groups was infected with S. mutans ( Sm). S. mutans DNA, plaque area, inflammatory cell invasion, and Toll-like receptor (TLR) expression were measured at 6-20 weeks post-infection. S. mutans genomic DNA was detected in the aorta, liver, spleen, and heart. Plaque growth was significantly increased in infected mice with BA ( Sm+BA) vs. those in the non-infected groups ( p < 0.03). Plaque size was increased after infection without BA ( Sm), but did not reach significance. Aortic specimens from both S. mutans and Sm+BA groups displayed increased numbers of macrophages, and TLR4 expression was increased in BA mice. In conclusion, S. mutans infection accelerated plaque growth, macrophage invasion, and TLR4 expression after angioplasty. S. mutans may also be associated with atherosclerotic plaque growth in non-injured arteries.
The effect of fabric constructional parameters on percentage reflectance and surface roughness of polyester fabrics
Authors: Akgun Mine , Becerir Behcet , Alpay Halil Rifat
Published: January 2012

The relationship between surface roughness, fabric balance and percentage reflectance of various types of fabrics based on polyester yarn has been investigated. The warp yarn type and count, warp density and warp yarn twist were kept constant while the effect of variation in weft density, weft yarn filament number, fiber fineness and weave pattern were studied. Measurements were conducted on pre-treated undyed fabric samples and the results assessed in relation to their constructional properties. A change in weave pattern from plain to satin increased the percentage reflectance and surface roughness, but decreased the fabric balance. An increase in weft density similarly increased the percentage reflectance and fabric balance, but decreased surface roughness. The relationship of percentage reflectance to surface roughness and fabric balance implied that light reflectance from the fabric surface was dependent on weave pattern, on weft density and on fiber fineness. The long yarn floats present in satin fabric structures increased light reflectance from the fabric surface, but increased the fabric surface roughness and decreased the fabric balance due to the looser fabric structure.
Studies of three-dimensional trajectories of breast movement for better bra design
Authors: Zhou Jie , Yu Winnie , Ng Sun-Pui
Published: January 2012

This paper presents a new method for evaluating 3D breast motion relative to the thorax using a new breast coordinate system. A local virtual origin is defined by four breast boundary points, in a constant relative distance from four bone-fixed thoracic points. The validity and reliability of the method was tested with 11 subjects and confirmed (interclass correlation coefficient = 1.00). The feasibility of the new system was tested with two subjects with pert and ptotic breasts, respectively. Each subject participated in motion experiments whilst treadmill jogging, with and without a sports bra. In the braless motion experiments, the breast movement trajectories of six breast positions resembled a butterfly shape. In a jogging cycle, there was a single anterior and medial peak, and a double peak in the vertical breast displacement. The ptotic breast displacement during jogging was larger and wavy, with a more evident vertical and medial-lateral vibration. It tended to move more medially and anteriorly than the pert breast. The bra trajectories of the subjects wearing sports bras showed that the superior movements of the upper breast need further control. To achieve this, it was proposed that the neckline of the bra should better fit the upper breast boundary.
A low-order canyon model to estimate the influence of canyon shape on the maximum urban heat island effect
Authors: Levermore GJ , Cheung HKW
Published: January 2012

A simple mathematical model of an urban canyon is developed. The canyon model consists of horizontal and vertical slabs providing thermal storage for heat and absorption of and shielding from solar radiation and long wave radiation to the sky. The model is compared to a horizontal slab in a rural location to examine the effect of the canyon shape. The results show the same trend as measurements by others, with increasing urban heat island (UHI) effect with increasing canyon aspect ratio. The model is then used to determine the maximum UHI effect by producing a simple algebraic equation. This compares well with measurements in Greater Manchester of canyon and rural temperatures although some empirical adjustments are required. The strong influence of cloud cover is shown by the model and measurements as are the canyon shape and the ground temperature.

Practical applications: The model is simple and developed in terms applicable to building services engineers, using ventilation rates through the canyon. It also does not require more than the standard weather data available in a CIBSE Test Reference Year or a Design Summer Year. From this model, the UHI effect can be developed to adjust the data from a rural site to that of an urban and city centre site. This is useful for building designers to take account of the UHI effect which they cannot do at present. This would also be useful for UKCP09 data which have been released.
Characterization of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ether Toxicity in Wistar Han Rats and Use of Liver Microarray Data for Predicting Disease Susceptibilities
Authors: Dunnick J. K. , Brix A. , Cunny H. , Vallant M. , Shockley K. R.
Published: January 2012

The toxicity of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), flame-retardant components, was characterized in offspring from Wistar Han dams exposed by gavage to a PBDE mixture (DE71) starting at gestation day 6 and continuing to weaning on postnatal day (PND) 21. Offspring from the dams underwent PBDE direct dosing by gavage at the same dose as their dams from PND 12 to PND 21, and then after weaning for another thirteen weeks. Liver samples were collected at PND 22 and week 13 for liver gene expression analysis (Affymetrix Rat Genome 230 2.0 Array). Treatment with PBDE induced 1,066 liver gene transcript changes in females and 1,200 transcriptional changes in males at PND 22 (false discovery rate < 0.01), but only 263 liver transcriptional changes at thirteen weeks in male rats (false discovery rate < 0.05). No significant differences in dose response were found between male and female pups. Transcript changes at PND 22 coded for proteins in xenobiotic, sterol, and lipid metabolism, and cell cycle regulation, and overlapped rodent liver transcript patterns after a high-fat diet or phenobarbital exposure. These findings, along with the observed PBDE-induced liver hypertrophy and vacuolization, suggest that long-term PBDE exposure has the potential to modify cell functions that contribute to metabolic disease and/or cancer susceptibilities.
Effects of the weld groove shape and geometry on residual stresses in dissimilar butt-welded pipes
Authors: Akbari Davood , Farahani Mohammadreza , Soltani Naser
Published: January 2012

The thermo mechanical behavior of the welding process was analyzed using the finite element technique to determine the residual stress magnitude and distribution in butt-welded pipes. An efficient user subroutine was developed in a finite element model to consider the effects of phase transformation in the analysis. The calculated results verified using the determined data presented by Deng for similar weld joints and measured data by the hole drilling technique for dissimilar weld joint.

Good correspondence between the finite element results and experimental data infers that the computational procedure developed in this study is an effective method for residual stress prediction in dissimilar welded joints. The effects of pipe wall-thickness, weld groove angle and root opening distance on welding residual stresses in dissimilar butt-welded pipes were studied using the prepared finite element model. It is observed that the pipe wall-thickness has important influences on the residual stress magnitude and distribution. Meaningful influences from weld groove angles and root opening distances are observed on the axial residual stresses in the ferritic side.
Need and supply gap in occupational health manpower in India
Authors: Sharma Kavya , Zodpey Sanjay P , Tiwari Rajnarayan R
Published: January 2012

Industrial growth in India has resulted in increased employment opportunities, thereby inflating the size of the workforce engaged in both organized and unorganized sectors. This workforce is exposed to various occupational factors at workplace and hence is susceptible to occupational diseases, which requires trained occupational health manpower. The present study is undertaken to estimate the need and supply gap of occupational health manpower, based on present regulations. The total workforce in the organized sector in India is 26.92 million. There are 254,951 working registered industrial factories in India, with about 11.16 million workers. These factories have employed 6953 factory medical officers (FMOs) and 2308 safety officers (SOs). Hence, for 26.92 million of total workforce engaged in organized sector, we would require a total of 16,728 FMOs and 5619 SOs, thereby estimating the deficit of 58% for FMOs and 59% for SOs based on current ratio of employment.
Experimental and three-dimensional numerical investigations on H2/air continuous rotating detonation wave
Authors: Liu Shi-Jie , Lin Zhi-Yong , Liu Wei-Dong , Lin Wei , Sun Ming-Bo
Published: January 2012

Results of both experimental and three-dimensional numerical studies on H2/air continuous rotating detonation are presented. Tangentially injected H2/O2 hotshot jet was used to ignite the engine successfully. Under the condition of air and hydrogen mass flow rates of 265 and 7.7 g/s and the ambient pressure of 11 kPa, H2/air continuous rotating detonation has been realized for about 300 ms. Time–frequency characteristics of the measured results were analyzed by different methods, and the results agreed well with each other. The detonation wave propagated stably during the test, with the propagation frequency variation of 5.35–5.85 kHz. The mean propagation velocity was 1674.3 m/s, which was about 85.0% of the theoretical value. Corresponding three-dimensional numerical simulation was carried out. Flow field structure of the rotating detonation wave was analyzed, and the curvature effect was also considered. Propagation processes of both the experiment and simulation results were compared. The variation of detonation wave propagation frequency of the simulation case was 6.262–6.27 kHz, with the mean propagation velocity of 1870.1 m/s, which was larger than the experiment result. Distribution of the mean combustor pressure along the axis direction was analyzed. Within the heat release zone, the mean pressure decreased greatly, and it changed gently beyond this zone. The changing tendency of both the experimental and numerical results agreed with each other, but there were differences between the pressure values.
AQAK: A library anxiety scale for undergraduate students
Authors: Anwar Mumtaz A , Al-Qallaf Charlene L , Al-Kandari Noriah M , Al-Ansari Husain A
Published: January 2012

The library environment has drastically changed since 1992 when Bostick’s Library Anxiety Scale was developed. This project aimed to develop a scale specifically for undergraduate students. A three-stage study was conducted, using students of Kuwait University. A variety of statistical measures, including factor analysis, were used to process the data. A test re-test was undertaken to estimate the reliability of the scale. The resulting scale, named AQAK, consists of 40 statements clustered into five factors which are: (1) Library resources, (2) Library staff, (3) User knowledge, (4) Library environment, and (5) User education. This new scale with a Cronbach’s alpha value of 0.904 is 90 percent reliable. The gender of the participants, the type of high school attended, and the college where they are studying have no relationship with library anxiety.
Police Employee Disciplinary Matrix
Authors: Shane Jon M.
Published: January 2012

This article explores the concept of a rational sentencing structure for imposing internal police discipline that helps practitioners make more reasoned and consistent decisions when dispensing discipline. The data consists of 360 hr of participant observation of police trials involving sworn police officers and civilian employees in the Newark, New Jersey Police Department. Various agency records provide an understanding of the formal influences surrounding police discipline. The findings suggest a disciplinary sentencing matrix is more rational than the traditional discretionary method, which is largely informal and relies on best estimates. The matrix may increase consistency in disciplinary sentences, which is an important aspect of organizational justice that leaves police employees with a sense of fairness in management’s disciplinary decisions.
Social interaction experiences of adults with Moebius Syndrome: A focus group
Authors: Bogart Kathleen R. , Tickle-Degnen Linda , Joffe Matthew S.
Published: January 2012

This focus group study explored the social interaction experiences and strategies of 12 adults with Moebius Syndrome, a rare congenital condition characterized by facial paralysis. Content analysis revealed five themes of social functioning: social engagement/disengagement; resilience/sensitivity; social support/stigma; being understood/misunderstood; and public awareness/lack of awareness of Moebius Syndrome. Participants used compensatory expressive strategies such as vocal tone, gestures, and humor. The combination of being unable to express oneself with the face, having a facial difference, and having a rare disease is particularly stigmatizing. Increasing public awareness and developing social skills programs for people with facial paralysis could facilitate social functioning.
Reducing Over-Reliance on Task-Guidance Systems
Authors: Ockerman Jennifer J. , Pritchett Amy R.
Published: January 2012

Task-guidance systems are unsensored, computer-based systems that remind a user of the actions required to complete a task. These systems have various forms, including electronic procedures. Over-reliance, which has been documented as an issue with automation and decision-aiding systems, may also be a problem for task-guidance systems, despite their passive nature. This paper describes task-guidance systems and over-reliance on task-guidance systems as background, and then provides the results of a study into reducing this over-reliance on task guidance systems and thereby improving performance.
Mathematical Modeling of Trust in Automation: Trust, Distrust, and Mistrust
Authors: Itoh Makoto , Tanaka Kenji
Published: January 2012

The purpose of the present study is to understand how people place trust in automation, how the degree of trust can increase or decrease, and how the automation can become mistrusted. We propose a new method of mathematical modeling of trust that explicitly takes into account the operating condition of an automated system. The dynamic aspects of trust, i.e., predictability, dependability, and faith, are involved in the model. Thus far, we have obtained the following findings: (i) Mistrust, such as false distrust or false trust, are special cases of this model. (ii) Uncertainty plays an important role in mediating between dependability and undependability when trust changes. (iii) The proposed model of trust explains the finding in previous studies that decreased trust due to transient fault can easily recover.
Assessing Team Situation Awareness in Simulated Military Missions
Authors: Entin Eileen B. , Entin Elliot E.
Published: January 2012

We developed a measure of team situation awareness (SA) to capture team members' shared mental model of the team. The measure assesses the congruence among team members about what actions they were performing at salient events during a simulated mission. We used this measure in a research program investigating adaptive architectures for command and control (A2C2). As hypothesized, the measure of team SA was positively correlated with team performance and process measures in three A2C2 experiments in which it was used. The relationship between team SA and a teamwork measure that is comprised of such underlying team processes as coordination behavior and communication behavior supports the underlying premise of a link between team mental models and team SA. Team SA was negatively correlated with a measure of team workload, suggesting that increased levels of workload adversely affect team SA.
Usability Evaluation of a New User Interface for an Infusion Pump Developed with a Human Factors Approach
Authors: Garmer Karin , Liljegren Erik , Osvalder Anna-Lisa , Dahlman Sven
Published: January 2012

In medical care, the infusion pump is one of the most common pieces of technical equipment and it is often involved in handling-incidents. In order to improve usability and reduce errors, a new user interface for an infusion pump has been designed with a human factors approach. The purpose of this study was to determine if the new interface could reduce the number of handling-errors and problems, and to find out if the interface needed to be further developed. For this purpose usability tests were performed with nurses at three different hospital wards. The results showed that the number of mode errors and arisen problems were reduced for the new interface compared to the existing interface. However, the usability tests showed that there is still a potential to improve the new interface further. The results also showed that the number of errors was very high when handling these infusion pumps. This is an indication of that this area is important to study further. A conclusion was that usability testing is an important complement when redesigning interfaces with a human factors approach.
Studies on Endogenous and Exogenous Visual Selective Attention
Authors: Zhao Chen , Zhang Kan , Yang Huahai
Published: January 2012

Studies of mechanisms underling orienting of attention in visual space usually provide subjects with advance cues. These cues indicate the probable locations of targets to facilitate localizing and discriminating the targets. Direct peripheral cues and symbolic central cues are believed to activate different exogenous and endogenous modes of orienting. To further investigate the possibility of auditory symbolic cues to activate endogenous visual selective attention, three experiments are presented in this paper. Experiment 1 compared visual and auditory symbolic cues. Results showed that valid auditory cues come with inhibition rather than facilitation at Stimulus Onset Asynchronies (SOA) shorter than 500ms, while valid visual cues showed significant facilitation even at the shortest SOA (100ms). At longer SOA, both cue show facilitation. It was suggested that there exists a super-modal mechanism, but the visual and sound cues have important difference in activating visual selective activities. Experiment 2 tested the effect of a peripheral cue on the discrimination of targets with different eccentricities. Results showed that the peripheral onset captured attention involuntarily and the spatial-temporal character was more consistent with the hypothesis of a spotlight model of attention shift than that of a zoom-lens model or a spatial gradient model. The attention spotlight needed 25 ms to move 1 visual degree. Experiment 3 presented the peripheral onset following either visual or sound symbolic cues, and showed that a peripheral onset could not capture attention when attention was focused on locations incompatible with the onset location. When the peripheral onset was consistent with the cue, facilitation in reaction time was found. The difference between visual and sound cues was also found. The study findings might contribute in improving computer displays designed to special and complex environment.
Cognitive Cooperation in Dynamic Situations: Lessons Drawn from Fighter Aircraft Piloting and Air-Traffic Control
Authors: Hoc Jean-Michel , Loiselet Anthony , Amalberti René
Published: January 2012

In many dynamic situations, which are highly goal directed and temporally constrained, most of the cooperation difficulties (e g., problems between humans and automation) can be reasonably addressed by adopting a cognitive viewpoint. Cooperation is taken as the management of interference between individual activities to facilitate the team members' subtasks and the team's common task when there is one. Thus, planning models are of great relevance in identifying cooperation difficulties and supporting cooperative activities. Studies on individual activity in dynamic situations have stressed the importance of the elaboration and maintenance of a current representation of the situation, (an extension of situation awareness). The concept of Cofor (common frame of reference) generalises this idea to teams. Two series of results drawn from rapid process control situations where there is insufficient time to converse at length (air traffic control and double seat fighter aircraft) show that Cofor activities are first invested into the recall and confirmation of plan, task allocation, and decisions at key points before action completion The investment in prevention reduces the risk of fatal interference, or missed action
Effects of Experience and Uncertainty during Dynamic Decision Making
Authors: Kobus David A. , Proctor Sherry , Bank Tim , Holste Steven
Published: January 2012

This study investigated decision response times in dynamic tactical scenarios in which participants interacted with a virtual command post environment. Fifty-two Marines were asked to observe a tactical situation and to formulate a battle plan as quickly as possible. Two scenarios differing in the level of information certainty were presented. Participants were required to assess a developing situation, determine the tactical leverage point, form a plan of action, and issue battle orders. Results show that situation assessment time was significantly greater for the High Experience group than the Low Experience group. However, once situational assessment was complete, the selection of a course of action was significantly faster for the High Experience group. In addition, the time needed to execute a course of action was significantly less for the highly experienced individuals under conditions of high uncertainty. However, under conditions of low uncertainty, level of experience produced no statistically significant differences in response execution. Results suggest that information processing for situation assessment and response selection may become more parallel or overlap as content domain experience increases.
The Abstraction Hierarchy and its Extension beyond Process Control
Authors: Reising Dal Vernon C.
Published: January 2012

Rasmussen's abstraction hierarchy — more recently called the abstraction-decomposition space (ADS) — has been used for years within the process control domain and is increasingly being used to analyze and model ‘intentional’ systems. The ADS has been the basis for Work Domain Analysis and Ecological Interface Design. However, the researchers new to the ‘Danish’ approach to cognitive engineering have often found using the ADS to be difficult and confusing, particularly when applying it to systems outside process control. A ‘new’ set of labels associated with the five levels of the means-ends dimension of the ADS are suggested. These new labels suggest a much tighter logical relation between means-ends levels and thereby make it more clear what characteristics, functions, and resources of a domain belong at what level of abstraction. Second, an illustration of how these new labels might extend the ADS to intentional systems will be presented and discussed.
The Importance of Student Models in Intelligent Tutoring for Complex-Dynamic Systems
Authors: Quinn Alexander B. , Mitchell Christine M. , Chappell Alan R. , Gray Wm. Michael
Published: January 2012

Many computer-based training systems present instruction linearly, with exactly one path through the system that each student must follow. Students have little control over the pace, content branching, or flow of instruction. Student modeling within intelligent tutoring systems addresses these issues by interpreting student behaviors, representing the student's knowledge, and providing personalized instructional content. However, there is disagreement over the necessary content and structure of student models and their general utility. This paper discusses the development of an intelligent tutoring architecture with two instantiations that use sophisticated student models. Similar tutors with scaled-down student models will be used to evaluate the effectiveness of the differing student modeling approaches.
The Cognitive Based Design Process in Decision Support System
Authors: Chau-Hung Wang , Tsai-Duan Lin
Published: January 2012

In this research we will propose a DSS design process based on human cognitive, called CDP (Cognitive based Design Process), as shown in Figure. The CDP is separated into two parts: One is based on cognitive difference, and designs different interfaces according to the difference of user's demands, then emphasizes friendly human-computer communication; the other is based on human-computer task-allocation and adaptable assistance system design.
The Relation between HIP Time and Alpha Spectrum Power of EEG in Cognitive Shift from the Knowledge-Based to Rule-Based
Authors: Karashima Mitsuhiko , Saito Murako
Published: January 2012

This study focused on the relation between the Human Information Processing (HIP) time and the alpha spectrum power of EEG in the shift from Rasmussen's knowledge-based to rule-based through an experiment. The results of the experiment suggested that the decrease of the HIP time did not mean the decrease of the cognitive activity when the cognitive shift was in progress.
Persistence of Echoic Memory Trace as a Function of Presentation Level
Authors: Williams Eric H. , Baldwin Carryl L.
Published: January 2012

Previous empirical research has demonstrated that even within clearly audible ranges (45-70 dB with less than 35 dB background noise), people tend to make more errors and take longer to respond to even simple auditory tasks as the presentation level of auditory stimuli decreases when attentional processing requirements are high (Baldwin, 1997, Baldwin, Struckman-Johnson, Galinsky, & Williams, 1999). The observed decrease in performance with decreasing decibel level may be due to shorter echoic memory traces, which could exacerbate demands on attentional resources during periods of high mental workload. In order to examine this hypothesis, participants were asked to listen to sets of tones and verbally indicate whether the second pattern in each set matched the first pattern while simultaneously performing a loading task involving simulated driving. Tonal sets varied according to the decibel level of presentation (60, 65, & 70 dB) and the delay period between presentation of the first tonal pattern and presentation of the second comparison pattern (2 s, 3 s, or 4 s). As predicted, a significant interaction between delay time and presentation level was observed with participants making more errors and requiring greater time to respond in the 4 s delay condition, particularly in the lower 60 dB presentation level condition. Population aging and associated increases in the incidence of hearing loss are occurring at a time when verbal displays are increasingly being used in complex environments. Additionally, the need for persons of diverse language backgrounds to communicate in occupational environments with less than optimum acoustical environments make design accommodations that facilitate cognitive processing of speech in complex systems imperative. Slight increases in presentation level may be one way to facilitate the communication process by increasing the duration during which verbal material may be accessed for processing.
Concept Acquisition and Artificial Plasticity
Authors: Tafner Malcon Anderson , Fialho Francisco Antonio Pereira
Published: January 2012

Cognitive Ergonomics lies in the frontier of Cognitive Psychology and Artificial Intelligence. We call ‘processes’, the observed behaviors of individuals in some specific situation one wants to study. Mechanisms are theories explaining why we observe the processes we do. Simulators, able to implement these mechanisms in a computer, are the most powerful tools used by Cognitive Ergonomists for validating their hypothesis.
Brazil Attorney's Language as a Case Study of an Operative Language
Authors: Bento Heliete Rosa , Fialho Francisco Antonio Pereira
Published: January 2012

Operative languages studies are a main issue in Cognitive Ergonomics, Usually the goal of these studies is to minimize the difference between Functioning Logic and User Logic (Richard, 1992). Our goal in this article is a little different. We will use operative language for building a cognitive map. We apply the methodology for Lawyers just for validating this kind of approach. There is nothing against applying the same methodology for other contexts.
The Usage of Virtual Models to Generate and Evaluate Alternatives in Product Design
Authors: Da Silva Júlio C. Augusto
Published: January 2012

This paper aims at the usage of computer technology in product design, as an aiding tool for both developing and evaluating alternatives. For that matter the machine is used as a tool which is able to model three-dimensional geometries and images with such a level of realism, which allows a aesthetic evaluation of the product, saving work time and minimizing mistakes. In spite of the advantages within, its usage in creative stages of the project is still problematic, due to implantation errors or over expectation. A research was done to determine the best way to implant the system and the realistic expectance level.
Usability Methods at the Millennium: How We Got Here and Where We Might Be Going
Authors: Gillan Douglas J.
Published: January 2012

This paper proposes that usability methods can be organized into a three-dimensional space. The dimensions of this method space are (1) the genesis of the method, (2) the function of the method, and (3) the point(s) in the design that the method is typically used. The paper exemplifies and explains each dimension by discussing where on the dimension certain methods might fall. The future of usability methods is discussed by examining (1) how new methods might be developed within the space defined by the three dimensions (inner space methods) or (2) how new methods might require extending a dimension (outer space methods).
Can Icon Animation Enhance Human Performance… Or is it Just Another Gimmick?
Authors: Schwalm Norman D. , Shaviv Vered
Published: January 2012

This study addresses the question of whether there is value to the use of animation in icon design over and above that of attracting attention. Specifically, the study asks if there is any basis in human performance for recommending for or against the use of animation in icon design. The objective was to examine the effect of animation on icon comprehension and preference at two levels of complexity, as measured in the context of a supermarket-shopping computer program. Results suggest that animation can contribute to users' comprehension of icons that represent commands, and that this contribution may be greater for commands of higher levels of abstraction. Specifically, it appears that simple icons are more comprehensible than complex ones for commands of lower levels of abstraction, while complex icons are more comprehensible than simple ones for commands of higher levels of abstraction. Moreover, animation of complex icons that represent abstract commands may improve icon comprehension far more than animation of either simple or complex icons that represent less abstract commands. The notion that animation can be used intelligently to improve human performance in HCI is supported. Further research is encouraged to identify ways in which levels of command abstraction can be measured reliably, and to establish guidelines for the level of abstraction at which complexity and animation should be introduced into icon design.
Individual Operator Compliance with a Decision-Support System
Authors: Wise Mark A.
Published: January 2012

A study was conducted to investigate the relationship between five individual factors and compliance with advice from a decision-support system. Rates of compliance were also compared for two different types of computer advice: specific and nonspecific. Results suggest that there is no significant difference in compliance rates between the two types of advice. However four of the individual factors (gender, trust in the advice, previous task performance, and self-confidence in the task) were significantly related to compliance with the nonspecific advice, while one factor (trust in the advice) was significantly related to compliance with the specific advice.
User Tolerance of Message Transmission Delay in Electronic Mail: A Cross-National Comparison
Authors: Paradkar Piyusha V.
Published: January 2012

Speed of message delivery is an important factor when users make a choice of electronic mail over other forms of communication. Although e-mail promises close to instantaneous message delivery, delays ranging from a few seconds to several hours are commonly seen. In evaluating user tolerance for delay in message transmission for electronic mail, this study focuses on situational variables, individual personality characteristics and cross-national differences (US and India). Results from this study indicate that user tolerance for delay is dictated by situational factors rather than individual personality characteristics based on time perception. The three situational variables, Urgency of message, Content and Distance between the sender and receiver drive user tolerance for delay differently in the two groups. Personality factors measured by Type A behaviour scores and Speed and Impatience Ratings do not significantly affect delay tolerance. This study provides empirical evidence that users do have different message transmission needs based on speed in e-mail communication. It also adds to the understanding of the factors that providers will have to take into account when determining the options of message delivery.
A Case Study of Videoconferencing in the Classroom: A Methodology for Measuring Interactions, Behaviors and Attitudes
Authors: Weiss Patrice L. (Tamar) , Fels Deborah I. , Talampas M. Amor
Published: January 2012

Videoconferencing is a valuable educational resource because it provides access to otherwise unreachable learning materials, it motivates students, and helps them improve their communication skills. Over the last four years we have developed a unique application of videoconferencing known as Wayne Gretzky's PEBBLES (Providing Education By Bringing Learning Environments to Students). This is a video-mediated communication system that has been designed to link a child in the hospital with his/her regular classroom. Analysis of video tape data from a six-week case study documenting the frequency of interactions and usage behaviors indicate that the student was able to spend most of her in-class time focussing on the academic tasks assigned to the class despite some technical difficulties and distractions in her local environments. Audio difficulties persisted throughout the study and must be improved in future design iterations of the system.
Sounds Good to Me: Global Investigation of Auditory Feedback
Authors: Sikora Cynthia A. , Roberts Linda A.
Published: January 2012

The use of auditory feedback signals in multimedia communications devices was investigated internationally. Specifically, subjects in the United States, Singapore, India and Turkey evaluated musically based sound feedback. Subjects paired the sounds with communications functions. They also provided ratings of their confidence with the pairing, pleasantness of the sound, appropriateness of the sound for a business environment, and how well the group of sounds fit together as a family. Findings indicate that the reliability of mapping sounds to intended functions does not vary across countries. Functional mapping performance was uniformly low. The subjective ratings for the sounds overall indicated that, although all subjects rated the sounds above average, US subjects rate the sounds significantly higher than two of the three other countries included in the study. More detailed analysis of the differences isolated the variance to two function feedback sounds. It may be that the country differences found for these two musical feedback signals were attributed to cultural familiarity with the sound or the function.
Electronic Shopping in the Music Domain
Authors: Dormann Claire
Published: January 2012

This paper discusses factors related to the design of electronic shops. The assessment of the music mart serves as the starting point for this discussion. To facilitate purchasing, search engines should be designed to be compatible with consumers and products characteristics. Moreover a stronger tie between shop design and purchasing behaviour should be considered. The importance of enhancing the shop design to facilitate purchasing is also highlighted. Particularly in this domain, the role of affect could prove critical for persuading consumers to buy.
Cognitive Impact of Telepresence on Online Retail Environments
Authors: Muralidhar Ajoy , Meyer Jenn , Abrams David , Bishu Ram
Published: January 2012

As web users become more sophisticated, online businesses are forced to find innovative ways to interact with their customers in order to capture and retain their interest long enough to actually complete an online sale. Savvy buyers have to be wooed with more than price comparisons, online rebates and to-your-door shipping. Visual Telepresence is becoming increasingly popular as a means of capturing and retaining audience interest by providing customers with a sense of “being there.” In the offline world of bricks and mortar, both specialty shops and large retail chains have invested millions of dollars in the appearance and “feel” of the store, product displays, and product placement. By creating Visual Telepresence—a way to view products and retail spaces in real time—merchants can provide a sense of interactivity not previously possible in online shopping. The experience of purchasing anything or visiting tourist locations online, etc., becomes more “real,” as web-based visual telepresence gives users a sense of being connected. Newly developed applications enable users to take control of their viewing experience by zooming in on and around a product to examine it closely with real time pictures. By providing online shopping enhanced by Visual Telepresence, merchants create a compelling user experience and increase the chance of completing an online sale. These technological developments provide a rich field of study for the human factors professional, as there is very little empirical research available to validate the effectiveness of telepresence in online Ecommerce.
Learning and Training Simulator Virtual Reality Development for Parachute Descent
Authors: Ruisseau J. Y. , Todeschini L. , Gorzerino P.
Published: January 2012

Nowadays, in some critical domains like military operations, operator's performance is directly and strongly linked to the situational awareness and the control of the situation this operator may have, and thus, the learning and training of the techniques to be performed. New means of technique may be necessary to improve capacities of operators immersed in new situations. This paper describes such an approach, based on virtual reality techniques, for individual training and, in the future, for group training.
Cognitive Ergonomics; Requisite Compatibility, Fuzziness and Nonlinear Dynamics
Authors: Karwowski Waldemar
Published: January 2012

From the system design viewpoint, the main issue in ergonomics is to determine the requisite, or absolutely essential compatibility of the artifact-human system, and use it as a reference point for system improvements. Cognitive ergonomics aims to assure such requisite compatibility in the functioning of the artifact-human-systems with respect to complex and uncertain (cognitive) inter-relationships between system users, machines, and the environments. Such analysis must account for natural fuzziness and nonlinear dynamics of human cognitive processes. This paper examines some of the critical issues and methodological needs for future development of cognitive ergonomics. The modelling paradigm with respect to cognitive performance on physical tasks is also discussed.
Utility of Cognitive Models
Authors: Luczak Holger , Schlick Christopher
Published: January 2012

In ergonomics the approach of cognitive modeling is crucial for the design of human-machine systems. With regard to the user interface design of future manufacturing systems eleven requirements for cognitive models are introduced. These requirements are used to evaluate a total of five cognitive models with regard to three ergonomic design paradigms: (1) the design of decision support systems, (2) the design for minimized stress and strain, and (3) the design for wholistic tasks and personal development. The evaluated cognitive models include Caccibue's Cognitive Simulation Model, Card's et al. Model Human Information Processor, and Rasmussen's Model of Human Performance. In addition, two explicatory models are evaluated: Newell's Unified Theories of Cognition and Anderson's ACT-R model. The results demonstrate a superiority of the Rasmussen approach concerning the first and third design paradigm. Concerning the second design paradigm Newell's Unified Theories of Cognition have the best evaluation result.
Using Cognitive Task Analysis to Build a Cognitive Model
Authors: Klein Gary
Published: January 2012

Cognitive ergonomics offers the potential to influence system development by describing how systems can be designed to improve the way cognitive functions are being performed. One means of taking cognitive functions into account is by developing cognitive models. Cognitive Task Analysis methods can be used to develop explanatory models of cognitive functions.