bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Integration of Information and Communication Technology in Behaviour Therapy for Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Authors: Mertens Alexander , Callahan Amy , Doherty Kevin , Gerber Sarah-Jane
Published: February 2022

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is the most common psychiatric disorder in childhood. Several studies demonstrate that the optimal approach to tackling it is a multimodal treatment including a cognitive behavioural approach. A key role for young ADHD pupils is played by monitoring carried out by teachers, parents and relatives. This paper presents the methods applied and lessons learned during the system engineering process within the WHAAM project, which aims to deliver efficacious means for the therapy through integration of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) into the treatment process. The applied methods include structured interviews with parents, teachers and health professionals, the iterative development of paper/software prototypes and demonstration to the prospective users as well as Wizard of Oz studies to identify usability problems. In addition to the concrete results relating to the design of the user interface and interaction process this paper describes the effective procedure model applied that has proven to be able to consider the manifold requirements of the different stakeholders involved in the integration of ICT in healthcare scenarios
Levels of Abstraction for User Modeling in the Usability Engineering Repository UsER
Authors: Roenspieß Amelie , Paul Marc , Mentler Tilo , Herczeg Michael
Published: February 2022

Amelie Roenspieß, Marc Paul, Tilo Mentler, Michael HerczegABSTRACTUser analysis and user modeling provide important information for the development of usable interactive computer systems. The Usability Engineering Repository (UsER), a web-based collaboration platform, supports analysis, design, and evaluation in the corresponding processes. In order to take specific users into account, UsER integrates modules covering various methods for user modeling within a development process. Users can be modeled on several levels of abstraction as personas, stereotypes or user classes. How they fulfill their tasks within their work environment may be outlined in organizational charts, task models, or scenarios. Mapped onto a linear documentation structure, model entities and descriptions can be interlinked to point out semantic relationships, ease navigation and allow tracing of user goals and requirements throughout the user-centered development process.
Modeling the Influence of Human Factors on the Perception of Renewable Energies. Taking Geothermics as Example
Authors: Kowalewski* Sylvia , Borg** Anna , Kluge* Johanna , Himmel* Simon , Trevisan* Bianka , Eraßme* Denise , Ziefle* Martina , Jakobs* Eva-Maria
Published: February 2022

Issues of social acceptance, such as lack of awareness and negative community perceptions, can considerably affect technology development and rollout. For this purposes a deeper understanding of underlying mechanisms that influence acceptance is urgently needed in the context of renewable energies when the goal is to reduce CO2 emission by 20% until the year 2020. The associated project of this study - TIGER - has the aim to develop a communication strategy to implement renewable energy technologies like geothermics. As a first step this research focuses on analyzing factors that determine the perception and thus acceptance of deep geothermal energy technologies. A study was conducted with a sample of 360 participants in the western part of Germany. The TPB (Theory of planned behavior) was expanded with further variables such as environmental attitudes and attitudes towards renewable energies. A structural equation model was used to analyze the correlation between proposed psychological antecedents and further moderating factors on the acceptance of geothermal power plants in the own neighborhood. Results show that underlying motives as well as barriers significantly affect the acceptance of geothermal energy. Behavioral control appeared as an important moderating effect in this model whereas the influence of environmental attitudes is not apparent. Furthermore, results also reveal that especially the scope of information plays an important role in acceptance of geothermal energy, meaning informed people show a significantly higher acceptance and less skepticism than not-informed people. This emphasizes the urgent need for information and communication in the context of relatively unknown technologies like geothermal energy.
The Human Factor in Systems Engineering: Engineering Systems Thinking
Authors: Frank Moti
Published: February 2022

To successfully perform systems engineering tasks, systems engineers need a systems view or, in other words, a high capacity for engineering systems thinking (CEST). A tool for assessing systems thinking of engineers, once validated, may be used for systems engineering workforce selection and development, developing systems engineering curriculum, and education and training programs and a standard tool for assessing systems engineers' competencies. Since there is no known way for directly 'measuring' systems thinking in general and CEST in particular, an indirect way is needed. This paper proposes an idea for developing an indirect means, i.e. a questionnaire for assessing the CEST of systems engineers. The idea is composed of four logic layers.
Systemic Design Research for Hospital Laundry
Authors: Min Hua , Long Liu
Published: February 2022

Most of the existing design research on medical and healthcare is base on the current medical services and products system which work in a linear way. But this linear system often causes a huge waste of resources and energy, and pollutes the environment at the same time. To improve this situation, we chose the hospital laundry as the research object, studied and redesigned its working system from a Systemic Design perspective. Aiming to change the medical system from a linear system to a systemic one, we redesigned the material and energy flows of the system and optimized the relationships between the elements. This new approach will help identify new design opportunities and change the system to a more efficient one.
Electric System Control Room Operators: Cognitive Task Analysis and Human Error
Authors: Cavalcante Gonçalvesa Rosemary , Heloisa Maciela Regina
Published: February 2022

Despite the increasing level of automation in electric system control centers, human action in the supervision and control of the process remains essential for maintaining system security. This study is about operators’ tasks in managing real-time occurrences of low voltage level in an electric system. The operation aims to restore the power supply. The study comprehends the operators’ task and the potential errors analysis in order to subsidize the creation of a training simulator. Hierarchical Task Analysis (HTA) and Systematic Human Error Reduction and Prediction Approach (SHERPA) were the methods used in the research. The results show that operators are involved in action planning and decision-making, whose errors can result in serious consequences for the system. It is possible that the analysis of a large amount of information together with real-time decision-making in the emergencies significantly influences operators' errors. Task analysis proved useful in identifying situations that may compose simulation scenarios for training. A disadvantage of the method is not considering work context and its implications for operators’ errors.
Biofeedback Assistant to Improve Control Room Operators Reliability
Authors: Szabó Gyula , Jóvér Ákos
Published: February 2022

Control room operators’ reliability is a focal issue in automation not only because of the famous major industrial catastrophes like Chernobyl, Bhopal or Three Mile Island, but because of the high persisting human-related risks in e.g. transport, chemistry, energy plants. Extended research has been made on the genesis and prevention strategies of human error, as well as on the physiological and behavioural aspects of the control room operators performance. The concept presented in this paper includes the “actual attention need of the automation system” which is a prediction based on the general state and trends of the behaviour of the process controlled, and redefines the “expected / desired operator’s state” accordingly. The experimental system presented includes the data acquisition, the data processing, the intervention function and the interface to the automation system. The system monitors the operators’ physiological and behavioural data related to their readiness, the intervention function executes various feedback mechanism, meanwhile the data processing unit chooses the desired actions. This biofeedback assistant helps to improve the whole system reliability, because it can prevent the falling asleep, can detect the absence of the operator, or can initiate an unscheduled system review during under loaded time periods.
Virtual Environments for Studies of Nuclear and Radiological Emergencies
Authors: Mól Machadoab Daniel , Cotellia André , Chellesa Daniel , C.A. Móla Antonio , V. R.Carvalhoa Paulo , Cesar R. Vidal Mario
Published: February 2022

For resilience engineering and ergonomics, complex systems must be studied from the understanding of the variability occurring within and around the system. It is necessary to consider since the microscopic interactions located inside of organizations to the macroscopic context of the organization and where it fits. Therefore this article aims to create a tool to reproduce virtual environments for studies of nuclear and radiological emergency response from the perspective of resilience engineering and ergonomics.
An Attempt to Predict Point in Time with High Risk of Accident by Trend Analysis-Method for Detecting Significant Trend of Change of Behavioral Measures-
Authors: MURATA Atsuo , FUKUDA Kohei , KORIYAMA Taiga
Published: February 2022

From the practical viewpoint, only behavioral measures (in this study, eight behavioral measures) were used for drowsiness prediction. A variety of baseline of drowsiness (arousal state) was used in this study. More concretely, each behavioral measure was used as the base line of drowsiness (arousal state) as well as the self-reported evaluation of drowsiness, and thus we made an attempt to predict the participant’s drowsiness for each base line. Trend analysis of each evaluation measure was carried out by using a single regression model where time and base line of drowsiness (one of evaluation measures) corresponded to an independent variable and a dependent variable, respectively. Using the result of trend analysis, we proposed a new approach to predict the point in time (we call this the point in time of virtual accident) when the participant would have encountered a crucial accident if he was driving a car. On the basis of results of all participants, the proposed approach could identify the point in time of virtual accident, and was promising for identifying and predicting the time zone with potentially high risk (probability) of inducing an accident due to drowsy driving in advance, and for warning drivers of such a state.
Human and Organizational Factors Contribution to the Occurrence of Major Accidents Using Offshore Accidents as a Case Study
Authors: Hailay Abraha Haftay , P. Liyanage Jayantha
Published: February 2022

Human and organizational factors (HOFs) are important causes of accidents. As the design of technological equipment becomes more and more safe, the causes of accidents are more likely to be attributed to HOFs. The offshore drilling is, for instance, controlled by safety barriers that are dominantly dependent on HOFs. In a dynamic and volatile environment, every organization goes through a drifting process where the kind of logic of action taken depends on the contextual and temporal factors, the tightness of the coupling, and the complexity of the situation. The drifting process both affects and is affected by the management structure, the communication systems, the kinds of competence possessed, external pressures, and whether it is possible to comply with organizational procedures and whether these procedures are in accordance with regulatory requirements. These areas are important to examine to improve understanding of contribution of HOFs in major accidents. The knowledge and detail understanding of the contribution of HOFs to the offshore accidents provides new insights as well as practical guidelines for how to understand, assess and manage (potential) hazards and unforeseen surprises in a practical operational setting.
Safety and Health at Work as a Factor of Competitiveness of Organizations
Authors: Alves Corticeiro Neves Miguel
Published: February 2022

The Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) is a key factor in the competitiveness of organizations, it was developed by a research work, in Portugal, covering the full range of enterprises and public administration. The population was divided into micro, small, medium and large organizations and the number studied was 899. In total, there were sent about 18,800 messages. There were also carried out interviews with individuals involved in the world of work. That led to the conclusion that the OSH is a theme that cuts across any type of organization and the services themselves add value to the OSH, which is a relevant factor in competitiveness. So far, no work of this nature was yet carried, based on the following assumptions:H1 - Action of OSH Services contributes to decrease Occupational Accidents;H2 - Action of OSH Services helps to reduce Absenteeism;H3 - The working conditions contribute to increased Competitiveness;H4 - OSH Services are an investment, not a cost.OSH Services contribute to the improvement of working conditions. As a result, accidents at work and absenteeism decrease, resulting in greater productivity. This work also contributed to an overview of the degree of implementation of OSH Services.
Exploring Trade-Offs Between Proactive Safety Indicators
Authors: Binz Simon , Waefler Toni
Published: February 2022

Sound safety related decisions are the foundation for effective safety interventions. The Safety Management Information System (S-MIS) project allows making safety decisions based on two different sources. Quantitative survey results and qualitative judgments of subject-matter experts are the two sources. The aim of the present paper is to compare the two sources concerning their conclusions for safety related decisions. The results indicate a relatively high congruence between the two sources. Therefore, the quantitative survey results and the qualitative judgments of subject-matter experts are comparable resources to meet sound safety related decisions. Differences between the two sources as well as limitations of the paper are furthermore discussed.
Hierarchies of Hazard Control: A Proposal to Resolve Different Lists
Authors: C. Jensen Roger
Published: February 2022

This paper reviews the historical roots of attempts to establish a hierarchy of hazard control, points out that these lists have converged into a suboptimal standard hierarchy, and proposes an alternative approach. The failure to converge stems from attempting to first categorize risk-reduction strategies, then assuming the categories fit into a priority order reflecting most effective to least effective. The proposed solution distinguishes priority categories from risk-reduction strategies. The approach uses three priority categories: (1) eliminate the hazard, (2) use engineering controls, and (3) use administrative methods, while a second list identifies nine risk-reduction strategies that map to the priorities. The first priority category has one risk-reduction strategy: eliminate the hazard. The second priority had five strategies: moderate the hazard, avoid releasing the hazard, modify release of the hazard, separate the hazard from that needing protection, and improve the resistance of that needing protection. The third priority category has three strategies: help people perform safely, use personal protective equipment, and expedite recovery. The risk-reduction strategies within a priority category are neither in priority order nor exclusive options for addressing a particular hazard.
Analysis of Accidents in Trailer Towing
Authors: Aghazadeh Fereydoun , Pisharody Arunn
Published: February 2022

There is a steady upward trend in the number of trailers on American roads. In 2011, there were 29.2 million trailers registered in the United States. On average, towing-related accidents are responsible for 1.2 deaths and 60 injuries per day, and the corresponding monetary loss due to these fatalities amounts to more than $4 Billion annually. While advancements in the safety practices of towing have helped control the number of accidents, towing-related accidents remain a substantial cause of fatalities, injuries, and property damages. This study analyzes the data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on the trailer-related crashes and accidents spanning 24 years from 1988 to 2011. The objective of this paper is to analyze the accident statistics on: (i) accidents with fatality, (ii) accidents with injury, and (iii) accidents with property damage caused by trailer towing in the United States. Additionally, data on the failed components in trailers is examined. The most prevalent failed component is safety chains. The probable causes of failure in safety chains are presented. The statistics examined in this paper underscore the importance of adhering to safe practices in trailer towing. Trailer-related accidents account for an average of 445 deaths and 21,821 injuries annually. For every 1000 trailer-related crashes, there are 8.5 fatalities and 415 injuries. Apart from injuries and fatalities, 38,747 trailer-related accidents cause property damage per year.
Outsourcing and Accidents in the Electrical Sector
Authors: José Nunes da Silvaa Alessandro , Andrade Gouveia Vilelab Rodolfo
Published: February 2022

In , the accident rate in the electrical sector is 5.5 times higher than in the other formal segments of the economy. In 2011, outsourced work represented 56% of the workforce in this group and his mortality from workplace accidents reached 8 times that of permanent workers in the sector as a whole. This study aims to ascertain how third-party outsourcing contributed to an accident that victimized a worker and to provide an elaboration of strategies for surveillance and prevention in the sector. Study supported in the model of analysis and prevention of accidents (MAPA). The worker suffered amputation of the left leg during maintenance of a de-energized secondary line. A crossarm that supported an energized primary line just above, broke allowing the cable to fall on the leg of the worker that was working on a ladder about in height. Accident involving a lack of barriers against electrical risk previously identified in a system deteriorated due to decades without maintenance. The national strategy of third-party outsourcing adopting as evaluative indicators the lowest price of service, the frequency and duration of interruptions of the energy supply to consumers has contributed to the origins of the event. New studies are required to explore up to what point the findings demonstrated herein represent characteristics of the process of third-party outsourcing of activities in the electrical sector in the state.
HSEQ Assessment Procedure for Supplying Industrial Network: A Tool for Implementing Sustainability and Responsible Work Systems into SMES
Authors: Väyrynen Seppo , Jounila Henri , Latva-Ranta Jukka
Published: February 2022

Many Finnish manufacturing enterprises are utilizing a HSEQ Assessment Procedure (HSEQ AP) for suppliers as far as being a prerequisite factor of guaranteeing success in collaboration. Multi-organizational HSEQ management can be arranged by a proper participation of all employers at a shared work place and by not forgetting their work system with outcomes. Many of suppliers (N~120) have been assessed according to the HSEQ AP by the corresponding consortium. Typically, suppliers, often various contractors, belong to the category of microenterprises, small enterprises, and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). The paper not only describes the key features of HSEQ AP, but it as well shows a preliminary evidence of the positive effects of HSEQ AP. The general principles and practices behind HSEQ AP, in addition to the ones developed by local research and development (R&D), has comprised European Union and national legislation, Total Quality Management (TQM), Excellence and Quality Award Models, social responsibility, and a total of social, economic and ecological sustainability. HSEQ AP is able in practice to promote sustainability in a scale suitable for microenterprises or SMEs. HSEQ AP provides a potential to promote productivity and QConformity within a work system with desired and undesired outcomes.
Safety Management in the Assembly of Telecommunication Towers
Authors: da Fonseca Marques Henrique , Victor R. de Carvalho Paulo
Published: February 2022

There are significant pressures to improve the infrastructure of the telecommunications business currently operating in Brazil motivated by challenges for the development of the country in the coming years. These pressures include, among other things, the need for expansion of the telecommunications network, providing grounds for extensive research in ergonomics and safety management. One of the areas in which these pressures have the greatest impact in occupational safety and ergonomics is in the planning and execution of works for deployment of new communication towers, which unfortunately does not follow good practices of work safety. Unfortunately, safety culture and accident prevention thinking are not widespread in a sector where there is a high demand to accomplish production targets that have to be met according the regulatory agency schedule. The purpose of this research is to understand tradeoffs and pressures identifying major nonconformity in towers assembly works, seeking for solutions and work practices that aim to mitigate or minimize the existing conditions of risk in the construction, operation and maintenance of towers for fixed and mobile telephony, which contribute decisively to the occurrence of work incidents and accidents causing lots of injuries and deaths in Brazilian workers.
A Conceptual Debate Upon Ergonomic Point of View of Work Accidents
Authors: Cesar R. Vidal Mario , José Bonfatti Paulo Victor Rodrigues de Carvalhoc Renato
Published: February 2022

The aim of this article is to discuss the statement of an ergonomic point of view in order to ensure the presenting useful and applied formulation of work accidents within contemporary foundations. In fact the expression ergonomic point of view outlines different approaches of work, working, work situation and work design. After a methodological frame, it is presented the conceptual evolution analysis of the work accident concept. Then it is discussed the expression “ergonomic point of view”. We conclude with a synthesis obtained from crossing the notable steps on work accident evolution and the distinct points of view claiming to be the ergonomic the best one Theoretical and methodological issues are also presented as a result of discussion.
Assessing Fluid Rationality and Its Relations to Cognitive Styles
Authors: Čavojová Vladimíra , Hanák Robert
Published: February 2022

A new tri-partite model of rational thinking (Stanovich, 2011) allows for assessing various aspects of rational decision making. Because of assumed multi-faceted nature of rationality, it is necessary to establish which measuring paradigms are best suited to assess it. 531 participants (31% men,), with mean age of 27.61 (SD=7.8) took part in the present study. We examined relationships between several testing paradigms from JDM literature, such as the jelly bean task (Kirkpatrik, Epstein, 1992), cognitive reflection test (Frederick, 2005) and Wason´s selection task. Higher scores in these testing paradigms are hypothesized to constitute a resistance to miserly processing. We also examined two other dimensions of fluid rationality: temporal discounting of the reward and acceptance of risk (Frederick, 2005), and several measures of cognitive style containing a preference for intuition or deliberation (PID, REI, CoSi, MBTI). The lack of strong mutual relationships between these measures, together with low internal consistency for a composite score of resistance to miserly processing, rather undermined the construct of miserly processing. There were also very weak relationships with other constructs hypothesized to be other dimensions of fluid rationality besides resistance to miserly processing. Such results seem to support Stanovich's (2011) hypothesis about multifactorial fluid rationality.
Analytical Capability to Better Understand and Anticipate Extremist Shifts Within Populations in Failing States
Authors: L. Bernard Michael , B. Bier Asmeret
Published: February 2022

The difficulty in adequately assessing geopolitical and sociocultural dynamics of extremist groups has led to failures in understanding, anticipating, and effectively responding to shifts in their movements and allegiances. Recent attacks in Africa highlight the need to more precisely understand and anticipate changes in societal attitudes and behaviors due to radicalization. This is particularly important as new extremist cells and affiliates have sprung up in parts of Southeast Europe, Asia, and Africa. A significant concern is their stated intent to plan and conduct attacks against populations within these regions. This paper describes an effort to build upon existing capabilities to assess the phenomena that gives rise to the support for extremism, shifts in allegiances, and active engagement in violent acts against indigenous populations. The focus of this effort is to assess how the dynamics of allegiance formation between various groups and society are impacted by conflict and by third-party interventions. We also seek to help determine how and why extremist allegiances co-evolve over time due to changing geopolitical, sociocultural, and military conditions. The aim of this paper is to discuss our initial effort to assess the dynamic interactions between an extremist group and an indigenous population over time.
Measuring the Effects of Cultures on Website Use
Authors: Ching Hsiu , Hsieh Laura
Published: February 2022

Under the context of globalization, it is essential to understand the cultural requirements and preferences of a target culture if a company wants to develop a website which can appropriately map that target culture. Based on the author’s previous study, the culturally preferred characteristics between Taiwan and the UK have been found (Hsieh and Hong, 2013). The previous finding of the culturally preferred characteristics between Taiwan and the UK formulates the further questions: “Since different cultural preferences for web design attributes exist, how can the culturally preferred design characteristics be applied to increase usability?” Therefore, the aim of this paper is to measure the effect of cultural preferences on the use of web design. The methodologies are introduced as following. First, two cultures are selected. Taiwan and the UK are selected. Second, experimental webs are constructed. The cultural preferences for websites of Taiwan and the UK would be embedded into websites prototype, which have the same content. Finally, applying SPSS to analyze the data of the usability testing. Based on the results of the analyasis and discussion, it reveals that culturally preferred design elements of the target-culture can improve the effectiveness of web communication for the users from the target-culture. This research can help web developers and designers to develop a web interface design that is culturally appropriate.
Basic Study on Prevention of Human Error- How Cognitive Biases Distort Decision Making and Lead to Crucial Accidents -
Authors: MURATA Atsuo , NAKAMURA Tomoko
Published: February 2022

On the basis of the analysis of past case studies of accidents, it was examined how cognitive biases were ubiquitous in the process of accident outbreak, distorted decision making, and led to crucial accidents. We made an attempt to point out that cognitive biases distort decision making and are potentially related to crucial accidents. Using a few cases of crucial accidents (Challenger space shuttle disaster, collision accident between the Japanese Aegis-equipped destroyer “Atago” and fishing boat, and Three Mile Island nuclear power plant accident), it was demonstrated how cognitive biases are related to these accidents. It was demonstrated that heuristic-based biases such as confirmation bias, groupthink, and social loafing surely appeared in the process of accident breakout. Overconfidence-based biases such as illusion of control, fallacy of plan, and optimistic bias were also ubiquitous in the route to a crucial accident. Moreover, framing biases was found to contribute to the distorted decision making, and eventually turn into the main cause of crucial accident. In such a way, as well as human factors or ergonomics approaches, the prevention and the deletion of cognitive biases were indispensable for preventing crucial accidents from occurring.
Socio-Cultural Capability Requirements across All Phases of Military Operations
Authors: Perry Walter
Published: February 2022

In modern military operations, it is critical that commanders and their staffs be sensitive to the social and cultural norms of populations with whom they must interact. Most military operations have the mission of promoting stability and reconstruction, or eventually evolve to such after major combat. Gaining the cooperation of the local population is critical to a secure environment. This paper identifies the socio-cultural capabilities needed to execute military missions, identifies which of these the military has access to, and proposes mitigating measures to close requirement gaps. We identified 27 missions across all phases of military operations along with 12 socio-cultural capability requirements organized in five categories: planning, communication and coordination, gaining detailed cultural awareness, engaging the population and assessing the impact of this engagement. We identified several gaps but in general, we found that substantial progress has been made in terms of closing these gaps. Personal initiative accounted for a large fraction of these efforts and attests to the growing appreciation among military personnel for the important role of socio-cultural capabilities. Although we provide recommendations to fill specific gaps, finding ways to encourage personal initiatives will nurture the development and testing of original ideas that could be used to address socio-cultural needs more broadly.
Behavioral Influence Assessment (BIA): A Multi-Scale System to Assess Dynamic Behaviors Within Groups and Societies Across Time
Authors: L. Bernard Michael , A. Backus George , B. Bier Asmeret
Published: February 2022

Sandia National Laboratories, in cooperation with the United States European Command’s (EUCOM) Strategic Foresight (SF) branch, has developed an initial capability to better understand and anticipate likely responses to events by groups within countries under EUCOM’s area of responsibility. The Behavioral Influence Assessment (BIA) system is a theory-based analytical capability that is intended to enable analysts to better assess the influence of events on groups interacting within a country or region. These events can include changes in policy, man-made or natural disasters, war, or other changes in environmental and economic conditions. To help achieve this, BIA models the dynamic social/political/economic actions and counter-actions between groups in response to events over time. This paper outlines the rationale and general results produced by this effort. This includes a discussion of: 1) underlying psychological, social, and economic theories that are synthesized within its structure; 2) inclusion of data and expert opinion into the modeling structure; 3) methods used to computationally instantiate theories, data and opinion; 4) types of assessments that are generated; and 5) implications of these assessments in comparison to current events.
Applying Factor Analysis to Population Surveys in Afghanistan to Facilitate Improved Decision Making
Authors: Joseph K. Maddux Capt.
Published: February 2022

As the U.S. Military’s involvement in Afghanistan has changed from a traditional kinetic fight to counter-insurgency to nation building, so too has our need to understand the population which we seek to assist. Multiple agencies have taken on the task of surveying Afghans at the national, provincial and district levels. Conducting these surveys carries great risk due to the presence of Taliban fighters and terrorist safe havens strewn throughout the country. While conducting the surveys has its share of obstacles, properly interpreting the results carry its own unique set of challenges. We use three surveys that have been mainstays as sources of information for the U.S. Military and other nations to understand popular perceptions. Using Factor Analysis on these three surveys collected over the last 3-5 years allows us to analyze all questions and responses in the surveys by identifying the most relevant data analytically vice a subjective analyst or commander deciding what is most important. We do so by using a methodology that establishes quality, analytically derived indicators (groups of survey questions) by using these three survey instruments collected throughout Afghanistan. We generate indicators from survey data using Factor Analysis then assess them by using nonparametric statistics techniques to detect spatial and temporal changes throughout the country. The final result is a full analytics suite that provides perspective to an analyst regarding indicator change across the country over time. Further, we improve the commander’s ability to allocate scarce resources to particular districts and provinces which need the most attention.
Using Geographic Information Systems Analysis for Mapping Adverse Events in an Active War Theater
Authors: Cakit ª Erman , Karwowski Waldemar
Published: February 2022

This study is a review of adverse events throughout the war in Afghanistan by representing the mapping of these events, where we considered three types of adverse events in terms of number of people killed, wounded and hijacked, and their total number in the active war theater of Afghanistan over the period 2004-2010. The country was divided into seven regions for pattern analysis, where each region has different numbers of provinces, districts, and number of records. A point-density analysis was conducted to detect those areas where a high density of data point locations was concentrated. Based on the results obtained, it was concluded that the frequency of adverse events has increased from 2004 through 2010. The south-western region had the highest mean by district values than other regions and the whole of Afghanistan for all variables. On the other side, the north-western region had the lowest mean by district values than other regions and the whole of Afghanistan for all variables. When we compared the variables against each other, the number of people hijacked had the lowest values in total and average by district than the other variables.
Developing An Agent-based Architecture to Model Population Displacement
Authors: A. Sokolowski John , M. Banks Catherine
Published: February 2022

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees data reports the dislocation of millions from their native or accustomed environments. Statistical models authenticate the numbers exiting and ascertain proximate reasons for decisions to leave. These models employ static data and thus provide static outputs. This is problematic because when a decision to exit is concluded factors driving that decision can change or additional variables can present. A more efficient model is needed to envisage a broader range of outputs proffering why, when, and where migration will occur. Additionally, possessing the means to assess what-if scenarios allows for anticipating a range of expected/unexpected outcomes. This paper presents a unique architecture to state (environment) and population (agent) representation for agent-based modeling (ABM) as a means to analyze the decision-making process of individuals threatened with population displacement. This architecture facilitates agent-based modeling that can represent both fluid conditions in the environment and fluctuations in the decision-making process by people under duress. The predominant population displacement modeling application has been statistical, exclusive of dynamic inputs. The conclusions and recommendations within the literature validate implementing a new architecture for this research, which can model root, proximate, and triggering variables associated with this multi-layered, human-factors laden phenomenon.
Validating a Hybrid Cognitive-System Dynamics Model of Team Interaction
Authors: B. Bier Asmeret , L. Bernard Michael
Published: February 2022

Computational models of human behavior can lead to important insights regarding how people interact with each other and with their environments; but validation of these models is difficult and data is generally hard to collect. Better validation strategies could help to make these models more strongly justified and thus more useful. This paper describes an effort to study cooperation between teams in cyber security training exercises by building a model that captures the interactions between them. Real-world exercises provide a useful source of validation data and can serve to help calibrate the model. In this study we simulated two cyber scenarios where the primary difference was the intensity of cyber attacks experienced by two organizations. The model simulated the potential outcomes and decision-making processes involved in cooperative cyber security agreements designed to reduce redundant work. Insights learned from the model are intended to improve future versions of the cyber exercise. We also used validation data and insights from the exercise model to create and justify decision-making strategies in a model of a real-world counterpart to the situation exercises: information sharing programs for cyber defense.
Basic Study on Prevention of Human Error - Debiasing Method of Cognitive Biases in Decision Making -
Authors: MURATA Atsuo , NAKAMURA Tomoko , KUBO Saki
Published: February 2022

Cognitive biases potentially and unexpectedly induce crucial disasters such as Three Mile Island disaster and Challenger space shuttle disaster. This study explored how cognitive biases can be eliminated by paying attention to the characteristics or properties of each bias. The following cognitive biases were used to discuss the effectiveness of debiasing method of cognitive biases: ignorance of base rate, regression to mean, conjunction fallacy, framing effect, illusion of covariation, and overconfidence. In other words, the effectiveness of debiasing methods of these biases in decision making was experimentally discussed. The debiasing methods presented in this study were effective to some extent for suppressing the biases (conjunction fallacy, ignorance of base rate, and regression to mean) to some extent. However, for some cognitive biases (framing effect, fallacy of covariation, and overconfidence), the debiasing methods in this study were not necessarily effective. Some implications for the prevention of crucial human errors and accidents were given from the viewpoints of cognitive biases included in disastrous accidents.
Tactile Displays for Cueing Self-Motion and Looming: What Would Gibson Think?
Authors: D. Lawson Ben
Published: February 2022

James J. Gibson pioneered an approach to perception that treats stimuli as rich in information and considers perception to be tightly coupled with action, based upon the possibilities for action encountered in the environment. The relation between whole-field optical flow and the visual control of self-motion towards or away from significant objects has been central to the development of ecological psychology. This paper considers recent developments in tactile research and conjectures what Gibson might have to say about employing tactile displays to convey self-motion and/or looming. The author considers the ecological functions of touch (versus vision and hearing), especially in regards to the perception of self-motion and looming. Self-motion and looming are then contrasted to develop general principles for specifying these two percepts via touch, partly using Gibson’s visual kinesthesis principles as a point of departure. A few initial studies (by the author and others) are highlighted which imply that appropriately-designed tactile displays may augment the perception of self-motion and looming. The most successful tactile display designs are likely to be analogous to the natural stimuli specifying self-motion or looming in the tactile, visual, and/or auditory domains.
Neuroergonomics of Skill Acquisition: Genetic and Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation Studies
Authors: Parasuraman Raja , Greenwood Pamela , Scheldrup Melissa , Falcone Brian , Kidwell Brian , McKendrick Ryan
Published: February 2022

The present experiments examined the effects of two neuroergonomic methods—molecular genetics and transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)—on skill acquisition in complex multitasking environments. The results of the first experiment showed that a variant of a common dopamine gene, COMT, interacted with training in supervisory control of unmanned vehicles. Individuals with the Met allele of the COMT gene showed greater trained-related gains in performance than those with the Val allele, consistent with the role of COMT in regulating dopamine availability and executive function. In the second experiment, stimulation of dorsal and ventral frontoparietal attention networks with tDCS accelerated acquisition of multitasking skill on the Space Fortress game. These findings indicate that novel neuroergonomic methods can supplement more traditional training methods for the development of expertise in complex tasks.
Inattentional Deafness in Simulated Air Traffic Control Tasks: A Behavioral and P300 Analysis
Authors: Giraudet Louise , Berenger Marie , Imbert Sébastien Tremblay Mickaël Causse Jean-Paul
Published: February 2022

The acoustic environment is critical in Air Traffic Control (ATC), as operators exchange information with planes and must also be aware of the occurrence of auditory alarms. In such situations, observing inattentional deafness is likely. In this study, we aimed to identify the physiological indicators of inattentional deafness through the analysis of the P300 evoked potential, known to be an indicator of attention allocation, an important step to a stimulus reaching consciousness. Based on the assumption that the high mental load generated by an ATC task may reduce the alarm detection rate, we wished to test whether this effect would be reflected in the alarm-evoked P300 amplitude. Participants had to perform simulated ATC tasks within the LABY microworld while electroencephalographic (EEG) activity was recorded. Simultaneously to the LABY tasks, participants were asked to respond to target tones (the “alarm”) and to ignore standard tones. Behavioral results showed that 4.6% of alarms were not reported. For these alarm detection failures, the EEG analysis showed a diminution of the P300 amplitude in comparison to a control condition in which participants only focused on the tones. These results suggest that the P300 amplitude seems to be a valid physiological indicator of vulnerability to inattentional deafness in complex environments. Relevant applications include the prevention of alarm omission and the assessment of warning designs.
The Effect of Knowledge of Results during Computerized System Training
Authors: Gavish Nirit , Krisher Hagit
Published: February 2022

The proliferation of commercial computerized systems to improve cognitive functions has helped many people, yet several key issues remain open. The current research focuses on the effect of feedback given to trainees in a computerized training system for visual attention. The visual attention skill was trained specifically to control temporal integration: a process in which a series of stimuli with a short break between them is combined together into one stimulus. Two training groups were compared: one with complete feedback during the training (Feedback group) and one without (No Feedback group), with 15 trainees in each group. The results demonstrated that the Feedback group’s performance was significantly poorer compared to the No Feedback group as assessed by the number of errors in new sets (measured during training). The deterioration observed in performance during training is not a common phenomenon. We explain these results by the theory of overconfidence. Based on the research results, we assert that giving feedback during cognitive computerized training can lead to undesirable consequences also in training, and should be re-considered.
Using Near Infrared Spectroscopy to Detect Mental Overload in Flight Simulator
Authors: Causse Mickaël , Matton Nadine
Published: February 2022

Piloting requires high level of cognitive control, especially in demanding situations. When cognitive functions are overloaded, no more sufficient resources are available to manage the situation. As a consequence, it is important to have a valid measurement tool of pilots’ online workload. In this research, we used a BIOPAC 16 channel fNIRS to monitor prefrontal activity of eleven airline student pilots during two landing scenarios (easy and difficult) in a flight simulator. As expected, results from subjective measurements revealed that the perceived cognitive mental effort was higher during the difficult landing. The right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) demonstrated the highest concentration changes of oxy-hemoglobin (O2Hb) during both scenarios, with the difficult landing inducing higher concentration changes than the easy landing. These results demonstrate the sensitivity of fNIRS to detect mental overload in complex and ecological scenarios. The findings of this study may be applied to real-time monitoring of the pilot mental workload as well as the evaluation and the certification of new cockpit designs.
Learning and Recognition of Facial Images Without Awareness
Authors: Ott Tammy , Schmer-Galunder Sonja
Published: February 2022

Bombardment with concurrent information while completing a complex task often leads to cognitive overload. We develop an approach to provide information in a way that requires extremely low demands on attention and cognition. Brief exposure evaluative conditioning is used as a workable method for improving facial recognition performance, with learning occurring during a baggage screening task and identification occurring through skin conductance response (SCR). Here we determine the efficacy of our approach as well as effects with primary task performance. Results show that our methodology is effective at producing measurable SCR upon later exposure to the images. Specifically, we demonstrate that 1) SCRs to previously primed faces begin significantly later, 2) will be significantly slower to peak 3) produce significantly higher peaks than SCRs to non-primed faces and 4) primed faces can be liked more than non-primed faces. Furthermore, our priming methodology was successfully performed during the completion of the baggage screening task without affecting priming or significantly affecting the screening task. We demonstrate the ability of people to unconsciously react to a previously conditioned facial image (presented and paired according to our paradigm) without detracting from other ongoing tasks (at least for the situation tested here).