bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Workstation Design Optimization Through a Simulation Model
Authors: Hoffman Mark S. , Cramer Martin L.
Published: July 2017

A man-machine systems simulation model was developed as a cost-effective marketing tool for systems design in the retail sales environment. SAINT (Systems Analysis Integrated Network of Tasks) modeling technique was chosen because of its capabilities to simulate complex human engineering system performances.

Tasks performed at the workstations ranged from an automated real-time inventory control device requiring a high degree of man-machine interactivity to social interactions between the operator and customer. Network parameters were defined from performances observed both in laboratory and field tests. The model included the capability to mix and simulate multiple workstations within a given environment. Work surface dimensions, operator ability levels, and processing strategies were manipulated to maximize productivity.

This approach to workstation design proved to be an effective method of systematically reducing the number of alternative configurations. It also reduces the requirement of elaborate time-consuming laboratory experiments to verify a proposed design concept. A conversational interface was developed to encourage its utilization by the untrained user.
The Exposure of Undergraduate Students to Human Factors/Ergonomics Instruction
Authors: Martin David W. , Wogalter Michael S.
Published: July 2017

The present study examined the availability of human factors/ergonomics courses to students in the U.S. Fifty schools were selected randomly from each of four categories of universities and colleges (Research I and II, Doctoral I and II, Masters I and II, and Baccalaureate/Liberal Arts I and II). Only one human factors/ergonomics (HFE) course was found in the sample of liberal arts colleges and only 10% of the master's universities had such a course. Of the doctoral institutions 62% had no HFE courses and 44% of the research institutions had no HFE courses. The possible reasons for these results are discussed as well as some possible actions that might be taken within the context of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society's strategic plan to ameliorate this problem and expose students in higher education environments to the field, not only for the students' benefit but also for the discipline.
On the Application of Cognitive Compatibility to Aircraft Systems Design and Evaluation
Authors: Andre Anthony D.
Published: July 2017

Much research has been performed examining various aspects of the relationship between displays and controls in the aircraft cockpit as well as other, related contexts. Yet, the applicability of this work to the design or evaluation of modern aircraft systems is still limited. One reason for this limitation is the disproportionate focus on the physical (spatial) aspects of display-control relationships, often referred to as stimulus-response (S-R) compatibility, relative to the cognitive or perceptual aspects. Another reason for the limited applicability of this research to applied systems design is the lack of computer-aided models and automated tools which incorporate the established principles and guidelines. It is argued here that in order to optimize both the design process and design result of future cockpit interfaces, models of cognitive compatibility must be developed and incorporated into computer-based design and evaluation tools.
Open-Plan Office Designs: An Examination of Unattended Speech, Performance, and Focused Attention
Authors: Jackson Tonya Smith , Klein Katherine W. , Wogalter Michael S.
Published: July 2017

This study modeled the open-plan office environment by introducing background speech (a common workplace noise) at moderate decibel levels and measuring performance on a computer editing task. Also assessed was whether focussed attention moderates the effects of background speech on task performance. Editing accuracy was significantly higher under quiet compared to continuous background speech conditions. Results also showed that participants scoring higher on focused attention using the Tellegen Absorption Scale (Tellegen & Atkinsson, 1974) were more accurate detectors of certain types of errors and edited more lines of text than low absorbers. Implications for open-plan office design, selection of personnel, technology deployment in non-optimal environments, and the importance of focused attention are discussed.
The Use of Statistical Quality Control Charts to Evaluate Changes in Individual Performance
Authors: Shehab Randa L. , Schlegel Robert E. , Gilliland Kirby
Published: July 2017

An employee's readiness to perform (RTP) has become an important issue facing today's industries. Some industries have turned to cognitive performance testing to provide answers regarding their employee's abilities to work safely and effectively. Such tests are designed to assess the employee's current state of preparedness for work without identifying specific causes for any noted performance impairment. This paper evaluates performance-based RTP tests with regard to the metrics by which performance change is judged. In addition to evaluating a current commonly used metric, several statistical quality control charts were examined as alternate methods for identifying impaired performance. Traditional Shewhart charts were used as well as exponentially weighted moving average charts and cumulative sum charts. A comparative analysis of the various methods revealed that control chart techniques provided superior effectiveness over the current method. Specifically, exponentially weighted moving average charts were effective in evaluating continuous performance measures and Shewhart p charts were effective in evaluating discrete measure data.
Reducing Situation Awareness Errors in Air Traffic Control
Authors: Jones Debra G.
Published: July 2017

Since situation awareness (SA) is vital to the decision process, SA errors can degrade decision making. Many SA errors occur when all the relevant information has been correctly perceived. In these cases, the information's significance is not comprehended, and a representational error occurs. Schema influence this comprehension aspect of SA. This study investigates the impact of information with certain schema related characteristics on SA: (1) schema bizarre information will impact SA more than schema irrelevant information, and (2) schema unexpected information will impact SA more than the absence of schema expected information. Using a high fidelity air traffic control simulation, misinformation was provided to the controller and schema related cues were furnished to indicate the error. The results indicated that (1) schema bizarre cues impacted SA more than schema irrelevant cues and (2) no difference existed between the impact of the absence of schema expected cues and schema unexpected cues. Additionally the results emphasize the difficulty incurred when trying to prevent SA errors.
Tactical Aviation and Human Factors: Designing the SIRE Supercockpit
Authors: Brickman Bart J. , Hettinger Lawrence J. , Haas Michael W.
Published: July 2017

Modern air combat represents a highly complex, dynamic domain that presents many significant challenges for military aviators. Current military aircraft provide much more, complex dynamic information than a single human has the ability to simultaneously attend to, let alone comprehend. As technological developments lead to the deployment of enhanced capabilities for information sharing, this trend is expected to continue. Consequently, a significant challenge for aircraft interface designers is to provide mission critical information to pilots in a rapid and effective manner, and to facilitate intuitive and accurate comprehension and operation of aircraft systems. This paper describes the process and one product of an approach to the design of future tactical crewstations that employs human performance evaluations as a design tool, and is offered as a model for the development of any complex system in which enhanced human performance is the desired outcome.
An Evaluation of Nutrition Label Quantifier Terms: Consumer Perceptions vs. FDA Definitions
Authors: Resnick Marc L.
Published: July 2017

The FDA has regulated food label nutrition claims such as ‘reduced sodium’ and ‘low fat’ since it began enforcing the Nutritional Label and Education Act in 1994. However, there has yet been no quantitative evidence that the FDA's definitions of these quantifier terms correspond to consumers' perceptions of what the terms mean. This study investigated three common quantifier terms used on food labels (reduced, low and free) in relation to four dietary components (fat, sugar, sodium and cholesterol). Subjects were shown food labels that were modified to contain every combination of these quantifiers and dietary components and asked to report how much of the component was present in one serving of the food item. The results show that consumers' understanding of these terms do not correspond with the FDA's regulations. For the seven combinations for which the FDA has a specific numerical definition, subjects significantly overestimated all seven. Furthermore, the perception of each quantifier term was affected by the dietary component being modified, the food item being evaluated and the subject doing the evaluating. These results suggest that in order for food labels to provide accurate information for consumers, the definitions of these quantifier terms must be adjusted.
Collective Orientation and Team Performance
Authors: Stout Renee J. , Driskell James E. , Salas Eduardo
Published: July 2017

A lack of team coordination or collective behavior has been a prominent factor in many real-world accidents. Although collective orientation is purported to be a critical ability, it is a team skill that is very seldom fostered in individual training. This paper describes a program of research designed to address three primary questions regarding collective orientation. First, can we measure it? Second, does collective orientation make a difference in how well teams perform? Third, in what ways does behavior differ in collectively-oriented versus non collectively-oriented teams?
Investigating Coordination in Multidegree of Freedom Control I: Time-On-Target Analysis of 6 DOF Tracking
Authors: Zhai Shumin , Senders John W.
Published: July 2017

In these two companion papers, methods developed in a series of studies in the 1940's and 1950's are applied to the analysis of 6 DOF control devices used in modern human machine systems such as teleoperation and virtual environments. Contrary to the early studies, the current work showed that the simultaneous time-on-target in multidegree of freedom tracking was higher than the product of component time on target scores. The distribution of linear correlation coefficients between the tracking errors of different degrees of freedom tended to be skewed towards the positive values. These results suggested that subjects' discoordination in early multidegree of freedom tracking studies was likely due to the limitation of human machine interfaces at that time. With well designed interfaces, subjects exhibited more coordinated trials than discoordinated trials in multidegree of freedom tracking.
An Experimental Comparison of Three Methods for Collision Handling in Virtual Environments
Authors: Jacobson Jeffrey , Lewis Michael
Published: July 2017

This study compares three common strategies for handling collisions between the user's virtual body and other objects in a cluttered virtual environment. Test subjects sought “treasures” in a maze of narrow corridors which were embedded in a jumble of irrelevant shapes. The application ran on a PC, with the mouse and screen as the interface. When encounters an object, he either passes through it, stops completely, or is deflected around it. Data show that the third strategy best facilitates goal-seeking behavior with this interface and for this type of problem. This result is significant because collision handling is critically important to the usefulness of Virtual Reality applications. Furthermore, the screen-and-mouse interface is both the most common and least studied for virtual environments.
Written and Simulator-Based Tests of Mariner Knowledge and Application of Rules of the Road
Authors: McCallum Marvin C. , Smith Myriam W.
Published: July 2017

This paper documents an initial study of the feasibility and potential value of developing an Interactive Rules of the Road Tester. Using an existing desk-top ship bridge simulator, a series of interactive exercises were developed to match the test objectives of a paper and pencil multiple-choice test currently administered to mariners by the U.S. Coast Guard. Both tests were administered to 100 U.S. Merchant Marine Academy students and biographical data relevant to Rules of the Road knowledge and application were obtained for each student. Analyses indicated that the separate test formats measured different aspects of students' competencies and that a test that combines both written items and interactive exercises has the potential to increase the overall level of test validity. Such a system is see as a cost-effective means of improving the assessment of mariner's knowledge and application of the Rules of the Road.
Time-To-Collision: A Sensitive Measure of Driver Interaction with Traffic in a Simulated Driving Task
Authors: Fiorentino Dary D. , Parseghian Zareh
Published: July 2017

In the future, on-board driver monitoring systems could use time-to-collision (TTC) metric algorithms as a real-time measure of driving performance, and alert the driver if performance falls below minimum performance criteria. Such monitoring systems remain years away, but it is currently possible to measure TTC in a simulator. This paper discusses a study to determine whether TTC varies as a function of driver impairment in a simulated driving task. Alcohol was administered to eleven participants, and TTC measures were obtained at 0.00%, 0.04% and 0.08% blood alcohol concentrations (BAC). The results support use of the median TTC, which varied as a function of BAC, as a measure of in-traffic maneuvering performance.
Gunner Performance in a Motion Environment: A Comparison of Controls
Authors: Glumm Monica M. , Grynovicki Jock O. , Waugh John D.
Published: July 2017

This paper describes a study designed to quantify the effects of vehicular induced motion on tank gunner performance using two different control handles. One control was a fixed yoke that incorporated a thumb-operated, tracking button. The second control was a more conventional displacement yoke which functioned like that in the current M1A1 tank. The study was conducted on a ride motion simulator which had been programmed to impart four levels of ride motion. These ride levels were simulations of the Ml tank traveling over various test courses at Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD. Generally, as vertical acceleration increased, performance decreased for both controls; however, the vertical accelerations imparted to the gunners at the more severe ride levels effected a greater reduction in time on target when gunners used the thumb button than the accelerations did when gunners used the displacement yoke. Performance using the thumb button was also more affected by target motion.
Haptics and Supervisory Control in Telesurgery
Authors: Sheridan T.B. , Thompson J. M. , Hu J.J. , Ottensmeyer M.
Published: July 2017

This paper reviews several interrelated experiments related to the improvement of systems by which to perform simple surgical procedures remotely using closed circuit video/audio and telerobotic manipulator devices over ISDN telephone communication channels. The realities of such technology include the existence of several second time delays, severe constraints on feedback bandwidth, and the lack of some desirable degrees of freedom for manipulation. Experiments were done to determine what sensory-motor tasks should be performed by the surgeon directly in a master-slave mode with haptic (position-force) feedback, what tasks should be programmed into and subsequently performed by a computer at the site of the patient, and what tasks should be performed by an untrained assistant (non-surgeon) physically located with the patient with the second-by-second supervisory guidance of the remote surgeon. Experiments were also done to find ways to ameliorate the instability in force feedback caused by the time delay. For each mode the paper identifies compromises in telepresence and sensory- motor performance and tradeoffs between speed and accuracy. Based on experimental results, recommendations are made for ways to improve telesurgery systems now being developed.
Proceedings of the American Association of Teachers of Journalism
Authors: Herbert H. H.
Published: July 2017

The twenty-sixth annual convention of the American Association of Teachers of Journalism met at Topeka, Kansas, December 28 and 29, 1938.
An Annotated Bibliography of Journalism Subjects in American Magazines
Authors: Merwin F. E. , Luxon N. N.
Published: July 2017

The first months of 1943 produced a good deal of discord for the Fourth Estate. The ANPA convention was concerned over federal encroachment on press freedom. All newspaper groups lambasted the proposed censorship on the international food conference, and some concessions were gained. The AP and the Justice Department bombarded each other with supplemental questions in the anti-trust action. The National Editorial Association went ahead with plans for an advertising service despite opposition from the American Press Association. An interesting number of articles on the Negro press appeared during the period. F. E. M.
Cross-Channel Ownership of Communication Media
Authors: Agee Warren K.
Published: July 2017

Chains which link newspapers, radio, and TV stations under common ownership are replacing chains of newspapers alone, according to this study by an instructor in journalism at Texas Christian University. The article is based on Mr. Agee's thesis for the M. A. degree at Minnesota.
The Role of Mormon Journalism in the Death of Joseph Smith
Authors: Banks Loy Otis
Published: July 2017

In an article based on his M.A. thesis at the University of Missouri, the author relates how the suppression of a newspaper by Mormonism's founder led to his murder by an armed mob in the Carthage, Illinois jail. Mr. Banks is now teaching journalism and English at Kansas State Teachers College in Empori.a
A New Program of Studies for a Department
Authors: Stritch Thomas
Published: July 2017

In the last issue the chairman of the graduate department of journalism at the University of California in Los Angeles discussed the problem of curriculum building from a new angle. Here the head of the undergraduate program at the University of Notre Dame takes a still different approach.
“La Prensa” and Freedom of the Press in Argentina
Authors: Easum Donald B.
Published: July 2017

The events that led up to the spectacular end of Latin-America's greatest newspaper are reviewed in this article, written by an American scholar now studying Anglo-Argentine-United States relations in England under a Fulbright scholarship.
The Role of Research in Political Warfare
Authors: Davison W. Phillips
Published: July 2017

This paper, based upon a talk delivered at the 1951 AEJ convention, structures the field of psychological warfare research and suggests ways in which journalism may fit into the program. Mr. Davison, formerly editor of the Public Opinion Quarterly, is a member of the Rand Corporation's social science staff. *
News Notes
Authors: Price Warren C.
Published: July 2017

News for inclusion in this section … activities of schools and departments of journalism, staff appointments and changes, curricular developments and the like … should be sent to Charles T. Duncan, School of Journalism, University of Oregon, Eugene, Ore. Notes for the next issue should reach him by October 1.
Maitre D' Apprenticeship Program
Authors: Calnan Thomas W.
Published: July 2017

The hospitality industry has historically trained its own employees at the entry and supervisory level. Today, because of the growth of the hospitality industry, even with the proliferation of hospitality education programs, more non-hospitality trained personnel are entering the industry than ever before.

The maitre d' apprenticeship program is designed to complement the in-house training programs of hotels and restaurants with a college curriculum leading to an associate degree and national certification in food service management.

The maitre d' apprenticeship program is designed as a model for community and junior colleges to provide an alternative to fulltime college programs to meet the needs of front-of-the-house food service employees who wish to develop their basic skills and supervisory talents.

The model of the maitre d' apprenticeship curriculum details the course content needed to meet the certification requirements of the International Food Service Executives Association (IFSEA).
Experience And Education: How Are Hospitality Programs Coordinating This Vital Curriculum Interface?
Authors: DeVeau Linsley T.
Published: July 2017

The work experience requirement of a hospitality management program has long been considered an important component of the curriculum. Designing and administering the work experience component requires a rethinking of the objectives we are setting out to achieve. In the fall of 1986 a survey was conducted of 142 four year baccalaureate hospitality management programs to determine the structure of their work experience curricula. Sixty-eight responses were received. The results of the survey supplied information pertaining to the structure and administration of work experience courses.

To ensure that the graduates of our programs are being given the opportunity to practice the theoretical portion of our curriculum, we must support well thought-out, organized and executed work experience course(s). This paper presents a model of work experience courses for a hospitality management program, utilizing what is called the “theory into action” approach to analysis. At the University of New Haven this work experience curricula has been used for two semesters where it has, for the most part, received positive student evaluations.
Guidance for Integrated Care Pathways: A Reference Document for an Acute NHS Trust
Authors: Fox Robert , Moran Sally , MacCormick Angus
Published: July 2017

A Commission for Health Improvement (CHI) review highlighted the need for integrated care pathways (ICPs) within our Trust and a working party was formed to guide their development. From a survey of current awareness and activity the committee identified several priorities:

• creating awareness and interest • initiating learning programmes for interested staff • developing support structure for enthusiasts • defining the process of ratification • formulating Trust style.

Leaflets were circulated to all departments to stimulate interest and a seminar programme was introduced with staff from key areas being targeted. An intranet site was authored with lists of support staff, details of in-house resources and links to external agencies. This was backed up with a paper resource folder in central and departmental libraries.

A degree of harmonisation of style was seen as being potentially advantageous by facilitating the use of ICPs across directorates. A Trust pro forma style was produced to guide and ease this process. It was suggested that a document that explained the nature of ICPs, detailed Trust policy and provided tips for authorship would be a useful reference for those new to creating ICPs. Guidance for Integrated Care Pathways was written with these aims in mind. It was co-authored by three members of the committee and circulated for comments. After ratification by the Trust board it was posted on the intranet site and included in the resource folder.

It is a working document that is reviewed regularly, and is intended to facilitate the process and not to be overly prescriptive. Comments and suggestions from throughout the Trust are welcomed.
Drugs at the End of Life: Does an Integrated Care Pathway Simplify Prescribing?
Authors: Grogan E , Peel L M , Peel E T
Published: July 2017

The Liverpool integrated care pathway for the dying patient (LCP) facilitates management of dying patients, but does not provide guidance regarding medication. A retrospective audit was performed of patients using the LCP to assess what medications were required, how requirements changed and which of the four symptoms outlined in the LCP were most troublesome (pain, agitation, sickness and respiratory secretions). Over a five-month period, 68 patients died on the LCP, and were included in the audit. The most unstable symptom (stability defined by rescue medication requirements) at the end of life was agitation − 37 of the 68 patients required regular sedatives and 45 patients needed at least one rescue dose of sedative. Sickness was the most stable symptom − 39 patients needed regular antiemetic, but only three patients needed rescue doses. These findings have implications in writing guidelines for symptom management at the end of life.
Care Pathway for TNF α-Blockers for Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis at the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases
Authors: Shenker Nicholas , Fokke Chris , Michell Elizabeth
Published: July 2017

Tumour necrosis factor (TNF) blockers are effective in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. These drugs are expensive, however, and there is uncertainty over their long-term safety. The National Institute for Clinical Excellence has issued guidance over the use of these drugs in rheumatoid arthritis. The Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases developed an integrated care pathway following the patient's journey from referral to the TNF services until the administration and continued monitoring of their response in accordance with NICE Guidance, taking into account local issues. This paper reviews the development and implementation of this pathway.
Use of Sirolimus in Kidney Transplantation
Authors: Podbielski Jeanette , Schoenberg Linda
Published: July 2017

Sirolimus, which has a distinctive mechanism of action that inhibits cytokine-driven cell proliferation and maturation, provides an exciting addition to the immunosuppressive regimen for organ transplantation. A significant decrease in the number and severity of rejection episodes has been noted when sirolimus is used; it also offers the potential for patients to be withdrawn from steroids, making kidney transplantation an option for many more potential recipients. Toxic conditions such as hyperlipidemia, thrombocytopenia, and leukopenia become transient and manageable with reduction of the sirolimus dose and/or countermeasure therapy.
Development of a Web Site for Transplant Patient Education
Authors: Goedecke Patricia A. , Winsett Rebecca P. , Martin Judy C. , Hathaway Donna K. , Gaber A. Osama
Published: July 2017

The Internet is a global communication network used by more than 17.6 million adults as a major source of current health information. Both the number of health-related Web sites and the number of Web users are increasing exponentially as well as reports indicating a growth in the number of persons who access the Internet specifically to retrieve information about organ transplantation. However, few are using this medium for posttransplant educational or psychosocial purposes. Armed with this information, as well as a commitment from the transplant team, we chose to develop a Web-based educational program to facilitate posttransplant care for our transplant recipients. The purpose of this article is to describe the planning, development, and implementation of a Web-based education program for transplant recipients.
Steroid Withdrawal in Liver Transplant Recipients
Authors: Adams Rebecca W. , Chapman Robin L. , Smallwood Gregory A.
Published: July 2017

Because of troublesome side effects associated with steroid use, many transplant centers have tried to withdraw steroids from stable, solid organ transplant recipients. The objective of this study was to evaluate the ability to wean liver transplant recipients off steroids, depending on both their primary immunosuppressive regimen and their primary disease state. This was a retrospective, single-center review of steroid weaning in adult orthotopic liver transplant recipients. Based on primary immunosuppression, patients could be weaned off steroids similarly if they were taking cyclosporine or tacrolimus (53.9% vs 61.4%). When triple immunosuppressive regimens were compared with dual regimens, a difference was found in ability to wean patients off steroids (52.4% vs 74.5%, P=.001). When steroid weaning was stratified for primary immunosuppression and primary disease state, patients with autoimmune-mediated diseases (autoimmune hepatitis, sclerosing cholangitis, and primary biliary cirrhosis) were less likely to be weaned if they were receiving cyclosporine-based immunosuppressants (36.8% vs 62.2%, P=.03). In conclusion, it appears that a large number of liver transplant recipients can safely be tapered off steroids.
Development of the University of Wisconsin Donation after Cardiac Death Evaluation Tool
Authors: Lewis Jonathan , Peltier James , Nelson Helen , Snyder William , Schneider Kristi , Steinberger Dina , Anderson Michael , Krichevsky Alexander , Anderson James , Ellefson Jill , D'Alessandro Anthony
Published: July 2017

Background

Donation after cardiac death is a method by which severely neurologically injured patients not fulfilling brain-death criteria can donate organs.

Objective

To develop an evaluation tool that can be used to predict if a patient is a suitable candidate for donation after cardiac death.

Methods

The University of Wisconsin Donation After Cardiac Death Evaluation Tool assigns numeric values to observable clinical parameters to yield an overall predictive score of suitability for donation after cardiac death. This evaluation tool is typically utilized in a critical care unit to evaluate patients with a severe neurological injury, who do not meet brain-death criteria, and for whom the physician and family have chosen to terminally withdraw life support. Each patient is disconnected from a ventilator and observed for up to 10 minutes. Observations are then scored to yield a prediction of suitability for donation after cardiac death.

Results

Using the University of Wisconsin Donation After Cardiac Death Evaluation Tool, we were able to predict suitability for donation after cardiac death 83.7% of the time, within a 60-minute period and 74.4% of the time within a 120-minute period. The actual results using the tool were higher when clinical observations were included in the donation after cardiac death evaluation—an overall accuracy of 88.4%.
Roles of Sex and Ethnicity in Procurement Coordinator—Family Communication during the Organ Donation Discussion
Authors: Baughn Daniel , Auerbach Stephen M. , Siminoff Laura A.
Published: July 2017

Context

Interpersonal relations with health care providers influence families' decisions to consent to solid-organ donation. However, previous research has been based on retrospective interviews with donation-eligible families and has not directly examined the interpersonal interactions between families and organ procurement coordinators.

Objective

To increase understanding of the interpersonal interaction between procurement coordinators and families during the organ donation discussion, with special attention to the influence of the sex and race of the procurement coordinator and the race of the potential donor's family.

Design

A descriptive study in which standardized patients portrayed family members interacting with actual procurement coordinators in simulated donation request scenarios.

Setting and Participants

Thirty-three videotaped interactions between standardized patients and 17 procurement coordinators involving 2 different scenarios depicting deceased donation were evaluated.

Main Outcome Measures

Video recordings were rated by independent coders. Coders completed the Impact Message Inventory-Form C, the Participatory Style of Physician Scale, and the Siminoff Communication and Content and Affect Program–Global Observer Ratings scale.

Results and Conclusions

African American procurement coordinators, particularly African American women, were rated as more controlling and work-oriented than white procurement coordinators. Male procurement coordinators were more affiliative with the white family than the African American family, whereas female procurement coordinators were slightly less affiliative with the white family. African American procurement coordinators expressed more positive affect when interacting with the African American family than the white family, whereas the opposite was true for white procurement coordinators. Research is needed to cross-validate these exploratory findings and further examine cultural mistrust between procurement coordinators and families of ethnic minorities, especially given the negative attitudes of many minorities toward donation.
Measurement of Cardiac Output during Adult Donor Care
Authors: Powner David J. , Hergenroeder Georgene W.
Published: July 2017

Measurement of cardiac output may improve hemodynamic management in donor care. Selected traditional and more recent methods to quantify cardiac output are reviewed. The accuracy or concordance of these newer methods when compared with thermodilution techniques that use a pulmonary artery catheter—the current reference standard—is discussed. Data directly comparing these systems for measuring cardiac output in the donor population are unavailable. However, data from groups of hemodynamically unstable patients favor selection of a measurement method that permits comparison (calibration) with a reference standard. A prospective comparison of all methods against the pulmonary artery catheter thermodilution technique among donors would provide the best data to resolve this clinical and potentially cost-important question.
Time-Motion Analysis of Research Nurse Activities in a Lung Transplant Home Monitoring Study
Authors: Lindquist Ruth , VanWormer Arin , Lindgren Bruce , MacMahon Kathleen , Robiner William , Finkelstein Stanley
Published: July 2017

Background

The emergence and subsequent integration of new technologies precipitate changes in roles and work lives of nurses. The nurses' work with home monitoring technologies within a spirometry-based program that transmits pulmonary function data after lung transplantation has characteristics that are distinct from other types of direct patient care. Nurses' changing roles in such programs after transplantation have not been well described.

Objective

To describe a time-motion study of 2 research nurses in the context of a home-spirometry study to monitor patients' pulmonary status after lung transplantation.

Method

A detailed list of research nurses' 67 routine work-related activities was developed and validated to monitor and record activities of research home monitoring nurses. Two weeks of observations were completed; recordings of a second observer established reliability of observations.

Results

In 48.8 hours of observation, 610 tasks related to monitoring of 45 patients were recorded. Task time ranged from brief seconds (eg, data review) to 39 minutes (eg, clinic visits). Between-observer intraclass correlation ( r=0.96) reflected high agreement in observations of the duration of activities. Agreement for category of activity was strong (κ = 0.82), with high levels of agreement (96%). Computer tasks were the most frequent (118 tasks/week) and most time-intensive activities. Nurses' face-to-face interactions with health professionals were equally time intensive (both 267 minutes/week), but not as frequent. Data review tasks were the second most frequent (49/week), although less time-intensive (47 minutes/week).

Conclusion

Findings reveal patterns of effort and time expenditure in nurses' evolving roles in home monitoring of the health status of patients after lung transplantation. These findings highlight the centrality and importance of well-developed data management, computer skills, and interprofessional communication skills of nurses who perform responsibilities in this emerging role in transplantation. Efforts to streamline computerized information access, as through integrated information systems, and methods to enhance efficiency in connecting with patients in the clinic may free up time for nurses to engage in other activities of direct benefit to patients. Strategies to supplement face-to-face meetings among professionals with electronic modalities may reduce the time spent meeting, while maintaining or enhancing communication.
Zero Risk Tolerance Costs Lives: Loss of Transplantable Organs Due to Human Immunodeficiency Virus Nucleic Acid Testing of Potential Donors
Authors: Shafer Teresa J. , Schkade David , Schkade Lawrence , Geier Steven S. , Orlowski Jeffrey P. , Klintmalm Goran
Published: July 2017

Patients' deaths due to the organ donor shortage make it imperative that every suitable organ be transplanted. False-positive results of tests for infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) result in lost organs. A survey of US organ procurement organizations collected the numbers of donors and ruled-out potential donors who had a positive result on an HIV test from January 1, 2006, to October 31, 2008. Sixty-two percent of US organ procurement organizations participated. Of the 12397 donor/nondonor cases, 56 (0.45%) had an initial positive result on an HIV antibody or HIV nucleic acid test, and only 8 (14.3%) of those were confirmed positive. Of the false-positive results, 50% were from HIV antibody tests and 50% were from HIV nucleic acid tests. Organs are a scarce, finite, and perishable resource. Use of HIV antibody testing has produced a remarkably safe track record of avoiding HIV transmission, with 22 years of nonoccurrence between transmissions. Because false positives occur with any test, including the HIV Ab test, adding nucleic acid testing to the standard donor testing panel doubles the number of false-positive HIV test results and thus the number of medically suitable donors lost. The required HIV antibody test is 99.99% effective in preventing transmission of the HIV virus. Adding the HIV nucleic acid test to routine organ donor screening could result in as many as 761 to 1551 unnecessary deaths of patients between HIV transmission events because medically suitable organs are wasted.
The Microscopy of Fiber and Fabric Finishes and Coatings 1
Authors: Rollins Mary L. , Goynes Wilton R. , Degruy Ines V.
Published: July 2017

Finishes and coatings are often applied to textile mate rials in order to alter their physical characteristics by changing the nature of the surface and, therefore, the interaction between elements of the structure. Sometimes these have adverse effects such as, for example, a loss in tearing strength. Various microscopical techniques are described and illustrated which can be useful in examining the distribution of the added material, its penetration into the structure, and the nature of the interaction which exists between the finish or coating and the fibrous substrate, as well as between fibrous elements within the structure.
“There is Nothing New in Cyberspace” a Motion for Debate
Authors: Wells Maxwell J.
Published: July 2017

Cyberspace is the environment created during the experience of virtual reality. Therefore, to assert that there is nothing new in cyberspace alludes to there being nothing new about virtual reality. Is this assertion correct? Is virtual reality an exciting development in human-computer interaction, or is it simply another example of effective simulation? Does current media interest herald a major advance in information technology, or will virtual reality go the way of artificial intelligence, cold fusion and junk bonds? Is virtual reality the best thing since sliced bread, or is it last week's buns in a new wrapper?
Speech Recognition Vocabulary Scoping for Automated Call Routing
Authors: Wharton Cathleen , Marics Monica , Engelbeck George
Published: July 2017

Call routing involves directing incoming telephone calls from a central number to an appropriate person or department. In the course of an ongoing work project, a quick study was performed to scope the vocabulary requirements for a speech recognition automated call routing application for a large department store. Forty-one participants were given 35 sample shopping tasks and were asked which department they would ask for when calling the store. The range of responses for a given task was large. With a 29 item recognition vocabulary consisting of most frequent responses and root phrases (e.g., “sport” for “sporting goods”), 57% of user responses would be covered. Users were also asked to rate the confidence of their department choice. The greater the variety of responses to a task across all participants, the less confident participants were of their responses.
Some Uses of “Active Viewing” in Computer Aided Anthropometric Assessment
Authors: Hoekstra Pyter N.
Published: July 2017

Computer Aided Anthropometric Assessment (CAAA) allows the user to visualize a human model on a computer screen, integrated within a relevant workspace design. Flexibility in adapting the design to changes in functional postures of a chosen percentile or length category of the human models (as representations of different target populations), is one of CAAA's main features. Easy manipulation of the human model (e.g. via reach-algorithms for the hands and feet), directing its line-of-sight and displaying the corresponding field-of-view, are becoming standard facilities of CAAA. The next pages describe some uses of a new vision algorithm that we developed for our own CAAA-program: the user can now get into the field-of-view mode (“seeing what the human model sees”) and once there, actively direct the model's line-of-sight to a new center of interest (and thus to a new field-of-view), via simple mouse directions. In the same way the model's arms and legs can be repositioned, all this “as seen by the human model”. Focus is on two main themes: fast assessment of visual consequences when pre-designing human workspaces, e.g. when regarding field-of-view restrictions, and secondly displaying and discussing differences in the human model's posture and field-of-view when “looking with repositioning the head and neck”, compared to “looking with moving the eyes”.
Temporary Transience and Qualitative Research: Methodological Lessons from Fieldwork with Independent Travelers and Seasonal Workers
Authors: Lozanski Kristin , Beres Melanie Ann
Published: July 2017

Fieldwork with independent travelers and seasonal workers raises specific methodological considerations that result from the temporary transience of both communities. In this paper the authors bring together their experiences of the ways in which this transience both enabled and challenged various aspects of data collection, including integrating themselves into the participant network, locating participants and arranging interviews, adhering to ethical standards, and withdrawing from their data collection, as well as participants' perceptions of their research projects.
Exploring Multiple Identities as a Health Care Ethnographer
Authors: Ledger Alison
Published: July 2017

Previous discussions about the role of the ethnographer have weighed the advantages and disadvantages of occupying insider or outsider positions, or dual practitioner-researcher identities. In the author's experience, additional identities can come to the fore when a seasoned health professional returns to the field as a novice ethnographer. In this article she reflects on ways in which she shifted between the identities of researcher, therapist, friend, and student in her ethnography about music therapy service development. These experiences are presented to reveal the inherent complexity of the researcher role and to encourage health care ethnographers to consider ways in which they can hold multiple identities in their own research.
Group Meeting Dynamics in a Community-Based Participatory Research Photovoice Project with Exited Sex Trade Workers
Authors: Barlow Constance Anne , Hurlock Debb
Published: July 2017

This article is based on a secondary analysis of transcripts from a community-based participatory research (CBPR) project that sought to represent through photovoice the lived experience of five exited sex trade workers. The focus of the secondary thematic transcript analysis was to discern group processes and describe group dynamics of six two-hour group meetings. Creating and maintaining an environment of safety emerged as a primary theme. The group processes resembled mutual aid groups, which are characterized by people offering assistance to each other in an interpersonal forum that demands personal reflection. Group dynamics revealed that an important aspect of CBPR photovoice research is the collaborative creation of a safe place for showing photographs and storytelling.
Hermeneutics as Embodied Existence
Authors: Schuster Marja
Published: July 2017

This article explores the possibilities and limits of a hermeneutic way of being in the world, more specifically being a researcher as a part of human, embodied existence. Understanding existence as embodied highlights the subjectivity of a researcher. For a hermeneutic researcher this subjectivity is both a precondition for interpretation and something that might endanger the scientific endeavour. In this article, I examine the possibilities of combining Hans-Georg Gadamer's empathetic hermeneutics with Paul Ricoeur's critical hermeneutics as a means of both recognizing and, to some extent, controlling my subjectivity in the research process. With Gabriel Marcel I also argue for hermeneutics as an embodied experience. This is exemplified by my study with a focus on the existential dimensions of the nursing profession. The first part of the article introduces Marcel and his philosophical anthropology concerning our bodily existence as essential for shared lives with others. In the second part, this understanding of self and others is further developed by means of the hermeneutics of Gadamer and Ricoeur. In the third part, I present a way of applying hermeneutics in procedures for interviews, transcription, and analysis of data.
Assessment following Hand Trauma: A Review of some Commonly Employed Methods
Authors: BÜCher Catherine , Hume Kenneth I
Published: July 2017

Accurate assessment strategies underpin appropriate implementation and review of surgical and therapeutic intervention. This paper explores some of the commonly described assessment methods used following hand injury, including measures of range of motion (ROM), strength, sensation, hand function and patient self-evaluation. The strengths and limitations of some methods are discussed. It is suggested that accurate assessment tools and standardised approaches to assessment will promote effective evaluation of intervention. In addition long-term review and comparative studies may be facilitated by such an approach.
A Systematic Review of Rehabilitation for Distal Radial Fractures in Adults
Authors: Handoll Helen HG , Madhok Rajan , Howe Tracey E
Published: July 2017

We undertook a systematic review of the evidence from randomised controlled trials for effectiveness of rehabilitation intervention(s) for adults with fractures of the distal radius. A comprehensive search yielded 12 eligible trials, which were assessed for methodological quality. This paper presents the findings of these trials, which covered nine treatment comparisons, and explains why we concluded that there was insufficient evidence to inform practice.