bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Primary Repair of Patellar Tendon Rupture Without Augmentation
Authors: Marder Richard A. , Timmerman Laura A.
Published: July 2017

Repair of patellar tendon ruptures has often relied on cerclage augmentation and prolonged immobilization in extension. We are reporting our experience with avulsion injuries as well as midsubstance ruptures, both treated with primary repair without augmentation, allowing early mobilization in the athlete less than 40 years of age. Repairs were performed to allow knee flexion to more than 60°. Rehabilitation was performed with heel slides, allowing flexion to 45° for the first 3 weeks, increasing to 90° at 3 to 6 weeks, and thereafter without restriction. An accelerated weightbearing and muscle strengthening program was adopted. At a mean follow-up of 2.6 years (range, 20 to 61 months), 12 patients had returned to their previous levels of activity. No loss of extension or extensor lag was noted; mean flexion loss was 5°. Patellofemoral symptoms and signs were present in five patients, but activity was limited in only two. Mean peak torque at 60 deg/sec was 92% (range, 73% to 105%). Mean Lysholm score was 94 2.5 points. Primary repair with immediate, protected range of motion resulted in uniformly excellent results and obviated the need for manipulation or subsequent hardware removal.
Cautions Concerning Assessment of Native Indian Students
Authors: Goldstein Charlene R.
Published: July 2017

This article outlines some problems inherent in the research concerning the assessment of Native Indian students, especially with reference to the "Native Indian profile." "Deficit" versus "difference" models are examined. Recommendations and new directions for assessment are discussed. Responsibilities of examiners are delineated. Caution is urged.
The Delivery of School-Based Clinical Services To Minority Children: a Systems Approach
Authors: Dion Pierre R. , Mccaig Sandra A.
Published: July 2017

Minority students have been characterized by poor academic achievement and a high rate of school failure. Moreover, educators are finding that minority students are overrepresented in special education classes and are frequently labelled learning disabled. It is argued that inappropriate school based clinical services, based on the medical model, contribute to the current state of affairs. This article proposes a shift from the assumption that academic problems primarily reflect student deficits, to a more broadly based assumption which emphasizes the educational context and non-optimal conditions of instruction. An alternative model of service delivery of clinical services to school children is discussed. This model endorses a systems approach where the various systems which impact upon "at risk" children are taken into consideration and included in the intervention.
Performance of Canadian Children on the Matrix Analogies Test—Short Form
Authors: Saklofske D.H. , Yackulic R.A. , Murray W.M. , Naglieri J.A.
Published: July 2017

The Matrix Analogies Test-Short Form was developed by Naglieri (1985b) as a quick group screening measure of nonverbal reasoning ability. Although the test was standardized in the United States, initial results for Canadian children suggested that the MAT-SF "travels well." The present study examined the item characteristics, reliability and validity of the test for a sample of 6- to 10-year-old Canadian children. Norms for this sample were similar to those reported for American children.
Effectiveness of Nurse-Driven Inhaler Education on Inhaler Proficiency and Compliance Among Obstructive Lung Disease Patients: A Quasi-Experimental Study
Authors: Al-Kalaldeh Mahmoud , El-Rahman Mona Abd , El-Ata Amal
Published: July 2017

Background

Health education on proper inhaler usage is the most feasible and accessible strategy to increase inhaler effectiveness.

Purpose

To assess the impact of nurse-driven inhaler education on the compliance and proficiency of using inhalers among inhaler users.

Methods

This single-center, quasi-experimental study included the implementation of an individualized 60-min educational session on inhalers use. Health education and pretest and posttest outcomes were assessed by the Inhaler Proficiency Schedule and Patient Reported Behaviour tools.

Results

One hundred and twenty-one participants joined the study. At pretest, participants showed inadequate knowledge of general inhaler use. No previous training had been received by participants and difficulty with use and complications from using the inhalers were reported. At posttest, participants reported improvement in inhaler proficiency scores from 5.72 to 8.60 ( t = 17.99, df = 220, p < 0.001). Likewise, they showed a significant reduction towards the noncompliant behaviors from 15.21 to 11.19 ( t = 16.388, df = 238, p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Nurse-driven inhaler education yielded positive outcomes in both inhaler proficiency and compliance. The patients' assessment of using inhalers is crucial to determine the patients' educational deficits.
Philanthropic Institutions and the Small Religious Nonprofit
Authors: Benjamin Ellen J.
Published: July 2017

Basedon information gathered from small religious nonprofits(SRNPs)and philanthropic organizations in the Chicago area, this article finds that SRNPs may have difficulties obtaining foundation grants due to their mode of operation and the misconceptions of some grant-making officers. By pinpointing specific areas of misunderstanding, both donors and SRNPs are offered the opportunity to revise those assumptions and practices thatimpedecooperation.Thefindingsofthisstudysuggestthatalthoughthereissubstantial interest and goodwill extended between the two populations studied, there are also vast gulfsin theknowledgeandexpectationsthesesectorsholdforoneanother.Asaconsequence, opportunitiesareunnecessarilyforgoneforreceiving,aswellasforconveying,philanthropic gifts. Despite this discouraging news, there is every reason to believe that these problems may be addressed through education and enhanced communication. The article concludes by offering practical recommendations to close the gap between SRNPs and grant-making institutions.
Present, Past, and Future
Authors: Flaherty Michael G. , Fine Gary Alan
Published: July 2017

Time is of utmost importance in the writings of George Herbert Mead, the American pragmatist philosopher and social psychologist. Yet, despite Mead's prominence as the primary source of the symbolic interactionist approach to sociology, most social scientists are unfamiliar with his perspective on temporality. We describe his analysis of the present, the past, and the future - emphasizing that, for Mead, people live in the present, and that their interpretations of the past and the future are shaped by the present. In addition, we consider the implications of his perspective for our understanding of the self, interaction, and society.
The Significance and Prospects of Stable Civil-Military Relations in Nigeria
Authors: Oni I. O.
Published: July 2017

The paper examines the significance and need for a stable civil-military system in Nigeria as a Third World state, which would draw closest to the ideal objective control model of civil-military relations. An appraisal of trends which promise a bright prospect for such a system, as well as antithetical forces which appear to make such prospects gloomy, is undertaken. We conclude that a stable and workable civil-military system in Nigeria as an underdeveloped state cannot be examined in isolation from the prevailing political economy and material relations in society. The termination of political instability and of the vicious cycle of civil-military alternation will be attainable in Nigeria only when autochthonous economic development, technological revolution and egalitarian and socialised material relations are forged and sustained.
D'Amiens à Québec : Les jalons d'une aventure à poursuivre
Authors: Avargues Marie-Christine , Bourdages Josée , Lorenzo Philippe , Potvin Louise
Published: July 2017

D'Amiens à Québec, les deux premiers colloques sur les programmes locaux et régionaux de santé ont ouvert la route à un nouveau paradigme pour la santé publique. Partager les expériences de terrain pour penser autrement les pratiques. Créer des passerelles entre les champs de la promotion, de la prévention, des soins et de l'insertion, entre les niveaux d'action et de décision, entre les acteurs d'horizon divers. Les défis ont été relevés, Amiens en octobre 2001, Québec, trois ans plus tard. Reste à poursuivre et enrichir les échanges sur un plan international en renforçant la francophonie, en capitalisant les approches et les outils, en mobilisant de nouveaux partenaires. Rendez-vous est donné pour cette nouvelle phase de l'aventure en marche vers un troisième colloque.

From Amiens to Quebec: the first milestones of an on-going adventure The first two international conferences on local and regional health programmes held in Amiens and Quebec have paved the road for a new public health paradigm. The conferences have served to share experiences from the field to re-think practice and create bridges between health promotion, prevention, care and integration at both the action and decision levels, and amongst diverse actors from the field. The challenges have been put forth, in Amiens in 2001 and in Quebec three years later. The next step is to pursue and enrich these exchanges at the international level reinforcing the Francophone position by capitalising on approaches and tools, and mobilising new partners. The next rendezvous for this on-going adventure is set for the third conference.
An innovative geographical approach: health promotion and empowerment in a context of extreme urban poverty
Authors: Becker Daniel , Edmundo Kátia , Rogéria Nunes Nilza , Bonatto Daniella , de Souza Rosane
Published: July 2017

This article describes and analyses a territorial intervention, the Vila Paciencia Initiative—a local development/health promotion programme implemented in a context of extreme poverty in the western district of Rio de Janeiro. The main goal of the programme was to empower individuals and communities. We emphasise the lessons learned and the potential for integrating them into local and regional health services, which could strengthen community participation and capacity-building and improve the effectiveness and community orientation of primary health care and other public policies directed to geographical development.
The Boston-Area Haswic Research Circle: an Innovative Participatory Method for Coloring in the Picture of a Special Work Environment
Authors: Moir Susan , Azaroff Lenore S.
Published: July 2017

Recent qualitative studies have investigated some of the hazards affecting women in non-traditional trades such as construction. However, one-time interactions among researcher participants, and between researchers and participants, in standard settings such as focus groups and interviews, cannot provide the time, space, and relationships to fully explore tradeswomen's in-depth knowledge of their work environment. This study applied a Scandinavian method called the Research Circle to convene a group of experienced women construction workers repeatedly over a period of two years so they could collaborate with researchers in explaining workplace issues. The results both validated and expanded upon previous findings about health and safety for women in construction, including gender discrimination, lack of access to sanitary facilities, retaliation for reporting hazards and injuries, and inadequate training and equipment. Especially important, findings illustrate some of the complex hierarchical social structures involved in both female and male construction workers responding to hazardous conditions.
An Evaluation of the Quality of Pharmaceutical Care: A Study of the Pharmacist's Compounding Behavior
Authors: Temple Thomas R. , Nelson Arthur A.
Published: July 2017

Governmental legislative activity concerning medical care audits has focused the attention of pharmacists on the issue of quality of care being delivered by the pharmacy practitioner. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the pharmacist's services when prescriptions require his compounding skills.

A trained shopper presented 50 randomly selected, independent and chain community pharmacists with an authentic prescription requiring compounding. The inscription specified salicylic acid 10 percent in petrolatum. Upon receipt of the finished product the medications were quantitatively and qualitatively analyzed to determine the salicylic acid content. A practitioner-educator panel further evaluated each product for appropriateness in labeling and pharmaceutical elegance.

The results of the visits found nine pharmacists who refused to compound the prescription. The probability of securing the medication was greater in nonmass merchandising pharmacies. The assays found one product which contained acetylsalicylic acid instead of the prescribed chemical. Fewer than one-fourth of the remaining products were within a ±5 percent error in the quantity of salicylic acid prescribed. The data were further analyzed to determine relationships between the accuracy with which the medications were prepared and (1) the practice setting patronized, (2) the physical appearance of the products, and (3) the price charged for the medication. No significant differences were found in each analysis.

The results suggest that more emphasis should be placed on the importance of compounding accuracy by practitioners.
Structuring Clinical Pharmacy Residencies to Provide Future Patient Drug Therapy Needs
Authors: McLeod Don C.
Published: July 2017

There are currently several types of pharmacy residency offered in the U.S. Some are largely administrative in nature, some are largely oriented toward drug distribution activities and a few more are appropriately termed clinical pharmacy residencies.

The pharmacy practice objectives at The Buffalo General Hospital are based around insuring rational and safe patient drug therapy. One objective is to realize maximal pharmacist efficiency in managing drug use control so that every pharmacist can have a clinical practice with considerable educational opportunity. Another objective is to put maximal responsibility with each professional staff member. The clinical pharmacy residency is an integral part of the provision of total departmental services.

The main objectives of the residency are to insure that the resident has a firm foundation in advanced therapeutics, that he can apply this knowledge for the benefit of the patient in a variety of situations and that he can function as an integral part of the pharmacy department. Each resident spends four months in general medicine, two months in intensive care services, one month in medical ambulatory services, two months in drug information services, two months in research and specialty study and one month in administration. The residents share basic responsibilities with the professional staff. This clinically-based residency should be the general residency of the future.
Comparison of Psychotropic Agent use among Rural Elderly Caregivers and Noncaregivers
Authors: Mort Jane R , Gaspar Phyllis M , Juffer Debra I , Kovarna Mary B
Published: July 2017

Objective

To determine the prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) psychotropic medication and social drug (alcohol and caffeine) use patterns of community-based elderly caregivers of patients with dementia and elderly noncaregivers.

Design

Cross-sectional study design in which characteristics of psychotropic medication and social drug use were collected including the specific agent, frequency, dose, and reason for use.

Setting

A rural, sparsely populated agricultural area in the midwest region of the US.

Sample

Thirty elderly caregivers of patients with dementia were recruited through a public health agency and homemaker health aid service. Thirty elderly noncaregivers were recruited through the senior citizens center in a neighboring rural community. Data were collected by interview.

Results

A significantly greater number of caregivers used OTC psychotropic agents (43%) than did noncaregivers (3%; p < 0.001). In all cases these agents were used for sleep. The combined number of caregivers using prescription and OTC psychotropic products (63%) also achieved statistical significance compared with the control group (10%; p < 0.001). Caffeine was used by all members of both groups and alcohol was consumed by eight caregivers and seven noncaregivers.

Conclusions

A greater percentage of rural caregivers of patients with dementia in this study took psychotropic agents compared with the noncaregiver group. OTC products for sleep were the most frequently used agents.
First Metatarsophalangeal Joint Replacement Using the Bio-Action Great Toe Implant: Intermediate Results
Authors: Pulavarti Ramnadh S. , McVie Jim L. , Tulloch C. J.
Published: July 2017

Background: With improvements in biomaterials and design, implant arthroplasty is becoming a useful option for treatment of disorders of the hallux. Methods: Forty-eight patients (53 implants) who had Bio-Action great toe implants (Osteomed, Addison, TX) for symptomatic advanced degenerative changes in the first metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint have been followed prospectively since August of 1998. We reviewed the functional results of 32 patients (36 implants) at a minimum followup of 36 (range 36 to 69, mean 47) months. The scoring system designed by Kitaoka et al. was used to assess the functional results. Patient satisfaction, length of hospital stay, time to return to routine activities, footwear problems, radiographic appearances, and complications also were studied. Results: With the numbers available, there was significant improvement in the range of motion achieved and hallux MTP scale after the operation. There was a positive correlation ( r = 0.87) between patient satisfaction and the hallux MTP scale. However, there was no correlation between patient age and patient satisfaction or hallux MTP scale. Seventy-seven percent of patients considered the result of the operation to be good or excellent. Conclusion: Overall, the 5-year functional results of this total joint system appeared to be satisfactory.
Health Related Quality of Life in Patients with Supination-External Rotation Stage IV Ankle Fractures
Authors: Finnan Ryan , Funk Luke , Pinzur Michael S. , Rabin Steven , Lomasney Laurie , Jukenelis Danius
Published: July 2017

Background: While open reduction of displaced ankle fractures generally is accepted as the standard of care, relatively little is known about the health related quality of life after treatment. It is generally accepted that clinical results of treatment for supination-external rotation stage IV ankle fractures are favorable. The goal of this investigation was to determine the relationship between clinical results and health-related quality of life outcome measures in a consecutive series of patients treated for closed supination-external rotation stage IV ankle fractures. Methods: Twenty-six of 156 patients who had operative treatment for closed, displaced supination-external rotation stage IV ankle fractures during a 9-year period, completed the Short Musculoskeletal Function Assessment (SMFA) outcome questionnaire. Radiographs and clinical records were reviewed to determine quality of operative repair, postoperative morbidity, and the development of post-traumatic arthritis. Results: There were no postoperative complications. Of the 26 patients who returned the SMFA questionnaires, 19 had “good,” and seven had “fair” reduction of their fractures. Six showed radiographic evidence of arthritis at followup. Study participants reported scores that were similar to the general population in five of the six domains of the SMFA. Their scores in the mobility index were statistically less favorable (23.72 vs. 13.61, p = 0.016) when compared to the general population. Participants with “good” operative reductions and no evidence of arthritis at followup showed no significant difference to the general population. Participants with either a “fair” operative reduction or evidence of postoperative arthritis at followup had less favorable scores in the daily activities (mean 13.45 vs. 11.82, p = 0.004), mobility (43.43 vs. 13.61, p = 0.001), dysfunction (32.89 vs. 12.70, p = 0.014), and bother (35.80 vs. 13.77, p = 0.020) domains, when compared to the general population. Conclusions: The results of this investigation suggest that patients with excellent radiographic operative reductions and no arthritis as early as 6 months after surgery sustain no lasting unfavorable effect on health related quality of life. Patients with “fair” radiographic reduction, or presence of arthritis or both at followup, are likely to have a negative effect on their quality of life.
Plantar Pressure and Sole Thickness of the Forefoot
Authors: Weijers René E. , Walenkamp Geert H.I.M. , Kessels Alphons G.H. , Kemerink Gerrit J. , van Mameren Henk
Published: July 2017

Background: Based on earlier observations that the forefoot bears the highest plantar pressure at its center, the existence of a functional distal transverse arch in normal feet was denied, and plantar pressure was defined as merely the outcome of loading, surface area, and soft tissue. Although plantar pressure drives the changes in the foot, neither the position nor the behavior of the metatarsals during loading can be derived from plantar pressure alone. In light of this, our goal was to describe the changes in thickness in the sole and the corresponding plantar pressure during loading of the foot. Methods: We used CT to image the foot of 10 subjects in four postures that were chosen to imitate four phases in the walking cycle. Before imaging we also recorded the plantar pressure with a pressure measuring insole on which the subjects were standing. From the data, the minimal thickness of the sole and the corresponding plantar pressure were derived. Results: With the exception of the sesamoids, the thickness of the sole under the bones of the forefoot increased from lateral to medial. This persisted in all postures. Our pressure readings matched previously reported distributions. Conclusions: Depending on the point of view concerning the sesamoids, the bony prominences were placed in a geometrical arch; but they did not form a functional arch. The soft tissue underneath the heads kept the metatarsals in place; the soft-tissue thickness reflected the principle of adequate cushioning.
A New Approach to the Evaluation of Ergonomics Changes
Authors: Schiro Samuel G. , Cox David E. H.
Published: July 2017

The problems of applying ergonomics principles in industry are considered in this paper. Five points are discussed: A model to facilitate a systems analysis of egronomics changes. The selection and measurement of important human behaviors. The need for adapting a wider human context including measures of job satisfaction. Economic evaluation of change. Analytic methods appropriate to industrial situations.
A Human Factors Approach to Slippery Floors Slippery Shoes, and Ladder Design
Authors: Irvine Charles H.
Published: July 2017

The gradual improvement in slip resistance of floor finishes is the result of several years of slip measurements taken with various instruments. Some of these instruments can be used to measure slip resistance for shoe sole and heel materials. Abrasive floor surfaces provide traps for the presence of foreign materials. Portable non-self-supporting ladders should be erected more in conformance with anthropometric measurements. Vehicle access systems should be designed utilizing a concept of three-point suspension and established techniques for good step placement.
Headlight Glare Resistance and Driver Age
Authors: Pulling Nathaniel H. , Wolf Ernst , Sturgis Samuel P. , Vaillancourt Donald R. , Dolliver James J.
Published: July 2017

The physiological glare thresholds (defined as the logarithm of the ratio at threshold between illuminances of glare source and target background) of 148 subjects from 5 to 91 years of age were measured in a Wolf glare tester. The data can be represented by a power function: (physiological glare threshold) =—3 × 10−5(age)2.4 + 2.4. When tested in a realistic driving simulator, the headlight glare resistances (defined as the logarithm of the ratio of mean “acceptable” glare illuminance to fixed ambient illuminance) of 30 of these subjects were also found to decline with age. These results are discussed in in terms of a hypothesis: (headlight glare resistance) = (physiological glare threshold) + (subjective glare tolerance). All these functions have large interpersonal variation. Field measurements are provided on relevant glare ratios in typical night driving situations.
Anthropometric Considerations in Human Impact Tolerance Research
Authors: Robbins D. H.
Published: July 2017

The primary experimental methodologies of human impact tolerance research require the availability of anthropometric and other body measurement information. Somewhat standard anthropometric procedures are available to describe human volunteer and general populations exposed to dynamic situations. However, classical anthropometry is inadequate to the task of specifying joint mobility and resistance to force. In addition, no common procedures or lists of useful measurements are available for cadaver or laboratory animal subjects. These factors have led to major shortcomings in the current designs of crash test dummies and the parallel input data sets required for the operation of computerized mathematical crash victim simulations. The paper briefly reviews the problems and the activities being carried out for their resolution.
AWAVS, a Research Facility for Defining Flight Trainer Visual System Requirements
Authors: Collyer Stanley C. , Chambers Walter S.
Published: July 2017

The objective of the Navy's Aviation Wide Angle Visual System (AWAVS) program is to recommend design criteria for future flight simulator visual systems. Research leading to this goal will have two facets: improving visual system technology, and determining the effects of visual system parameters on pilot performance and training. The experimental facility is described, and the behavioral research plans are discussed, with emphasis on the carrier landing studies to be conducted during the first phase of the program.
A Systems Approach to the Design of Training Devices: A Model and its Application
Authors: Laughery K. Ronald , Sugarman Robert C.
Published: July 2017

Due to the increasing costs of operation and maintenance of hardware, the use of training devices as an alternative to the use of the operational device is taking on an increasingly important role. As the state of simulation technology advances, much “better” devices, from the standpoint of training utility, are available. Unfortunately, the cost of a device increases almost exponentially as a function of its complexity. The goal of designing a set of training devices for a given system, therefore, is to maintain maximum training utility while minimizing overall device costs (i.e., device complexity). This paper discusses a methodology developed by Calspan Corporation which approaches this problem in a systematic manner.
Job Performance Aiding Systems Technology Selection Algorithm
Authors: Booher Harold R.
Published: July 2017

A nine-step selection algorithm is described which relates personnel aptitude, experience, task and equipment complexity, and degree of proceduralization in a decision chain for choosing optimum combinations of job performance aids (JPAs) and training technologies. The algorithm has been useful in (1) identifying JPA research and technology gaps, (2) identifying candidate JPA systems for Navy personnel, maintenance and training tradeoff analyses, and (3) in selecting specific JPA systems for test and evaluation in the Navy Performance Aids Test and Evaluation project. The algorithm development has also included efforts to identify and evaluate specifications and guidelines available for JPA procurement/implementation and to highlight areas where information should be gathered for an integrated JPA/training/maintenance/personnel user handbook.
Pilot Performance during Flight Simulation with Peripherally Presented Visual Signals
Authors: Schwank Jock C. H. , Bermudez John M. , Smith Bruce A. , Harris Dickie A.
Published: July 2017

The increasing complexity of modern aircraft systems places a substantial information processing load on the pilot. This complexity has created a need for alternative methods of non-obtrusive instrument displays. Recent studies indicate dual, independent systems for focal and peripheral vision. In view of non-conscience processing by the far periphery, it follows that the far peripheral visual field would be a possible location for alternate instrument displays.

This report is a culmination of two experiments, involving 48 male pilot trainees, that investigated the effectiveness of 3 types of instrument displays during flight in a GAT-1 simulator. Both experiments showed that there was no decrement in pilot performance during a complex instrument maneuver, involving normal and peripheral displays. Subjects were less prone to deviate from a given compass heading using the peripheral display (P < .001). A secondary task (digit canceling) used to simulate secondary tasks involved in actual flight also did not diminish performance across displays. These results are consistent with a dual theory of visual processing and the notion of non-obtrusive prompting.
Role of Odors in Ventilation Requirements for Buildings
Authors: Cain William S. , Berglund Larry G.
Published: July 2017

In the era of mechanical ventilation, requirements for outdoor air derive primarily from the need for odor control. The odors arise from human beings and their activities (e.g., smoking). The experimental foundation for ventilation requirements arose from psychophysical experiments on body odor and were performed more than 40 years ago. Those data, incomplete in their time, must now be supplemented with results obtained by modern methods of psychophysics and analytical chemistry. These techniques, properly applied and blended with engineering creativity, could yield means of ventilation that would save enormous amounts of energy now used to heat, cool, humidify, or dehumidify fresh (outdoor) air.
A Study to Quantify the Physical Demands Placed upon Personnel Assigned to an Air Force Maintenance Specialty
Authors: Knipfer Ronald E.
Published: July 2017

This paper describes an experimental thesis completed for a graduate program at the Air Force Institute of Technology by Captain Ferde Arbeit and Captain Harry A. Schaefer. The purpose was to investigate the possibility of identifying the physical difficulty of some U.S. Air Force jobs through survey. Obtaining information in this manner from experienced employees has an advantage over direct measurement in that it requires much less effort. Using an example of sixteen journeyman-level maintenance technicians, estimates of task difficulty were paired with measured quantities. Statistical comparison of the data pairs indicated that experienced employees can indeed estimate the difficulty of physical tasks with satisfactory accuracy.
Effect of Pretraining Criterion on Flight Simulator and Secondary Cognitive Task Performance
Authors: Nataupsky Mark , Schwank Jock C. H. , Griggs Edwin B. , McKay Kenneth E. , Schmidt Stephen D.
Published: July 2017

Twenty-eight United States Air Force Academy cadets were trained in a GAT-1 flight simulator under one of four experimental groups. The groups were defined first by having heading information either provided by the normal heading indicator or by peripheral lights and second by their being trained on either a 5° or a 10° heading deviation criterion. All cadets were subjected to four levels of a secondary cognitive task plus a control condition. There were no significant differences for either the main effect of heading indicator type or criterion level of training. The main effect of cognitive task difficulty level was significant for most measures. In addition, the heading indicator type by training criterion level interaction produced significant differences. Each significant interaction accounted for an average of 19% of the total variance. The study seems to indicate that training criteria are important independent variables in complex psychomotor/cognitive flight simulator tasks.
Eye Movements and Skills Performance Measures under Alcohol in a Driving Simulator
Authors: Moskowitz Herbert , Ziedman Kenneth
Published: July 2017

Twenty-five male subjects in two groups (n's = 13 and 14) drove for 15 minutes in a simulator presenting a rural roadway scene. Subjects were required to maintain a constant heading angle, a constant speed, and to search for and respond appropriately to route signs. The two groups differed in training, the familiar group receiving training on the same route and signs in the experimental runs, the unfamiliar group being trained on different roadways and signs. After training, subjects attended three experimental runs under alcohol treatments producing mean blood alcohol concentrations of 0 (placebo), .085% and .125%. Results include large increases in dwell (fixation) and pursuit durations, indicating an increase in the time necessary to process information under alcohol. Alcohol also produced a large increase in very long duration fixations of over one second, which appeared to be non-productive “gazing.” The frequency of fixation decreased as the duration increased under alcohol. The effect of alcohol on the time to read the route signs was a joint function of the alcohol level, the amount of information in the sign and the familiarity with the sign. There was a greater increase in fixation duration for reading the route sign under alcohol for the unfamiliar group compared to the familiar group. Alcohol also increased speed and steering control errors.
Evaluation of Symbols for Fire Safety
Authors: Lerner Neil D. , Collins Belinda L.
Published: July 2017

Twenty-five symbols for fire-alerting, of which 22 were proposed by the International Organization for Standardization, were evaluated for 91 U.S. subjects. The purpose of the experiment was two-fold: 1) to determine the understandability of each symbol; and 2) to assess the effects of variations in both presentation and response methods upon the measurement of understandability. There was no significant effect of the mode of stimulus presentation: slides, placards, or booklets. The two response methods–providing a definition or selecting among choice alternatives (and providing confidence ratings for answers)–led to generally similar conclusions. Some serious problems in understandability and several dangerous confusions in meaning were identified for symbols proposed for international standardization.
Man/System Interface in Automated Manufacturing—The Research Challenge for Human Factors
Authors: Kramer Joel J.
Published: July 2017

Between the extreme of complete manual control and a totally automated control system is a continuum of arrangements in which man shares control with a computer. The most important of these arrangements today, and for the forseeable future, puts man in the role of supervisor: monitoring signals sensed and displayed by the computer, detecting deviations from a criterion state, and selecting, evaluating and implementing command override decisions that handle those unusual events for which computer programs cannot be written.
Operational Performance Measures for Air Combat: Development and Application
Authors: Ciavarelli A. P. , Williams A. M. , Krasovec F.
Published: July 2017

The content of this paper summarizes four years of research designed to develop valid and reliable performance criteria for the Navy's Tactical Aircrew Combat Training System (TACTS). Performance measurement methods for assessing missile envelope recognition and air combat engagements have been developed and applied in an operational setting. TACTS measures used in performance assessment were selected on the basis of their operational importance and their demonstrated statistical relationship to successful completion of such air combat tasks as missile launch success and engagement outcomes. A measurement framework has evolved and may be appropriately applied to estimate overall air combat effectiveness, and to provide diagnostic performance analysis of critical air combat tasks. The resulting measurement framework has been applied operationally to evaluate U.S. Navy competitive air combat exercises and to provide diagnostic performance feedback to aircrews undergoing TACTS training. More recently, these measures and assessment methods have been incorporated in a computer-based TACTS debrief system called the Performance Assessment and Appraisal System (PAAS). The PAAS is representative of an emerging technology which uses automated performance measurement methods for enhancing the training process.
A Low-Cost, Portable Simulator for Skilled Performance Training
Authors: Weltman Gershon , Thomas Jay O.
Published: July 2017

This paper describes a research study undertaken to examine the use of low-cost, portable devices in performance training. The study established the training requirements and system design specifications for a prototype M60A-1 tank gunnery trainer which exemplified the advantages of this approach. A “concept demonstrator” version of the trainer was constructed to test design alternatives and to show selected features of the eventual training device. The findings of this study show that recent advances in microcomputer and television can be used to develop effective, self-motivating part-task trainers that meet important user needs.
Enhancing Operator Acceptance and Nonintereference in Secondary Task Measures of Workload
Authors: Shingledecker Clark A.
Published: July 2017

A serious disadvantage of many available secondary task measures of operator workload is that they are difficult to employ during later stages of system design and evaluation. Common problems with traditional laboratory tasks include poor operator acceptance and the potential for intrusion on primary tasks. Two methods designed to overcome these limitations are being investigated at the Air Force Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory. In order to improve integration of the measurement task with the operator's duties, realistic aircraft radio communications activities have been developed as secondary tasks. Analytical and subjective methods have been employed to develop communications tasks with scaled workload values. A second project has focused on further development of the interval production task as a workload metric. This task has minimal response requirements and appears to act as an index of load rather than a reserve capacity test.
Assessment of Perceptually Disabled Individuals Driving Skills with a Driving Simulator
Authors: Boydstun Louis E. , Kessel David S. , Miller James M.
Published: July 2017

A preliminary investigation of the utility of driving simulators as an assessment and training device for individuals with perceptual motor disabilities indicates a high correlation between simulator and road test performance scores (R = 0.88, p < .001). The use of driving simulators in drivers training programs may provide handicapped individuals with a safe, economical and individualized training environment. However, this study does not address the question of predictive validity and these results should not be used to deny an individual access to training programs.
The Measurement of Aircrew Task Loading during Operational Flights
Authors: Gunning David , Manning Michael
Published: July 2017

In-flight observers collected task loading data during four operational flights of the Air Force's KC-135 tanker aircraft. The data were collected via a Datamyte Data Recorder which the observers used to record the occurrences of 45 different tasks performed by the pilot, copilot, and navigator. Examples of the task loading data are presented including workload profiles for each crewmember, peak workload situations, and usage data for individual aircraft systems.
Visual Support Devices: Evaluation of a New Technique for Constructing Facial Images
Authors: Laughery Kenneth R. , Smith Victoria L. , Yount Mary B.
Published: July 2017

A facial recognition study explored the utility of a relatively new image generation technique – the Field Identification System (FIS). Subjects saw an FIS composite and then attempted to select the target face in a series of photographs. The effect of composite similarity (goodness-of-fit of the image with the target person) was significant, with high similarity composites leading to better recognition (30 percent hit rates). Performance with low similarity composites was no better than chance. False alarms were 20 percent overall, with no difference between conditions. The results have implications for criminal identification procedures.
Exploiting User Involvement in Interactive System Development
Authors: Miller Duncan C. , Pew Richard W.
Published: July 2017

By the time users have an opportunity to try out a prototype of a new interactive system, most of the fundamental design decisions have already been made, and it is usually too late to make more than superficial changes. In too many instances, the final result is a system that is awkward to use, and which may even be resisted by its users. To avoid this situation, genuine solicitation of user reaction to proposed system designs should begin as early as possible and continue throughout the design process. Several techniques (some of them rather unconventional) are suggested for actively employing users in system design.
Human Factors Aspects of Fire Station Evaluation
Authors: Kaufman Reese , Wise James A.
Published: July 2017

This paper describes a Post-Occupancy Evaluation project that assessed habitability and other human performance aspects of three rural fire stations. This was a commercial project undertaken for the architectural firm responsible for the design and construction management of the facilities. The ‘fast-track’ methodology and exceptionally informative results demonstrate that such projects are effective and cost-beneficial in competitive professional practice.
Anthropometric Design of A Personal Hygiene Center
Authors: Zabcik Don A.
Published: July 2017

A study was conducted to investigate the dimensional design of the personal hygiene center: the bathtub. The study determined an optimum level of four basic bathtub parameters, consisting of the bathtub basin length, the rim width, the rim height, and the backrest angle. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of these four physical parameters on safe bathtub usage for the general public. Sixty-four volunteer subjects participated in the study. Each subject was presented four bathtub configurations in random order. Anthropometric dimensions and subjective questionnaires were compiled and evaluated for all subjects. Known anthropometry requirements and functional abilities were combined with the experimental results to arrive at a proposed bathtub design. Analysis revealed preferred dimension for the four parameters, as a function of age, weight, and height. Bimodal preferences supported a proposed bathtub design that would accommodate various methods of bathtub ingress and egress. Finally, incorporating various human factors principles, design parameters were recommended for designing future bathtub structures.
Population Stereotypes: An Attempt to Measure and Define
Authors: Bergum Bruce O. , Bergum Judith E.
Published: July 2017

Population stereotypes relating to the indication of changes in magnitude (greater/less, higher/ lower, etc.), direction of rotation (switches, faucets, doors, etc.), location (left/right, up/down, etc.), and color were tested by means of several pictorial and verbal examples of each variety of stereotype. 127 university students of both sexes and a wide range of disciplines were asked to respond dichotomously (i.e., Is this switch ON or OFF?) to 21 pictorial examples of commonly experienced situations, and to indicate their color associations to 12 concepts such as HOT, FAR, GO, etc. Results indicated that of the 21 possible non-color stereotypes presented, 18 yielded group choices favoring one of the two alternatives at a level significant beyond a 1% probability. The range of choices for the significant examples was from 66% to a high of 93% for a vertical moving pointer display. In terms of colors, two (RED and GREEN) yielded virtually perfect associations to the STOP and GO concepts, but were also ambiguously associated with several other concepts. The most numerous associations were predictably made to the three primary colors.
The Role of Patterns of Reference in Matching Visual Disoriented Letters
Authors: Bagnara Sebastiano , Roncato Sergio , Simion Francesca , Umilta Carlo
Published: July 2017

The present study is aimed at determining the effect of explicit patterns of reference on the orientation-dependent functions (or normalization processes) involving the visual code. The experimental results showed that in the case of same judgments reference patterns can compensate for physical distortions at the level of retinal projections and that invariant relationships between frames of reference can be utilized in speeding up the response. No such an effect was found in the case of different responses. It is concluded that same and different responses are mediated by two different processors and that holistic operations of normalization act only in the case of same responses.
Response Times to User Activities in Interactive Man/Machine Computer Systems
Authors: Gallaway Glen R.
Published: July 2017

Response times (response delays) in interactive computer systems can greatly effect user performance and system productivity. This document summarizes the literature on user response time needs in interactive computer systems, and presents a set of guidelines for specifying response times that meet those needs. During the literature survey, it became evident that much more supporting data is required in order to have guidelines that cover most conditions under which people use a computer, and in order to provide a solid foundation of data taken from real world user interaction with computer systems. The information presented in this document should be viewed as a starting point for further work on defining response time needs for interactive computer system users.
Skill Retention and Control Room Tasks
Authors: Stammers R. B.
Published: July 2017

In many occupations skills acquired during training will continue to be practised in the job situation, with reliable process plant many task aspects will not be frequently practised and some aspects may never be called upon. There is therefore concern over skill retention. Studies of skill retention are of some use here, although the main focus of attention has been the loss of skill in aerospace control tasks. The research suggests that skill loss should be expected to occur and to be related to the length of period of non-practice. The critical variables appear to be type of task performance required, type of original training, amount of training received and the amount and kind of retraining. Most encouragingly the research indicated that skill loss can be rapidly recovered, and that rehearsal techniques, some using low fidelity simulations, can ameliorate skill loss. The extent to which this research can be generalized to the tasls required in process control and power generation contexts can be questioned. The “cognitive” skills required here may have very different retention characteristics. The limited research that can be isolated as relevant to this issue is reviewed.