bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Selected Bibliography from Foreign Journals
Authors: Gerald J. Edward ,   Assisted, Charnley Mitchell V. , Hage George S. , Schneider Maarten
Published: July 2017

The proceedings of the International Press Institute at its London meeting dominate the material in this quarter's foreign publications. The richness of I. P. I.'s contributions of material in the field grows with each meeting and each issue of its publications. The final stages of the press council debate in the United Kingdom produced more readable controversy, and there is an article by Erwin Canham in which the Boston editor says that American editors feel the work of a press council already has been done in this country. There is an article summarizing censorship and interference trends in South America which teachers will find especially valuable. Items dealing with the newsprint shortage do not appear in the bibliography for the first time since the war. A coronation supplement issued by World's Press News, London, on May 1 brings much late material to the teacher interested in the British press.

Newspaper World, a British trade publication indexed in this bibliography for many years, ceased publication without previous notice on March 11, a victim of an adverse financial trend which produced other changes in Britain, including cutting back of the Northcliffe interests in the field of provincial weekly newspapers to one establishment.
Report on Current Research in Schools of Journalism
Authors: Swindler William F.
Published: July 2017

This report includes current research projects by staff members and doctoral candidates in schools and departments of journalism of the U.S.A., together with theses accepted from candidates for the master's degree in journalism. Dr. Swindler is director of the School of Journalism at the University of Nebraska.
The Earl of Chatham and the London Press, 1775
Authors: Rea Robert R.
Published: July 2017

William Pitt's failure to appreciate and to utilize the propaganda power of the press provides a view of the relations between publishers and politicians on the eve of the American Revolution. The author is assistant professor of history at Alabama Polytechnic Institute.
Trends in Mass Communications Research through 1953
Authors: Swindler William F.
Published: July 2017

The number of graduate theses in journalism and communications since World War II almost exactly equals the number for the entire preceding 43 years. Also significant is the shift in research emphasis to quantitative studies on the part of both degree candidates and journalism staff members.
Mounting Production Costs: The Newspaper's Dilemma
Authors: Mcclure Leslie
Published: July 2017

If expenses continue to increase faster than revenue, papers may be forced either to curtail services or to make drastic changes. Either solution has its dangers. The author is an associate professor of journalism at the University of Illinois, and author of Newspaper Advertising and Promotion.
The Newspapers Cover a Murder Case
Authors: Kobre Sidney , Parks Juanita
Published: July 2017

Newspaper coverage of a shooting committed by a mentally-ill veteran shows an advancement over treatment of similar crimes in the past, according to a study of four daily newspapers and a Sunday supplement magazine. But shortcomings of the press coverage still remain as challenges to improved performance.
News Notes
Authors: Root Robert , Maccoby Nathan
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 Professor Root, School of Journalism, Syracuse University, Syracuse, N. Y. Notes for the next issue should reach him by January 1.
Angiosarcoma of the Pelvis in a 13-Year-Old Girl
Authors: El-Sharkawy Farah , Delgado Patricia Isabel , Podda Antonello , Neville Holly Leigh , Rojas Claudia Patricia
Published: July 2017

Angiosarcomas are highly aggressive malignancies of vascular origin and are very rarely found in children. We report a case of a 13-year-old girl with a history of abdominal pain and increased abdominal girth. Radiologic imaging showed significant ascites and large pelvic masses involving bilateral adnexa with abdominal spread. Microscopic examination of a biopsy revealed pleomorphic epithelioid and spindle cells with brisk mitotic activity, intracytoplasmic vacuoles, vascular channels, and large areas of hemorrhage and necrosis. Immunohistochemistry analysis showed strong and diffuse positivity for CD31, D2-40, ERG, FLI-1, and focally for CD34, vWF, and EMA. The diagnosis of metastatic angiosarcoma was rendered. The patient was treated aggressively with systemic chemotherapy, immunotherapy, cytoreductive surgery, and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy, with a favorable response after 1-year follow-up. Angiosarcoma should be considered when encountering a vascular tumor with pleomorphism, brisk mitotic activity, and necrosis. Immunohistochemistry studies are necessary for proper diagnosis.
Persistent Left Superior Vena Cava
Authors: Nair Vrinda , Yusuf Kamran , Yu Weiming , AlAwad Hafez , Paul Kathy , Al Awad Essa
Published: July 2017

Persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC) is a common cardiac anomaly associated with congenital heart diseases. A diagnosis of PLSVC usually warrants a detailed fetal echocardiography. Lesser known associations are the extra cardiac anomalies notably the upper airway and the gastrointestinal tract anomalies. We highlight here the importance of detailed fetal assessment for extra cardiac anomalies in addition to fetal echocardiography in fetuses diagnosed with PLSVC. We hereby present a preterm infant who presented with a triad of PLSVC, laryngeal atresia, and esophageal atresia.
Decidual Vasculopathy: Placental Location and Association With Ischemic Lesions
Authors: Chan Joanna SY , Heller Debra S , Baergen Rebecca N
Published: July 2017

Decidual vasculopathy (DV) is a general term for a number of lesions involving uteroplacental vessels. It is often seen in preeclamptic placentas and indicates a disorder of uteroplacental malperfusion and is associated with placental ischemia and infarction. Although some have advocated submitting special sections in order to better document DV, it is unclear which placental sections have the highest yield in demonstrating these abnormal vessels. Seventy-six consecutive cases of decidual vasculopathy were identified and evaluated for location of DV, as well as presence of other lesions of ischemic change, infarcts, and retroplacental hematomas. Sections reviewed were the membrane roll (MR), full thickness (FT) sections of the placental disc, and sections specifically of the basal plate (BP). DV was found in the MR in 67.1% of cases, in FT sections in 32.9%, and in the BP in 25.0% of cases ( P value = .004). DV was exclusive to the MR in 53.9%, the FT in 14.5%, and the BP in 9.2%. DV was present in 2 locations in 19.7% and in all 3 locations in 2.6%. The presence of DV in any location (MR, FT, and BP) was associated with placental ischemic change but not specifically with infarcts or retroplacental hematomas. The specific location of DV showed no difference in the presence of placental lesions. Our findings indicate DV is often present in 1 location and is associated with lesions of malperfusion. It is recommended that when clinically indicated, additional sections are submitted to demonstrate decidual vasculopathy.
Endovascular Treatment of Aortic Aneurysms in Finland: The First Four Years' Experience
Authors: Aho P. S. , Pimenoff G. , Salenius J. P. , Leinonen S. , Ylönen K. , Manninen H. , Jaakkola P. , Perälä J. , Edgren J. , Keto P. , Roth W.-D. , Salo J. , Sipponen J. , Aarnio P. , Jalonen T. , Lepäntalo M.
Published: July 2017

Background and aims:

In this study the results of endovascular treatment of aortic aneurysms in Finland are presented and compared to the results of the Eurostar registry.

Material and methods:

A total of 229 patients with aortic aneurysm were treated in five different Finnish centres during 1996–2000. The data of these patients were collected prospectively by surgeon or interventional radiologist involved. During the same period of time 2464 patients were registered in the Eurostar registry.

Results:

The procedure was performed successfully in 97 % of patients in Finland, and the 30-day mortality was 0,9 %. A graft limb thrombosis was detected in 9 % of the patients in Finland. A permanent primary endoleak at the first 30-day control was seen in 23 patients (10 %). During the follow-up 17 secondary endoleaks (7 %) were detected. A secondary intervention was necessary in 26 % of the patients. Three patients (1.3 %) had late rupture of the abdominal aortic aneurysm.

Conclusions:

According to the Finnish short-time results, endovascular treatment of aortic aneurysms is safe and associated with relatively low morbidity and mortality. The mid-term results are more disappointing with relatively many graft thromboses and endoleaks, and a frequent need of secondary interventions.
The Reliability of Diagnosis of Infection during Revision Arthroplasties
Authors: Virolainen P. , Lähteenmäki H. , Hiltunen A. , Sipola E. , Meurman O. , Nelimarkka O.
Published: July 2017

Background:

Follow up studies have shown that 0.5 to 4 % of the total joint arthroplasties will be complicated by infection. Distinction between aseptic loosening and infection is important for prediction of the final outcome after revision arhtroplasty but also for the choice of operative treatment. However, diagnosis of low grade chronic infection is extremely demanding.

Materials and Methods:

68 hip and knee revision arthroplasties were reviewed retrospectively in order to evaluate the reliability of pre- and perioperative analysis of infection during total joint revision arthroplasties. The sensitivity and specificity for clinical signs, blood white-cell count, C-reactive protein level, radiographic analysis, bone and leukocyte scans, joint aspirations, and gram staining were determined. Tissue sample were harvested and cultured in all cases. Positive cultures were regarded as a true infection.

Results:

We were not able to characterize the infection by clinical signs. Also no single test was able to show the presence of infection in all cases. The best results were obtained from pre- and perioperative joint aspirations. Joint aspiration showed 1.0 specificity and 0.75 sensitivity.

Conclusion:

It is clear from this study that no single test is able to show the presence of infection in every case. Classical clinical signs, laboratory tests, special imaging studies and joint aspirations have all yielded a notable rate of false negative results. Therefore, we recommend that, if arthroplasty patients have pain in prosthetic joint without clear radiological evidence of loosening, bone scans and preoperative joint aspirations should be undertaken. Also, if radiological evidence of loosening is accompanied with one or more of following criteria; C-reactive protein level elevated, radiologic evidence of infection, loosening within the first five years after implantation. In case of infection a delayed two-stage reconstruction should be managed.
Perioperative Stroke in Coronary Artery Bypass Patients
Authors: Loponen P. , Taskinen P. , Laakkonen E. , Nissinen J. , Luther M. , Wistbacka J-O.
Published: July 2017

Background and Aims:

Stroke has remained one of the most frustrating complications in coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG). The purpose of this study was to describe the incidence and correlates of stroke in CABG patients operated on in a hospital with low annual volume of open-heart surgery procedures. The aim was moreover to clarify subsequent outcome and self-reported satisfaction-based quality of life of patients who had experienced a stroke.

Material and Methods:

The material was a cohort of 1318 consecutive CABG patients operated on over a 6-year period. Data was collected prospectively but the final analysis was retrospective. Questionnaires supplemented the estimation of survival and subsequent functional status.

Results:

The incidence of stroke was 2.6 %. Age >70 years, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), peripheral vascular disease (PVD), cerebral vascular disease (CVD), number of aortic anastomoses and significant atherosclerosis of the ascending aorta were univariate predictors of stroke. Postoperative stroke was experienced in 55.9 of cases delayed appearing from 2nd postoperative day on. Stroke patients had a higher rate of mortality (14.7 % vs. 1.0 %, p = 0.001) and poorer survival than no-stroke patients (82.4 % and 97.4 % at one year and 61.2 % and 89.7 % at six years, p < 0.001).

Conclusions:

The incidence of stroke seems to be on the same level in CABG patients from a low volume hospital as in reports from centres with a high volume of annual procedures. Stroke predicts higher mortality, longer intensive care unit (ICU) stay, longer hospitalisation and poorer survival. A relatively high number of stroke patients need permanent institutional care. Satisfaction-based quality of life in CABG patients also remains on a lower level in comparison to patients without neurological complications.
New Perspectives in the Management of Colorectal Cancer: What about Peritoneal Carcinomatosis?
Authors: Glehen O. , Gilly F. N. , Sugarbaker P. H.
Published: July 2017

The special issue (Special Issue on Colorectal Cancer, Volume 92, number 1: 1–108, 2003) of the journal dedicated to new techniques and modern treatment modalities concerning colorectal cancer was most informative; yet we were perplexed with the absence of comment or review regarding the new management strategies for peritoneal carcinomatosis. Despite advances in the early detection of colon and rectal cancer, carcinomatosis remains a major problem for these patients. It is detected in approximately 10 % of patients at the time of primary cancer resection (1). In contrast to the two other major anatomic sites for colorectal dissemination (lymph node and liver metastases) peritoneal carcinomatosis has long been considered a terminal condition with no curative treatment options. For example, in a multicentric prospective study on the natural history of carcinomatosis from nongynaecologic malignancies, the median overall survival was 5.2 months for colorectal patients (2). In a more recent retrospective analysis of 3019 colorectal cancer patients, 13 % of patients presented with carcinomatosis and had a median survival of 7 months (3).

During the last decade there has been an increasing interest in a combined treatment of peritoneal carcinomatosis with cytoreductive surgery and perioperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy. The concept of tumour volume reduction of peritoneal surface malignancy which has been reported in the past for ovarian cancer and its combination with a local-regional chemotherapy acts as a “dose intensification device” that allows a potentially curative treatment option. Theoretically, cytoreductive surgery and its peritonectomy procedures is performed to treat the macroscopic disease and perioperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy to treat residual microscopic residual disease.
Outcome of Surgery for Oesophageal Carcinoma in a Low Volume Centre, with and without Preoperative Chemoradiotherapy
Authors: Victorzon M. , Tolonen P. , Kohonen M. , Salmo M.
Published: July 2017

Aims:

To critically assess the outcome of surgery for oesophageal carcinoma, with or without neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy.

Methods:

Since April 1998 until August 2002 resectable oesophageal cancer patients referred to us have received multimodal treatment, consisting of two courses of fluorouracil, cisplatin and hydroxyurea and 20 Gy of radiotherapy followed by surgery. The outcome of this treatment was compared to the outcome of a historical group of oesophageal cancer patients, treated with surgery alone in the time period 1994 to 1998. The patients represent a consecutive series of 20 resectable oesophageal carcinomas, referred to us since 1994. Four patients (20 %) were treated for squamocellular carcinoma, 16 (80 %) patients for adenocarcinoma.

Results:

Treatment related toxicity was low and there was no death attributable to the chemoradiotherapy. Postoperative hospital mortality (< 30 days) and morbidity rates were 10 % and 50 %, respectively. A complete pathological response (T0) occurred in two of the nine patients in the multimodal group (22 %). Overall median survival was 11 months. Median survival among patients in the multimodal group was 14 months, as compared with 7 months in the group treated with surgery alone (P = 0.041).

Conclusions:

Despite low volume, outcome of surgery for oesophageal carcinoma was acceptable.
Morgagni Hernia in Adults: Results in 7 Patients
Authors: Pfannschmidt J. , Hoffmann H. , Dienemann H.
Published: July 2017

Objective:

Morgagni's hernia is a relatively uncommon diaphragmatic hernia with a potential for considerable morbidity, if the diagnosis is delayed or missed. This review of cases of Morgagni's hernia was undertaken in order to emphasize methods of diagnosis and treatment.

Methods:

From 1992 through 2002, seven patients with Morgagni's hernia (5 right, 2 left) were surgically treated at our hospital. We investigated the patients preoperatively including chest roentgenogram, chest CT scan, and contrast studies of the upper gastrointestinal tract. Operative repair was accomplished with the transabdominal or transthoracic approach. Basic spirometric tests had been carried out on patients presented for elective surgery.

Results:

The majority of patients experienced dyspnea and two patients presented with acute abdomen due to peritonitis. Diagnosis for Morgagni's hernia was made preoperatively in all but one patient. In cases with uncertain diagnosis or peritonitis, transabdominal approach was preferred. One patient had died of septic multi-organ failure in the early postoperative course. Following elective repair of Morgagni's hernia, improvement in basic spirometric values was seen.

Conclusions:

We conclude that repair for Morgagni's hernia can be performed safely and effectively by using different surgical approaches. The risk of progression and incarceration makes clinical awareness, early diagnosis, and surgical treatment warranted. Improvement in lung function can be expected postoperatively.
Diagnostic Approach to the Patient with Jaundice following Trauma
Authors: Labori K. J. , Raeder M. G.
Published: July 2017

Background and Aims:

Jaundice in trauma patients may reflect serious underlying pathology. The aim of this review was to determine the appropriate diagnostic approach to the patient with jaundice following trauma.

Methods:

A MEDLINE search was performed to retrieve publications which outlined the causes of jaundice in trauma patients.

Results:

The main causes of jaundice in trauma patients were found to be bilirubin overload caused by breakdown of transfused- and extravasated blood and hepatic dysfunction caused by sepsis, infections, initial shock and systemic hypotension. Bile duct injury or drug induced liver injury are rare. Liver function tests are often uninformative but commonly show a cholestatic pattern. Ultrasound, CT or ERCP are the diagnostic imaging methods most widely used. Abdominal ultrasound and CT may reveal specific organ injuries, bile duct dilatation, intraabdominal fluid collections, hematomas or acalculus cholecystitis. ERCP is often diagnostic and permits a therapeutic intervention when a bile duct injury is present.

Conclusions:

The primary aim of the diagnostic approach should be to identify all cases of bile duct injury or obstruction. Sepsis and infections should be actively looked for. The number of blood transfusions must be calculated. Ultrasound, CT or ERCP are the diagnostic imaging methods most widely used.
Cavoatrial Extension of Renal Cell Cancer: Results of Operative Treatment in Helsinki University Hospital between 1990 and 2000
Authors: Rannikko A. , Sipponen J. , Nordling S. , Ruutu M.
Published: July 2017

Background and Aims:

To evaluate the technical procedures and the post-operative survival of patients having been operated for renal cell cancer with cavoatrial tumour thrombus (RCC-T).

Material and Methods:

Between 1990 and 2000 the cardiac unit at Helsinki University Central Hospital operated on seven patients for RCC-T. A cardiac surgeon along with a urologist, performed all seven operations using sternolaparotomy (either midline or Chevron incision) with cardiopulmonary bypass.

Results:

The average duration of the operations was eight hours (range 6–11 hours) and the average perfusion time was 118 minutes (range 35–206). Hypothermic circulatory arrest was used for one patient with an arrest time of 31 minutes. Only with one patient could the cavotomy be closed directly. In four patients a cava resection was performed and closed either with a pericardium patch or a Gore-Tex prosthesis. In two patients the cava was ligated below the renal veins. During the post-operative intensive care, there were two deaths. Of the remaining patients, five were alive after six months, four after 12 months, three after six years and one patient is still alive after 12 years of follow-up.

Conclusions:

In agreement with previously published results, although peri-operative mortality is relatively high with RCC-T patients, long-term post-operative survival is possible.
Surgery in the Treatment of Acute Pancreatitis Minimal Access Pancreatic Necrosectomy
Authors: Connor S. , Raraty M. G. T. , Howes N. , Evans J. , Ghaneh P. , Sutton R. , Neoptolemos J. P.
Published: July 2017

Between 5% and 10% of patients with acute pancreatitis will develop infected pancreatic necrosis. Traditional open surgery for this condition carries a mortality rate of up to 50%, and therefore a number of less invasive techniques have been developed, including radiological drainage and a minimal access retroperitoneal approach. No randomised controlled trials have been published which compare these techniques. Indications for minimal access surgery are the same as for open surgery, i.e. infected pancreatic necrosis or failure to improve with extensive sterile necrosis. Access is obtained to the pancreatic necrosis via the left loin and necrosectomy performed using an operating nephroscope, and this often requires several procedures to remove all necrotic tissue. The cavity is continuously irrigated on the ward in between procedures. The results of this approach are encouraging, with less systemic upset to the patient, a lower incidence of post-operative organ failure when compared with open surgery, and a reduced requirement for ITU support. There is also a trend towards a lower mortality rate, although this does not reach statistical significance on the data published so far. Current evidence suggests that a minimal access approach to pancreatic necrosis is feasible, well tolerated and beneficial for the patient when compared with open surgery.
Heterophasic Polypropylene Copolymer Resins for Fabric Coating
Authors: Beren James R.
Published: July 2017

Extrusion coating resins have been developed that apply HIMONT's high melt strength technology to heterophasic copolymers. The resulting materials have excellent processability, good coverage of fabric voids, and more impact-resistant coatings than other propylene-based polymers.
Novice-Expert Differences in the Cognitive Representation of System Features: Mental Models and Verbalizable Knowledge
Authors: Hanisch Kathy A. , Kramer Arthur F. , Hulin Charles L. , Schumacher Robert
Published: July 2017

The relationship between users' mental models and their verbalizable knowledge of a system were investigated in a field study. Trained and untrained users of a new phone system rated the similarity of use of nine phone features. Their ratings of the features were used in a multidimensional scaling technique and hierarchical cluster analysis to obtain their mental models of the system. Individuals' ratings of features on unidimensional scales about the use of the features and scores obtained on a knowledge test were reflected in their mental models. Mental models of the two novice groups' were very similar except for the perception of one feature; it was more accurately depicted in the mental model of users who attended than those who did not attend a training program. Trainers' and system designers' mental models of the phone system were evaluated to determine an “appropriate” expert mental model. A comparison of the “expert” mental model to the novices' mental models suggested that several features were inaccurately perceived by the novices. Using the discrepancies between the expert and novices' mental models to design training programs for systems is discussed. A novel way to design or redesign systems based on novices' mental models of systems is proposed.
Field Study of Communication and Workload in Police Helicopters: Implications for AI Cockpit Design
Authors: Linde Charlotte , Shively Robert J.
Published: July 2017

This paper reports on the work performed by civilian helicopter crews, using audio and video recordings and a variety of workload measures (heart rate and subjective ratings) obtained in a field study of public service helicopter missions. The number and frequency of communications provided a significant source of workload. This is relevant to the design of automated cockpit systems, since many designs presuppose the use of voice I/O systems. Fluency of communications (including pauses, hesitation markers, repetitions, and false starts) furnished an early indication of the effects of fatigue. Three workload measures were correlated to identify high workload segments of flight, and to suggest alternate task allocations between crew members.
Aging and Dual-Task Training
Authors: Larish John , Kramer Arthur , DeAntona Joseph , Strayer David
Published: July 2017

The efficacy of two methods of training dual-task skills was examined in this experiment. Thirty older subjects (Mean age = 67.8 years) were trained using either variable priority or fixed priority training. Subjects performed two tasks, a gauge monitoring task and a letter arithmetic task, both separately and together. Subjects in the variable priority group were trained to vary their processing priorities between the letter arithmetic and monitoring tasks. The fixed priority subjects were trained to devote equal priority to the two tasks. Subjects then transferred to a complex scheduling task which was paired with a paired-associates task. Variable priority subjects exhibited an initial performance cost relative to fixed priority subjects. By the end of training, however, variable priority subjects exhibited superior performance as compared to fixed priority subjects. The performance of variable priority subjects was also superior on transfer tasks with which the subjects had no prior experience, suggesting that variable priority training may involve a generalizable time-sharing skill.
Brake Perception-Reaction Times of Older and Younger Drivers
Authors: Lerner Neil D.
Published: July 2017

The time drivers require to react in braking situations underlies many practices in highway design and operations. There is concern whether the perception-reaction time (PRT) values used in current practice adequately meet the requirements of many older drivers. This study compared on-the-road brake PRTs for unsuspecting drivers in three age groups: 20–40, 65–69, and 70-plus years old. The method included features to enhance the ecological validity of the observed reactions: subjects drove their own vehicles in their normal manner; driving was on actual roadways; extended preliminary driving put the driver at ease and without expectation of unusual events at the time of the braking incident; the incident occurred at a location lacking features that might enhance alertness (e.g., curves, crests, driveways). Subjects drove an extended route, under the guise that they were making periodic judgments about “road quality.” At one point, a large crash barrel was remotely released from behind brush on a berm and rolled toward the driver's path. Although most of the fastest observed PRTs were from the young group, there were no differences in central tendency (mean = 1.5 s) or upper percentile values (85th percentile = 1.9 s) among the age groups. Furthermore, the current highway design value of 2.5 seconds for brake PRT appears adequate to cover the full range of drivers.
The Role of Design Guidelines in Assisting the Interface Design Task
Authors: Ogawa Katsuhiko
Published: July 2017

Many human-computer interface design guidelines have been developed to design good interfaces for various kinds of software. Database systems have been also developed for accessing the guidelines. This paper considers the role of the design guidelines, rather than the role of the database, in improving interface designs. Sixteen software designers, who have no human factors experience, participated in a typical design review task. They were provided with a representation of a bad interface design. Eight designers (the UG participants) were instructed to individually improve the design by using the guidelines. The other designers (the NG participants) were instructed to improve it unaided (without the guidelines). The results indicated that both groups made similar numbers of improvements, but the UG participants produced higher quality improvements. Quality was evaluated using a goodness measure defined in this paper. The NG participants made good improvements but also bad ones that conflicted with the guidelines because only the designers' knowledge, experience and preference were used. On the other hand, the UG participants made fewer bad proposals because they could refer to the guidelines. Guidelines can work as a filter to eliminate inappropriate or false improvements from the designers' original proposals. There is a possibility that the guidelines may hinder the designer from developing new and interesting proposals. Their value is, however, very clear for novice designers who have no human factors experience; they can easily develop high quality proposals.
Usability Inspections - Their Potential Contribution
Authors: Prail Amanda , Kahn Michael J.
Published: July 2017

A Usability Inspection is a specific formal design review methodology to identify and prioritize potential usability defects in a given design. More formal than heuristic evaluations (Nielsen – Molich, 1990), less complex than cognitive walkthroughs (Polson et al., 1992), the methodology is a task-oriented review process that started as an adaptation of the Kepner-Tregoe Potential Problem Analysis and further evolved to heavily leverage a formal generic inspections methodology in use at Hewlett-Packard. This evolution by adaptation of standard generic methods already understood by engineers in Hewlett-Packard has been a conscious design strategy in the hope that this would ease the adoption process.

The key question for a practitioner in the field is - does the method provide sufficient return on investment to be worth including in a product development process. There is some evidence that design review methods carried out by non-Human Factors engineers do successfully find defects (Nielsen – Molich, 1990, Lewis et al., 1990, Jeffries et al., 1991). Bailey (1992) raised the question as to whether heuristic evaluations may be counterproductive in that they actually may create work rather than save it. To date, the research has largely focussed on the contribution a method may provide to a specific product or interface. This paper argues the case for a wider definition and understanding of potential utility or contribution from a Human Factors method and further claims that usability inspections not only provide a sufficient payback to warrant their inclusion in a product development lifecycle but also provide the seeds of organization change that are needed to make usability engineering a reality.
Going with the Flow - Computer Visualization of Road Traffic Information
Authors: Murray John , Liu Yili
Published: July 2017

Advanced road traffic management systems provide numerous opportunities for the application of sophisticated computer visualization concepts. The operating staff in a traffic control center are required to assimilate large quantities of incoming data in order to determine the real state of traffic flow and congestion. Part of the incoming data relates to vehicular speed and density, and is often not subjected to sufficient pre-processing before presentation in tabular form on a video display terminal (VDT). Improvements in the format of the tabular information are therefore worthy of investigation. A traffic control simulation experiment was conducted to examine how human subjects extract information from VDT data presented in several different formats. Subjects were asked to respond to exceptional values which occurred randomly in tabular columns of frequently changing data. Their accuracy and reaction time were measured for data columns which were sorted or unsorted, and for data which was presented either numerically or color-coded. Analysis of the results suggests that both sorting and color-coding are significant in reducing response time, and that color-coding is appreciably more effective in this regard.
Implications of the User's Information Processing Strategy on the Design of Decision Aids for Complex Systems
Authors: Matthews Michael L. , McFadden Sharon M.
Published: July 2017

Performance was evaluated in a single and dual task environment which simulated basic tasks carried out by sonar operators, using processed, visual representations of acoustic data. Two general classes of performance functions were obtained. One group of subjects performed at high levels in both single and dual task conditions and responded to increasing demand with increased throughput. The second group showed performance levelling or decrement once information load reached a critical level. The strategies used by the two groups (heuristics/pattern recognition for the former, and serial analysis for the latter) have clear importance for the type of decision aids which need to be provided in future generation sonar systems.
User Errors in the Use of the Structured Query Language (SQL)
Authors: Smelcer John B.
Published: July 2017

SQL (Structured Query Language) is the industry standard for querying databases. Unfortunately, users commit many errors when using SQL. To understand the causes of user errors, the author analyzed the task of query writing while considering the characteristics of human cognition. This analysis revealed multiple cognitive causes of a frequent and troublesome error, join clause omission. This error not only wastes users' time for error correction, but it also returns answers from the database that may be undetectably wrong.

The cognitive causes of this onerous error were tested experimentally, and that experiment revealed that the four possible causes of join clause omission all contributed to the error. Specifically, the frequency of this error increased because 1)some people never learned the procedure, 2)an explicit clue to write the “join clause” was absent from the problem statement, 3)the load on working memory caused by writing intervening clauses made the users forget to include the “join clause,” and 4)users inappropriately reused the procedure appropriate for a single table query (which requires no join clause) when a “join clause” is indeed necessary.
Factors Influencing the Cooperative Problem-Solving of People and Computers
Authors: Guerlain Stephanie A. E.
Published: July 2017

It was the goal of this research to study the influence of different computer system designs on cooperative problem-solving performance. In particular, given that a computer has some knowledge about a domain, how should such knowledge be shared with the practitioner such that overall performance is improved? It was hypothesized that multiple factors contribute to performance changes, and that such factors may interact. In order to test these ideas, a formal, empirical study was conducted comparing the effectiveness of a critiquing system vs. a partially automated system when performing a medical diagnosis task. Thirty-two certified practitioners used one of the two systems to solve five test cases. The results showed that the design of the system interacted with the case characteristics and the competence level of the practitioners such that overall performance was slightly better with the partially automated system on cases where the computer's knowledge was competent (5.6% vs. 11.9% misdiagnosis rate) but on a case where the computer's knowledge was incompetent, the partially automated system induced more errors (76% vs. 43% misdiagnosis rate, p < .05). Details of the interactions causing this tradeoff in performance are discussed so that future designers may take what was learned from this study and apply it to their work.
The Perceived Urgency and Detection Time of Multi-Tone and Frequency-Modulated Warning Signals
Authors: Haas Ellen C. , Casali John G.
Published: July 2017

The perceived urgency and detectability of auditory warning signals are important safety considerations. When designed correctly, auditory warning signals can improve performance and reduce accidents. However in some environments, there is a serious mismatch between the perceived (psychoacoustic) urgency of a warning and its situational urgency. In addition, many auditory warnings are not detectable within their environments. This research examined several prominent pulse parameters which affect the perceived urgency and detection time of auditory warning signals. These elements included pulse format (sequential, simultaneous, and sawtooth frequency-modulated pulses), pulse level (65 dBC and 79 dBC), and time between pulses (0 ms, 150 ms, and 300 ms). The environments of interest were those settings with steady-state broadband machinery noise. A loading task presented additional attentional demands during the signal detection task. Free-modulus magnitude estimation and the method of paired comparisons quantified perceived urgency. Simple reaction time measured signal detectability and signal effects were analyzed using a multivariate approach.

Results indicated that detection time decreased as perceived urgency increased. The higher the pulse level, the greater the perceived urgency of the signal and shorter the detection time. Sequential signals were rated as less urgent than the other pulse formats, and subjects took longer to detect their occurrence. Under most conditions, there was no significant difference in the perceived urgency or detection time of simultaneous and frequency-modulated pulses. Time between pulses (inter-pulse interval) affected only perceived urgency, not detection time. The shorter the time between pulses, the greater the perceived urgency of the signal.
Exposure Assessment of Biomechanical Stress in Repetitive Manual Work Using Spectral Analysis
Authors: Radwin Robert G. , Lin Mei-Li , Yen Thomas Y.
Published: July 2017

Theory for a quantitative exposure assessment strategy is presented for measuring physical stress associated with manual tasks containing repetitive motion, postural stress, and forceful exertions. Physical stress is measured directly using electrogoniometers for articular motion, and sensors or electromyography are used for assessing forceful exertions. A method is described for reducing the large quantities of biomechanical data that can be recorded for repetitive manual work into quantifiable metrics based on recognized exposure factors, including repetitiveness, postural stress, forcefulness, and duration. A frequency domain approach is used for averaging elemental data from repetitive cycles. This paper shows how parameters for frequency-weighted filters may be developed from psychophysical data for equivalent discomfort levels. Low force repetitive wrist flexion was used as an example of the feasibility for implementing this approach. Applications of this theory include assessing exposure to physical stress in a manner analogous to the way sound level meters are used for measuring exposure to acoustic noise. A suitable data reduction method is necessary for conducting large scale detailed epidemiological investigations of cumulative trauma disorder risk factors. Development of frequency-weighted filters based on human response to stress at different frequencies may make it possible to establish quantitative exposure limits.
Work Sampling as a Method for Assessing CTDS
Authors: Mahone David
Published: July 2017

Work sampling is proposed as a method for evaluating aggregate risks for cumulative trauma disorders in jobs. The approach assumes that an assessment of cumulative trauma disorder (CTD) risk factors within individual tasks has been made, and can be used in conjunction with the resulting estimates of proportion of time spent per task or activity to arrive at an overall estimation of CTD risk for the job. Important advantages of work sampling include that it estimates the availability of rest and recovery time within jobs, that the method can be applied to both cyclical and noncyclical jobs, and that small, practical samples may provide reasonable estimates in many cases. A case study utilizing work sampling in a workers compensation carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) claims investigation using a single day sample interval is presented. Results suggest little or no CTD risk, a finding that was supported by historical evidence from a large population of workers (27,200) performing the same job. Only .0000025% of workers had reported a CTD over a period of 3 years. While support for causation of CTD was not found, the method identified a probability of aggravation of a possible pre-existing condition, which is also compensable. Details regarding the studied job are provided. The use of a work sampling method to assess CTD risks is discussed.
Postural Stability While Holding Loads in Various Postures
Authors: Holbein Mary Ann , Redfern Mark S.
Published: July 2017

Stability while handling loads is an important issue in the prevention of injuries. This study investigated the effects of load positioning on recovery from an unexpected balance disturbance while standing upright holding loads. Fifteen subjects were tested while holding a box in one of five postures. An empty box and a 25 lb box were tested. Subjects stood on a posture platform while perturbations of the supporting surface were induced. Postural sway was recorded via center of pressure displacements calculated from three dimensional foot forces. It was found that laden standing with the heavier load resulted in increased sway magnitude and slower sway velocities than unladen standing. The load position also affected stability. Raising the center of gravity of the body-and-load system appears to increase sway. These results require consideration when designing safe material handling tasks, especially if the supporting surface is unstable or if slip potential is present.
Slip Potentials on Ramps
Authors: Redfern Mark S. , McVay Edward J.
Published: July 2017

Falls are a major cause of injuries at work, in public places and at home. In over 50 percent of falling accidents, slips led to the injury. Ramps have the potential to be particularly hazardous with regards to slips and falls since higher shear forces are created. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of ramp angle on slip potential at the feet during downward and upward gait. This was accomplished by investigating the relationship between the horizontal and vertical foot forces during gait as a function of ramp angle. A ramp was designed and built which incorporated a force plate. Foot forces were measured while subjects walked up and down the ramp. The ramp angle was varied from 0 to 20 degrees in 4 degree intervals. Normal forces were divided into the shear forces, thus calculating a “required” coefficient of friction (RCOF) for the entire trial. The results showed shear forces increase both in magnitude and duration as ramp angle is increased. The RCOF also increased as ramp angle increased. The maximum RCOF for each trial increased almost linearly as the ramp angle was increased (r2 = .92; p < .01), with levels often over 0.6 at angles of 20 degrees. Most guidelines for ramp design suggest a surface with a minimum COF of 0.5; however this study indicates that high ramp angles can generate RCOF values greater than this recommended level. Thus, the guidelines may be too low and a higher surface COF necessary.
Coactivity Effects upon Carpal Tunnel Contact Forces
Authors: Ferguson Sue A. , Fathallah Fadi A. , Granata Kevin P. , Kim Jung Y. , Marras William S.
Published: July 2017

Contact force on the carpal tunnel structures due to flexor tendon forces have been identified as an important contributor to the compression of the median nerve. Therefore, a pilot study was conducted to assess the increase in carpal contact force due to the antagonistic coactivity of the finger extensor muscles. Surface EMG activities of the superficial finger flexor and extensor muscles of four subjects were measured during several isometric power grip exertions at seven different wrist angles. The results showed that a linear relation between EMG and muscle force holds under the prescribed isometric conditions. An EMG-assisted model was developed to predict tensile forces in an equivalent flexor tendon. For a given angle, the model predicts increased tensile force in the flexor tendon with increased extensor (antagonist) coactivity in response to isometric grip exertions. It was found that if one accounts for muscle coactivity, predicted force in the flexor tendons would be as much as 33% greater than force predicted by models which neglect coactivity. This increase would also be observed in carpal contact force since this force is linearly related to the flexor tendon force. Models that neglect coactivity severely underestimate flexor tendon forces and consequently contact forces in the carpal tunnel.
Determination of the Maximum Acceptable Weights of Lifting and Lowering Using the Direct Estimation Method
Authors: Aghazadeh F. , Lu H. , Morrisey S.J.
Published: July 2017

The maximum acceptable weights of lifting and lowering were determined using the direct estimation method. Five task frequencies (1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 handlings per minute) were studied. Both lifting and lowering were fixed at knuckle-shoulder height. A base load for each individual subject was first established using the psychophysical approach. The direct estimation method was then applied. The results revealed that task frequency exerted a significant role in the variation of the data. The type of tasks (lifting and lowering) also significantly affected the maximum acceptable capacity performing the tasks. The study shows that the direct estimation method is a faster and feasible way to determine the maximum acceptable weight that an individual can handle.
Ergonomics Efforts in the Retail Food Industry
Authors: Sluchak Thomas J.
Published: July 2017

This panel is composed of individuals from retail, ergonomic consulting firms, equipment manufacturers and NIOSH, who are currently involved with ergonomics efforts in the retail food industry. Presenters summarize their ergonomics efforts and discuss key challenges in the industry today.
The Ergonomic Evaluation and Improvement of a Cable Forming Process: A Case Study
Authors: Eckbreth Kelly A.
Published: July 2017

Since 1986, twelve (12) injuries and illnesses had occurred among cable formers in several shops of a major telecommunications equipment manufacturer resulting in significant lost time and restricted days. The process engineer, supervisor, plant ergonomist, production associates, and maintenance personnel analyzed the problem elements of the job and developed possible solutions. Ergonomic training, repair of the existing boards, a new cable board design, anti-fatigue mats, step stools, and new scissors were implemented. Significant improvements were realized in employee morale and board set-up time. The degree of musculoskeletal stress suffered by these workers was also reduced.