bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Rural Context of Illicit Substance Offers
Authors: Pettigrew Jonathan , Miller-Day Michelle , Krieger Janice , Hecht Michael L.
Published: January 2012

Rural adolescents are at risk for early initiation and problematic substance use, but to date few studies have examined the rural context of substance use. To better understand substance offers in the rural context, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 118, 12- to 19-year-old adolescents ( M = 13.68, SD = 1.37) from Appalachian, rural school districts in Pennsylvania and Ohio. Interviews elicited stories about substance offer-response episodes, including where offers occurred, who offered substances, and how youth gained access to illicit substances. Findings describe the settings in which substance offers and use occur for these rural adolescents and advance prevention efforts for tailoring health messages to this target population.
Toxic effects of chromium on tannery workers at Sialkot (Pakistan)
Authors: Khan Dilshad Ahmed , Mushtaq Shahida , Khan Farooq Ahmad , Khan Muhammad Qaiser Alam
Published: January 2012

Chromium is widely used in the leather industry, and tannery workers are under constant threat of adverse health effects due to its excessive exposure. Our objective was to find out the toxic effects of chromium on tannery workers at Sialkot, Pakistan. A total of 240 males consisting of 120 workers from tanneries at Sialkot and equal number of controls were included. Blood complete counts, high-sensitive C-reactive protein, malondialdehyde and routine biochemical tests were carried out by routine procedures. Chromium levels in blood (BCr) and urine were analyzed using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometer Perkin Elmer analyst-200. Results revealed that all the workers were male with average age of 33 years and 15 (13%) had skin rashes, 14 (12%) had chronic bronchitis, 10 (8%) had gastritis and 4 (3%) conjunctivitis. The tannery workers had significantly raised median (interquartile range) of BCr 569 (377–726) nmol/L as compared to 318 (245–397) nmol/L in the control ( p < 0.001). Sixty-five (54%) workers had BCr levels above the upper limit set by Agency for Toxic Substance and Drug Registry. The urinary chromium excretion was significantly high in workers 131 (46–312) nmol/L as compared to 13 (3–26) nmol/L in controls ( p < 0.01). The workers had hematological, hepatic and renal function impairment because of oxidative stress on body systems. It is concluded that about half of the workers had excessive exposure to chromium in the tanneries at Sialkot. They had significantly raised chromium levels in their biological fluids and adverse health effects due to enhanced oxidative stress and inflammatory changes.
When the Heart Stops
Authors: Ramsay Gillian , Paglia Michael , Bourjeily Ghada
Published: January 2012

Cardiac arrest is a rare occurrence in pregnancy and may be related to obstetric or medical causes. Pregnancy is associated with profound physiologic changes that prepare the gravida for the challenges of labor and delivery, and resuscitation of the pregnant patient needs to take these changes into consideration. Cardiac output and plasma volume increase in pregnancy and distribute differently with the uterine circulation receiving approximately 17% of the total cardiac output. On the other hand, cardiac output is sensitive to positional changes in the second half of pregnancy but may improve with a lateral tilt of the gravida. Both oxygen reserve and upper airway size decrease in pregnancy, leading to difficulties surrounding airway management. Changes in the volume of distribution, renal and hepatic clearance may impact drug effects and need to be recognized. This review will discuss an overview of pregnancy physiology that is relevant to cardiac resuscitation, detail the challenges in the various resuscitative steps including a synopsis on perimortem delivery, and describe obstetric and nonobstetric causes of mortality and cardiac arrest in pregnancy.
The Broad Field of Forensic Pharmacy
Authors: Anderson Peter D.
Published: January 2012

Forensic pharmacy is application of the sciences of drugs to legal issues. Forensic pharmacists engage in work relating to litigation, the regulatory process, and the criminal justice system. Forensic pharmacy overlaps with many other forensic fields. Pharmacists hold a variety of positions with local, state, and federal governments. Many pharmacists do freelance work as forensic litigation consultants. A forensic pharmacist can be a valuable resource in legal cases relating to malpractice, adverse drug reactions, drunk and drugged driving, health care fraud, poisoning, and numerous other types of civil and criminal cases.
El Corrido de Ricardo Aldape Guerra: Form, History, and Resistance
Authors: Solis Gabriel Daniel
Published: January 2012

This essay examines two corridos composed about Ricardo Aldape Guerra, an undocumented Mexican immigrant who was wrongfully convicted and given a death sentence for the murder of a white Houston police officer in 1982. It shows how the corridos, “Soy Inocente” and “Al Filo de la Muerte,” are stylistically and thematically influenced by both the heroic corrido and victim corrido art forms. Although the use of the heroic corrido style and thematics is significant almost a century after the form lost prominence as a cultural and ideological expression of resistance, and while the double influence of the heroic corrido and postwar victim corrido forms on “Soy Inocente” and “Al Filo de la Muerte” is significant for its disruption of strict dichotomies between the two forms, I am interested in a deeper reading of the two corridos. I am interested in what the meaning of the relationship between the artistic form and the historical conditions from which the form emerges suggests about the conditions of existence for undocumented Mexican immigrants living and working in the United States today.
Non-smooth dynamical analysis and experimental validation of the cable-suspended parallel manipulator
Authors: Shao Xing-Guo , Zhu Zhen-Cai , Wang Qing-Guo , Chen Peter CY , Zi Bin , Cao Guo-Hua
Published: January 2012

The cable-suspended parallel manipulator replaces the rigid links of traditional parallel robot. The unilateral property of the cable complicates the dynamic analysis of such manipulator and further induces difficulty in control problem. The set-valued tension law is proposed to model the unilateral constraint of the cable, and the dynamics of cable-suspended parallel manipulator is analyzed in the framework of non-smooth dynamics. The resulting non-smooth dynamics model consists of a set of differential–algebraic equations with inequality constraints. Its solution is found by the Moreau midpoint method. An experimental setup was established to verify and validate the effectiveness and accuracy of non-smooth dynamics. And the simulation results generally agree with the experimental results, which demonstrate that the non-smooth dynamics is effective and reasonable for the dynamic analysis of the cable-suspended parallel manipulator. The results of this article deeply reveal the dynamics of the cable-suspended parallel manipulator, and may be used to design more accurate controller for its trajectory control.
Multi-objective regulating and protecting control for ducted rocket using a bumpless transfer scheme
Authors: Bao Wen , Qi Yiwen , Chang Juntao
Published: January 2012

This article deals with the problem of multi-objective regulating and protecting control for a ducted rocket, in order to get maximum thrust while avoiding extremely dangerous phenomenon like inlet buzz. First, the mathematical models involving gas flow regulating system and ducted rocket are introduced. The description of inlet buzz margin is also given and analyzed. Second, the multi-objective switching control problem of ducted rocket is proposed and discussed. Third, a robust bumpless transfer scheme for solving the problem is presented. The designed bumpless transfer compensator based on model reference adaptive sliding-mode control ensures that the switched system performs a smooth transition at the transfer moment. The stability analysis is then given utilizing the Lyapunov functional approach. Finally, the bumpless transfer strategy is applied to the ducted rocket control system, and the simulation results show its effectiveness.
Sliding-mode-based contour-following controller for guidance and autopilot systems of launch vehicles
Authors: Yeh Fu-Kuang
Published: January 2012

This study addresses a sliding-mode-based contour-following controller design for guidance and autopilot systems of launch vehicles with highly maneuverable actuators, mainly consisting of the thrust vector control and side jet systems, to perform the trajectory-tracking task given a predetermined trajectory. In particular, the trajectory is pre-designed by the method of calculus of variations with focus on maximizing the final velocity transferring to the orbit to obtain the optimal trajectory for a launch vehicle throughout the whole course. Chiefly, an integrated guidance/autopilot controller is designed to achieve the main goal of robust tracking issues for launch vehicles in real time such that the relative motion between a vehicle and the predetermined trajectory is minimized. As for the attitude control, an autopilot system is designed not only to stabilize the attitude of the launch vehicle but also to realize the guidance law of the translational motion control. In order to establish a complete system model, besides the motion dynamics of launch vehicles, we also take into account several influential factors such as the propellant effort of a movable nozzle thrust vector control and side jet systems, aerodynamic influence, the Earth’s gravitational field, and wind gusts/shears. The overall stability of the integrated guidance/autopilot system is assured via rigorous analysis by Lyapunov stability theory, and its corresponding performance is verified by numerical simulations.
A sedimentary record of Holocene surface runoff events and earthquake activity from Lake Iseo (Southern Alps, Italy)
Authors: Lauterbach Stefan , Chapron Emmanuel , Brauer Achim , Hüls Matthias , Gilli Adrian , Arnaud Fabien , Piccin Andrea , Nomade Jérôme , Desmet Marc , von Grafenstein Ulrich , Participants DecLakes
Published: January 2012

This study presents a record of Holocene surface runoff events and several large earthquakes, preserved in the sediments of pre-Alpine Lake Iseo, northern Italy. A combination of high-resolution seismic surveying, detailed sediment microfacies analysis, non-destructive core-scanning techniques and AMS 14C dating of terrestrial macrofossils was used to detect and date these events. Based on this approach, our data shed light on past seismic activity in the vicinity of Lake Iseo and the influence of climate variability and human impact on allochthonous detrital matter flux into the lake. The 19 m long investigated sediment sequence of faintly layered lake marl contains frequent centimetre- to decimetre-scale sandy-silty detrital layers. During the early to mid Holocene, these small-scale detrital layers, reflecting sediment supply by extreme surface runoff events, reveal a distinct centennial-scale recurrence pattern. This is in accordance with regional lake-level highstands and minima in solar activity and thus apparently mainly climate-controlled. After c. 4200 cal. yr BP, intervals of high detrital flux occasionally also correlate with periods of enhanced human settlement activity. In consequence, deposition of small-scale detrital layers during the late Holocene apparently reflects a rather complex interplay between climatic and anthropogenic influences on catchment erosion processes. Besides the small-scale detrital layers, five up to 2.40 m thick large-scale detrital event layers, composed of basal mass-wasting deposits overlain by large-scale turbidites, were identified, which are supposed to be triggered by strong earthquakes. The uppermost large-scale event layer can be correlated to a documented Mw=6.0 earthquake in ad 1222 in Brescia. The four other large-scale event layers are supposed to correspond to previously undocumented local earthquakes. These occurred around 350 bc, 570 bc, 2540 bc and 6210 bc and most probably also reached magnitudes in the order of Mw = 5.0–6.5.
Public attitudes to the promotion of genomic crop studies in Japan: Correlations between genomic literacy, trust, and favourable attitude
Authors: Ishiyama Izumi , Tanzawa Tetsuro , Watanabe Maiko , Maeda Tadahiko , Muto Kaori , Tamakoshi Akiko , Nagai Akiko , Yamagata Zentaro
Published: January 2012

This study aimed to assess public attitudes in Japan to the promotion of genomic selection in crop studies and to examine associated factors. We analysed data from a nationwide opinion survey. A total of 4,000 people were selected from the Japanese general population by a stratified two-phase sampling method, and 2,171 people participated by post; this survey asked about the pros and cons of crop-related genomic studies promotion, examined people’s scientific literacy in genomics, and investigated factors thought to be related to genomic literacy and attitude. The relationships were examined using logistic regression models stratified by gender. Survey results showed that 50.0% of respondents approved of the promotion of crop-related genomic studies, while 6.7% disapproved. No correlation was found between literacy and attitude towards promotion. Trust in experts, belief in science, an interest in genomic studies and willingness to purchase new products correlated with a positive attitude towards crop-related genomic studies.
ISAGA at 40
Authors: Hill Jonnie , Rodrigo Ma. Mercedes
Published: January 2012

In this editorial, we explore the growth of the International Simulation and Gaming Association (ISAGA) and Simulation & Gaming ( S&G) over the past 40 years, comparing (a) the disciplines and affiliations of authors in the first volume of S&G, (b) authors who contributed papers to the ISAGA 2009 conference, and (c) authors of the most read and the most cited articles in the journal 41 years later, in September 2011. Finally, we present eight articles as an illustration of our growth and a foreshadowing of what we might attain in the next 40 years.
Adaptive trajectory tracking control design with command filtered compensation for a quadrotor
Authors: Zuo Zongyu
Published: January 2012

The design of a flight controller capable of not only stabilizing attitude but also tracking a trajectory accurately for a quadrotor aircraft in presence of parametric uncertainties and external disturbances is more challenging than that in the absence of uncertainties. In this paper we propose an adaptive trajectory tracking control algorithm, based on the relationship between attitude and linear acceleration, using online adaptive approximator to estimate unknown aerodynamic parameters and external disturbance upper bounds, and a linear tracking-differentiator to eliminate the timescale separation assumption between attitude and linear dynamics in control system design. The stability of the closed-loop control system is proven subsequently. Finally, the validity and the improvement of this proposed algorithm relative to the previous work are demonstrated through numerical simulations of tracking a circular trajectory under several conditions, including basic parametric uncertainty, exogenous wind disturbance and control input oscillation eliminating via a hyperbolic tangent function instead of a sign function.
Free vibration of thick laminated cylindrical shells with different boundary conditions using general differential quadrature
Authors: Asadi Ebrahim , Qatu Mohamad S
Published: January 2012

Equations of motion with required boundary conditions for deep and thick cylindrical composite shells are shown using two First-order Shear Deformation Theories. The difference between them is the inclusion of the effects of curvature in the evaluation of stiffness parameters. Equations of motion with stress resultants lead to a system of fifteen first-order differential equations for dynamics of cylindrical shells. These equations are solved numerically using the General Differential Quadrature method for free vibration of isotropic, cross-ply, angle-ply and general lay-up cylindrical shells with six types of different boundary conditions using the aforementioned theories. The first five frequency parameters and mode shapes which are obtained from both theories are compared with the available results in the literature and those obtained using a three-dimensional finite element analysis to test the accuracy of the shell theories presented here.
Protein biomarkers for multiple sclerosis: semi-quantitative analysis of cerebrospinal fluid candidate protein biomarkers in different forms of multiple sclerosis
Authors: Avsar Timucin , Korkmaz Didem , Tütüncü Melih , Demirci N Onat , Saip Sabahattin , Kamasak Mustafa , Siva Aksel , Turanli Eda Tahir
Published: January 2012

Background:

The complex pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis, combined with an unpredictable prognosis, requires identification of disease-specific diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers.

Objective:

To determine whether inflammatory proteins, such as neurofilament light chain, myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein and myelin basic protein, and neurodegenerative proteins, such as tau and glial fibrillary acidic protein, can serve as biomarkers for predicting the clinical subtype and prognosis of MS.

Methods:

Cerebrospinal fluid and serum samples were collected from patients with a diagnosis of clinically isolated syndrome ( n = 46), relapsing–remitting MS ( n = 67) or primary-progressive MS ( n = 22) along with controls having other non-inflammatory neurological disease ( n = 22). Western blot analyses were performed for the listed proteins. Protein levels were compared among different clinical subtypes using one-way analysis of variance analysis. The k-nearest neighbour algorithm was further used to assess the predictive use of these proteins for clinical subtype classification.

Results:

The results showed that each of tau, GFAP, MOG and NFL protein concentrations differed significantly ( p < 0.001) in multiple sclerosis clinical subtypes compared with the controls. Levels of the proteins also differed between the multiple sclerosis clinical subtypes, which may be associated with the underlying disease process. Classification studies revealed that these proteins might be useful for identifying multiple sclerosis clinical subtypes.

Conclusions:

We showed that select biomarkers may have potential in identifying multiple sclerosis clinical subtypes. We also showed that the predictive value of the prognosis increased when using a combination of the proteins versus using them individually.
Effects of a group-based exercise and self-regulatory intervention on obese adolescents’ physical activity, social cognitions, body composition and strength: A randomized feasibility study
Authors: Wilson A Justine , Jung Mary E , Cramp Anita , Simatovic Jacqueline , Prapavessis Harry , Clarson Cheril
Published: January 2012

This feasibility study assessed the effects of an exercise plus group-based self-regulatory skills intervention on obese youths’ physical activity, social cognitions, body composition and strength. Forty-three obese youth (male = 13, BMI > 95th percentile; 10–16 yrs) completed this 12-week intervention. Assessments were taken at baseline, week 6, 13 and 12 weeks post-intervention (week 24). Although no attention control group (i.e. exercise only) was included in this study, participants engaged in significantly more self-reported physical activity at weeks 13 and 24 as compared to baseline. Social cognitions, body composition and strength were also positively impacted suggesting this intervention technique may be feasible for treating obese adolescents.
Vibrotactile Displays for Improving Spatial Awareness
Authors: Raj Anil K. , Kass Steven J. , Perry James F.
Published: January 2012

This paper discusses the effects of tactile cueing on performance in a fixed base simulated helicopter hover task. Sixteen active-duty military helicopter pilots participated in a repeated measures two minute stationary hover test. Participants performed the hover task under four treatment conditions; tactile cueing (on/off) and secondary arithmetic task (on/off). Following each 2-minute hover, participants reported subjective situation awareness using the five point China Lake Situation Awareness Scale (CLSA). Total time on target improved with tactile cueing with a significant task by display interaction. Performance on the arithmetic task remained consistent across conditions and no significant change was seen on CLSA scores between the tactile/no tactile conditions. Results demonstrate that tactile cues can be used to improve performance in spatial tasks, such as hovering a helicopter, especially in the presence of distracting secondary workload tasks. The lack of a significant difference in SA scores may be more related to the pilots' overall high confidence in their SA, despite their variation in performance, and highlights some of the difficulties encountered when attempting to measure SA.
Auditory Alarms: From Alerting to Informing
Authors: Seagull F. Jacob , Xiao Yan , Mackenzie Colin F. , Wickens Christopher D.
Published: January 2012

The current alarm and warning systems in medical domains are integrated into patient monitoring devices and are centered around the concept of alerting operators to potential problems without specifying the specific nature of the problem. In contrast, informative auditory alarms and warning systems have been proposed for next-generation monitoring equipment. These “auditory displays” would present meaningful diagnostic information to care providers while not interrupting their other activities, and not demanding visual attention. Our work has documented the problems in the critical care setting with alarms. We report here the results of observations made during experiments conducted using eye-tracking techniques to determine patterns of information during real and simulated anesthesia cases. We classify monitoring behaviors into four categories of information seeking, and discuss the implications of these behaviors for design of informative auditory displays.
GT-COMET: An Architecture to Enhance Error Tolerance in Safety-Critical Systems
Authors: Palmer Michael T. , Chappell Alan R. , Thurman David A. , Mitchell Christine M.
Published: January 2012

To address the problem of human error in safety-critical systems, the GT-COMET (Georgia Tech Consequence Modeling for Error Tolerance) architecture is proposed. This architecture provides task management assistance to enhance error tolerance by helping human operators detect and correct potential errors before they have serious operational consequences. GT-COMET extends the OFM/OFMspert methodology, which attempts to match detected operator actions with actions expected by a normative model. Mismatches between detected actions and model expectations represent potential errors, and GT-COMET uses the likely consequences of these potential errors to construct task management reminders so the operators can correct errors before the system is adversely affected. This paper presents an overview of the GT-COMET architecture and its proof-of-concept implementation for pilots of an MD-11 aircraft.
Representing Dynamic Mouse Commands in Static Displays: Developing Graphical Symbols
Authors: Oman Rachelle N. , Wogalter Michael S.
Published: January 2012

Participants used either a Likert scale or a ratio scale to rate their preferences for graphical symbols illustrating the mouse motions of click, double-click, drag, click and drag, and left click. Through an iterative design process, symbols were selected and modified as they were rated. After several iterations, 54 participants evaluated the accumulated symbol set. In general, participants preferred symbols that were less abstract and more literal representations of the intended mouse actions; this is contrary to how these commands have been illustrated in printed computer documentation. Intermediate abstract symbols were rated almost as high as the literal symbols, and had the advantage of illustrating some mouse commands that could not be easily created with a literal symbol. Several design recommendations for symbols in computer instructions and symbols for other purposes are offered.
The Development, Deployment, and Evaluation of a User Interface Guidelines Web Site
Authors: Barlow Todd , Glass Amy , LaPrade Natalie
Published: January 2012

This poster discusses the development of an intranet site containing graphical user interface (GUI) design standards, its deployment, and the analysis of its use.
Research Using the Internet to Complete Ergonomics Assessments of Offices
Authors: Kestler Elizabeth , Romero Henry
Published: January 2012

A method was developed for completing office ergonomic assessments using the Internet specifically designed for non-complex situations, and particularly as a proactive measure. However, it is as effective reactively, if the musculoskeletal disorder symptoms are not too complex. The system was tested in a major energy services firm as well as across a group of people interested in musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in the office. The online recommendations are similar to those developed by an onsite assessment. People were satisfied with the results. The benefits of the approach were seen in time to complete the assessment being cut by 57% and the total cost reduced by 73%. In nearly 20% of the online assessments, an onsite assessment was recommended due to complex or severe MSD symptoms. Even accounting for the additional cost of the onsite assessments, this method resulted in a cost reduction of approximately 50% and 37% reduction in time to complete the assessments.
Individual Characteristics and Experiences of Virtual Reality Induced Symptoms and Effects (Vrise)
Authors: Nichols Sarah
Published: January 2012

Virtual Reality Induced Symptoms and Effects (VRISE) include both “positive” effects, such as the feeling of presence in a Virtual Environment (VE) or enjoyment of the use of Virtual Reality (VR), and “negative” effects, such as postural instability or sickness symptoms. The severity and nature of these effects can be influenced by VR system design, VE design, circumstances of use and individual participant characteristics. This paper presents an experiment that examines the effects experienced by 78 participants after a 30 minute period of VR use. The influence of a number of participant characteristics was assessed, and gender, motion sickness history, VR attitudes and immersive tendencies were found to have some influence on the experience of VRISE. Appropriate methods of minimising the level of negative effects experienced are discussed.
Cognitive Engineering Challenges of Managing Swarms of Self-Organizing Agent-Based Automation
Authors: Lee John D.
Published: January 2012

Function allocation, mode errors, and misuse of automation have become increasingly important research topics as technology has become more sophisticated. These and related problems will emerge as critical research issues as self-organizing, agent-based automation becomes more prominent. While current research has studied how people control a small number (2 to 10) of agents, the future will likely introduce the challenge of supervising hundreds of agents. Complex automation that is built from hundreds of loosely connected intelligent agents may exhibit powerful new adaptive behaviors. This emergent behavior may not be an intuitive extension of individual agent behavior. Addressing the challenge of this new technology will require a theoretical understanding of human behavior that goes beyond a task-based description of well-defined scenarios. Several important research questions include: What is the best way to support effective management of the agents? How can potential problems among the agents be identified and predicted? What display concepts are most effective for controlling large numbers of agents? How can the emergent agent behavior constrained so that it is comprehensible to human operators?
Simulation of Rule-Based Behavior for a Multimodal Interaction Task with Stochastic Petri Nets
Authors: Schlick Christopher
Published: January 2012

Based on a laboratory study of a multimodal interaction task, an approach for modeling rule-based behavior with stochastic Petri Nets is introduced. A reference task network is developed and is compared to alternative models from the mathematical theory of stochastic processes with the help of dynamic discrete-event simulation. The results of inferential statistics demonstrate the superiority of the reference task network.
Creating the Seating Clinic and Design Studio -A Participatory Approach to Seating Ergonomics-
Authors: Noro K. , Oyama H. , Tanaka R. , Fujimaki G.
Published: January 2012

There is a significant information gap between users and seating developers. To bridge the gap, The Seating Clinic and Design Studio was established in 1999 at Waseda University. The purpose of the Studio is to select or design a well-fitting chair for each individual. Seating problems are also solved. This Studio is divided into two sections: The first section is concerned with the measurement and the development of seating. The second section is a showroom of recommended office chairs. This showroom is open to the public and users can learn the best way to sit on a chair and how to adjust a chair. This paper will report how the gap was bridged.
A Biomechanical Assessment of Alternate Keyboards Using Tendon Travel
Authors: Treaster D. E. , Marras W. S.
Published: January 2012

The goal of this study was to assess the effect of alternate keyboard designs on the tendon travel of the flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS) and flexor digitorum profundus (FDP). A repeated measures experiment was conducted with 10 keyboard conditions. Independent variables were Pitch (positive vs negative pitch), Roll (zero vs positive roll) and Yaw (zero vs positive yaw). Dependent variables were tendon travel with anthropometric data collected as covariates. Subjects also adjusted the Pitch, Roll and Yaw angles on an adjustable keyboard to their preference for one condition.

Fifteen experienced touch typists (8 women, 7 men) typed a standard text. Wrist and finger goniometers, developed in the Biodynamics Laboratory at Ohio State University, provided data on joint kinematics for the wrist, MP, PIP, and DIP joints. Regression equations were used to calculate tendon travel from joint angle. Tendon travel was used as an indicator of the internal biomechanical loading.

The results showed that alternate keyboards can change tendon travel by as much as 11%. Positive pitch keyboards produced significantly lower amounts of tendon travel than negative pitch. A highly significant Gender effect was also found: male subjects showed higher tendon travel across all test conditions. This gender difference was only partially explained by differences in hand anthropometry.
Architectural Ergonomics and Sustainable Design: A Model Proposition
Authors: Gennari Cristina
Published: January 2012

The paper explores the links between architectural ergonomics and sustainable design in a way to be instrumental guidance for holistic integration. The main objective of the proposed model is to outline a strategic view of the process of promoting an integrated understanding of systems when bringing architectural ergonomics issues and sustainable design issues into consideration.
Quality, Globalization and the Future of Work
Authors: Drury Colin G.
Published: January 2012

The whole world is in the process of massive changes in the way in which business is conducted. Under the loose heading of globalization, we have seen an interrelated set of changes driven by a number of converging factors. These same global changes have in turn sparked new forms and balances of organisations. Eventually, these effects must be accompanied by new ways in which people will perform within organisations. We are moving towards globalization of production, customers, capital and workforce concerns. While the quality revolution was one of the driving forces behind globalization, there is now an impact of its very success back onto quality. With slack removed from work systems, quality is demanded for efficient, effective operations, but quality itself can suffer under the impacts of downsizing, longer working times and instant demands for change.
Introduction to Macroergonomics
Authors: Hendrick Hal W.
Published: January 2012

The origin and development of macroergonomics as an identifiable sub-discipline of human factors/ergonomics is reviewed. The concept of macroergonomics, including the underlying empirically developed sociotechnical systems model, is summarized. The relation of macro-to micro-ergonomics, and the synergism that is possible when the two are harmonized and consistent with the organization's sociotechnical characteristics, is explained.
The Structure of Tasks at “Call Centers”: Control and Learning Difficulties
Authors: Sznelwar L. I. , Zilbovicius M. , Soares R. F. R.
Published: January 2012

The organizational structures of “Call Centers” are based on standardized and rigorously controlled tasks. This article, based on studies done in companies located in São Paulo, Brazil, during the 90s, discusses the difficulties of learning and work-related anxieties present in these types of organization.
Ergonomics and Customer-Operator Interactions
Authors: Falzon Pierre
Published: January 2012

The growth of services as a major economic activity necesitates to pay more attention to the understanding of service situations. According to the analyst, four kinds of status are given to the customer in service situations and are discussed. Three categories of service situations are presented: commercial interactions, advisory tasks, social work and personal care-taking. Lastly, three levels of management of service interactions are identified: transactional, contractual, relational.
Making Technology Work in Intelligent Manufacturing by Participative Simulation
Authors: Vink P. , van Eijnatten F. , Goossenaerts J. , Grote G. , Stahre J. , van der Berg R.
Published: January 2012

Nowadays it is essential to anticipate on fast changes in production due to turbulent and demanding markets. The manufacturing workforce, e.g. specialized staff, management and production personnel, plays a crucial role in this process. Therefore, the EU-project ‘PSIM’ is started. PSIM is Participative Simulation environment for Integral (i.e., involving logistics, technology and human factors) Manufacturing enterprise renewal. Its long-term goal is to enable participative improvement in assembly operations, supported by advanced simulation software. This paper is an abstract of the project description.
Performance Enhancement with Real-Time Physiologically Controlled Adaptive Aiding
Authors: Wilson Glenn F. , Lambert Jared D. , Russell Chris A.
Published: January 2012

The realization of optimal system performance is the goal of both system designers and users. One critical component in attaining this goal is proper operator functioning. In contemporary systems the functional state of the operator is not considered during system operation. Degraded states of operator functioning can result from the demands of controlling complex systems, the work environment and internal operator variables. This, in turn, can lead to errors and overall suboptimal system performance. In the case of mental workload, system performance could be improved by reducing task demands during periods of operator overload. Accurate estimation of the operator's functional state is crucial to successful implementation of an adaptive aiding system. One method of determining operator functional state is by monitoring the operator's physiology. In the present study, physiological signals were used to continuously monitor subject's functional state and to adapt the task by reducing the number of subtasks when high levels of mental workload were detected. The goal was to demonstrate performance improvement with adaptive aiding. Because adaptive aiding during high mental workload has not been previously implemented its benefit has not be demonstrated. Application of adaptive aiding techniques reduced tracking task error by 44% and resource monitoring error by 33%. These results demonstrate the utility of adaptive aiding using physiological measures with artificial neural networks to determine the appropriate time to introduce the aiding.
Workload and Performance in FOPA: A Strategic Planning Interface for Air Traffic Control
Authors: Moertl Peter M. , Canning John M. , Johansson Joakim , Gronlund Scott D. , Dougherty Michael R. P. , Mills Scott H.
Published: January 2012

The Flight Organizer Planning Aid (FOPA) interface was designed to aid strategic planning in air traffic control. In particular, FOPA was designed to address difficulties in solving en route sequencing problems (combining multiple streams of traffic into a single stream heading for a destination). We compared the planning performance of 12 full performance level air traffic controllers using either the FOPA interface or normal flight progress strips. Planning performance was significantly better when using FOPA; subjective workload was also reduced. The results indicate that a key advantage of FOPA lies in its dynamic linkage between the flight organizer screen where aircraft tokens can be categorized into color-coded blocks and their matching spatial representation on the radar.
Adaptive Integration of Head-Coupled Multi-Sensory Displays for Target Localization
Authors: Tannen Robert S. , Nelson W. Todd , Bolia Robert S. , Haas Michael W. , Hettinger Lawrence J. , Warm Joel S. , Dember William N. , Stoffregen Thomas A.
Published: January 2012

The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of providing target location information via head-coupled visual and spatial audio displays presented in adaptive and non-adaptive configurations. Twelve USAF pilots performed a simulated flight task in which they were instructed to maintain flight parameters while searching for ground and air targets. The integration of visual displays with spatial audio cueing enhanced performance efficiency, especially when targets were most difficult to detect. Several of the interface conditions were also associated with lower ratings of perceived mental workload. The benefits associated with multi-sensory cueing were equivalent in both adaptive and non-adaptive configurations.
Qeeg Differences in Cordless vs. Corded Phone Users
Authors: Morris Christina S. , Shirkey Edwin C. , Mouloua Mustapha
Published: January 2012

Previous research that has measured brainwaves using electroencephalograph (EEG) equipment consistently show that electromagnetic fields (EMF's) of various ranges can alter the neuro-electrical system of the human brain. The results of brainwave research indicate that different levels or ranges of EMF exposure (e.g., 8Hz, 50Hz and 1200MHz) produce different types of corresponding EEG brainwave patterns. The cordless telephone emits an EMF of around 900-1200MHz and no previous research involving cordless telephones or EMF exposure at similar ranges could be found. This study was an empirical investigation of EEG characteristics resulting from 10 minutes of cordless phone (EMF of 900 MHz) exposure. The 10 minutes of exposure to the 900MHz cordless phone resulted in significant magnitude and power changes in the slow wave (Delta2) and the higher (SMR, Alpha, Beta1) frequency bands; However, slow wave theta was unaffected by the EMF exposure of the cordless phone. Overall total EEG power increased and magnitude reflected more instability.
Time-To-Contact Estimates for Observer versus Target Motion
Authors: Grutzmacher Richard P. , Geri George A. , Pierce Byron J.
Published: January 2012

The ratio (τ) of a moving target's angular size to the rate of change in its angular size can be used by observers to judge the time remaining before they will collide with the target. We consider here whether optical flow information, consistent with simulated observer motion, affects observers' estimates of time-to-contact (TTC). Estimates of TTC were obtained when either the observer approached a stationary target or the target approached a stationary observer. The visual information for τ was the same in both conditions, whereas the visual information for observer self-motion was varied. For the low closing velocities, (3 and 6 eyeheights/sec) there was no significant difference in the estimated TTC for observer motion versus target motion. However, there was a significant difference for the highest closing velocity (12 eyeheights/sec). This result suggests that visual information, specifying self-motion, may be used either in combination with or in place of τ to estimate TTC during simulated locomotion. The present findings have practical implications for both the use of τ in judging TTC and the rendering of terrain texture detail in high-fidelity flight simulators.
Detecting Changes in Dynamic Functions with Tables and Graphs
Authors: Oron-Gilad Tal , Meyer Joachim , Gopher Daniel
Published: January 2012

The relative efficiency of graphic and tabular displays for detecting changes in the amplitude of periodic sine functions, simulating a dynamic process, was assessed. Line graphs had an advantage over tables for the detection of changes and for the correct identification of the changed function. However, the advantage depended on the type of change that could occur. A large difference between the displays was evident when both increases and decreases in amplitude were possible, and differences were much smaller when amplitudes could only increase. These results indicate that participants adapted their detection methods to the types of possible changes. The findings demonstrate the utility of graphic displays for process control and substantiate the claim that graphic displays have an advantage when the displayed information has inherent structure and when the task requires the use of this structure. In addition, task performance was shown to be the subject of adaptive changes, which depend on the context in which the task is performed.
The Relationship between Mental Workload and Situation Awareness
Authors: Vidulich Michael A.
Published: January 2012

Mental workload and situation awareness are both outgrowths of the practical need to assess operators' performing and managing dynamic complex tasks. Mental workload refers to the cost placed on the human operator's cognitive processing abilities by performing the required task-related mental processing. Situation awareness is the operator's apprehension of the current situation. Common goals of designing a new system or modifying an existing one are often to reduce the operator's mental workload while increasing the operator's situation awareness. However, the empirical database obtained from concurrent evaluation of mental workload and situation awareness demonstrates that the two measures generally do not co-vary in such a simple fashion. The lack of a single straightforward correlation could be interpreted as an indication that mental workload and situation awareness must be considered independent of each other. However, parsing the available studies into sub-categories based on the type of manipulation that was investigated allows some possible relationships between mental workload and situation awareness to emerge. This suggests that researchers should continue to examine the relationship between these concepts and system evaluators should not consider mental workload or situation awareness in isolation from the other.
Ergonomic Study in a Traffic Control Room of Public Transport
Authors: Ana Trindade , Ana Gomes , José Carvalhais , Anabela Simões
Published: January 2012

A technological change will produce a transformation of the traffic control room in Lisbon's bus and tramway public transport operator. An ergonomic study as been required aiming the evaluation of the working conditions. The operators have to cope with a very demanding task concerning vision, attention and memory, together with long working hours in a seated posture, in poor environment conditions. The main health complaints of the workers are visual problems, fatigue, cervical and lumbar pain. Other complaints are irritability, headache, sleep loss and digestive problems. The definition of a new layout and work organization is proposed. Concerning the environment level other improvement measures were also suggested, including noise reduction, illumination and air quality.
The Use of Directional Sound to Improve the Safety of Auditory Warnings
Authors: Withington Deborah
Published: January 2012

We all recognise the siren of an emergency vehicle, but none of us is able to tell which direction it is coming from. We can identify “what” but not “where”. This is due to the narrowband nature of traditional sirens which, due to the paucity of frequencies utilised, make it impossible for the brain to compute the location of the approaching emergency vehicle. Trials of a new siren sound which comprises broadband noise have shown that roadusers react positively to the new sound, resulting in journey times reduced by up to 10%. The Localizer™ is thus safer for roadusers and emergency service personnel.
Natural Warning Sounds in Safety Critical Human-Machine Systems -A Cognitive Engineering Approach
Authors: Ulfvengren Pernilla
Published: January 2012

Cognitive engineering is a multidisciplinary field, which must consider tradeoffs in various areas in order to reach a result that as a whole improves system performance without causing negative consequences. The goal of this research is improved ergonomics and safety. The auditory displays in many safety critical human-machine systems today have poor design and there are many tradeoffs that should be considered. The meaning of an alert in its context, loudness level, confusion of signals, nuisance alarms, duration, urgency level and prioritization are only a few parameters that must be addressed. Natural Warning Sounds is a term for sounds that fulfill several requirements of a good design. These requirements are discussed in a thorough literature review (Ulfvengren, 1999) of fundamental principles of perception and information processing of sounds, their characteristics and their effect on performance and situational awareness. A multidisciplinary mix of people is involved in this research, which primarily concerns aviation, including engineers, a psychologist, a linguist, pilots and simulator-experienced researchers. Pilots contribute in interviews, experiments and simulations. Natural Warning Sounds are intended to convey relevant information, require fewer cognitive resources and increase performance in safety critical human-machine systems. The research includes analyses of existing systems, associability and soundimagery studies, and simulations for testing presentation logic.
Aircraft Maintenance Research: The Nasa Program
Authors: Kanki Barbara G.
Published: January 2012

Some of the Maintenance Human Factors research activities sponsored by the NASA Aviation Safety Program (AvSP), and their historical precursors are described. With the goal of developing interventions that reduce human error and enhance safety and effectiveness in maintenance operations, four key product areas include: 1) human factors task/risk analysis tools, 2) models and tools for enhancing procedures, 3) recommendations for Maintenance Resource Management skills, training and evaluation, and 4) advanced display technologies for training and job aiding.