bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rehabilitation of jacket offshore platforms using friction damper device and buckling restrained braces under extreme loads
Authors: Tabeshpour Mohammad Reza , Komachi Younes
Published: September 2017

Some existing platforms may have some problems with probable extreme future loads such as earthquake. From economic point of view, it is preferable to retrofit and continue using of existing jackets in many cases, in comparison to a new installation. Two efficient rehabilitation methods of friction damper device and buckling restrained braces are presented and investigated numerically for seismic loads from far-fault and near-fault earthquakes. As an example, an existing four-leg service platform placed in the Persian Gulf (Ressalat) is considered and the results are presented. Because of low redundancy in jacket platforms (after buckling of compression members), it is important to investigate the effect of friction damper device on the structural behavior. Buckling restrained braces solves the law redundancy because of no buckling and no decrease in strength. The results show the high efficiency of both methods in reducing structural responses and increasing seismic performance level. Such studies are very useful for many existing jacket platforms that their lifetime is to be extended.
The CDC Foundation’s Health and Well-Being for All Meeting-in-a-Box
Authors: Pember Sarah E.
Published: September 2017

The conditions in which people live, work, play, and age—the social determinants of health (SDOH)—have an impact on their health outcomes and behavior, sense of security, and patterns of community engagement. To encourage training and education related to the health effects of the SDOH, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Foundation created the Health and Well-Being for All meeting-in-a-box resource. This online resource acts as a guide for group collaboration and education related to understanding SDOH effects on health and practicing methods for addressing those effects at the community level, and can be used with a variety of groups, including community coalitions, health education students, and medical professionals. Three case study–based modules—asthma, obesity, and gang violence—lead participants through a six-step process of activities that address the SDOH in context, identifies opportunities and threats, and provides practice in developing collaborations and enacting change in the community. Despite some potential limitations with length and group dynamics, the experience of evaluating a health condition through the lens of the SDOH can encourage holistic views of health and increase attention to the upstream causes of negative health outcomes.
Peer-Led or Expert-Led Intervention in HIV Prevention Efficacy? A Randomized Control Trial Among Spanish Young People to Evaluate Their Role
Authors: Giménez-García Cristina , Ballester-Arnal Rafael , Gil-Llario María Dolores , Salmerón-Sánchez Pedro
Published: September 2017

HIV new infections still affect young people around the world. In this context, behavioral interventions seem to be effective in promoting safe sex although some conditions are still inconclusive in different regions. For example, there is insufficient evidence about who may be the best facilitator. For this reason, this study evaluates the effectiveness of peer and expert facilitators for HIV prevention aimed at Spanish young people. For this purpose 225 Spanish college students, aged between 18 and 25 (74.20% women and 25.80% men), were involved in an experimental design to evaluate the facilitators’ effect in a brief intervention for HIV prevention. Participants’ results were measured by three HIV preventive variables (knowledge, beliefs, and protective sex behavior in vaginal sex, anal sex, and sex after drugs consumption). Our findings reveal that both facilitators, experts and peers, have improved the HIV-associated factors and safe sex behaviors. Therefore, facilitators’ status would not be so relevant for effectiveness in HIV prevention aimed at Spanish young people. To facilitate decision making in HIV prevention, we should study in depth what other variables make more effective facilitators.
Results of a Patient Survey for Assessment Services in Renal Transplant Patients With a History of Cancer
Authors: Ihrig Andreas , Maatouk Imad , Fink Susanne , Pahernik Sascha , Süsal Caner , Huber Johannes , Hohenfellner Markus , Zeier Martin , Grüllich Carsten
Published: September 2017

Patients with cancer who require a kidney transplant often face a prolonged time on the waiting list to ensure a sufficient relapse-free time. Patients and relatives were invited to the patient assessment service where they get an individualized risk assessment and a recommendation for transplantation and waiting period directly from an expert panel. We investigated in 31 patients who filled out questionnaires concerning depression, anxiety, distress, and quality of life and were interviewed for their satisfaction, experiences, and circumstances of the counseling. In 12 (39%) of the 31 patients, a recommendation for transplantation could be made, although the regular waiting period was not yet achieved. The assessment service was received as very good or good by 22 (79%) of 28 patients. We found no relevant differences in patients with regular and shortened waiting time. An interdisciplinary assessment service is a valuable instrument to help with a decision-making between 2 life-threatening conditions.
Biomarkers of adverse drug reactions
Authors: Carr Daniel F , Pirmohamed Munir
Published: September 2017

Adverse drug reactions can be caused by a wide range of therapeutics. Adverse drug reactions affect many bodily organ systems and vary widely in severity. Milder adverse drug reactions often resolve quickly following withdrawal of the casual drug or sometimes after dose reduction. Some adverse drug reactions are severe and lead to significant organ/tissue injury which can be fatal. Adverse drug reactions also represent a financial burden to both healthcare providers and the pharmaceutical industry. Thus, a number of stakeholders would benefit from development of new, robust biomarkers for the prediction, diagnosis, and prognostication of adverse drug reactions. There has been significant recent progress in identifying predictive genomic biomarkers with the potential to be used in clinical settings to reduce the burden of adverse drug reactions. These have included biomarkers that can be used to alter drug dose (for example, Thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT) and azathioprine dose) and drug choice. The latter have in particular included human leukocyte antigen (HLA) biomarkers which identify susceptibility to immune-mediated injuries to major organs such as skin, liver, and bone marrow from a variety of drugs. This review covers both the current state of the art with regard to genomic adverse drug reaction biomarkers. We also review circulating biomarkers that have the potential to be used for both diagnosis and prognosis, and have the added advantage of providing mechanistic information. In the future, we will not be relying on single biomarkers (genomic/non-genomic), but on multiple biomarker panels, integrated through the application of different omics technologies, which will provide information on predisposition, early diagnosis, prognosis, and mechanisms.

Impact statement

• Genetic and circulating biomarkers present significant opportunities to personalize patient therapy to minimize the risk of adverse drug reactions. ADRs are a significant heath issue and represent a significant burden to patients, healthcare providers, and the pharmaceutical industry. • This review details the current state of the art in biomarkers of ADRs (both genetic and circulating). There is still significant variability in patient response which cannot be explained by current knowledge of genetic risk factors for ADRs; however, we discussed how specific advances in genomics have the potential to yield better and more predictive models. • Many current clinically utilized circulating biomarkers of tissue injury are valid biomarkers for a number of ADRs. However, they often give little insight into the specific cell or tissue subtype which may be affected. Emerging circulating biomarkers with potential to provide greater information on the etiology/pathophysiology of ADRs are described.
Natural Language Based Multimodal Interface for UAV Mission Planning
Authors: Chandarana Meghan , Meszaros Erica L. , Trujillo Anna , Danette Allen B.
Published: September 2017

As the number of viable applications for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) systems increases at an exponential rate, interfaces that reduce the reliance on highly skilled engineers and pilots must be developed. Recent work aims to make use of common human communication modalities such as speech and gesture. This paper explores a multimodal natural language interface that uses a combination of speech and gesture input modalities to build complex UAV flight paths by defining trajectory segment primitives. Gesture inputs are used to define the general shape of a segment while speech inputs provide additional geometric information needed to fully characterize a trajectory segment. A user study is conducted in order to evaluate the efficacy of the multimodal interface.
Interactions between the Design Factors of Airplane Artificial Horizon Displays
Authors: Ding Ding , Proctor Robert W.
Published: September 2017

We investigated three interaction effects between the design factors of artificial horizon displays in the context of an airplane upset recovery task. To explain some inconsistent results from previous research about the superiority of moving-airplane designs, we hypothesized and explored interactions between moving element, roll scale/index, display size, and symbol size. A 24 factorial experiment was conducted with 20 novice subjects on a desktop simulator. Moving element was found to interact with display size and symbol size in an unexpected fashion, although the size of the effects was small. Spatially compatible roll scale/index was strongly supported, while the evidence for moving-airplane was weaker than expected. We explained that when redundant roll angle information is present, subjects tend to focus on the indication that appears most usable to them. Roll scale/index appeared to be more compelling than airplane symbol and horizon for roll indication purposes.
Visual and auditory feedback to improve touchscreen usability in turbulence
Authors: Wan Yuzhi , Prinet Julie C. , Sarter Nadine
Published: September 2017

Touchscreens are being introduced to various mobile environments that are, at times, affected by vibrations and turbulence, such as modern car cockpits or flight decks of commercial and military aircraft. To assess and enhance the usability of touchscreens in these domains, this experiment examined the performance effects of turbulence on two flight-related tasks and the effectiveness of visual and auditory feedback for supporting error detection, fast completion times and multitasking. Nineteen pilots performed a flight plan entry and a checklist task in calm and turbulent conditions during manual flight and on autopilot. Results show that unaided performance suffers greatly in turbulence, both in terms of the number of errors and completion time. However, visual and auditory feedback both helped reduce these performance costs by improving error detection and multitasking. Participants preferred auditory feedback for text entry during manual flight and in turbulence. The findings from this study can inform the design and evaluation of touch screens for mobile environments, such as the flight deck, ambulances and surveillance operations.
Human-in-the-Loop Simulation Experiment of Integrated Arrival/Departure Control Services For NextGen Operational Improvement
Authors: Hah Sehchang , Willems Ben , Mueller Gary , Johnson Daniel R. , Schulz Kenneth , DiRico John , Hallman Kevin , Maliko-Abraham Helene , O’Brien T. G. , Alvidrez Sonia , Bastholm Robert , Dworsky Matthew , Fincannon Thomas , Bassett Philip , Hailston Kenneth
Published: September 2017

The National Airspace System suffers from a reduction in airport throughput or even closure when weather or traffic volume constrains arrival or departure gates to and from the Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) facilities. To alleviate this, the Federal Aviation Administration introduced the Integrated Arrival and Departure Control Services (IADCS) concept that would extend terminal separations and procedures to the adjacent Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) sectors for more flexible traffic. It proposes the use of resectorization, bidirectional gates, bidirectional routes, and Air Traffic Control assigned routes. We evaluated them in the human-in-the-loop high-fidelity experiment and collected objective and subjective data. Our results clearly showed that all IADCS procedures except the vertically separated/bidirectional gate procedure were more effective than the Baseline condition that controllers currently use in the field. We conjecture the vertically separated/bidirectional gate procedure requires more complex perceptual and cognitive processes than the other procedures.
Analysis of alerting system failures in commercial aviation accidents
Authors: Mumaw Randall J.
Published: September 2017

The role of an alerting system is to make the system operator (e.g., pilot) aware of an impending hazard or unsafe state so the hazard can be avoided or managed successfully. A review of 46 commercial aviation accidents (between 1998 and 2014) revealed that, in the vast majority of events, either the hazard was not alerted or relevant hazard alerting occurred but failed to aid the flight crew sufficiently. For this set of events, alerting system failures were placed in one of five phases: Detection, Understanding, Action Selection, Prioritization, and Execution. This study also reviewed the evolution of alerting system schemes in commercial aviation, which revealed naïve assumptions about pilot reliability in monitoring flight path parameters; specifically, pilot monitoring was assumed to be more effective than it actually is. Examples are provided of the types of alerting system failures that have occurred, and recommendations are provided for alerting system improvements.
Advanced Trajectory Modeling: Stakeholder Needs and Expectations
Authors: Hunter George , Holtzman Bill , Fernandes Alicia , Robinson Corissa
Published: September 2017

Advanced air traffic control techniques require accurate predictions of aircraft trajectories. Such predictions rely on complex aircraft parameters which typically are unknown and must be estimated. These estimates can be improved with aircraft-to-ground data exchange methods. The Advanced Trajectory Modeling project is exploring such methods, and how they can improve the aircraft data available to the air traffic control trajectory models used by controller and traffic management decision support tools. The project has identified aircraft data, including current state and intent, which could be downlinked to ground automation systems. The project is exploring emerging technologies onboard the aircraft—such as Internet Protocol Data Link, Aircraft Interface Devices, and Electronic Flight Bags—that could be used to extract and downlink these data to ground automation systems. The project is evaluating advanced trajectory models to enable future synchronization of various ground automation trajectory models with aircraft-generated models to support Trajectory Based Operations, an effort that affects a wide range of stakeholders. Here we use a two-phase stakeholder engagement approach to insure the feasibility of the proposed concept.
User-Centered Evaluations with Older Adults: Testing the Usability of a Mobile Health System for Heart Failure Self-Management
Authors: Cornet Victor P. , Daley Carly N. , Srinivas Preethi , Holden Richard J.
Published: September 2017

Many older adults living with heart failure struggle to follow recommended self-management routines. To help older adults with heart failure more effectively and efficiently self-manage their disease, we developed Engage, a mobile health application promoting the performance, logging, and sharing of routine self-management behaviors. This paper reports on the usability evaluation of the Engage system with 15 older adults with heart failure and informal caregivers. In two phases, participants used Engage during a task-based usability test (n=5) and a scenario-based usability test (n=10). Usability and performance data were assessed through video-recorded observation and the administration of the system usability scale (SUS) and NASA Task Load Index (TLX). We found that task-based testing was useful in quickly identifying problems within our application, but scenario-based testing elicited more valuable feedback from older adults. A comparison of the different evaluation methods used and the discussion of the challenges encountered provide multiple implications for the practice of usability testing of mobile health products with older adults.
Understanding the Medication Adherence Strategies of Older Adults with Hypertension
Authors: Blocker Kenneth A. , Insel Kathleen C. , Koerner Kari M. , Rogers Wendy A.
Published: September 2017

Many older adults are living with at least one chronic disease and must adhere to prescribed medication to mitigate and control its impact. Hypertension is one chronic disease that affects a significant portion of the world’s population, especially older adults, and is responsible for a high number of annual deaths. It is asymptomatic, meaning that there are no perceptible symptoms and, as such, older adults may struggle with adhering to their prescribed antihypertensive medications. How one internalizes the disease may influence the degree of success in managing the condition. The current study analyzed archival data from a multifaceted prospective memory intervention for older adults with hypertension who were nonadherent to their medication. We coded their responses to self-management interview questions to identify the common themes regarding the knowledge and sense of control the older adults held relevant to managing their illness. Participants’ responses revealed how they internalized hypertension and their medication, as well as the strategies and goals they reportedly used to manage the illness. The association strategy was found to be the most commonly used within participants’ routines. In addition, many participants expressed a general lack of knowledge about the disease or their medication, and their goals regarding hypertension management were general and inexplicit (e.g., “to reduce their blood pressure). This information informs the design of more effective and longer-lasting interventions geared toward significantly improving the medication adherence of older adults diagnosed with hypertension.
Performance in Takeover and Characteristics of Non-driving Related Tasks during Highly Automated Driving in Younger and Older Drivers
Authors: Clark Hallie , McLaughlin Anne Collins , Williams Billy , Feng Jing
Published: September 2017

This paper aims to examine the effect of age and various characteristics of non-driving related activities during highly automated driving on subsequent performance in notified takeovers among younger and older drivers. The paper presents new analyses of data collected in our earlier study (Clark & Feng, 2016). Non-driving-related activities that participants voluntarily chose to engage in during automated driving were categorized according to their cognitive dimensions in information processing. Using hierarchical multiple regressions, we analyzed the effect of driver age, total duration and number of engagement in non-driving-related activities, the duration and cognitive dimensions of the last activity prior to takeover on average speed during takeover and the response time to a takeover notification. We found that older drivers speed was negatively predicted by age while their response time to a notification was not predicted by any factor. In contrast, younger drivers showed a trend of positive relationship between age and average speed and the characteristics of the last task engagement explained a significant portion of the variance of response time to a notification.
Teen Drivers: Approach for Teaching Speed Management and Peer Passenger Interactions
Authors: Lee Yi-Ching , LaVoie Noelle , Parker James
Published: September 2017

Novice teen drivers can benefit from targeted training in a safe environment to help reduce their high crash risk. Experience accumulation, as opposed to deliberate risk-taking, can at least partially explain the steady decline in the rate of crashes in the first months of licensed driving. Traditional training approaches, however, have limitations for teaching skills that are typically learned through experience. We propose that a web-based training approach can facilitate experiential learning by using realistic scenarios and engaging visual effects. Two examples of this type of training approach are presented along with results from usability testing. We argue that web-based, scenario-based training can become part of practice in classrooms and during parent-supervised learning to supplement the accumulation of driving experience during pre-driving as a means of reducing risk during the early driving years.
Crossing the road while playing a mobile game app – effects of age, environmental load and game complexity
Authors: Danielle Rokni , Hagai Tapiro , Yisrael Parmet , Tal Oron-Gilad
Published: September 2017

Children are a high-risk group for motor vehicle injuries, and characterized also by extensive use of mobile phones. We investigated the influence of playing a mobile phone game on crossing behavior of children relative to adults. Our hypotheses were that: a) game use will affect pedestrian’s crossing behavior for all age groups; and b) increase in the complexity of the game will cause greater impact on crossing behavior.

Twenty-seven children and twenty-one adults (mean=25.3, sd=1.5) participated. Children were divided into two ages; nine children aged 9-10 (mean=9.2, sd=0.4), and eighteen children aged 11-13 (mean=11.9, sd=0.6).

The experiment took place in our Dome pedestrian simulator. Twelve simulated street-crossing scenarios, each lasting for 60-90 seconds; six in each environmental load (high/low clutter). Scenarios were presented from a pedestrian point of view, as if they were standing on the curb on one side of the road facing to the other side of a two lane street with two-way traffic. Street surround sounds were embedded in the scene.

A dedicated smartphone game was built. The aim of the game was to identify as many dots in a predefined color specified for the participant at the beginning of the game. Identification is implemented by clicking on the desired color dot. The complexity of the game depended on the dots’ appearance rate on the screen, the dots’ growing rate, and the allowed overlap between different dots.

Participants were asked to decide when to cross the virtual road, and indicate their decision by pressing a foot pedal. Each pedal step and its time of occurrence was recorded and the scenario was then stopped. In eight out of the twelve scenarios (four in each load), participants were asked to play the game while attempting to cross the road.

Safety gap was significantly shorter when the complexity of the game was high and the visual load was low, for all age groups. No change in safety gap was found while using the mobile phone in a high load environment for 11-13 year-olds and adults. Hence, they maintained the same performance, with or without the use of the phone and regardless of game complexity. This was not the case for those aged 9-10, whose performance suffered as a result of the use of the phone, especially in the high level of game complexity.

Possibly, in loaded environments the 11-13 and adults balanced their attention between the crossing environment and the game, something they have not done in cases of low environmental load. It seems that, only when the environment was more complex, these two age groups ‘put their phone aside’ and turned their attention on the crossing task, which they may have regarded as more difficult under these conditions. However, children aged 9-10 have not been able to do so. Presumably, the environmental load did not change their behavior.
Fuzzy Logic Patterns Communication and Team Performance
Authors: Tchupo Dominique Engome , Sreeramakavacham Sivamanoj , Kim Jung Hyup , Macht Gretchen A.
Published: September 2017

Analyzing the complex maze of content and flow in communication between team members could help unlock researchers’ understanding of team performance. This research analyzes the communication patterns of two teams, based on their team performance, in order to test and expand a developing team mapping technique to assess content and flow between team members. A two-pronged methodology was executed: (1) communication data processing by (a) classifying utterances into content topics and flow, (b) indexing the speech acts, and (c) validation, and (2) analyzing the communication patterns using augmented fuzzy cognitive maps (FCMs). The strengths of the relationships among key communication concepts were estimated and compared between the two, low and high, performance teams’ FCMs. The results indicated that FCMs could apply to larger teams and in an alternate domain. The FCM communication patterns recognized that the “providing information” concept was significantly different between the high and low team performances. This research demonstrates that, using fuzzy logic, different patterns can assist in understanding team performance while providing insights into complex team communication dynamics.
Quantifying Qualitative Probabilties: A Cross-Cultural Examination
Authors: Hancock P.A. , Volante W.G. , Lau M.
Published: September 2017

Language is a powerful tool and essential for human communication. Despite this criticality, linguistic terms often produce different percepts across differing individuals. Such variations can, and do lead to miscommunication and confusion. To assess the qualitative degree of such ambiguity, we look to quantify how different probability terms were characterized based upon an individual’s personality and culture. Thus, we evaluated the probability ratings of 35 participants in the United States and 50 participant in Germany on sixty-four terms such as “always,” “certain,” “unusual” etc. Participants rated the likelihood of these descriptions on a 0-100 scale. Additionally, participants were asked to rate the strength of statements that included terms such as “safety,” “guarantee,” “health” etc. Results indicated that there is a wide range of these probability ratings between participants. Additionally, cultural differences were found: German participants score higher on low-probability ratings, whereas Americans score higher on high-probability ratings. The implications of these findings for communications between individuals and between humans and machines are discussed.
Examining the Role of Trust in Peer-Assisted Learning
Authors: Crowe Peter , Collins Michael , Larue Othalia , Green Randall , Hough Alexander , Juvina Ion
Published: September 2017

Peer-assisted learning is increasingly an element of academia and applied settings. Through member interaction, individuals in teams or groups may experience a litany of positive outcomes, including increased engagement, increased retention of information, and a more comprehensive understanding of a topic. However, the mechanisms behind these outcomes are not well understood. Our intent for this study is to examine individual learning outcomes in a controlled environment in order to identify sources of variation in performance. We hypothesize that trust development between individuals will be positively correlated with individual performance on a learning task. In order to test this hypothesis, we use a paired-associates learning task in a controlled environment. Our study results indicate that an interactive lecture condition produces higher accuracy than a peer-assisted learning condition. Possible explanations and ramifications of these pilot findings are explored in the discussion
Cognitive Bowties: A New Approach to Analyzing Human Factors in Process Control
Authors: St. John Mark F.
Published: September 2017

Effective process control requires good cognitive human factors to achieve safety and performance goals. These human factors include situation awareness tools, good communication and teamwork skills, and effective policies and procedures. Human factors analysts need to identify human factors in these tools, skills, and procedures, and ensure that they are effective. Cognitive bowties offer a new alternative approach to the abstraction hierarchy for identifying process control human factors that is simpler and more clearly points to the human factors that support key decisions in process control. Process control bowties have become a common tool in process control industries for analyzing systems in terms of hazards, threats that lead to those hazards, and barriers that prevent the threats from creating the hazards. Cognitive bowties focus on key decisions related to hazards and analyze those decisions in terms of the decision cycle (detect, interpret, decide, and act) and the cognitive human factors that affect them. First, the cognitive bowtie approach is described. Second, it is illustrated in depth in the context of deepwater drilling. Third, the cognitive bowtie approach is illustrated briefly in UAV control and military airspace monitoring to demonstrate its broad application. A primary limitation is that the approach applies only to hazard control.
Real-Time Assessment of Operator State in Air Traffic Controllers Using Ocular Metrics
Authors: Kuo Jonny , Lenné Michael G. , Myers Rama , Collard-Scruby Anna , Jaeger Courtney , Birmingham Chris
Published: September 2017

This study examined the utility of continuous operator state monitoring in predicting air traffic control officer (ATCO) workload and fatigue. Participants (N=8) were observed in live operational air traffic control environments for 60-minute periods. ATCO state was assessed using a real-time, computer vision-based system which tracked operator gaze and pupil diameter. Workload and fatigue were also assessed via the adapted Bedford Workload Scale and Samn-Perelli Fatigue Scale, respectively. Standard deviation of gaze was a significant predictor of both max and mean workload, showing a strong negative relationship with both subjective measures. Pupil diameter showed a significant positive relationship with operator fatigue. Our findings demonstrate the utility of continuous ocular metrics of workload and fatigue in operational environments.
What is maritime navigation? Unfolding the complexity of a Sociotechnical System
Authors: da Conceição Victor P. , Dahlman Joakim , Navarro Ana
Published: September 2017

Maritime navigation is a complex task, involving an ever-increasing number of stakeholders and technologies. As complexity is growing, attention turns to the human element as the major cause of accidents and incidents. However, it is also the human element that might bring coherence and reasoning to the complex sociotechnical system that comprises maritime navigation. Thus, it is essential to develop an interpretative framework that could make sense of this complex system. This research project aims to enhance safety in maritime navigation, by developing a conceptual framework. This enables the design of Joint Cognitive System (JCS) in support of maritime navigation, including unmanned vessels, by focusing on the interactions. Results suggest that common ground is created in two dimensions: control system and shared domain. It is also found that planning helps to create a common cognitive map that supports the distributed control of the JCS.
The Dynamics of Distributed Situation Awareness
Authors: Kitchin Joanne , Baber Chris
Published: September 2017

A method for analyzing communication transcripts was employed to explore the relationship between task coherence and operator interactivity as a measure of team and distributed situation awareness. The method takes advantage of the entropy within a system and uses this as a measure of order within the task processes and operator input. We posit that this new way of measuring and analyzing situation awareness not only supports the notion of distributed situation awareness as an emergent property of a system but also eliminates the problem of intrusion and reliance on operator self-reporting which current methods pose.
Effective Method to Convey Threat Information for Tornado: Probabilistic Hazard Information vs. Deterministic Hazard Information
Authors: Miran Seyed M. , Ling Chen , James Joseph J. , Gerard Alan , Rothfusz Lans
Published: September 2017

Effective conveyance of hazard information to society is crucial for enhancing public preparedness for the uncertainty involved in the occurrence of tornadoes. The WarnGen system is currently used for issuing deterministic severe weather warnings. To provide society with probabilistic weather information, researchers at The National Severe Storm Laboratory are developing a tool called Probabilistic Hazard Information (PHI). The current study reports an experiment intended to figure out if including information about the uncertainty of a tornado occurrence provided through PHI would help people understand the weather information better and take more appropriate protective action. Our group also wanted to investigate if including probabilistic information about the surrounding area of the target zone would be effective in people’s decision making regarding their safety. The results show that including information about uncertainty in the weather information makes it more effective than the deterministic hazard information in terms of perception, cognition, and protective actions of recipients. Also, presence of information about the target zone’s surrounding area does not have any significant effect on their decision making.
Visualizing Probability of Detection to Aid Sonar Operator Performance
Authors: Fletcher Kingsley I. , Bartlett Megan L. , Cockshell Susan J. , McCarley Jason S.
Published: September 2017

This study tested whether the display of rings indicating the probability of target detection would improve human performance on a simulated active sonar detection task. Participants viewed a series of simulated sonar returns and decided whether a target was present or not. Participants performed the task both with and without uncertainty range rings that indicated 90% and 10% detectability ranges. The probability of detection rings did not improve the overall ability of participants to distinguish targets from noise, but did appear to influence response bias and spatial attention. These results suggest that displaying probability of detection may not be an effective way of improving the performance of sonar system operators.
Relationships between User Demographics and User Trust in an Autonomous Agent
Authors: Hillesheim Anthony J. , Rusnock Christina F. , Bindewald Jason M. , Miller Michael E.
Published: September 2017

Reliability of autonomous agents has been shown to play a pivotal role in the human-agent team. This research investigates the relationship between demographic factors and trust using the application environment, Space Navigator. Using stepwise multiple linear regression, it was found that workload (NASA-TLX), gender, education level, and the reliability of the autonomous agent impact the perceived reliability or user trust in the system. When the user experienced higher workload, the user placed less trust in the autonomous agent. Females trusted the agent less and more educated users trusted the autonomous agent more. Finally, more reliable agents led to higher levels of trust in the agent by human users.
The Effects of Pedigree and Source Type on Trust in a Dual Adviser Context
Authors: Pearson Carl J. , Mayhorn Christopher B.
Published: September 2017

In a world with increasing ubiquity of automated decision aids, human decision makers often find themselves receiving input from automation and another human simultaneously. Previous research has shown how certain characteristics of a human or automated decision aid affect the development of trust. Little research has investigated how these factors of trust development are involved when more than one adviser is present. This study explored how pedigree (perceived expertise) and source type (human or automated) was related to trust and reliance in a decision-making task with conflicting information from two advisers. Results from this study indicate the pedigree is an influential factor across both human and automated decision aids. This study also found a relationship between trust attitudes and behavioral reliance. These findings are relevant for designing decision support systems that involve multiple advisers or for informing the effects of introducing decision aids in a manner with respect to decision aid pedigree.
Cyber Human Research from the Cyber Operator’s View
Authors: Borghetti Brett , Funke Gregory , Pastel Robert , Gutzwiller Robert
Published: September 2017

Historically, cyber security research has largely focused on improving the tools that cyber operators use in their daily jobs. As the main focus is on these tools, the cyber operator has been an afterthought in the human-machine-team. Human research in the cyber operation domain is difficult due to operations tempo and the often-sensitive information associated with the operational domain. As a result, human research in this field is under-represented, and it is a great challenge to better understand and address the needs of cyber operators. This panel brings cyber operators to the human factors community at the annual meeting to discuss their operational workflow, needs, and desires – at a publically consumable level. Our goal is to bridge the notable gap and open opportunities for human factors research in cyber security.
Rancor: A Gamified Microworld Nuclear Power Plant Simulation for Engineering Psychology Research and Process Control Applications
Authors: Ulrich Thomas A. , Lew Roger , Werner Steffen , Boring Ronald L.
Published: September 2017

We demonstrate the development, rationale, and use of a gamified microworld nuclear power plant simulation for engineering psychology research and process control applications. The Rancor microworld was developed to address specific research needs in support of ongoing U.S. nuclear control room modernization efforts. The Rancor microworld serves as a platform for inexpensive cognitive psychology research that would otherwise not be as feasible in typical complex process control research settings. The gamified nuclear power plant simulator is simple enough that untrained, novice participants can quickly learn and control the system. The Rancor microworld is currently configured to support an investigation of attention and situation awareness in nuclear process control is discussed. The Rancor framework is flexible to support rapid modification for addressing research needs related to complex process control.
Encouraging Cooperation Across HFES Student Chapters in The Southeast Region: A Panel Discussion
Authors: Baker Anthony , Scholcover Federico , Leidheiser William , Long Shelby , Farnsworth Jesse , Matalenas Laura , Cauffman Stephen , McGlynn Sean , Williams Sarah
Published: September 2017

The Human Factors and Ergonomics Society has long worked with its student chapters to provide resources for students and professionals of all levels. However, differences in resources across universities mean that some students have little to no access to certain resources that other universities have available, such as faculty expertise, specialized research experience, and specific skill development workshops. As such, a growing number of student chapter leaders around the Southeastern U.S. have proposed to create the first regional student division of HFES, called Southeast HFES, or SEHFES. With support from the national organization and regional chapters, SEHFES will allow students to collaborate across universities and access previously unavailable resources. This interactive alternative format presentation will bring together student chapter leaders and audience members to discuss how SEHFES can develop and serve the southeast region for years to come.
Exploring Sleep-related Habitability Issues in Berthing Spaces on U.S. Navy Ships
Authors: Matsangas Panagiotis , Shattuck Nita Lewis
Published: September 2017

Sleep problems are prevalent in the naval operational environment. Crewmembers attribute some of these problems to habitability-related issues in their berthing compartments. This study has two goals: first, to assess the provisions in current habitability standards used in ship design; and second, to assess the extent to which habitability factors in berthing compartments affect the sleep of crewmembers in United States Navy (USN) ships. Results from eight field studies show that environmental conditions (e.g., temperature, noise, light, air quality) affect sleep quality in berthing spaces. Despite the provisions in current standards, sleep-related habitability issues remain a concern for crewmembers in the USN. Our findings suggest that living conditions may be improved in berthing compartments by revising current standards. We have identified three areas for improvement: noise (both continuous and intermittent), temperature within the compartment, and designing berthing compartments according to the organizational structure of the ship.
Applying the Twilight Envelope to the Forensic Analysis of Pedestrian and Bicyclist Conspicuity in the Dark
Authors: Whetsel Borzendowski Stephanie A. , Campbell Alan O.
Published: September 2017

The large majority of traffic crashes involving vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and bicyclists occur when ambient illumination levels are reduced. The difficulty drivers face in recognizing the presence of these road users in the darkness can be attributed to the selective degradation of foveal visual functions, which support a driver’s ability to detect and identify the presence of potential hazards and other objects in the environment. Clothing worn by pedestrians and bicyclists can contribute to their conspicuity to oncoming drivers; extensive research has demonstrated that dark-clothing-clad pedestrians are often recognized at dangerously short distances. Vehicle headlamps serve to illuminate the path ahead for drivers, particularly in the absence of artificial illumination along the roadway, in order to improve driver visibility in the dark. The twilight envelope is a means of determining the visibility distance afforded by headlamps. This approach to describing illumination was applied to the analysis of a traffic crash involving a vulnerable road user, providing insight into the driver’s visibility. Future research should address the relationship between the twilight envelope of vehicle headlamps and the distance at which drivers are able to recognize potential hazards such as pedestrians and bicyclists using those headlamps.
Litigation Focused on Ergonomic Issues - A Case Study
Authors: Andres Robert O.
Published: September 2017

The railroad industry in the U.S. is regulated by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), who keeps records of injuries and illnesses in the industry. Over 40% of FRA reportable injuries are due to strains and sprains, and have been for decades. Railroad workers are not covered by workers compensation, so they must resort to the Federal Employee Liabilities Act (FELA) for compensation for injuries or illnesses when claims are disputed. The example case here involved a railroad employee who worked as a conductor and locomotive engineer for 19 years, during which time he developed cervical and lumbar spine disorders. This case study reviews the opposing opinions of ergonomists engaged on each side of the dispute, and the respective methodologies employed to support those opinions.
Development of Statistical Models for Predicting a Driver’s Hip and Eye Locations
Authors: Lee Seunghoon , Park Jangwoon , Jung Kihyo , Yang Xiaopeng , You Heecheon
Published: September 2017

Regression equations for estimation of a driver’s hip location (HL) and eye location (EL) using the driver’s anthropometric and posture variables have been developed for US drivers. However, those equations are limited to US drivers and do not include seat adjustment variables (e.g., cushion angle) that may affect a driver’s HL and EL. The present study developed statistical models for prediction of a driver’s HL and EL using seat configurations including (1) fore-aft seat position, (2) seat height, (3) seat back recline angle, and (4) seat cushion angle. Driving postures of 23 Korean drivers (10 females and 13 males) were measured in a seating buck after adjusting seat configurations according to their preferences. The seat configurations, HLs, ELs, and joint angles of the participants were collected by a motion capture system. HL and EL prediction models based on the seat configurations and driving postures were developed by stepwise regression. The proposed models showed high accuracy (adj. R2 = .83 ± .13, RMSE = 19.1 ± 4.2 mm) in prediction of HL and EL. The performance difference between the seat configuration- and posture-based models was not statistically significant. The proposed seat configuration-based models can be used for accurate estimation of a driver’s HL and EL for occupant packaging layout design.
Measuring the Impact of Console Operator Experience in a Simulated Petrochemical Refining Emergency Event
Authors: Silva Hector I. , Grigoleit Tristan , Ann Burress Mary , Fitzpatrick Daniel
Published: September 2017

Critical process industries such as petrochemical refining have actively sought to make their operations safer and more efficient. In doing this, the industry has found success in automating systems. However, increasing levels of automation is known to have some negative effects on the human operator (Kaber & Endsley, 1997). Consequently, operators have had less opportunity to be exposed to and engage in managing emergency events due to reliable automation. The current investigation explores the role that console operator experience has in the management of emergency events and in the maintenance of situation awareness within the petrochemical industry. Incumbent Console Operators completed several trials of a simulated emergency event where prior exposure to the live event, performance, workload, and situation awareness metrics were collected. The results suggest that experience with managing the live event had little effect on the collected metrics. The potential implications of these results are discussed.
Adolescent Health Crisis: What Sleep-Related Factors Contribute to a Decline in Mental Health and Safety?
Authors: Vredenburgh Alexandra N.
Published: September 2017

Sleep loss can disrupt neuron growth in the brain during adolescence, a critical period for cognitive development. Only 7.6% of teens get the recommended 9-10 hours of sleep. This study evaluates the relationship between sleep and adolescent mental health, which impacts physical health, safety and performance. The rise by 200% of disability and death rates during adolescence may be related to mental health. 160 people participated: 62 males and 98 females ranging in age from 14-17. Participants completed a 3-part assessment: a questionnaire assessing their sleep habits, an anxiety scale (AFARS), and a depression scale (CDS-DC). Multiple regression analyses were used to determine the extent to which sleep-related factors predict depression and anxiety. The overall depression and anxiety models were significant. School start time was a significant predictor of depression, and often being tired at school predicted anxiety. School start time predicted depression; however, it was not a significant predictor of anxiety. While an early school start time has been found to have many significant negative outcomes, the average high school starts at 7:30. The findings of this study imply that the benefit of offering a later school start outweigh potential inconveniences.