Individual differences during driver secondary task performance: verbal protocol and visual allocation findings

This paper reports a study in which visual allocation and verbal reports were recorded to determine individual differences in drivers conducting in-vehicle tasks. Participants drove a simulated route whilst conducting pre-defined tasks using the in-vehicle entertainment system. Tasks of varying complexity were presented to the participants. Licensed (experienced) drivers made significantly more verbal reports relating to road signs and markings, vehicles, scenery in general and vehicle operations; than did unlicensed (novices). No significant difference was found between expert and novice drivers when reporting in-car entertainment system related utterances. Surprising gender differences were also found. Males drove faster, with greater variance, and made more utterances in identified categories. Females were found to make significantly less verbal reports during secondary task performance. The difference in results obtained between expert and novices may imply that novices need to use their attention capacity to focus on the skill of driving, whereas experts through experience, have automated this skill and can use their attention capacity to more effectively during primary tasks. Results suggest that expert drivers are not necessarily experts at undertaking secondary tasks.     

Least-mean-squares algorithm to determine submicrometer particle diameter,volume fraction,and size distribution width by elastic light scattering

A computationally fast method to determine values and their uncertainty for particulate system volume median diameter, volume fraction, and size distribution width is presented. These properties cannot be obtained for submicrometer particulate by diffraction-based methods. The technique relies on a least-mean-squares method applied over a prespecified size range and distribution width. Prespecifying the range significantly reduces the number of calculations required to determine the particulate parameters from experimental data, allowing the practical evaluation of large data sets. The solution method that was developed has significant advantages over ratio-style calculations that are more commonly performed, the primary of which is a simple method to determine errors in the measurement parameters. We evaluated the predicted performance for a specific experimental system for various levels of noise, with monodisperse and log-normal distributions, by analyzing synthetic data with the algorithm. Results were a quantitative statement of system accuracy. In addition, synthetic log-normal data evaluated with monodisperse models revealed significant and systematic errors in the predicted volume median diameter. These errors indicate that, in general, systems with a significant size distribution width must be analyzed with a model that includes this size distribution. Finally, calibrated polystyrene spheres were measured with an experimental system that used four simultaneous scattering measurements, and all diameters were within the reported uncertainty.     

Temperature-dependent microtensile testing of thin film materials for application to microelectromechanical system

A specially designed microtensile apparatus capable of carrying out a series of tests on microscale thin films for microelectromechanical system (MEMS) applications at room temperature and at temperature up to 400°C has been developed and tested, and is described here. Several MEMS-applicable thin films were measured with it, including thermally grown silicon dioxide, gold, and gold–vanadium. The silicon dioxide was tested at room temperature. Gold and gold–vanadium films were tested at room temperature and at 200 and 400°C. Examples of these results are presented.

     

The effect of formulation on radioiodide thyroid uptake in the hyperthyroid cat

This investigation was designed to compare in vitro dissolution profiles from sodium iodide capsules with radioiodide thyroid uptake in hyperthyroid cats using sodium iodide capsules prepared with a formulation exhibiting a complete release of radioiodide (I-123) in vitro and a formulation with an incomplete release of radioiodide. In vitro dissolution profiles for I-123 sodium iodide capsules with two different formulations were determined using the USP XXIII dissolution test. The two formulations studied in vitro were sodium phosphate dibasic powder with 1% magnesium stearate and calcium phosphate dibasic powder with 3% magnesium stearate. By 20 min after initiation of the dissolution test, over 95% of the I-123 was released from capsules of sodium phosphate dibasic powder. The capsules of calcium phosphate dibasic powder reached 75% at 65 min, with no further release occurring thereafter. There was a statistically significant difference in the dissolution profiles of the two formulations. The thyroid uptake of I-123 from capsules exhibiting complete release and incomplete release of radioiodide was determined in hyperthyroid cats. At 4 hr, the mean percentage thyroid uptake value for sodium phosphate dibasic powder with 1% magnesium stearate (complete release formulation) was 12.0% compared to 9.4% for calcium phosphate dibasic powder with 3% magnesium stearate (incomplete release formulation); at 24 hr, the values were 34.4% compared to 23.7%. The data suggest that the incomplete dissolution profile observed in vitro may correlate with a reduction in the bioavailability of the radioiodide in vivo. However, using the Wilcoxon signed rank test, statistically significant differences did not occur between the complete release formulation and incomplete release formulation at either 4 hr or 24 hr (p > .05). The results of the in vivo study with five hyperthyroid cats were not conclusive due to the variability in response between individual cats.     

A system for electronic disease reporting and management

The collection and reporting of communicable disease information has long been a problem for public health officials. In April 1998, the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), under contract to the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS), began work on a "Electronic Laboratory Surveillance System" (ELS) to gather and report such data. The aim of ELS was to determine the extent/spread of problems and minimize consequences through rapid reporting and dissemination of critical information. ELS was completely redesigned to be more user friendly and incorporate new direct-access functions to enable better follow-up of communicable disease reports. This article looks at the evolution of the ELS from a limited system to one that can play a critical role in identifying and linking bioterrorism events     

Molecular and immunophenotypical characterization of a feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV)-associated lymphoma: a direct role for FIV in B-lymphocyte transformation?

We describe the histopathological, immunohistochemical, and molecular characterization of a lymphoma arising in a 7-year-old cat following experimental infection with feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV). The tumor was high grade and of B-cell lineage. The transformed cell had an immature phenotype (CD79a+, CD79b-, CD21-, immunoglobulin heavy and light chain negative), confirmed by antigen receptor gene analysis, which showed germ line configuration. Single-copy, clonally integrated FIV provirus was detected in tumor genomic DNA. FIV p24 antigen was not detected in tumor cells by immunostaining. This study provides the first evidence that the feline lentivirus may play a direct role in cell transformation under certain circumstances.     

Female-to-male sex pheromones of low volatility in the Asian elephant,Elephas maximus

In their natural ecosystems, the sexes of Asian elephants,Elephas maximus, live separately. For several weeks prior to ovulation, the urine and cervical mucus of female Asian elephants contain extractable chemical agents of low volatility that elicit a high frequency of flehmen responses from bull elephants as an integral part of mating. Subsequent to flehmen responses, male sexual arousal occurs and, if the female is available, mating results. During the course of our project to determine the agent(s) and describe the responses associated with female to male sexual communication, we have identified an unusual compound. This compound, apparently the sole component of the active fraction, was identified by mass, proton nuclear magnetic resonance, ultraviolet/visible, and infrared spectrometries as indolo-[2,1-b] quinazoline-6,12-dione (tryptanthrine). Exhaustive and repetitive bioassays established that pure authentic (synthetic) tryptanthrine was not the compound responsible for the bioresponse. Rather a coeluting minor component, also of low volatility, elicited the male bioresponse.     

PET validation of a novel prefrontal task: Delayed response alteration.

Deficits in working memory have been proposed to explain the performance failures of frontally lesioned primates on delayed alternation (DA) and delayed response (DR) tasks. The authors examined a computerized test of delayed response alternation (DRA), which combines elements of DR and DA in a sample of 18 normal volunteers who underwent oxygen-15 PET regional cerebral blood flow scans during the DRA and a sensorimotor control task. Significant activations were observed in a network of frontal, parietal, occipital, and temporal regions during initial task performance. A qualitatively similar but somewhat reduced set of activations was observed in a subset of participants who repeated the task after practice and instruction. These results are consistent with distributed models of working memory derived from studies of nonhuman primates and suggest that the frontal lobes contribute to human working memory function. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A Variable Response Inconsistency Scale and a True Response Inconsistency Scale for the Jesness Inventory.

Inconsistent item pair Variable Response Inconsistency (J-VRIN) and True Response Inconsistency (J-TRIN) scales were developed for the Jesness Inventory using 250 male and 250 female delinquents, ages 14–18, to detect the random and acquiescent sets. J-VRIN utility was assessed by comparing protocols of 262 male delinquents, ages 14–18, screened for probable randomness with matched-pair Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory—Adolescent, with 500 all and part random computer-generated protocols. J-TRIN utility was assessed by comparing these protocols with 500 simulated acquiescent and nonacquiescent protocols. Specificities above .90 showed sensitivities up to .89 for J-VRIN and .85 and .62 for J-TRIN. Predictive power and overall effectiveness are reported for base rates of .20, .10, .067, and .05. Scales' relations to gender, race, age, and verbal fluency were investigated using an overlapping sample of 1,085 male and 356 female delinquents. Verbal fluency was the most salient. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Methodology of serial ECG classification using an adaptation of the NOVACODE for Q wave myocardial infarction in the Bypass Angioplasty Revascularization Investigation (BARI)

Serial electrocardiographic (ECG) changes are a critical component of the diagnostic algorithm for classification of myocardial ischemic events in large-scale clinical trials. This study describes a computerized serial ECG classification program developed at the St. Louis University Core ECG Laboratory for use in the Bypass Angioplasty Revascularization Investigation (BARI) trial, in which patients with multivessel coronary artery disease were randomized to receive either coronary artery bypass grafting or percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. The St. Louis University program detects and codes serial changes in Q, ST, and T wave items according to Minnesota code (MC) criteria using a modified NOVACODE hierarchical classification system. Measurements using a seven-power calibrated coding loupe are used to generate the MC from a customized software program. Significant minor or major changes are detected by the serial comparison program and referred to a physician coder for verification. Serial comparison coding rules are used to adjust for weaknesses in the standard MC classification system resulting from instability at decision boundaries. Of 4,244 BARI randomized and registry study participants with follow-up ECGs received at the Core ECG Laboratory as of March 1995, a grade 2 MC Q wave progression was noted in 568 participants (13.4%) using MC criteria alone, as compared with 367 (8.6%) after the St. Louis University coding rules were applied. The incidence of grade 1 MC Q wave progressions was 16.4% (697/4,244) versus 6.1% (259/4,244) when the St. Louis University program was applied. Intraobserver variability for grade 2 Q wave progression codes determined from a sample of 812 serial.