Task analysis for error identification: Theory, method and validation

This paper presents the underlying theory of Task Analysis for Error Identification. The aim is to illustrate the development of a method that has been proposed for the evaluation of prototypical designs from the perspective of predicting human error. The paper presents the method applied to representative examples. The methodology is considered in terms of the various validation studies that have been conducted, and is discussed in the light of a specific case study

Incomplete beta-function expansions of the solutions to the confluent Heun equation

Several expansions of the solutions to the confluent Heun equation in terms of incomplete Beta functions are constructed. A new type of expansion involving certain combinations of the incomplete Beta functions as expansion functions is introduced. The necessary and sufficient conditions when the derived expansions are terminated, thus generating closed-form solutions, are discussed. It is shown that termination of a Beta-function series solution always leads to a solution that is necessarily an elementary function

Distinction between the Poole-Frenkel and tunneling models of electric field-stimulated carrier emission from deep levels in semiconductors

The enhancement of the emission rate of charge carriers from deep-level defects in electric field is routinely used to determine the charge state of the defects. However, only a limited number of defects can be satisfactorily described by the Poole-Frenkel theory. An electric field dependence different from that expected from the Poole-Frenkel theory has been repeatedly reported in the literature, and no unambiguous identification of the charge state of the defect could be made. In this article, the electric field dependencies of emission of carriers from DX centers in AlxGa1-xAs:Te, Cu pairs in silicon, and Ge:Hg have been studied applying static and terahertz electric fields, and analyzed by using the models of Poole-Frenkel and phonon assisted tunneling. It is shown that phonon assisted tunneling and Poole-Frenkel emission are two competitive mechanisms of enhancement of emission of carriers, and their relative contribution is determined by the charge state of the defect and by the electric-field strength. At high-electric field strengths carrier emission is dominated by tunneling independently of the charge state of the impurity. For neutral impurities, where Poole-Frenkel lowering of the emission barrier does not occur, the phonon assisted tunneling model describes well the experimental data also in the low-field region. For charged impurities the transition from phonon assisted tunneling at high fields to Poole-Frenkel effect at low fields can be traced back. It is suggested that the Poole-Frenkel and tunneling models can be distinguished by plotting logarithm of the emission rate against the square root or against the square of the electric field, respectively. This analysis enables one to unambiguously determine the charge state of a deep-level defect

A model for examining teacher preparation curricula for inclusion.

There is an increasing need for highly qualified teachers as described by the current legislation in No Child Left Behind (2002). Since this legislative mandate has been enforced, recent initiatives have signaled teacher education programs to examine performance standards in demonstrating preparation of effective teachers for diverse learners. The total number of children with disabilities served over the past eight years has increased at an average of 3.4% each year (Katsiyannis, Zhang, & Conroy, 2003; U.S. Department of Education, 2003). With over 6,000,000 children receiving services across the country, the increased need for well-prepared teachers is critical. Data on increasing teacher shortages in special education (U.S. Department of Education, 2003; Veneri, 1999), as well as a number of studies have amplified various aspects of this dilemma, including causes and possible remedies (Billingsley, 2004; Boe, Cook, Bobbitt, & Terhanian, 1998; Brownell, Bishop, & Sindelar, 2005; Counterpoint, 1999; Menlove, Games, & Galzberg, 2004)

Development of a generic activities model of command and control

This paper reports on five different models of command and control. Four different models are reviewed: a process model, a contextual control model, a decision ladder model and a functional model. Further to this, command and control activities are analysed in three distinct domains: armed forces, emergency services and civilian services. From this analysis, taxonomies of command and control activities are developed that give rise to an activities model of command and control. This model will be used to guide further research into technological support of command and control activities

Update of the Minimum Information About BIobank Data Sharing (MIABIS) Core Terminology to the 3^rd Version

Introduction: The Minimum Information About BIobank Data Sharing (MIABIS) is a biobank-specific terminology enabling the sharing of biobank-related data for different purposes across a wide range of database implementations. After 4 years in use and with the first version of the individual-level MIABIS component Sample, Sample donor, and Event, it was necessary to revise the terminology, especially to include biobanks that work more in the data domain than with samples.Materials & Methods: Nine use-cases representing different types of biobanks, studies, and networks participated in the development work. They represent types of data, specific sample types, or levels of organization that were not included earlier in MIABIS. To support our revision of the Biobank entity, we conducted a survey of European biobanks to chart the services they provide. An important stakeholder group for biobanks include researchers as the main users of biobanks. To be able to render MIABIS more researcher-friendly, we collected different sample/data requests to analyze the terminology adjustment needs in detail. During the update process, the Core terminology was iteratively reviewed by a large group of experts until a consensus was reached.Results: With this update, MIABIS was adjusted to encompass data-driven biobanks and to include data collections, while also describing the services and capabilities biobanks offer to their users, besides the retrospective samples. The terminology was also extended to accommodate sample and data collections of nonhuman origin. Additionally, a set of organizational attributes was compiled to describe networks.Discussion: The usability of MIABIS Core v3 was increased by extending it to cover more topics of the biobanking domain. Additionally, the focus was on a more general terminology and harmonization of attributes with the individual-level entities Sample, Sample donor, and Event to keep the overall terminology minimal. With this work, the internal semantics of the MIABIS terminology was improved

A randomized phase I study of the safety and immunogenicity of three ascending dose levels of a 3-antigen Staphylococcus aureus vaccine (SA3Ag) in healthy adults

Background: Staphylococcus aureus is a common cause of healthcare-acquired morbidity and mortalityand increased healthcare resource utilization. A prophylactic vaccine is being developed that may reducethis disease burden.Methods: Volunteers in good general health aged 50–85 (n = 312) and 18–24 (n = 96) years were random-ized to receive a single intramuscular dose of one of three dose levels of a non-adjuvanted, 3-antigen S.aureus vaccine (SA3Ag) or placebo. SA3Ag antigens included capsular polysaccharides 5 and 8 (CP5 andCP8), each conjugated to cross-reactive material 197 (CRM197), and recombinant clumping factor A (ClfA).Safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity were evaluated.Results: At day 29 post-vaccination, robust immune responses were observed in both age cohorts at allthree SA3Ag dose levels. In the primary analysis population, the 50- to 85-year age stratum, geometricmean-fold-rises in competitive Luminex® immunoassay antibody titers from baseline ranged from 29.2to 83.7 (CP5), 14.1 to 31.0 (CP8), and 37.1 to 42.9 (ClfA), all (P < 0.001) exceeding the pre-defined two-fold rise criteria. Similar rises in opsonophagocytic activity assay titers demonstrated functionality ofthe immune response. Most injection-site reactions were mild in severity and there were no substantial differences (SA3Ag vs. placebo) with regard to systemic or adverse events.Conclusions: In this study of healthy adults aged 50–85 and 18–24 years, SA3Ag elicited a rapid and robustimmune response and was well tolerated, with no notable safety concerns.Michael Nissen, Helen Marshall, Peter Richmond, Sepehr Shakib, Qin Jiang, David Cooper, Denise Rill, James Baber, Joseph Eiden, William Gruber, Kathrin U. Jansen, Emilio A. Emini, Annaliesa S. Anderson, Edward T. Zito, Douglas Girgent

Distributed situation awareness in dynamic systems: Theoretical development and application of an ergonomics methodology

The purpose of this paper is to propose foundations for a theory of situation awareness based on the analysis of interactions between agents (i.e., both human and non-human) in subsystems. This approach may help promote a better understanding of technology-mediated interaction in systems, as well as helping in the formulation of hypotheses and predictions concerning distributed situation awareness. It is proposed that agents within a system each hold their own situation awareness which may be very different from (although compatible with) other agents. It is argued that we should not always hope for, or indeed want, sharing of this awareness, as different system agents have different purposes. This view marks situation awareness as a 1 dynamic and collaborative process that binds agents together on tasks on a moment-by-moment basis. Implications of this viewpoint for development of a new theory of, and accompanying methodology for, distributed situation awareness are offered

MASS PRODUCTION AND RECOVERY OF L-LYSINE BY MICROBIAL FERMENTATION USING BREVIBACTERIUM FLAVUM

ABSTRACT A simple and cheap method of lysine production was developed which can be exploited on commercial scale to save foreign exchange. In present study lysine was produced at mass scale in 10 litre flask with 5 litre fermentation medium having pre-treated molasses (15 brix) as substrate by Brevibacterium flavum. Lysine content in fermented broth was 2.0167 percent. It was recovered from broth by passing through ion exchange resin column, using elution buffer (trisHCl, pH 9). Crude brown crystals of lysine (40gm/500mL) were concentrated by evaporation (80˚C) of fermented broth and recovered with 95% ethanol at 4 o C. It was decolourized with 0.5% activated charcoal, pale yellow pure crystals of Lysine (25 gm) were obtained with 95% ethanol. High concentration of lysine in the form of crystals was produced with 62.5 percent purity and concentrated fermented broth having 8% lysine can be safely used in poultry rations as a source of Lysine. It was concluded that microbial production of lysine by fermentation is a cheap and valuable method than others being used in industry