The Effect of Active and Passive Control on Air Traffic Controller Dynamic Memory

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of automated and passive control on air traffic controller dynamic memory. The study consisted of two experiments, each involving a realistic ATC scenario for radar approach control with a mix of arriving and departing traffic. In Experiment I, the subjects performed manual control of the traffic while, in Experiment II, the scenario was highly automated and the subjects were tasked with only monitoring the situation. The dynamic memory performance was measured by interrupting the scenario and having the subjects recall the traffic situation at the moment of simulation interruption. The accuracy of recall was compared between the manual and automated scenarios. It was anticipated that subjects exercising manual control would have superior recall ability and a picture. This would have significant implications on the design of automated systems for ATC and the role of the human controller within the ATC system

How Can Social Networks Ever Become Complex? Modelling the Emergence of Complex Networks from Local Social Exchanges

Small-world and power-law network structures have been prominently proposed as models of large networks. However, the assumptions of these models usually lack sociological grounding. We present a computational model grounded in social exchange theory. Agents search attractive exchange partners in a diverse population. Agent use simple decision heuristics, based on imperfect, local information. Computer simulations show that the topological structure of the emergent social network depends heavily upon two sets of conditions, harshness of the exchange game and learning capacities of the agents. Further analysis show that a combination of these conditions affects whether star-like, small-world or power-law structures emerge.Complex Networks, Power-Law, Scale-Free, Small-World, Agent-Based Modeling, Social Exchange Theory, Structural Emergence

Localization of plasma membrane t-SNAREs syntaxin 2 and 3 in intracellular compartments

BACKGROUND: Membrane fusion requires the formation of a complex between a vesicle protein (v-SNARE) and the target membrane proteins (t-SNAREs). Syntaxin 2 and 3 are t-SNAREs that, according to previous over-expression studies, are predominantly localized at the plasma membrane. In the present study we investigated localization of the endogenous syntaxin 2 and 3. RESULTS: Endogenous syntaxin 2 and 3 were found in NRK cells in intracellular vesicular structures in addition to regions of the plasma membrane. Treatment of these cells with N-ethylmaleimide (NEM), which is known to inactivate membrane fusion, caused syntaxin 3 to accumulate in the trans-Golgi network and syntaxin 2 in perinuclear membrane vesicles. Kinetic analysis in the presence of NEM indicated that this redistribution of syntaxin 2 and 3 takes place via actin containing structures. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that syntaxin 2 cycles between the plasma membrane and the perinuclear compartment whereas syntaxin 3 cycles between the plasma membrane and the trans-Golgi network. It is possible that this cycling has an important role in the regulation of t-SNARE function

Streching the Limits - Comparative Physiology of Avian Thermoregulation in the Heat and Cold

Peer reviewe

Human Reliability Analysis in Healthcare

The problem of human error in healthcare is well documented. Other domains (such as transportation and energy) have used techniques and methods from the engineering disciplines to analyze and ultimately reduce instances of error. In New York State (NYS), the Department of Health (DOH) requires the use of one such method, Root Cause Analysis (RCA), in investigating and reporting the occurrence of and response to sentinel events by hospitals. Despite the use of the RCA technique in an attempt to identify and mitigate the root causes of error, the problem of human error contributing to sentinel events persists. Experts in Human Reliability Analysis (HRA) contend that human performance is too complex to be represented by models used in engineering systems reliability. A method to analyze human erroneous actions was created that considers operator context and control based on a model of human cognition. The technique, called the Cognitive Reliability and Error Analysis Method (CREAM), was used to reanalyze 58 sentinel event cases Rochester General Hospital previously analyzed using RCA. Despite serious data limitations, our results reveal an apparent gap between RCA and CREAM analyses. We suggest that the gap highlights incomplete RCA that minimizes or does not appreciate the role that organizational factors play in contributing to the sentinel events. Due to data limitations, we cannot identify specific interventions to mitigate risk for sentinel events. However, we make several recommendations for improving the RCA process at Rochester General Hospital in an effort to improve the validity of the analyses data for further study

Compact broadband PCML bandpass filter with broad upper stop band

A simple broadband parallel coupled microstrip line (PCML) bandpass filter with compact design is proposed. A PCML structure with two feeding network of various widths is characterized by an equivalent J-inverter network. The extracted parameters indicate that the normalized J susceptance and equivalent electrical length are frequency dependent. A pair of PCML structure with middle resonator, without ground plane aperture at PCML structure and capacitive open-ended stub at the middle resonator, is proposed. The proposed design is further optimized by adjusting the length and width of the middle resonator. Three broadband bandpass filter with PCML structure of various coupling strengths have been designed. The simulated and measured insertion and return loss responses show good agreement with bandwidth of over 80%, return loss of better than -16 dB and 250% broad upper stopband

Single-stage parallel coupled microstrip line bandpass filter using weak coupling technique

The frequency-dispersive characteristic of a two-port parallel coupled microstrip line (PCML) can be obtained using equivalent J-inverter network parameters. The latter is obtained from its corresponding admittance parameters. Hence, the behaviour of transmission zero frequency, fundamental response frequency and harmonic response frequency of the PCML can be shown. The former is realigned by varying a centrally located single groove size to suppress the first spurious harmonic passband of the filter. Using the J-inverter parameters, the transmission zero of J-susceptance null of a PCML can be realigned by employing a single groove with specific dimension. This simultaneously cancels the first harmonic resonance. In this paper, the behaviour of the J-inverter parameters with varying coupling gaps is presented. The effect of having weak coupling characteristic is then presented. The proposed technique is then justified by two single-stage bandpass filters of PCML with weak coupling characteristic

The Language Awareness of Finnish and German EFL Senior High School Learners and Student Teachers Regarding English Grammar and Its Teaching

The aim of this study is to examine and contrast the language awareness of Finnish and German EFL senior high school students and student teachers regarding aspects of English grammar and its teaching. Data was collected from Finland and Germany during the academic school years of 2015–16 and 2016–17. It consists of the responses to twosurvey questions of 1st year EFL senior high school students (n = 200 from Finland, n = 200 from Germany) andstudent teachers (n = 118 from Finland, n = 118 from Germany). The study utilizes both qualitative (content analysis) and quantitative (frequencies, percentages, cross tabulation [χ2-test]) research methods. The results show that the subjects’ awareness of English grammar and its teaching was mainly based on intuitive, implicit knowledge. It was difficult for both senior high school learners and student teachers to build a cognitive understanding that would increase their awareness of English grammar, and, as a result of this, its teaching, and respectively their grammar-related didactical competences.The aim of this study is to examine and contrast the language awareness of Finnish and German EFL senior high school students and student teachers regarding aspects of English grammar and its teaching. Data was collected from Finland and Germany during the academic school years of 2015–16 and 2016–17. It consists of the responses to two survey questions of 1st year EFL senior high school students (n = 200 from Finland, n = 200 from Germany) and student teachers (n = 118 from Finland, n = 118 from Germany). The study utilizes both qualitative (content analysis) and quantitative (frequencies, percentages, cross tabulation [χ2-test]) research methods. The results show that the subjects’ awareness of English grammar and its teaching was mainly based on intuitive, implicit knowledge. It was difficult for both senior high school learners and student teachers to build a cognitive understanding that would increase their awareness of English grammar, and, as a result of this, its teaching, and respectively their grammar-related didactical competences.Peer reviewe