The Development of a Job Performance Aid Design Model for Use in Aviation

The aviation industry depends heavily on the high-reliability of its equipment and human performers. One method used to assist human performance has been the job performance aid. Traditionally job performance aids were only considered repositories for information and substitutes for training. Today, however, job performance aids have taken on a new role that includes aiding the human information process. Consequently, it was determined that an effective job performance aid design model would be beneficial to those responsible for job performance aid design. This article presents an overview of a study that incorporated principles from the fields of instructional technology and aviation human factors, which identified variables that affected job performance aid design and pinpointed design activities necessary for effectiveness

The development of a systems design model for job performance aids : a qualitative developmental study

This study was an effort to develop and validate a model for constructing job performance aids for use in high risk environments. The study resulted in the development of a generic conceptual design model that was applicable to a wide variety of job performance aid designs and the development of a task-specific procedural design model targeted to high risk situations. The models were based upon a synthesis of instructional technology and human factor literature and a series of interviews with instructional design and human factor experts. A job performance aid was developed using the procedural design model for use by corporate aviation cabin crewmembers. The procedural design model was then validated by comparing the performances of an experimental group and a control group of professional cabin crewmembers who conducted an emergency procedure in an aircraft cabin simulator. The experimental group used the job performance aid and the control group did not. The findings of this study indicated that: (a) the development of a conceptual model was an important factor in the development of a procedural model, (b) project analysis was a critical step in job performance aid design for high-risk environments, (c) the job performance aid improved performance, and (d) training was an important consideration for job aid design and that it was an important factor in job aid implementation into high-risk environments. The study discussed modeling, the role of imagination, and implementation considerations for the successful creation and use of job performance aids. It was argued that it was necessary to identify and explore the variables that influenced job performance aid design. Furthermore, it was argued that imagination took a new role in job performance aid design which included the prediction of potential design errors. And, it was argued that training was a necessary ingredient for successful implementation of job performance aids in high-risk environments. Based on the findings of this study, recommendations were made to practitioners in the field and recommendations were made to researchers for areas that warranted future study

Metabolism of ticagrelor in patients with acute coronary syndromes.

© The Author(s) 2018Ticagrelor is a state-of-the-art antiplatelet agent used for the treatment of patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS). Unlike remaining oral P2Y12 receptor inhibitors ticagrelor does not require metabolic activation to exert its antiplatelet action. Still, ticagrelor is extensively metabolized by hepatic CYP3A enzymes, and AR-C124910XX is its only active metabolite. A post hoc analysis of patient-level (n = 117) pharmacokinetic data pooled from two prospective studies was performed to identify clinical characteristics affecting the degree of AR-C124910XX formation during the first six hours after 180 mg ticagrelor loading dose in the setting of ACS. Both linear and multiple regression analyses indicated that ACS patients presenting with ST-elevation myocardial infarction or suffering from diabetes mellitus are more likely to have decreased rate of ticagrelor metabolism during the acute phase of ACS. Administration of morphine during ACS was found to negatively influence transformation of ticagrelor into AR-C124910XX when assessed with linear regression analysis, but not with multiple regression analysis. On the other hand, smoking appears to increase the degree of ticagrelor transformation in ACS patients. Mechanisms underlying our findings and their clinical significance warrant further research.Peer reviewedFinal Published versio

Meat quality traits and fatty acid composition of breast muscles from ducks fed with yellow lupin

Abstract The protein sources in feed have a huge impact on good-quality and -quantity meat traits. Yellow lupin (YL) seeds have a similar level of protein as soybean meal (SBM). The most popular is SBM that is genetically modified (GMO). During this age, the consumer market requires non-GMO products. Yellow lupin used as a high-protein substitute for SBM in feed has an effect on the quality of meat from broiler ducks. The aim of the study was to analyse and compare meat quality traits in breast and leg muscles as well as fatty acid (FA) composition in breast muscles from ducks fed mixtures containing YL as an alternative to SBM. Two hundred 1-day-old Cherry Valley ducks were kept in pens on litter in two equal dietary groups, four replications with 25 birds per group. The control group (1) received balanced feed containing SBM. The treatment group (2) received balanced feed containing YL. The feed provided to both groups contained 55% of concentrate and 45% of wheat. Birds received feed and water ad libitum and were reared for 8 weeks. After that, 16 ducks (eight from each group) of BW close to the mean for the whole group were slaughtered. Plucked and gutted carcasses were analysed in a laboratory for quality parameters. Meat was analysed for pH, colour, water-holding capacity and drip loss. Samples of breast muscles were analysed for the content of cholesterol, collagen, intramuscular fat and FA composition. The proposed feed mixture containing YL had no impact on meat traits, content of muscles or fat in duck carcasses (P > 0.05). The values of lightness (L*) and yellowness (b*) and collagen content in breast muscles were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in group 2 (YL). A lower ability to retain water, that is, higher water-holding capacity (percentage of water lost from meat) (P < 0.05), was found for leg muscles from group 2 (YL). The content of C16:0, C18:0, C20:4 n-6, C22:4 n-6, C22:5 n-3, total content of saturated fatty acids (SFA), values of atherogenic index and thrombogenic index were significantly lower (P < 0.05) in group 2 (YL) than in group 1 (SBM). The content of C18:2 n-6 and the polyunsaturated fatty acids-to-SFA ratio (P/S) were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in ducks fed the diet with the inclusion of YL. Diets with YL could be proposed as a partial substitute for SBM in duck-rearing

Mikroanalyse eines Grundrentenkonzeptes der Alterssicherung

Die konzeptionelle Ausgestaltung der Alterssicherung, das heißt die Gratwanderung zwischen Bismarck und Beveridge, wird wegen der sich abzeichnenden demografischen Veränderungen kontrovers diskutiert. Eine besondere Bedeutung erlangte hierbei die Idee einer Bürgerrente, in der pro Kopf einheitliche Leistungen mit lohnproportionalen Beiträgen verknüpft werden. Die mit einer Bürgerrente einhergehenden Kostenwirkungen und Einkommensveränderungen für Altersrentner werden quantitativ untersucht. In einer Erweiterung des Standardrentnerkonzeptes erfolgt die Analyse auf Grundlage von empirisch ermittelten Erwerbsbiografien, die für eine bestimmte Kohorte typisch sind. Hierdurch können die Folgen einer Systemumstellung auch für Personen mit unstetigen Lebensläufen abgebildet werden

Mikroanalyse eines Grundrentenkonzeptes der Alterssicherung

Die konzeptionelle Ausgestaltung der Alterssicherung, das heißt die Gratwanderung zwischen Bismarck und Beveridge, wird wegen der sich abzeichnenden demografischen Veränderungen kontrovers diskutiert. Eine besondere Bedeutung erlangte hierbei die Idee einer Bürgerrente, in der pro Kopf einheitliche Leistungen mit lohnproportionalen Beiträgen verknüpft werden. Die mit einer Bürgerrente einhergehenden Kostenwirkungen und Einkommensveränderungen für Altersrentner werden quantitativ untersucht. In einer Erweiterung des Standardrentnerkonzeptes erfolgt die Analyse auf Grundlage von empirisch ermittelten Erwerbsbiografien, die für eine bestimmte Kohorte typisch sind. Hierdurch können die Folgen einer Systemumstellung auch für Personen mit unstetigen Lebensläufen abgebildet werden

Infection control : point prevalence study versus incidence study in Polish long-term care facilities in 2009-2010 in the Małopolska Region

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the epidemiology of infection in Polish long-term care facilities (LTCFs) and to analyse the capabilities and legitimacy of implementing continuous targeted surveillance. METHODS: The study investigated the relationship between the presence of infection and health status, tested using a point prevalence study (PPS) and incidence study. A 1-day PPS was carried out in October 2009, with prospective continuous surveillance between December 2009 and November 2010. Infections were defined according to McGeer’s criteria. RESULTS: The surveillance encompassed 193 people. The prevalence was 14.0 % in residential homes (RHs) and 18.7 % in the nursing home (NH). Various types of infections (in the PPS) were observed significantly more frequently in patients with asthma, wounds, atherosclerosis of lower extremities, tracheotomy tubes and conditions in patients hospitalised in intensive care units (ICUs) up to 1 year before the PPS day. The incidence rate was 2.7/1,000 patient days (pds). CONCLUSIONS: The factors determined to be important for the risk of infection (in the continuous study) include the general status of patients, expressed using Barthel, abbreviated mental and Katz scales, as well as limited physical activity, stool incontinence and urinary catheterisation. In the PPS study, only a slight relationship was shown between the general status of residents and the risk of infection. None of the general status scales used clinically were shown to be helpful in estimating that risk, similarly to the five-point physical activity scale. Prospective continuous surveillance shows a possibility of limiting the range of infection control in the LTCFs within targeted surveillance in a population of patients that requires intensive nursing procedures. As a marker, one could point to the low score in the Barthel or Katz scales or low physical activity/bedridden persons

Wound healing and regeneration in the reef building coral Acropora millepora

Branching scleractinian corals are niche-constructing organisms, providing continuously-growing, structural foundation for spectacularly biodiverse coral reef ecosystems. A large part of their success lies in the ability to quickly regenerate following mechanical damage. Even now, when the corals undergo great decline due to anthropogenic weather and storm extremes, it is surprising how little is known about molecular mechanisms governing regeneration in these iconic organisms. In this study, we used RNA-seq to identify genes involved in the regeneration of Acropora millepora, starting with the initial wound closure up to complete rebuilding of lost structures. Many of the differentially expressed genes we found in the wound healing steps are homologues of genes known to be involved in wound healing and regeneration of bilaterian and other cnidarian species, prominently including multiple components of FGF and Wnt signalling pathways. Comparison between genes involved in wound healing and continuous growth of the colony demonstrates both similarity and distinctiveness of the genetic programmes controlling these processes. A striking example is specific expression of c-Fos, a transcription factor with conserved role in early injury response, during the earliest stages of wound healing of A. millepora. By comparing results obtained in diverse experimental conditions including a closed-loop, recirculating aquarium and a flow-through system of marine station, we have demonstrated feasibility of using zooxanthellate scleractinian corals as experimental models in fundamental biology research, including studies of regeneration

Extracellular citrate and metabolic adaptations of cancer cells

It is well established that cancer cells acquire energy via the Warburg effect and oxidative phosphorylation. Citrate is considered to play a crucial role in cancer metabolism by virtue of its production in the reverse Krebs cycle from glutamine. Here, we review the evidence that extracellular citrate is one of the key metabolites of the metabolic pathways present in cancer cells. We review the different mechanisms by which pathways involved in keeping redox balance respond to the need of intracellular citrate synthesis under different extracellular metabolic conditions. In this context, we further discuss the hypothesis that extracellular citrate plays a role in switching between oxidative phosphorylation and the Warburg effect while citrate uptake enhances metastatic activities and therapy resistance. We also present the possibility that organs rich in citrate such as the liver, brain and bones might form a perfect niche for the secondary tumour growth and improve survival of colonising cancer cells. Consistently, metabolic support provided by cancer-associated and senescent cells is also discussed. Finally, we highlight evidence on the role of citrate on immune cells and its potential to modulate the biological functions of pro- and anti-tumour immune cells in the tumour microenvironment. Collectively, we review intriguing evidence supporting the potential role of extracellular citrate in the regulation of the overall cancer metabolism and metastatic activity