Predicting operator workload during system design

A workload prediction methodology was developed in response to the need to measure workloads associated with operation of advanced aircraft. The application of the methodology will involve: (1) conducting mission/task analyses of critical mission segments and assigning estimates of workload for the sensory, cognitive, and psychomotor workload components of each task identified; (2) developing computer-based workload prediction models using the task analysis data; and (3) exercising the computer models to produce predictions of crew workload under varying automation and/or crew configurations. Critical issues include reliability and validity of workload predictors and selection of appropriate criterion measures

Self-organized criticality in the Kardar-Parisi-Zhang-equation

Kardar-Parisi-Zhang interface depinning with quenched noise is studied in an ensemble that leads to self-organized criticality in the quenched Edwards-Wilkinson (QEW) universality class and related sandpile models. An interface is pinned at the boundaries, and a slowly increasing external drive is added to compensate for the pinning. The ensuing interface behavior describes the integrated toppling activity history of a QKPZ cellular automaton. The avalanche picture consists of several phases depending on the relative importance of the terms in the interface equation. The SOC state is more complicated than in the QEW case and it is not related to the properties of the bulk depinning transition.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures; accepted for publication in Europhysics Letter

The role of self-efficacy in predicting treatment adherence in youth with cystic fibrosis

Adolescents with cystic fibrosis (CF) demonstrate relatively poor treatment adherence in comparison to other age groups, which can lead to adverse health outcomes. Though previous research has examined various factors associated with treatment adherence in pediatric CF samples, no studies to date have explored the interrelations among self-efficacy, parental style, level of responsibility for CF care, and treatment adherence in this population. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the role of self-efficacy, parental style, and level of responsibility for CF care in predicting treatment adherence in adolescents with CF. A sample of 59 adolescents with CF (M age =15.1; 56% male) and their primary caregivers were recruited from three pediatric CF centers across the United States. Results indicated that parental style did not moderate the association between youth self-efficacy and treatment adherence. In addition, neither youth- nor parent-reported division of responsibility for disease management mediated the association between self-efficacy and treatment adherence. However, greater youth self-efficacy was significantly associated with youth taking on more responsibility for their disease management. Findings of the current study suggest promoting self-efficacy during adolescence may increase youth responsibility for their disease management and prepare these youth for the transition from pediatric to adult healthcare

Sleep Patterns and Associated Factors in Children and Adolescents with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Youth with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) may be at increased risk for sleep difficulties due to the inflammatory nature of their disease. Moreover, previous research has demonstrated that children and adolescents with IBD experience impairment across a variety of psychosocial domains. However, the current literature has yet to examine the complex interplay between sleep, disease-related symptoms, and psychosocial factors such as mood and health-related quality of life in youth with both types of IBD (i.e., Crohn\u27s disease and ulcerative colitis). Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine sleep patterns and associated factors, including pain, disease activity, mood, and health-related quality of life, in children and adolescents with Crohn\u27s disease or ulcerative colitis. A sample of 25 children and adolescents with IBD (Mage = 14.25; range = 10-18 years; 56% male) and their caregivers were recruited from a pediatric gastroenterology clinic in West Virginia. Results indicated no significant association for sleep with abdominal pain, negative affect, or positive affect. However, significant associations were revealed among sleep and patient age, disease activity, and health-related quality of life. Youth with IBD also demonstrated greater sleep disturbance than previously published data using normatively developing samples. Findings of the current study suggest that children and adolescents with IBD experience significant sleep disturbance, which may impact their disease activity and psychosocial functioning. Consequently, healthcare providers should screen for and address sleep difficulties to optimize better outcomes in their pediatric patients

Finite N Matrix Models of Noncommutative Gauge Theory

We describe a unitary matrix model which is constructed from discrete analogs of the usual projective modules over the noncommutative torus and use it to construct a lattice version of noncommutative gauge theory. The model is a discretization of the noncommutative gauge theories that arise from toroidal compactification of Matrix theory and it includes a recent proposal for a non-perturbative definition of noncommutative Yang-Mills theory in terms of twisted reduced models. The model is interpreted as a manifestly star-gauge invariant lattice formulation of noncommutative gauge theory, which reduces to ordinary Wilson lattice gauge theory for particular choices of parameters. It possesses a continuum limit which maintains both finite spacetime volume and finite noncommutativity scale. We show how the matrix model may be used for studying the properties of noncommutative gauge theory.Comment: 17 pp, Latex2e; Typos corrected, references adde