Monitoring and improving performance in human-computer interaction

Monitoring an individual's performance in a task, especially in the workplace context, is becoming an increasingly interesting and controversial topic in a time in which workers are expected to produce more, better and faster. The tension caused by this competitiveness, together with the pressure of monitoring, may not work in favour of the organization's objectives. In this paper, we present an innovative approach on the problem of performance management. We build on the fact that computers are nowadays used as major work tools in many workplaces to devise a non-invasive method for distributed performance monitoring based on the observation of the worker's interaction with the computer. We then look at musical selection both as a pleasant and as an effective method for improving performance in the workplace. The proposed approach will allow team coordinators to assess and manage their co-workers' performance continuously and in real-time, using a distributed service-based architecture. Copyright (c) 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.This work is part-funded by European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the COMPETE Programme (operational programme for competitiveness) and by the national funds through the Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia (FCT; Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology) within projects FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-028980 (PTDC/EEI-SII/1386/2012) and project PEst-OE/EEI/UI0752/2014.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Neural Mechanisms of Subclinical Depressive Symptoms in Women: a Pilot Functional Brain Imaging Study

Background Studies of individuals who do not meet criteria for major depressive disorder (MDD) but with subclinical levels of depressive symptoms may aid in the identification of neurofunctional abnormalities that possibly precede and predict the development of MDD. The purpose of this study was to evaluate relations between subclinical levels of depressive symptoms and neural activation patterns during tasks previously shown to differentiate individuals with and without MDD. Methods Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to assess neural activations during active emotion regulation, a resting state scan, and reward processing. Participants were twelve females with a range of depressive symptoms who did not meet criteria for MDD. Results Increased depressive symptom severity predicted (1) decreased left midfrontal gyrus activation during reappraisal of sad stimuli; (2) increased right midfrontal gyrus activation during distraction from sad stimuli; (3) increased functional connectivity between a precuneus seed region and left orbitofrontal cortex during a resting state scan; and (4) increased paracingulate activation during non-win outcomes during a reward-processing task. Conclusions These pilot data shed light on relations between subclinical levels of depressive symptoms in the absence of a formal MDD diagnosis and neural activation patterns. Future studies will be needed to test the utility of these activation patterns for predicting MDD onset in at-risk samples

A Design Program and Solution for a Multi-media Instructional Center on the Central Campus of the University of New Mexico

The new core will hold and disseminate information even as the traditional library center did in the past. It can be imagined that such a core would contain facilities so students will hear and see poetry presented by the authors, open-heart surgery, drama performances, governmental debates, scientific experiments, etc. In short, with closed circuit TV, tapes, information recall systems, multi-media presentation systems, etc., it is possible to extend and expand many times over the immediate availability of information and material. Such a center will not replace the traditional library but will supplement it

Association between the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) gene and mesolimbic responses to rewards

10.1186/2040-2392-5-7Molecular Autism51

Frame Analysis of the Living Wage Campaign and Social Work Implications

The general aim of this study was to examine the living age movement and how frame alignment fits into social work practice. This research was developed from a limited empirical and theoretical base surrounding the living wage as a social movement. Frame alignment is becoming a tool that more and more people should know how to use. Frame alignment has been a key component in propelling social movements into society in order to effect change. This research is an examination of frame alignment, specifically the living wage movement and how it fits into effective social work practice. The data were obtained from a convenience sample of 487 students from a public university in middle Tennessee. Three different frames were developed and distributed to 500 college students with a 94.7 response rate. The data were collected from November 2003 to November 2004 through the use of a survey via an experimental design. Three different frameworks were distributed in order to gain insight on framing issues surrounding the living wage. Frame A was an economic justice frame, frame B was a social justice frame and frame C was a control frame. Finding from this study indicate a strong support for the social justice frame. ANOVA and t-tests have shown a statistical significance between Frame B and support for a living wage [F (2,482) =5.301, p≤.006]. In addition it was discovered that women were not only more likely to support a living wage but they were also more likely to help organize a living wage. The implications for social work practice and policy indicate social justice as a strong value for change. Frame B was a social justice frame, which ties in appropriately with effective social work practice and the ideal that social workers must fight for oppressed populations in order to seek change and end social justice. Frame alignment has been in the forefront of all successful social movements including the civil rights movement, which also identified with people’s values and beliefs as a part of frame alignment

Analysis of human performance as a measure of mental fatigue

In our day to day, we often experience a sense of being tired due to mental or physical workload. Along with that, there is also a feeling of degrading performance, even after the completion of simple tasks. These mental states however, are often not felt consciously or are ignored. This is an attitude that may result in human error, failure, and may lead to potential health problems together with a decrease in quality of life. States of acute mental fatigue may be detected with the close monitoring of certain indicators, such as productivity, performance and health indicators. In this paper, a model and prototype are proposed to detect and monitor acute acute fatigue, based on non-invasive Humancomputer Interaction (HCI). This approach will enable the development of better working environments, with an impact on the quality of life and the work produced.This work was developed in the context of the project CAMCoF - Contextaware Multimodal Communication Framework funded by ERDF - European Regional Development Fund through the COMPETE Programme (operational programme for competitiveness) and by National Funds through the FCT - Funda ção para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology) within project FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-028980

Analysis Of The Relationship Between Psychosocial Factors And Self-Efficacy On Self-Management Behaviors In Adult Patients With Type 2 Diabetes

University of Minnesota Ph.D. dissertation. November 2013. Major: Health Services Research, Policy and Administration. Advisor: Bryan Dowd. 1 computer file (PDF); x, 341 pages.Objectives Only 20% of patients with type 2 diabetes implement recommended self-management behaviors (DAWN study) (Funnell, 2006). In this research, psychosocial factors significantly influenced self-management behaviors and A1c, having more influence than SES factors. The integrated conceptual model illuminated complex relationships between psychosocial factors, self-management(SM) and A1c levels. It posited self-efficacy (SE) as mediator between self-management and other psychosocial factors. Method This study explored direct and indirect relationships between diabetes social support (DSS), knowledge, affect, self-efficacy and dependent variables including diet, exercise, competency in adult patients with type 2 diabetes with suboptimal glycemic control (A1c 7%) using cross sectional data from the IDEA study using structural equation modeling. Results The conceptual model fit test statistics are ;a1c2= 379 (df = 112; n=564, -value = 000). The RSMEA estimate was .043 (.037 - .051 CI), SRMR was .045, and GFI was .94. The direct effects for knowledge ( = .647, value ≤ .001) influenced SE and SE indirectly influenced A1c ( = .253, value ≤ .001). DSS directly influenced knowledge ( = .579, value ≤ .001) and SE ( range = .482, value ≤ .001). Affect directly influenced knowledge ( range = .296, value ≤ .05) and indirectly influenced SE ( = .192, value ≤ .05). A second hypothesis found SE mediated SM and A1c only for knowledge, not for DSS or affect. DSS, knowledge, and affect indirectly influenced SM behaviors and A1c significantly (affect only for exercise and A1c). Knowledge was a mediator for DSS to SE. Conclusions The theoretically integrated conceptual model has merit. Affect and DSS (mediates) are directly influencing knowledge, with is significantly linked with SE. SE mediates SM and A1c. This new knowledge of relationships between psychosocial factors may assist caregivers in better engaging their patients with diabetes in improving SM behaviors and outcomes

Development and initial validation of a rock climbing craving questionnaire (RCCQ)

Conceptual similarities have been identified between experiences of extreme sports athletes and those with drug and behavioural addictions. Evidence suggests rock climbers experience craving and other withdrawal-like states when abstinent from their sport. However, no studies have attempted to quantitatively measure the craving experienced by participants of any extreme sports. Such a measure could allow a greater understanding of the craving experienced by extreme sports athletes and a comparison of these across sports (e.g., surfing) and activities (e.g., drug-use). Therefore, using validated craving measures as a template, the aim of the two studies outlined here was to design and preliminarily validate a subjective multidimensional inventory that could be used to measure craving in the sports of rock-climbing and mountaineering (“RCCQ”). The aim of the first study was to investigate the factor structure of a preliminary measure of craving. Climbers (n = 407) completed the RCCQ. A 3-factor model explained 53.65% of the total variance in item scores. All 3 factors comprised 5 items each, which were conceptually labelled as “urge to climb” “negative reinforcement” and “positive reinforcement”. The aim of the second study was to validate the 15-item 3-factor RCCQ resulting from study one using confirmatory factor analysis. Climbers (n = 254) completed the questionnaire under a climbing-related cue condition or a cue-neutral condition. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) revealed a good model fit and that all individual parameter estimates were significant and standard errors were within reasonable limits once item 13 was removed from Factor 1. Study one supports the multi-dimensional nature of rock climbing craving and shows parallels with substance-related craving in reflecting intention and positive (desire) and negative (withdrawal) reinforcement. Study two confirms this factor structure and gives initial validation to the measure with evidence that these factors are sensitive to cue exposure. Given the preliminary nature of the data, any practical implications are tentative. However, if as shown here, craving for climbing (and potentially other extreme sports) is similar to that experienced by drug-users and addicts, there is the potential that climbing and other extreme sports could be used as a replacement therapy for drug users

Commentary I am your Smartphone and I Know you are about to Smoke: the application of mobile Sensing and Computing approaches to Smoking research and treatment

abStraCt Much is known about the immediate and predictive antecedents of smoking lapse, which include situations (e.g., presence of other smokers), activities (e.g., alcohol consumption), and contexts (e.g., outside). This commentary suggests smartphone-based systems could be used to infer these predictive antecedents in real time and provide the smoker with just-in-time intervention. The smartphone of today is equipped with an array of sensors, including GPS, cameras, light sensors, barometers, accelerometers, and so forth, that provide information regarding physical location, human movement, ambient sounds, and visual imagery. We propose that libraries of algorithms to infer these antecedents can be developed and then incorporated into diverse mobile research and personalized treatment applications. While a number of challenges to the development and implementation of such applications are recognized, our field benefits from a database of known antecedents to a problem behavior, and further research and development in this exciting area are warranted