Design for Simulator Performance Evaluations of Driving with Vision Impairments and Visual Aids

Driving simulator technology provides a safe method for evaluating the impact of vision loss on different components of the driving task and the potential efficacy of visual aids intended to compensate for a particular type of vision loss. Most previous investigations have used general driving scenarios. It is proposed here that scenarios with different task requirements be designed specifically to address the condition under investigation. As an example, the design of driving scenarios and tasks that are specific for the evaluation of one type of visual field loss, homonymous hemianopia, is described. Results of pilot studies show that even with a small sample size, the design is sufficiently sensitive to differentiate individuals with hemianopic visual field loss from control drivers. These results suggest that careful design of test situations, measurements, and analyses provides a strong basis for investigations of driving performance of individuals with specific types of vision impairment and could be used to evaluate the efficacy of low-vision driving aids.

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Uveal Melanoma: Refusal of Treatment

Ocular Oncology and Pathology ◽

10.1159/000515559 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-7

Author(s):

Randy Christopher Bowen ◽

Soto Hansell ◽

Vishal Raval ◽

Jacquelyn M. Davanzo ◽

Arun D. Singh

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Uveal Melanoma ◽

Vision Loss ◽

Small Sample Size ◽

Neovascular Glaucoma ◽

Small Sample ◽

Average Delay ◽

Patient Reported ◽

Sociodemographic Profile ◽

The Impact

Purpose: This study aimed to explore factors for refusing treatment in patients diagnosed with uveal melanoma and their subsequent clinical course. Methods: This study included patients with uveal melanoma who refused standard of care treatment. Patient-reported reasons and pre-existing mental health diagnoses were assessed. The sociodemographic profile was compared with the controls. Ocular survival, metastasis-free survival (MFS), and overall survival (OS) were calculated. Results: Nine patients with uveal melanoma declined ocular treatment (plaque brachytherapy, n = 7 [78%]; enucleation, n = 2 [22%]). The choroidal melanomas were small (n = 1 [11%]), medium (n = 5 [56%]), and large (n = 3 [33%]) in size (COMS criteria). The sociodemographic profile of the study patients was not different from those that accepted treatment. One patient (11%) had pre-existing mental health diagnosis. Five patients (56%) eventually accepted treatment following an average delay of 19 months (range: 4–55 months) due to neovascular glaucoma or severe vision loss. MFS could not be ascertained, and OS was 67% (6/9) at 4.2 years of follow-up (mean). Conclusions: Refusal of initial recommended treatment is associated with poor ocular survival. The small sample size did not allow for an evaluation of the impact on survival.

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Examining the Association Between Age and Tractor Driving Performance Measures Using a High-Fidelity Tractor Driving Simulator

Journal of Agricultural Safety and Health ◽

10.13031/jash.14403 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 27 (3) ◽

pp. 159-175

Author(s):

Kayla Faust ◽

Carri Casteel ◽

Daniel V. McGehee ◽

Corinne Peek-Asa ◽

Diane Rohlman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Response Time ◽

Driving Simulator ◽

Small Sample Size ◽

Driving Performance ◽

Small Sample ◽

List Type ◽

Medical Diagnoses ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Farm Equipment ◽

The Impact

Highlights This study uses a new tractor driving simulator to examine the impact of age on perception response time in an emergency braking situation. The results demonstrate increased risk for crash among older farm equipment operators. Abstract. Transportation-related incidents are the leading cause of occupational fatalities for all industries in the U.S. In the agriculture industry, where tractor-related incidents are the leading cause of occupational fatality, fatal crashes occur more frequently among senior farm equipment operators (FEOs) than younger FEOs. This study examined the association between age and driving performance among FEOs using a simulated driving environment. We demonstrated that older FEOs have longer perception response times when encountering an incurring semi-truck during a simulated drive than younger FEOs. These results persisted when adjusted for selected medical diagnoses and medications, tractor generation, and tractor horsepower. However, due to the small sample size and limitations of the tractor driving simulator, its use for event perception response time research is questionable. The tractor driving simulator used in this study may be better suited for distracted driving studies and studies comparing the ways in which FEOs drive passenger vehicles compared to tractors. Keywords: Driving simulation, Perception response time, Senior drivers, Tractor.

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An influence of social isolation on the level of physical activity as well as on well-being and mental state of people during the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic

Polish Journal of Public Health ◽

10.2478/pjph-2019-0029 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 129 (4) ◽

pp. 127-131

Author(s):

Agnieszka Parfin ◽

Krystian Wdowiak ◽

Marzena Furtak-Niczyporuk ◽

Jolanta Herda

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Social Isolation ◽

Small Sample Size ◽

Statistical Tests ◽

Population Group ◽

Well Being ◽

Small Sample ◽

Subjective Well Being ◽

Tract Infections ◽

The Impact

AbstractIntroduction. The COVID-19 is the name of an infectious disease caused by a new strain of coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2). It was first diagnosed in December 2019 in patients in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China. The symptoms are dominated by features of respiratory tract infections, in some patients with a very severe course leading to respiratory failure and, in extreme cases to death. Due to the spread of the infection worldwide, the WHO declared a pandemic in March 2020.Aim. An investigation of the impact of social isolation introduced due to the coronavirus pandemic on selected aspects of life. The researchers focused on observing changes in habits related to physical activity and their connections with people’s subjective well-being and emotional state.Material and methods. The study was carried out within the international project of the group „IRG on COVID and exercise”. The research tool was a standardized questionnaire.Results. Based on the data collected and the analysis of the percentage results, it can be observed that the overwhelming majority of people taking up physical activity reported a better mood during the pandemic. However, statistical tests do not confirm these relationships due to the small sample size.Conclusions. Isolation favours physical activity. Future, in-depth studies, by enlarging the population group, are necessary to confirm the above observations.

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The Role of Dopamine Receptor D2 in Bridging the Intention-Behavior Gap in Sport Participation

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18052379 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (5) ◽

pp. 2379

Author(s):

Seiyeong Park ◽

Junhye Kwon ◽

Chiyoung Ahn ◽

Hae-Sung Cho ◽

Hyo Youl Moon ◽

...

Keyword(s):

University Students ◽

Dopamine Receptor ◽

Sport Participation ◽

Small Sample Size ◽

Behavioral Model ◽

Small Sample ◽

Male Students ◽

Future Research ◽

Dopamine Receptor D2 ◽

The Impact

Previous studies have identified that a behavior can occur through the strongest predictor intention, but there is a gap between intention and behavior. Dopamine receptor D2 (DRD2) is known to account for a variance in sporting behaviors in human and animal subjects. However, the relationship between DRD2 and sport participation has been poorly studied, and the limited available reports are inconsistent. The present study was performed to examine the impact of DRD2 on sport participation among Korean university students based on the integrated behavioral model (IBM). Data were collected from enrolled university students in Seoul (N = 45). Participants answered survey questions first, and then they gave investigators their hair to provide DNA information (i.e., the A1 allele of DRD2). DRD2 had a significant effect on sport participation, but only in male students. Male students who carried the A1 allele of DRD2 significantly participated in 105.10 min more sporting activities than male students who did not. Moreover, the effect of intention on sport participation was significantly decreased when considering DRD2. Despite the small sample size, the results of this study could be a preliminary case for a larger study and indicate the direction of future research. Our results suggest that DRD2 may have played an important role as the “actual skill” shown in the IBM.

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What do patients with glaucoma see: a novel iPad app to improve glaucoma patient awareness of visual field loss

British Journal of Ophthalmology ◽

10.1136/bjophthalmol-2020-317034 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. bjophthalmol-2020-317034

Author(s):

Meghal Gagrani ◽

Jideofor Ndulue ◽

David Anderson ◽

Sachin Kedar ◽

Vikas Gulati ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Visual Field ◽

Vision Loss ◽

Peripheral Vision ◽

Glaucoma Patient ◽

Visual Field Loss ◽

Sensitivity Threshold ◽

Roc Curve Analysis ◽

The Mean ◽

Ipad App ◽

Field Defects

PurposeGlaucoma patients with peripheral vision loss have in the past subjectively described their field loss as ‘blurred’ or ‘no vision compromise’. We developed an iPad app for patients to self-characterise perception within areas of glaucomatous visual field loss.MethodsTwelve glaucoma patients with visual acuity ≥20/40 in each eye, stable and reliable Humphrey Visual Field (HVF) over 2 years were enrolled. An iPad app (held at 33 cm) allowed subjects to modify ‘blur’ or ‘dimness’ to match their perception of a 2×2 m wall-mounted poster at 1 m distance. Subjects fixated at the centre of the poster (spanning 45° of field from centre). The output was degree of blur/dim: normal, mild and severe noted on the iPad image at the 54 retinal loci tested by the HVF 24-2 and was compared to threshold sensitivity values at these loci. Monocular (Right eye (OD), left eye (OS)) HVF responses were used to calculate an integrated binocular (OU) visual field index (VFI). All three data sets were analysed separately.Results36 HVF and iPad responses from 12 subjects (mean age 71±8.2y) were analysed. The mean VFI was 77% OD, 76% OS, 83% OU. The most common iPad response reported was normal followed by blur. No subject reported dim response. The mean HVF sensitivity threshold was significantly associated with the iPad response at the corresponding retinal loci (For OD, OS and OU, respectively (dB): normal: 23, 25, 27; mild blur: 18, 16, 22; severe blur: 9, 9, 11). On receiver operative characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, the HVF retinal sensitivity cut-off at which subjects reported blur was 23.4 OD, 23 OS and 23.3 OU (dB).ConclusionsGlaucoma subjects self-pictorialised their field defects as blur; never dim or black. Our innovation allows translation of HVF data to quantitatively characterise visual perception in patients with glaucomatous field defects.

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Nipple Confusion

PEDIATRICS ◽

10.1542/peds.92.2.300 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 92 (2) ◽

pp. 300-301

Author(s):

DOREN FREDRICKSON

Keyword(s):

Breast Feeding ◽

Statistical Power ◽

White Women ◽

Small Sample Size ◽

False Negative ◽

Small Sample ◽

Bottle Feeding ◽

Feeding Duration ◽

Breast Feed ◽

The Impact

To the Editor.— I wish to comment on the study reported by Cronenwett et al,1 which was a fascinating prospective study among married white women who planned to breast-feed. Women were randomly selected to perform either exdusive breast-feeding or partial breast-feeding with bottled human milk supplements to determine the impact of infant temperament and limited bottle-feeding on breast-feeding duration. The authors admit that small sample size and lack of statistical power make a false-negative possible.

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The impact of vestibular symptoms and electronystagmography results on recovery from sudden sensorineural hearing loss

Journal of Basic and Clinical Physiology and Pharmacology ◽

10.1515/jbcpp-2020-0354 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 0 (0) ◽

Author(s):

Gaelle Vofo ◽

Marrigje Aagje de Jong ◽

Michal Kaufman ◽

Julia Meyler ◽

Ron Eliashar ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hearing Loss ◽

Sensorineural Hearing Loss ◽

Small Sample Size ◽

Small Sample ◽

Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss ◽

Sensorineural Hearing ◽

Caloric Test ◽

Routine Identification ◽

The Impact ◽

Caloric Tests

Abstract Objectives Idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) represents a frequently encountered otological entity, of various types and severity, with an array of associated symptoms including vertigo. This is a devastating life-changing condition with a blurry prognosis. The objective of this study was to determine the clinical association of vestibular impairment by electronystagmography (ENG) and caloric tests, and their ability to predict prognosis. Methods An observational, crossectional study was carried out amongst patients admitted with SSNHL. Each consenting patient had an audiometry test performed on admission as well as ENG and caloric tests. Treatment included oral steroids and carbogen with intratympanic steroids used only as salvage treatment. Follow-up was completed after 6 months when hearing gains were evaluated. Finally, an association was sought between the rate of recovery and ENG and caloric test results. Results Of 35 patients included, marked recovery was seen in patients without vertigo when compared to those with vertigo (p=0.003). A statistically significant association was found between the presence of vertigo and hearing deterioration (p=0.008). More so, normal electronystagmography results were associated with marked recovery (p=0.04). Conclusions The vestibular end organs are both subjectively and objectively affected in SSNHL as demonstrated by the abnormal ENG and caloric tests in our study despite the small sample size. Concomitant vestibular involvement carries poorer prognosis and routine identification may help foresee the recovery of patients with SSNHL and as such, aid in patient counseling. ENG and caloric tests are easily available and may be recommended for all patients with SSNHL.

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CEOs’ accounting-based attributes and earnings management strategies under mandatory IFRS adoption

Journal of Applied Accounting Research ◽

10.1108/jaar-04-2017-0051 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 19 (4) ◽

pp. 608-625 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Amel Kouaib ◽

Anis Jarboui ◽

Khaireddine Mouakhar

Keyword(s):

Earnings Management ◽

Small Sample Size ◽

Small Sample ◽

Moderating Effect ◽

Audit Committees ◽

Content Type ◽

Ifrs Adoption ◽

Experience Education ◽

The Impact ◽

The Relationship

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to focus on the moderating effect of mandatory International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) adoption on the relationship between chief executive officer (CEO) experience/education and earnings management in European companies. Design/methodology/approach Data from a sample of 302 European firms listed on Stoxx Europe 600 index and 596 CEOs from 2000 to 2014 are used to test the moderation model using moderation regression analysis. Findings Evidence reveals that CEO’s accounting-based attributes are negatively associated with accruals-based earnings management and positively associated with real earnings management (REM). Further, mandatory IFRS adoption significantly moderates the impact of CEO’s accounting-based traits on earnings-management activities. Research limitations/implications A small number of European firms were studied and, given the long study period, many firms with missing data were eliminated. To avoid a small sample size, countries with few observations were included, which leads to an uneven distribution between observations per country. Practical implications Findings from this paper can help: European firms to consider demographic traits when recruiting or promoting executives; the IASB to improve enforcement mechanisms and make IFRS implementation mandatory; and audit committees to effectively monitor REM. Originality/value This study is unique in providing European evidence for the moderating effect of mandatory IFRS adoption on the relationship between CEOs’ accounting experience/education and earnings management activities. This paper is also relevant as it addresses the effectiveness and efficiency of accounting literates.

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Congenital Micropenis: Aetiology And Management

Journal of the Endocrine Society ◽

10.1210/jendso/bvab172 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Marianna Rita Stancampiano ◽

Kentaro Suzuki ◽

Stuart O’Toole ◽

Gianni Russo ◽

Gen Yamada ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Racial Differences ◽

Small Sample Size ◽

Small Sample ◽

Long Term Outcomes ◽

Penile Length ◽

Appearance Quality ◽

Wide Range ◽

The Impact

Abstract In the newborn, penile length is determined by a number of androgen dependent and independent factors. The current literature suggests that there are inter-racial differences in stretched penile length in the newborn and although congenital micropenis should be defined as a stretched penile length of less than 2.5SDS of the mean for the corresponding population and gestation, a pragmatic approach would be to evaluate all boys with a stretched penile length below 2 cm, as congenital micropenis can be a marker for a wide range of endocrine conditions. However, it remains unclear as to whether the state of micropenis, itself, is associated with any long-term consequences. There is a lack of systematic studies comparing the impact of different therapeutic options on long-term outcomes, in terms of genital appearance, quality of life and sexual satisfaction. To date, research has been hampered by a small sample size and inclusion of a wide range of heterogeneous diagnoses; for these reasons, condition specific outcomes have been difficult to compare between studies. Lastly, there is a need for a greater collaborative effort in collecting standardized data so that all real-world or experimental interventions performed at an early age can be studied systematically into adulthood.

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The impact of visual impairment on nutritional status: A systematic review

British Journal of Visual Impairment ◽

10.1177/0264619617730860 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 36 (1) ◽

pp. 17-30 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Nabila Jones ◽

Hannah Bartlett

Keyword(s):

Nutritional Status ◽

Visual Impairment ◽

Sample Size ◽

Visually Impaired ◽

Small Sample Size ◽

Small Sample ◽

Control Group ◽

Visually Impaired People ◽

Impaired People ◽

The Impact

The aim of this review was to evaluate the literature that has investigated the impact of visual impairment on nutritional status. We identified relevant articles through a multi-staged systematic approach. Fourteen articles were identified as meeting the inclusion criteria. The sample size of the studies ranged from 9 to 761 participants. It was found that visual impairment significantly affects nutritional status. The studies reported that visually impaired people have an abnormal body mass index (BMI); a higher prevalence of obesity and malnutrition was reported. Visually impaired people find it difficult to shop for, eat, and prepare meals. Most studies had a small sample size, and some studies did not include a study control group for comparison. The limitations of these studies suggest that the findings are not conclusive enough to hold true for only those who are visually impaired. Further studies with a larger sample size are required with the aim of developing interventions.

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