Characteristics Of Evaluation Methods Research Articles

Perceived Age as a Mortality and Comorbidity Predictor: A Systematic Review.

Perceived age is defined as how old a person looks to external evaluators. It reflects the underlying biological age, which is a measure based on physical and physiological parameters reflecting a person's aging process more accurately than chronological age. People with a higher biological age have shorter lives compared to those with a lower biological age with the same chronological age. Our review aims to find whether increased perceived age is a risk factor for overall mortality risk or comorbidities. A literature search of three databases was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines for studies analyzing perceived age or isolated facial characteristics of old age and their relationship to mortality risk or comorbidity outcomes. Data on the number of patients, type and characteristics of evaluation methods, evaluator characteristics, mean chronologic age, facial characteristics studied, measured outcomes, and study results were collected. Out of 977 studies, 15 fulfilled the inclusion criteria. These studies found an increase in mortality risk of 6-51% in older-looking people compared to controls (HR 1.06-1.51, p < 0.05). In addition, perceived age and some facial characteristics of old age were also associated with cardiovascular risk and myocardial infarction, cognitive function, bone mineral density, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Perceived age promises to be a clinically useful predictor of overall mortality and cardiovascular, pulmonary, cognitive, and osseous comorbidities. This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Surface- and volume-based investigation on influences of different Varestraint testing parameters and chemical compositions on solidification cracking in LTT filler metals

The subject of this study is how, and to what extent, Varestraint/Transvarestraint test results are influenced by both testing parameters and characteristics of evaluation methods. Several different high-alloyed martensitic LTT (low transformation temperature) filler materials, CrNi and CrMn type, were selected for examination due to their rather distinctive solidification cracking behaviour, which aroused interest after previous studies. First, the effects of different process parameter sets on the solidification cracking response were measured using standard approaches. Subsequently, microfocus X-ray computer tomography (μCT) scans were performed on the specimens. The results consistently show sub-surface cracking to significant yet varying extents. Different primary solidification types were found using wavelength dispersive X-ray (WDX) analysis conducted on filler metals with varying Cr/Ni equivalent ratios. This aspect is regarded as the main difference between the CrNi- and CrMn-type materials in matters of cracking characteristics. Results show that when it comes to testing of modern high-performance alloys, one set of standard Varestraint testing parameters might not be equally suitable for all materials. Also, to properly accommodate different solidification types, sub-surface cracking has to be taken into account.

Applicability of Usability Evaluation Techniques to Aviation Systems

Research in the field of human-computer interaction (HCI) has shown that early usability evaluation of human interfaces can reduce operator errors by optimizing functions for a specific population. HCI research has produced many methods for evaluating usability, which have proven effective in developing highly complex computer systems. Given the importance of the human in the loop in aviation systems, it is possible that advanced commercial cockpit and air traffic control systems may benefit from systematic application of usability research. This article identifies the special requirements of the aviation domain that will affect a usability evaluation and the characteristics of evaluation methods that may make them effective in this context. Recommendations are made of usability evaluation techniques, or combinations of techniques, most appropriate for evaluating complex systems in aviation technology.