Usability Index Research Articles

Performance assessment of four HIV self-test devices in South Africa: A cross-sectional study

HIV self-testing (HIVST) has been introduced to supplement existing HIV testing methods to increase the number of people knowing their HIV status. Various HIVST kits have been developed; however, in many countries, their entry into the market is contingent on either being listed as World Health Organization (WHO) prequalified diagnostics/products or being approved by that country’s health device regulator or both. In this cross-sectional study, we evaluated the usability, sensitivity and specificity of HIVSTs, as directed by the WHO prequalification literature. A boxed, sealed HIVST kit was provided to enrolled lay users with no further instruction, who then performed the test under observation. For each HIVST, a product-specific semi-structured checklist was used to calculate a usability index, while the sensitivity and specificity of each HIVST were calculated by comparing the HIVST results to the ‘gold standard’ – fourth-generation ELISA laboratory blood test. The average usability index was 97.1% (95.9–97.8%), while the average sensitivity and specificity were 98.2% (96.8–99.3%) and 99.8% (99.4–100.0%), respectively. We also diagnosed 507 (15.1%) HIV-positive participants from the general population. The average usability index, sensitivity and specificity were all comparatively high, and these results corroborate previous usability and performance studies from other regions. These results suggest HIVSTs are appropriate for the South African market and can assist manufacturers with readying their devices for final WHO prequalification evaluation.
 Significance:
 
 This study has followed the WHO Technical Specification Series for the prequalification of HIV self-test devices, so the usability, sensitivity and specificity results may be used to inform the WHO prequalification process.
 The average usability index (97.1%), sensitivity (98.2%) and specificity (99.8%) were all very high, and these results support previous usability and performance studies from other regions, which suggest HIV self-tests are appropriate for WHO prequalification, and subsequently, the South African market.
 This study also diagnosed 507 (15.1%) HIV-positive participants from the general population – slightly higher than the national prevalence of 13.1%.

Performance Comparison of AFDS PMSG During Voltage Regulation by Mechanical Field-weakening in Extended-speed-range

Background: Axial-flux permanent magnet synchronous generators (AFDS PMSG) have been found suitable in wind energy conversion system and electric vehicle owing to its compactness, high torque capability at low speed, high torque to inertia ratio, modular geometry, and high magnet usability index. Such applications require the generator to operate in Extended Speed Range (ESR). In ESR, voltage regulation is achieved by generator field-weakening. Usually, negative daxis current is injected in the armature winding of the generator to achieve field-weakening. However, in the axial-flux machine field-weakening by current injection is not substantial due to the low inductance of the machine and use of permanent magnets with high coercivity. We have revised all patents related to field-weakening methods applied to axial-flux permanent magnet generators. Methods: Therefore, this paper emphasizes field-weakening using mechanical methods. This paper compares the performance of AFDS PMSG topologies based on its mechanical-field-weakeningbased voltage regulation capability. In this paper, generator field-weakening is achieved by angularly displacing, one of the stators with respect to the other via a mechanical actuator. Results: The experimental results show that during voltage regulation of the DS PMSG with perfectsinusoidal back-emf characteristic, least amount of harmonics is injected in the generated output power. Conclusion: Thus, the same is best suited to design an automotive generator based on MFW method for wind energy conversion system and electric vehicle running in ESR.

A mobile app as an educational and motivational tool for adolescents in orthodontic practice

Objective: To evaluate the acceptance of the mobile application (“app”) by adolescents in orthodontic treatment for a better applicability of this resource. Methods: Ninety orthodontic patients, aged between 13 and 17, of both sexes, used an application, chosen for presenting a Portuguese version and reaching the target audience. Then they registered their acceptance through the SUS (System Usability Scale) questionnaire, which measures user satisfaction through ease of use of the application, with its Satisfaction and Usability Indexes. The findings were subjected to descriptive and comparative statistical analysis using the Kruskal Wallis and Dunn test, adopting a significance level of 5%. Results: The application presented the above-average Satisfaction and Usability Index (79.1). The domain (quality component) with the highest index was "Learnability" (85,3), in relation to "Efficiency" (79,0), "Satisfaction" (76,0), "Memorability" (72,2) and "Errors" (71,4) (p≤0,05). Conclusion: Mobile app was accepted by adolescents in orthodontic treatment due to the ease and speed that it was used. However, its acceptance was negatively influenced by the reported frequency of use. Therefore, its application as an educational and motivational tool in clinical practice is suggested, as long as the different aspects that involve its best applicability are considered.

Predictive value of heart rate deceleration capacity on coronary artery lesion in acute phase of Kawasaki disease

This study was to investigate the correlation of vagal activity with coronary artery lesion (CAL) in Kawasaki disease (KD) children, and assess the predictive value of heart rate deceleration capacity (DC) for CAL in acute phase of KD.50 KD children with CAL, 130 KD children without CAL, 30 children with acute upper respiratory infection and 100 healthy children were recruited and indicators reflecting vagal activity including DC were measstuogram. KD children with CAL showed decreased vagal activity with significantly lower values of DC. DC was negatively correlated with levels of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in KD children. DC was a usable cardiac electrophysiological index to predict CAL in children with KD, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.741. The cut-off value of DC for predicting CAL in KD children was 4.37 ms. DC was an independent predictor of CAL in children with KD, evaluated by multiple logistic regression analysis, KD children with DC ≤ 4.37 ms had an increased risk of CAL, with odds ratios (OR) of 5.94. Our study illustrates DC could be used to predict CAL in acute phase of KD.

Brief, Web-Based Interventions to Motivate Smokers With Schizophrenia: Randomized Trial.

BackgroundIn-person motivational interventions increase engagement with evidence-based cessation treatments among smokers with schizophrenia, but access to such interventions can be limited because of workforce shortages and competing demands in mental health clinics. The use of digital technology to deliver interventions can increase access, but cognitive impairments in schizophrenia may impede the use of standard digital interventions. We developed an interactive, multimedia, digital motivational decision support system for smokers with schizophrenia (Let’s Talk About Smoking). We also digitalized a standard educational pamphlet from the National Cancer Institute (NCI Education). Both were tailored to reduce cognitive load during use.ObjectiveWe conducted a randomized trial of Let’s Talk About Smoking versus NCI Education to test whether the interactive motivational intervention was more effective and more appealing than the static educational intervention for increasing use of smoking cessation treatment, quit attempts, and abstinence among smokers with schizophrenia, accounting for the level of cognitive functioning.MethodsAdult smokers with schizophrenia (n=162) were enrolled in the study from 2014 to 2015, randomly assigned to an intervention condition, and assessed in person at 3- and 6-month follow-ups. Interventions were delivered on a laptop computer in a single session. All participants had access to standard, community-delivered cessation treatments during follow-up. Multivariate models were used to evaluate outcomes.ResultsTreatment initiation outcomes were not different between intervention conditions (27/84 [32%] for Let’s Talk About Smoking vs 36/78 [46%] for NCI Education; odds ratio [OR] 0.71 [95% CI 0.37-1.33]); 38.9% (63/162) of participants initiated treatment. Older age (OR 1.03 [95% CI 1.00-1.07]; P=.05), higher education (OR 1.21 [95% CI 1.04-1.41]; P=.03), and fewer positive symptoms (OR 0.87 [95% CI 0.80-0.96]; P=.01) predicted cessation treatment initiation, whereas level of cognition did not. The mean satisfaction and usability index score was higher for Let’s Talk About Smoking versus NCI Education (8.9 [SD 1.3] vs 8.3 [SD 2.1]; t 120.7=2.0; P=.045). Quit attempts (25/84, 30% vs 36/78, 46%; estimate [Est]=−0.093, SE 0.48; P=.85) and abstinence (1/84, 1% vs 6/78, 7%; χ21=3.4; P=.07) were not significantly different between intervention conditions. Cognitive functioning at baseline (Est=1.47, SE 0.47; P=.002) and use of any behavioral or medication cessation treatment (Est=1.43, SE 0.47; P=.003) predicted quit attempts with self-reported abstinence over the 6-month follow-up.ConclusionsThe interactive, multimedia intervention was not more effective than the static, text-based intervention among smokers with schizophrenia. Both tailored digital interventions resulted in levels of treatment engagement and quit attempts that were similar to findings from previous studies of in-person interventions, confirming the potential role of digital interventions to educate and motivate smokers with schizophrenia to use cessation treatment and to quit smoking. These findings indicate that additional cessation treatment is needed after brief education or motivational interventions, and that cessation treatment should be adjusted for people with cognitive impairment.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT02086162; https://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT02086162

Usability assessment of seven HIV self-test devices conducted with lay-users in Johannesburg, South Africa.

IntroductionThe first 90 of the 90-90-90 initiative introduced by the World Health Organization(WHO) in 2015 requires 90% of people with HIV be aware of their status by 2020. In South Africa, conventional facility-based testing had reached 84.9% in 2018; innovative new methods, like HIV self-testing(HIVST) may close the testing gap. This study aimed to determine the usability of seven HIVST kits among untrained South Africans.MethodsThis cross-sectional study of 1400 adults in Johannesburg evaluated the usability of five blood fingerstick and two oral fluid HIVSTs, using WHO prequalification criteria, from June 2016 to June 2018. Participants were handed one kit, with no further information about the device or test procedure, and asked to perform the test in front of an observer. The observer used product-specific semi-structured questionnaires organized into a composite usability index(UI) using a HIVST process checklist, a contrived results interpretation and a post-test interview that expanded on participant experiences with the device and instructions-of-use(IFU). Participants were not tested themselves, but provided with contrived results to interpret.ResultsThe average UI was 92.8%(84.2%-97.6%); the major difficulty was obtaining and transferring the specimen. Participants correctly interpreted 96.1% of the non-reactive/negative, 97.0% of the reactive/positive, 98.0% of the invalid and 79.9% of the weak positive results. Almost all participants(97.0%) stated they would visit a clinic or seek treatment for positive results; with negative results, half(50.6%) stated they should re-test in the next three months while one-third(36.1%) said they should condomize. Nearly all found the devices easy to use(96.6%), the IFUSs easy to understand(97.9%) and felt confident using the test unassisted(95.9%) but suggested improvements to packaging/IFUs to further increase usability; 19.9% preferred clinic-based testing to HIVST.ConclusionThe UI and interpretation of results was high and in-line with previous usability studies, suggesting that these kits are appropriate for use in the general, untrained and unsupervised public.

Mobile web application for use in the Extended Family Health and Primary Care Center: content and usability validation

ABSTRACT Purpose: to validate the content and usability of the “Network NASF” application, intended for the teams of the Extended Family Health and Primary Care Center (NASF-AB). Methods: eighteen specialists, researchers, and professionals from different fields of study participated to validate the content and usability of the application, carried out in four stages: adjustment of the instrument; administration of the Suitability Assessment of Materials (SAM); validation of the content by calculating the content validity index (CVI); and usability evaluation through the System Usability Scale (SUS), in this order. Results: the participants classified the material as valid regarding both its content and usability. The index achieved in the SAM was 83.5%, as four, out of the six topics in the instrument, had values over 0.78. Hence, these four were considered excellent, while the other two were considered good. The recommendations given by the specialized judges were accepted and the usability index (5.5%) was considered relevant. Conclusion: the application developed for NASF-AB professionals was considered valid regarding its content and usability.

Investigation of Change in Reading-Math-Science Literacy Scores in PISA Applications with Multivariate-Multilevel Model

The aim of this study is to determine the variables of school and student level that significantly affect the math-reading-science performance of Turkish students participating in PISA 2009-2012-2015 applications. Within the scope of this aim, gender, type of program, educational status of parents, educational opportunities at home, educational resources at home, educational facilities at home, economic-social-cultural status index were used. Regarding school level, school size, computer usability index, teacher-student ratio were included in the model. For the purpose of the study, data of PISA 2009-2012-2015 Turkish students were analyzed using the Multilevel-Multivariate Regression Model. According to the findings, it was observed that there were differences in math-reading-science scores among the schools. PISA 2009-2012 Turkey application of students' math-reading and science scores together predictor as revealing the student level, respectively, parental education status of variables, home educational resources, and in PISA 2015 application maternal education level, it is determined that the economic-social-cultural situation is. In all three applications, it was found that gender was the variable that predicted mathematics and reading performance significantly. PISA 2009 school-level predictors of Turkey as meaningful to the students of math-reading and science scores along with the application variables were found to be the teacher-student ratio. For PISA 2012 and PISA 2015, it was found that the school level variable which predicted academic achievement significantly was the usability index of computers. Based on the findings of the research, it may be suggested to reduce the disparity in student achievement among schools. Studies can be done to regulate the students' educational environments at home. Keywords: PISA, multivariate-multilevel model, academic achievement. DOI: 10.7176/JSTR/5-11-10

NCBI's Virus Discovery Hackathon: Engaging Research Communities to Identify Cloud Infrastructure Requirements.

A wealth of viral data sits untapped in publicly available metagenomic data sets when it might be extracted to create a usable index for the virological research community. We hypothesized that work of this complexity and scale could be done in a hackathon setting. Ten teams comprised of over 40 participants from six countries, assembled to create a crowd-sourced set of analysis and processing pipelines for a complex biological data set in a three-day event on the San Diego State University campus starting 9 January 2019. Prior to the hackathon, 141,676 metagenomic data sets from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) Sequence Read Archive (SRA) were pre-assembled into contiguous assemblies (contigs) by NCBI staff. During the hackathon, a subset consisting of 2953 SRA data sets (approximately 55 million contigs) was selected, which were further filtered for a minimal length of 1 kb. This resulted in 4.2 million (Mio) contigs, which were aligned using BLAST against all known virus genomes, phylogenetically clustered and assigned metadata. Out of the 4.2 Mio contigs, 360,000 contigs were labeled with domains and an additional subset containing 4400 contigs was screened for virus or virus-like genes. The work yielded valuable insights into both SRA data and the cloud infrastructure required to support such efforts, revealing analysis bottlenecks and possible workarounds thereof. Mainly: (i) Conservative assemblies of SRA data improves initial analysis steps; (ii) existing bioinformatic software with weak multithreading/multicore support can be elevated by wrapper scripts to use all cores within a computing node; (iii) redesigning existing bioinformatic algorithms for a cloud infrastructure to facilitate its use for a wider audience; and (iv) a cloud infrastructure allows a diverse group of researchers to collaborate effectively. The scientific findings will be extended during a follow-up event. Here, we present the applied workflows, initial results, and lessons learned from the hackathon.

Validation and extension of a statistical usability model for unreinforced masonry buildings with different ground motion intensity measures

Predicting the usability of a building, i.e. its condition of being occupiable after a seismic event, is relevant both in a post-emergency situation and within a risk-reduction policy. In the past an empirical model was proposed, involving the computation of a usability index based on macroseismic intensity and on seven building parameters, combined by means of regression coefficients and weights. The statistical model was calibrated on data of about 60,000 buildings affected by the 2009 L’Aquila earthquake in Italy. Therefore, it is useful to validate the model against data from the 2002 Molise earthquake in Italy. Good agreement between predicted and observed usability is shown, despite the fact that in 2002, macroseismic intensity was attributed to an entire municipality instead of a more limited area. Moreover, given the current availability of the shakemaps for the 2009 event, a novel model replacing conventional macroseismic intensity by an instrumental intensity measure is proposed. Three ground motion parameters are considered here: peak ground acceleration, peak ground velocity, and spectral pseudoacceleration at a period of vibration of 0.3 s. The model has been streamlined by reducing the building parameters from seven to five: building position within the structural aggregate, roof type, construction timespan, structural class, and pre-existing damage to structural elements. Peak ground acceleration and spectral pseudoacceleration are shown to be less effective than peak ground velocity in predicting observed usability. Therefore, usability probability matrices are computed in terms of peak ground velocity; the model is presented with all necessary coefficients and weights, and a worked-out example shows how to apply the procedure.

A comparison of macroinvertebrate-based indices for biological assessment of river health: A case example from the sub-tropical Richmond River Catchment in northeast New South Wales, Australia

Abstract Globally, river health is deteriorating due to increased anthropogenic pressures. Accurately assessing river health is crucial for the management of river resources with macroinvertebrates commonly used as biological indicators of ecological integrity. Complex biological data is made more straightforward using indices as they offer the ability to rapidly communicate complex science in a simple form. Management decisions are often based on the results of biological river health assessments, making the identification of the most appropriate, robust and sensitive macroinvertebrate-based index vital when undertaking catchment specific assessments. Selection of a macroinvertebrate-based index should rely on a scientific method rather than arbitrary selection criteria. This study aimed to compare the performance of several macroinvertebrate-based indices to identify the index or indices most appropriate to the Richmond River Catchment (RRC) in northern New South Wales, Australia. River health within the RRC is poor with a clear pollution gradient from upper to lower catchment sites. Six commonly used indices were calculated using family-level identification. The biological assessment supported the physicochemical results with a gradient in river health from upper to lower catchment. Family Richness and Family Richness Percent were assessed as the most usable indices. In studies that have restricted time, budget and expertise they will provide accurate but limited information on river health. SIGNAL2 was identified as the most valid index for assessing river health due to its overall sensitivity to changes in river health, and level of detail on anthropogenic impacts. The poor performance of the AUSRIVAS, EPT and BCI limits or precludes their use for river health assessment in the RRC. While this model for identification and selection of an appropriate macroinvertebrate-based index for catchment scale river health assessments was useful in this context, it needs to be improved with a larger dataset and a greater environmental gradient of river health to make a less subjective evaluation.

Application of extent analysis FAHP to determine the relative weights of evaluation indices for library website usability acceptance model

This study presents a novel approach for assessing and prioritising relative weights of the factors in order to reveal the level of each factors' contribution to the usability index system in the context of library websites. The inputs of experts in the related field were used to probe weights of seven key dimensions and 20 measuring items of library website usability. These factors covering both dimensions and measuring items were identified and validated from the authors' previous study. The study employed fuzzy theories along with the extent analysis fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) method with the expectation of scrutinising the relative importance of the criteria of interest while avoiding uncertainty, ambiguity, loss of data, and difficulties in assessment cycle. In order to maintain uniformity in expert consensus, triangular fuzzy numbers were used instead of linguistic values. The research findings revealed that the satisfaction was the most important dimension, while accessibility was considered the least important. In addition, the top 7 of the 20 measurement items investigated accounted for 49.37% of importance. The results indicate that more attention is needed in ensuring those websites are comfortable and fulfilled with clear information required for the users, while less time and effort can be given to readability and compatible capability considerations.

Object-Oriented Usability Indices for Multi-Objective Demand Side Management Using Teaching-Learning Based Optimization

This paper proposes Object-Oriented Usability Indices (OOUI) for multi-objective Demand Side Management (DSM). These indices quantify the achievements of multi-objective DSM in a power network. DSM can be considered as a method adopted by utilities to shed some load during peak load hours. Usually, there are service contracts, and the curtailments or dimming of load are automatically done by service providers based on contract provisions. This paper formulates three indices, namely peak power shaving, renewable energy integration, and an overall usability index. The first two indices indicate the amount of peak load shaving and integration of renewable energy, while the third one combines the impact of both indices and quantifies the overall benefit achieved through DSM. The application of the proposed indices is presented through simulation performed in a grid-tied microgrid environment for a multi-objective DSM formulation. The adopted microgrid structure consists of three units of diesel generators and two renewable energy sources. Simulation has been done using MATLAB software. Teaching-Learning-Based Optimization (TLBO) is adopted as the optimization tool due to its simplicity and independency of algorithm-specific control parameters. Five different cases of renewable energy availability with results validate the efficiency of the proposed approach. The results indicate the usefulness in determining the suitable condition regarding DSM application.

1-s Productions: A Validation of an Efficient Measure of Clock Variability.

Objective: Clock variance is an important statistic in many clinical and developmental studies. Existing methods require a large number of trials for accurate clock variability assessment, which is problematic in studies using clinical or either young or aged participants. Furthermore, these existing methods often implicitly convolute clock and memory processes, making it difficult to disentangle whether the clock or memory system are driving the observed deviations. Here we assessed whether 20 repeated productions of a well-engrained interval (1 s), a task that does not incorporate memory updating nor the processing of feedback, could provide an accurate assessment of clock variability.Method: Sixty-eight undergraduate students completed two tasks: a 1-s production task in which they were asked to produce a 1-s duration by ending a tone by a keypress, and a multi-duration reproduction task. Durations presented in the reproduction task were tones lasting 1.17, 1.4 and 1.68 s. No feedback was presented in either task, and the order of presentation was counterbalanced between participants.Results: The observed central tendency in the reproduction task was better explained by models including the measures of clock variability derived from the 1-s production task than by models without it. Three clock variability measures were calculated for each participant [standard deviation, root mean squared residuals (RMSRs) from an estimated linear slope, and RMSR scaled by mean production duration]. The model including the scaled RMSR was preferred over the alternative models, and no notable effects of the order of task presentation were observed. These results suggest that: (1) measures of variability should account for drift; (2) the presentation of another timing task before a 1-s production task did not influence the assessment of the clock variability; and (3) the observed variability adheres to the scalar property and predicts temporal performance, and is thus a usable index of clock variability.Conclusion: This study shows that just 20 repeated productions of 1 s provide a reliable index of clock variability. As administering this task is fast and easy, it could prove to be useful in a large variety of developmental and clinical populations.

UNSCALE: A Fuzzy-based Multi-criteria Usability Evaluation Framework for Measuring and Evaluating Library Websites

ABSTRACTUsability evaluation of websites has been one of the most important activities to determine user acceptance and to enrich the overall quality of the website. This research, drawing upon above concept, investigates the issues of website usability and proposes a fuzzy-based framework for measuring and evaluating the usability of websites, particularly library websites. The findings of the usability criteria elicitation, expert reviews, survey, and statistical analysis resulted in a comprehensive list of seven usability dimensions along with 20 measuring items which formed the basis of the evaluation framework abbreviate UNSCALE. The inputs of experts in the related field were used to probe weights of key dimensions and measuring items with the motive of examining their level of contribution to the usability index system. The study employed fuzzy theories along with the extent analysis, fuzzy analytic hierarchy process method with the expectation of scrutinizing the relative weightings. The framework was developed including eight cyclical steps for measuring and evaluating website usability by employing the fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method. It can be used to evaluate the overall usability score and also scores regarding each evaluation dimension. The framework was tested for its applicability and practicality on university library websites in Sri Lanka, a developing country with fast-growing internet accessibility. The findings of this research indicate that the proposed framework is useful for librarians in developing more useful library websites. On the other hand, it will provide vital insights to better appraise the outcomes of website usability for the scholars and researchers.

Evaluation between the Usability and Physicochemical Property of Acyclovir Ointments.

A lot of prescription medicines have become switch over-the-counter (OTC) medicines. However, additives in brand-name drugs, generic drugs, and switch OTC drugs differ; therefore, the feelings associated with the use of these medicines vary for patients. The aim of this study was to compare the physicochemical properties and the feeling of use (assuming skin as an index of usability) of acyclovir (ACV) ointments. Five ACV ointments were used: ACV-A, a brand-name drug, ACV-B and ACV-C, generic drugs, and ACV-D and ACV-E, switch OTC drugs. The physicochemical properties were evaluated by determining the content uniformity, water content, flattening, viscosity and viscoelasticity, and near-infrared (NIR) absorption spectroscopy. Skin friction was measured to evaluate the feeling associated with use. Results of the content uniformity test indicated that the ACV content was uniform, and equivalence was observed. Measurement of moisture content indicated that this parameter differed in each ointment preparation. The yield value, which was calculated by measuring flattening, was 4416.7 dyne/cm2 for ACV-A, 1175.7 dyne/cm2 for ACV-B, 2114.9 dyne/cm2 for ACV-C, 4234.5 dyne/cm2 for ACV-D, and 3620.7 dyne/cm2 for ACV-E. Measurement of viscosity and viscoelasticity revealed that viscosity increased with time and the viscoelasticity of each ointment. The second derivative of the NIR spectrum revealed that ACV-B and ACV-C had a wider spectrum of absorption than the other ointments. ACV-B had lesser friction than other ointments. These findings suggest that differences in the type and content of additives (macrogol) result in differences in the physicochemical properties of individual ointments.

Study about forest management planning by CSR activities: a case study of the Kishiwada Hilly Development District in Japan

The objective of this study was to clarify the method of forest activities of CSR for collaboration between companies and local communities, focusing on the Kishiwada Hilly Development district in Japan. The research method is mesh analysis by GIS, a questionnaire, interviews and a field survey. First, this area was subdivided as divided into 2625 meshes, and each of the meshes was evaluated via the natural conservation importance index and recreational usability index. Second, we examined the zoning estimation method based on spatial characteristics and the difference in human activities. Third, we identified the beliefs and challenges for CSR forest activities by the four companies participating in forest activities in the study area. The result was, first, bamboo forest accounts for 26.2%, such as forests without administrators. Second, suitable forests for recreation totalled 52.3%, occupies a majority of the land. Third, the purpose of participation in corporate forest-making activities varied depending on the departments. A common problem was a lack of knowledge regarding forest management. In conclusion, these findings suggest that the development of forest management plans considering the needs of CSR forest activities and the conditions throughout the region would improve the resilience and the benefits of Satochi-Satoyama.

Developing an Index of Usability to Evaluate Utilization of Mobile Toilets among the Elderly: A Case Study

Developing an Index of Usability to Evaluate Utilization of Mobile Toilets among the Elderly: A Case Study

Developing a hazard analysis worksheet in a small food business with the application of a T-shaped matrix diagram

Based on the information obtained from quality/food safety managers, hazard analysis worksheets (HAWs) and flow diagrams were identified, using the ABCD method, as the elements which generate the most extended areas of food safety management systems (FSMSs) based on HACCP procedures. In order to simplify this part of documentation, a shortened form of HAWs designed on the basis of a T-shaped matrix diagram (T-HAWs) was developed. T-HAWs were implemented on a trial basis in three small food businesses (SFBs) for a period of six months. After five months, documentation users evaluated the suitability of both the classic and the new forms of HAWs. The evaluation results were expressed in a numerical form as the documentation usability index (DUI), which values for the classic HAWs amounted from 0.55 to 1.1, and for T-HAWs ranged from 1.3 to 1.8. Student's t-test confirmed the existence of significant differences of the DUI values between both evaluated forms of the HAWs.The study demonstrates that the FSMSs documentation area may be a subject of research aimed at simplifying and reducing the volume of system documents through the use of effective methods and management tools. The T-HAWs developed in this work, in combination with a simplified flow diagram, provided an opportunity for a significant reduction in the classic HACCP plan, which may facilitate the implementation and application of the Codex HACCP principles and HACCP-based procedures in SFBs. Even though the T-HAWs were positively assessed by the users of HACCP documentation, certain limitations were identified, therefore the results of this study should be regarded as preliminary investigations which require to be continued with a greater number of SFBs representing a greater range of food industry sectors included.

Usability Study of Two In-Vehicle Information Systems Using Finger Tracking and Facial Expression Recognition Technology

ABSTRACTIn this study, an experiment is conducted to compare the usability of two in-vehicle information systems (IVISs), namely, the newly developed “Calink” and the commercially available “Carlife.” The interface style of Calink is similar to that of smartphones, while that of Carlife is similar to the interface style of traditional IVISs. This study establishes a usability index system based on the International Organization for Standardization’s definition of usability, and each evaluation index has a corresponding subjective or objective measurement method. Five new indexes, namely, angular velocity, velocity, turn angle, distance of finger movements, and valence and arousal value of facial expression, are used in the usability test. Participants are asked to complete three tasks (namely, music, telephone, and navigation) to test the usability of the IVIS interface. The results show that in the case of most of the indexes Calink performs better than Carlife. Finally, the consistency of subjective experience and objective performance is discussed.