The 3-minute Psychomotor Vigilance Task (PVT) Embedded in a Wrist-worn Device: Time of Day Effects

The study assesses the utility of the 3-minute version of the Psychomotor Vigilance Task (PVT) embedded in a wrist-worn device (interstimulus interval – ISI =1 - 4 seconds) to detect changes in performance between a morning and an afternoon data collection session. The experiment utilized a randomized, within-subject, repeated-measures design with two factors, device type (wrist-worn PVT, laptop PVT, Go/No-Go task) and time of day (morning, afternoon). Results showed that performance in both the wrist-worn 3-minute PVT (ISI = 1 – 4 seconds) and the 5-minute Go/No-Go task (180 trials, 80% Go/20% No Go; ISI = 0.5 – 1.0 seconds) differed between the morning and the afternoon sessions but not the laptop-based PVT. We discuss these findings under the light of the differences in task characteristics between the wrist-worn and the laptop PVT

Traffic noise pollution at residential area

Most people are unaware of noise pollution occurring around them due to the characteristic of the pollution itself. This pollution is not visible to people’s sense and affects people based on their sound level acceptance. Since people who have high sound level acceptance are familiar with noise, thus noise pollution will not directly annoy them. This study was conducted to determine the traffic noise level at Seksyen 7, Shah Alam and its correlation with traffic volume. Since noise level will affect people in terms of annoyance and lead to health effect, the study area were chosen at intersections nearby residential area. The data of traffic noise level and traffic volume were collected representing weekday and weekend for each intersection. Three (3) data collection session were conducted for each day, which is in the morning (0730-0830), in the afternoon (1230-1330) and in the evening (1700-1800). The collected data were then being analysed and compared with the standard limit set by the Department of Environment Malaysia (DOE) to check whether the noise level at the study area comply with the limit recommended.

Plantar pressure sore formation during advanced phases of pregnancy and the effect of special footwear

Plantar pressure sore occurrence is an indicator of increased plantar pressures which may develop into subsequent foot problems and pain. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the effect of special footwear on plantar pressure sore distribution. 67 healthy pregnant women participated at all data collection session at their 27, 32 and 37 gestational weeks. At each data collection session, the plantar pressure sore distribution was assessed for both feet. During the first data collection session participants were randomly divided into a control and experimental group. Experimental group obtained the special footwear. For the control group, the results show an increased in pressure sores occurrence in the medial edge of thumb and first metatarso-phalangeal joint. The special footwear introduction in the experimental group increased the pressure sore occurrence at the edge of the heel, probably associated with the plantar pressure redistribution more to the heel area. The distribution of pressure sore areas of the control and experimental group is in accordance with our hypothesis that the special footwear redistributes the plantar pressures, however, the trend of these changes is not clear as there are many factors influencing the foot condition during advanced stages of pregnancy.

A Comparison of Self-Selected Walking Speeds and Walking Speed Variability When Data Are Collected During Repeated Discrete Trials and During Continuous Walking

A typical gait analysis data collection consists of a series of discrete trials, where a participant initiates gait, walks through a motion capture volume, and then terminates gait. This is not a normal ‘everyday’ gait pattern, yet measurements are considered representative of normal walking. However, walking speed, a global descriptor of gait quality that can affect joint kinematics and kinetics, may be different during discrete trials, compared to continuous walking. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of continuous walking versus discrete trials on walking speed and walking speed variability. Data were collected for 25 healthy young adults performing 2 walking tasks. The first task represented a typical gait data collection session, where subjects completed repeated trials, beginning from a standstill and walking along a 12-m walkway. The second task was continuous walking along a “figure-of-8” circuit, with 1 section containing the same 12-m walkway. Walking speed was significantly higher during the discrete trials compared to the continuous trials (p < .001), but there were no significant differences in walking speed variability between the conditions. The results suggest that choice of gait protocol may affect results where variables are sensitive to walking speed.

Standarisasi Observer OSCE dengan Rubrik dan Multivideo

Background: One of the factors influencing the validity and reliability of the assessment is the standardization of the observers in assessing students’ performance. A recent study by Setiawan (2011) found that there is differences in the standard of assessment used by general practitioners and specialized doctors in assessing students in OSCE.7 These differences are considered to be harmful for the students, therefore needs to be improved. Several training methods are developed to overcome the problem. This study aims to assess whether rubric and multi video can be used as a means of standardization of OSCE observers.Method: This was an experimental action research. The instruments used in this study were checklist, rubric, and video recording of students doing OSCE (n=5), which further be called multi-video. The subjects of the study were the OSCE observers in station Integrated Patient Management (IPM) who were divided into control and treatment group. The subjects assessed students’ performance from the multi-video in two data collection sessions. In the first session, both control and treatment group used checklist for assessing the multi-video. Furthermore in the second session, the control group did as the first data collection session, while the treatment group used checklist and rubric for assessing the multivideo. The result of which compared and tested using independent sample t-test.Results: As many as 33 observers, which consists of 23 general practitioners (GP) and 10 specialized doctors (SP), participated in the first data collection session. In the second data collection session, 28 observers consist of 20 GPs and 8 SPs participated. The result of the first data collection session, which used only checklist as an instrument, showed a significant difference in the standard of assessment used by the GPS and SPs (p<0.05), whereas the second data collection session, which used rubric as an additional instrument for the treatment group, showed no significant difference between GPs and SPs in the standard of assessment (p>0.05).Conclusion: Rubrics and multi video can be used as a means of standardization of OSCE observer in assessing students’ performance.

Maternal pitch height in ordinary and play situations

ABSTRACTTen children at mean ages of o; 11.3 and o; 15.3 and their monolingual German-speaking mothers were audio- and videotaped in their homes while having a meal with a spoon (ordinary situation) and while feeding a doll with a spoon (play situation). Sentences spoken by the mothers that were comparable in length and sentence type across situations were analysed acoustically. In both data-collection sessions, it was found that the mothers spoke with the same mean amplitude in the two situations but they used higher mean fundamental frequency when speaking during the play situation than during the ordinary situation. In the first data-collection session, when the infants did not yet use meaningful words or engage in pretend play, the mothers also used a wider pitch range in the play situation than in the ordinary situation. It is concluded that mothers use both pitch height and pitch range to introduce the preverbal infant to the difference between non-play and play situations, and they continue to use variations in pitch height to mark the same distinction after the children have become active participants in pretend play activities. Implications of the results are discussed in terms of possible longitudinal patterns associated with mothers' use of intonational key and register.

Kinematic Analysis of Skill Acquisition in Physically Awkward Boys

This study investigated the learning of the stationary hockey slap shot by two physically awkward boys; for comparison purposes, two age-matched boys performed the same skill. In an initial data collection session, the physically awkward and the control boys performed three successful slap shots. Following this, the physically awkward subjects practiced 400 trials at home every 2 weeks over a 6-week training period, under the supervision of their parents. Performance data were collected every 2 weeks, after 400, 800, and 1,200 practice trials. Cinematographic analysis of each subject’s three successful responses led to an examination of the kinematics, phasing, and timing of the slap shot. In the initial baseline session, the control subjects exhibited consistency of performance; however, even after 1,200 trials of supervised practice the performance of the two physically awkward children was extremely variable.