| Discovery of Novel Gene Elements Associated with Prostate Cancer Progression |
Oct 2012 |
27 pages |
| Authors:
Arul M Chinnaiyan; MICHIGAN UNIV ANN ARBOR
|
 | Long non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) have gained recent attention as potentially important players in cancer biology. This proposal employs innovative next generation sequencing and ab initio transcriptome assembly methodologies to discover novel ncRNAs and incorporate them into expression signatures that stratify indolent versus aggressive prostate cancer. In this reporting period, we describe the identification and characterization of a prostate cancer-specific ncRNA named PCAT-1. Here, we demonstrated that PCAT-1 is a regulator ... |
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| Searching in Clutter: Visual Attention Strategies of Expert Pilots |
Oct 2012 |
6 pages |
| Authors:
Melissa R Beck; Michael Trenchard; Amanda van Lamsweerde; Rebecca R Goldstein; Maura Lohrenz; LOUISIANA STATE UNIV BATON ROUGE
|
| Clutter can slow visual search. However, experts may develop attention strategies that alleviate the effects of clutter on search performance. In the current study we examined the effects of global and local clutter on visual search performance and attention strategies. Pilots and undergraduates searched for an elevation marker in charts of high, medium, and low global clutter. The target was in a low or high local clutter region of the ... |
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| Developing Training Exemplars for the Requisite Components of Visual Threat Detection |
Sep 2012 |
62 pages |
| Authors:
Laura Zimmerman; Shane Mueller; James Daniels; Christopher L Vowels; APPLIED RESEARCH ASSOCIATES INC FAIRBORN OH
|
| In the first stage of this research, a model of visual threat detection, the threat detection loop, was developed and requisite components of that model were identified (Zimmerman, Mueller, Grover, & Vowels, In Preparation). The primary components of visual threat detection were determined to include dynamic threat monitoring, threat prioritization, and causal reasoning. This second report describes a final quasi-experiment involving those primary components. Results from all of the research ... |
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| A Comparative Study of MgY Zn Rod Produced by Different Routes Using Severe Plastic Deformation |
Jul 2012 |
7 pages |
| Authors:
Rimma Lapovok; Yuman Zhu; Jian-Feng Nie; Yuri Estrin; Suveen N Mathaudhu; ARMY RESEARCH LAB ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND MD WEAPONS AND MATERIALS RESEARCH DIRECTORATE
|
| Ternary Mg Y Zn alloys have attracted considerable attention due to their excellent mechanical properties and unique microstructures. Microstructural variation and the resulting mechanical properties can be affected by various processing routes, particularly those involving severe plastic deformation of a cast billet. The following approach was used in this work to perform a comparative study: Cast Mg92Y4Zn4 billet was subjected to severe plastic deformation by three different routes, namely ECAP, ... |
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| The Evolution and Implementation of the Logistics Officer Corps |
03 Apr 2012 |
38 pages |
| Authors:
Samuel L Russell; AIR WAR COLL MAXWELL AFB AL
|
| It has been four years since the Secretary of the Army created the LG branch, and now is the right time to reflect on this new branch. How did the logistics community get to where it is today? Has the Army's implementation of the LG branch gone as planned? Has the advent of the LG branch created any unintended consequences? If so, what are they, and what has been their ... |
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| Uncertain Political and Security Situation Challenges U.S. Efforts to Implement a Comprehensive Strategy in Yemen |
29 Feb 2012 |
28 pages |
| Authors:
Charles M ; Jason Bair; Judith Williams; Brian Tremblay; Bruce Kutnick; Martin De Alteriis; Debbie Chung; Marie Mak; Mary Moutsos; Pierre Toureille (320859); GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE WASHINGTON DC
|
| Yemen is an important U.S. partner in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism. According to U.S. officials, al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) which is based in Yemen is one of the top national security threats facing the United States. AQAP has shown the intent and capability to carry out attacks against U.S. targets both in Yemen and in the United States, including the September 2008 bombing of ... |
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| Sparsening Filter Design for Iterative Soft-Input Soft-Output Detectors |
29 Feb 2012 |
37 pages |
| Authors:
Raquel G Machado; Andrew G Klein; Richard K Martin; WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INST MA DEPT OF ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER ENGINEERING
|
| A large body of research exists around the idea of channel shortening, where a prefilter is designed to reduce the effective channel impulse response to some smaller number of contiguous taps. This idea was originally conceived to reduce the complexity of Viterbi-based maximum-likelihood equalizers. Here, we consider a generalization of channel shortening which we term channel sparsening . In this case, a prefilter is designed to reduce the effective channel ... |
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| Modeling the Role of Priming in Executive Control: Cognitive and Neural Constraints |
24 Jan 2012 |
5 pages |
| Authors:
Gordon D Logan; Jeffrey D Schall; VANDERBILT UNIV NASHVILLE TN DEPT OF PSYCHOLOGY
|
| With support from the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, we made significant theoretical and empirical advances in our understanding of cognitive control. We discovered new phenomena and developed theories to account for them. We developed theories of cognitive control and visual attention that integrated mathematical psychology with cognitive science and with neuroscience. We published our work in major journals, including Psychological Review, Journal of Neuroscience, and Journal of Experimental ... |
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| Piezoelectric, Solar and Thermal Energy Harvesting for Hybrid Low-Power Generator Systems With Thin-Film Batteries |
Jan 2012 |
14 pages |
| Authors:
P Gambier; S R Anton; N Kong; A Erturk; D J Inman; LOS ALAMOS NATIONAL LAB NM ENGINEERING INSTITUTE
|
| The harvesting of ambient energy to power small electronic components has received tremendous attention over the last decade. The research goal in this field is to enable self-powered electronic components for use particularly in wireless sensing and measurement applications. Thermal energy due to temperature gradients, solar energy and ambient vibrations constitute some of the major sources of energy that can be harvested. Researchers have presented several papers focusing on each ... |
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| Developing Signal Processing Blocks for Software-defined Radios |
Jan 2012 |
44 pages |
| Authors:
Gunjan Verma; Paul Yu; ARMY RESEARCH LAB ADELPHI MD COMPUTATIONAL AND INFORMATION SCIENCES DIRECTORATE
|
| Software-defined radios (SDRs) provide researchers with a powerful and flexible wireless communications experimentation platform. GNU Radio is the most popular open-source software toolkit for deploying SDRs, and is frequently used with the Universal Software Radio Peripheral (USRP). After establishing a USRP testbed, the researcher will need to implement new signal processing algorithms or modify existing ones. This document describes this process, highlighting those details that have received minimal attention in ... |
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| Applying Neuroscience to Enhance Tactical Leader Cognitive Performance in Combat |
16 Dec 2011 |
111 pages |
| Authors:
Andrew C Steadman; ARMY COMMAND AND GENERAL STAFF COLL FORT LEAVENWORTH KS
|
| The U.S. Army relies on tactical-level leaders not for their physical warfighting skills, but for their ability to employ cognitive thought during stressful situations. Cognitive tasks include sensing patterns, deciphering complex environments, creating novel solutions, and synchronizing multiple battlefield systems, to name but a few. The physiological response to combat can degrade that cognitive capability, preventing leaders from performing tasks critical to unit success. This thesis approached tactical combat leadership ... |
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| From Contrails and Smoke Trails to Exhaust Particle Processes: A Brief History of Aircraft Particulate Emissions |
Dec 2011 |
16 pages |
| Authors:
Rick C Miake-Lye; AERODYNE RESEARCH INC BILLERICA MA
|
| In the beginning of the jet age, the visibility of the exhaust from airplanes drew attention to the particles being emitted. Whether at altitude in a contrail or near the ground due to visible smoke, the particles in the exhaust made the aircraft engines' emissions visible for all to see. This visibility motivated studies to understand and control the particles being emitted by aircraft, and resulted in some of the ... |
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| Compilation of Pilot Cognitive Ability Norms |
Dec 2011 |
47 pages |
| Authors:
Raymond E King; Erica Barto; Malcolm J Ree; Mark S Teachout; Paul Retzlaff; SCHOOL OF AEROSPACE MEDICINE WRIGHT PATTERSON AFB OH
|
| The cognitive and neuropsychological assessment of United States Air Force (USAF) pilots presents several unique problems given their relatively high cognitive functioning. The USAF currently has a procedure wherein student pilots undergo computerized cognitive assessment. The intent of this assessment is to archive premorbid data and develop clinical methods for the cognitive assessment of pilots. The current work provides the necessary background, clinical methods, and data to assess pilots who ... |
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| Predicting Individual Differences in Response to Sleep Loss |
15 Sep 2011 |
3 pages |
| Authors:
Joseph F Chandler; NAVAL MEDICAL RESEARCH UNIT DAYTON WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB OH
|
| Fatigue resulting from poor or insufficient sleep is commonplace in the modern military. Previous work at this laboratory sought to validate the use of noninvasive eye-tracking (PMI FIT 2000) and cognitive (FlightFit) performance tests to detect individual impairment due to fatigue in a military population (see technical report: DTIC ADA522106). Over the course of 25 hours of continual wakefulness in a laboratory setting, eye-tracking measures of saccadic velocity (eye movement ... |
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| Verification of Use of IBHVG In Screening of High-Metal Loading Igniter Materials for Optimum Ignition of JA2 |
Sep 2011 |
28 pages |
| Authors:
Stephen L Howard; ARMY RESEARCH LAB ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND MD WEAPONS AND MATERIALS RESEARCH DIRECTORATE
|
| A smorgasbord of possible reaction pairs exists for high-metals loading igniter materials. While many of these reaction pairs initially appear to perform well when looking at a simple pressure-time history, the ignition and subsequent pressurization of the candidate propellant may not fulfill the desired metrics of improvement. The interior ballistics lumped-parameter code Interior Ballistics of High-Velocity Guns (IBHVG) has been utilized to describe simple ignition in a comparative ignition fixture. ... |
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| Two Missions, One Secret Service: The Value of the Investigative Mission |
Sep 2011 |
85 pages |
| Authors:
Richard Harlow; NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY CA DEPT OF NATIONAL SECURITY AFFAIRS
|
| The dual missions of the United States Secret Service, investigations and protection, appear to be without relationship or value to the other, and as a result, support and attention for the investigative mission has waned. This lack of attention to investigations is dangerous for the Secret Service and for the country it serves. To make this argument, this thesis attempts to determine whether the investigative mission is actually important to ... |
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| Genome-Wide Association Mapping for Intelligence in Military Working Dogs: Canine Cohort, Canine Intelligence Assessment Regimen, Genome-Wide Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) Typing, and Unsupervised Classification Algorithm for Genome-Wide Associatio |
Sep 2011 |
39 pages |
| Authors:
Victor T Chan; Camilla A Mauzy; Armando Soto; Jessica A Wagner; Amy D Walters; Jeanette S Frey; Tiffany M Hill; Karen L Overall; Soraya Juarbe-Diaz; Donna Dyer; AIR FORCE RESEARCH LAB WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB OH HUMAN PERFORMANCE WING (711TH) BIOSCIENCES AND PERFORMANCE DIV/APPLIED BIOTECHNOLOGY BRANCH
|
| This seedling project aimed to genetically map intelligence in the military working dog (MWD) population. A total of 199 canine subjects were recruited from United States working dog contractors. Of the recruited subjects, 153 were tested using the Canine Intelligence Testing Protocol (CITP), developed by Dr. Karen Overall (UPENN) to specifically analyze canine intelligence. CITP allows quantitative assessment of intelligence in individual dogs using a scoring system based on the ... |
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| Improving Work Outcomes for Veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury |
Sep 2011 |
22 pages |
| Authors:
Elizabeth Twamley; VETERANS MEDICAL RESEARCH FOUNDATION (VETERANS AFFAIRS) SAN DIEGO CA
|
| The study is a 12-month randomized controlled trial comparing supported employment (SE) plus Cognitive Symptom Management and Rehabilitation Therapy (CogSMART), or SE-Cog, to enhanced supported employment (ESE) for OEF/OIF veterans with mild to moderate traumatic brain injury (TBI) who are unemployed and want to return to work. CogSMART is a manualized, 12-week compensatory cognitive training intervention designed to provide the following: (1) psychoeducation; (2) strategies to address sleep problems, fatigue, ... |
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| Simulation Learning PC Screen-Based vs. High Fidelity |
Aug 2011 |
66 pages |
| Authors:
Kristine Qureshi; Denise H Chadwick; Judy Carlson; Lorrie Wong; Deborah Juarez; Dale Vincent; HAWAII UNIV HONOLULU
|
| As the number and complexity of disasters increases across the world, increased attention is being paid to disaster and trauma nursing. Since 2001, the US has experienced numerous significant natural, technological and human made disasters. Presently, a large number of military nurses are directly involved in providing care to wounded soldiers on the battlefields of Iraq, Afghanistan, and other areas throughout the world. Core disaster nursing competencies have been identified, ... |
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| Response of the Human Circadian System to Millisecond Flashes of Light |
JUL 2011 |
6 pages |
| Authors:
Jamie M. Zeitzer; Norman F. Ruby; Ryan A. Fisicaro; H. C. Heller; VETERANS AFFAIRS PALO ALTO HEALTH CARE SYSTEM CA
|
| Ocular light sensitivity is the primary mechanism by which the central circadian clock, located in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), remains synchronized with the external geophysical day. This process is dependent on both the intensity and timing of the light exposure. Little is known about the impact of the duration of light exposure on the synchronization process in humans. In vitro and behavioral data, however, indicate the circadian clock in rodents ... |
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| Prevention of Low Back Pain in The Military. A Randomized Clinical Trial |
Jul 2011 |
125 pages |
| Authors:
Steven Z George; John Childs; Deydre Teyhen; Samuel Wu; Alison Wright; Jessica Dugan; Michael Robinson; FLORIDA UNIV GAINESVILLE
|
| The Prevention of Low Back Pain in the Military (POLM) clinical trial has been successfully completed. With the no cost extension year the research team completed all remaining SOW tasks with particular attention paid to the primary data analyses. In the no cost extension year the research team presented data at a national physical therapy conference and 2 manuscripts were accepted for publication in J Ultrasound Med BMC and Musculoskelet ... |
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| Air Force Intelligence Officer Targeteers: A Discussion on Specialization |
10 JUN 2011 |
104 pages |
| Authors:
Paul A. Rozumski; ARMY COMMAND AND GENERAL STAFF COLL FORT LEAVENWORTH KS
|
| Several recent targeting studies have fundamentally shaken the Air Force to its core by challenging the service's ability to employ precision munitions. The erosion of the targeting skill sets occurred gradually. Protracted low-intensity conflict from the end of the first Gulf War to the war in Afghanistan left the Air Force with little opportunity for self-reflection. Following the release of the Greybeard targeting study in 2008, the Air Force invested ... |
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| Defense Infrastructure: The Enhanced Use Lease Program Requires Management Attention |
JUN 2011 |
69 pages |
| Authors:
Brian Lopez; GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE WASHINGTON DC
|
| To help address challenges associated with deteriorating facilities and underused property, the Department of Defense (DOD) has pursued a strategy that includes leasing underused real property to gain additional resources for improving installation facilities. Section 2667 of Title 10, U.S. Code, provides authority to the military departments to lease nonexcess real property, subject to several provisions, in exchange for cash or in-kind consideration. According to the military services, some leases, ... |
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| Fatigue Risk Management in Aviation Maintenance: Current Best Practices and Potential Future Countermeasures |
JUN 2011 |
42 pages |
| Authors:
Alan Hobbs; Katrina B. Avers; John J. Hiles; NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION MOFFETT FIELD CA AMES RESEARCH CENTER
|
| The unregulated hours and frequent night work characteristic of maintenance can produce significant levels of employee fatigue, with a resultant risk of maintenance error. Fatigue Risk Management Systems (FRMS) are widely used to manage fatigue among flight crew and drivers of commercial vehicles, but comprehensive approaches to fatigue risk management are still uncommon within maintenance organizations. In the wider transport industry, the objective of most FRMS has been to reduce ... |
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| Evaluating Unmanned Systems' Command and Control Technologies under Realistic Assumptions |
JUN 2011 |
33 pages |
| Authors:
Maria O. Rodas; Christian X. Szatkowski; Mark C. Veronda; SPACE AND NAVAL WARFARE SYSTEMS CENTER PACIFIC SAN DIEGO CA
|
| The Department of Defense's future vision for Network Centric Operations (NCO) will increase combat power by networking relevant entities across the battlefield. This will result in highly complex mission scenarios in which the operator's workload will be easily overloaded if the system is not designed to support the mission requirements. New technologies for these complex command and control environments are currently being developed. However, little has been done to evaluate ... |
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| Identifying and Overcoming Barriers to Diabetes Management in the Elderly: An Intervention Study |
Jun 2011 |
38 pages |
| Authors:
Medha Munshi; JOSLIN DIABETES CENTER BOSTON MA
|
| In this randomized controlled study, we evaluated the effect of assessment and intervention for age-specific barriers, on the glycemic control and other clinical, functional and psychosocial parameters in 100 subjects over the age of 69 years with poorly controlled diabetes. The intervention group had an assessment of age-specific barriers followed by designing strategies to improve their ability to follow diabetes management plans as prescribed by their providers. The interventions were ... |
|
| Prevention of Low Back Pain in the Military: A Randomized Clinical Trial |
Jun 2011 |
125 pages |
| Authors:
Steven Z George; John Childs; Deydre Teyhen; Samuel Wu; Alison Wright; Jessica Dugan; Michael Robinson; FLORIDA UNIV GAINESVILLE
|
| The Prevention of Low Back Pain in the Military (POLM) clinical trial has been successfully completed. With the no cost extension year the research team completed all remaining SOW tasks with particular attention paid to the primary data analyses. In the no cost extension year the research team presented data at a national physical therapy conference and 2 manuscripts were accepted for publication in J Ultrasound Med BMC and Musculoskelet ... |
|
| Advanced Physiological Estimation of Cognitive Status. Part 2 |
24 May 2011 |
17 pages |
| Authors:
Leonard J Trejo; PACIFIC DEVELOPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY LLC PALO ALTO CA
|
| This report describes ongoing work in technology transfer using UCLA-developed technology for monitoring attention and technology from PDT for automated mental state estimation. |
|
| Canada's 2009 Northern Strategy: Cold War Policy in a Warming Arctic |
19 MAY 2011 |
101 pages |
| Authors:
Daniel R. Bobbitt; ARMY COMMAND AND GENERAL STAFF COLL FORT LEAVENWORTH KS SCHOOL OF ADVANCED MILITARY STUDIES
|
| From its founding Canada has been an Arctic nation, and has both claimed sovereignty over much of the region and viewed itself as an Arctic power. Despite this, the twentieth century has witnessed minimal development and resource allocation to this region, and Canada has failed to complete the job of nation building north. The peculiar circumstances of the Cold War have had a profound effect on shaping Canadian perceptions of ... |
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| Quick Response Fund: Management Controls Have Improved but Earlier Projects Need Attention |
27 APR 2011 |
39 pages |
| Authors:
Glenn D. Fubish; Ziad M. Buhaissi; Benjamin H. Comfort; Michael Welsh; SPECIAL INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION ARLINGTON VA
|
| In August 2007, the Department of State (DoS) established the Quick Response Fund (QRF) program and since then has allocated $258.2 million to fund local projects to promote economic and social development in Iraq. QRF funds were provided through grants, micro-grants, direct procurements, and micro-purchases of materials-such as seed, fertilizer, or books-to local neighborhood and government officials and to members of community-based groups, such as nonprofit organizations, business and professional ... |
|
| The Role of Concurrent Chemical and Physical Processes in Determining the Maximum Use Temperature of Thermosetting Polymers for Aerospace Applications |
04 APR 2011 |
3 pages |
| Authors:
Andrew J. Guenthner; Kevin R. Lamison; Gregory R. Yandek; Kenneth C. Masurat; Josiah T. Reams; Lee R. Cambrea; Joseph M. Mabry; AIR FORCE RESEARCH LAB EDWARDS AFB CA PROPULSION DIRECTORATE
|
| Herein we report on our efforts to better determine the maximum use temperatures of thermosetting polymers through a combination of alternative thermo-mechanical analyses. We show that thermal cycling and attention to heating rates can often provide more reliable results with a minimum of additional effort. |
|
| The Effectiveness of Cognitive Exposure & Skills Group Manualized Treatments in OIF/OEF Female Veterans |
Apr 2011 |
65 pages |
| Authors:
Diane Castillo; BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH INST ALBUQUERQUE (NEW MEXICO)
|
| The purpose of the study is to evaluate and establish the effectiveness of three behavioral treatments for PTSD exposure, cognitive, and skills (assertiveness/relaxation) therapies provided in a group format. Proactive recruitment has been ongoing since February 2009. The third medical monitoring meeting was held in March 2011 (1st in 2009 and 2nd in 2010). A total of 50 study subjects have completed the initial assessment and were randomized to either ... |
|
| Proceedings of the Military mTBI Diagnostics Workshop, St. Pete Beach, August 2010 |
Apr 2011 |
12 pages |
| Authors:
Donald W Marion; Kenneth C Curley; Karen Schwab; Ramona R Hicks; DEFENSE AND VETERANS BRAIN INJURY CENTER WASHINGTON DC
|
| Approximately 28,000 service members (SMs) sustain a traumatic brain injury (TBI) each year in the U.S. military. The majority of the injuries result either in a brief or no loss of consciousness, and are classified as a mild TBI (mTBI or concussion). Current evaluation guidelines of SMs suspected of having a mTBI rely heavily on self-reports. However, there is concern that SMs typically minimize or do not report their symptoms ... |
|
| The Closest Alligator to the Boat: Mexico's Drug-Fueled Violence |
28 JAN 2011 |
42 pages |
| Authors:
Tray J. Ardese; ARMY WAR COLL CARLISLE BARRACKS PA
|
| Mexico's drug-fueled and undeclared war is spiraling out of control, and has a real and growing ability to threaten the Mexican government and affect the American southwest. There have been many Americans killed as a result of this heated conflict, yet the policies that should protect American interests are not doing enough to either minimize the effects of this war on the United States or stop the fight altogether. The ... |
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| Small Business and Defense Acquisitions: A Review of Policies and Current Practices |
Jan 2011 |
78 pages |
| Authors:
Clifford A Grammich; Thomas Edison; Nancy Y Moore; Edward G Keating; RAND NATIONAL DEFENSE RESEARCH INST SANTA MONICA CA
|
| For much of the past century, the federal government has consistently sought to boost small businesses. These efforts have included, in recent years, a federal government-wide statutory goal for 23 percent of prime contract dollars on goods and services to be spent with small businesses. Recent federal policies have also set spending goals with more narrow categories of women-owned businesses and small disadvantaged businesses as certified by the Small Business ... |
|
| Noninvasive Assessment of Attention State from Correlated Oscillations in Brain and Muscle |
29 NOV 2010 |
22 pages |
| Authors:
Minoru Shinohara; Lewis A. Wheaton; GEORGIA INST OF TECH ATLANTA OFFICE OF SPONSORED RESEARCH
|
| In motor task, correlated oscillations are found between the brain (motor cortex electroencephalogram, EEG) and muscle (electromyogram, EMG) activity in the beta band (15-30 Hz) frequency range (EEG-EMG coherence), but the functional role of which is unidentified. The aim of the project was to test if EEG-EMG coherence during a motor task is influenced by the amount of attention to the motor task. EEG-EMG coherence between motor tasks with different ... |
|
| Exploring the Effectiveness of Attention Manipulations on Operator Performance in C2 Tasks: Empirical Investigations |
05 Aug 2010 |
5 pages |
| Authors:
Hongbin Wang; TEXAS UNIV HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER AT HOUSTON
|
| The research objective of this project is to explore ways of covertly delivering interventions into the adversary decision cycles so as to effectively shape adversary decision-making and performance without inducing much suspicion. The technical approach is to design a set of interventional schemes, and evaluate, both empirically and computationally, their effectiveness and robustness on escaping detection and disrupting performance. Recognizing that completely covert interventions, while most effective, are difficult to ... |
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| Process for Continuing Invoice Payment for the Development Fund for Iraq Needs Attention |
27 APR 2010 |
17 pages |
| Authors:
David R. Warren; Benjamin H. Comfort; M. G. Knoepfle; Jason G. Venner; L. M. Welsh; SPECIAL INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION ARLINGTON VA
|
| This letter addresses issues the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction (SIGIR) identified about the effectiveness of the process established by U.S. agencies with the Ministry of Finance and other Ministries within the Government of Iraq (GOI) to facilitate payment of invoices for reconstruction contracts funded with the Development Fund for Iraq (DFI). Unless these issues are addressed these invoices may continue to go unpaid. About $32.3 million in DFI ... |
|
| Caffeine Modulates Attention Network Function |
Mar 2010 |
39 pages |
| Authors:
Tad T Brunye; Caroline R Mahoney; Harris R Lieberman; Holly A Tyalor; ARMY NATICK RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT AND ENGINEERING CENTER MA
|
| The present work investigated the effects of caffeine (0 mg, 100 mg, 200 mg, 400 mg) on a flanker task designed to test Posner's three visual attention network functions: alerting, orienting, and executive control [Posner, M. I. (2004). Cognitive Neuroscience of Attention. New York, NY: Guilford Press.]. In a placebo-controlled, double-blind study using a repeated-measures design, we found that the effects of caffeine on visual attention vary as a function ... |
|
| Modeling Human Eye-Movements for Military Simulations |
Mar 2010 |
9 pages |
| Authors:
Patrick Jungkunz; Christian J Darken; NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY CA MODELING VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENTS AND SIMULATION (MOVES)
|
| Models of eye movements of an observer searching for human targets are helpful in developing accurate models of target acquisition times and false positive detections. We develop a new model describing the distribution of gaze positions for an observer which includes both bottom-up (salience) and top-down (task dependent) factors. We validate the combined model against a bottom-up model from the literature and against the bottom up and top down parts ... |
|
| Blast-induced Mild Traumatic Brain Injury |
Jan 2010 |
26 pages |
| Authors:
Gregory A Elder; Effie M Mitsis; Stephen T Ahlers; Adrian Cristian; NAVAL MEDICAL RESEARCH CENTER SILVER SPRING MD
|
| Traumatic brain injury (TBI) has been a major cause of mortality and morbidity in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, known as Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). In the popular press, TBI has sometimes been referred to as the signature injury of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, 1 with estimates that 10% to 20% of returning OIF/OEF veterans have suffered a TBI.2 Most attention focused initially ... |
|
| Rewriting History: Historical Research With the Digital Plan |
Oct-2009 |
18 pages |
| Authors:
Molly Marshall; Lauren Scharff; AIR FORCE ACADEMY COLORADO SPRINGS CO INST FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY APPLICATIONS
|
| This study examined the use of technology to enhance the educational experience. The study, which involved 28 Cadets from the United States Air Force Academy, was designed to examine the benefits of using a digital pen for note taking in the classroom. The Department of History offers a Historiography and Methods class (History 330), where cadets research historical data. The cadets plan, research and write a 5000-7000 word term paper. ... |
|
| Moral, Ethical and Legal Considerations with the Use of Drugs for Performance Maintenance in the Canadian Forces |
Oct 2009 |
8 pages |
| Authors:
Carl Walker; Bob Cheung; DEPARTMENT OF NATIONAL DEFENCE OTTAWA (ONTARIO)
|
| The operational use of performance maintenance drugs in the Canadian Forces (CF) is influenced by moral, ethical and legal issues. Centrally acting drugs such as methylphenidate, dextroamphetamine, and modafinil, amongst others, have been used in some militaries as a fatigue countermeasure to help military personnel maintain vigilance for prolonged periods of time. The National Defence Act (NDA), The Canadian Human Rights Act (CHRA), The Food and Drugs Act, and the ... |
|
| Escape from a Diving Submarine Simulator: Impacts of Mindfulness Differences on Physio-Biological Responses and Cognitive Performances |
Oct 2009 |
12 pages |
| Authors:
Marion Trousselard; CENTRE DE RECHERCHES DU SERVICE DE SANTE DES ARMEES LA TRONCHE (FRANCE) DEPARTMENT DES FACTEURS HUMAINS
|
| Introduction: As mindfulness is considered as a predictor of day-to-day self-regulated behavior and adaptability to stressful events, the present study investigated the psychophysiological and cognitive responses induced by a military training for escaping to a submarine simulator according to the submariners' mindfulness level. Methods: Sympathovagal balance, salivary cortisol, mindfulness level, mood and sleep perception as assessed by questionnaires, and short-term and declarative memory were assessed in submariners on shore and ... |
|
| Department of Defense Contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan: Background and Analysis |
13-Aug-2009 |
|
| Authors:
Moshe Schwartz; LIBRARY OF CONGRESS WASHINGTON DC CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE
|
 | The Department of Defense (DOD) increasingly relies upon contractors to support operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, which has resulted in a DOD workforce in those countries comprising approximately an equal number of contractors (200,000) as uniformed personnel (194,000). The critical role contractors play in supporting such military operations and the billions of dollars spent by DOD on these services requires operational forces to effectively manage contractors during contingency operations. Lack ... |
|
| The Rising Importance of Women in Terrorism and the Need to Reform Counterterrorism Strategy |
21-May-2009 |
60 pages |
| Authors:
Marne L Sutten; ARMY COMMAND AND GENERAL STAFF COLL FORT LEAVENWORTH KS SCHOOL OF ADVANCED MILITARY STUDIES
|
| It is evident that women are increasingly playing a role in terrorism. The war on terror has restricted freedom of action within the security environment for terrorist organizations, making it more advantageous for terrorist organizations to use women to support or execute terrorist activities. In countries where terrorism originates and extremist organizations find safe haven and freedom of movement, the social environment also can play a significant role in leading ... |
|
| Efficacy of Armodafinil for Maintaining Vigilance Among Navy Air Traffic Controllers Eight to Twelve Hours Post-Dose |
12-Apr-2009 |
40 pages |
| Authors:
Jeffrey B Phillips; Rita G Simmons; Melissa Stompolis; Richard D Arnold; NAVAL AEROSPACE MEDICAL RESEARCH LAB PENSACOLA FL
|
| This study is designed to measure the efficacy of armodafinil as a fatigue countermeasure during military air traffic control (ATC) operations. ATC operations require extended periods of sustained attention without room for error. Military ATC crews accommodate shift schedules unique to demands of military operations which often exceed FAA regulations. Armodafinil, a slow-release form of modafinil, improves wakefulness and alertness without affecting normal sleep patterns making it an ideal fatigue ... |
|
| Using Computational Cognitive Modeling to Predict Dual-Task Performance with Sleep Deprivation |
Apr-2009 |
12 pages |
| Authors:
Glenn Gunzelmann; Kevin A Gluck; Moore; L R Jr; Michael D Byrne; AIR FORCE RESEARCH LAB MESA AZ HUMAN EFFECTIVENESS DIRECTORATE
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| The effects of fatigue on multiple-task performance were explored through computational cognitive modeling. Fatigue typically has a negative impact on human performance. Biomathematical models exist that characterize the dynamics of human alertness, but the link between alertness and in situ performance on specific tasks is tenuous. Cognitive architectures offer a principled means of establishing that link. We implemented mechanisms for fatigue, which produce microlapses in cognitive processing, into an existing ... |
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| Nuclear Power Plant Security and Vulnerabilities |
18-Mar-2009 |
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| Authors:
Mark Holt; Anthony Andrews; LIBRARY OF CONGRESS WASHINGTON DC CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE
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| The physical security of nuclear power plants and their vulnerability to deliberate acts of terrorism was elevated to a national security concern following the September 11, 2001 attacks. Since then, Congress has repeatedly focused oversight and legislative attention on nuclear power plant security requirements established and enforced by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). The Energy Policy Act of 2005 (P.L. 109-58) imposed specific criteria for NRC to consider in revising ... |
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| The International Space Station and the Space Shuttle |
18-Mar-2009 |
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| Authors:
Carl E Behrens; LIBRARY OF CONGRESS WASHINGTON DC CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE
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| In passing the 2005 NASA authorization act (P.L. 109-105), Congress basically agreed with the President's plan for directing NASA's attention to a return to the Moon and manned missions to Mars. Included in the Moon-Mars Vision is the plan to end flights of the Space Shuttle in 2010, and restriction of U.S. experiments on the ISS mostly to those that forward the goal Moon-Mars goal. A number of critical questions ... |
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