National Defence University, Pakistan

About: National Defence University, Pakistan is a education organization based out in Islamabad, Pakistan. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Context (language use) & Decision support system. The organization has 802 authors who have published 816 publications receiving 3701 citations. The organization is also known as: National Defence University of Pakistan & National Defence University Islamabad.

Hand and Finger Dexterity as a Function of Skin Temperature, EMG, and Ambient Condition:

Abstract: Objective: This article examines the changes in skin temperature (finger, hand, forearm), manual performance (hand dexterity and strength), and forearm surface electromyograph (EMG) through 40-min, 11 °C water cooling followed by 15-min, 34 °C water rewarming; additionally, it explores the relationship between dexterity and the factors of skin temperature, EMG, and ambient condition.Background: Hand exposure in cold conditions is unavoidable and significantly affects manual performance.Method: Two tasks requiring gross and fine dexterity were designed, namely, nut loosening and pin insertion, respectively. The nested-factorial design includes factors of gender, participant (nested within gender), immersion duration, muscle type (for EMG), and location (for skin temperature). The responses are changes in dexterity, skin temperature, normalized amplitude of EMG, and grip strength. Finally, factor analysis and stepwise regression are used to explore factors affecting hand and finger dexterity.Results: Dexter...

Eastern minds in western cockpits: meta-analysis of human factors in mishaps from three nations.

Abstract: INTRODUCTION: Aviation accident rates vary in different regions; Asia and Africa have higher rates than Europe and America. There has been a great deal of discussion about the role of culture in aviation mishaps; however, culture is rarely mentioned as a contributory factor in accidents. It is hypothesized that different cultures will show different patterns in the underlying causal factors in aircraft accidents. METHODS: Using a meta-analysis of previously published results, this research examined statistical differences in the 18 categories of the Human Factors Analysis and Classification System (HFACS) across accidents in the Republic of China (Taiwan), India, and the United States. RESULTS: Seven HFACS categories exhibited significant differences between these three regions. These were mostly concerned with contributory factors at the higher organizational levels. The differences were related to organizational processes, organizational climate, resource management, inadequate supervision, physical/mental limitations, adverse mental states, and decision errors. CONCLUSION: Overall, the evidence from this research supports the observation that national cultures have an impact on aviation safety and adds further explanatory power with regards to why this should be so. The majority of the cultural issues identified seem to be associated with the style of management of the organizations rather than the operation of the aircraft per se. Language: en

Narrative Serious Game Mechanics (NSGM) - Insights into the Narrative-Pedagogical Mechanism

Abstract: Narratives are used to construct and deconstruct the time and space of events. In games, as in real life, narratives add layers of meaning and engage players by enhancing or clarifying content. From an educational perspective, narratives are a semiotic conduit for evoking critical thinking skills and promoting knowledge discovery/acquisition. While narrative is central to Serious Games (SG), the relationships between gameplay, narrative and pedagogy in SG design remain unclear, and narrative’s elemental influence on learning outcomes is not fully understood yet. This paper presents a purpose-processing methodology that aims to support the mapping of SG design patterns and pedagogical practices, allowing designers to create more meaningful SGs. In the case of narrative, the intention is to establish whether Narrative Serious Game Mechanics (NSGM) can provide players with opportunities for reasoning and reflective analysis that may even transcend the game-based learning environment.

A novel healthcare resource allocation decision support tool: A forecasting-simulation-optimization approach

Abstract: The increasing pressures on the healthcare system in the UK are well documented. The solution lies in making best use of existing resources (e.g. beds), as additional funding is not available. Incr...

A benchmark-learning roadmap for regional sustainable development in China

Abstract: Serious environmental problems have accompanied China's remarkable economic growth for decades, which also have direct and indirect impacts on its neighbouring countries. From the perspective of regional sustainable development, a region's macroeconomic policy should be based on its ability to maximize wealth as well as to minimize the environmental impacts for its inhabitants. On the basis of this point, the paper herein analyses the economic–environmental performance for regional levels in China. For each of China's 31 regions, the authors identify two inputs (capital and employment) and four outputs (GDP, sulphur dioxide emissions, soot and industrial dust). The regions are grouped in order to improve similarities. Suitable role models are identified. Aside from traditional technical efficiency scores, a cross-efficiency measure (CEM) is also applied to differentiate the genuine role model. Integration for CEM and cluster analysis is applied to construct a benchmark-learning roadmap for those i...