Tactile cues for orienting pilots during hover over moving targets.

INTRODUCTION: Providing information via the tactile sensory system allows the pilot to increase awareness without further taxing the visual and auditory perceptual systems. In this study, tactile cues were presented to pilots for target orientation during a simulated helicopter extraction over a moving target. The efficacy of the cues provided by the tactile system was assessed under various conditions (rested vs. fatigued, clear vs. degraded visual environment). METHODS: This study employed a mixed-model 2(4) factorial design, including one between-subjects variable (training amount: minimal, additional) and three within-subjects variables (state: rested, fatigued; visual environment: clear, degraded; tactile cue belt: active, inactive). Across 2 d under the 4 test conditions, 16 UH-60 rated, healthy aviators completed 8 sessions of 10-min stabilized hovering maneuvers over a moving target. All flights were conducted in a UH-60 flight simulator. RESULTS: Subjects were able to stay closer to the target when the tactile cuing system was active (M = 31.14 ft, SE = 3.17 ft) vs. inactive (M = 36.33 ft, SE = 2.84 ft). Likewise, subjects rated their situation awareness as greater when the tactile system was active vs. inactive. DISCUSSION: The results support the efficacy of the tactile system in providing directional cues for maintaining pilot performance during a hover maneuver over a moving target.

Addressing health disparities in Hispanic breast cancer: accurate and inexpensive sequencing of BRCA1 and BRCA2.

BACKGROUND: Germline mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes account for 20-25 % of inherited breast cancers and about 10 % of all breast cancer cases. Detection of BRCA mutation carriers can lead to therapeutic interventions such as mastectomy, oophorectomy, hormonal prevention therapy, improved screening, and targeted therapies such as PARP-inhibition. We estimate that African Americans and Hispanics are 4-5 times less likely to receive BRCA screening, despite having similar mutation frequencies as non-Jewish Caucasians, who have higher breast cancer mortality. To begin addressing this health disparity, we initiated a nationwide trial of BRCA testing of Latin American women with breast cancer. Patients were recruited through community organizations, clinics, public events, and by mail and Internet. Subjects completed the consent process and questionnaire, and provided a saliva sample by mail or in person. DNA from 120 subjects was used to sequence the entirety of BRCA1 and BRCA2 coding regions and splice sites, and validate pathogenic mutations, with a total material cost of $85/subject. Subjects ranged in age from 23 to 81 years (mean age, 51 years), 6 % had bilateral disease, 57 % were ER/PR+, 23 % HER2+, and 17 % had triple-negative disease. RESULTS: A total of seven different predicted deleterious mutations were identified, one newly described and the rest rare. In addition, four variants of unknown effect were found. CONCLUSIONS: Application of this strategy on a larger scale could lead to improved cancer care of minority and underserved populations.