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The system reliability analyzer tool for analyzing the reliability of system designs is described and its use illustrated in a system engineering case study of a naval command and control system. The performance of systems consisting of human operators and technology components is assessed by Bayesian nets, which calculate error probabilities from inputs of agent properties and environmental conditions. The tool tests scenarios representing the system design and its operational behavior, which is modeled as cycles of command and control tasks. The tool indicates weak points in the scenario sequence and assesses the reliability of one or more system designs with a set of operational scenarios and a variety of environmental conditions. Index Terms--Human factors, system reliability, system requirements and specifications.

Computer use is becoming ubiquitous among older adults. As computer use depends on complex cognitive functions, measuring individuals' computer-use behaviours over time may provide a way to detect changes in their cognitive functioning. However, it is uncertain which computer-use behaviour changes are most likely to be associated with declines of particular cognitive functions. To address this, we convened six experts from clinical and cognitive neurosciences to take part in two workshops and a follow-up survey to gain consensus on which computer-use behaviours would likely be the strongest indicators of cognitive decline. This resulted in a list of 21 computer-use behaviours that the majority of experts agreed would offer a 'strong indication' of decline in a specific cognitive function, across Memory, Executive function, Language and Perception and Action domains. This list enables a hypothesis-driven approach to analysing computer-use behaviours predicted to be markers of cognitive decline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A social trust model is presented for investigating social relationships and social networks in the real world and in social media. The results demonstrate that multilevel social structures, with a few strong relationships, more medium ties, and large numbers of weak ties, emerge in an evolutionary simulation when well-being and alliances are rewarded with high levels of social interaction. 'Favour-the-few' trust strategies were more competitive than others under a wide range of fitness conditions, suggesting that the development of complex, multilevel social structures depends on capacity for high investment in social time and preferential social interaction strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While an ever-growing body of research is concerned with user behavior on individual social network sites (SNSs)-mostly Facebook-studies addressing an alternating use of two or more SNS are rare. Here, we investigate the relationship between alternating SNS use and social capital in the context of migration. Alternating SNS use avoids some of the problems associated with large networks located on one site; in particular the management of different social or cultural spheres. Not only does this strategy hold potential for increased social capital, it also provides a particular incentive for migrants faced with the challenge of staying in touch with back home and managing a new social environment. Two survey studies are presented that focus on the relationship between alternating SNS use and online ties in a migrant context involving Indian nationals. Study 1 looked at migration within India, whereas Study 2 compared international with domestic SNS users. In both studies, alternating SNS use added to the prediction of online network size and accounted for differences in network size found for migrant and non-migrant users. Differences were due to the number of peripheral ties, rather than core ties. Findings suggest that alternating SNS use may constitute a compensatory strategy that helps to overcome lower levels of socializing represented through a single SNS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]