Publications by authors named "W G Franke"
This paper investigates the link between gaps in emergency responders' notions of mental model regarding radiation and risk and their effectiveness in responding to radiological incidents. Particularly, this work focused on exploring themes that emerged in prior work related to improper understanding and application of knowledge concepts related to radiation risks and Radiological Dispersal Device (RDD) scenarios (Leek et al., 2024b).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- The study explores HAZMAT technicians' mental models relating to Radiological Dispersal Devices (RDDs) and investigates the gaps in their understanding about such incidents.
- It introduces the EMMS Diagnostic Matrix to assess the actual Mental Model State (MMS) of technicians through surveys and simulations across four U.S. regions.
- Key findings reveal four main themes of misunderstanding: overestimating radiation health effects, overreliance on protective equipment, confusion regarding radiation detection units, and incomplete knowledge of radiation characteristics and dispersal properties.
Middle-aged and older adults living in rural settings have been consistently less likely to report regular physical activity (PA) than those living in urban settings. While past literature has identified sociodemographic and environmental correlates of PA that may contribute to these differences, consideration of psychological correlates has been limited. A total of 95 rural and urban adults ≥50 years old provided self-reported sociodemographic information, PA level, and psychological correlates of PA including measures assessing motivation, self-efficacy, social support, and attitudes related to PA.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe aim of the study is to determine if law enforcement officers develop subclinical atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) earlier than nonofficers and, if so, the extent to which conventional risk factors explain this difference. Methods: Estimated pulse wave velocity (ePWV) was the marker of subclinical ASCVD. EPWV, ASCVD risk factors, metabolic syndrome (MetS), and 10-year risk for ASCVD were compared among 408 law enforcement officers and a civilian cohort.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To evaluate a personalized adaptive training program designed for stress prevention using graduated stress exposure.
Background: Astronauts in the high-risk space mission environment are prone to performance-impairing stress responses, making preemptive stress inoculation essential for their training.
Methods: This work developed an adaptive virtual reality-based system that adjusts environmental stressors based on real-time stress indicators to optimize training stress levels.