DCS Contracting, HSC/PKR, 8005 9TH Street, Brooks AFB TX 78235-5353

A -- BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT (BAA) PKR-95-01-03 FOR RESEARCH IN ARMSTRONG LABORATORY (AL) HUMAN-CENTERED TECHNOLOGY AREAS. PART 3 OF 4 SOL PKR-95-01-03 POC Major Julius Clark, Contracting Officer, (210)536-6343, Research and Development Contracting Division. A--PART 3 OF 4 PARTS. BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT (BAA) PKR-95-01 FOR RESEARCH IN ARMSTRONG LABORATORY (AL) HUMAN-CENTERED TECHNOLOGY. POC: Major Julius Clark, (210) 536-6343, Research and Development Contracting Division. BAA TECHNICAL AREA NUMBER: 95-19H-PKR AL/HRT, Lt Col Parlett, 210-536-2034 Qualitative Effects of Fundamental Skills Tutors on At-Risk Populations. The Fundamental Skills Training (FST) project is intended to design, develop, evaluate and transfer intelligent tutoring technologies from the federal laboratory environment to the public education sector, with special targeting of at-risk populations. AL is specifically interested in qualitative research to capture effects of the FST intervention which are not easily measured by empirical means. The FST project encompasses three tutors (1) work problem solving in pre-algebra classes, (2) reading and writing skills, and (3) scientific inquiry. BAA TECHNICAL AREA NUMBER: 95-20H-PKR AL/HRM, Dr. Weeks, 210-536-3923 Assessment of Ability Measures. Ability test scores are used as aids for pilot selection decisions. Ability test development for future operational use includes a thorough assessment of test characteristics. Test battery under development by Air Force includes computer-based tests of working memory, multi-tasking ability, spatial processing ability, and psychomotor skills. For retest gain assessment, research is needed to determine the improvement in test scores with a second testing. The relative validity of first and second test scores for predicting general aviation training outcomes must be assessed. The AF will provide the computer-based tests for administering two times to the same students. Test battery administration time is four hours. There should be no less than ten months between the first and second testing. Students tested must be enrolled in a general aviation training program. Research would include test score data base development and statistical analyses to determine the magnitude of retest gain on test-by-test basis. Creative and innovative analytical approaches are sought for estimating learning curve functions. Retest gains assessments for females and ethnic minorities are of particular interest. BAA TECHNICAL AREA NUMBER: 95-21O-PKR AL/OES, Dr. Yun Wang, 210-536-5705 Algorithms to Image Three Dimensional Structures. The Air Force needs to identify hazardous materials or contaminants buried within soil. Research is needed to provide mathematical models and efficient computer codes to image three dimensional structures of arbitrary shape using scattered electromagnetic waves of microwave frequencies. The codes should be well documented and developed using Ada software development techniques. When implementing the code the use of FORTRAN, C, and C++ Standard Library routines may be recommended when Ada routines are not available. The codes need to operate on a high performance UNIX-based workstation or parallel computer architecture. BAA TECHNICAL AREA NUMBER: 95-22O-PKR AL/OES, Dr. Richard Albanese, 210-536-4839 Pharmacodynamic Models with Electromagnetic Radiation Interaction. Mathematical models and computer codes are needed to simulate cellular functions in the presence of drugs and electromagnetic radiation. Research is needed to provide these mathematical models which must include the interaction of molecular movement (center of mass and normal modes) with externally applied continuous wave or pulsed electromagnetic fields. Computer codes should be written to allow assimilation into systems of cells and eventual integration into a whole organism. The codes should be well documented and developed using Ada software development techniques. When implementing the code the use of FORTRAN, C, and C++ Standard Library routines may be recommended when Ada routines are not available. BAA TECHNICAL AREA NUMBER: 95-23O-PKR AL/OES, Dr. Jeffrey Blaschak, 210-536-5708 Simulation of Three Dimensional Electromagnetic Wave Scattering from Dispersive Target Models. The Air Force needs to develop analysis tools for investigating the effects of electromagnetic radiation to support the development of safety standards. Research is needed to provide computer codes to simulate three-dimensional propagation and scattering of electromagnetic waves at microwave frequencies in dispersive media. Computer codes need to accommodate a wide variety of waveforms including sinusoid, square-wave, and triangular waveforms. The codes shall be well documented and developed using Ada software development techniques. When implementing the code the use of FORTRAN, C, and C++ Standard Library routines may be recommended when ADA routines are not available. The codes need to produce results within one hour when operating on high performance UNIX-based workstations or parallel computer architectures. BAA TECHNICAL AREA NUMBER: 95-24O-PKR AL/OES, Dr. Mary Potasek, 210-536-5708 Simulation of Ultrashort Pulse Laser Wave Propagation in Three-Dimensional Nonlinear Dispersive Media. The Air Force needs to develop analysis tools for investigating the effects of ultrashort laser pulses in the human eye. Research is needed in development of computer codes to stimulate three-dimensional propagation of ultrashort infrared, visible and ultraviolet laser light through the structures and media present in the human eye, for example, vitreous humor. Computer codes need to account for nonlinear effects of short optical pulses including self-focusing, dispersion, stimulated Raman scattering, self steeping, etc. The computer codes need to be well documented and developed using Ada software development techniques. When developing the code FORTRAN, C, and C++ Standard Library routines may be used when ADA routines are not available. The codes need to produce results within one hour when operating from a UNIX-based workstation or parallel computer architectures. BAA TECHNICAL AREA NUMBER: 95-25O-PKR AL/OEO, Capt Chuck Wright, 210-536-3039 A Graphical User Interface for Modeling and Simulation. Research required to develop a prototype Graphic User Interface (GUI) for use in a general purpose modeling and simulation (M&S) environment. The environment consists of (1) a collection of physical and psycho-physical models that characterize the propagation of LASER light and its interaction with the eye and visual performance, and (2) a simulation capability which uses the models to evaluate various situations/configurations to answer operational ''what if'' style questions. The computing environment is Sun SPARC stations running SunOS 4.1.2. The X-Windows toolkit is OSF Motif. A thorough analysis of the M&S environment should be completed followed by the design and development of prototype GUI for the M&S system. The prototype must be written in OSF Motif, but need not be executable on a Sun platform. BAA TECHNICAL AREA NUMBER: 95-26O-PKR AL/OEO, Major Leon McLin, 210-536-4816 Stroboscopic Illumination Effects. Research needed to study effects of stroboscopic illumination on visual performance and spatial orientation. Stroboscopic illumination has been associated with spatial disorientation, vection, and vertigo. Spatial disorientation is a serious hazard for USAF pilots and has been associated with accidents. The purpose of proposed experiments should be to examine relationships of strobe frequency rate (1-100Hz), duration, and brightness on performance and spatial orientation. Possible performance abilities which might be evaluated include spatial vision capabilities between flashes, motion, and tracking ability under stroboscopic illumination. BAA TECHNICAL AREA NUMBER: 95-27O-PKR AL/OEO, Major Robert Kang, 210-536-4797 Effects of Haze and Distortion on Visual Fatigue and Stress. Research and quantify relationship between optical haze and/or distortion and ocular fatigue and stress. Haze and distortion are two measures of optical quality, often studied together because of their optical relationship. Effects of haze/distortion on visual functions have been found to be variable depending on several factors, such as ambient light condition, incident angle of light source, task at hand, and pupil size. Some visual functions studied with haze and/or distortion include visual acuity, contrast sensitivity (CSF), and modulation transfer (MTF). However, the impact of haze/distortion on ocular fatigue and stress has not been quantified, and is the object or this research area BAA TECHNICAL AREA NUMBER: 95-28O-PKR AL/OEO, Capt Randy Thompson, 210-536-2420 Experimental Data and Validation of Ocular Biophysical Models. Research to determine physical, optical, and thermal properties of biological tissues, especially ocular tissue. Biophysical models have been developed to better understand laser-tissue interactions. The models require inputs, such as the absorption spectrum of melanin and damage thresholds of retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) cells as a function of hyperbaric stress or strain. The models will only be as accurate as the underlying data defining the biophysical properties. Some of these data are poorly quantified or completely missing. The predictive capabilities of the models are limited without proper experimental validation. BAA TECHNICAL AREA NUMBER: 95-29O-PKR AL/OEO, LT Col Frank Cheney, 210-536-4817 Ocular Transfer Function. Research to develop a model of the eye that correlates the spatial distribution (retinal image) of light on the retina as a function of the location of a target within the optical field of view. Vos (ref: ''Disability Glare-State of the Art Report,'' CIE-Journal, 3/2, 39-53, 1984) has mathematically described the spatial distribution of retinal images for on-axis target viewing. A similar description is desired for off-axis target viewing. This description will require the effects of off-axis aberrations (e.g., diffraction and intraocular scattering) to determine off-axis optical quality. An ''Ocular Transfer Function'' for off-axis targets i needed to better understand the effects of veiling glare on visual performance and the risks of retinal injury from intense light sources. BAA TECHNICAL AREA NUMBER: 95-30O-PKR AL/OEO, Dr. Benjamin Rockwell, 210-536-4790 Determining Laser Beam Spot Size at Retina. Research to develop a precise method of determining the in-vivo, laser beam spot size at the retina. Information on spot sizes is required to quantify damage irradiances at the retina and to set national safety standards. The measurement technique should be able to measure spot sizes as small as 10 mm (FWHM) and as large as 400 mm (FWHM). Prerequisite studies to set safe exposure limits for lasers require the irradiation of mammalian eyes and the determination of Minimum Visible Lesion (MVL) thresholds. To limit the number of subjects needed to set safe exposures for the numerous commercial lasers commercially available, a complete understanding of the damage mechanisms and irradiance threshold is necessary. BAA TECHNICAL AREA NUMBER: 95-31O-PKR AL/OEO, Dr. Benjamin Rockwell, 210-536-4790 Development of Novel Laser Sources for Biomedical Studies. Current laser technology is capable of fielding lasers that produce beams for which the ocular damage threshold is unmeasured. The Air Force is interested in developing new laser technology for use in studies which will help determine maximum permissible exposures at new laser wavelengths and pulse durations. Laser systems that produce sufficient energy for retinal damage studies are necessary to provide data that will help to determine USAF and national laser safety standards. BAA TECHNICAL AREA NUMBER: 95-32O-PKR AL/OEO, Maj Leon McLin, 210-536-4816 Advanced Ocular and Visual Models. Research to develop or experimentally validate quantitative models of ocular anatomy, retinal physiology, and visual psychophysics. The USAF is interested in improved assessment of potential risks from over-exposure to lasers and broadband light sources. The risks include ocular damage and temporary loss of visual function or performance (e.g., acuity, target detection). Estimates of risks can be determined with the use of validated models, helping to reduce the need for expensive experimental research or improving the design concepts of new optical technologies. Efforts may address fundamental photobiology processes (e.g., bleaching of visual pigments), neural network simulation of retinal interconnections, spatial vision, or non-linear visual processing. (0074)

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