Bacteria in Indoor and Occupational Settings

Author(s):  
Mark A. Barnes
2018 ◽  
Vol 69 (2) ◽  
pp. 346-349 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marina Ruxandra Otelea ◽  
Oana Cristina Arghir ◽  
Corina Zugravu ◽  
Eugenia Naghi ◽  
Sabina Antoniu ◽  
...  

Regarding the widely distribution of respiratory exposure hazards in occupational settings, workers have an increased risk for chronic lung diseases. For assessing the quality of life and lung function in workers exposed to chemicals and dust, St George�s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) and spirometry were performed among 40 patients, admitted in Occupational Clinic Department of Colentina Hospital, Bucharest, Romania, during February, 2017. SGRQ showed different predictors for patients according to their occupational exposure and total symptoms score correlated better with decreased spirometric parameters in defining lung function deterioration. Quality of life is earlier affected than lung function deterioration and emphasises the need of more sensitive methods for an earlier identification and better evaluation of respiratory hazards in different workplaces.


Author(s):  
Yaqoub Yusuf ◽  
Jodi Boutte’ ◽  
Asante’ Lloyd ◽  
Emma Fortune ◽  
Renaldo C. Blocker

A workplace that is a conduit for positive emotions can be important to employees retention and can contribute optimal levels of productivity. Validated tools for examining emotions are primarily subjective and retrospective in nature. Recent advances in technology have led to more novel and passive ways of measuring emotions. Wearable sensors, such as electroencephalogram (EEG), are being explored to assess cognitive and physical burdens objectively and in real-time. Therefore, there exists a need to investigate and validate the use of EEG to examine emotions objectively and in real-time. In this paper, we conducted a scoping review of EEG to measure positive emotions and/or indicators of joy in the workplace. Our review results in 22 articles that employ EEG to study joy in occupational settings. Three major themes identified in the analysis include (1) EEG for symptoms detection and outcomes, (2) Populations studied using EEG, and (3) EEG electrode systems.


Author(s):  
Ivan Nail-Ulloa ◽  
Sean Gallagher ◽  
Rong Huangfu ◽  
Dania Bani-Hani ◽  
Nathan Pool

This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of 3D L5/S1 moment estimates from a wearable inertial motioncapture system during manual lifting tasks. Reference L5/S1 moments were calculated using inversedynamics bottom-up and top-down laboratory models, based on the data from a measurement systemcomprising optical motion capture and force plates. Nine groups of four subjects performed tasks consistingof lifting and lowering 10 lbs. load with three different heights and asymmetry angles. As a measure ofsystem performance, the root means square errors and absolute peak errors between models werecompared. Also, repeated measures analyses of variance were calculated comparing the means and theabsolute peaks of the estimated moments. The results suggest that most of the estimates obtained from thewireless sensor system are in close correspondence when comparing the means, and more variability isobserved when comparing peak values to other models calculating estimates of L5/S1 moments.


2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 174-190 ◽  
Author(s):  
April Rose Panganiban ◽  
Gerald Matthews ◽  
Michael D. Long

Human–Machine teaming is a very near term standard for many occupational settings and still requires considerations for the design of autonomous teammates (ATs). Transparency of system processes is important for human–machine interaction and reliance but standards for its implementation are still being explored. Embedding social cues is a potential design approach, which may capture the social benefits of a team environment, yet vary with task setting. The current study examined the manipulation of transparency of benevolent intent from an AT within a piloting task requiring suppression of enemy defenses. Specifically, the benevolent AT maintained task communication as in a neutral condition, but included messages of support and awareness of errors. Benevolent communication reduced reported workload and increased reported team collaboration, indicating that this team intent was beneficial. In addition, trust and acceptance of the AT were rated higher by individuals tasked with depending on the system to protect them from missile threats. The need for information from ATs is beneficial, however may vary depending on team type.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document