Sex Variation of Motion Stereotypic Response among Adult Bengalee Population for the Operation of Some Simple Control-Display Units

Population stereotype point out to a long-term habit and well embedded knowledge of a particular population. This study was carried out to evaluate the variation in index of reversibility, response preference and response initiation time among male and female subjects for some simple analog control-display units. A total of 999 subjects were responded, among them 591 were male and 408 were female (having the age range of 15-60 years). To conduct the study five types of analog displays viz., rotary control knob with horizontal display, rotary control knob with vertical display, and rotary control knob with circular display, horizontally aligned rocker switches and vertically aligned rocker switches for electric lights were fabricated. The subjects were asked to move the control to get the desired display and the response preference and response initiation time were noted as the results. The results showed that the best control-display unit was the rotary control-vertical display combination on the basis of index of reversibility for both sexes. Statistical analysis of the data showed that preferred response percentage or were significantly (P less than 0.05 or less) different for both sexes in case of all the rotary control analog display operations but for rocker switch-electric light unit operation it was found that both group showed similar stereotypic strength and direction. Response initiation time also found to be significantly (P less than 0.001) different, it was also found that higher preferred response percentage showed shorter response initiation time. It may be concluded that gender has a profound impact on motion stereotypic responses.

Impact of Work Related Stress on Motion Stereotypic Responses

Stereotypes can be referred as conditioned reflexes which have become subconscious and automatic. In the present study efforts have been made to figure out how work stress affects motion stereotype. The study was performed on a group of pole manufacturing workers (n=44) having the age group of 45-54 years. The work related stress was evaluated in terms of CSI (Cardiovascular Stress Index) of the subjects on the basis of their heart rates. The subjects were divided into three groups (light stress, moderate stress and high stress) according to the percentile values of CSI. Direction of motion stereotype was determined for different control-display units, viz., rotary control knob and horizontal display , rotary control knob and vertical display, rotary control knob and circular display, and rocker switch in horizontal and vertical alignment for ‘on’ and ‘off’ response. Index of reversibility of the direction of motion stereotype was determined. Experiments were also performed for right and left handed workers separately. The response initiation time of the workers was computed by a digital timer. Results showed that there was no significant difference in the direction of motion stereotype between left and right handed workers. Significant difference (p<0.05 or less) in the direction of motion stereotype of the workers was observed in most of the control display combinations among different stress levels. The index of reversibility was decreased with increased stress level. It may be concluded that work related stress had a notable effect on motion stereotypic responses of the factory workers.

Applying Econometrics to the Carbon Dioxide “Control Knob”

This paper tests various propositions underlying claims that observed global temperature change is mostly attributable to anthropogenic noncondensing greenhouse gases, and that although water vapour is recognized to be a dominant contributor to the overall greenhouse gas (GHG) effect, that effect is merely a “feedback” from rising temperatures initially resultingonlyfrom “non-condensing” GHGs and not at all from variations in preexisting naturally caused atmospheric water vapour (i.e., [H2O]). However, this paper shows that “initial radiative forcing” is not exclusively attributable to forcings from noncondensing GHG, both because atmospheric water vapour existed before there were any significant increases in GHG concentrations or temperatures and also because there is no evidence that such increases have produced measurably higher [H2O]. The paper distinguishes between forcing and feedback impacts of water vapour and contends that it is theprimaryforcing agent, at much more than 50% of the total GHG gas effect. That means that controlling atmospheric carbon dioxide is unlikely to be an effective “control knob” as claimed by Lacis et al. (2010).