Hand anthropometry survey of rural farm workers in south-eastern Nigeria

The importance of hand anthropometry as it relates to design of hand tools particularly for farm workers have been established; however, anthropometric data for this group of agricultural workers have continued to remain scarce. A survey of hand anthropometry relevant in design of agricultural hand tools was carried out on 200 male and 100 female adult farm workers in south-eastern Nigeria. Comparison of the male and female data obtained showed that male dimensions were higher than that recorded for the females. The hand anthropometric data of the male and female farm workers were compared with that of other populations but no clear distinction was observed. It was however clear that the following hand dimensions, 2nd Joint to root digit 3 and width at tip digit 3 recorded for Nigerian farm workers were highest and lowest, respectively, compared to other populations.

Practitioner Summary:

Hand anthropometric data relevant in design of hand tools have continued to remain scarce particularly for farm workers. Hand anthropometry survey of farm workers carried out in south-eastern Nigeria revealed higher dimensions for males than females; however, no clear distinction was observed in comparison with other populations.     

A survey of hand anthropometry of female rural farm workers in Ibadan,Western Nigeria

An anthropometric survey measuring 18 dimensions of the right hand in 37 female rural farm workers living in Ibadan, western Nigeria was conducted. The means, standard deviations and percentile values are reported for these. The means of the collected data are compared with those for females from the UK, from Hong Kong and from America, using data from other published studies. The results suggest that the Nigerian female hand is wider and thicker, but shorter than that of their foreign counterparts. Such differences have implications for design and evaluation of hand tools for the Nigerian female population.     

A survey of hand anthropometry of female rural farm workers in Ibadan, western Nigeria

An anthropometric survey measuring 18 dimensions of the right hand in 37 female rural farm workers living in Ibadan, western Nigeria was conducted. The means, standard deviations and percentile values are reported for these. The means of the collected data are compared with those for females from the UK, from Hong Kong and from America, using data from other published studies. The results suggest that the Nigerian female hand is wider and thicker, but shorter than that of their foreign counterparts. Such differences have implications for design and evaluation of hand tools for the Nigerian female population.     

A survey of anthropometry and physical accommodation in ergonomics curricula

The size and shape of users are an important consideration for many products and environments. Designers and engineers in many disciplines must often accommodate these attributes to meet objectives such as fit and safety. When practitioners have academic training in addressing these issues, it is typically through courses in Human Factors/Ergonomics (HF/E). This paper investigates education related to physical accommodation and offers suggestions for improvement. A survey was conducted wherein 21 instructors at 18 universities in the United States provided syllabi for 29 courses, which were analysed to determine topics related to anthropometry and resources used for the courses. The results show that within the US, anthropometry is covered in the majority of courses discussing physical ergonomics, but important related concepts were often omitted (e.g. digital human modelling, multivariate accommodation and variability across global populations). Curricula could be improved by incorporating more accurate anthropometry, multivariate problems and interactive online tools.

Practitioner Summary: This paper describes a study investigating collegiate ergonomics courses within the US in the area of physical accommodation. Course schedules and texts were studied for their treatment of several topics related to accommodating the spatial requirements (anthropometry) of users. Recommendations are made for improving course curricula.     

Examining the relationship between job design and worker strain over time in a sample of office workers

This study examines relationships between job design variables and worker strain. Office workers from a public service organization participated in a three-year study. Once during each of the three years, the same questionnaire was handed out to the subjects to examine job design and worker strain. The results indicate that the bivariate relationships between job design and worker strain change over time. At round 1, quantitative workload, work pressure and supervisor social support were the most important predictors of the worker strain variables. At round 2, task clarity, supervisor social support, and job future ambiguity were the most important predictors of worker strain. At round 3, task clarity, attention, and job future ambiguity were the most consistent predictors of worker strain. The results of the canonical correlation analysis were relatively similar for rounds 1 and 3, but not for round 2. There appears to be some consistency in the overall underlying structure of the relationships between job design and worker strain, but there is also some inconsistency in terms of which specific job design factors are related to specific measures of worker strain.     

A review of the methodology and applications of anthropometry in ergonomics and product design

Abstract

Anthropometry is a key element of ergonomic studies for addressing the problem of fitting the tasks/products to user characteristics, but there is a gap between anthropometric data and their application for designing ergonomic products and environments. This research was conducted to review the literature on the methodology and applications of anthropometry for the ergonomic design of products and environments, and to identify where further research is needed to improve its application and evaluation protocols. One hundred and sixteen papers meeting the inclusion criteria were reviewed. Although a number of anthropometric investigations have been conducted to improve the design of products/environments for different users, further research seems to be necessary, particularly for special groups, such as children, the elderly and people with disabilities. Different anthropometric measurement methods/techniques and fitting criteria are discussed regarding their applicability for various design applications. This review also highlights methodological issues (sampling considerations and prototype evaluation and testing) that should be considered in future research to ensure a user-centred approach of the design process.

Practitioner Summary: A literature review was conducted on the methodology and applications of anthropometry for the ergonomic design of products/environments. This review emphasises the need for anthropometric research to design for special groups, such as children, the elderly and people with disabilities, and methodological issues that should be considered in future research.

Abbreviations: 1D: one-dimensional; 2D: two-dimensional; 3D: three-dimensional; HF/E: Human Factors/Ergonomics; PCA: Principal Components Analysis; CA: Cluster Analysis; DHM: Digital Human Modelling     

The development of anti-heat stress clothing for construction workers in hot and humid weather

The purpose of this study was to develop anti-heat stress clothing for construction workers in hot and humid weather. Following DeJonge’s functional clothing design process, the design situation was explored, including clothing fabric heat/moisture transporting properties and UV protection and the aspects of clothing ergonomic design (mobility, convenience, and safety). The problem structure was derived from the results of the surveys in three local construction sites, which agreed well with the task requirements and observations. Specifications were consequently described and 30 commercially available fabrics were identified and tested. Fabric testing data and design considerations were inputted in S-smart system to predict the thermal functional performance of the clothing. A new uniform prototype was developed and evaluated. The results of all measurements suggest that the new uniform which incorporated fabrics with superior heat/moisture transporting properties and loose-fitting design could reduce the workers’ heat stress and improve their comfort and work performance.

Practitioner Summary:

The construction workers’ uniform currently used in Hong Kong during summer was unsatisfactory. Following DeJonge’s functional clothing design process, an anti-heat stress uniform was developed by testing 30 fabrics and predicting clothing thermal functional performance using S-smart system. The new uniform could reduce the workers’ heat stress and improve their comfort and work performance.     

A survey of primary and secondary keys through a case study

Two fundamental decisions face the designer of a database under an inverted file data base management system: (1) potential primary/secondary key definition and (2) selection among candidate keys for indexing. Functional dependencies and normalization have been defined as ways to construct potential primary keys. This tutorial paper suggests a set of both primary and secondary key types which has been helpful in developing potential keys. This set and the motivation for it are illustrated from an actual business database application. This application is further used to overview the benefits of a database design tool called ASSIST which evaluates alternative, potential keys.     

Reference Service Delivery System in West Africa: Limitations and Prospects as Seen From Kenneth Dike Library,University of Ibadan,Nigeria

This paper focuses on the centrality of reference services to the practice of librarianship. It enumerates the limitations faced by Kenneth Dike Library (KDL) in its bid to deploy Information Communications Technology (ICT) to its reference services delivery system. Being a university library in a developing country, KDL has to cope with the problems confronting universities in Nigeria. The problems that plague the ivory towers and, consequently, the libraries that serve them, include lack of proper funding, infrastructural deficiencies, inability to retain information technology experts, and intra-local politics regarding the control of ICT facilities in the library. The paper also projects on KDL's efforts at establishing the virtual reference suite to complement its present reference services.     

Main and interactive effects of shiftwork, age and work stress on health in an Italian sample of healthcare workers

Among healthcare workers, shiftwork (mostly if nightwork is also included), ageing and work-related stress may be factors leading to impaired health. Such risk factors may also operate in interaction, resulting in an even increased harm for health. The present study aims at evaluating these relationships in a sample of 1842 hospital workers in Northern Italy. Subjects were mainly women, 33.1% were aged > or = 45 yr, and they were almost evenly distributed between dayworkers and rotating shiftworkers (nights included). Shiftwork was associated with poor sleep, while it was protective against gastrointestinal disorders, poor work ability and job dissatisfaction. Work stress was the risk factor with the highest relevance for poor health. Ageing was associated with lower physical health. Few significant interactions were observed. Shiftwork with nights and high work stress significantly interacted in increasing the risk for poor sleep. The "healthy worker effect" may have played a strong role in study findings.     

Manual materials handling: a survey of risks,and the selection and training of workers in Singapore

A survey of 83 plants employing safety officers indicated that in 66% of them, workers were involved in manual lifting. The average number of manual lifting tasks was three per plant. Only about 6% of the total workforce were involved in manual lifting. Using the NIOSH Lifting Guidelines, the survey revealed that 30% of the lifting tasks were above the Maximum Permissible Limit, 50% were between the Maximum Permissible Limit and the Action Level, and only 20% were below the Action Level. A majority of the plants used a self-selection method to match a worker to the physical demands of a given manual lifting task. Training of workers in manual materials handling was provided by 76% of the plants. The principal methods of training included a poster campaign and demonstration of lifting techniques. The basic handling skills were taught in 90% of the plants. The content of training was incomplete, however, and further improvement was necessary.     

A survey of reasoning procedures in knowledge based systems for economics and management

This paper surveys reasoning and inference strategies as especially relevant for knowledge based systems in economics and management. This requires elements of object oriented features, numerical and text constraints, search over time, game power conflict resolution. Specific functionalities are discussed.     

Triangular Curved Surface Construction of A Series of Arbitrary Disordered Points in Space

Constructing Bernstein-Bezier triangular interpolating curve surface interpolating a series of arbitrary disordered data points is of considerable importance for the design and modeling of surfaces with a variety of continuity information. In this article. a kind of simple and reliable algorithm that can process complex field triangular grid generating is presented, and a group of formulae for determining triangular curved surface with wholly C1 continuity are given. It can process arbitrary non-convex boundary and can be used to construct surfaces inner holes.     

识别密码算法具体实现中潜在功耗攻击的理论分析方法

为验证密码算法具体实现技术抗功耗攻击的有效性,提出一种可发现在密码算法具体实现中可能存在的功耗攻击的分析方法,主要包括识别潜在攻击的基本理论、描述密码算法具体实现的增强数据相关图、根据基本理论和增强数据相关图以识别不同强度功耗攻击的算法,并给出针对一种典型的AES算法防护技术的分析结果.结合文中的结果以及密码算法部件抗功耗攻击能力的量化分析,可以建立相应的抗功耗攻击的设计流程.     

Load Balancing in CORBA: A Survey of Concepts,Patterns, and Techniques

CORBA is an industrial standard for distributed object-oriented applications covering aspects such as heterogeneity and interoperability of products of different vendors. However, the CORBA standard does not define any methods for load balancing and there is a considerable confusion of terms describing associated load balancing techniques. Starting from the general platform- and language-independent CORBA object model, this paper presents a new hierarchical classification of possible load distribution methods for CORBA applications. The classification is a valuable starting point to identify the load balancing method that is appropriate for a given application. Furthermore, we show the relations to modern software design patterns and indicate the places in a CORBA application where load balancing components such as monitoring (obtaining load information), strategy (performing load distribution decisions), and control (executing the strategy decisions) may be integrated. Besides the discussion of the general object model as defined in the CORBA standard, we deal with concrete CORBA-compliant Object Request Brokers such as Orbix and VisiBroker. The presented techniques and examples are useful to systematically evaluate whether a given CORBA ORB can be used to implement a load balancing method as required by the application.     

A survey of models and algorithms for emergency response logistics in electric distribution systems. Part I: Reliability planning with fault considerations

Emergency response operations in electric distribution systems involve a host of decision-making problems at the reliability and contingency planning levels. Those operations include fault diagnosis, fault location, fault isolation, restoration, and repair. As the first of a two-part survey, this paper reviews optimization models and solution methodologies for reliability planning problems with fault considerations related to electric distribution operations. Contingency planning problems of emergency distribution response are discussed in the second part. The present paper surveys research on determining a distribution substation single-fault capacity, reallocating excess load, configuring distribution systems, partitioning a geographical area into service territories, and locating material stores and depots.     

构建激发想象力与创造力的素描教学新模式——当代语境中的素描教学实践与思考

置身艺术观念及媒介不断推陈出新的当代语境中,如何有效地激发学生的想象力及创造力,并为他们进入当代艺术创作语境打下基础,成为当前素描教学所必须面临的新课题。汕头大学长江艺术与设计学院引入前沿的教学理念与方法,通过对素描创作来源上进行横向类比联系,表达方式上进行纵向手法拓宽,努力构建激发学生想象力与创造力的素描教学新模式。本文为笔者参与学院素描改革教学的一些实践与思考。     

ℓ2 Gain Estimation and Visualization of A Control Parameter Set in 3D Space Using Plant Response Data

In this paper, a novel parameter space approach that uses volume rendering is proposed to visualize controller parameter sets that consist of three controller parameters. An off‐line design method for robust control using plant response data is also studied. A solution set with equal ?₂ gain can be visualized as isosurfaces in three‐dimensional space, and the designer can visually select an appropriate parameter. This numerical method is applicable to many practical specifications, in contrast to analytical methods based on solving equations. An estimation method based on the extension theorem and a method using bandpass filters are both considered as possible methods for estimating the ?₂ gain of the sensitivity functions when using grid points on the order of tens of thousands to create the volume data.The former method is superior to the latter with respect to accuracy but impractical with respect to computational load. The latter method is hence practical, because the computing time is reduced to less than 0.05 s for about 300,000 grid points by parallel computation with a graphical processing unit.