Annual and seasonal variations in tropospheric ozone concentrations around Varanasi

This study examines the annual, seasonal and diurnal variations in the ambient concentrations of ozone at a suburban site of Varanasi, India, during 2002–2006. Prominent seasonal variations in ozone concentrations were recorded. Ozone concentrations were higher during the warmer months. Daytime 12‐hourly mean monthly ozone concentrations varied from 45.18 to 62.35 ppb during summer, from 28.55 to 44.25 ppb during winter and from 24 to 43.85 ppb during the rainy season from 2002 to 2006. Distinct diurnal variations in ozone concentrations were also observed. Daytime maxima in ozone concentration were recorded between 1200 and 1400 h, whereas morning and evening hours showed lower concentrations of ozone. Ozone concentrations in the atmosphere depended on several meteorological factors. Monthly average ozone concentration was significantly correlated with maximum temperature (p<0.001) and mean monthly temperature (p<0.05), maximum relative humidity (p<0.001), minimum relative humidity (p<0.001) and mean monthly relative humidity (p<0.001), and sunshine hours (p<0.001). Ozone concentrations in the ambient air have shown an increase in the past decade that was more in the winter and rainy seasons than in the summer. This study suggests that ozone concentrations around Varanasi were sufficiently high to cause significant damage to agricultural production. The present work can be extended to a regional level by incorporating modelling studies using recent remote sensing tools.     

Effects of 12-week circuit weight training and aerobic exercise on body composition,physical fitness,and pulse wave velocity in obese collegiate women

The purpose of this study was to study the effects of 12 weeks of circuit weight training and aerobic exercise on body composition, physical fitness, and pulse wave velocity in obese collegiate women. Twelve obese collegiate women were randomly assigned either to an exercise training group (TG) or control group (CG). The main exercise program was composed of an approximately 40–65 min session of circuit weight training (resistance training and aerobic exercise) as well as jogging at an intensity of 50–70% of the age-predicted heart rate reserve. The circuit weight training program was made by Korean Institute of Sport Science and was modified as needed for obese collegiate women. All analyses were performed using SPSS and all data was reported as mean ± standard deviation (SD). Significant differences between groups were determined using a two-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) with a post hoc test (Tukey method). Statistical significance was accepted for all tests at a value of p < 0.05. The results indicated that after the 12-week intervention, there were no significant changes in body weight, % body fat, or WC in either group. There was a significant interaction of time by group with respect to body weight (p < 0.05), % body fat (p < 0.01), and WC (p < 0.01) and there was a significant change in back strength between the TG before beginning the program and the TG after having completed the program (p < 0.01). There was also a significant interaction of time by group with respect to back strength (p < 0.01), grip strength (p < 0.05), sit and reach (p < 0.01), sargent-jump (p < 0.01), and the one leg balance with eyes closed (p < 0.01); however, these differences were not statistically significant between groups. Further, there was a significant interaction of time by group with respect to the 1,200 m run for cardiopulmonary endurance (p < 0.01); however, this difference was not statistically significant between the TG pre and TG post. In addition, there was a significant in sit-ups (p < 0.01) and the 1,200 m run (p < 0.01) between the TG and CG. There was no significant difference in side-steps between the TG and CG. Further, there were no significant differences in the pulse wave velocity, RPP, SBP, DBP, and MAP between the TG and CG. In conclusion, circuit weight training and aerobic exercise had favorable effects on the occurrence of obesity and physical fitness in obese collegiate women.     

Understanding the performance impact of the epidemic prevention cloud: an integrative model of the task-technology fit and status quo bias

ABSTRACT

The epidemic prevention cloud allows infection control professionals to streamline many of their reporting procedures, thereby improving patient safety in a cost-effective manner. Based on task-technology fit and status quo bias perspectives, this study develops an integrated model to explain individuals’ health information technology usage behaviour. We conducted a field survey in 30 Taiwan hospitals to collect data from infection control professionals with using experience of the epidemic prevention cloud. A total of 167 questionnaires were sent out, and 116 were returned from 18 hospitals. To test the proposed research hypothesis, we employed a structural equation model by the partial least squares method. The results found that both task – (p?<?.01) and technology-related characteristics (p?<?.001) influence task-technology fit. Task-technology fit has a positive effect on both utilisation (p?<?.001) and performance (p?<?.001), while it appears to have a negative effect on resistance to use (p?<?.001). Our results showed that resistance to use was caused by uncertainty costs (p?<?.01) and perceived value (p?<?.01). The results indicate the significant effect of utilisation on performance (p?<?.01). Further, the results indicate a significant negative effect of resistance to use on utilisation (p?<?.05). This study illustrates the importance of incorporating post-adoption resistance in technology adoption studies     

The effects of body armour on the power development and agility of police officers

Abstract

A study was conducted in which 11 police officers wore one of three different types of Individual Light Armour Vests (ILAV), or normal station wear, for an entire day while completing power and agility-based tasks including a vertical jump (VJ), agility test, 20?m sprint and counter movement jump (CMJ). Despite all three ILAVs being significantly (p?<?.05) heavier than normal station wear, there were no significant differences between any of the ILAVs in VJ, time to complete the agility test, 20?m sprint time, peak force, velocity, power and jump distance in the CMJ. There was a significantly (p?<?.05) higher mean force produced in the CMJ while wearing all three ILAVs. The ILAV’s investigated do not appear to be heavy enough to significantly affect the power or agility of police officers. The utilisation of ILAVs by police officers does not appear to hinder policing tasks that involve agility or power development.

Practitioner summary: The addition of the extra load of military-styled body armour is known to decrease performance and mobility. When compared to normal station wear, the wearing of three different ILAV types used in policing do not appear to be heavy enough to affect the power or agility of police officers.

Abbreviations: ILAV: individual light armour vest; VJ: vertical jump; CMJ: counter movement jump; N: normal station wear     

Effects of heavy metals on the absorbance and reflectance spectra of plants

Abstract.

Published work on the reflectance of vegetation growing over soil mineralizations is reviewed. Experimental work was carried out on several species grown in a glasshouse and was extended to a pilot field study. In the laboratory studies, the most general effects of Cd, Cu, Pb or Zn were growth inhibition. A detailed study of the leaf pigments of pea plants showed that the chl a/chl b ratio (chl=chlorophyll) decreased under conditions of Cd or Cu stress but showed little effect with Pb or Zn. However, the absorption spectra of chloroplast pigments were not found to show any wavelength shifts with metal treatments, indicating that new spectral forms of chlorophyll were not produced as a stress response. A decrease in the total chlorophyll content of leaf tissue (fresh weight basis) was correlated with an increase in visible-wavelength leaf reflectance (R) of pea plants. R at infrared wavelengths of 0.85 μm, 1.65 μm and 2.20 μm decreased in metal-treated plants, compared with controls. Although experiments with other species, and a review of published literature, indicate that reflectance effects are dependent on species, phase of growth cycle and environment, the existence of correlations between R at certain wavelengths and the metal concentrations to which roots are exposed was confirmed using oak trees growing naturally in the area of a copper-arsenic mineralization in south-west England. Metal (Cu or As) concentrations in the soil were strongly negatively correlated (p > 99 per cent) with R at 1.65 μm and 2.20 μm, and positively correlated (p > 95 per cent) with R at 0.660 μm, in close agreement with the experiments on pea plants. The inclusion of the relevant infrared bands on Earth resource survey instruments is likely to enhance their usefulness for detecting heavy metal stress in plants.     

Dynamic control and conventional strength ratios of the quadriceps and hamstrings in subjects with anterior cruciate ligament deficiency

The hamstrings:quadriceps muscle strength ratio has been used as an indicator of normal balance between the knee flexors and extensors. A more functional approach to this strength ratio would be to compare opposite muscle actions of antagonistic muscle groups. The dynamic strength control ratio (DSCR) should give a more appropriate measure relating to knee function. There is a lack of normative data relating to DSCR for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) deficient subjects. EVects of ACL deficiency on isokinetic peak torque for eccentric and concentric muscle actions of the quadriceps and hamstrings, in conjunction with isometric peak torque, were examined in 10 patients awaiting reconstructive surgery (male= 8, female= 2; age= 32.8 ± 8.3 years; height= 1.77 ± 0.08 m; mass= 72.1 ± 12.5 kg). These variables were assessed using an isokinetic dynamometer. The results were considered in terms of the conventional ratio and DSCR. Anterior tibial drawer was measured using a knee ligament arthrometer to confirm clinical diagnosis of ACL rupture. The isokinetic peak torque data analysed were for angular velocities of 1.05 rad s^?1 (60° s^?1). Significant strength deficits were apparent between normal and injured sides for: concentric isokinetic quadriceps action (p < 0.05); isometric quadriceps action at 70° of knee flexion (p < 0.05); isometric quadriceps action at 40° of knee flexion (p < 0.01); eccentric isokinetic hamstrings action (p < 0.05). With bilateral comparison, the conventional strength ratios showed no significant difference, as did the DSCR. The bilateral comparison of isometric strength ratios revealed significant losses in quadriceps strength for the injured side (p < 0.05) but no significant losses in hamstring strength (p > 0.05). Thus, differences can be seen in conventional ratios and DSCR for ACL-deficient subjects. This is an area of clinical interest with the increasing frequency of ACL reconstruction using hamstrings tendons.     

Fostering critical thinking and reflection through blog‐mediated peer feedback

The introduction of digital literacy practices has created a tension in academia, with many academics challenging the view that critical thinking can be fostered on social networks. A quasi‐experimental study was conducted on two sections of university‐level writing classrooms to determine if there were meaningful differences in the quality of writing and peer feedback generated through in‐class draft workshops using traditional methods as compared to draft workshops using a blogging platform. The results indicated that blogs produced a higher quality of writing as measured by grades, f(42) = 11.512, p < .002 and acceptance scores, f(42) = 8.364, p < .006. Furthermore, blog‐mediated peer workshops produced a statistically significantly higher number of critical comments, f(42) = 120.438, p < .000; and directive comments, f(42) = 33.861, p < .000. There were no statistically significant differences in the number of editing comments, f(42) = .001, p < .974, and traditional draft workshops produced a statistically significant higher number of naïve comments, f(42) = 14.119, p < .001. Within the study, critical comments were found to correlate positively with learning outcomes, b = 1.115, t(41) = 2.716, p < .01. The findings suggest that blogging software improved learner performance and fostered complex literacy skills.     

Modeling Parallel Bandwidth: Local versus Global Restrictions

Recently there has been an increasing interest in models of parallel computation that account for the bandwidth limitations in communication networks. Some models (e.g., bsp, logp, and qsm) account for bandwidth limitations using a per-processor parameter g > 1 , such that each processor can send/receive at most h messages in g . . . h time. Other models (e.g., pram(m )) account for bandwidth limitations as an aggregate parameter m < p , such that the p processors can send at most m messages in total at each step. This paper provides the first detailed study of the algorithmic implications of modeling parallel bandwidth as a per-processor (local) limitation versus an aggregate (global) limitation. We consider a number of basic problems such as broadcasting, parity, summation, and sorting, and give several new upper and lower time bounds that demonstrate the advantage of globally limited models over locally limited models given the same aggregate bandwidth (i.e., p . . . 1/g = m ). In general, globally limited models have a possible advantage whenever there is an imbalance in the number of messages sent/received by the processors. To exploit this advantage, the processors must schedule the sending of messages so as to respect the aggregate bandwidth limit. We present a new parallel scheduling algorithm for globally limited models that enable an unknown, arbitrarily unbalanced set of messages to be sent through the limited bandwidth within a (1 + ε) factor of the optimal off-line schedule with high probability, even if the penalty for overloading the network is an exponential function of the overload. We also present a near-optimal algorithm for the case where long messages must be sent as flits in consecutive time steps, as well as for the case where new messages to be sent arrive dynamically over an infinite time line. These results consider both message passing (distributed memory) and shared memory scenarios, and improve upon the best results for the locally limited model by a factor of Θ(g) . Finally, we present results quantifying the power of concurrent reads in a globally limited bandwidth setting, including showing an Ω(p lg m/m lg p) time separation between the exclusive-read and the concurrent-read pram(m ) models, which, when m << p , greatly improves upon the separation known previously. Received June 1, 1997; revised March 10,1998.     

Orthonormal Basis Functions for Continuous-Time Systems and Lp Convergence

In this paper, model sets for linear-time-invariant continuous-time systems that are spanned by fixed pole orthonormal bases are investigated. These bases generalize the well-known Laguerre and two-parameter Kautz cases. It is shown that the obtained model sets are everywhere dense in the Hardy space H ₁(Π) under the same condition as previously derived by the authors for the denseness in the (Π is the open right half plane) Hardy spaces H _p(Π), 1<p<∞. As a further extension, the paper shows how orthonormal model sets, that are everywhere dense in H _p(Π), 1≤p<∞, and which have a prescribed asymptotic order, may be constructed. Finally, it is established that the Fourier series formed by orthonormal basis functions converge in all spaces H _p(Π) and (D is the open unit disk) H _p(D), 1<p<∞. The results in this paper have application in system identification, model reduction, and control system synthesis. Date received: June 16, 1998. Date revised February 4, 1999.     

Psychosocial risk exposures and musculoskeletal disorders across working‐age males and females

In 2008, The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU‐OSHA) reported that musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) were the most common work‐related health problem in Europe. Females are considered more susceptible to MSDs than are males, and older workers are more vulnerable than are younger workers. Factors specific to the job, work organization, and individual have been implicated as potential risk factors, with current interest focusing on psychosocial risk factors and the pathology of disorders. Although there is some disagreement in the literature, there is growing support that, after controlling for exposure, females have a predisposition to MSDs. More is known of the role of psychosocial risks in MSD etiology, but it is unclear if there are differences in exposures across gender and age and if this has a resultant effect on injury rates. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of MSDs and trends with psychosocial risks, across age and gender. The study group consisted of 200 female and 132 male employees from varied occupations within Ireland, ranging from age 18–66 years. The most prevalent symptoms of MSDs were for the lower back, shoulder, and neck regions. Age and gender differences in prevalence were evident for these regions. There was a general trend for increasing prevalence with age. For the psychosocial risks, significant differences in job content exposures were observed across age groups for males (p < 0.05) and females (p < 0.0005). There were also differences in scores across the age groups for mental health (p < 0.0005) and insecurity at work (p < 0.0005) for the females. The conclusions are that there were not sufficiently strong differences in exposures to relevant psychosocial risks both between genders and across age for a resultant effect on MSDs. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Effect of carbohydrate supplementation on simulated exercise of rugby league referees

This investigation evaluated the effectiveness of supplementing eight elite rugby league referees with a 6% maltodextrin (Md) solution whilst undertaking a simulated rugby league game. The simulation was based on motion analysis of six rugby league matches. Subjects undertook two trials of repetitive 20-m shuttle activity on an indoor track. During one trial 200 ml of Md was ingested at eight time points and in the other trial a similarly tasting placebo (Pl) was administered. A single-blind, counterbalanced design was employed. The simulation involved subjects performing four, 10-min blocks of shuttle activity before a 10-min break was instigated. Three further 10-min blocks of shuttle activity were also performed before a performance test to volitional exhaustion involving 20-m shuttles at paces varying between 55 and 95% of a pre-determined [Vdot]O_{2 max} was undertaken. Timed 15-m sprints took place during each of the 10-min blocks. The rating of perceived exertion (RPE), and blood glucose and lactate concentrations were also determined throughout. The mean number of shuttles to exhaustion was significantly greater with Md ingestion than with Pl ingestion (57 ± 19 vs. 43 ± 15; p < 0.05), while the mean 15-m sprint times were significantly shorter for the Md than the Pl condition (2.40 ± 0.09 s vs. 2.51 ± 0.14 s; p < 0.01). The mean RPE was ～ 5.2% lower during Md than Pl ingestion, the values being significantly different (Md: 12.07 ± 0.32; Pl: 12.73 ± 0.28; p < 0.01). Maltodextrin ingestion significantly elevated blood glucose levels compared with placebo (F(1,7) = 18.07: p < 0.01), although no significant differences were apparent for blood lactate levels (F(1,7) = 4.39; p > 0.05). These results highlight the beneficial eVects of maltodextrin ingestion on work-rates of rugby league referees in a simulation of a game?s activity. The improvement may be related to higher circulating concentrations of blood glucose.     

Effects of alcohol and caffeine on maritime navigational skills

Twelve experienced navigators participated in an experiment to determine the effects of alcohol, caffeine, and an alcohol + caffeine mixture on performance during the following tasks: visual search, the search and location of items on a navigational chart (chartsearch) and the solving of maritime navigational problems. Alcohol (75 ml) produced impairment in performance on visual search (p&lt; 0.05) and navigational problem-solving (p< 0.01). Caffeine was found to enhance performance on visual search (p< 0.05) but not on the chartsearch, although a significant correlation was found between performance on the two tests (p< 0.05). Caffeine was not found to improve the accuracy of navigational problem-solving (p> 0.05). Neither alcohol nor caffeine had any significant effect on the speed of problem-solving (p> 0.05).     

The effects of hyperoxia on performance during simulated firefighting work

This study evaluated the effects of hyperoxia (inspired oxygen fraction=40%) on performance during a simulated firefighting work circuit (SFWC) consisting of five events. On separate days, 17 subjects completed at least three orientation trials followed by two experimental trials while breathing either normoxic (NOX) and hyperoxic (HOX) gas mixtures that were randomly assigned in double-blind, cross-over design. Previously, ventilatory threshold (Tvent) and VO₂max had been determined during graded exercise (GXT) on a cycle ergometer. Lactate concentration in venous blood was assessed at exactly 5 min after both the experimental trials and after the GXT. Total time to complete the SFWC was decreased by 4% (p< 0.05) with HOX. No differences were observed in individual event times early in the circuit, however HOX resulted in a 12% improvement (p< 0.05) on the final event. A significantly decreased rating of perceived exertion (RPE) was also recorded immediately prior to the final event. No differences were observed in mean heart rate or post-exercise blood lactate when comparing NOX to HOX. Heart rates during the SFWC (both conditions) were higher than HR at Tvent, but lower than HR at VO₂max (p< 0.05). Post-SFWC lactate values were higher (p< 0.05) than post-VO₂max. These results demonstrate that hyperoxia provided a small but significant increase in performance during short duration, high intensity simulated firefighting work.     

Biomechanics and performance when using a standard and a vertical computer mouse

Objective: to compare the biomechanics and performance while using a vertical computer mouse (VM) and a standard mouse (SM). Methods: muscle activation (electromyography), forearm movements (electrogoniometers), performance (Fitts' Law test) and satisfaction (questionnaire) of 16 subjects were evaluated. Results: there were significant differences between the VM and the SM, respectively, on motion (28° vs. 42° pronation, p = 0.001; 5° ulnar vs. 7° radial deviation, p = 0.016) and muscle activity (13% vs. 16% of extensor carpi activity, p = 0.006; 10% vs. 13% extensor digitorum activity, p = 0.001). VM user satisfaction was good (68); however, time to target was longer (4.2 vs. 3.4 s, p < 0.001). Conclusions: using the VM decreased wrist pronation and lowered wrist extensor muscle activity, but additional training and familiarisation time may be required to improve user performance.

Practitioner Summary: Using a vertical mouse can decrease the exposure to biomechanical risk factors for computer mouse use-related musculoskeletal disorders. Using a vertical computer mouse resulted in less wrist pronation and lower wrist extensor muscle activity. But, training and familiarisation are required.     

Musculoskeletal disorder prevalence and psychosocial risk exposures by age and gender in a cohort of office based employees in two academic institutions

This study presents data on self-reported prevalence of Musculo-Skeletal Disorder (MSD) symptoms and psychosocial risk exposures by age and gender among a group of office based University workers who use their computers for at least 25% of their workday. Employees in two academic organisations received an invitation to participate in an on-line questionnaire. A total of n = 852 office workers participated in this study; yet respondents who were employed for greater than 12 months were only included in the study cohort. Furthermore, participants were only considered for further analysis if they spent 50% or more of their workday in their office, and of this time at least 50% was spent on computer work (n = 569). The study indicates that self-reported symptoms of MSDs for these workers were highest in the neck, shoulder and lower back. Neck, shoulder and back MSDs were higher for females than males, yet age differences within genders were not evident for these symptoms. For neck disorders, symptomatic individuals reported significantly higher levels of office work (p < 0.05) and PC usage (p < 0.005), and significantly lower levels of job content (p < 0.01), job demands (p < 0.05), and work environment (p < 0.05) compared to asymptomatic participants. For the shoulder, symptomatic individuals exposure levels were significantly higher for office work (p < 0.05) and PC usage (p < 0.05) and significantly lower for job content (p < 0.05) compared to asymptomatic individuals. There was evidence of important differences in the psychosocial exposures between age and genders, but associations between these differences and MSD symptoms were not present.Relevance to industryThis study presents prevalence data on age and gender differences in self-reported symptoms of MSDs and psychosocial risk exposures in a group of sedentary workers.     

Stand up: comparison of two electrical screed levelling machines to reduce the work demands for the knees and low back among floor layers

Electrical screed levelling machines are developed to reduce kneeling and trunk flexion of sand–cement-bound screed floor layers. An observational intervention study among 10 floor layers was performed to assess the differences between a self-propelled and a manually moved machine. The outcome measures were work demands, production time, perceived load, discomfort and applicability. Compared to the self-propelled machine, the duration of kneeling (?13 min; p = 0.003) and trunk flexion (?12 min; p < 0.001) was shorter using the manually moved machine, and the duration of pushing and pulling increased (?39 min; p < 0.001). No significant or relevant differences were found for production time, perceived load and discomfort. Nine out of ten floor layers found the manually moved machine applicable and three out of ten found the self-propelled machine applicable. When compared with the traditional manner of floor laying, both electrical machines reduced the exposure towards kneeling and trunk flexion.

Practitioner Summary: Electrical machines may help to reduce high physical work demands on floor layers. A manually moved machine is better applicable for the installation of screed floors in residences with smaller floor areas. A self-propelled machine is better applicable on large floor areas with a minimum width of 4 m.     

Measuring mental workload: ocular astigmatism aberration as a novel objective index

This study assessed the effect of two perceptually matched mental tasks with different levels of mental demand on ocular aberrations in a group of young adults. We measured ocular aberration with a wavefront sensor, and total, internal and corneal RMS (root mean square) aberrations were calculated from Zernike coefficients, considering natural and scaled pupils (5, 4.5, and 4 mm). We found that total, internal and corneal astigmatism RMS showed significant differences between mental tasks with natural pupils (p < .05), and this effect was maintained with 5 mm scaled pupils (total RMS astigmatism, p < .05). Consistently, pupil size, intraocular pressure, perceived mental load and cognitive performance were influenced by the level of mental complexity (p < .05 for all). The findings suggest that ocular astigmatism aberration, mediated by intraocular pressure, could be an objective, valid reliable index to evaluate the impact of cognitive processing in conjunction with others physiological markers in real world contexts.

Practitioner Summary: The search continues for a valid, reliable, convenient method of measuring mental workload. In this study we found ocular astigmatism aberration is sensitive to the cumulative effect of mental effort. It shows promise of being a novel ocular index which may help to assess mental workload in real situations.     

Comparison of two different cooling systems in alleviating thermal and physiological strain during prolonged exercise in the heat

Abstract

This study compared the efficacy of an ice vest comprising of water (WATER) or a water-carbon (CARBON) emulsion on thermophysiological responses to strenuous exercise in the heat. Twelve male cyclists completed three 50-minute constant workload trials (55% of peak power output, ambient temperature 30.4?±?0.6°C) with WATER, CARBON, and without ice vest (CONTROL), respectively. The increase in core body temperature (Tcore) was lower in WATER at 40 (?0.49?±?0.34 °C) and 50?minutes (?0.48?±?0.48 °C) and in CARBON at 30 (?0.41?±?0.48 °C), 40 (?0.54?±?0.51 °C), and 50?minutes (?0.67?±?0.62 °C) as compared to CONTROL (p?<?0.05, ES > 0.8). While heart rate and blood lactate kinetics did not differ between the conditions, statistical main effects in favour of both WATER and CARBON were found for thermal sensation (condition p?<?0.001 and interaction p?<?0.01) and rating of perceived exertion (condition p?<?0.05). Per-cooling with CARBON and WATER similarly reduced Tcore but not physiological strain during prolonged exercise in the heat.

Practitioner Summary: Exercise in the heat is characterised by increases in thermophysiological strain. Both per-cooling with a novel carbon-based and a conventional water-based ice vest were shown to reduce core temperature significantly. However, due to its lower mass, the carbon-based system may be recommended especially for weight-bearing sports.     

Individual differences,exercise and leisure activity in predicting affective well-being in young adults

This study focuses on the prevalence of exercise and health-related leisure activities (smoking, drinking), across groups of subjects, defined by personality and gender, in relation to subjective well-being. Results from a cross-sectional survey of 187 participants are reported. Males (n = 80) reported more drinking (p < 0.001) and smoking (p < 0.001) than females, though they also reported higher habitual physical activity levels (p < 0.001). Females (n = 107) reported more frequent use of social support coping (p < 0.01). There was a positive association between extraversion and self-reported habitual physical activity as well as alcohol consumption (even when controlling for gender). Neuroticism was not related to any of the exercise and leisure activity variables. Multiple regression analyses predicted 34% of variance for the depression-enthusiasm and 39% of the variance for the anxiety-contentment measures of affective well-being. Neuroticism (p < 0.001) and avoidance coping (p < 0.05) were the only significant predictors of both anxiety-contentment and depression-enthusiasm. It is concluded that the influence of individual differences such as personality and gender on coping behaviour and well-being is consistent with social learning theory research. Limitations of cross-sectional research designs necessitate caution with inferring causal paths. Recommendations for future research are presented concerning the use and value of repeated measures designs within research into exercise and well-being.     

Fatigue differences between Asian and Western populations in prolonged mentally demanding work-tasks

IntroductionWith an increase in the number of mentally demanding jobs, as well as the increase in work performed while sedentary, there is a growing imbalance in the use of body resources. This often results in an increase in fatigue in the working population. The diversity of the workforce is also increasing, whereas physiological differences based on culture are important to consider. The objective of this study was to identify the differences in the levels of fatigue in the workplace experienced by Asian and Western workers in mentally demanding jobs.MethodEight Asian and eight Western participants completed an observation-based study. Each participant was observed for four hours in their workplace while they were working on highly mentally demanding work-tasks either computer programming or mathematical simulations. To balance the effect of time, half of the participants from each ethnic group were observed in the morning session and the other half in the afternoon session. Perceived fatigue was measured every 30 min using the single dimensional Borg and multidimensional SOFI scales. Workload was measured using NASA-TLX, and as a change in resting heart rate.ResultEthnicity and time interacted to significantly affect the perceived fatigue measured by Borg (F (9,126) = 2.03, p = 0.0412) and SOFI (F(9,126) = 3.28, p = 0.0013) scales. Asian participants reported significantly higher workload measured by NASA-TLX scores (F(1, 14) = 3.68, p = 0.0024) and change in resting heart rate (F(1, 14) = 7.77, p = 0.0145) was measured higher compared to Western participants. Unlike fatigue, no significant interactions were observed between time and ethnicity to affect either NASA-TLX scores or change in resting heart rate. Post-hoc analyses show that the rate of fatigue was higher for Asian participants. Correlations between the dependent variables were significant (p < 0.0001), with a stronger correlation identified for Asian participants.ConclusionAs compared to the Western participants, Asian participants reported higher values in all dependent measures, including fatigue in both scales, NASA-TLX scores, and change in resting heart rate.Relevance to industryThe significant growth in white-collar as well as mentally demanding jobs requires more cognitive resources, while reducing physical activities. The consequences of the imbalances in the use of body resources have yet to be studied. This study has been designed to investigate the issues of imbalance in the workplace.