Dredging and disposal of fine sediments in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Dredging is employed quite frequently in the state of Rio de Janeiro, especially for the installation and upkeep of commercial ports and rehabilitation of the hydraulic section of silted bodies of water. Until recently, all dredged material with no economic use was destined for marine disposal or stored at the edge of the water body. Since the 1990s, however, a new approach has been adopted for dredging as a result of pressure from the environmental organisations, encouraging closer interaction in Rio de Janeiro between the local and state public authorities and the universities on issues relating to licensing of this kind of activity. The recent experiments of the Civil and Ocean Engineering Programs of COPPE-UFRJ (Federal University of Rio de Janeiro) described herein are included in this context. The state of Rio de Janeiro has three bays, several coastal lagoon systems and a number of small and medium sized rivers in or close to urban areas, with a gentle slope as they near the sea. This is, then, a region highly susceptible to silting processes of water bodies, and therefore, to maintenance and/or environmental rehabilitation. As discussed in the article, fine and almost always organic sediments prevail, which is a considerable obstacle to the end disposal and possibility of reuse.     

面向居家场景的股骨干骨折康复辅具设计

目的以股骨干骨折病人居家康复存在的问题为切入点,为辅助股骨干骨折病人在家中进行标准化康复训练,从场景角度对病人居家康复辅具的设计需求进行分析,设计一款适用于居家场景的股骨干骨折康复辅具,同时为康复辅具的家用化设计提供新路径。方法研究中首先分析了医院和家庭两种不同场景的环境特点,通过研究目标用户及典型康复训练场景,提炼了在两种场景中的股骨干骨折病人康复需求。通过列举两种场景中的病人康复需求的差异,分析了在两种场景中康复产品的异同点,从而确定了居家场景下康复产品的设计需求。结果设计了股骨干骨折家用康复训练辅具,该产品可帮助病人在居家场景下进行有效的康复训练,记录病人训练时的数据,进行康复训练方案的推荐,评估病人的康复进展并可将病人的训练和评估数据传递给医生。此外,设计时充分考虑了易用性和舒适性等用户体验要素,能够给病人带来良好的使用体验。结论家用康复辅具的设计,应从场景的角度入手,挖掘居家场景中病人的康复需求,从而定义产品的功能,使产品更加适用于居家康复的需要。     

具身认知视角下膝关节康复机的情感化设计研究

目的为加速膝关节生理性疾病患者的康复进程,提升其使用康复机的体验,并满足其潜在的心理需求,从具身认知的视角出发,构建目标用户心理情绪与行为经验间的关系,探讨康复机的情感化设计策略。方法以CPM机为例,首先借助访谈、随行观察、数据分析等方法,搜集并提取患者在使用康复机时的关键动作与情感需求,从而进行重要性的排序;其次明确影响关键动作与患者情感需求的各因素的权重;最后进一步使用层次分析法设计评价指标体系,进行认知情绪—具身动作—设计元素的映射研究。结论提出了膝关节康复机的情感化设计策略,满足了患者在康复过程中关键动作和认知情绪的要求,优化了训练过程中的用户体验。设计策略可应用于膝关节康复产品的设计之中,这有利于患者认知情绪与具身动作上的优化,从而加快康复进程。     

The integration of the standards systems of quality management,environmental management and occupational health and safety management

This paper considers the systems of Quality, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety management. It prospectively analyses the advantages and disadvantages of integrating these systems, as opposed to the systems having independent management in a manufacturing company. Quality Management standards' (ISO 9000) evolution towards Total Quality Management is the starting point. Recent revisions embodied some of the requirements portrayed in the Environmental Management standards (ISO 14000), as well as issues pertaining to Occupational Health and Safety (OHSAS 18001). This tendency towards inclusion of material from different standards systems is expected to be even more evident in the forthcoming revision of the ISO 9000 standards. There is still a notorious absence of an integrated document; ISO has not yet adopted the OHSAS 18001 standard and there are hardships inherent in such an integrative approach. Commonalities between the three systems are emphasized. Foreseen advantages for companies pertain to economies of scale in the certification processes and a joint approach to the provision of quality, environmental responsibility and workforce protection. As a conclusion, the need to pursue standards integration is emphasized. The paper also exposes some predictive gains to be encountered in further integrating the standards system with the inclusion of ergonomics certification.     

Risk analysis of human error in interaction design by using a hybrid approach based on FMEA,SHERPA, and fuzzy TOPSIS

User experience is the focus of interaction design, and designing for errors is crucial for improving user experience. One method of designing for errors is to identify human errors and then initiate corrective actions on high-risk errors to reduce their adverse effects. In this study, we proposed a hybrid approach for risk analysis of human error concerning user experience of interactive systems. In this approach, systematic human error reduction and prediction approach (SHERPA) is first adopted to identify human error concerning user experience. Subsequently, failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA) is used to analyze the risk factors of the error, including occurrence, severity, and detection. Fuzzy technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) is then used to calculate the risk priority number to rank the errors. Finally, corrective actions for high-risk errors are recommended. An in-vehicle information system was used to demonstrate the proposed approach. The results indicated that the proposed approach can effectively analyze the risk of human error concerning user experience and be used as a universal reliability approach for improving user experience in interaction design.     

How to assess the risks of nanotechnology: learning from past experience

Nanotechnology may yield a plethora of beneficial applications, but it can also be expected to present risks. The challenge is to anticipate and reduce environmental and health risks or, at a minimum, identify and deal with such threats once they begin to become evident. Past experience, particularly with the fuel additive MTBE (methyl tertiary butyl ether), provides valuable guidance on how to assess the potential risks of nanotechnology using a comprehensive environmental assessment approach, which combines a product life-cycle perspective with the risk assessment paradigm. This systematic approach can serve not only to guide the development of a research strategy for assessing the risks of nanotechnology but possibly even help avert unintended consequences of nanotechnology.     

Multidimensional life cycle assessment on various moulded pulp production systems

Moulded pulp has been used as an alternative to plastic in certain packaging applications, but some problems in the production system lead to higher costs including energy consumption. Industry tends to operate on the basis of experience rather than through scientific evaluation and systematic design methods. The research aims at detecting the problems in the production system by a multidimensional life cycle assessment (MLCA) with transparent analysis. The MLCA measures the performance of the moulded pulp production system with regard to technical, economic and environmental aspects and produces quantitative results (in monetary units), and finally indicates the overall efficiency of the production system using a sustainability index (SI). A life cycle impact assessment method based on endpoint modelling (LIME) is mainly adopted in the MLCA. Three existing moulded pulp production systems for industrial packaging in China were assessed in this study. The results show that the main environmental impacts of the three production systems are the atmospheric emissions and landfill waste; the drying stage in the production systems, which is dominated by consumption of resources and environmental impacts, is the key to controlling costs; steam should be the first preferred heat source in the drying process for achieving sustainability in the moulded pulp production system. The optimum for the three cases is identified by calculating the newly developed SI. The MLCA approach can be used to assist in identifying potential improvements and practical new packaging designs. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Plug-and-play inference for disease dynamics: measles in large and small populations as a case study

Statistical inference for mechanistic models of partially observed dynamic systems is an active area of research. Most existing inference methods place substantial restrictions upon the form of models that can be fitted and hence upon the nature of the scientific hypotheses that can be entertained and the data that can be used to evaluate them. In contrast, the so-called plug-and-play methods require only simulations from a model and are thus free of such restrictions. We show the utility of the plug-and-play approach in the context of an investigation of measles transmission dynamics. Our novel methodology enables us to ask and answer questions that previous analyses have been unable to address. Specifically, we demonstrate that plug-and-play methods permit the development of a modelling and inference framework applicable to data from both large and small populations. We thereby obtain novel insights into the nature of heterogeneity in mixing and comment on the importance of including extra-demographic stochasticity as a means of dealing with environmental stochasticity and model misspecification. Our approach is readily applicable to many other epidemiological and ecological systems.     

A review of contributions of human tissue studies to biokinetics, bioeffects and dosimetry of plutonium in man

This paper briefly reviews the contributions made by human tissue studies to improved understanding of the biokinetics, dosimetry and potential bioeffects of plutonium in man. It includes consideration of tissue donations from both environmental and occupational populations, along with a brief history of human experience with plutonium and consideration of the bioethical aspects of post-mortem human tissue sampling.     

智慧医疗视角下虚拟康复服务系统设计研究

目的 为解决分散式康复服务与医疗物资资源供不应求问题，运用物联网构建一个互联互通的智慧康复服务系统，该系统将医疗、管理、数据、虚拟现实相结合，为患者提供完整的多元化康复服务。方法 将智慧医疗的服务设计思维引入康复服务系统中，对现有的康复服务进行分析，发现痛点与核心需求，寻找机会点，重新构建康复服务触点，并将虚拟现实技术介入其中，实现各触点间的优化配置，建立康复服务系统设计理论框架。结论 提出“以人为中心、系统化、可持续、共生价值”四大核心设计观为基础的康复服务系统设计思维，构建了虚拟康复服务系统，形成了医疗服务资源共享、康复训练环境多元化和信息数据可视化的线上线下联动的“双向导诊”康复体系，有利于提升用户的情感体验和康复效率，为智慧医疗运动康复服务的创新设计提供了可借鉴的理论依据。     

Experience gained from the Ciemat External Dosimetry Service participation in several environmental dosimetry intercomparisons

This paper summarises the experience gained by the Ciemat External Dosimetry Service (EDS) in the environmental dosimetry intercomparisons organised by the US Department of Energy. During the three latest intercomparisons. important dosimetry aspects such as energy calibration, energy response, dosimetric quantities and signal stability have been tested by the Ciemat EDS on up to seven different thermoluminescent (TL) materials, including hypersensitive phosphors, and employing several dosimetric systems. In last year's intercomparison, in addition to TL dosemeters the Ciemat EDS sent a set of silicon diode active dosemeters, usually used as personal dosemeters, to be tested in environmental conditions without intervention for more than 3 months. All the results obtained from different dosemeters have undergone an exhaustive analysis process in order to find some conclusions that may help to increase the knowledge of field performance of these devices in real but controlled environmental conditions.     

EIA and EMS integration: not wasting the opportunity

Environmental tools such as environmental impact assessment (EIA) and environmental management systems (EMS) can be applied to ensure that major projects are constructed and operated using an approach that enables effective environmental protection. Previous research has shown that these tools are frequently applied in isolation at different stages of the project life cycle. The extent of EIA/EMS integration amongst nine of the biggest UK waste management companies was investigated through semi-structured interviews with environmental staff and thematic analysis of their responses. The research found that partial integration of EIA and EMS is widespread. Companies recognised a range of potential benefits to more closely integrating their processes such as system efficiencies, data availability and recognition from the regulator. However, significant barriers to further integration were identified in the form of cost, company structure and the size of the organisation. In a context where the regulation of the waste industry is increasingly aligned towards a risk-based approach, there is a new opportunity to use EIA outputs in an enhanced EMS. More generally, companies should seek to maintain continuity of personnel across the project life cycle and structure their environmental functions so that EIA and EMS staff can work more closely. This would help ensure that the greatest benefit is derived from both tools.     

Industry environmental processes: beyond compliance

This paper discusses systems of good environmental management, adopted by industry, which go beyond (rather than replace) compliance with laws and regulations, as part of the quality revolution impacting both global and local companies and plants. From environmental auditing to environmental management systems, industry is increasingly focusing not just on compliance with laws—as important as that might be—but on continuous improvement in environmental practices as a marketplace demand. Movement has occurred in three directions: towards (1) enforcement strategies, (2) trade relations, including environmental cooperation, and (3) marketing of diligence as an attractive asset in environmental conduct. Consequently, the responsible green approach is also developing rapidly. That approach among management systems should be encouraged by industry, governments, environmental groups, and the public as a positive process that enhances sustainability as well as giving a competitive edge to local economies. Mexico's embrace of good environmental management as it responsibly develops is exemplary for, and evidence of, its leadership of other Latin American countries, and for other countries, such as China, that are making strides in achieving growth and environmental safeguards.     

Evaluation of engineering properties for the use of leached brown coal ash in soil covers

The need to engineer cover systems for the successful rehabilitation or remediation of a wide variety of solid wastes is increasing. Some common applications include landfills, hazardous waste repositories, or mine tailings dams and waste rock/overburden dumps. The brown coal industry of the Latrobe Valley region of Victoria, Australia, produces significant quantities of coal ash and overburden annually. There are some site-specific acid mine drainage (AMD) issues associated with overburden material. This needs to be addressed both during the operational phase of a project and during rehabilitation. An innovative approach was taken to investigate the potential to use leached brown coal ash in engineered soil covers on this overburden dump. The basis for this is two-fold: first, the ash has favourable physical characteristics for use in cover systems (such as high storage capacity/porosity, moderately low permeability, and an ability to act as a capillary break layer generating minimal leachate or seepage); and second, the leachate from the ash is mildly alkaline (which can help to mitigate and reduce the risk of AMD). This paper will review the engineering issues involved in using leached brown coal ash in designing soil covers for potentially acid-forming overburden dumps. It presents the results of laboratory work investigating the technical feasibility of using leached brown coal ash in engineered solid waste cover systems.     

An optimization model of sewage rehabilitation

Abstract

Due to low visibility, sewer systems are difficult to monitor, maintain and rehabilitate. To prevent failures, environmental pollution, and wastewater treatment overflow, regular rehabilitation of sewage is necessary. However, sewage rehabilitation usually costs an immense amount of money and is hampered by a limited budget. Thus, efficient planning of maintenance and rehabilitation for sewage upkeep is demanded. In this paper, an optimization model has been built to find an appropriate rehabilitation strategy consisting of a rehabilitation method and a substitute material for each pipe failure under a limited budget. The optimization model was designed to search for a Pareto curve (or trade‐off front) consisting of a set of optimal solutions with desirable rehabilitation effectiveness at the least cost. This paper employs genetic algorithms (GA) to obtain a Pareto curve at a low computation cost for large and complex sewer systems. This optimization model was applied to a sewer system in the 15^th district of Kaohsiung City, Taiwan. Compared with the experts’ manual estimation, the optimization model saved about 20% of the rehabilitation cost for Kaohsiung City.     

The driver,the road,the rules … and the rest? A systems-based approach to young driver road safety

The persistent overrepresentation of young drivers in road crashes is universally recognised. A multitude of factors influencing their behaviour and safety have been identified through methods including crash analyses, simulated and naturalistic driving studies, and self-report measures. Across the globe numerous, diverse, countermeasures have been implemented; the design of the vast majority of these has been informed by a driver-centric approach. An alternative approach gaining popularity in transport safety is the systems approach which considers not only the characteristics of the individual, but also the decisions and actions of other actors within the road transport system, along with the interactions amongst them. This paper argues that for substantial improvements to be made in young driver road safety, what has been learnt from driver-centric research needs to be integrated into a systems approach, thus providing a holistic appraisal of the young driver road safety problem. Only then will more effective opportunities and avenues for intervention be realised.     

Investigating scaling effects on virus capsid-like self-assembly using discrete event simulations

As self-assembled nanotechnology tackles increasingly complicated structures, biological self-assembly can teach us a great deal about the challenges of more complicated self-assemblies relative to the simpler systems accessible in current practice. The present study uses computer simulations of spherical assemblies inspired by virus capsids to understand the challenges artificial self-assembly systems will face as they approach biological levels of complexity. We quantify system complexity by two parameters-the total size of the completed structure in assembly monomers and the size of the first stable assembly nucleus. Simulations on a set of five model systems capturing a range of values for both parameters reveal several obstacles to extrapolating experience with simple systems to more complex ones. Assemblies of greater size result in total yields and assembly fidelities that are substantially more sensitive to the system parameters of intersubunit binding rates and to concentrations than are those of simpler assemblies. Larger nuclei partially mitigate these effects. Conversely, large assemblies have overall assembly rates with reduced sensitivity to system parameters, a feature that is also only partly mitigated by large nuclei. These changes can be partially understood by theoretical models based on nucleation processes, but such theory itself becomes less informative for the larger systems. We close with a consideration of mechanisms by which these obstacles may be overcome in actual viral systems.     

基于TOC和TRIZ理论的儿童下肢康复训练仪改良设计研究

目的 解决现有儿童下肢康复训练仪难以适配儿童患者、功能性单一及缺乏互动的问题,使儿童下肢康复训练达到更好的训练效果。方法 提出一种基于约束理论（TOC）和发明问题解决理论（TRIZ）的儿童下肢康复训练仪改良设计方法,将TOC理论中的当前现实树和冲突解决图表与TRIZ理论中的冲突解决工具相结合,提出一种针对交互体验问题的基于TOC和TRIZ理论的改良设计方法与流程,并将其应用于儿童下肢康复训练仪的改良设计中。结论 基于TOC和TRIZ理论的儿童下肢康复训练仪改良设计能够显著提高患儿的训练效果,其改良点包括造型和交互体验两个方面。利用VR技术与故事（游戏）情节结合的方式,提高了患儿的训练兴趣和参与意愿;将患儿信息上传至云端数据库,可生成不同的故事（游戏）情节,匹配不同的训练阶段,提高了训练的针对性;智能控件降低了训练过程中对康复师的依懒性,从产品角度缓解了康复师供不应求的现状。     

Individual latent error detection: is there a time and a place for the recall of past errors?

A task carried out in error creates a latent condition that can result in a future undesirable outcome if the error is not detected later. The paper presents a study of the relatively under-researched phenomenon of post-task latent error detection. Focusing on UK naval aircraft maintenance, it was hypothesised that time, location and systems cues influence individual latent error detection amongst naval air engineers who experience the phenomenon. The systems view of human error is combined with a multi-process approach to post-task latent error research, for which findings suggest that distributed cognition across the entire socio-technical system may be influential in post-task latent error detection. Directions for future research will be of benefit to those interested in furthering safety resilience using a systems approach to minimise the consequences arising from latent error.

Relevance to human factors/ergonomics theoryThe nature and extent of post-task latent error detection is explored using a systems approach, for which distributed cognition across the entire socio-technical system appears influential. The aim of current research is to develop interventions to further mitigate for latent errors and thus advance the systems application of ergonomics theory.