Inter-rater reliability of output measures for a posture matching assessment approach: a pilot study with food service workers

Despite the ongoing health problem of repetitive strain injuries, there are few tools currently available for ergonomic applications evaluating cumulative loading that have well-documented evidence of reliability and validity. The purpose of this study was to determine the inter-rater reliability of a posture matching based analysis tool (3DMatch, University of Waterloo) for predicting cumulative and peak spinal loads. A total of 30 food service workers were each videotaped for a 1-h period while performing typical work activities and a single work task was randomly selected from each for analysis by two raters. Inter-rater reliability was determined using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) model 2,1 and standard errors of measurement for cumulative and peak spinal and shoulder loading variables across all subjects. Overall, 85.5% of variables had moderate to excellent inter-rater reliability, with ICCs ranging from 0.30–0.99 for all cumulative and peak loading variables. 3DMatch was found to be a reliable ergonomic tool when more than one rater is involved.     

国外水电站项目机电设计问题探讨

随着国外水电项目的逐年增多,中国国内常规电站采用的机电设计规范规程、设计思路、设计理念在国外项目投标、技术谈判、合同执行过程中遇到不少的问题。笔者结合多个国外水电站项目的设计经验,就项目投标设计、合同技术要求与设计有关的问题处理、机电系统设计的安全性与经济性及设备的可靠性与经济性的尺度把握、设计院作为技术负责方的风险规避问题等进行了分析,并提出了切实可行的处理思路,为类似项目机电设计提供参考。     

A review of: “Introduction A La Psychophysiologie Du Travail (Introduction to the Psychophysiology of Work)”, by ROBERT FLORU and JEAN-CLAUDE CNOCKAERT,Presses Universitaires De Nancy (1991). pp. vi + 233, FF 120, ISBN 2-86480-550-2.

Workers in physically demanding occupations (PDOs) are frequently subjected to physical selection tests. To avoid legal ramifications, workplaces must be able to show that any personnel selection procedures reflect the inherent requirements of the job. A job task analysis (JTA) is fundamental in determining the work tasks required for employees. To date, there are no published instructions guiding PDO researchers on how to conduct job task analyses. Job task analysis research for non-PDOs offers some insight into the expected reliability and validity of data obtained on the most prevalent task domains in job analysis (importance, frequency, time spent and difficulty). This review critiques such research, and the existing published material on JTA of PDOs, and provides recommendations for future research and practice.

Practitioner Summary: There are no published guidelines for physically demanding occupation (PDO) researchers conducting job task analysis (JTA). Given the legal consequences of improperly conducted JTA, scientifically valid instructions for JTA practitioners are required. This review critiques existing research which analyses reliabilities of JTA data, and provides guidelines for PDO researchers conducting JTA.     

Validity and reliability of the Spineangel® lumbo-pelvic postural monitor

Objective: to determine the reliability and the concurrent validity of the Spineangel^® lumbo-pelvic postural monitoring device. Methods: the dynamic lumbo-pelvic posture of 25 participants was simultaneously monitored by the Spineangel^® and Fastrak^TM devices. Participants performed six different functional tasks in random order. Within-task, within-session and between-day intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC(3,1), ICC(3,5), ICC(2,5), respectively) reliability were calculated for Spineangel^® measurements. Concurrent validity of the Spineangel^® was assessed by means of a Bland and Altman plot and by means of Pearson's correlation coefficient and paired t-test. Results: within-task, within-session and between-day ICC for the Spineangel^® were found to be excellent (>0.93). The Spineangel^® and Fastrak^TM pelvic measurements were found to have a good correlation (R = 0.77). Conclusion: the Spineangel^® is a reliable and valid device for monitoring general lumbo-pelvic movements when clipped on the belt or waistband of workers' clothing during various occupational activities.

Practitioner summary: The Spineangel^® can be used for assessing lumbo-pelvic posture during work or daily-life activities. This device was found to provide reliable and valid measurements for lumbo-pelvic movements. Further research is required to determine whether the use of this device is clinically relevant for patients presenting with low back pain.     

基于改进粒子群算法的随机流路网可靠性研究

为解决城市交通路网中容量的随机性对可靠性研究的影响问题,建立了随机流交通路网可靠性模型,提出了一种基于改进粒子群算法的交通路网可靠性评价方法,该方法能够搜索到满足条件的多个解,在算法中引入了一种转移机制可以有效地避免粒子陷入局部无目标搜索状态,又可保证全局搜索能力,最终能够搜索到路网在d需求量下的所有d-下界点以计算路网的可靠性.通过算例结果表明了该改进粒子群算法的可行性及准确性.     

含公用备件系统的可靠性研究与分析

针对微小卫星对可靠性、重量和体积的苛刻要求,提出一种公用备件与冷备份并存的系统设计方案。利用故障树基本理论和MonteCarlo仿真的方法对该系统的可靠性进行建模、分析和计算。结果表明,该方案保留了公用备件系统节省重量与体积的优点,同时能够保证该系统的可靠性在2年内与三机冷备份处于同一数量级。     

基于路集矩阵与布尔运算的网络可靠度算法

分析基于路集矩阵与布尔运算的网络可靠度算法,指出其存在组合爆炸问题。为此,提出一种改进算法,引入位矢量以减少内存需求,对特殊路集进行预处理并统计全1位矢量。实验结果表明,改进算法可提高内存利用率、减少冗余运算,能在一定程度上缓解组合爆炸问题。     

一种电子系统的贮存可靠性预计算法

本文给出了一种电子系统的贮存可靠性预计的算法,并通过实例说明了算法的步骤。     

Accuracy of a Bellows vacuum meter with an LC-generator

Errors of pressure measurement are considered. The error as a function of the pressure for a vacuum gauge rated at up to 1000 Pa is calculated as an example. It is 0.15 ≤ δp/p ≤ 0.2% over a pressure range of 14 ≤ p ≤ 1000 Pa and it increases hyperbolically up to 100% with p = 0.01 Pa. The parametric reliability of the instrument and its immunity to an accidental increase in pressure the atmospheric level is substantiated. __________ Translated from Izmeritel’naya Tekhnika, No. 9, pp. 37–41, September, 2006.