Axiomatization and conditions for neighborhoods in a covering to form a partition

In this paper, we study the axiomatic issue of a type of covering upper approximation operations. This issue was proposed as an open problem. We also further some known results by using only a single covering approximation operator to characterize the conditions for neighborhood {N(x): x ∈ U} to form a partition of universe U.     

Notebook computer use on a desk,lap and lap support: Effects on posture,performance and comfort

This study quantified postures of users working on a notebook computer situated in their lap and tested the effect of using a device designed to increase the height of the notebook when placed on the lap. A motion analysis system measured head, neck and upper extremity postures of 15 adults as they worked on a notebook computer placed on a desk (DESK), the lap (LAP) and a commercially available lapdesk (LAPDESK). Compared with the DESK, the LAP increased downwards head tilt 6° and wrist extension 8°. Shoulder flexion and ulnar deviation decreased 13° and 9°, respectively. Compared with the LAP, the LAPDESK decreased downwards head tilt 4°, neck flexion 2°, and wrist extension 9°. Users reported less discomfort and difficulty in the DESK configuration. Use of the lapdesk improved postures compared with the lap; however, all configurations resulted in high values of wrist extension, wrist deviation and downwards head tilt.

Statement of Relevance: This study quantifies postures of users working with a notebook computer in typical portable configurations. A better understanding of the postures assumed during notebook computer use can improve usage guidelines to reduce the risk of musculoskeletal injuries     

Risk of musculoskeletal disorders among females and males in repetitive/constrained work

This paper combines epidemiological data on musculoskeletal morbidity in 40 female and 15 male occupational groups (questionnaire data 3720 females, 1241 males, physical examination data 1762 females, 915 males) in order to calculate risk for neck and upper limb disorders in repetitive/constrained vs. varied/mobile work and further to compare prevalence among office, industrial and non-office/non-industrial settings, as well as among jobs within these. Further, the paper aims to compare the risk of musculoskeletal disorders from repetitive/constrained work between females and males. Prevalence ratios (PR) for repetitive/constrained vs. varied/mobile work were in neck/shoulders: 12-month complaints females 1.2, males 1.1, diagnoses at the physical examination 2.3 and 2.3. In elbows/hands PRs for complaints were 1.7 and 1.6, for diagnoses 3.0 and 3.4. Tension neck syndrome, cervicalgia, shoulder tendonitis, acromioclavicular syndrome, medial epicondylitis and carpal tunnel syndrome showed PRs > 2. In neck/shoulders PRs were similar across office, industrial and non-office/non-industrial settings, in elbows/hands, especially among males, somewhat higher in industrial work. There was a heterogeneity within the different settings (estimated by bootstrapping), indicating higher PRs for some groups. As in most studies, musculoskeletal disorders were more prevalent among females than among males. Interestingly, though, the PRs for repetitive/constrained work vs. varied/mobile were for most measures approximately the same for both genders. In conclusion, repetitive/constrained work showed elevated risks when compared to varied/mobile work in all settings. Females and males showed similar risk elevations. This article enables comparison of risk of musculoskeletal disorders among many different occupations in industrial, office and other settings, when using standardised case definitions. It confirms that repetitive/constrained work is harmful not only in industrial but also in office and non-office/non-industrial settings. The reported data can be used for comparison with future studies.     

Individual finger contribution in submaximal voluntary contraction of gripping

The objective of this study was to evaluate individual finger force and contribution to a gripping force, the difference between actual and expected finger forces and subjective discomfort rating at 10 different submaximal voluntary contraction (%MVC) levels (10–100% in 10 increments). Seventy-two participants randomly exerted gripping force with a multi-finger force measurement system. The individual finger force, gripping force and discomfort increased as %MVC levels increased. The middle and ring fingers exerted more force and contributed to a gripping force more than the index and little fingers due to their larger mass fractions of the digit flexor muscles. It was apparent at <50% MVC; however, the index finger increased its contribution and exerted even more force than expected at more than 50% MVC. Subjective discomfort supported the results of the objective measures. This could explain the conflicting findings between index and ring fingers in previous finger contribution studies.

Statement of Relevance: Hand tool design is of special interest in ergonomics due to its association with musculoskeletal disorders in the hand. This study reveals a different contribution pattern of the fingers in submaximal voluntary contraction of gripping exertion.     

The predictive validity of the RSI QuickScan questionnaire with respect to arm,shoulder and neck symptoms in computer workers

The aim of this study was to determine whether results from the RSI QuickScan questionnaire on risk factors for arm, shoulder and neck symptoms can predict future arm, neck and shoulder symptoms in a population of computer workers. For this prospective cohort study, with a follow-up of 24 months, 3383 workers who regularly worked with a computer were approached. Generalised estimating equations (GEE) with 6, 12, 18 and 24 months time lags were used to determine whether high exposure was related to symptoms at follow-up. The results showed that high scores on 9 out of 13 scales, including previous symptoms, were significantly related to arm, shoulder and neck symptoms at follow-up. These results provide support for the predictive validity of the RSI QuickScan questionnaire.

Practitioner Summary: The results showed that high scores on 9 out of 13 scales, including previous symptoms, were significantly related to arm, shoulder and neck symptoms at follow-up. The RSI QuickScan questionnaire may be recommended as a tool in the identification of computer workers who should be targeted with interventions aimed at prevention of future symptoms.     

Locking‐free discontinuous finite elements for the upper bound yield design of thick plates

This work investigates the formulation of finite elements dedicated to the upper bound kinematic approach of yield design or limit analysis of Reissner–Mindlin thick plates in shear‐bending interaction. The main novelty of this paper is to take full advantage of the fundamental difference between limit analysis and elasticity problems as regards the class of admissible virtual velocity fields. In particular, it has been demonstrated for 2D plane stress, plane strain or 3D limit analysis problems that the use of discontinuous velocity fields presents a lot of advantages when seeking for accurate upper bound estimates. For this reason, discontinuous interpolations of the transverse velocity and the rotation fields for Reissner–Mindlin plates are proposed. The subsequent discrete minimization problem is formulated as a second‐order cone programming problem and is solved using the industrial software package MOSEK . A comprehensive study of the shear‐locking phenomenon is also conducted, and it is shown that discontinuous elements avoid such a phenomenon quite naturally whereas continuous elements cannot without any specific treatment. This particular aspect is confirmed through numerical examples on classical benchmark problems and the so‐obtained upper bound estimates are confronted to recently developed lower bound equilibrium finite elements for thick plates. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

考虑土体强度不均匀性时宽窄基坑坑底隆起稳定研究

在基坑坑底隆起稳定性分析中,准确的破坏模式及滑动面是确定安全系数的基础。然而,基坑坑底隆起破坏模式种类繁多且形式各异。传统的经典基坑坑底隆起稳定分析以及规范分析方法在破坏模式及滑动面的选取上均存在差异和局限性。基于不连续布局优化法,首先研究了土体强度不均匀性对不同宽度基坑坑底隆起稳定性的影响。结果表明,软土层厚度较大且土体强度沿深度逐渐增长时,宽基坑坑底隆起滑动面并不覆盖整个坑底,即相当于软土层下部存在一硬土层,限制了滑动面向下延伸。进一步,分析了围护结构长度及抗弯强度对破坏模式及安全系数的影响,并提出以滑动面触碰围护结构来区分宽窄基坑。在宽基坑中,当围护结构嵌固深度较小时,失稳破坏滑动面并不通过桩底,此时应用绕最下道支撑的圆弧滑动模式时应适当修正滑动面半径。对于窄基坑,应用圆弧滑动模式时需修正坑内滑动面,以考虑窄基坑的空间效应对安全系数的提高作用。     

回采工作面上隅角瓦斯积聚的治理

介绍回采工作面上隅角瓦斯积聚的处理方法.     

有岩爆倾向的深井巷道岩层支护控制技术

根据冬瓜山铜矿原岩应力测量、岩石物理力学试验、岩体结构调查、数值模拟计算以及工程实际,冬瓜山铜矿深部属高应力(38 MPa)区,存在岩爆倾向性.为此,针对不同的采准巷道提出了支护方法与设计,比如对充填回风道采用"喷-锚-网"支护,对底部结构采用光面爆破和"喷-锚-网 锚索"支护,对出矿口眉线采用超前锚杆预支护等,均取得了较为理想的效果.     

低孔隙度低渗透率储层孔隙压力流体评价方法

针对鄂尔多斯盆地靖边气田上古生界地层特点,建立了一套全新的适合该地层的孔隙压力评价技术.孔隙压力流体评价方法所涉及到的孔覆比和裂缝延伸梯度等参数均为首次定义.该方法数据来源于常规测井的三孔隙度测井及相关测井曲线,利用重点井的地层孔隙压力实验测试结果,结合阵列声波测井,推出了利用地层孔隙压力参数评价储层的新方法.综合应用孔覆比、裂缝延伸梯度和地层孔隙压力梯度等3个重要的孔隙压力参数进行地层评价,可明显提高测井解释的符合率.在识别储层含流体性质和确定非储层岩性方面给出了孔隙压力参数具体判识数值.储层含可动流体时,孔覆比变化范围0.40～0.43,裂缝延伸梯度0.027～0.034,地层孔隙压力梯度0.09～0.110.在结合其它解释方法的基础上,孔隙压力参数的流体分析解释方法应用效果更佳.选取了靖边气田18口井的上古生界地层进行了实例效果评价,解释结果与地质实际吻合良好,使其解释符合率大幅度上升,该方法可推广到其他类似低孔隙度低渗透率地层.