Quantifying repetitive hand activityfor epidemiological research on musculoskeletal disorders – part I: individual exposure assessment

An exposure measurement approach is described for quantifying repetitive hand activity of individual workers in a prospective epidemiological study on work-related upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders. A total of 733 subjects were involved in this study at the baseline. Hand activities were quantified by force and repetition. Force levels were measured by workers' self-reports, ergonomists' estimates based on observation and measurements with instrumentation. Repetition levels were measured by detailed time–motion analyses using two repetitive hand activity definitions and ergonomists' estimates using scales for the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists hand activity level and the Strain Index. Results showed that the present exposure assessment approach seems to be able to quantify force level and repetitiveness of hand activities. Repetitive hand activity is quantified differently depending on whether forceful hand exertion or repetitive muscle activity is used as the definition. These hand activity definitions may quantify different physical exposure phenomena. Individual exposure assessment is important in epidemiological research of musculoskeletal disorders as there are interactions between the individual subjects and the measured parameters. These interactions may vary between exposure parameters.     

Effects of psychosocial and individual factors on physiological risk factors for upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders while typing

Psychosocial factors are hypothesized to contribute to work-related musculoskeletal disorder (WMSD) development, although previous research has been largely epidemiological or has focused primarily on the shoulders, back and neck. The objective of this study was to quantify the effects of mental workload and time pressure on perceived workload and physiological responses of the distal upper extremity. A total of 18 typists completed nine 5-min typing sessions representing three levels of time pressure and mental workload. Levels were manipulated by adjusting typing speed and by requiring participants to perform arithmetic tasks while typing. Outcomes were measured in muscle activation levels, wrist postures and movements, key strike force and subjective assessments of workload. In general, increased time pressure increased muscle activation, key strike force and wrist deviations; and increased mental workload increased key strike force. Mental workload and time pressure mediated physical risk factors during typing to increase WMSD risk for the distal upper extremity.     

Reducing back stress to nursing personnel: an ergonomic intervention in a nursing home

A prospective epidemiologic study was conducted in two units (140 beds and 57 nursing assistants) of a nursing home to demonstrate the efficacy of an ergonomic intervention strategy to reduce back stress to nursing personnel. The total programme involved the following: determining patient handling tasks perceived to be most stressful by the nursing assistants (NAs); performing an ergonomic evaluation of these tasks; and conducting a laboratory study to select patient transferring devices perceived to produce less physical stress than existing manual patient-handling methods. The intervention phase included training NAs in the use of these devices, modifying toilets and shower rooms, and applying techniques to patient care. Immediately after completing the intervention programme, a post-intervention analysis (which lasted eight months in unit 1 and four months in unit 2) was performed.

A biomechanical evaluation of the physical demands required to perform stressful patient-handling tasks showed that the mean compressive force on the L5/S1 disc, the mean hand force required to make a transfer, and the strength requirements (expressed as percentage female population capable) were 1964?N, 122?N, and 83% after intervention as compared to 4751?N, 312?N, and 41% before intervention. Subjectively, the mean rating of perceived exertion was less than ‘very light’ after intervention as compared to between ‘somewhat hard’ and ‘hard’ before intervention. Overall, the mean acceptability rates for the walking belt and the mechanical hoist were 81% and 87% for patient transfers. The incidence rate for back injuries prior to the intervention, 83 per 200 000 work-hours, decreased to 47 per 200 000 work-hours after the intervention. There were no injuries resulting in lost or restricted work days during the last four months of the post-intervention. It is concluded that an appropriate ergonomic intervention programme offers great promise in reducing physical stress and risk of low-back pain to nursing personnel. However, large-scale studies in different nursing homes are needed to confirm the above findings.     

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.     

利用弯矩影响线的移动荷载识别方法

基于模态叠加理论,通过桥梁多个截面处加速度响应数据,计算得到桥梁受移动荷载作用下的模态加速度.根据d'Alembertian原理,桥梁截面任意时刻的动弯矩可看作是任意时刻受惯性分布力和移动荷载作用下的静弯矩.利用影响线,建立起移动荷载与弯矩之间的关系,提出了一种利用弯矩影响线识别移动荷载的方法.算例表明,当荷载只有一个时,可由单点弯矩直接识别,当有多个移动荷载时,可基于多个截面的弯矩数据,利用最小二乘法可以有效的识别出任意时刻作用于桥梁上的移动荷载值.该方法避免了求解桥梁的动力学微分方程,识别精度高且过程简单,适合于工程应用.     

Molecular recognition of DNA–protein complexes: A straightforward method combining scanning force and fluorescence microscopy

Combining scanning force and fluorescent microscopy allows simultaneous identification of labeled biomolecules and analysis of their nanometer level architectural arrangement. Fluorescent polystyrene nano-spheres were used as reliable objects for alignment of optical and topographic images. This allowed the precise localization of different fluorescence particles within complex molecular assemblies whose structure was mapped in nanometer detail topography. Our experiments reveal the versatility of this method for analysis of proteins and protein–DNA complexes.     

桩土界面接触单元的研究与应用

为解决桥梁群桩基础在上部荷载作用下桩土界面的接触问题,根据接触非线性理论和桩土不同物理力学特性的特点,首先推导反映桩土界面滑移的刚度矩阵,然后提出处理滑移变形的均匀化方法。采用ABAQUS软件的用户子程序接口,编制桩土界面接触单元,可以描述接触在循环荷载作用下的塑性应变增长和残余相对位移,在荷载水平分量作用下的界面脱开现象,以及接触刚度的非线性增长与衰减特性。这样,桩土界面的一些重要特性可以通过有限元的方法得以体现。     

永磁直线同步电机推力波动约束

由齿槽力、边端力及法向吸力引起的推力波动是影响永磁直线同步电机(PMLSM)动态性能的主要因素。为了实现高速精密直接驱动系统,通过对PMLSM进行有限元分析建模,分析了齿槽力变化规律,利用傅里叶级数拟合得到齿槽力变化曲线;设计了齿槽力电流预测控制模型,对齿槽力引起的推力波动进行补偿;同时设计了扰动观测器对其他因素引起的推力波动进行补偿,进一步削弱了推力波动。最后,通过实验验证PMLSM推力波动补偿控制系统的有效性,补偿后电流和速度的波动都得到了很大改善,能够实现较高精度的直接驱动系统。     

Comparison of the properties of gels derived from cod surimi and from unwashed and once-washed cod mince

Surimi is a washed and stabilized fish mince with valuable gel-forming properties. However the preparation process is wasteful and a modified process, with less washing, was investigated. The properties of the gels (cooked at 40°C for 30 min followed by 90°C for 40 min) were assessed by instrumental and sensory methods. Gels prepared from surimi were soft and very flexible; gels from unwashed fresh cod mince were firmer and less elastic, but still gave a maximum score on the folding test. A single wash made the gels firmer and slightly more elastic than those from unwashed mince. Gels from unwashed mince of frozen cod were firmer than surimi-derived gels, and were the most brittle. Sensory assessment of the gels found no difference in firmness between the different washing procedures and small differences in elasticity and toughness. The addition of starch (fish: starch, 100:5, w/w) increased the firmness and sensory toughness of each derived gel, and reduced the elasticity in the mouth of non-surimi gels. The colour of gels derived directly from fish was off-white, compared with the white surimi-derived gels. The colour of the former darkened during frozen storage, but lightened again after thawing.     

激光喷丸成形中的残余应力

通过对激光喷丸成形(LPF)中残余应力场分布的研究,找出单点喷丸残余应力分布形式,以及单点多次、多点不同路径喷丸中后续冲击对前次冲击残余应力分布的影响规律。对准确控制残余应力分布,获得激光喷丸后所需的板料形状具有指导意义。利用钕玻璃高功率脉冲激光对厚度为1.2 mm的LY12CZ硬铝合金进行了单点激光喷丸,用X衍射应力测定仪考察了单点冲击后材料表面及深度方向的残余应力,用厚度为2 mm 的6061-T6铝合金板料进行三列窄条激光喷丸变形实验。以ANSYS/LS-DYNA有限元分析软件为平台,建立了具有一定精度的激光喷丸过程中冲击波压力的加载模型,对板料的变形过程进行了数值模拟, 分别考察了不同激光能量,板料尺寸,冲击路径等工艺参数对残余应力场分布的影响。实验结合数值模拟探索激光喷丸的主要参数和残余应力场之间的相互关系。