Measurement of cumulative trauma disorder risk in clerical tasksusing fuzzy linear regression

Cumulative trauma disorders (CTDs) of the upper body have been identified as one of the fastest growing workplace hazards. The specific combination and significance of risk factors contributing to CTDs of the hand and forearm is still lacking, and developing methodologies to quantify the relationships of risk factors is greatly needed. Furthermore, the nature of CTDs and variability among individuals creates an environment where an array of uncertainty exists. The purpose of this research is to develop a fuzzy linear regression model to predict the relationship of known risk factors to the onset of CTDs. 27 keyboard users (22 for model building and 5 for model validation) participated in the study. Knowledge acquisition was performed through extensive literature analysis and interviews with two CTD experts. The model was constructed in a modular fashion with four fuzzy modules being constructed to represent the risk associated with the task, anthropometrics, joint deviation and personal factors. These modules were combined to represent an overall risk level and a final model for prediction of CTD risk. The results indicate that fuzzy linear regression is a useful technique for addressing the uncertainty associated with the definition and modeling of CTD risk factors     

Transferrin receptor induces tyrosine phosphorylation in T cells and is physically associated with the TCR zeta-chain

In addition to being an iron transporter, the transferrin receptor (TfR) has been shown to play a role in T cell activation. Stimulation of the TfR with specific Abs results in T cell proliferation, IL-2 secretion, and protein kinase C activation. In this paper we have analyzed early events caused by activation of the TfR. We have found several protein substrates to be tyrosine phosphorylated upon TfR stimulation in the human Jurkat T cell line. Interestingly, the TfR induced tyrosine phosphorylation in cell lines expressing TCR but not in TCR-negative mutants. Restoration of the TCR surface expression in these mutants reestablished the ability of the TfR to induce tyrosine phosphorylation. This result suggests that activation through the TfR is functionally dependent upon the expression of the TCR. Moreover, the functional relationship of the TfR with the TCR complex is also supported by data showing that TfR stimulation resulted in the tyrosine phosphorylation of the TCR zeta-chain; conversely, stimulation of the TCR complex resulted in an increased tyrosine phosphorylation of the TfR. More importantly, the TfR is shown to associate physically with the TCR zeta-chain as well as with the zeta-binding ZAP70 tyrosine kinase. The TfR/zeta complex is expressed on the cell surface independent of the expression of the other subunits of the TCR complex. We suggest that the TfR/zeta complex is responsible for transducing the TfR-induced signals, and that it could serve to amplify signals delivered by Ag binding to the TCR.     

Persistence of maladaptive responses in schizophrenia.

30 schizophrenic patients and 30 psychiatric aides were required in 4 experimental tasks to change their responses to meet changing conditions. It was hypothesized that (a) schizophrenic patients are more likely than normals to continue a response after it becomes ineffective; (b) the persistence of the maladaptive response is a function of the severity of schizophrenia. As predicted, the patients persisted longer than the aides in the first learned but later maladaptive responses, and there was some evidence that degree of resistance to change was related to the severity of schizophrenia in the patient. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Experimental L-shell x-ray production and ionization cross sections for proton impact

Cross sections for L-shell x-ray production and ionization by protons are tabulated according to target atomic number, target type, and incident proton energy. Cross sections for production of the individual L-shell component x-rays and for ionization of the three L subshells are presented separately. Ratios of Lα to Ll x-ray production cross sections are also listed. Literature is covered from 1975 to November 1982. Experimental details pertaining to the cross-section measurements and the theoretical models employed by the experimenters for comparison with their data are included. It is intended that this information will help the reader to ascertain the most reliable cross-section values without recourse to the literature.     

Preparation of inside-out vesicles of pig lymphocyte plasma membrane

Between 30 and 50% of pig lymphocyte plasma membrane vesicles were not bound by concanavalin A (Con A)-Sepharose. Various results suggest that the Con A-unretarded fraction represents "inside-out" membrane vesicles. First, an alternative cell surface ligand, anti-lymphocytic serum, gave a similar fractionation to Con A. Second, lack of binding by Con A was not due to lack of carbohydrate or to masking of carbohydrate by extraneous protein, because the unfractionated membrane and the unretarded fraction had similar carbohydrate and polypeptide compositions. Third although the carbohydrate of the unretarded membrane vesicles was accessible to 125I-labelled Con A and to release by soluble trypsin, it was not accessible to ferritin-Con A or trypsin-Sepharose. Fourth, antisera against the external surface of the Con A-unretarded vesicles strongly agglutinated the unretarded membrane, but caused negligible agglutination of whole lymphocytes. When attached to Sepharose these antisera bound all of the Con A-unretarded fraction, but failed to bind the membrane that adhered to Con A-Sepharose.     

Competency-based training for patient handling

A technique-training approach has traditionally been used to address the problem of back pain associated with patient handling. This project aimed to investigate whether different levels of safety culture, based on competency-based training, resulted in different behaviour (physical and cognitive) for patient handling tasks. Sixteen healthcare organisations in the UK participated from the acute and primary healthcare sectors. Archival data for each organisation were benchmarked against the Royal College of Nursing competencies for manual handling. Behavioural data were collected on two patient handling tasks: (1) sitting-to-standing and (2) repositioning-in-sitting using observations (postural analysis) and interviews (verbal protocol analysis). The data were analysed for each organisation and then grouped by task and method into larger data sets. These data sets were triangulated using the key decision-making points (from the interview data) as the framework. The results showed that in organisations with a more positive safety culture the nursing staff demonstrated more complex decision-making about the patient handling tasks and had lower levels of associated postural risk.     

Primary production and light dynamics in an upper Mississippi River backwater

In nutrient-rich systems, phytoplankton production is frequently light-limited and light attenuation can become a critical factor controlling the rates of production, especially in shallow systems subject to wind resuspension of sediments. This study examined the relation between light availability and primary production in Lake Onalaska, a shallow, nutrient-rich impoundment of the Upper Mississippi River. Continuous water quality monitors recorded dissolved oxygen, temperature and light flux at a network of sites from July to September 1990 and these data were used to estimate the primary production, light availability and light attenuation coefficients. The gross primary production averaged 2·2gCm^?2 day^?1 and was due almost entirely to phytoplankton. Production was strongly light-limited, with most of the light attenuation due to non-algal components, possibly related to wind resuspension in this shallow system. Regression analyses revealed significant effects of wind speed and direction on light attenuation.     

Some characteristics of jobs announced in the APA Monitor..

For this study, all 2,914 first-time U.S. job advertisements listed in the 1984 APA Monitor were content analyzed. Findings include data on types of jobs advertised, academic levels, salary, job duration, month of first announcement, and areas of psychology. These data complement employment surveys to provide information about job availability for psychologists. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

An investigation of cumulative trauma disorders in the construction industry

Disorders associated with repeated trauma were the most common occupational illness in 1991, accounting for 61% of all occupational illnesses (Bureau of Labor Statistics). Research on cumulative trauma injuries in the construction industry is scarce. Therefore, the purpose of this research was to investigate factors associated with the development of cumulative trauma disorders (CTDs) in the construction industry. Additionally, this research evaluates the types of CTDs most prevalent in the construction industry. Results of this research show seven common CTDs prevalent in the construction industry: arpal Tunnel Syndrome, Tennis Elbow, Trigger Finger, Arthritis of the Thumb, Thumb/Wrist Tendinitis, Vibration Syndrome and Impingement. An index was developed to rank tasks based on possible development of CTDs by quantifying factors that contribute to the occurrence of these CTDs such as tool design, work task design, awkward posture, repetition, and application of force.