Fatigue evaluation in maintenance and assembly operations by digital human simulation

Virtual human techniques have been used a lot in industrial design in order to consider human factors and ergonomics as early as possible. The physical status (the physical capacity of virtual human) has been mostly treated as invariable in the current available human simulation tools, while indeed the physical capacity varies along time in an operation and the change of the physical capacity depends on the history of the work as well. Virtual Human Status is proposed in this paper in order to assess the difficulty of manual handling operations, especially from the physical perspective. The decrease of the physical capacity before and after an operation is used as an index to indicate the work difficulty. The reduction of physical strength is simulated in a theoretical approach on the basis of a fatigue model in which fatigue resistances of different muscle groups were regressed from 24 existing maximum endurance time (MET) models. A framework based on digital human modeling technique is established to realize the comparison of physical status. An assembly case in airplane assembly is simulated and analyzed under the framework. The endurance time and the decrease of the joint moment strengths are simulated. The experimental result in simulated operations under laboratory conditions confirms the feasibility of the theoretical approach

Using interactive read-alouds to support students\u27 comprehension

This research project reviews literature on the impact interactive read-alouds have on lower elementary students\u27 comprehension. The studies that were researched focused on how students benefited from interactive read-alouds and how teachers prepared and conducted interactive read-alouds. The project focused on providing model lessons to be used in an interactive read-aloud. Each model lesson consists of introduction to the comprehension strategy being taught, teacher dialogue with students participating in tum and talks throughout the interactive read-aloud and a reflection time for the teacher and students to reflect on the story and how applying the comprehension strategy helped them

Deep coverage whole genome sequences and plasma lipoprotein(a) in individuals of European and African ancestries.

Lipoprotein(a), Lp(a), is a modified low-density lipoprotein particle that contains apolipoprotein(a), encoded by LPA, and is a highly heritable, causal risk factor for cardiovascular diseases that varies in concentrations across ancestries. Here, we use deep-coverage whole genome sequencing in 8392 individuals of European and African ancestry to discover and interpret both single-nucleotide variants and copy number (CN) variation associated with Lp(a). We observe that genetic determinants between Europeans and Africans have several unique determinants. The common variant rs12740374 associated with Lp(a) cholesterol is an eQTL for SORT1 and independent of LDL cholesterol. Observed associations of aggregates of rare non-coding variants are largely explained by LPA structural variation, namely the LPA kringle IV 2 (KIV2)-CN. Finally, we find that LPA risk genotypes confer greater relative risk for incident atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases compared to directly measured Lp(a), and are significantly associated with measures of subclinical atherosclerosis in African Americans

ARC-ED Curriculum: The Application of Video Game Formats to Educational Software

This is the publisher's version, also found at: http://sped.org/This article explores the applicability of video arcade game formats to educational microcomputer software. Four variables are discussed as being potentially important to the motivational appeal of video arcade games and several established educational practices are examined in relation to the motivational features of arcade games. Also, guidelines for educational curriculum based on arcade game formats are proposed and the term Arc-Ed Curriculum is offered to describe such software. The content for this article is based on established learning theory and the authors1 experience in the development and field testing of six math games based on video game formats

Navier-Stokes and potential theory solutions for ahelicopter fuselage and comparison with experiment

A thin-layer Navier-Stokes code and a panel method code are used to predict the flow over a generic helicopter fuselage. The computational results are compared with pressure data at four experimental conditions. Both methods produce results that agree with the experimental pressure data. However, separation patterns and other viscous flow features from the Navier-Stokes code solution are shown that cannot be easily modeled with the panel method

Effects of Pacing When Using Material Handling Manipulators

Common manipulator-assisted materials handling tasks were performed in a laboratory simulation at self-selected and faster (paced) speeds. The effects of pacing on peak hand forces, torso kinematics, spine moments and forces, and muscle antagonism were determined, along with any influences of several task variables on these effects. The faster trials were performed 20% more rapidly than the self-paced trials. It was found that (a) achieving this level of performance required 10% higher hand forces and 5%-10% higher torso moments, (b) consistent torso postures and motions were used for both speed conditions, and (c) the faster trials resulted in 10% higher spine forces and 15% higher levels of lumbar muscle antagonism. On whole, these results suggest a higher risk of musculoskeletal injury associated with performance of object transfers at faster than self-selected speeds with and without a manipulator. Further analysis provided evidence that the use of manipulators involves higher levels of motor coordination than do manual tasks. Several implications regarding the use of material handling manipulators in paced operations are discussed. Results from this investigation can be used in the design, evaluation, and selection of material handling manipulators.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/67067/2/10.1518_001872099779591240.pd

Publisher Correction: Deep coverage whole genome sequences and plasma lipoprotein(a) in individuals of European and African ancestries.

The original version of this article contained an error in the name of the author Ramachandran S. Vasan, which was incorrectly given as Vasan S. Ramachandran. This has now been corrected in both the PDF and HTML versions of the article

Work-family life courses and BMI trajectories in three British birth cohorts.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Combining work and family responsibilities has previously been associated with improved health in mid-life, yet little is known about how these associations change over time (both biographical and historical) and whether this extends to body mass index (BMI) trajectories for British men and women. The purpose of this study was to investigate relationships between work-family life courses and BMI trajectories across adulthood (16-42 years) for men and women in three British birth cohorts. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Multiply imputed data from three nationally representative British birth cohorts were used-the MRC National Survey of Health and Development (NSHD; 1946 birth cohort, n=3012), the National Child Development Study (NCDS; 1958 birth cohort, n=9614) and the British Cohort Study (BCS; 1970 birth cohort, n=8140). A typology of work-family life course types was developed using multi-channel sequence analysis, linking annual information on work, partnerships and parenthood from 16 to 42 years. Work-family life courses were related to BMI trajectories using multi-level growth models. Analyses adjusted for indicators of prior health, birthweight, child BMI, educational attainment and socioeconomic position across the life course, and were stratified by gender and cohort. RESULTS: Work-family life courses characterised by earlier transitions to parenthood and weaker long-term links to employment were associated with greater increases in BMI across adulthood. Some of these differences, particularly for work-family groups, which are becoming increasingly non-normative, became more pronounced across cohorts (for example, increases in BMI between 16 and 42 years in long-term homemaking women: NSHD: 4.35 kg m-2, 95% confidence interval (CI): 3.44, 5.26; NCDS: 5.53 kg m-2, 95% CI: 5.18, 5.88; BCS: 6.69 kg m-2, 95% CI: 6.36, 7.02). CONCLUSIONS: Becoming a parent earlier and weaker long-term ties to employment are associated with greater increases in BMI across adulthood in British men and women.Rebecca Lacey, Anne McMunn, Amanda Sacker and Meena Kumari received funding from the European Research Council (grant number: ERC-2011-StG_20101124, PI: Anne McMunn). Steven Bell also received funding from the European Research Council (grant number: ERCStG-2012-309337_Alcohol-Lifecourse, PI: Annie Britton) and UK Medical Research Council/Alcohol Research UK (MR/M006638/1). Amanda Sacker, Anne McMunn and Meena Kumari additionally received support from the Economic and Social Research Council’s International Centre for Life Course Studies in Society and Health (grant number: ES/J019119/1). DK is supported by the UK Medical Research Council (MC_UU_12019/1). The MRC National Survey of Health and Development is funded by the UK Medical Research Council. Peggy McDonough and Diana Worts were supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research grant MOP 119526 and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council grant 43512-1267

Levantamento de reconhecimento de baixa intensidade dos solos do Estado do Rio de Janeiro.

Este trabalho refere-se ao levantamento dos solos do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, que abrange uma área de 43.797,5 km2. Consiste no reconhecimento e caracterização dos solos em sua ambiência, visando contribuir para o planejamento do uso e ocupação das terras de forma racional e sustentável. Foi realizado em nível de reconhecimento de baixa intensidade, com mapa final em escala 1:250.000, de acordo com os procedimentos metodológicos preconizados pela Embrapa. Como material cartográfico básico foram utilizadas fotografias aéreas 1:60.000 (USAF), com apoio adicional de imagens de satélite Landsat (escala 1:100.000 e 1:250.000) e bases planialtimétricas 1:50.000 (IBGE). A distribuição espacial dos solos no estado é representada em cartas topográficas 1:250.000 através de 161 unidades de mapeamento, que compõem uma legenda de identificação de solos, individualizados até o quarto nível categórico, conforme o atual Sistema Brasileiro de Classificação de Solos (SiBCS), seguido de textura, tipo de horizonte A, fases de vegetação, relevo, e, para o caso específico dos Cambissolos desenvolvidos de sedimentos aluvionares recentes, substrato geológico. As principais classes de solos identificadas foram: Argissolos (Amarelos, Vermelhos e Vermelho-Amarelos), Latossolos (Amarelos, Vermelhos e Vermelho- -Amarelos), Cambissolos (Húmicos e Háplicos), Neossolos (Litólicos e Regolíticos), Luvissolos (Crômicos e Hipocrômicos), Chernossolos (Rêndzicos e Argilúvicos) e Nitossolos (Vermelhos e Háplicos), que predominam nas áreas de drenagem livre, enquanto nas partes mais baixas da paisagem ocorrem Gleissolos (Tiomórfi cos, Sálicos, Melânicos e Háplicos), Neossolos (Flúvicos e Quartzarênicos), Espodossolos (Cárbicos e Ferrocárbicos), Planossolos (Nátricos, Hidromórfi cos e Háplicos) e Organossolos (Tiomórficos, Mésicos e Háplicos). Foram identificados quatro grandes ambientes na área do estado, com padrões de distribuição de solos característicos, cujas principais relações com os outros elementos do meio natural são descritas.bitstream/item/156812/1/BPD-32-Levantamento-Rio-de-Janeiro.pd