A Heart Rate Evaluation Approach to Determine Cost-Effectiveness an Ergonomics Intervention

This paper describes a hear-rate methodology to determine the cost-effectiveness of an ergonomics intervention to reduce workload and improve working conditions. This is a practical approach as opposed to the energy expenditure technique that is difficult to implement in natural settings. This was a laboratory study using a large excavator cabin with devices to simulate excavation operations. Mean heart rate was used to calculate the required rest time during a shift with or without air-conditioning. The criterion for evaluation was differences in required rest time during a shift under these 2 conditions. The simplicity and objectivity of this approach invites use to solve the problem of the economic evaluation of ergonomics interventions.     

The Relationships Between Biomechanical and Postural Stresses,Musculoskeletal Injury Rates,and Perceived Body Discomfort Experienced by Industrial Workers: A Field Study

A combination of archival, subjective, and observational field data collection methods were used to investigate the relationship between biomechanical and postural stresses, and the resulting physical strain experienced by industrial workers of a packaging plant. Assessment of physical strain was based on the number and incidence rate of Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)-reportable injuries that were recorded over a period of 27 months, and based on the self-reported ratings of perceived body discomfort. Both the biomechanical and postural stresses correlated with the musculoskeletal injury rate. The results illustrate the usefulness of postural and biomechanical analyses for assessing the risk of injury in industry.     

Structural and Thermal Properties of Starch Plasticized with Glycerol/Urea Mixture

Journal of Polymers and the Environment - The paper presents the results of research on the influence of used plasticizing system on the structural and thermal properties of thermoplastic starch...     

Optimum macrobenthic sampling protocol for detecting pollution impacts in the Southern California Bight

The optimum macrobenthic sampling protocol [sampling unit, sieve mesh size, and sample size (n)] was determined for detecting ecologically important pollution impacts in the Southern California Bight, U.S.A. Cost, in laboratory processing time, was determined for samples obtained using fourteen sampling units (0.005–0.1 m² surface area) and two sieve mesh sizes (1.0 and 0.5 mm). Statistical power analyses for t-tests of means were performed to estimate the minimum sample size (n _min) needed to reliably (=0.05, 1–0.95) reject the null hypothesis of no difference between a reference and both a stimulated and a degraded station on twelve measures of community structure. The optimum sampling protocol for detecting impacts was determined as that with the lowest total cost ×n _min on most measures.Five replicate, 0.02 m²×5 cm deep, 1.0 mm mesh samples per station could reliably distinguish reference from impacted conditions on nine or ten measures of community structure at less than one quarter of the cost of the standard sampling protocol of 5 replicate, 0.1 m², 1.0 mm mesh samples per station. About 5 replicate, small (<0.1 m²), 1.0 mm mesh samples per station may often be optimal for detecting important structural changes in macrobenthic communities with naturally high species richness and abundance.     

Variation in oxidative stress and photochemical activity in Arabidopsis thaliana leaves subjected to cadmium and excess copper in the presence or absence of jasmonate and ascorbate

We have presented changes in the photosynthetic apparatus activity of Arabidopsis thaliana plants occurring within 15-144 h of 100 microM Cu or Cd action with regard to jasmonate (JA) as well as expression of the oxidative stress and non-enzymic defense mechanisms. The inhibitory effect of both heavy metals related to developing dissipative processes and lipid peroxide formation was expressed in dark-adapted state after the longest time as a decrease in potential quantum yield of PSII. In dark- and light-adapted state the heavy metals affected the enzymic phase of photosynthesis already from the 15th hour, which was related to the lipid peroxide formation. Photochemical quenching decrease was induced after 48th hour and did not show a close correlation with the JA pathway. Blockade of endogenously formed JA by propyl gallate decreased the effect of Cu and Cd on both the whole photosynthetic apparatus starting from the 48th hour and on the primary photochemistry of PSII after 144 h. In the case of Cu the effect was related to a lipid peroxidation decrease and to an increase in glutathione and phytochelatin (PC) levels, but in the case of Cd to lipid peroxidation, O.2- and especially to PCs increase. The obtained results indicated that JA after the longest time might enhance the sensitivity of A. thaliana to Cu and Cd stress. Asc enhanced toxic action of Cu and Cd after 15 h, but after a longer time it diminished the influence of Cd (but not Cu) on photosynthetic activity.     

The Modeling of the Acoustic Condition of Urban Environment Using Noise Annoyance Assessment

Environmental Modeling & Assessment - In the following article, a method of modeling urban environment exposed to road noise pollution for the purpose of noise nuisance assessment has been...     

Linking biological and physicochemical water quality

To define water quality, the European Water Framework Directive (WFD) demands complex assessments through physicochemical, biological, and hydromorphological controls of water bodies. Since the biological assessment became the central focus with hydrochemistry playing a supporting role, an evaluation of the interrelationships within this approach deems necessary. This work identified and tested these relationships to help improve the quality and efficiency of related efforts. Data from the 384 km² Weisseritz catchment (eastern Erzgebirge, Saxony, Germany and northern Bohemia, Czech Republic) were used as a representative example for central European streams in mountainous areas. The data cover the time frame 1992 to 2003. To implement WFD demands, the analysis was based on accepted German methods and classifications, WFD quality standards, and novel German methods for the biological status assessment. Selected chemical parameters were compared with different versions of the German Saprobic Index, based on macroinvertebrate indicator taxa. Relevant dependencies applicable for integrated stream assessment were statistically tested. Correlation analysis showed significant relationships. The highest scores were found for nutrients (NO₂ ^???, N_inorg, and total N), salinity (Cl^???, SO₄ ^2???, conductivity), and microelements (K^?+?, Na^?+?, Ca^2?+?, Mg^2?+?). The Saprobic Index used in the Integrated Assessment System for the Ecological Quality of Streams and Rivers throughout Europe using Benthic Macro-invertebrates program seems to be the most sensitive indicator to correlate with chemical parameters.     

A Classification System for Characterization of Physical and Non-Physical Work Factors

A comprehensive evaluation of work-related perfomance factors is a prerequisite to developing integrated and long-term solutions to workplace performance improvement. This paper describes a work-factor classification system that categorizes the entire domain of workplace factors impacting performance. A questionnaire-based instrument was developed to implement this classification system in industry. Fifty jobs were evaluated in 4 different service and manufacturing companies using the proposed questionnaire-based instrument. The reliability coefficients obtained from the analyzed jobs were considered good (.589 to .862). In general, the physical work factors resulted in higher reliability coefficients (.847 to .862) than non-physical work factors (.589 to .768). performance work-factor system classification