Human mismatches in machining

This main objectives of this study were to examine human aspects of machining and to obtain an understanding of the issues within the broad context of manufacturing. Emphasis was placed on operator mismatches and the relationships of these to basic human characteristics and the preferred levels of automation from the operators' perspective with regard to turning operations. [Continues.

The Pathogenesis and Diagnosis of Bile Reflux Gastropathy

Bile reflux gastropathy is a disease caused by reflux of duodenal fluid to the gaster. This fluid contains pancreatic juices and duodenal secretion. The manifestations that occur depend on the frequency, amount, and duration of reflux. This disorder is quite rarely recognized in daily clinical practice. Endoscopy of the upper gastrointestinal tract is required to establish the diagnosis of this disorder. This paper will give a brief view of the pathogenesis and diagnostic method for this disorder

Human mismatches and preferences for automation

The research reported in this paper is concerned with gaining a better understanding of human factors issues in machining and the automation of manufacturing tasks. Mismatches between operators' performance and the requirements of machining tasks were experimentally studied with respect to the relationships with various human characteristics, including skill, age, work experience, self-confidence and trust. Twelve hypotheses concerning interrelationships between these characteristics were evaluated and important relationships established. It is considered that this increased knowledge of the rate of mismatches and an understanding of the causes is essential for the successful design of new working environments, machines and tasks. Much of this change to the working environment is likely to involve some degree of automation of the operators' tasks and so a second and important aspect of the study was designed to establish the extent to which preferred levels of automation were related to the same human characteristics. Four further hypotheses relating preferred levels of automation to skill, age, work experience, self-confidence and trust were tested with results that, in some cases, were unexpected and in others contradict the findings of previous research. © 2000 Taylor & Francis Ltd

Nanoporous Nb2O5 hydrogen gas sensor

This work presents the development of gas sensors based on nanoporous niobium oxide (Nb2O5) films for hydrogen gas sensing. Nanoporous Nb2O5 films were successfully synthesized by the anodization of niobium foil in fluoride-organic solvent containing a small percentage of water at 50 °C. These conditions helped to obtain nanovein-like networks with pore diameters of 30-50 nm. After annealing at 440 °C an orthorhombic phase of Nb2O5 was obtained. Contacts of the sensors were then established using platinum (Pt) that also acted as catalytic layers. The gas sensing properties of these nanoporous contacts were investigated for hydrogen gas sensing at different film thicknesses and temperatures

Anaesthesia of the Malayan sun bears (Helarctos malayanus) using tiletamine-zolazepam-xylazine combination

Eight Malayan sun bears (Helarctos malayanus) were immobilised with Zoletil® (x = 3.44 mg/kg) and xylazine (x = 0.65 mg/kg). The sun bears were darted intramuscularly by using a blow pipe at muscular areas such as the rump and shoulder regions. Psychological data were recorded every 10 min throughout the immobilisation period. No antagonist drug was used. The drug combination was able to induced smooth, rapid and good anaesthesia with analgesia within 11-30 minutes (mean ± S. D. = 21.1 ± 6.44 min). Time from complete immobilisation to recovery (walking) range from 157 ± 25.6 min (range = 124 – 186 min). No pedal pinch reflex was observed in all animals. The anesthetic depth and analgesia were reasonably adequate to conduct a physical examination and perform minor clinical procedures. There were no significant clinical adverse effects observed except for hypersalivation and frothing during the reversible period

Hematological profiles of the Malayan sun bear (Heiarctos Malayanus) kept in captivity

Nineteen haematological parameters for the Malayan sun bear which include PCV, RBC count, differential counts for leucocytes, plasma protein, PT and APTT were evaluated. Twenty-six biochemical parameters were analysed namely sodium, potassium, chloride, inorganic phosphate, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, glucose, cholesterol, total bilirubin, total protein, alanine transferase, alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase, craetine kinase, globulin, albumin, globulin-albumin ratio, amylase, lactate dehydrogenase, lipase, lactate, uric acid, triglyceride and gammaglutamyl transferase. Comparing males and females, males showed a significantly higher value for haemaglobin. Leucocytes and segmented neutrophils were significantly higher in sub-adults. Current values showed low haemoglobin and leucocytes compared to previous data. Preliminary data on anticoagulation factors namely PT and APTT were recorded. Biochemistry showed ALT, GGT and CK were significantly higher in males. The sub-adult group showed higher values of ALT, GGT, CK, LDH and albumin. Compared to previous reports, current data showed lower values of calcium, inorganic phosphate, BUN and AST. Additional preliminary data on GGT, amylase, CK, total triglyceride, lipase and lactate were recorded

The Cyclooxygenase-2 and Nuclear Factor-kappa B Expressions in Colorectal Polyps

Background: Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is the rate-limiting enzyme in prostaglandin synthesis, while nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB) is a family of transcription factors. Both play an important role in tumorigenesis. In the present study, we examined NF-kB and COX-2 expressions pattern, and their association in neoplastic and non-neoplastic colorectal polyps (CP). Method: Formalin-fixed and paraffin embedded tissue blocks from 77 patients with CP were immunostained with anti-NF-kB (p 65) and anti-COX-2. Expressions of NF-kB, and COX-2 were detected immunohistochemically. The relationship between these expressions and the two types of CP, and other clinicopathological findings were evaluated Results: The expressions of NF-kB and COX-2 in patients with neoplastic and non-neoplastic CP were high. The results of this study indicated that generally in CP, NF-kB was associated with COX-2 and the association was also seen in neoplastic and non-neoplastic polyps. There was no significant difference of NF-kB and COX-2 expressions in terms of patient's age, sex, histologic type, and location of the CP. Neoplastic CPs were more common in the distal colon, female patients and older patients (> 60 years) compared with non-neoplastic CPs. Neoplastic CP were located more at the distal colon, more in female, and more in older (> 60 years) patients as compared with the non-neoplastic CP. Further studies are needed to elaborate the role of inflammation in sporadic colorectal carcinogenesis. Conclusion: The expressions of NF-kB and COX-2 in patients with CP were high, and strong correlated each other. There were no significant differences between expression of NF-kB and COX-2 in neoplastic and non-neoplastic polyps

The inter-rater and intra-rater reliability analysis of workplace ergonomic risk assessment

Observation tools have found wide application in ergonomic assessment of musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) because of their ease of use, ability to be used by multiple users with less specialised training and less operation time. However, their major challenge remains the reliability of their findings. Since MSD is a multidisciplinary problem, there is need for observation tools to be precise when used by practitioners from different professions. This study therefore, investigated the intra-rater and inter-rater reliability of workplace ergonomic risk assessment (WERA) observation tool. Thirteen ergonomics and safety stakeholders, from four different professions were trained and thereafter, independently asked to carry out risk assessment of ten different videos-captured work activities. WERA was used to evaluate the participants’ exposure to six physical risk factors of MSDs in six body regions, so as to determine their risk level. The assessment was repeated after two weeks. The interclass reliability analysis was carried out using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) with the two-way mixed model and absolute agreement as the preferred types. Two of the tasks, tyre extraction and quay crane operation were rated as high risked with an exposure rating greater than 60%, while the remaining eight were medium-risked. The body regions with high probability of MSD exposure were the neck (70%), leg (60%), wrist (60%) and back (50%). Inter-rater reliability (ICC) of the activities by the professionals ranged between 0.97 and 0.99 while intra-rater reliability of the participants ranged between 0.81 and 1.0. The reliability analysis demonstrated consistency among the different professionals using WERA. Therefore,there is a need to urgently redesign the tasks and carry out ergonomic interventions in the work activities assessed