A Human Factors Analysis of Work in Food Pantries: A Case Study of Two Local Pantries

A Human Factors Analysis of Work in Food Pantries: A Case Study of Two Local Pantries Nicholas A. Higgins, B.S., Danielle S. Vanderhill, Keshia D. Pierre, Jeremy DaCruz, Nicholas W. Fraulini & Andrew B. Talone University of Central Florida ABSTRACT The goal of the present study was to investigate the work environment and main work processes in two small food pantries from a human factors perspective. Current research on enhancing food pantries in general is very limited, especially with a focus on human factors improvements. This study specifically aimed to understand and evaluate food pantry design (i.e., the environment and workflow), potential physical demands on worker performance (e.g., heavy lifting), and cognitive components of human-machine interaction for main tasks (e.g., perceptual-motor skills, disuse or misuse of the equipment, mental workload, decision-making, and error-recovery strategies). Findings were then used to identify improvements for current procedures and optimize the work environment and worker performance (i.e., increased comfort and efficiency) for both pantries through the application of human factors principles. The study was conducted over the course of six months. Across both locations, 37 workers were observed in total (16 volunteers and 1 supervisor, 18 student volunteers and 2 supervisors; respectively). Two investigators for each location observed daily tasks and procedures within the pantry and conducted interviews with the pantry supervisors using techniques of ethnography (c.f., Wimmer & Dominick, 2006) and task analysis (c.f., Mayhew, 1999). Interviews addressed which tasks were the most or least common, the easiest or most difficult to perform, any issues workers had in general or specifically with the equipment, and clarification of observation notes. Then a more in-depth analysis was conducted on what were determined to be the main tasks for each pantry (i.e., obtaining pantry items, organizing pantry items, distributing pantry items to clients). Suggestions for enhancing the human-machine interaction (e.g., enhancing the interface used for inputting volunteer and food information) and work environment (e.g., reducing clutter) are provided. It should be noted that sustainable improvement may be difficult to implement in small food pantries given the often transitional nature of the workers. Additional investigations should be implemented to further support small non-profit organizations such as these where there is a great need. Contact Information Nicholas A. Higgins 3609 Stonefield Drive Orlando, FL, 32826 Phone: 850-524-1875 Email: [email protected] University Affiliation: University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL Danielle S. Vanderhill Department of Psychology 4000 Central Florida Blvd Orlando, FL, 32816 Phone: 407-371-7077 Email: [email protected] University Affiliation: University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL Keshia D. Pierre Department of Psychology 4000 Central Florida Blvd Orlando, FL, 32816 Phone: 407-361-8035 Email: [email protected] University Affiliation: University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL Jeremy DaCruz Department of Psychology 4000 Central Florida Blvd Orlando, FL, 32816 Phone: 434-213-0345 Email: [email protected] University Affiliation: University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL Nicholas W. Fraulini Department of Psychology 4000 Central Florida Blvd Orlando, FL, 32816 Phone: 617-968-0496 Email: [email protected] University Affiliation: University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL Andrew B. Talone Department of Psychology 4000 Central Florida Blvd Orlando, FL, 32816 Phone: 407-362-8492 Email: [email protected] University Affiliation: University of Central Florida, Orlando, F

QUIN 2.0 - new release of the QUaternary fault strain INdicators database from the Southern Apennines of Italy

QUIN database integrates and organizes structural-geological information from published and unpublished sources to constrain deformation in seismotectonic studies. The initial release, QUIN1.0, comprised 3,339 Fault Striation Pairs, mapped on 445 sites exposed along the Quaternary faults of central Italy. The present Data Descriptor introduces the QUIN 2.0 release, which includes 4,297 Fault Striation Pairs on 738 Structural Sites from southern Italy. The newly investigated faults span ~500 km along the Apennines chain, with strikes transitioning from ~SE to ~SW and comprehensively details Fault Striation Pairs’ location, attitude, kinematics, and deformation axes. Additionally, it offers a shapefile of the fault traces hosting the data. The QUIN 2.0 release offers a significant geographic extension to the QUIN 1.0, with comprehensive description of local geometric-kinematic complexities of the regional pattern. The QUIN data may be especially relevant for constraining intra-Apennine potential seismogenic deformation patterns, where earthquake data only offer scattered or incomplete information. QUIN’s data will support studies aimed at enhancing geological understanding, hazard assessment and comprehension of fault rupture propagation and barriers

Experimental determination of shift-less aberration bases for sensorless adaptive optics in nonlinear microscopy

Adaptive optics can improve the performance of optical systems and devices by correcting phase aberrations. While in most applications wavefront sensing is employed to drive the adaptive optics correction, some microscopy methods may require sensorless optimization of the wavefront. In these cases, the correction is performed by describing the aberration as a linear combination of a base of influence functions, optimizing an image quality metric as a function of the coefficients. The influence functions base is generally chosen to either efficiently represent the adaptive device used or to describe generic wavefronts in an orthogonal fashion. A rarely discussed problem is that most correction bases have elements which introduce, together with a correction of the aberration, a shift of the imaging field of view in three dimensions. While simple methods to solve the problem are available for linear microscopy methods, nonlinear microscopy techniques such as multiphoton or second harmonic generation microscopy require non-trivial base determination. In this paper, we discuss the problem, and we present a method for calibrating a shift-less base on a spatial light modulator for two-photon microscopy

Phototoxicity induced in living HeLa cells by focused femtosecond laser pulses: a data-driven approach

Nonlinear optical microscopy is a powerful label-free imaging technology, providing biochemical and structural information in living cells and tissues. A possible drawback is photodamage induced by high-power ultrashort laser pulses. Here we present an experimental study on thousands of HeLa cells, to characterize the damage induced by focused femtosecond near-infrared laser pulses as a function of laser power, scanning speed and exposure time, in both wide-field and point-scanning illumination configurations. Our data-driven approach offers an interpretation of the underlying damage mechanisms and provides a predictive model that estimates its probability and extension and a safety limit for the working conditions in nonlinear optical microscopy. In particular, we demonstrate that cells can withstand high temperatures for a short amount of time, while they die if exposed for longer times to mild temperatures. It is thus better to illuminate the samples with high irradiances: thanks to the nonlinear imaging mechanism, much stronger signals will be generated, enabling fast imaging and thus avoiding sample photodamage

Doppler indices from inferior vena cava and ductus venosus in predicting pH and oxygen tension in umbilical blood at cordocentesis in growth-retarded fetuses

The objective of this study was to assess the value of Doppler indices calculated from the inferior vena cava and ductus venosus in the identification of acidemia and hypoxemia as determined by pH and gas analysis of fetal blood obtained by cordocentesis in growth-retarded fetuses. Doppler measurements were performed in the inferior vena cava and ductus venosus in 209 normally grown fetuses and in 89 growth-retarded fetuses. All growth-retarded fetuses were free from structural and chromosomal abnormalities, and uteroplacental insufficiency characterized by Doppler changes in the umbilical and middle cerebral arteries was the most likely etiology of the growth defect. In this group of fetuses, Doppler recordings were performed immediately before cordocentesis. Ten different indices were calculated from venous velocity waveforms, and reference limits for gestation were constructed by the cross-sectional analysis of data from normally grown fetuses. Logistic regression and receiver operator characteristic curve analysis were performed to examine the relationship between Doppler indices and acid-base status. The pre-lend index (peak velocity during atrial contraction/peak velocity during systole) in the inferior vena cava was the best explanatory variable for acidemia (chi(2) = 48.33; p less than or equal to 0.001). Hypoxemia was predicted less well by venous indices and the best results were achieved by the S/A ratio in the ductus venosus (chi(2) = 9.46; p less than or equal to 0.005). In conclusion, our data suggest that acidosis in growth-retarded fetuses may be non-invasively identified by Doppler measurements of the inferior vena cava and that a higher efficiency cart be achieved by the use of the pre-load index

Doppler indices from inferior vena cava and ductus venosus in predicting pH and oxygen tension in umbilical blood at cordocentesis in growth-retarded fetuses

The objective of this study was to assess the value of Doppler indices calculated from the inferior vena cava and ductus venosus in the identification of acidemia and hypoxemia as determined by pH and gas analysis of fetal blood obtained by cordocentesis in growth-retarded fetuses. Doppler measurements were performed in the inferior vena cava and ductus venosus in 209 normally grown fetuses and in 89 growth-retarded fetuses. All growth-retarded fetuses were free from structural and chromosomal abnormalities, and uteroplacental insufficiency characterized by Doppler changes in the umbilical and middle cerebral arteries was the most likely etiology of the growth defect. In this group of fetuses, Doppler recordings were performed immediately before cordocentesis. Ten different indices were calculated from venous velocity waveforms, and reference limits for gestation were constructed by the cross-sectional analysis of data from normally grown fetuses. Logistic regression and receiver operator characteristic curve analysis were performed to examine the relationship between Doppler indices and acid-base status. The pre-lend index (peak velocity during atrial contraction/peak velocity during systole) in the inferior vena cava was the best explanatory variable for acidemia (chi(2) = 48.33; p less than or equal to 0.001). Hypoxemia was predicted less well by venous indices and the best results were achieved by the S/A ratio in the ductus venosus (chi(2) = 9.46; p less than or equal to 0.005). In conclusion, our data suggest that acidosis in growth-retarded fetuses may be non-invasively identified by Doppler measurements of the inferior vena cava and that a higher efficiency cart be achieved by the use of the pre-load index

Morpho-Structural and Magnetic Properties of CoFe2O4/SiO2 Nanocomposites: The Effect of the Molecular Coating

The use of magnetic nanoarchitecture in several applications is often limited by the lack of noninteracting particles, due to the frequent presence of clusters and aggregates of particles. Here, we report an investigation of the interparticle interactions by changing the molecular coating on ∼5 nm CoFe2O4 nanoparticles embedded in a silica structure. The magnetic investigation at a low temperature allows revealing the key role of organic ligands in tuning the morpho-structural properties of hybrid materials. Cobalt ferrite-coated nanoparticles were prepared by the polyol method using triethylene glycol as a co-reagent (CFOT) and by the exchange ligand process using dihydroxyhydrocinnamic acid (CFOH). Then, magnetic mesoporous silica nanocomposites have been prepared starting from CFOT (CFOTS) and CFOH (CFOHS). For the CFOTS sample, the interparticle distance did not change after coating, whereas the CFOHS sample showed an increase in the interparticle distance by 23%. This value has been obtained by investigating interparticle interactions by remanence techniques, which represent a good approach to determine the approximated values of interparticle distances in complex systems. The measurements showed that the silica coating produces a reduction of 47% in the dipolar interaction strength for the CFOHS sample, whereas no significant change was observed for the CFOTS sample. The differences in magnetic response upon varying the molecular coating of nanoparticles are due to the different interactions of the molecular ligands with silica, resulting in a change of interparticle distances and then magnetic interactions

Aggiornamenti di legislazione comunitaria in materia di tubercolosi bovina

Member States of European Union is investing expensive resources in order to eradicate Mycobacterium bovis from bovine herds. The final result is not yet near at hand; therefore the EU requires to member States great precision andcommitment in healing programmes from thi disease. The aim of this study is to highlight very concisely Communitarian lega framework comprising various acts about this topic,starting from the careful examination of the Directive 64/432/ECC, substantially modified 49 times so far. Authors consider very interesting to fosterring a continuing dialogue between UE and other Mediterranean Country in order to compare eradication programmes rearding infectious diseases. Method adopted for this work to make a careful study of the consolidated text of the aforesaid Directive that means that it includes all subsequent acts that modify the original law. Main Communitarian purposes about this issue are higlight, particularly fostering public health and saving economic resources, providing to invest today in healing programmes in order to economize in future expensive prophylaxes and/or intervetion plans. Official reports, stating the achieved results regarding the official tuberculosis - free areas, are summarized as conclusion of this study: they show the increasing trend of the number of official tuberculosis - free areas in the European Union.[...