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Background: Dental instrumentation with hand-held devices is associated with discomfort, fatigue and musculoskeletal diseases or repetitive stress injuries. The goal of this in vivo study was to determine the effect of an ergonomic handle sheath on muscle work, comfort and fatigue associated with (a) piezoelectric scaling by hygienists with and without musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), and (b) dental cavity preparation by healthy dentists using a dental micromotor. Materials and Methods: Two groups of ten hygienists each tested the piezoelectric scaler. Hygienists in Group 1 had no MSDs, while those in Group 2 had been diagnosed with MSDs. Additionally, ten dentists with no MSDs used a dental micromotor to prepare four standardized cavities. Time-based work in four muscles, comfort and fatigue were recorded in the presence and absence of an add-on soft, insulating handle sheath. Data were analyzed using a repeated measures analysis of variance model with Tukeys post-hoc test. Results: Comfort, fatigue and muscle work were significantly better for both devices when the sheath was used. While hygienists with MSDs used more muscle work to complete the set scaling task, and the sheath-related reduction in work was somewhat greater, these MSD-related differences did not quite reach significance. Conclusions: The results of this pilot study show that the ergonomic performance of an ultrasonic scaler and a dental micromotor may be improved by the use of an ergonomic handle sheath.

(1) Background: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), discomfort, fatigue, pain, and other acute and chronic work-related injuries are common among dental clinicians. Hand instruments constitute a primary risk factor for these conditions. The overall goal of this study was to compare in dental hygienists with healthy hands, and in those with MSDs, the effect of three different handle designs on instrumentation-related muscle work, comfort, fatigue, and quality of tactile feedback. (2) Methods: Clinicians tested three periodontal curettes: one with a novel adaptive silicone handle, another with a rigid resin handle, and the third with a rigid silicone handle. Ten hygienists-five with MSDs and five without-each scaled three typodonts using the three different curettes. Statistical analysis was performed using a General Linear Model (GLIM) and Tukeys post hoc test, and a significance level of p < 0.05 was implemented. (3) Results: On average, mean comfort and fatigue across all instruments were significantly worse in testers with MSDs, who also expended significantly more work to complete the same task. In all testers, a novel adaptive handle design was associated with significantly reduced total muscle work and post-instrumentation fatigue, as well as better comfort than conventional rigid handle designs. (4) Conclusions: An adaptive curette handle design demonstrated significantly better ergonomic outcomes than conventional rigid curette handle designs. Hygienists with MSDs expend significantly more muscle work during dental instrumentation.

Due to working in static positions and use of repetitive movements over long periods of time, dermatologists are at increased risk of work-related musculoskeletal injury. Historically, studies on procedural ergonomics have focused on dermatologic surgery, however, laser procedures can also have a significant cumulative effect on physician posture. Here, we aim to highlight ergonomic challenges specific to dermatologic laser procedures and suggest areas of improvement in operating room organization, patient positioning, physician mechanics, and instrumentation. For the operating room, it is beneficial to store several devices in the same room, have central placement of electrical outlets, and to position the devices on the same side of the bed as the laser operator. When considering patient positioning, a Trendelenburg bed position can be helpful for vascular lesions on the head, and frequent repositioning of the patient can prevent uncomfortable bending of the operator and laser arm for circumferential lesions. Physicians should maintain a working position with a neutral spine and wrist position, moving the patient and bed as needed to reduce muscle tension. Lastly, laser instrumentation in the future could be improved upon with lightweight consoles and hand pieces, long multi-articulated device arms, and lightweight laser goggles with adjustable head straps. With the use of organizational, ergonomic positioning, and teamwork strategies, we can reduce the risk of musculoskeletal injury for our laser operators.

ObjectiveWomen represent an increasing proportion of the otolaryngology workforce. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSD) are a little-studied yet important impediment to career completion. Scant attention has been directed to study the impact of pregnancy on surgeon posture and ergonomics. We piloted the use of a pregnancy simulation suit (Empathy Belly) to assess the risk of ergonomic compromise when performing open septorhinoplasty.Study designSurgical simulation.SettingSingle session, training simulation lab at academic medical center.MethodsMedical students and surgical residents performed the initial steps of a rhinoplasty procedure without and with a pregnancy simulation suit and were filmed with an artificial intelligence-based video analysis app from Kinetica Labs that calculates joint angles and categorizes the ergonomic risk factors. Still images from videos were taken and analyzed using validated posture-based analysis rubrics. Participants were asked to complete a qualitative questionnaire after the session.ResultsTwelve medical students and surgical residents participated in the study. Posture-based analysis indicated increased ergonomics risk factors among trainees when performing a rhinoplasty while wearing the pregnancy suit. Video analysis indicated trends of worsening back angle and shoulder postures. Trainees reported experiencing pain in the neck, suprapubic area, and lower back. They acknowledged the importance of ergonomics in otolaryngology and desired further education about workplace injury risk mitigation.ConclusionPregnancy impacts the ergonomics of performing septorhinoplasty and further investigation is required into interventions to reduce risk of WRMSDs.

Human factors engineering (HFE) in the medical device industry is a well-established practice, a result of progressive international standards and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidance over the last [...]

Optimal ergonomics are essential to improving clinical performance and longevity among urologists, as poor ergonomics can contribute to work-related injury and physician burnout. While a majority of urologists experience muscular injury throughout their career, women and trainees are disproportionately affected. These disparities are exacerbated by the lack of formal ergonomics education within urologic training programs. This review provides an overview of practical approaches to optimize ergonomics across working environments for urologists and trainees. We highlight intraoperative techniques and novel devices which have been shown to reduce work-related injury, and we identify knowledge gaps to guide future areas of ergonomic research.

Background: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are common among nursing professionals and require effective management strategies. Implementing targeted training programs for nurses is a vital approach to reduce these problems. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate problem‐based learning (PBL) effectiveness in reducing work‐related musculoskeletal symptoms (WMSs) among nurses. Methods: Fifty Iranian nurses participated in this interventional study. Some data were collected by a demographic/occupational questionnaire and a Persian version of the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (P‐NMQ). Some other was gathered by Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) and PBL method. Results: The prevalence of WMSs during the last 12 months in the subjects was related to the lower back (76%), wrists/hands (70%), neck (64%), and knee (64%), respectively. The results showed that the prevalence of WMSs decreased significantly only in the subjects' elbow region in the postintervention (p = 0.031). Although the prevalence decreased in the postintervention stage in other regions, this decrease was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Conclusions: This study showed that the implementation of PBL could reduce the WMSs prevalence and the level of nurses' exposure to risk factors for MSDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evolving landscape of modern manufacturing is affected by a confluence of social challenges arising from demographic shifts and erratic market demands. The emergence of Industry 5.0 revolutionized practices, with a keen focus on harnessing the potential of the Internet of Things to digitize the workforce embracing a human-centric approach. In this research, an original digital architecture integrates sensors into manufacturing environments to evaluate the well-being of assembly operators. The core objective is to capture human-process interactions, empowering production managers to optimize assembly environments from the ergonomic perspective. Three key enabling technologies are employed: radio frequency identification smart gloves, motion capture cameras, and superficial electromyography sensors. This physical layer detects and analyzes assembly tasks, operator movements, and muscular activities. Computational algorithms mine these data streams to assess the Ergonomic Assembly Worksheet, automatically. In detail, the investigated sections of this ergonomic index are basic postures, action forces, and manual material handling. Furthermore, a supplementary set of Key Risk Indicators supports production managers in evaluating the physical resilience of the assembly systems. These operator-specific metrics provide strategic information to trigger workstation redesign, task rebalancing, and other corrective actions for enhancing the safety of whichever human-centric assembly process. Finally, an experimental campaign in a controlled industrial environment tests the architecture's effectiveness and potential to reduce the risks and enhance workforce health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Hand functionality, defined as the ability to perform tasks requiring fine motor skills, is crucial for emergency service nurses as it directly affects their ability to perform tasks requiring fine motor skills, such as administering medication, operating equipment, and providing patient care. This study, therefore, aimed to investigate the effects of an 8‐h work shift on hand functionality and perceived exertion among emergency service nurses. Method: Employing a cross‐sectional design, the study measured manual dexterity, handgrip, and pinch strength, and perceived exertion using the Minnesota Manual Dexterity Test (MMDT), Nine‐Hole Peg Test (9‐HPT), Handgrip Strength Test, Pinch Strength Test, and the Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) Scale. Data were collected from 34 emergency service nurses both before and after their shifts. Results: The present findings indicated significant postshift declines in manual dexterity as evidenced by the MMDT and 9‐HPT, with the former demonstrating a large effect size and the latter a small effect size. No significant changes were observed in handgrip and pinch strength. Notably, Borg RPE scores increased significantly postshift, indicating substantial perceived fatigue with a nearly perfect effect size. Correlation analyses revealed significant relationships between increased physical exertion and changes in hand dexterity and strength, underscoring the physical demands placed on nurses during typical work shifts. Conclusions: These findings highlight the need for healthcare institutions to reassess work schedules and ergonomic practices to mitigate fatigue and preserve nurses' hand functionality, thereby enhancing patient care and nurse well‐being. The study calls for further research to explore more comprehensive strategies aimed at reducing the occupational strain on emergency service nurses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to assess the accuracy of virtual reality (VR) technology in replicating real-life environments for the adoption of appropriate human postures and forces. Despite the widespread implementation of VR in various applications, there is a lack of research evaluating the accuracy of human postures and sensory aspects in the VR environment compared to real-life scenarios. A total of twenty-two student participants were recruited for this study, which involved a common lifting task. Two specific poses were identified as having potentially excessive forces exerted on the lower back. By comparing the angles of seven anatomical joints in both the real environment and the VR environment at each pose, we observed that depth perception may influence posture adoption in the VR setting. Moreover, the presence of a physical load applied to both hands significantly influenced the postures adopted by participants compared to those in the VR environment. These deviations in postures directly led to significant differences in predicted spinal forces exerted on the lower back, which in turn could result in inaccurate assessments of injury risks and the design of injury prevention programs. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the accuracy of VR technology as a substitute for real-life environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exoskeletons possess a high potential for assisting the human workforce while eliminating or reducing the risk of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSDs). However, their usage in agricultural work, where there is a plethora of reported WMSD cases, seems limited. Since agricultural tasks are complex and performed in harsh environments, developing novel exoskeleton-based solutions could be challenging. However, commercial exoskeletons are already being used in various other industries, such as logistics, military, medicine, and manufacturing. Thus, it is expected that those existing exoskeleton solutions could be applied to agricultural tasks. Nevertheless, prior to implementation, assessing the feasibility, efficacy, and necessary modifications for these exoskeletons is imperative to supporting agricultural activities prone to WMSDs. In this review, prevalent exoskeletons documented in scientific literature are identified, and their potential relevance to agricultural tasks with elevated WMSD risks is evaluated. The review further highlights and deliberates on exoskeletons that could be applicable in an agricultural context. This comprehensive examination serves as a foundational step towards the conceptualization and development of exoskeleton-based approaches tailored explicitly for agricultural tasks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Manual handling is a major risk factor for work-related musculoskeletal disorders and one of the leading causes of disability-adjusted life years globally, necessitating multifaceted risk reduction measures. One potential intervention for manual handling tasks is work technique training assisted by augmented feedback on biomechanical exposures. However, there is a research gap regarding its effectiveness specifically for manual handling tasks in both real work environments and controlled settings, as well as its ability to induce retained reductions in biomechanical exposure. The gap was investigated using a rapid review comprising a literature search using two databases and 11 reviews/overviews to identify studies from the past 20 years, up to studies published by 1 June 2024. Sixteen studies were identified, with 14 of them being of high or moderate methodological quality and were included. Three studies were conducted in real work environments and eleven in controlled settings. Most studies (n = 9) used auditory feedback, followed by vibration feedback (n = 6). In real work environments, the evidence for the effectiveness of sensor-based augmented feedback in reducing biomechanical exposure during administration was considered to be inconsistent and very limited directly after administration. For longer periods after administration, ranging from one week to more than six months, there is currently no evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of the feedback. In controlled settings, there was strong evidence for its effectiveness during and immediately after administration, and limited evidence for effectiveness up to six months post-administration when considering the tasks included in the training. Future research needs are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under the interference of climate warming and human engineering activities, the degradation of permafrost causes the frequent occurrence of geological disasters such as uneven foundation settlement and landslides, which brings great challenges to the construction and operational safety of road projects. In this paper, the spatial and temporal evolution of surface deformations along the Beihei Highway was investigated by combining the SBAS-InSAR technique and the surface frost number model after considering the vegetation factor with multi-source remote sensing observation data. After comprehensively considering factors such as climate change, permafrost degradation, anthropogenic disturbance, and vegetation disturbance, the surface uneven settlement and landslide processes were analyzed in conjunction with site surveys and ground data. The results show that the average deformation rate is approximately −16 mm/a over the 22 km section of the study area. The rate of surface deformation on the pavement is related to topography, and the rate of surface subsidence on the pavement is more pronounced in areas with high topographic relief and a sunny aspect. Permafrost along the roads in the study area showed an insignificant degradation trend, and at landslides with large surface deformation, permafrost showed a significant degradation trend. Meteorological monitoring data indicate that the annual minimum mean temperature in the study area is increasing rapidly at a rate of 1.266 °C/10a during the last 40 years. The occurrence of landslides is associated with precipitation and freeze–thaw cycles. There are interactions between permafrost degradation, landslides, and vegetation degradation, and permafrost and vegetation are important influences on uneven surface settlement. Focusing on the spatial and temporal evolution process of surface deformation in the permafrost zone can help to deeply understand the mechanism of climate change impact on road hazards in the permafrost zone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study Aim: This study aims to describe the transition-in-care work process for sepsis survivors going from hospitals to home health care (HHC) and identify facilitators and barriers to enable practice change and safe care transitions using a human factors and systems engineering approach. Background: Despite high readmission risk for sepsis survivors, the transition-in-care work process from hospitals to HHC has not been described. Methods: We analyzed semi-structured needs assessment interviews with 24 stakeholders involved in transitioning sepsis survivors from two hospitals and one affiliated HHC agency participating in the parent implementation science study, I-TRANSFER. The qualitative data analysis was guided by the Systems Engineering Initiative for Patient Safety (SEIPS) framework to describe the work process and identify work system elements. Results: We identified 31 tasks characterized as decision making, patient education, communication, information, documentation, and scheduling tasks. Technological and organizational facilitators lacked in HHC compared to the hospitals. Person and organization elements in HHC had the most barriers but few facilitators. Additionally, we identified specific task barriers that could hinder sepsis information transfer from hospitals to HHC. Conclusion: This study explored the complex transition-in-care work processes for sepsis survivors going from hospitals to HHC. We identified barriers, facilitators, and critical areas for improvement to enable implementation and ensure safe care transitions. A key finding was the sepsis information transfer deficit, highlighting a critical issue for future study. Application: We recommend using the SEIPS framework to explore complex healthcare work processes before the implementation of evidence-based interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the field of construction engineering, the cracking of concrete structures is a common engineering problem, which has a great impact on the overall stability and service life of the engineered structure. During structural repair, crack detection is the most critical step. Automatic detection significantly reduces the engineering cost and human factor error compared with manual detection. However, due to the changeable environment of the project site and different image specifications, using a single algorithm makes it difficult to balance high efficiency and high accuracy. In this study, we designed a combined recognition method including the region growth algorithm and machine learning regression that can achieve a tradeoff between accuracy and efficiency. Firstly, the regression method learns the image features of the dataset and the specific region growth threshold, and the regression function is trained by using the open-source dataset to determine the region growth threshold using the characteristics of the images included in the tests. The region growth algorithm is used to expand the threshold from the seed points of the image to obtain the crack recognition results. The results show that this method improves the accuracy of SSIM by 7% compared with the traditional region growth algorithm, and does not significantly increase the computational cost, with an increase of 0.78 s per photo process. Compared with the deep learning method, the recognition accuracy of SSIM is decreased by 5.96%, but it takes less resources and has high efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Musculoskeletal disorders are prevalent among agricultural workers, increasing the risk of work-related diseases due to manual labor, repetitive tasks, and prolonged postures. This study evaluates the association between physical behaviors during work and non-work, measured objectively, and musculoskeletal pain in the neck, upper back, and lower back in viticulture workers. A cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted with 75 viticulturists of both sexes aged 18 years or older. An accelerometer measured physical behaviors (lying down, sitting, standing, moving, walking, and sleeping) during work and non-work periods. Pain intensity was quantified using a 0–10 scale and categorized as "Low" and "High" pain intensity. Binary logistic regression tested the association between pain and time spent on physical behaviors. Results indicated a high prevalence of pain: 46.7% cervical, 52% upper back, and 60% lower back. Standing was the most common behavior during work, while lying and sitting were predominant during non-work. An increased sleeping time was associated with a decreased probability of experiencing high-intensity neck pain. Increased time spent lying down during non-work hours was associated with an increased probability of experiencing high-intensity upper back pain. No physical behavior was associated with high-intensity lower back pain. In conclusion, sedentary behaviors worsen upper back pain, and sleep reduces neck pain in viticulture workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Intensive care units (ICUs) are one of the high-risk working areas in terms of musculoskeletal disability and ergonomic risks including the environment and posture factors. Correct posture technique is often ignored by nurses working in these units. This study was conducted to determine the effect of posture regulation training on work-related musculoskeletal disorders, fatigue level and job performance in nurses working in ICUs. Methods: This quasi-experimental study with one-group pretest-posttest design included 64 intensive care nurses. The nurses received posture regulation training in three different sessions. The post-test was administered four months after the posture regulation training. Results: The nurses reported to frequently have aches, pains and discomfort in the neck, upper back and lumbar regions. After the posture regulation training, their level of pain, ache and discomfort in the neck, right and left shoulder, upper back, lower back and right/left foot areas decreased significantly (p < 0.05). The posture regulation training reduced the levels of behavior/severity and affect, which are sub-dimensions of fatigue, and increased the level of contribution to work, which is a sub-dimension of job performance (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The posture regulation training decreased the level of symptoms in the neck, shoulder, upper back, lower back and foot regions of intensive care nurses and partially improved their fatigue level and job performance. Therefore, posture regulation training should be added to in-service training programs and permanent measures should be taken for ergonomic risks in ICUs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compared to traditional lower-limb prostheses (LLPs), intelligent LLPs are more versatile devices with emerging technologies, such as microcontrollers and user-controlled interfaces (UCIs). As emerging technologies allow a higher level of automation and more involvement from wearers in the LLP setting adjustments, the previous framework established to study human factors elements that affect wearer-LLP interaction may not be sufficient to understand the new elements (e.g., transparency) and dynamics in this interaction. In addition, the increased complexity of interaction amplifies the limitations of the traditional evaluation approaches of wearer-LLP interaction. Therefore, to ensure wearer acceptance and adoption, from a human factors perspective, we propose a new framework to introduce elements and usability requirements for the wearer-LLP interaction. This paper organizes human factors elements that appear with the development of intelligent LLP technologies into three aspects: wearer, device, and task by using a classic model of the human-machine systems. By adopting Nielsen's five usability requirements, we introduce learnability, efficiency, memorability, use error, and satisfaction into the evaluation of wearer-LLP interaction. We identify two types of wearer-LLP interaction. The first type, direct interaction, occurs when the wearer continuously interacts with the intelligent LLP (primarily when the LLP is in action); the second type, indirect interaction, occurs when the wearer initiates communication with the LLP usually through a UCI to address the current or foreseeable challenges. For each type of interaction, we highlight new elements, such as device transparency and prior knowledge of the wearer with the UCI. In addition, we redefine the usability goals of two types of wearer-LLP interaction with Nelson's five usability requirements and review methods to evaluate the interaction. Researchers and designers for intelligent LLPs should consider the new device elements that may additionally influence wearers' acceptance and the need to interpret findings within the constraints of the specific wearer and task characteristics. The proposed framework can also be used to organize literature and identify gaps for future directions. By adopting the holistic usability requirements, findings across empirical studies can be more comparable. At the end of this paper, we discuss research trends and future directions in the human factors design of intelligent LLPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The job of sonographers exposes them to numerous ergonomic risk factors, making the sonography profession one of the high-risk job groups vulnerable to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). The present systematic review and meta-analysis specifically examined the prevalence of MSDs among sonographers. Materials and methods: The present review study was carried out in accordance with the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The protocol of the study was registered in the international prospective register of systematic review (PROSPERO) with the code CRD42024507972. Searches were conducted in databases including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Science Direct, SID, ISC, and Google Scholar, without imposing a time limit until February 7th, 2024. The random-effects model was employed for meta-analysis, and the I2 index was used to assess heterogeneity among studies. Finally, data analysis was performed using STATA (version 14). Results: Based on the search in different databases, a total of 4367 articles were identified. Finally, after screening, selecting, and quality evaluation of the studies, 30 studies were considered for meta-analysis in which 13,916 sonographers were examined. According to the results of the meta-analysis, the overall prevalence of MSDs among sonographers was reported as 75.80% (95% CI: 65.37–86.23, I2 = 99.7%, P < 0.001). Additionally, the prevalence rates of these disorders in the neck (63.73%), shoulder (60.13%), upper back (53.69%), lower back (49.84%), wrist (44.41%), elbow (27.46), hip (24.93%), knee (19.59), and ankle (16.92%) were determined. Conclusion: Given the relatively high prevalence of MSDs among sonographers and the importance of reducing specific risk factors associated with their duties, it is recommended to consider solutions such as carrying out ergonomic assessments and interventions, as well as providing training programs and appropriate corrective exercises to mitigate MSDs among sonographers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: This study investigated factors influencing the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) resulting from agricultural work, utilizing the 2020 and 2022 occupational disease survey data collected by the Rural Development Administration. The combined data from these years indicated a 6.02% prevalence of MSDs, reflecting a significant class imbalance in the binary response variables. This imbalance could lead to classifiers overlooking rare events, potentially inflating accuracy assessments. Methods: We evaluated five distinct models to compare their performance using both original and synthetic data and assessing the models' performance based on synthetic data generation. In the multivariate logistic model, we focused on the main effects of the covariates as there were no statistically significant second-order interactions. Results: Focusing on the random over-sampling examples (ROSE) method, gender, age, and pesticide use were particularly impactful. The odds of experiencing MSDs were 1.29 times higher for females than males. The odds increased with age: 2.66 times higher for those aged 50–59, 4.60 times higher for those aged 60–69, and 7.16 times higher for those aged 70 or older, compared to those under 50. Pesticide use was associated with 1.26 times higher odds of developing MSDs. Among body part usage variables, all except wrists and knees were significant. Farmers who frequently used their necks, arms, and waist showed 1.27, 1.11, and 1.23 times higher odds of developing MSDs, respectively. Conclusions: The accuracy of the raw method was high, but the ROSE method outperformed it for precision and F1 score, and both methods showed similar AUC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colonoscopy is a commonly performed procedure in the United Kingdom and the gold standard for diagnosis and therapy in the gastrointestinal tract. Increased levels of pain during colonoscopy have been associated with reduced completion rates and difficulties in maintaining attendance for repeat procedures. Multiple factors play a role in causing discomfort intra-procedurally: patient factors, such as gender, anatomy and pre-procedure anxiety; operator factors, such as patient position and level of experience and other factors, such as bowel preparation and total procedure time. A literature search was performed to identify papers that explained how patient, operator and endoscopy factors influenced pain and discomfort in endoscopy. A further search then also identified papers describing solutions to pain and discomfort that have been explored. After review of the literature, key methods are selected and discussed in this paper. Solutions and aids that can resolve and improve pain and discomfort include endoscopic methods such as variable stiffness and ultrathin scopes. Operator improvements in techniques and ergonomics alongside the use of newer technologies such as propelled endoscopy, computer-assisted endoscopy and task distraction. To improve patient experience and outcomes, the investigation and research into improving techniques to reduce pain is crucial. This review aims to identify the modifiable and non-modifiable factors associated with intra-procedural discomfort during colonoscopy. We discuss established methods of improving pain during colonoscopy, in addition to newer technologies to mitigate associated discomfort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Neck Pain (NP), a major global disability, disproportionately affects women, especially homemakers performing repetitive domestic tasks with poor ergonomics. Regular exercise helps, but access might be limited. Telerehabilitation, using technology for remote care, emerges as a potential solution. Homemakers with NP often lack access to exercise programmes. This study tests if telerehabilitation with exercises and ergonomics improves their function. Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of a combined tele-rehabilitation programme incorporating structured neck exercises and ergonomic advice for the sustainable management of NP among homemakers experiencing nonspecific NP. Materials and Methods: This experimental study was carried out at BV(DU), School of Physiotherapy on 63 female homemakers residing at Sangli city, Maharashtra. The duration of study was one year from March 2023 to April 2024. Participants aged 25-55, with moderate NP (VAS 2-5) and performing tasks like chopping, mopping, and lifting for more than 4 hours a day, were included. A 30-day telerehabilitation programme with daily supervised exercises and ergonomic advice was carried out. Wilcoxon Matched Pairs test was used to compare pretest and post-test VAS, Neck Disability Index (NDI), performance, and Manual Muscle Testing (MMT) scores. The p-value: 0.001 (at 5% level of significance). Results: The combined intervention significantly improved pain, strength, quality of life, and all components of the ICF Core Set, a standardised outcome measure for disability. 68.46% reduction was seen in VAS scores; 83.68% reduction was seen in NDI scores with effect size 0.9570. Maximum improvement of 100% was seen in code d4103 (sitting) and a minimum improvement of 40.86% was seen in code d4105 (bending). Conclusion: Telerehabilitation with structured neck exercises and ergonomic advice can effectively reduce pain, improve strength and quality of life, and enhance function in homemakers with NP. This study also highlights the ICF Core Set's usefulness in evaluating NP interventions. Telerehabilitation offers a promising, accessible treatment option for individuals facing barriers to in-person care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In light of recent global crises, including climate change, species extinction, the COVID-19 pandemic, social upheavals and energy supply challenges, this Special Issue of Biomimetics, entitled "Editorial Board Members' Collection Series: Biomimetic Design, Constructions and Devices in Times of Change", aims to explore innovative solutions through biomimetics. This collection features research on various biomimetic applications, such as the peptide-based detection of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, ergonomic improvements for prolonged sitting, biomimicry industry trends, prosthetic foot functionality and agricultural machinery efficiency. The methods employed include peptide synthesis for diagnostics, simulation software for ergonomic designs, patent analysis for biomimicry trends and engineering discrete element methods for agricultural applications. The findings highlight significant advancements in health diagnostics, ergonomic safety, technological development, prosthetics and sustainable agriculture. The research underscores the potential of biomimetic approaches to address contemporary challenges by leveraging nature-inspired designs and processes. These insights contribute to a broader understanding of how biomimetic principles can lead to adaptive and sustainable solutions in times of change, promoting resilience and innovation across various fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the publication performance of the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, and Slovakia across 24 social science disciplines indexed by Scopus from 2019 to 2023. Using data from Scopus, SciVal, and Scimago, we analyzed regional journal statuses, disciplinary backlogs, journal biases, and publication excellence. Our results show that Poland and the Czech Republic lead in journal and publication counts, whereas Hungary and Slovakia lag behind significantly. Four disciplines—e-learning, human factors and ergonomics, life-span and life-course studies, and social work—had minimal or no publications, highlighting their marginalization. We found a high internal bias in publication practices, notably in Poland and Hungary, which raises concerns considering the Norwegian list standards. While Poland and the Czech Republic show a higher proportion of excellent publications, the overall number of high-quality articles remains low, and publications by the Big Five publishers are exceedingly limited. This analysis underscores the need for strategic policy interventions to enhance research quality and international collaboration to improve the scientific standing of the Visegrad countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, Romania's stomatology private practice sector has seen substantial growth, with many dentists fully committing to building and expanding their own practices, often funded by their personal income. This study aimed to explore how various postures affect the muscle groups of dentists (380), particularly focusing on identifying positions that may jeopardize their musculoskeletal health. A group of dentists effectively participated in this study (10), adhering to their regular work routines while wearing wearable sensors on their backs to monitor posture and activity. The data gathered from these sensors were analyzed using the RULA (rapid upper-limb assessment) and REBA (rapid entire-body assessment) tools. The findings indicated that the head and shoulder movements during dental procedures involved considerable and repetitive angular shifts, which could strain the neck and back muscles and heighten the risk of musculoskeletal problems. Additionally, the standing postures adopted by the dentists were associated with an increased risk of postural issues and greater overall fatigue. Extended periods of trunk and head tilting were also identified as contributing factors to posture-related challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on improving the ergonomics of industrial workers. It addresses the critical implications of poor ergonomics, which can lead to musculoskeletal disorders over time. A novel methodology for a path-planning algorithm designed for human–robot collaboration was introduced to tackle this challenge. The algorithm's essential contribution lies in determining the most ergonomic path for a robot to guide a human's hand during task execution, facilitating a transition toward an optimized body configuration. The algorithm effectively charts the ergonomic path by adopting a Cartesian path-planning approach and employing the cell decomposition method. The methodology was implemented on a dataset of ten individuals, representing a diverse group of male and female subjects aged between 20 and 35, with one participant being left-handed. The algorithm was applied to three different activities: "stacking an item," "taking an object from a shelf," and "assembling an object by sitting over a table." The results demonstrated a significant improvement in the REBA score (as a measure of ergonomics condition) of the individuals after applying the algorithm. This outcome reinforces the efficacy of the methodology in enhancing the ergonomics of industrial workers. Furthermore, the study compared the performance of A* with three heuristic functions against Dijkstra's algorithm, aiming to identify the most effective approach for achieving optimal ergonomic paths in human–robot collaboration. The findings revealed that A* with a specific heuristic function surpassed Dijkstra's algorithm, underscoring its superiority in this context. The findings highlight the potential for optimizing human–robot collaboration and offer practical implications for designing more efficient industrial work environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The term Ergonomics is derived from two Greek words "Ergos" meaning work and "nomos" meaning laws. So, Ergonomics in simple term means "laws of work". It actually concerns with optimizing the relations between a worker and his work of environment. Ergonomics is a science that studies workplaces with the aim to optimise the interaction between the worker, equipment, task and the environment (Campbell in Ergonomics in otorhinolaryngology. Ent and audiology news, 2024) Workplace ergonomics is a poorly understood subject when it comes to medical professionals. Musculo- skeletal disorders (MSD) are one of the commonest occupational health problem for surgeons. Though, Ergonomics apply to every surgeon/medical professional, this article will in specifically discuss the importance of understanding ergonomics for ENT (otolaryngologists) surgeons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the desired outcome of social good within the wider robotics ecosystem, trust is identified as the central adhesive of the human–robot interaction (HRI) interface. However, building trust between humans and robots involves more than improving the machine's technical reliability or trustworthiness in function. This paper presents a holistic, community-based approach to trust-building, where trust is understood as a multifaceted and multi-staged looped relation that depends heavily on context and human perceptions. Building on past literature that identifies dispositional and learned stages of trust, our proposed decision to trust model considers more extensively the human and situational factors influencing how trust manifests within social relations. Priority is given to the human user of technology—the initiator of human—robot trust relations—at all stages of decision-making. The envisioned formation of optimal conditions in which trust emerges requires the collective participation of practitioners, policymakers, and members of the community. With trust facilitating the smooth transition of robots into more socially embedded roles, positive receptivity of the best engineering project arises from the presence of harmonious robot-human trust relations in community spaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Collaborative robots, or cobots, offer a unique combination of productivity and flexibility that has led to significant growth in adoption over the past decade. Moreover, recently, there has been a shift towards a human-centered design of the workspace, known as one of the drivers of Industry 5.0, which prioritizes the well-being of operators. To achieve this, various human factors such as ergonomics, mental workload, personal skills, and capabilities need to be considered in the workspace design, and their impact on system productivity must be evaluated. The integration of a human and a cobot in the same workplace can affect the performance of the human operator, as the perception of the cobot can impact their work. This highlights the importance of taking human factors into account, as a lack of consideration in these aspects has contributed to the failure of many implementations. To link the objectives of productivity, flexibility, and human factors consideration, a dynamic real-time multi-objective task allocation strategy for collaborative assembly systems is developed. This approach considers the different characteristics of the resources and optimizes for two objectives, makespan, and energy expenditure of the operator. By using this approach, it is possible to modify the behavior of the cobot by reallocating tasks between the two resources based on the operator's current needs. In other words, if the operator appears too stressed due to time constraints or their energy rate level is too high, some of their assigned tasks can be transferred to the cobot. This helps to maintain a balanced system while reducing the operator's stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is devoted to presenting the results of the computer-aided design, the multibody dynamic analysis, and the proportional-derivative control synthesis of an adaptive mechanism serving as a lifting table. More specifically, the first part of the manuscript deals with the methodological approach and the mathematical background employed in the entire research work, whereas the second part of the present paper is focused on the model development and the numerical experiments carried out in this investigation. The analytical derivations presented herein demonstrate that the desired adaptive behavior can be successfully obtained for the virtual prototype of the lift mechanism devised in this investigation. Furthermore, a detailed CAD model of the proposed design was constructed in this investigation using SOLIDWORKS. To this end, particular attention was paid to the actual assembly and disassembly of each mechanical component, in conjunction with the choice of the actuators and sensors that are necessary for the proper functioning of the lifting mechanism. Then, a three-dimensional multibody model was developed starting from the CAD model of the virtual prototype devised in this investigation. The resulting multibody model, following appropriate simplifications, was subsequently imported into the MATLAB virtual environment, thereby allowing for readily performing kinematic and dynamic simulations of the nonlinear behavior of the mechanical system under study by using the SIMSCAPE MULTIBODY computational software. By doing so, the development of an appropriate control strategy, as well as the analysis of its behavior under loading and unloading goods conditions, was carried out and tested in the case of four different scenarios considered as the case study. For this purpose, the applicative scenarios considered are: 1) an impulsive loading scenario; 2) a progressive loading scenario; 3) an impulsive unloading scenario; 4) and a progressive unloading scenario. The performance of the feedforward plus feedback control strategy devised in this study was discussed based on several computer simulations. Numerical simulations demonstrate that the desired adaptive behavior is successfully obtained for the virtual prototype of the lift table designed in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This field study explores construction workers' perceptions of using a passive shoulder exoskeleton to better understand how to improve its adoption in construction. We provided forty-one construction workers with an exoskeleton to perform their regular work activities for two days. Workers' feedback of the tool was collected at the end of each day. Two-thirds indicated they would likely or very likely use an exoskeleton if their employer provided it. Participants felt exoskeletons were helpful for specific overhead tasks, such as installing upper tracks, framing and drywalling bulkheads, taping and mudding ceilings, and installing light fixtures. To improve their adoption within the construction industry, exoskeletons should be designed to be compatible with harnesses and toolbelts, be close-fitting to allow working in tight spaces, be easily adjustable (for fit and level of support), be rugged and easy to clean, and should not encumber workers in performing their tasks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Living streets are places of high activity frequency in people's daily lives, so it is particularly important to design the street space based on people's perceived comfort. There is a paucity of quantitative studies conducted on street interface elements, as evidenced by an examination of existing studies. Accordingly, this study used a human factor experiment to ascertain the quantitative value of interface elements that engender a sense of visual comfort. This study used a simulation experiment of a life street scene, integrating wearable physiological sensors and a subjective evaluation scale, to analyze the impact of varying scene element values on participants' perception. The findings indicate that distinct values of street interface elements exert markedly disparate effects on people's perception. The interface transparency that elicits a more favorable response is approximately 40%, the store density is approximately 15, and individuals demonstrate a discernible inclination towards the street scene with warm colors and rich textures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional door mechanisms in public spaces, such as knob locks and standard handles, require manual contact, making them prone to contamination and posing significant health risks. To address the critical need for a safer and more hygienic solution, this study aimed to develop an innovative foot-operated door mechanism that is accessible and intuitive for all users. The study applies the Theory of Inventive Problem Solving (TRIZ), ergonomic principles, and universal design to develop the foot-operated mechanism, while using Importance–Performance Analysis (IPA) and the Kano model to evaluate user satisfaction and identify design improvements. The foot-operated mechanism developed in this study features internal and external pedals for seamless door operation, a secure locking system, and color-coded indicators for clear occupancy status communication, ensuring both ease of use and privacy. The design significantly enhances hygiene by minimizing manual contact and improves user convenience, as confirmed through the IPA-Kano analysis. This mechanism not only provides a practical and effective solution to contamination risks but also demonstrates versatility, making it suitable for various public spaces and accessible to a wide range of users. This study represents a significant contribution to public infrastructure by providing a safer, more hygienic, and sustainable solution for door operation in public spaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maintaining insulin homeostasis is critical for cellular and organismal metabolism. In the liver, insulin is degraded by the activity of the insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE). Here, we establish a hepatic regulatory axis for IDE through WDR23-proteostasis. Wdr23KO mice have increased IDE expression, reduced circulating insulin, and defective insulin responses. Genetically engineered human cell models lacking WDR23 also increase IDE expression and display dysregulated phosphorylation of insulin signaling cascade proteins, IRS-1, AKT2, MAPK, FoxO, and mTOR, similar to cells treated with insulin, which can be mitigated by chemical inhibition of IDE. Mechanistically, the cytoprotective transcription factor NRF2, a direct target of WDR23-Cul4 proteostasis, mediates the enhanced transcriptional expression of IDE when WDR23 is ablated. Moreover, an analysis of human genetic variation in WDR23 across a large naturally aging human cohort in the US Health and Retirement Study reveals a significant association of WDR23 with altered hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) levels in older adults, supporting the use of WDR23 as a new molecular determinant of metabolic health in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The three-dimensional heads-up display system (3D HUDS) is increasingly utilized by ophthalmologists and suggested to offer ergonomic benefits compared to conventional operating microscopes. We aimed to quantitatively assess the surgeon’s neck angle and musculoskeletal discomfort during cataract surgery using commercially available 3D HUDS and conventional microscope. In this single-center comparative observational study, the surgeon conducted routine phacoemulsification surgeries using Artevo® 800 and Opmi Lumera® 700 (both from Carl Zeiss Meditec, Jena, Germany). The surgeon’s intraoperative neck angle was measured using the Cervical Range of Motion device. Postoperative musculoskeletal discomfort was assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score after each surgery. A total of 80 cataract surgeries were analyzed, with 40 using Artevo® 800 and 40 using Opmi Lumera® 700. The neck angle was extended when using Artevo® 800 and flexed when using Opmi Lumera® 700 during continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis (CCC), phacoemulsification, and intraocular lens (IOL) placement (− 8.18 ± 2.85° vs. 8.27 ± 2.93° in CCC, − 7.83 ± 3.30° vs. 8.87 ± 2.83° in phacoemulsification, − 7.43 ± 3.80° vs. 7.67 ± 3.73° in IOL placement, respectively; all p < 0.001). The VAS score was significantly lower in surgeries performed with Artevo® 800 (1.27 ± 0.55 vs. 1.73 ± 0.64, p < 0.001). The findings suggest that 3D HUDS help reduce neck flexion and lower work-related musculoskeletal discomfort through ergonomic improvements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, surface movement, encompassing all operations on the airport surface prior to take-off and after landing, cannot be achieved under low-visibility conditions by an aircraft-guidance-only solution. In addition to surface movement radar and Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast, pilots also rely on signage, lighting and reports/commands from the airport traffic control tower, which are partly based on visual inspection of the airport, to aid in guidance from the runway to the gate. Therefore, low-visibility conditions caused by meteorological effects can significantly affect the continuity of operations on the airport surface. Global navigation satellite systems are considered to overcome these difficulties by enhancing guidance and situational awareness on the airport surface. This paper explores the feasibility of utilizing a ground-based augmentation system, which is potentially available at the airport, an inertial navigation system, and relative receiver autonomous integrity monitoring to support surface movement operations in low-visibility conditions. The paper provides results assessing the compliance of the proposed solution to accuracy and integrity requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forecasting can be utilized to predict future trends in physiological demands, which can be beneficial for developing effective interventions. This study implemented forecasting models to predict fatigue level progression when performing exoskeleton (EXO)-assisted tasks. Specifically, perceived and muscle activity data were utilized from nine recruited participants who performed 45° trunk flexion tasks intermittently with and without assistance until they reached medium-high exertion in the low-back region. Two forecasting algorithms, Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) and Facebook Prophet, were implemented using perceived fatigue levels alone, and with external features of low-back muscle activity. Findings showed that univariate models without external features performed better with the Prophet model having the lowest mean (SD) of root mean squared error (RMSE) across participants of 0.62 (0.24) and 0.67 (0.29) with and without EXO-assisted tasks, respectively. Temporal effects of BSIE on delaying fatigue progression were then evaluated by forecasting back fatigue up to 20 trials. The slope of fatigue progression for 20 trials without assistance was ~48–52% higher vs. with assistance. Median benefits of 54% and 43% were observed for ARIMA (with external features) and Prophet algorithms, respectively. This study demonstrates some potential applications for forecasting models for workforce health monitoring, intervention assessment, and injury prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the evolving realm of ergonomics, there is a growing demand for enhanced comfortability, visibility, and accessibility in the operation of engineering machinery. This study introduces an innovative approach to assess the ergonomics of a driller's cabin by utilizing a digital human. Through the utilization of inertial motion capture sensors, the method enables the operation of a virtual driller animated by real human movements, thereby producing more precise and realistic human–machine interaction data. Additionally, this study develops a simplified model for the human upper limbs, facilitating the calculation of joint forces and torques. An ergonomic analysis platform, encompassing a virtual driller's cabin and a digital human model, is constructed using Unity 3D. This platform enables the quantitative evaluation of comfortability, visibility, and accessibility. Its versatility extends beyond the current scope, offering substantial support for product development and enhancement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: 3D cell culture models have recently garnered increasing attention for replicating organ microarchitecture and eliciting in vivo-like responses, holding significant promise across various biological disciplines. Broadly, 3D cell culture encompasses organoids as well as single- and multicellular spheroids. While the latter have found successful applications in tumor research, there is a notable scarcity of standardized intestinal models for infection biology that mimic the microarchitecture of the intestine. Hence, this study aimed to develop structured multicellular intestinal spheroids (SMIS) specifically tailored for studying molecular basis of infection by intestinal pathogens. Results: We have successfully engineered human SMIS comprising four relevant cell types, featuring a fibroblast core enveloped by an outer monolayer of enterocytes and goblet cells along with monocytic cells. These SMIS effectively emulate the in vivo architecture of the intestinal mucosal surface and manifest differentiated morphological characteristics, including the presence of microvilli, within a mere two days of culture. Through analysis of various differentiation factors, we have illustrated that these spheroids attain heightened levels of differentiation compared to 2D monolayers. Moreover, SMIS serve as an optimized intestinal infection model, surpassing the capabilities of traditional 2D cultures, and exhibit a regulatory pattern of immunological markers similar to in vivo infections after Campylobacter jejuni infection. Notably, our protocol extends beyond human spheroids, demonstrating adaptability to other species such as mice and pigs. Conclusion: Based on the rapid attainment of enhanced differentiation states, coupled with the emergence of functional brush border features, increased cellular complexity, and replication of the intestinal mucosal microarchitecture, which allows for exposure studies via the medium, we are confident that our innovative SMIS model surpasses conventional cell culture methods as a superior model. Moreover, it offers advantages over stem cell-derived organoids due to scalability and standardization capabilities of the protocol. By showcasing differentiated morphological attributes, our model provides an optimal platform for diverse applications. Furthermore, the investigated differences of several immunological factors compared to monotypic monolayers after Campylobacter jejuni infection underline the refinement of our spheroid model, which closely mimics important features of in vivo infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sitting posture recognition systems have gained significant attention due to their potential applications in various domains, including healthcare, ergonomics, and human-computer interaction. This paper presents a comprehensive literature review and analysis of existing sitting posture recognition systems. Through an extensive examination of relevant research articles and conference papers, we identify and analyze the underlying technologies, methodologies, datasets, performance metrics, and applications associated with these systems. The review encompasses both traditional methods, such as vision-based approaches and sensor-based techniques, as well as emerging technologies such as machine learning and deep learning algorithms. Additionally, we examine the challenges, constraints, and future trends in the field of sitting posture recognition systems. Researchers, practitioners, and policymakers who want to comprehend the most recent developments and latest trends in sitting posture recognition technology will find great value in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: While Human Factors (HF) methods have been applied to the design of decision support systems (DSS) to aid clinical decision-making, the role of HF to improve decision-support for population health outcomes is less understood. We sought to comprehensively understand how HF methods have been used in designing digital population health DSS. Materials and methods: We searched English documents published in health sciences and engineering databases (Medline, Embase, PsychINFO, Scopus, Comendex, Inspec, IEEE Xplore) between January 1990 and September 2023 describing the development, validation or application of HF principles to decision support tools in population health. Results: We identified 21,581 unique records and included 153 studies for data extraction and synthesis. We included research articles that had a target end-user in population health and that used HF. HF methods were applied throughout the design lifecycle. Users were engaged early in the design lifecycle in the needs assessment and requirements gathering phase and design and prototyping phase with qualitative methods such as interviews. In later stages in the lifecycle, during user testing and evaluation, and post deployment evaluation, quantitative methods were more frequently used. However, only three studies used an experimental framework or conducted A/B testing. Conclusions: While HF have been applied in a variety of contexts in the design of data-driven DSSs for population health, few have used Human Factors to its full potential. We offer recommendations for how HF can be leveraged throughout the design lifecycle. Most crucially, system designers should engage with users early on and throughout the design process. Our findings can support stakeholders to further empower public health systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to the broad acceptance of distance education (DE), with university professors and students conducting the teaching–learning process remotely from their homes. The propose of this study to investigate the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) before and during the COVID-19 pandemic and identify risk factors associated with DE that may contribute to an increased incidence of these disorders among university professors. Methods: This cross-sectional analytical study took a comparative approach and involved 310 university professors in Iran. Data were gathered using an online questionnaire. Initially, demographic and occupational information of the professors, hours of physical activity, and hours spent using electronic devices were recorded. Participants were then asked to report MSDs in various body areas throughout the previous year and the previous seven days. Finally, MSDs risk factors such as workstation ergonomics during computer, laptop, smartphone, and tablet use, as well as working postures during online teaching or offline content development during the COVID-19 pandemic, were examined. Results: The majority of the participants were male (66.13%), with a PhD (46.77%) and a faculty member position (74.2%). On average, the use of computers and laptops increased by 2.67 h and 2.72 h, respectively, during the pandemic compared to before the pandemic. This increase was statistically significant (P < 0.001). MSDs incidence increased significantly before and during the COVID pandemic was observed in the areas of the neck, shoulders, lower and upper back, arms, forearms, wrists and fingers (P < 0.05). The highest cumulative incidence (Cin) of MSDs was related to the neck (Cin = 24.20%), upper back (Cin = 21.29%), low back (Cin = 18.06%) and fingers (Cin = 16.13%). The prevalence of MSDs during the COVID pandemic was significantly associated with employment status (P = 0.042), work experience (P = 0.016), age (P = 0.027), increase in the use of computers/ laptops (P < 0.001), decrease of the smartphone/tablet distance from the body (P = 0.047), workstation (smartphone-tablet, computer, laptop) (P < 0.05), head position (smartphone-tablet) (P = 0.029), display height (computer/laptop) (P = 0.045) and physical activity (P = 0.006). Conclusions: It appears that the increased duration of smartphone, computer, and laptop use, combined with decreased physical activity and detrimental changes in ergonomic conditions of workstations during the quarantine period caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, has resulted in a shift from dynamic to static tasks and an increase in the prevalence and incidence of MSDs among university professors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the physiological, perceptual, and biomechanical differences between male and female soldiers across several military-relevant load and walking speed combinations. Eleven female and twelve male soldiers completed twelve 12 min walking trials at varying speeds (3.5 km·h−1, 5.5 km·h−1, 6.5 km·h−1) and with varying external loads (7.2 kg, 23.2 kg, 35.2 kg). Physiological (indirect calorimetry, heart rate), perceptual (perceived exertion), and biomechanical (spatiotemporal, kinematic, kinetic) outcomes were measured throughout each trial. Females had a lower aerobic capacity and lower body strength than males, which resulted in them working at a greater exercise intensity (%VO2peak and heart rate) but with a lower oxygen pulse. Females demonstrated higher breathing frequency and perceived exertion with specific loads. At selected loads and speeds, frontal and sagittal pelvis, hip, and knee motions and forces were greater for females. Females consistently displayed greater relative stride length and step width. In conclusion, this study demonstrates the importance of tailored interventions, periodisation, and nutritional strategies for female military personnel, given their higher relative work rate and increased injury risk during load carriage tasks. Understanding these differences is crucial for preparing female soldiers for the physical demands of military service. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective training programs are essential for safely integrating exoskeletons (EXOs) in industrial workplaces. Since the effects of wearable systems depend highly upon their proper use, lack of training of end-users may cause adverse effects on users. We reviewed articles that incorporated training and familiarization protocols to train novices on proper operation/use of EXOs. Findings showed variation in training methods that were implemented to train study participants in EXO evaluation studies. Studies also indicate that multiple (up to four) sessions may be needed for novice EXO wearers to match movement patterns of experts, and training can offer benefits in enhancing motor learning in novices. Biomechanical assessments and ergonomic evaluations can be helpful in developing EXO-specific training protocols by determining training parameters (duration/number of sessions and task difficulty). Future directions include development of personalized training approaches by assessing user behavior/performance through integration of emerging sensing technologies. Application of simulators and use of data-driven approaches for customizing training protocols to individuals, tasks, and EXO design are provided along with a comprehensive training framework. Discussed elements in this article can be helpful to exoskeleton researchers in familiarizing novice users to EXOs prior to evaluation, and to practitioners in developing protocols for training workforce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paradigm of Industry 5.0 pushes the transition from the traditional to a novel, smart, digital, and connected industry, where well-being is key to enhance productivity, optimize man–machine interaction and guarantee workers' safety. This work aims to conduct a systematic review of current methodologies for monitoring and analyzing physical and cognitive ergonomics. Three research questions are addressed: (1) which technologies are used to assess the physical and cognitive well-being of workers in the workplace, (2) how the acquired data are processed, and (3) what purpose this well-being is evaluated for. This way, individual factors within the holistic assessment of worker well-being are highlighted, and information is provided synthetically. The analysis was conducted following the PRISMA 2020 statement guidelines. From the sixty-five articles collected, the most adopted (1) technological solutions, (2) parameters, and (3) data analysis and processing were identified. Wearable inertial measurement units and RGB-D cameras are the most prevalent devices used for physical monitoring; in the cognitive ergonomics, and cardiac activity is the most adopted physiological parameter. Furthermore, insights on practical issues and future developments are provided. Future research should focus on developing multi-modal systems that combine these aspects with particular emphasis on their practical application in real industrial settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sudden mountain landslides can pose substantial threats to human lives and property. On 4 June 2023, a landslide occurred in Jinkouhe District, Leshan City, Sichuan Province, resulting in 19 deaths and 5 injuries. This study, drawing on field investigations, geological data, and historical imagery, elucidates the characteristics and causes of the landslide and conducts a reverse analysis of the landslide movement process using Massflow V2.8 numerical simulation software. The results indicate that rainfall and human engineering activities are key factors that triggered this landslide. Numerical simulation shows that the landslide stopped after 60 s of sliding, with a movement distance of approximately 286 m, a maximum sliding speed of 17 m/s, and a maximum accumulation thickness of 7 m, eventually forming a loose landslide debris accumulation of approximately 5.25 × 103 m3. The findings of this study provide significant reference value for research on landslide movement characteristics and disaster prevention and mitigation in mountainous areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Impacts were divided into subcategories based on the significant themes that emerged. • Cognitive demands are the most required of workers. • The psychosocial factors are the most significant risk factors for workers. • Stress was the most cited adverse effect on workers in the literature. • An interaction model between requirements, risk factors, and effects was proposed. Introduction : Industry 4.0 has brought new paradigms to businesses based on high levels of automation and interconnectivity and the use of technologies. This new context has an impact on the work environment and workers. Nevertheless, these impacts are still inconclusive and controversial, requiring new investigative perspectives. This study aimed to investigate the requirements sought, the risk factors identified, and the adverse effects on workers caused by the characteristics of I4.0. Method: The methodology was based on a systematic literature review utilizing the PRISMA protocol, and 30 articles were found eligible. A descriptive and bibliometric analysis of these studies was performed. Results: The results identified the main topics that emerged and have implications for workers' Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) and divided them into categories. The requirements are related mainly to cognitive, organizational, and technological demands. The most significant risk factors generated were associated with the psychosocial ones, but organizational, technological, and occupational factors were also identified. The adverse effects cited were categorized as psychic, cognitive, physical, and organizational; stress was the most cited effect. An explanatory theoretical model of interaction was proposed to represent the pathway of causal relations between the requirements and risk factors for the effects caused by I4.0. Conclusions and practical applications : This review has found just how complex the relationships between the principles of Industry 4.0 are (e.g., requirements, risk factors, and effects) and the human factors. It also suggests a pathway for how these relationships occur, bridging the gap left by the limited studies focused on connecting these topics. These results can help organizational managers understand the impacts of I4.0 on workers' safety and health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the 1960 U-2 Crisis and its effects on perceptions of masculinity, technology, and U.S. airpower. The capture of CIA pilot Francis Gary Powers by the Soviet Union strained diplomatic relations and sparked interest in unmanned aerial surveillance technologies. The crisis reshaped U.S. intelligence gathering and paved the way for the deployment of drone technology. The article also explores the role of human pilots and the push for automation in air operations, as well as the construction of gender identity in relation to technology. The controversy surrounding Powers's capture led to a shift towards the use of drones for surveillance to avoid similar incidents and maintain U.S. military masculinity. [Extracted from the article]