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The 50 year history of The Ergonomics Society is presented with a focus on research, new developments and educational efforts.

This article covers one aspect of upper-limb vascular assessment. The outcome of diagnostic arm manoeuvres with or without advanced imaging equipment must be interpreted with the subjective history and other physical findings in order to exclude differential diagnoses and to determine whether a positive result should be considered clinically significant. The article focuses on diagnostic arm manoeuvres used in the physical examination, discusses some diagnostic dilemmas, and highlights some areas that require further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arterial compression syndromes affectinq the subclavian artery, axillary artery and posterior humeral circumflex artery have been identified in younq, fit and healthy athletes. Specific to the third portion of the axillary artery, the overhead-throwinq motion in combination with excessive anterior translation of the humeral head has been implicated as a possible cause of vascular damaqe. This article briefly outlines the sites of potential arterial compression around the shoulder and summarises the effects of altered haemodynamics on the inner lininq of the artery. Part 2 will be published in the next issue (April 09) and focusses on diaqnostic arm manoevres used in physical examination, discusses some diaqnostic dilemmas and hiqhliqhts areas for research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale: Nuclear receptors play a critical role in the regulation of inflammation, thus representing attractive targets for the treatment of asthma.Objective: In this study, we assess the potential regulatory function of retinoid-related orphan receptor alpha (RORalpha) in the adaptive immune response using ovalbumin (OVA)-induced airway inflammation as a model.Methods: Allergen-induced inflammation was compared between wild-type (WT) and staggerer (RORalpha(sg/sg)) mice, a natural mutant strain that is deficient in RORalpha expression.Measurements and Main Results: Despite robust increases in OVA-specific IgE, RORalpha(sg/sg) mice developed significantly less pulmonary inflammation, mucous cell hyperplasia, and eosinophilia compared with similarly treated WT animals. Induction of Th2 cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, and IL-13, was also significantly less in RORalpha(sg/sg) mice. Microarray analysis using lung RNA showed increased expression of many genes, previously implicated in inflammation, in OVA-treated WT mice. These include mucin Muc5b, the chloride channel calcium-activated 3 (Clca3), macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP) 1alpha and 1beta, eotaxin-2, serum amyloid A3 (Saa3), and insulin-like growth factor 1 (Igf1). These genes were induced to a greater extent in OVA-treated WT mice relative to RORalpha(sg/sg) mice.Conclusions: Our study demonstrates that mice deficient in RORalpha exhibit an attenuated allergic inflammatory response, indicating that RORalpha plays a critical role in the development of Th2-driven allergic lung inflammation in mice, and suggests that this nuclear receptor should be further evaluated as a potential asthma target. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe a cognitive rehabilitation mixed-reality system that allows therapists to explore natural cuing, contextualization, and theoretical aspects of cognitive retraining, including transfer of training. The Human Experience Modeler (HEM) mixed-reality environment allows for a contextualized learning experience with the advantages of controlled stimuli, experience capture and feedback that would not be feasible in a traditional rehabilitation setting. A pilot study for testing the integrated components of the HEM is discussed where the participant presents with working memory impairments due to an aneurysm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]