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Currently, the word 'comfort' is often used in relation to the marketing of products such as chairs, cars interiors, clothing, hand tools and even airplane tickets. In this field of research, the aim of this study is to investigate the influence of spinal posture on postural (dis)comfort perception; the test case is the analysis of the interaction between humans and vending machines for purchasing food or beverages. A statistical sample of 20 healthy students (subjects) performed the required tests, with each participant asked to take a product from three different vending machines (snacks, drinks and coffee). The subjects' postures were acquired non-invasively using cameras; software and instruments for virtual prototyping were used for posture analysis and interaction modelling, both questionnaires (subjective) and comfort-analysis software (objective) were used to rate the perceived (dis)comfort. The results obtained from simulations and questionnaires were compared, and a method to weigh the effect of the perceived spinal discomfort on overall postural (dis)comfort was proposed. These results reveal a good correlation between subjective perception and objective evaluation obtained through simulations, confirming the validity of the proposed method., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Type 1 diabetes is an important medical condition causing significant burden and morbidity to those persons affected by it. Improvements in insulin products, insulin delivery and glucose monitoring technology have all contributed to reductions in long-term complications and hypoglycemia. This article reviews the Medtronic 670G device and summarizes the data supporting how this product reduces the burden and increases the safety of insulin dosing in Type 1 diabetes.

Background: There are few epidemiological data regarding musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in retail industry. Biomechanical risk assessment in ergonomics is commonly performed in retail sector using standardized protocols. However, such protocols have numerous limitations, such as the lack of objectivity or applicability and restrictive conditions., Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze one of the most commonly used shelves in vegetable and fruit departments in order to investigate the effect of different shelf levels (i.e. with variations in height and horizontal distance) and load weights on the workers' biomechanical load., Methods: We investigated trunk, shoulder, elbow, hip, knee and ankle joint ROMs, as well as the mean and peak EMG values of the upper limb, trunk and lower limb muscles., Results: We found that shelf level has a significant effect on most of the parameters examined, whereas within this limited range of 6 and 8 kg, weight does not affect the biomechanical load. We also identified the shelf levels that place the least and most strain on the musculoskeletal system., Conclusions: We therefore recommend that the height and horizontal distance be carefully considered when shelves are being designed. Kinematic and EMG approach may help to objectively assess shelf-related risks. Our findings are in agreement with RNLE LI values and therefore support RNLE.

Historic manufacturing enterprises based on vertically optimized companies, practices, market share, and competitiveness are giving way to enterprises that are responsive across an entire value chain to demand dynamic markets and customized product value adds; increased expectations for environmental sustainability, reduced energy usage, and zero incidents; and faster technology and product adoption. Agile innovation and manufacturing combined with radically increased productivity become engines for competitiveness and reinvestment, not simply for decreased cost. A focus on agility, productivity, energy, and environmental sustainability produces opportunities that are far beyond reducing market volatility. Agility directly impacts innovation, time-to-market, and faster, broader exploration of the trade space. These changes, the forces driving them, and new network-based information technologies offering unprecedented insights and analysis are motivating the advent of smart manufacturing and new information technology infrastructure for manufacturing.

Members of the large and complex genus Xyleborus (Coleoptera: Scolytinae: Xyleborini) are the most commonly intercepted beetles associated with solid wood-packing materials at ports of entry in China. The accurate identification of species is critical in preventing the invasion of exotic insects. Considering the difficulties in morphological identification, genetic divergences of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) genes have been used in insect species identification. In this study, 32 Xyleborus and 2 outgroup species were collected from Jiangsu ports and selected to evaluate the effectiveness of DNA barcoding for Xyleborus species. The results showed that the mean interspecific divergence values (23.6%) were 15-fold higher than the observed intraspecific divergence (1.6%), except Xyleborus affinis. The results supported the inference that the barcode variation within species of insects is somewhat higher than interspecific ones. Thus, this study validated the effectiveness of barcoding for the identification of Xyleborus species.

Background: The increasing number of motorcyclists in Nigeria has led to a rise in poor road safety practices leading to increased rate of accidents. This study was conducted to implement and evaluate the effect of safety education on riding habits of motorcyclists in Uyo, Nigeria., Methods: The intervention study was conducted among commercial motorcyclists in Uyo with controls from another town in Akwa Ibom State. Baseline information was collected from both groups on their riding habits. Motorcyclists in Uyo were educated on appropriate road safety practices. Data was collected from both groups three months later and analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 11., Results: A total of 200 respondents participated in the study, 100 per group. At 3 months post-intervention, those riding when tired reduced in the intervention group from 69% at baseline to 42% (p < 0.05), while in the control group it increased from 74% to 79%. Furthermore, those who rested during riding hours increased from 30% at baseline to 93% (p < 0.05) in the intervention group, while it reduced from 40% to 36% in the control group. Those riding within speed limit in the intervention group increased from 37.5% at baseline to 56.6% (p < 0.05), while in the control group, it remained the same. Use of psycho-active substances reduced in the intervention group, though the changes were not statistically significant at p < 0.05., Conclusion: Safety education improved many riding habits of motorcyclists in the intervention group. Road safety education is recommended for all motorcyclists to ensure safer road use.

Bioscience ventures in Central and Eastern Europe are becoming a presence in world healthcare markets despite a perennially short supply of venture funding and other support mechanisms relative to other world economic regions. Here are three up-and-coming CEE stories worth keeping an eye on.

Riding in a shopping cart next to raw meat or poultry is a risk factor for Salmonella and Campylobacter infections in infants. To describe the frequency of, and factors associated with, this behavior, we surveyed parents of children aged younger than 3 years in Foodborne Disease Active Surveillance Network sites. We defined exposure as answering yes to one of a series of questions asking if packages of raw meat or poultry were near a child in a shopping cart, or if a child was in the cart basket at the same time as was raw meat or poultry. Among 1,273 respondents, 767 (60%) reported that their children visited a grocery store in the past week and rode in shopping carts. Among these children, 103 (13%) were exposed to raw products. Children who rode in the baskets were more likely to be exposed than were those who rode only in the seats (odds ratio [OR], 17.8; 95% confidence interval [CI], 11.0 to 28.9). In a multivariate model, riding in the basket (OR, 15.5; 95% CI, 9.2 to 26.1), income less than $55,000 (OR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.0 to 3.1), and Hispanic ethnicity (OR, 2.3; 95% CI, 1.2 to 4.5) were associated with exposure. Our study shows that children can be exposed to raw meat and poultry products while riding in shopping carts. Parents should separate children from raw products and place children in the seats rather than in the baskets of the cart. Retailer use of leak-proof packaging, customer placement of product in a plastic bag and on the rack underneath the cart, use of hand sanitizers and wipes, and consumer education may also be helpful.

The use of biological reagents in ligand-binding assays (LBAs) presents inherent challenges when measuring the concentration of large molecules in complex matrices. As a result, there are relatively few platforms that provide the accuracy, precision and robustness needed to determine the concentration of macromolecular therapies and biomarkers, and demonstrate the presence or absence of an immune response. Some bioanalytical laboratories use only one LBA platform to reduce costs, increase efficiency and maintain optimal assay performance. However, the business and regulatory risks of using a single platform supported by only one vendor should be considered. This article summarizes the immunological methods used to support bioanalysis for large molecules that are supported by a single vendor, the benefits of being dedicated to a single platform for bioanalysis used for regulatory filings, the costs associated with restructuring if an immunoassay platform is discontinued and recommendations to mitigate risk when using LBAs in drug development. The experience with the recent discontinuation of the BioVeris™ electrochemiluminescent-based platform is discussed.

As microfluidic systems transition from research tools to disposable clinical-diagnostic devices, new substrate materials are needed to meet both the regulatory requirement as well as the economics of disposable devices. This paper introduces a UV-curable polyurethane-methacrylate (PUMA) substrate that has been qualified for medical use and meets all of the challenges of manufacturing microfluidic devices. PUMA is optically transparent, biocompatible, and exhibits high electroosmotic mobility without surface modification. We report two production processes that are compatible with the existing methods of rapid prototyping and present characterizations of the resultant PUMA microfluidic devices.

Total hip arthroplasty (THA), though a highly effective procedure for patients with end-stage hip disease, has become increasingly costly, both because of increasing procedure volume and because of the introduction and widespread use of new technologies. Data regarding procedure volume and procedure costs for THA were obtained from the National Inpatient Sample and other published sources for the years 1995 through 2005. Procedure volume increased 61% over the period studied. When adjusted for inflation, using the medical consumer price index, the average selling price of THA implants increased 24%. The selling price of THA implants as a percentage of total procedure costs increased from 29% to 60% during the period under study. The increasing cost of THA in the United States is a result of both increased procedure volume and increased cost of THA implants. No long-term outcome studies related to use of new implant technologies are available, and short-term results have been similar to those obtained with previous generations of THA implants. This study reinforces the need for a US total joint arthroplasty registry and for careful clinical and economic analyses of new technologies in orthopedics.

The contactless credit card is one of the most promising technological innovations in the field of electronic payments. It provides consumers with greater control of payments, convenience, and transaction speed. However, contactless credit cards have yet to gain significant rates of adoption in the marketplace. Thus, effort must be made to identify factors affecting consumer adoption of contactless credit cards. Based on the technology acceptance model, innovation diffusion theory, and the relevant literature, seven variables (perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, compatibility, perceived risk, trust, consumer involvement, availability of infrastructure) are proposed to help predict consumer adoption of contactless credit cards. Data collected from 312 respondents in Taiwan is tested against the proposed prediction model using the logistic regression approach. The results and implications of our study contribute to an expanded understanding of the factors that affect consumer adoption of contactless credit cards.

Background: There are about 1.6 billion GSM cellular phones in use throughout the world today. Numerous papers have reported various biological effects in humans exposed to electromagnetic fields emitted by mobile phones. The aim of the present study was to advance our understanding of potential adverse effects of the GSM mobile phones on the human hearing system., Methods: Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) was recorded with three non-polarizing Ag-AgCl scalp electrodes in thirty young and healthy volunteers (age 18-26 years) with normal hearing. ABR data were collected before, and immediately after a 10 minute exposure to 900 MHz pulsed electromagnetic field (EMF) emitted by a commercial Nokia 6310 mobile phone. Fifteen subjects were exposed to genuine EMF and fifteen to sham EMF in a double blind and counterbalanced order. Possible effects of irradiation was analyzed by comparing the latency of ABR waves I, III and V before and after genuine/sham EMF exposure., Results: Paired sample t-test was conducted for statistical analysis. Results revealed no significant differences in the latency of ABR waves I, III and V before and after 10 minutes of genuine/sham EMF exposure., Conclusion: The present results suggest that, in our experimental conditions, a single 10 minute exposure of 900 MHz EMF emitted by a commercial mobile phone does not produce measurable immediate effects in the latency of auditory brainstem waves I, III and V.

The authors examined the influence of the introduction of a new suite of technology tools on the performance of 592 salespersons. They hypothesized that the salespersons' work experience would have a negative effect on their technology self-efficacy, which in turn would relate positively to their use of technology. Sales performance was hypothesized to be positively related to both past performance and the use of new technology tools. Further, the authors hypothesized that leaders' commitment to sales technology would enhance salespersons' technology self-efficacy and usage, and leaders' empowering behaviors would influence salespersons' technology self-efficacy and moderate the individual-level relationships. Hierarchical linear modeling analyses confirmed all of the hypothesized individual-level relationships and most of the cross-level relationships stemming from average leader behaviors. In particular, empowering leadership exhibited multiple cross-level interactions, as anticipated. Results are discussed in terms of the importance of social-psychological factors related to the success of sales force technology interventions., ((c) 2007 APA, all rights reserved.)

An estimated 24,200 children younger than 15 years, 20,700 (85%) of whom were younger than 5 years, were treated in US hospital emergency departments in 2005 for shopping cart-related injuries. Approximately 4% of shopping cart-related injuries to children younger than 15 years require admission to the hospital. Injuries to the head and neck represent three fourths of all injuries. Fractures account for 45% of all hospitalizations. Deaths have occurred from falls from shopping carts and cart tip-overs. Falls are the most common mechanism of injury and account for more than half of injuries associated with shopping carts. Cart tip-overs are the second most common mechanism, responsible for up to one fourth of injuries and almost 40% of shopping cart-related injuries among children younger than 2 years. Public-awareness initiatives, education programs, and parental supervision, although important, are not enough to prevent these injuries effectively. European Standard EN 1929-1:1998 and joint Australian/New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 3847.1:1999 specify requirements for the construction, performance, testing, and safety of shopping carts and have been implemented as national standards in 21 countries. A US performance standard for shopping carts (ASTM [American Society for Testing and Materials] F2372-04) was established in July 2004; however, it does not adequately address falls and cart tip-overs, which are the leading mechanisms of shopping cart-related injuries to children. The current US standard for shopping carts should be revised to include clear and effective performance criteria for shopping cart child-restraint systems and cart stability to prevent falls from carts and cart tip-overs. This is imperative to decrease the number and severity of shopping cart-related injuries to children. Recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics regarding prevention of shopping cart-related injuries are included in the accompanying policy statement.

Objective: Approximately 20,700 children who are < 5 years old are treated in US hospital emergency departments annually for shopping cart-related injuries. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an in-store intervention to increase the use of restraints in shopping carts by children who are < 5 years old. METHODS. The study intervention consisted of greeters at the store entrance who encouraged the use of appropriate shopping cart restraints plus the use of a small cash coupon incentive. The study used a preintervention and postintervention design with an untreated "control" group. Three stores served as intervention stores, and 4 stores served as nonintervention stores. Trained study personnel conducted the observations unobtrusively in all 7 stores simultaneously, recording the status of children's restraint use in the shopping cart as caregivers approached store checkout areas. The main outcome measure of the study was the change in the proportion of children who were < 5 years old, riding in a shopping cart, and restrained correctly., Results: There were a total of 967 observations, 57% of which were in the 4 nonintervention stores and 43% of which were in the 3 intervention stores. There were 442 observations on the baseline day and 525 on the follow-up day. Interrater reliability was good. Overall, among the 761 cases in which a shopping cart was used, 38% of children were transported in the shopping cart seat with the restraint off or used improperly, and 24% were seated with the restraint used correctly. In the 4 nonintervention stores, the percentage of children who were in shopping carts and restrained correctly increased from 19% at baseline to 31% during the follow-up observation period 1 week later. In the 3 intervention stores, the percentage of correct restraint use among children in shopping carts went from 15% at baseline to 49% after the intervention during the second observation period. The change in correct restraint use among children in shopping carts in intervention stores was significantly greater than that in nonintervention stores., Conclusions: A safety intervention, consisting of a $2 incentive coupon plus greeters at the store entrance who encouraged the use of appropriate shopping cart restraints, significantly increased the correct use of restraints among young children who rode in shopping carts. The correct use rate increased to 49% in stores with this modest intervention. However, half of the young children in shopping carts remained unrestrained or restrained incorrectly. Higher rates of correct restraint use may occur with a more comprehensive and sustained shopping cart safety intervention. Shopping cart designs that seat children close to the floor and that do not rely on caregiver behavior change and vigilance for injury protection also should be implemented and evaluated as a passive strategy to prevent shopping cart-related injuries to young children.

Shopping cart-related injuries to children are common and can result in severe injury or even death. Most injuries result from falls from carts or cart tip-overs, and injuries to the head and neck represent three fourths of cases. The current US standard for shopping carts should be revised to include clear and effective performance criteria to prevent falls from carts and cart tip-overs. Pediatricians have an important role as educators, researchers, and advocates to promote the prevention of these injuries.

Blind Australians find great difficulty in recognising bank notes. Each note has the same feel, with no Braille markings, irregular edges or other tangible features. In Australia, there is only one device available that can assist blind people recognise their notes. Internationally, there are devices available; however they are expensive, complex and have not been developed to cater for Australian currency. This paper discusses a new device, the MoneyTalker that takes advantage of the largely different colours and patterns on each Australian bank note and recognises the notes electronically, using the reflection and transmission properties of light. Different coloured lights are transmitted through the inserted note and the corresponding sensors detect distinct ranges of values depending on the colour of the note. Various classification algorithms were studied and the final algorithm was chosen based on accuracy and speed of recognition. The MoneyTalker has shown an accuracy of more than 99%. A blind subject has tested the device and believes that it is usable, compact and affordable. Based on the devices that are available currently in Australia, the MoneyTalker is an effective alternative in terms of accuracy and usability.

Self-checkout is the emergent/emerging retail technology wherein users (shoppers) check out their own items using an interactive kiosk. A dramatic growth is anticipated in the prevalence of self-checkout systems in retail environments. A study was conducted to develop and evaluate a redesign of a self-checkout system with a focus on issues related to physical accessibility for wheelchair users. Two checkout station prototypes were built: a full-scale model of an existing system and a full-scale model of a system with design modifications (e.g., inclusion of appropriate wheelchair clearance under the workstation, reduced vertical position of the credit card reader, etc.). Five wheelchair users and 10 non-wheelchair users performed simulated self-checkout activities using both workstations. The principal independent variable was workstation type (standard design vs. modified design). The dependent measures were productivity (time to complete a transaction), shoulder flexion angle, torso flexion angle, and the user's subjective assessment of the experience. The results of this study indicate that workstation type did not influence productivity levels in either participant group (wheelchair users or non-wheelchair users). Posture, on the other hand, was significantly improved: the peak shoulder angle was reduced by 64% in wheelchair users and by 69% in the non-wheelchair user group. Peak flexion angle of the torso was also reduced by 67% for wheelchair users. Subjective feedback from the wheelchair user group supported the postural data by showing an overall preference for the redesigned workstation, whereas the non-wheelchair group showed no preference between the two. These results indicate that design for populations with specific limitations does not need to come at a cost of reduced accessibility for persons without these limitations; universal design is achievable.

Efforts to prohibit the sales of tobacco and alcohol products to minors are widespread. Electronic Age Verification (EAV) devices are one possible means to improve compliance with sales to minors laws. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the implementation and effectiveness of EAV devices in terms of the frequency and accuracy of age verification, as well as to examine the impact of EAV's on the retailer environment. Two study locations were selected: Tallahassee, Florida and Iowa City, Iowa. Retail stores were invited to participate in the study, producing a self-selected experimental group. Stores that did not elect to test the EAV's comprised the comparison group. The data sources included: 1) mystery shopper inspections: two pre- and five post-EAV installation mystery shopper inspections of tobacco and alcohol retailers; 2) retail clerk and manager interviews; and 3) customer interviews. The study found that installing EAV devices with minimal training and encouragement did not increase age verification and underage sales refusal. Surveyed clerks reported positive experiences using the electronic ID readers and customers reported almost no discomfort about being asked to swipe their IDs. Observations from this study support the need for a more comprehensive system for responsible retailing.

Recently much effort has been dedicated to designing and implementing World Wide Web sites for virtual shopping and e-commerce. Despite this effort, relatively little empirical work has been done to determine the effectiveness with which different site designs sell products. We report three experiments in which participants were asked to search for products in various experimental e-commerce sites. Across the experiments participants were asked to search in either QTVR (QuickTime Virtual Reality), hypertext, or pictorially rich hypertext environments; they were then tested for their ability to recall the products seen and to recognize product locations. The experiments demonstrated that when using QTVR (Experiments 1, 2, and 3) or pictorial environments (Experiment 2), participants retained more information about products that were incidental to their goals. In two of the experiments it was shown that participants navigated more efficiently when using a QTVR environment. The costs and benefits of using 3D virtual environments for on-line shops are discussed. Actual or potential applications of this research include support for the development of e-commerce design guidelines.