Using systems thinking-based risk assessment methods to assess hazardous manual tasks: a comparison of Net-HARMS, EAST-BL, FRAM and STPA.

Formal risk assessment is a component of safety management relating to hazardous manual tasks (HMT). Systems thinking approaches are currently gaining interest for supporting safety management. Existing HMT risk assessment methods have been found to be limited in their ability to identify risks across the whole work system; however, systems thinking-based risk assessment (STBRA) methods were not designed for the HMT context and have not been tested in this area. The aim of this study was to compare the performance of four state-of-the-art STBRA methods: Net-HARMS, EAST-BL, FRAM and STPA to determine which would be most useful for identifying HMT risks. Each method was independently applied by one of four analysts to assess the risks associated with a hypothetical HMT system. The outcomes were assessed for alignment with a benchmark analysis. Using signal detection theory (SDT), overall STPA was found to be the best performing method having the highest hit rate, second lowest false alarm rate and highest Matthews Correlation Coefficient of the four methods.Practitioner summary: A comparison of four systems thinking risk assessment methods found that STPA had the highest level of agreement with the benchmark analysis and is the most suitable for practitioners to use to identify the risks associated with HMT systems.

Does body appreciation or satisfaction buffer against idealised functionality-focused images of models?

Research suggests that greater levels of body appreciation and body satisfaction may protect women from negative outcomes when viewing media images of the thin-ideal. In this study, we compared the effectiveness of body appreciation and body satisfaction in ameliorating negative effects from viewing images of the traditional thin-ideal and the newer functional-ideal (i.e., models presented in active stances with a focus on the function of their body). A sample of 122 women (Mage = 24.43 years) from a regional university and the general community was recruited to complete an online study. Participants were randomly allocated to view images of models presented in either an active or posed stance, or images of scenery. Participants completed pre- and post-test measures of appearance and functionality satisfaction, as well as trait measures of body appreciation and satisfaction. Results showed that women had poorer outcomes after viewing the active but not the posed or scenery images. Neither body appreciation nor body satisfaction moderated effects. Active, functional images may be particularly insidious and further research is needed to identify effective protective strategies.

A Randomised Controlled Trial Examining the Effects of Self-Compassion Meditations on Women's Body Image.

Although research has suggested that body image improves following self-compassion meditation training, studies have been limited due to the use of a wait-list control group. This study therefore compared the effects of self-compassion meditations to an active control group. Seventy young adult women (17-35 years) were randomly assigned to receive either self-compassion or nature-focused guided imagery meditations. Over one week, participants engaged in two meditations and completed pre- and post-test measures of trait self-compassion, body appreciation, body shame, and appearance-contingent self-worth. A mixed design analysis of variance revealed a main effect of time; women in both meditation groups demonstrated significant increases in self-compassion and body appreciation, and significant reductions in body shame. No effect was found for appearance-contingent self-worth. There were no interactions or main effects for group. Self-compassion may improve body image in women, although there was no evidence for an advantage of self-compassion over guided imagery meditations. Common elements between self-compassion and guided imagery may be a mechanism for improving body image. However, further research is warranted to isolate the effects of these meditations from other specific and non-specific treatment effects. (This study was pre-registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, ACTRN12618001814268).

Out of control? Using STAMP to model the control and feedback mechanisms surrounding identity crime in darknet marketplaces.

Darknet marketplaces have emerged as a facilitator of identity crime and trading. This study aimed to (1) understand the entities and control and feedback mechanisms that influence identity crime prevention and occurrence on the darknet in the Australian system and to (2) comprehensively identify the implications of control failures across all system levels. The Systems-Theoretic Accident Model and Processes (STAMP) was used to develop an identity crime control structure in consultation with subject matter experts and then the Systems-Theoretic Process Analysis (STPA) was applied. The STPA identified 310 risk states, resulting from control failures and which were associated with the range of agencies, organisations, and individuals present across system levels. As darknet marketplaces rapidly evolve, alignment between these entities is necessary to enable agile system responses. STAMP and STPA have promise in understanding the potential for intervention across all system levels in preventing societal issues such as identity crime.

Who is to blame for crashes involving autonomous vehicles? Exploring blame attribution across the road transport system.

The introduction of fully autonomous vehicles is approaching. This warrants a re-consideration of road crash liability, given drivers will have diminished control. This study, underpinned by attribution theory, investigated blame attribution to different road transport system actors following crashes involving manually driven, semi-autonomous and fully autonomous vehicles. It also examined whether outcome severity alters blame ratings. 396 participants attributed blame to five actors (vehicle driver/user, pedestrian, vehicle, manufacturer, government) in vehicle-pedestrian crash scenarios. Different and unique patterns of blame were found across actors, according to the three vehicle types. In crashes involving fully autonomous vehicles, vehicle users received low blame, while vehicle manufacturers and government were highly blamed. There was no difference in the level of blame attributed between high and low severity crashes regarding vehicle type. However, the government received more blame in high severity crashes. The findings have implications for policy and legislation surrounding crash liability. Practitioner summary: Public views relating to blame and liability in transport accidents is a vital consideration for the introduction of new technologies such as autonomous vehicles. This study demonstrates how a systems ergonomics framework can assist to identify the implications of changing public opinion on blame for future road transport systems. Abbreviation: ANOVA: analysis of variance; DAT: defensive attribution theory; IV: independent variable.

A systems thinking perspective on the barriers to treatment access for people with eating disorders.

Treatment access remains low for people with eating disorders. In addressing the complexity inherent in this challenge, this article introduces systems thinking and argues that it could provide new insights. Systems thinking views behavior as an emergent property of a system and considers the relationships between technical, organizational, and social components. Several methods used in safety science incorporate this thinking. For example, AcciMap draws focus to the influence of decisions and actions made across hierarchical levels of a system, including those by government, regulatory bodies, management, services, and individuals. By examining the findings of the existing literature on barriers to eating disorder treatment access according to these levels, it is evident that most identified barriers relate to individuals and that further research is needed to consider the influence of high-level stakeholders. Research using systems thinking should consider the causal networks of influence from government, regulatory, and organizational decisions and actions through to outcomes for clinicians and individuals. The understanding of how barriers operate within specific healthcare systems also warrants investigation. Systems thinking is yet to be formally applied in the area of eating disorders and thus represents an opportunity to inform the development and implementation of more effective, system wide interventions.

Using the Event Analysis of Systemic Teamwork (EAST) broken-links approach to understand vulnerabilities to disruption in a darknet market.

Darknet markets provide an anonymous, online platform for users to trade illicit drugs, fraudulent identity data, and other commodities. Although law enforcement agencies have been successful in seising many markets, the Darknet is an agile and dynamic environment and market activities often persist and emerge in a new form. Given this constantly changing environment, new ways of disrupting darknet markets are required. This study used Event Analysis of Systemic Teamwork (EAST) to analyse market activity and understand vulnerabilities to disruption. This involved using the EAST broken-links approach to assess the effects of compromising the transmission of information between tasks and between agents. The analysis identified critical vulnerabilities in the system, which included information involved in registering, depositing funds, communicating listing details to buyers, and communicating dispute resolution messages. This study indicates that systems ergonomics methods-in particular, EAST-can provide insight into system vulnerabilities that might be targeted for disruption. Practitioner summary This study provides a conceptualisation of the processes, people, structures, and information involved in the buying and selling of goods on a darknet market. Law enforcement agencies may use broken-links analyses to systematically consider the effects of their interventions.

The effects of priming in a cued dot-probe task on appearance-related attentional biases in women.

The dot-probe task (DPT) is a reaction time measure of attentional bias. Research using this task has found inconsistent patterns of appearance-related attentional biases in women. This study examined the effects of a novel priming variation of the DPT, which incorporated additional cues into each trial of the task, on measurement of such biases. The study also examined associations between these biases and body image, a component of eating disorder symptomatology. A convenience sample of women from the general community (N = 103) completed body image measures online and attended a laboratory session to complete one of four DPTs: (1) an appearance-cued DPT containing images of thin-ideal models between each trial; (2) neutral-cued DPT containing images of forests; (3) time-delayed DPT controlling for time in place of an image; or (4) typical DPT containing only word stimuli. Women who completed the appearance-cued DPT demonstrated a stronger attentional bias for positive, but not negative, appearance words than women who completed the other DPT versions. Furthermore, for the appearance-cued and time-delayed DPTs, this bias correlated with poorer body image across several indicators (appearance evaluation, body dissatisfaction, self-evaluative salience of appearance, and state body satisfaction). Although it was unexpected that no attentional bias for negative-appearance words was found, the attentional bias for positive-appearance words may suggest that effects were driven by the ego-threat of positive-appearance words. Further research is warranted to determine whether such biases contribute to and maintain body image disturbance and disordered eating.

Automated Microfluidic Platform for Serial Polymerase Chain Reaction and High-Resolution Melting Analysis.

We report the development of an automated genetic analyzer for human sample testing based on microfluidic rapid polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with high-resolution melting analysis (HRMA). The integrated DNA microfluidic cartridge was used on a platform designed with a robotic pipettor system that works by sequentially picking up different test solutions from a 384-well plate, mixing them in the tips, and delivering mixed fluids to the DNA cartridge. A novel image feedback flow control system based on a Canon 5D Mark II digital camera was developed for controlling fluid movement through a complex microfluidic branching network without the use of valves. The same camera was used for measuring the high-resolution melt curve of DNA amplicons that were generated in the microfluidic chip. Owing to fast heating and cooling as well as sensitive temperature measurement in the microfluidic channels, the time frame for PCR and HRMA was dramatically reduced from hours to minutes. Preliminary testing results demonstrated that rapid serial PCR and HRMA are possible while still achieving high data quality that is suitable for human sample testing.

Attention bias modification produces no changes to appearance-related bias, state or trait body dissatisfaction in nonclinical women.

The potential of attention bias modification to reduce appearance-related attentional biases and female body dissatisfaction has not been investigated. Immediate and short-term effects were therefore examined across attentional biases, state and trait body dissatisfaction in a randomised controlled trial consisting of 62 female participants aged 18-35 years. The results show no changes to attentional bias across either the experimental or control condition and no significant changes in body dissatisfaction immediately post-training or at 1-2 weeks follow-up. Single-session attention bias modification protocols may therefore not be sufficient in modifying appearance-based biases and associated disordered body schemas within a nonclinical sample.

A cross-sectional investigation of depressive, anxiety, and stress symptoms and health-behavior participation in Australian university students.

Transitioning to university involves a major life change that can have implications for physical and mental health. This study had three objectives: first, assess the mental health and health-behavior participation of Australian university students; second, evaluate clustering of health behaviors; and third, examine how mental health relates to health behaviors. University students (n = 751) enrolled at an Australian regional university completed an online survey containing the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scales and a health-behavior questionnaire. Over one-third of students reported mild or higher mental illness symptoms and most reported engaging in multiple unhealthy behaviors. Furthermore, mental health was associated with unhealthy behaviors. For males, depressive symptoms were associated with skipping breakfast and poor sleep quality. For females, depressive symptoms were associated with skipping breakfast, inadequate vigorous physical activity, and short or long sleep hours. Stress symptoms in females were associated with healthy sleep hours, but poor sleep quality. Future research may consider whether an intervention targeting one or two key health behaviors has utility in improving participation in other health behaviors and mental health.

Differentiation of in vitro transcriptional repression and activation profiles of selective glucocorticoid modulators.

The SAR at C-5 of the 10-methoxy-2,2,4-trimethylbenzopyrano[3,4-f]quinoline core leading to identification of (-) anti 1-methylcyclohexen-3-yl as the optimum substituent that imparts minimal GR mediated in vitro transcriptional activation while maintaining full transcriptional repression is described. The in vitro profile of these candidates in human cell assays relevant to the therapeutic window of glucocorticoid modulators is outlined.

A novel antiinflammatory maintains glucocorticoid efficacy with reduced side effects.

Glucocorticoids (GCs) are commonly used to treat inflammatory disease; unfortunately, the long-term use of these steroids leads to a large number of debilitating side effects. The antiinflammatory effects of GCs are a result of GC receptor (GR)-mediated inhibition of expression of proinflammatory genes as well as GR-mediated activation of antiinflammatory genes. Similarly, side effects are most likely due to both activated and repressed GR target genes in affected tissues. An as yet unachieved pharmaceutical goal is the development of a compound capable of separating detrimental side effects from antiinflammatory activity. We describe the discovery and characterization of AL-438, a GR ligand that exhibits an altered gene regulation profile, able to repress and activate only a subset of the genes normally regulated by GCs. When tested in vivo, AL-438 retains full antiinflammatory efficacy and potency comparable to steroids but its negative effects on bone metabolism and glucose control are reduced at equivalently antiinflammatory doses. The mechanism underlying this selective in vitro and in vivo activity may be the result of differential cofactor recruitment in response to ligand. AL-438 reduces the interaction between GR and peroxisomal proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1, a cofactor critical for steroid-mediated glucose up-regulation, while maintaining normal interactions with GR-interacting protein 1. This compound serves as a prototype for a unique, nonsteroidal alternative to conventional GCs in treating inflammatory disease.

A nonsteroidal glucocorticoid receptor antagonist.

Selective intracellular receptor antagonists are used clinically to ameliorate hormone-dependent disease states. Patients with Cushing's syndrome have high levels of the glucocorticoid, cortisol, and suffer significant consequences from this overexposure. High levels of this hormone are also implicated in exacerbating diabetes and the stress response. Selectively inhibiting this hormone may have clinical benefit in these disease states. To this end, we have identified the first selective, nonsteroidal glucocorticoid receptor (GR) antagonist. This compound is characterized by a tri-aryl methane core chemical structure. This GR-specific antagonist binds with nanomolar affinity to the GR and has no detectable binding affinity for the highly related receptors for mineralocorticoids, androgens, estrogens, and progestins. We demonstrate that this antagonist inhibits glucocorticoid-mediated transcriptional regulation. This compound binds competitively with steroids, likely occupying a similar site within the ligand-binding domain. Once bound, however, the compound fails to induce critical conformational changes in the receptor necessary for agonist activity.

trans-Activation and repression properties of the novel nonsteroid glucocorticoid receptor ligand 2,5-dihydro-9-hydroxy-10-methoxy-2,2,4-trimethyl-5-(1-methylcyclohexen-3-y1)-1H-[1]benzopyrano[3,4-f]quinoline (A276575) and its four stereoisomers.

Glucocorticoids are potent anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressant agents. However, they also produce serious side effects that limit their usage. It has been proposed that anti-inflammatory properties of glucocorticoids are caused mostly by repression of activator protein 1- and nuclear factor kappabeta-stimulated synthesis of inflammatory mediators, whereas most of their adverse effects are associated with trans-activation of genes involved with metabolic processes. Our laboratories have sought to discover novel glucocorticoid receptor (GR) ligands that have high repression but low trans-activation activities. We describe here cellular properties of 2,5-dihydro-9-hydroxy-10-methoxy-2,2,4-trimethyl-5-(1-methylcyclohexen-3-y1)-1H-[1]benzopyrano[3,4-f]quinoline (A276575) and its four enantiomers. Similar to dexamethasone, A276575 exhibited high affinity for GR and potently repressed interleukin (IL) 1beta-stimulated IL-6 production in human skin fibroblasts, prostaglandin (PG) E(2) production in A549 human lung epithelial cells, and concanavalin A-induced monocyte proliferation. In contrast to dexamethasone, A276575 caused smaller induction of aromatase activity in human skin fibroblasts and antagonized dexamethasone-induced activation of an mouse mammary tumor virus-glucocorticoid-response element (GRE) reporter gene construct. Among the four enantiomers of A276575, the two (-)-enantiomers showed 10- to 30-fold higher affinities for GR than their respective (+)-enantiomers. Both (-)-Syn and (-)-Anti enantiomers of A276575 were potent inhibitors of IL-1beta-stimulated PGE2 production in A549 lung epithelial cells; unexpectedly, however, only the (-)-Anti enantiomer inhibited regulated on T-cell activation, normal T-cell expressed and secreted (RANTES) production in A549 cells. In summary, A276575 is a novel, nonsteroidal GR ligand that possesses high repression activities against inflammatory mediator production but has lower GRE trans-activation activities than traditional steroids. Differential repression of RANTES and PGE2 production in a cell by the two (-)-enantiomers of A276575 illustrates the complexity of repression by GR.