Cultural ergonomics in interactional and experiential design: conceptual framework and case study of the Taiwanese twin cup.

Cultural ergonomics is an approach that considers interaction- and experience-based variations among cultures. Designers need to develop a better understanding of cultural ergonomics not just to participate in cultural contexts but also to develop interactive experiences for users. Cultural ergonomics extends our understanding of cultural meaning and our ability to utilize such understanding for design and evaluate everyday products. This study aims to combine cultural ergonomics and interactive design to explore human-culture interaction in user experiences. The linnak is a typical Taiwanese aboriginal cultural object. This study examined the cultural meaning and operational interface of the linnak, as well as the scenarios in which it is used in interaction and user experiences. The results produced a cultural ergonomics interface for examining the manner in which designers communicate across cultures as well as the interweaving of design and culture in the design process.

A trend analysis of ergonomic research themes in Taiwan.

This paper examines the development of ergonomics in Taiwan by analysing 1404 scientific articles published by 113 permanent members of the Ergonomics Society of Taiwan (EST). Each article was classified by key words and abstract content. Each article was also coded by period of publication (1971-1992 (first period), 1993-1997 (second period), 1998-2002 (third period), 2003-2007 (fourth period), and 2008-2012 (fifth period), and against 13 topic categories. The results show that rate of publication has increased by approximately 100 articles every five years since 1993.The most popular topic was ergonomics assessment and analysis techniques in the first period, force exertion-related research in the second period, product design and evaluation in the third period, occupational safety and health in the fourth period and human-computer interface in the fifth period. Each of these is highly relevant to current contemporary issues around the world. Finally, potential areas for future ergonomics research in Taiwan are discussed. PRACTITIONER SUMMARY: This study investigates the trends in academic papers published by members of the EST. Over time, topics have shifted from ergonomics evaluation methods to occupational safety and health, and human­computer interaction. The findings should be considered as important references for planning the future of ergonomics in Taiwan.

Purine anti-metabolite attenuates nuclear factor κB and related pro-inflammatory cytokines in experimental vasospasm.

BACKGROUND: Increased nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) bioexpression, as well as TNF-α, IL-1ß and IL-6 levels, were observed after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). It is of interest to investigate the effect of 6-mercaptopurine (6-mp) on cytokines/NF-κB in this SAH model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A rodent double-hemorrhage SAH model was employed. Serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples were collected to examine IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-α levels. NF-κB subunit p65 and its inhibitor of nuclear factor κB (IκB) were examined (by Western blot). TNF-α was used to induce the phosphorylation of IκB in the presence or absence of 6-mp. RESULTS: Nuclear NF-κB subunit p65/IκB kinase in the basilar artery was over-expressed, and cytokines was notably increased in the SAH groups, compared with the controls (P < 0.01). In the 6-mp SAH group, obvious reduction was observed in NF-κB subunit p65 (nuclei) (P < 0.01). Treatment with 6-mp significantly reduced IL-1ß and TNF-α levels to those of the healthy control. 6-Mercaptopurine also significantly increased the level of IκB in the TNF-α-stimulated SAH rats. CONCLUSIONS: Through inhibiting IκB bioexpression, 6-mp decreases NF-κB-related IL-1ß, IL-6, and TNF-α in the presence of SAH. The study suggests 6-mp exerts vascular anti-inflammatory properties through inhibiting IκB kinase and subsequently blocks bio-activation of NF-κB and related cytokines, which may contribute to its antivasospastic effect in animals subjected to SAH.

6-Mercaptopurine reverses experimental vasospasm and alleviates the production of endothelins in NO-independent mechanism-a laboratory study.

INTRODUCTION: Increased endothelin-1 (ET-1) production and diminished nitric oxide synthase (NOS) bioavailability has been observed in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). The authors previously found that 6-mercaptopurine (6-mp) is effective in preventing and reversing arterial narrowing in a rodent SAH model. This present study is of interest to examine the effect of 6-mp on ET-1/endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) in this animal model. METHODS: A rodent double hemorrhage SAH model was employed. Animals were randomly assigned to six groups (sham, SAH only, vehicle, 0.5, 1.0 and 2 mg kg(-1) day(-1) 6-mp treatment). Monoclonal CD45 immunostaining was utilized to evaluate monocytes and microglia. The level of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-α(RT-PCR), and ET-1 (ELISA) was measured. The basilar arteries (BAs) were harvested and sliced, and their cross-sectional areas were determined. Radiolabeled NOS assay kit was applied to detect eNOS. RESULTS: Morphologically, convolution of internal elastic lamina, endothelial cells distortion, and necrotic smooth muscle were prevalently present in the basilar artery of SAH groups, which was absent in the 1 and 2 mg kg(-1) day(-1) 6-mp plus SAH group or the healthy controls. Significant vasospasm was noted in the vehicle group (lumen patency, 54.6%, p ≤ 0.01 compared with the sham group), but it was less prominent in the 2 mg kg(-1) day(-1) 6-mp treatment group (lumen patency, 87.6%, p < 0.05). In addition, administration with 2 mg kg(-1) day(-1) 6-mp reduced cytokine levels by 11%, 47%, and 34% for IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-α, respectively, and increased ET-1 levels were found in all the animals subject to SAH (SAH only, SAH plus vehicle, SAH plus 0.5 and 1.0 mg kg(-1) day(-1) 6-mp) except in the 2 mg kg(-1) day(-1) 6-mp SAH group, when compared with the healthy controls (no SAH). Meanwhile, treatment with 6-mp did not induce the levels of expressed eNOS in BAs in the 6-mp groups (0.5, 1.0, and 2 mg kg(-1) day(-1) 6-mp plus SAH) when compared with that in the SAH groups (p > 0.1). CONCLUSION: In summary, treatment with 6-mp decreased the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and diminished experimental vasospasm. This study offered first evidence that 6-mp dose-dependently reduces the level of ET-1 in a NO-independent mechanism, which corresponds to its antivasospastic effect in the condition of chronic vasospasm.

Atorvastatin preconditioning attenuates the production of endothelin-1 and prevents experimental vasospasm in rats.

OBJECTIVE: Induced endothelin-1 (ET-1) production and decreased nitric oxide synthase (NOS) bioavailability have been found in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Atorvastatin is recognized to have pleiotropic effects including increasing NOS bioavailability as well as reducing inflammation and oxidative damage other than reducing dyslipidemia. This study is of interest to examine the effect of atorvastatin on ET-1/endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) in experimental SAH. METHODS: A rodent double-hemorrhage SAH model was employed. Animals were randomly assigned as sham-operated, SAH, vehicle plus SAH, 5 mg/day atorvastatin treatment plus SAH and 5 mg/day atorvastatin precondition plus SAH groups. Administration with atorvastatin (5 mg/day) was initiated 1 week before (precondition) and 24 hr later (treatment). Cerebrospinal fluid samples were collected at 72 hr after second SAH. ET-1 (ELISA) was measured. The basilar arteries (BAs) were harvested and sliced, and their cross-sectional areas were measured. Radiolabeled NOS assay kit was used to detect eNOS. RESULTS: Morphologically, convoluted internal elastic lamina, distorted endothelial cells and myonecrosis of the smooth muscle were predominantly observed in the BA of SAH and vehicle-treated SAH groups, which was not detected in the atorvastatin-preconditioned SAH group or the healthy controls. Significant vasospasm was noted in the vehicle group (lumen potency 64.5%, compared with the sham group, p

The evaluation of force exertions and muscle activities when operating a manual guided vehicle.

A manual guided vehicle (MGV) is used to handle heavy materials in thin film transistor-liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) manufacturing clean rooms. This study focuses on evaluating the force exertions and muscle activities in MGV operations. The independent variables include gender, force direction, handle height, load handled and wheel diameter of the MGV. The results show the force direction, handle height and load handling effects are significant in most measures except for F(ending) (the peak force required to stop the MGV) and the EMG of the anterior deltoid. The wheel diameter had a significant effect on F(initial) (the peak force required to move the MGV) and F(ending) responses. Gender did not significantly effect any measures. Moreover, the pushing and pulling force is less at 115cm handle height than at 101.5cm and 88cm handle heights. Using 15.3cm (6 inch) diameter wheels requires less force than 20.3cm (8 inch) diameter wheels because the two front wheels are fixed and the two rear wheels are rotatable. The design implications are discussed.

Biomechanical, physiological and psychophysical evaluations of clean room boots.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the significance of boot sole properties on reducing fatigue, to evaluate the effects of load carrying and walking (over a 1 h period) on biomechanical, physiological and psychophysical responses, and to investigate the correlations between the measurements. The results indicated that elasticity and shock absorption of the boot had significant effects on outcome variables. Significant load effects were seen in most measurements. All of the significant time period effects gave strong regressions, with no R2 value less than 0.983. The findings of this study provide useful information for the selection and design of clean room boots as well as for job design for load carrying tasks in the clean room environment.

Torque levels, subjective discomfort, and muscle activity associated with four commercially available screwdrivers under static and dynamic work conditions.

This study evaluated screwdrivers with different handle designs and blade lengths. 10 men and 10 women voluntarily participated. A repeated-measures experiment design was employed. The three independent factors were sex of user, handle (four types), and blade length (130, 170, and 210 mm). The dependent measures were the maximum supination torque under a static task and the %MVC of EMG responses in biceps brachii and flexor digitorum, and a discomfort rating for the upper extremity under the dynamic task. Analysis showed that the in-line screwdriver with the combined characteristics of large handle diameter (3.8-4.1 cm), smooth rubber covering handle surface, triangular (or circular) shape, and adequate handle length (11 cm) had the greatest supination torque and a smaller discomfort rating than the screwdriver with the pistol-grip handle. Blade length was not significantly related to any dependent measure.