Prevalence and factors associated with lateral epicondylitis among hospital healthcare workers.

Background: Hospital healthcare workers have been reported to have a high prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders, but their association with lateral epicondylitis (LE) is unknown. This study aimed to clarify the prevalence of LE and its associated factors among hospital healthcare workers. Methods: The present study included all staff members of a secondary emergency hospital who provided their consent to participate. Participants with a history of elbow joint trauma were excluded from this study. The diagnostic criteria for definite LE were: (1) pain in the elbow joint within 2 weeks of the study; (2) pain in the lateral epicondyle region on resisted extension of the wrist with the elbow extended; and (3) tenderness in the lateral epicondyle. The diagnosis of LE was defined by meeting all criteria. Age, height, weight, sex, dominant hand, occupation, years of employment, smoking history, drinking history, personal computer usage history, and smartphone usage history were investigated using a questionnaire. A physical examination, in addition to evaluation of pain in the lateral epicondyle, grip strength and wrist extension strength were measured. A statistical analysis was used to assess the prevalence of LE and its associated factors. All investigations, including the diagnosis of LE, were performed by a single orthopedic specialist. Results: We evaluated 544 individuals, corresponding to approximately 80% of all staff members. The median age was 39 years (interquartile range, 30-48). The study population included 154 males and 390 females. The occupations of the participants were as follows: nurses (n = 265), doctors (n = 47), clerks (n = 93), therapists (n = 27), certified care workers (n = 23), medical technologists (n = 22), pharmacists (n = 19), and others (n = 48). LE was diagnosed in 30 limbs/30 individuals with a prevalence of approximately 5.5%. There was no difference in the prevalence of LE among occupations (P = .85). A logistic regression analysis revealed that age (odds ratio, 1.05; 95% confidence interval 1.01-1.1; P = .01) and smoking history (odds ratio, 2.94; 95% confidence interval 1.01-8.56; P = .04) were independently associated with LE. Conclusion: This study was conducted to evaluate the prevalence of LE among hospital healthcare workers. The prevalence of LE was 5.5%, and LE was independently associated with age and smoking history.

Longitudinal relationship between screen-based sedentary behavior and nutrient intake in Japanese children: an observational epidemiological cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Concerns regarding the impact of screen-based sedentary behavior on health have been increasing. Therefore, the present study investigated the longitudinal relationship between multiple screen time and nutrient intake in children and adolescents. METHODS: The present study was conducted utilizing 3 years longitudinal data. Study subjects were 740 Japanese children aged between 6 and 12 years at baseline and between 9 and 15 years in the follow-up. Screen-based sedentary behavior was assessed using screen time, including television (TV) viewing, personal computer (PC) use, and mobile phone (MP) use. The main outcomes were the intakes of nutrients. Mixed effect multivariate linear regression analyses were used to examine the longitudinal relationship between screen-based sedentary time and nutrient intake. Covariates included in the multivariable analysis consisted of sex, age, solitary eating, skipping breakfast, staying up late, and body weight status, as confounders, and physical inactivity, as mediator. RESULTS: In boys, a longer total screen time longitudinally correlated with higher intake of energy and lower intakes of protein, dietary fiber, minerals, and vitamins. In girls, longer total screen time longitudinally associated with higher intake of sucrose and lower intakes of protein, minerals, and vitamins. In boys, a longer TV viewing time was associated with higher intake of sucrose and lower intakes of protein, minerals, and vitamins. In girls, a longer TV viewing time was associated with higher intake of carbohydrates and lower intakes of protein, fat, minerals, and vitamins. In boys, relationships were observed between a longer PC use time and higher intakes of energy as well as lower intakes of protein, minerals, and vitamins. Relationship was observed between longer PC use time and lower intakes of minerals in girls. An increased MP use time was associated with higher intakes of energy, and lower intakes of protein, sucrose, dietary fiber, minerals, and vitamins in boys. A longer MP use time was associated with higher intakes of fat, and salt as well as lower intakes of carbohydrates, protein, minerals, and vitamins in girls. CONCLUSIONS: The present results revealed that longer screen-based sedentary behaviors were longitudinally associated with nutrient intake in children and adolescents. Future study is needed to elucidate these relationships.

Technical note: Excel spreadsheet calculation of the Henssge equation as an aid to estimating postmortem interval.

In forensic cases for which the time of death is unknown, several methods are used to estimate the postmortem interval. The quotient (Q) defined as the difference between the rectal and ambient temperature (Tr - Ta) divided by the initial difference (T0 - Ta) represents the progress of postmortem cooling: Q = (Tr - Ta)/(T0 - Ta), (1 ≥ Q ≥ 0). Henssge was able to show that with the body weight and its empirical corrective factor, Q can be reasonably predicted as a double exponential decay function of time (Qp(t)). On the other hand, actual Q is determined as Qd by measuring Tr and Ta under an assumption of T0 = 37.2 °C. Then, the t value at which Qp(t) is equal to Qd (Qd=Qp(t)) would be a good estimate of the postmortem interval (the Henssge equation). Since the equation cannot be solved analytically, it has been solved using a pair of nomograms devised by Henssge. With greater access to computers and spreadsheet software, computational methods based on the input of actual parameters of the case can be more easily utilized. In this technical note, we describe two types of Excel spreadsheets to solve the equation numerically. In one type, a fairly accurate solution was obtained by iteration using an add-in program Solver. In the other type (forward calculation), a series of Qp(t) was generated at a time interval of 0.05 h and the t value at which Qp(t) was nearest to Qd was selected as an approximate solution using a built-in function, XLOOKUP. Alternatively, a series of absolute values of the difference between Qd and Qp(t) (|Dq(t)| = |Qd - Qp(t)|) was generated with time interval 0.1 h and the t value that produces the minimum |Dq(t)| was selected. These Excel spreadsheets are available as Supplementary Files.

The association between screen use and central obesity among children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Currently, there is no summative study evaluating the association between central obesity and screen time. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to summarize the results of studies evaluating the association between screen time and central obesity among children and adolescents. To this end, we performed a systematic search in three electronic databases, including Scopus, PubMed, and Embase to retrieve the related studies up to March 2021. Nine studies were eligible to be included in the meta-analysis. There was no association between odds of central obesity and screen time [odds ratio (OR) 1.136; 95% CI 0.965-1.337; P = 0.125]; however, waist circumference (WC) was 1.23 cm higher in those with highest screen time versus those in the lowest screen time category [weighted mean difference (WMD) = 1.23; 95% 95% CI 0.342-2.112; P = 0.007; Fig. 3]. Moreover, the possible sources of heterogeneity in the included studies were continent and sample size. No evidence of publication bias was reported. For the first time, the current systematic review and meta-analysis revealed that those with the highest screen time had higher WC compared with those with the lowest screen time. Although, there was no association between odds of central obesity and screen time. Due to the observational design of the included studies, it is impossible to infer the cause-effect relationship. Therefore, further interventional and longitudinal studies are warranted to better elucidate the causality of these associations.

Trastornos en la salud visual causados por el síndrome del computador en el siglo xxi / Disorders of the eyesight health caused by the computer vision syndrome in the XXI century

En el siglo xxi, la mayoría de los ciudadanos del mundo utiliza herramientas tecnológicas con pantalla electrónica sin considerar el trastorno a la salud producido por su uso indiscriminado, al que se le denomina síndrome de visión por computador. Con el objetivo de concientizar a la sociedad acerca del daño a la salud visual que causa la exposición excesiva a las pantallas de los dispositivos electrónicos se realizó una revisión bibliográfica en las bases de datos electrónicas de Literatura Latinoamericana y del Caribe en Ciencias de la Salud y Literatura Internacional en Ciencias de la Salud, en los portales ScienceDirect y U.S. National Library of Medicine. De los 50 artículos encontrados, fueron seleccionados 29 por su utilidad y se consultaron 108 personas. Se concluyó que el síndrome del computador afecta a millones de personas dedicadas a trabajar frente a las pantallas de los aparatos electrónicos y se recomienda una debida preparación para atender y prever sus efectos perjudiciales en la población(AU)

In the XXI century, most of the world's citizens use technological tools with electronic screens without taking into account the health disorders those produce due to their indiscriminate use, which are denominated as computer vision syndrome. With the objective of creating awareness in the society in relation with the damage to the visual health caused by the excessive exposure to the screens of electronic devices, I was carried out a bibliographic review in the databases of Latin American and Caribbean Literature on Health Sciences, and International Literature on Health Sciences; and in the websites of Science Direct and U.S. National Library of Medicine. Of the 50 articles found, 29 were selected for their usefulness and a survey of 108 people was conducted. It was concluded that the syndrome of computer affects to millions of people who work in front of the screens of electronic devices, and it is recommended a proper preparation to address and prevent the harmful effects they have in the population(AU)

Tetrabromobisphenol A and hexabromocyclododecanes from interior and surface dust of personal computers: implications for sources and human exposure.

Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) and hexabromocyclododecane isomers (HBCDs) are widely detected in indoor environments, but the research on the accumulation, contamination, and human exposure of TBBPA and HBCDs in electronic products dust is still limited. It is unclear whether electronic products might pose human health risk via dust ingestion and dermal absorption. In this study, the levels and distributions of TBBPA and HBCDs were investigated in the personal computer (PC) interior dust and PC surface (upper and bottom) wipes. The median concentrations of TBBPA in PC interior dust, upper, and bottom surface wipes were 168.1 ng/g, 13.2 ng/m2, and 15.2 ng/m2, respectively. These levels were generally higher than those of HBCDs, which were 95.2 ng/g, 11.7 ng/m2, and 12.3 ng/m2, respectively. No significant correlations were found among the PC upper and bottom surface wipes, and interior dust, indicating different sources of TBBPA and HBCDs in PC interior and surface dust. The TBBPA and HBCDs in the PC interior dust were mainly released from inner PC materials, while the sources of target compounds on the surface wipes were likely from external environments. The exposure values of two occupational populations (including PC owners and PC repair workers) to TBBPA and HBCDs were measured by PC interior dust and upper surface wipes. The results imply dust ingestion (including hand-to-mouth uptake) is the main contributor of the exposure route to TBBPA and HBCDs for both PC owners and repair workers. Compared to PC owners, PC repair workers showed the greater risk in exposure assessment, which should be paid more attention.

Open-source controller for low-cost and high-speed atomic force microscopy imaging of skin corneocyte nanotextures.

High-speed atomic force microscopes (HS-AFMs) with high temporal resolution enable dynamic phenomena to be visualized at nanoscale resolution. However, HS-AFMs are more complex and costlier than conventional AFMs, and particulars of an open-source HS-AFM controller have not been published before. These high entry barriers hinder the popularization of HS-AFMs in both academic and industrial applications. In addition, HS-AFMs generally have a small imaging area that limits the fields of implementation. This study presents an open-source controller that enables a low-cost simplified AFM to achieve a maximum tip-sample velocity of 5,093 µm/s (9.3 s/frame, 512 × 512 pixels), which is nearly 100 times higher than that of the original controller. Moreover, the proposed controller doubles the imaging area to 46.3 × 46.3 µm2 compared to that of the original system. The low-cost HS-AFM can successfully assess the severity of atopic dermatitis (AD) by measuring the nanotexture of human skin corneocytes in constant height DC mode. The open-source controller-based HS-AFM system costs less than $4,000, which provides resource-limited research institutes with affordable access to high-throughput nanoscale imaging to further expand the HS-AFM research community.

Brominated and phosphate flame retardants from interior and surface dust of personal computers: insights into sources for human dermal exposure.

It remains unclear whether internal or external sources play the more significant role in flame retardant (FR) contamination of surface dust from personal computers (PCs), which may lead to bias on dermal exposure assessment of FRs. In the present study, the occurrence and profiles of several brominated and phosphate FRs were measured in the interior dust, and the upper surface (keyboard) and bottom surface (bottom cover) wipes of PCs. BDE 209 (639 ng/g), decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE, 885 ng/g), and triphenyl phosphate (TPHP, 1880 ng/g) were the most abundant chemicals in interior PC dust, while tris(2-chloroisopropyl) phosphate (TCIPP), TPHP, and DBDPE were dominant on both surfaces of PCs. No significant correlation between interior dust and both PC surfaces was observed for concentrations of most FRs except BDE 183. Different sources of FRs for interior and surface dust of PCs were further revealed by principal component analysis (PCA). FRs from external sources, rather than emission from inner PC components, are likely the main contributor for FR profiles on PC surfaces. Exposure assessment results demonstrated a minor contribution from PC dermal contact, compared with hand-to-mouth uptake, to total exposure. The applicability of surface wipes to assess dermal exposure to FR-treated products needs to be further investigated.

[Construction of Management System Using Application Software for X-ray Protective Clothing Management].

We jointly developed dedicated application with protective clothing manufacturers for the purpose of improving the diagnostic X-ray protective clothing inspection record and visualization of quality control. Also, we clearly distributed roles and responsibilities for managing protective clothing. Visualization of quality control could be realized by using a tablet as an inspection recording device. By establishing the criteria for unified X-ray protective clothing inspection, we were able to establish the X-ray protective clothing update procedure.

Interactive control of purpose built analytical instruments with Forth on microcontrollers - A tutorial.

The use of the computer language Forth for controlling experimental analytical instruments built in laboratories is described. Forth runs on a microcontroller and as it is an interpreted language the user can directly communicate with it by employing a terminal emulator program running on a personal computer. Thus the user can test attached hardware, such as pumps, valves, electronic pressure regulators, detectors and chemical sensors, directly from the keyboard. This overcomes the lack of interactivity, a significant shortcoming, of the computer languages C and C++, the default on such microcontroller platforms as the Arduinos, which have become very popular in recent years for laboratory applications. Common examples of purpose built experimental analytical laboratory instruments are sequential injection analysis systems, microfluidic devices, or automated sample extraction systems. Application examples from our laboratory are given, namely the regulation of mass-flow controllers for gases, the sequencing of an experimental capillary electrophoresis instrument and the acquisition of a signal from an alcohol sensor.

Capturing patient-reported area of knee pain: a concurrent validity study using digital technology in patients with patellofemoral pain.

BACKGROUND: Patellofemoral pain (PFP) is often reported as a diffuse pain at the front of the knee during knee-loading activities. A patient's description of pain location and distribution is commonly drawn on paper by clinicians, which is difficult to quantify, report and compare within and between patients. One way of overcoming these potential limitations is to have the patient draw their pain regions using digital platforms, such as personal computer tablets. OBJECTIVE: To assess the validity of using computer tablets to acquire a patient's knee pain drawings as compared to paper-based records in patients with PFP. METHODS: Patients (N = 35) completed knee pain drawings on identical images (size and colour) of the knee as displayed on paper and a computer tablet. Pain area expressed as pixel density, was calculated as a percentage of the total drawable area for paper and digital records. Bland-Altman plots, intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), Pearson's correlation coefficients and one-sample tests were used in data analysis. RESULTS: No significant difference in pain area was found between the paper and digital records of mapping pain area (p = 0.98), with the mean difference = 0.002% (95% CI [-0.159-0.157%]). A very high agreement in pain area between paper and digital pain drawings (ICC = 0.966 (95% CI [0.93-0.98], F = 28.834, df = 31, p < 0.001). A strong linear correlation (R2 = 0.870) was found for pain area and the limits of agreement show less than ±1% difference between paper and digital drawings. CONCLUSION: Pain drawings as acquired using paper and computer tablet are equivalent in terms of total area of reported knee pain. The advantages of digital recording platforms, such as quantification and reporting of pain area, could be realized in both research and clinical settings.

Calculating Gamma Camera Uniformity Parameters: Beyond the Vendor-specific Protocol.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to develop and verify a personal computer-based software tool for calculating uniformity indices of gamma camera. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The program was developed in MATLAB R2013b under Microsoft Windows operating system. Noise-less digital phantoms with known uniformity parameters were used to verify the accuracy of the program. Two hundred and forty-four Co-57 flood source images were acquired on Symbia T6 and Discovery nuclear medicine/computed tomography 670. The uniformity indices of these images were determined with their respective vendor's software and also by the tool developed. Bland-Altman plots were used for measuring the agreements between the developed program and the vendor's program for the calculation of uniformity indices. RESULTS: The tool for calculating uniformity indices was found to be accurate. Uniformity indices measured with the tool revealed a very good correlation with vendor's software based on Bland-Altman analysis, as almost all measurements were within the ±2 standard deviation range. CONCLUSION: The software tool for calculation of uniformity indices is accurate, and the uniformity indices calculated by it are in agreement with uniformity indices calculated by the vendor's software.

Evaluation of user input methods for manipulating a tablet personal computer in sterile techniques.

PURPOSE: To determine a quick and accurate user input method for manipulating tablet personal computers (PCs) in sterile techniques. METHODS: We evaluated three different manipulation methods, (1) Computer mouse and sterile system drape, (2) Fingers and sterile system drape, and (3) Digitizer stylus and sterile ultrasound probe cover with a pinhole, in terms of the central processing unit (CPU) performance, manipulation performance, and contactlessness. RESULTS: A significant decrease in CPU score ([Formula: see text]) and an increase in CPU temperature ([Formula: see text]) were observed when a system drape was used. The respective mean times taken to select a target image from an image series (ST) and the mean times for measuring points on an image (MT) were [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] s for the computer mouse method, [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] s for the finger method, and [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] s for the digitizer stylus method, respectively. The ST for the finger method was significantly longer than for the digitizer stylus method ([Formula: see text]). The MT for the computer mouse method was significantly longer than for the digitizer stylus method ([Formula: see text]). The mean success rate for measuring points on an image was significantly lower for the finger method when the diameter of the target was equal to or smaller than 8 mm than for the other methods. No significant difference in the adenosine triphosphate amount at the surface of the tablet PC was observed before, during, or after manipulation via the digitizer stylus method while wearing starch-powdered sterile gloves ([Formula: see text]). CONCLUSIONS: Quick and accurate manipulation of tablet PCs in sterile techniques without CPU load is feasible using a digitizer stylus and sterile ultrasound probe cover with a pinhole.

Code generator for implementing dual tree complex wavelet transform on reconfigurable architectures for mobile applications.

The authors aimed to develop an application for producing different architectures to implement dual tree complex wavelet transform (DTCWT) having near shift-invariance property. To obtain a low-cost and portable solution for implementing the DTCWT in multi-channel real-time applications, various embedded-system approaches are realised. For comparison, the DTCWT was implemented in C language on a personal computer and on a PIC microcontroller. However, in the former approach portability and in the latter desired speed performance properties cannot be achieved. Hence, implementation of the DTCWT on a reconfigurable platform such as field programmable gate array, which provides portable, low-cost, low-power, and high-performance computing, is considered as the most feasible solution. At first, they used the system generator DSP design tool of Xilinx for algorithm design. However, the design implemented by using such tools is not optimised in terms of area and power. To overcome all these drawbacks mentioned above, they implemented the DTCWT algorithm by using Verilog Hardware Description Language, which has its own difficulties. To overcome these difficulties, simplify the usage of proposed algorithms and the adaptation procedures, a code generator program that can produce different architectures is proposed.

Scientific Evidence Supporting Policy Change: A Study on Secondhand Smoke Exposure in Non-smoking Areas of PC Rooms in Korea.

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to measure secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure in personal computer (PC) rooms with the purpose of determining the strength of scientific evidence supporting the legislative ban on smoking in PC rooms located in the Republic of Korea. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From June to September 2012, particulate matter (PM2.5) and air nicotine concentration (ANC) were measured in the smoking and non-smoking areas of PC rooms in Goyang City, Korea. In 28 randomly sampled PC rooms, field investigators completed an observational questionnaire on building characteristics, smoking policies, and evidence of smoking. The geometric means (GM) of PM2.5 and ANC in smoking and non-smoking areas were compared. RESULTS: Evidence of smoking was identified in both the smoking and non-smoking areas of all PC rooms. The GMs of PM2.5 and ANC in both areas were high and did not differ significantly (174.77 µg/m(3) and 48.95 µg/m(3) in smoking areas; 93.38 µg/m(3) and 41.30 µg/m(3) in non-smoking areas). Overall PM2.5 concentrations were 5.5-fold higher than those listed in the World Health Organization guidelines. CONCLUSION: This study supported previous reports that a partial smoking ban did not protect individuals from SHS exposure. Furthermore, the results from our study suggest how research can support policy. Countries in which smoke-free policies are not yet comprehensive may find our results useful.

Scientific Evidence Supporting Policy Change: A Study on Secondhand Smoke Exposure in Non-smoking Areas of PC Rooms in Korea / Journal of the Korean Cancer Association, 대한암학회지

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to measure secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure in personal computer (PC) rooms with the purpose of determining the strength of scientific evidence supporting the legislative ban on smoking in PC rooms located in the Republic of Korea. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From June to September 2012, particulate matter (PM2.5) and air nicotine concentration (ANC) were measured in the smoking and non-smoking areas of PC rooms in Goyang City, Korea. In 28 randomly sampled PC rooms, field investigators completed an observational questionnaire on building characteristics, smoking policies, and evidence of smoking. The geometric means (GM) of PM2.5 and ANC in smoking and non-smoking areas were compared. RESULTS: Evidence of smoking was identified in both the smoking and non-smoking areas of all PC rooms. The GMs of PM2.5 and ANC in both areas were high and did not differ significantly (174.77 μg/m3 and 48.95 μg/m3 in smoking areas; 93.38 μg/m3 and 41.30 μg/m3 in non-smoking areas). Overall PM2.5 concentrations were 5.5-fold higher than those listed in the World Health Organization guidelines. CONCLUSION: This study supported previous reports that a partial smoking ban did not protect individuals from SHS exposure. Furthermore, the results from our study suggest how research can support policy. Countries in which smoke-free policies are not yet comprehensive may find our results useful.

Development of vein image projection equipment / 中国医学装备

Objective:To introduce a method and theory about how implementation vein image projection epidermis and conduct the clinical testing.Methods: Base on existing electronic components construct circuit. The construct circuit was made of industrial personal computer, mini-projector, camera and so on. The image is captured by camera transfer to industrial personal computer. Choosing suitable image process algorithms modify image. Processed image that storage in industrial personal computer transfer to mini-projector, vascular vein lines is produced from mini-projector.Results: Through this way that vascular vein projector method get image basic agreement vascular trend, meet the clinical needs.Conclusion: Vein image projection methods meet clinical need can be used to study other field.

Identification of minimal eukaryotic introns through GeneBase, a user-friendly tool for parsing the NCBI Gene databank.

We have developed GeneBase, a full parser of the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) Gene database, which generates a fully structured local database with an intuitive user-friendly graphic interface for personal computers. Features of all the annotated eukaryotic genes are accessible through three main software tables, including for each entry details such as the gene summary, the gene exon/intron structure and the specific Gene Ontology attributions. The structuring of the data, the creation of additional calculation fields and the integration with nucleotide sequences allow users to make many types of comparisons and calculations that are useful for data retrieval and analysis. We provide an original example analysis of the existing introns across all the available species, through which the classic biological problem of the 'minimal intron' may find a solution using available data. Based on all currently available data, we can define the shortest known eukaryotic GT-AG intron length, setting the physical limit at the 30 base pair intron belonging to the human MST1L gene. This 'model intron' will shed light on the minimal requirement elements of recognition used for conventional splicing functioning. Remarkably, this size is indeed consistent with the sum of the splicing consensus sequence lengths.

Personal computer wallpaper user segmentation based on Sasang typology.

BACKGROUND: As human-computer interaction (HCI) is becoming a significant part of all human life, the user's emotional satisfaction is an important factor to consider. These changes have been pointed out by several researchers who claim that a user's personality may become the most important factor in the design. The objective of this study is to examine Sasang typology as a user segmentation method in the area of HCI design. To test HCI usage patterns in terms of the user's personality and temperament, this study focuses on personal computer (PC) or lap-top wallpaper settings. METHODS: One hundred and four Facebook friends completed a QSCC II survey assessing Sasang typology type and sent a captured image of their personal PC or lap-top wallpaper. To classify the computer usage pattern, folder organization and wallpaper setting were investigated. RESULTS: The research showed that So-Yang type organized folders and icons in an orderly manner, whereas So-Eum type did not organize folders and icons at all. With regard to wallpaper settings, So-Yang type used the default wallpaper provided by the PC but So-Eum type used landscape images. Because So-Yang type was reported to be emotionally stable and extrovert, they tended to be highly concerned with online privacy compared with So-Eum type. So-Eum type use a lot of images of landscapes as the background image, which demonstrates So-Eum's low emotional stability, anxiety, and the desire to obtain analogy throughout the computer screen. Also, So-Yang's wallpapers display family or peripheral figures and this is due to the sociability that extrovert So-Yang types possess. CONCLUSION: By proposing the Sasang typology as a factor in influencing an HCI usage pattern in this study, it can be used to predict the user's HCI experience, or suggest a native design methodology that can actively cope with the user's psychological environment.

Assessment of toxic metals in waste personal computers.

Considering the enormous production of waste personal computers nowadays, it is obvious that the study of their composition is necessary in order to regulate their management and prevent any environmental contamination caused by their inappropriate disposal. This study aimed at determining the toxic metals content of motherboards (printed circuit boards), monitor glass and monitor plastic housing of two Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) monitors, three Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) monitors, one LCD touch screen monitor and six motherboards, all of which were discarded. In addition, concentrations of chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb) and mercury (Hg) were compared with the respective limits set by the RoHS 2002/95/EC Directive, that was recently renewed by the 2012/19/EU recast, in order to verify manufacturers' compliance with the regulation. The research included disassembly, pulverization, digestion and chemical analyses of all the aforementioned devices. The toxic metals content of all samples was determined using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). The results demonstrated that concentrations of Pb in motherboards and funnel glass of devices with release dates before 2006, that is when the RoHS Directive came into force, exceeded the permissible limit. In general, except from Pb, higher metal concentrations were detected in motherboards in comparison with plastic housing and glass samples. Finally, the results of this work were encouraging, since concentrations of metals referred in the RoHS Directive were found in lower levels than the legislative limits.