Exploratory Study on the Impacts of Handle Vibration on the Hand and Forearm

Josefa Angelie Revilla,Ping Yeap Loh,Satoshi Muraki 대한산업공학회 2019 Industrial Engineeering & Management Systems Vol.18 No.4

This study investigated the immediate impacts of short-term handle vibration on hand functions, upper limb discomfort, and forearm muscle responses during hand grip test and task performance of seven healthy young adults. Thetask was to grip the handlebar for 5 minutes with 50% perceived strength under two conditions: with handle vibration(HV) and without handle vibration (NHV). Activities of forearm muscles namely flexor carpi radialis (FCR), flexor ofthe fingers (FF), flexor carpi ulnaris (FCU), and extensor digitorum (ED) were recorded using surface electromyography (EMG), while post-task hand tests for finger dexterity, strength, and sensibility were also measured. These fingerfunctions as well as muscle responses did not differ significantly between HV and NHV. The lacking effects might beassociated to the inconsistencies on grip force during task, perhaps participants let go of the handle during the latterpart. Meanwhile, perceived discomfort on the shoulder was significantly higher after HV than NHV and activity ofFCR, FF, and ED during maximal grip test were significantly different (p < 0.05) as well. Specifically, muscle activities were lower by 12-15% after HV than NHV, indicating that HV might have influenced the ability to grip hardly. Inconclusion, maximal grip test and discomfort rating can be a predictive parameter to determine the instantaneous effects of handle vibration.

Management Styles of Women Managers: Its Effect on Job Performance as Prime Mover to the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Integration

Ma. Angela Josefa Gonzales Pioquinto People&Global Business Association 2016 Global Business and Finance Review Vol.21 No.2

This study aimed to explore the management styles of women managers and its effects on their job performance with the following objectives: to identify the management style of women managers in as determined by the subordinates and the women managers themselves; to know the level of performance of women managers as rated by the subordinates and the women managers themselves; to find significant differences in the ratings given by the two groups of respondents namely the women managers and subordinates; to know if there is a significant relationship between the level of performance of women managers and their management styles; and to formulate management strategies that may be proposed to enhance performance of women managers as a prime mover for the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC). To pursue the objectives of this study, a questionnaire was distributed to women managers and their subordinates. Moreover, descriptive statistics such as frequency and percentage was used for the profile of women managers. Weighted mean was also used to determine the level of performance of women managers as assessed by their subordinates and to identify the most used management style. T-test and Pearson R was also utilized for computing statistical data. This study intended to propose management strategies to enhance the job performance of women managers and their subordinates. It is hopeful that these management strategies be adapted by women managers in Daet, Camarines Norte, the Philippines, and the members of the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), which may be of help to their organizational successes. The following conclusions were obtained from the findings of the study: 1) The management style of the women managers as seen by majority of their subordinates is of the Autocratic style while the management style the women managers see themselves as possessing is the Laissez-Faire style of management. 2) The level of performance of women managers as rated by their subordinates is in the satisfactory evaluation level while as the women managers get to rate themselves in terms of their performance, they had given a straight Good result in the evaluation scale. 3) There is a significant difference on the ratings of women managers and their subordinates on the management styles of the women managers. There is also a significant difference on the ratings of women managers and their subordinates on the job performance of the women managers. 4) There is no significant relationship between the level of performance of women managers and their management styles. 5) The management strategies proposed by the researcher may substantiate and enhance the job performance of women managers in the Bicol Region, the Philippines and the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Economic Community, into which our country is a member, and their subordinates, by being able to seek solutions to problems, foster group collaboration and camaraderie, implement strategic decisions and initiate organizational changes. Also, the focus of the proposed management strategies of the researcher that may be implemented to SME’s (Small Medium Enterprise) which is considered as the lifeblood of the economy of the member-nations of the ASEAN Economic Community.

Challenges of Medical Waste Treatment in Fiji

김대선,Josefa Bolaqace,Eric Rafai,이철우 적정기술학회 2020 적정기술학회지(Journal of Appropriate Technology) Vol.6 No.1

Medical waste is any kind of waste that contains infectious material and recommended not to be transferred for infection control. As a means of disposal, incineration has better points than dumping or landfill in the quantity reduction, odorless and nonhazardous. However, open burning and incineration of health care wastes under bad circumstances, can result in the emission of environmental pollutants to air. A burial of biological waste brings pollution of soil and water. Most of sub divisional hospitals in Fiji transfer their medical wastes to divisional hospitals for incineration. In 2011, 62,518 kg of medical waste was incinerated in the three divisional hospitals. However, some medical wastes are considered as general waste and burnt or sent to landfill site, some are buried on site in some sub-divisional hospitals. In this regards, urgent education is necessary for awareness promotion to relevant personnel in medical waste treatment. On site incineration using small scale incinerator is more recommended than transportation of medical wastes treatment in Fiji. Moreover, remotely controllable and fixable small scale of incinerator is more desirable in sub-divisional hospitals. It is recommended that Fiji government to set up a legal framework for medical waste management (MWM), to develop specific guidelines for MWM, to set up a training system for MWM to ensure that all relevant personnel are trained, to develop a monitoring and supervision system for MWM, to clarify the future financing of MWM activities, and to improve the MWM infrastructure.

Individual, Cooperative and Collaborative Works with Educational Games of Mathematics for Computers

Cannone Giacomo,Hernandez Josefa,Palarea Maria Mercedes,Socas MartIn M. 韓國數學敎育學會 2007 수학교육연구 Vol.11 No.2

Development of an Ergonomically-Programmed Keyboard Layout for English, Tagalog, and Taglish Languages using Python Software

Angelica Louise P. San Juan,Josefa Angelie D. Revilla,Angelo C. Ani,Clarissa M. Pesigan,Alan Marco S. Mercado 대한산업공학회 2022 Industrial Engineeering & Management Systems Vol.21 No.4

The use of computers, especially for school-works or office-related activities, has been vital in recent years. Nowa-days, in the Philippines, English and Tagalog languages are alternately used for formal writing, while Taglish is often used for informal writing. Either means of type-written communication is highly dependent on the use of computer keyboards. The most used keyboard layout today is the QWERTY layout, which based on previous studies, was not designed ergonomically. Hence, this study aims to develop ergonomic keyboard layouts that are more fit than the QWERTY layout, in terms of utilizing finger strength and encouraging finger and hand alternation, for typing in Eng-lish, Tagalog, and Taglish. The keyboard layouts were developed with the use of Python programming language. The layouts were developed considering factors such as finger strength, finger alternation, and hand alternation and were evaluated using the Text Analysis (TA) points computed based on the previously-mentioned factors and the distance travelled by each finger. Of the 12 proposed layouts, layouts 2 and 4 ease hand movement when typing English, Ta-galog, and Taglish words as compared to the QWERTY keyboard layout.

Micro-volume wall-less immunoassays using patterned planar plates.

Kozak, Katherine R,Wang, Jianyong,Lye, Melvin,Chuh, Josefa dela Cruz,Takkar, Rashi,Kim, Namyong,Lee, Hyunjae,Jeon, Noo Li,Lin, Kedan,Zhang, Crystal,Wong, Wai Lee T,DeForge, Laura E Royal Society of Chemistry 2013 Lab on a chip Vol.13 No.7

<P>Miniaturization of immunoassays has numerous potential advantages over traditional ELISAs. Here we present a novel approach using patterned planar plates (PPPs). These 'wall-less' plates consist of a 16 24 array of 2 mm diameter hydrophilic regions surrounded by a hydrophobic polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) coating. Assays are performed by adding 2 μL droplets to the hydrophilic areas. These droplets are overlaid with an immiscible mixture of perfluorocarbon liquid (PFCL) that essentially eliminates evaporation. During wash steps, a thin film of PFCL covers the hydrophobic coating and prevents its wetting by wash buffer; as a result, the hydrophilic wells remain intact and inter-well cross-contamination is prevented. We compared the performance of three immunoassays using PPPs versus traditional 384-well ELISA plates. These included assays for soluble FcRH5 in human serum, SDF-1 in mouse serum, and human IgG in mouse plasma. The results show that the PPP assays were closely comparable to the ELISAs in terms of sensitivity, linearity of dilution, and sample quantitation. Moreover, the PPP assays were rapid to perform, easily adapted from ELISA protocols, and used 10- to 50-fold less sample and reagent volume as compared to 384- or 96-well plate ELISAs. As an additional advantage, PPPs conform to established microplate dimensional standards making them compatible with pre-existing equipment and workflows. PPPs therefore represent an attractive and broadly applicable approach to flexible miniaturization of plate-based immunochemical assays.</P>

Rheological behavior of blood in Wistar rats with different total cholesterol levels

Medina-Torres Luis,Calderas Fausto,Calderas Fausto,Núñez–Ramírez Diola-Marina,Castro Andrés Navarrete,Bernad-Bernad Ma. Josefa,Manero Octavio 한국유변학회 2022 Korea-Australia rheology journal Vol.34 No.4

Blood is a rheologically complex suspension, in which the soluble fraction contains proteins, total cholesterol and triglycerides. The blood rheological behavior is strongly affected by the concentration of these components. This work evaluates the total cholesterol effect on the rheological behavior of Wistar rat blood by means of an in vitro study. Twenty-one rats were divided into 3 groups, each one had an assigned diet with different fat content: reference group (RG) with 3%, medium fat content group (MG) with 4.5% and high-fat content group (HG) with 6.5%; in the latter group, mixed-vegetable fat was added. From each group, intraocular representative blood samples were taken with time lapse of 15 days between each sampling followed by biochemical and hemo-rheological tests. The first analysis detected changes in total cholesterol levels, attributed to the rat metabolism, formation of adipose tissue and competition for food. The second test consisted in steady simple-shear and linear oscillatory flow. The linear viscoelastic spectra reveal that the viscous modulus is larger than the elastic modulus (G > G′), with simple-shear viscosity exhibiting shear-thinning behavior. An important finding is a pseudo-solid- like behavior at low frequencies (1 rad/s) akin to the presence of yield stresses in the high-fat content group after 30 days, revealing strong interactions between total cholesterol levels and blood cells. The hemo-rheological tests represent a promising alternative to identify pathologies present in the blood (total cholesterol, digestive problems, and diabetes).

An Approach to Art Collections Management and Content-based Recovery

De Celis Herrero, Concepcion Perez,Alvarez, Jaime Lara,Aguilar, Gustavo Cossio,Garcia, Maria Josefa Somodevilla Korea Information Processing Society 2011 Journal of information processing systems Vol.7 No.3

This study presents a comprehensive solution to the collection management, which is based on the model for Cultural Objects (CCO). The developed system manages and spreads the collections that are safeguarded in museums and galleries more easily by using IT. In particular, we present our approach for a non-structured search and recovery of the objects based on the annotation of artwork images. In this methodology, we have introduced a faceted search used as a framework for multi-classification and for exploring/browsing complex information bases in a guided, yet unconstrained way, through a visual interface.