| 1. |
- Liu, Yuanhua, 1971, et al.
(författare)
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Considering the importance of user profiles in interface design
- 2009
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Ingår i: User Interfaces. ; , s. 23-
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Bokkapitel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- User profile is a popular term widely employed during product design processes by industrial companies. Such a profile is normally intended to represent real users of a product. The ultimate purpose of a user profile is actually to help designers to recognize or learn about the real user by presenting them with a description of a real user’s attributes, for instance; the user’s gender, age, educational level, attitude, technical needs and skill level. The aim of this chapter is to provide information on the current knowledge and research about user profile issues, as well as to emphasize the importance of considering these issues in interface design. In this chapter, we mainly focus on how users’ difference in expertise affects their performance or activity in various interaction contexts. Considering the complex interaction situations in practice, novice and expert users’ interactions with medical user interfaces of different technical complexity will be analyzed as examples: one focuses on novice and expert users’ difference when interacting with simple medical interfaces, and the other focuses on differences when interacting with complex medical interfaces. Four issues will be analyzed and discussed: (1) how novice and expert users differ in terms of performance during the interaction; (2) how novice and expert users differ in the perspective of cognitive mental models during the interaction; (3) how novice and expert users should be defined in practice; and (4) what are the main differences between novice and expert users’ implications for interface design. Besides describing the effect of users’ expertise difference during the interface design process, we will also pinpoint some potential problems for the research on interface design, as well as some future challenges that academic researchers and industrial engineers should face in practice.
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| 2. |
- Hagström, Katja, 1975-, et al.
(författare)
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Exposure to wood dust, resin acids and volatile organic compounds during production of wood pellets
- 2008
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Ingår i: Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene. - Philadelphia, PA : Taylor and Francis. - 1545-9624 .- 1545-9632. ; 5:5, s. 296-304
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The main aim of this study was to investigate exposure to airborne substances that are potentially harmful to health during the production of wood pellets, including wood dust, monoterpenes, and resin acids, and as an indicator of diesel exhaust nitrogen dioxide. In addition, area measurements were taken to assess background exposure levels of these substances, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and carbon monoxide. Measurements were taken at four wood pellet production plants from May 2004 to April 2005. Forty-four workers participated in the study, and a total of 68 personal measurements were taken to determine personal exposure to wood dust (inhalable and total dust), resin acids, monoterpenes, and nitrogen dioxide. In addition, 42 measurements of nitrogen dioxide and 71 measurements of total dust, resin acids, monoterpenes, VOCs, and carbon monoxide were taken to quantify their indoor area concentrations. Personal exposure levels to wood dust were high, and a third of the measured levels of inhalable dust exceeded the Swedish occupational exposure limit (OEL) of 2 mg/m3. Parallel measurements of inhalable and total dust indicated that the former were, on average, 3.2 times higher than the latter. The data indicate that workers at the plants are exposed to significant amounts of the resin acid 7-oxodehydroabietic acid in the air, an observation that has not been recorded previously at wood processing and handling plants. The study also found evidence of exposure to dehydroabietic acid, and exposure levels for resin acids approached 74% of the British OEL for colophony, set at 50 microg/m3. Personal exposure levels to monoterpenes and nitrogen dioxide were low. Area sampling measurements indicated that aldehydes and terpenes were the most abundant VOCs, suggesting that measuring personal exposure to aldehydes might be of interest. Carbon monoxide levels were under the detection limit in all area measurements. High wood dust exposure levels are likely to have implications for worker health; therefore, it is important to reduce exposure to wood dust in this industry.
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| 3. |
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| 4. |
- Andersson, Eva, 1955, et al.
(författare)
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Cohort mortality study of Swedish pulp and paper mill workers-nonmalignant diseases
- 2007
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Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health. - : Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health. - 0355-3140 .- 1795-990X. ; 33:6, s. 470-478
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives The aim of this study was to determine mortality among pulp and paper mill workers according to the main mill pulping process, department, and gender, particular reference being given to diseases of the circulatory and respiratory systems.Methods The cohort of 18 163 men and 2 291 women employed between 1939 and 1999 and with >1 year of employment was followed for mortality from 1952 to 2001 (acute myocardial infarction from 1969). Standardized mortality ratios (SMR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were estimated by comparing the observed number of deaths with the expected number for the entire Swedish population. Exposure was assessed from personnel files in the mills. Data from an exposure measurement database are also presented.Results There were 5898 deaths in the cohort. Total mortality had an SMR of 1.02 (95% CI 0.98–1.06) for the men in the sulfate mills and an SMR of 0.93 (95% CI 0.90–0.97) for the men in the sulfite mills. Mortality from acute myocardial infarction was increased among the men in both the sulfate and sulfite mills [SMR 1.22 (95% CI 1.12–1.32) and SMR 1.11 (95% CI 1.02–1.21), respectively] and by department in sulfate pulping (SMR 1.29, 95% CI 1.07–1.54), paper production (SMR 1.26, 95% CI 1.06–1.49), and maintenance (SMR 1.16, 95% CI 1.02–1.30). Mortality from cerebrovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, and nonmalignant respiratory diseases was not increased.Conclusions Death from acute myocardial infarction, but not cerebrovascular diseases, was increased in this cohort and was probably related to a combination of different occupational exposures (eg, dust, sulfur compounds, shift work, and noise).
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| 5. |
- Eklund, Mona, et al.
(författare)
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Outcomes of activity-based assessment (BIA) compared with standard assessment in occupational therapy
- 2008
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Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy. - : Informa Healthcare. - 1103-8128 .- 1651-2014. ; 15:4, s. 196-203
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This study was aimed at investigating the outcomes of an activity-based assessment (BIA) compared with standard assessment (SA) for evaluating clients undergoing psychiatric occupational therapy. Patients admitted to a psychiatric occupational therapy unit were randomized into the BIA or the SA assessment. The outcome indicators were (a) clients' satisfaction with the occupational therapy during the assessment period, (b) clients' awareness of capacities and occupational problems, (c) satisfaction with the assessment among the referring physicians, and (d) outcomes of the intervention following the assessment, in terms of changes in occupational performance and satisfaction. The groups did not differ in awareness of occupational problems, but the BIA group was more satisfied than the SA group with the support of their contact person and with the group leader during the period of assessment. Furthermore, physicians receiving feedback on patients in the BIA group were more satisfied than those receiving feedback on patients in the SA group. However, the groups did not differ concerning change during the treatment period in occupational performance or satisfaction. Thus, there was no difference between the assessment methods regarding the outcomes of the treatment following assessment. Minor advantages from the patients' perspective were found, in terms of better satisfaction in the BIA group, and from the referring physicians' perspective the BIA clearly seemed more satisfying than the SA. Thus, the findings showed that the BIA possessed better qualities than the SA regarding the indicators pertaining to satisfaction, but not concerning awareness of capacities and problems or the outcome of the subsequent treatment.
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| 6. |
- Larsson, Matz, et al.
(författare)
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Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke and health effects among hospitality workers in Sweden : before and after the implementation of a smoke-free law
- 2008
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Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health. - Helsingfors : Institutet för arbetshygien. - 0355-3140 .- 1795-990X. ; 34:4, s. 267-277
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives This study attempted to identify changes in exposure to environmental tobacco smoke, as well as symptoms and attitudes among hospitality workers after the introduction of extended smoke-free workplace legislation.Methods A total of 37 volunteers working in bingo halls and casinos (gaming workers) and 54 bars and restaurant employees (other workers) in nine Swedish communities participated in the study. Altogether 71 of 91 persons (14 daily smokers and 57 nonsmokers) participated in both the preban baseline survey and the follow-up 12 months after the ban. Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke, smoking habits, respiratory and sensory symptoms, and attitudes towards the ban were recorded, and spirometry was carried out.Results The frequency of reported respiratory and sensory symptoms was approximately halved among the nonsmokers in both occupational groups after the introduction of the ban. Initially 87% had exposure to environmental tobacco smoke that was over the nicotine cut-off level chosen to identify possible health risk (<0.5 µg/m3), while, after the ban, it was only 22%, a relative risk of 0.25 (95% confidence interval 0.15–0.41). The risk decreased in both occupational groups, but gaming workers experienced the highest preban exposure levels. Attitudes towards the legislation were largely positive, particularly after the ban. However, there was no notable change in lung function, and there was no notable reduction in the number of cigarettes consumed by smokers.Conclusions The introduction of smoke-free legislation was associated with a substantial reduction in respiratory and sensory symptoms, as well as reduced exposure to environmental tobacco smoke at work, particularly among gaming workers.
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| 7. |
- Zetterlund, Christina, et al.
(författare)
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The relationship between low vision and musculoskeletal complaints : a case control study between age-related macular degeneration patients and age-matched controls with normal vision
- 2009
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Ingår i: Journal of optometry. - Barcelona : Elsevier BV. - 1989-1342 .- 1888-4296. ; 2:3, s. 127-133
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- INTRODUCTION: Age-related Macular Degeneration (ARMD) patients often describe complaints from neck and scapula area muscles and a decreased postural control. In clinical assessment, these complaints are considered to be due to old age.PURPOSE: This study focuses on low-vision patients with ARMD, comparing them to age-matched controls without any eye disease, in order to evaluate if the linkage between self-rated visual complaints and musculoskeletal complaints is more prominent when low vision is present.METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, 24 ARMD patients, aged 65 to 85, were compared to a group of 24 controls without visual problems having a similar age distribution. Visual acuity, the need for magnification plus other optical and visual parameters were assessed. Visual, musculoskeletal and balance/proprioceptive complaints were collected by means of a self-rating questionnaire. The Visual Functioning Questionnaire - Near Activities Subscale (VFQ–NAS) was used to evaluate visual function and related complaints.RESULTS: The correlation between visual complaints and musculoskeletal complaints yielded significant values of the correlation coefficient when performed separately within each group, as well as when calculated on the entire data set [ARMD, Spearman’s rho (ρ)=0.60, P=0.002; control group ρ=0.59, P=0.004; both groups together ρ=0.50 P<0.001]. Stepwise multiple regression analysis supported the hypothesized effect of vision (Visual complaints + Minimum readable typefaces) on musculoskeletal complaints, (r2=0.42, P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results in this study support the hypothesis that a relationship exists between visual and musculoskeletal problems.
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| 8. |
- Wiebert, P., et al.
(författare)
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Mortality, morbidity and occupational exposure to airway-irritating agents among men with a respiratory diagnosis in adolescence
- 2008
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Ingår i: Occupational and Environmental Medicine. - London : BMJ Publishing Group Ltd. - 1351-0711 .- 1470-7926. ; 65:2, s. 120-125
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Tidskriftsartikel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Objectives: To examine the influence of an airway diagnosis in adolescence on future health and occupation in Swedish men.Methods: Data were collected from the linkage of four Swedish national registers: the Military Service Conscription Register, the Population and Housing Censuses, the Inpatient Care Register and the National Cause of Death Register. A job-exposure matrix for airway-irritating substances was developed for application on the conscription cohort. The cohort included 49 321 Swedish men born 1949–51. Three groups—(1) healthy, (2) asthmatics (mild and severe asthma) and (3) subjects with allergic rhinitis without concurrent asthma—were identified at conscription and analysed for mortality, in-patient care and strategies for choice of occupation with emphasis on airway-irritating job exposure. Analyses were adjusted for smoking and childhood socioeconomic position.Results: The prevalence of total asthma was 1.8%, severe asthma 0.45% and allergic rhinitis 2.7%. Mortality for all causes was significantly higher in total asthma, hazard ratio (HR) 1.49 (95% CI 1.00 to 2.23), and lower in allergic rhinitis, HR 0.52 (95% CI 0.30 to 0.91). Asthma was a risk factor for inpatient care while allergic rhinitis was associated with less in-patient care (odds ratio (OR) for total asthma 1.16 (95% CI 1.00 to 1.34), severe asthma 1.38 (95% CI 1.04 to 1.85), allergic rhinitis 0.92 (95% CI 0.82 to 1.03)). Those with asthma tended to avoid jobs with a high probability for airway-irritating exposure (OR 0.88, 95% CI 0.71 to 1.09), but not to the same extent as subjects with allergic rhinitis (OR 0.58, 95% CI 0.47 to 0.70) (ORs from 1990).Conclusion: Subjects with asthma did not change their exposure situation to the same extent as subjects with allergic rhinitis. Further, asthmatics had an increased risk for morbidity and mortality compared to healthy subjects and subjects with allergic rhinitis.
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| 9. |
- Holmer, Helene, et al.
(författare)
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Nonfatal stroke, cardiac disease, and diabetes mellitus in hypopituitary patients on hormone replacement including growth hormone
- 2007
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Ingår i: Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. - : The Endocrine Society. - 1945-7197 .- 0021-972X. ; 92:9, s. 3560-3567
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Context: The impact of long-term GH replacement on cerebrovascular and cardiovascular diseases and diabetes mellitus in hypopituitary patients is unknown. Objective: The incidence of nonfatal stroke and cardiac events, and prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus ( T2D) and cardioprotective medication were compared between cohorts of GH-deficient (GHD) patients and population controls. Design and Participants: The incidence of nonfatal stroke and cardiac events was estimated retrospectively from questionnaires in 750 GHD patients and 2314 matched population controls. A prevalence of T2D and cardioprotective medication was recorded at the distribution of questionnaires. Time since first pituitary deficiency to start of GH therapy was 4 and 2 yr, and time on GH therapy was 6 yr for GHD women and men, respectively. Results: Lifelong incidence of nonfatal stroke was tripled in GHD women and doubled in GHD men, but a decline was seen in both genders during periods after first pituitary hormone deficiency and GHD, during which most patients had GH therapy. The lifelong incidence of nonfatal cardiac events declined in GHD men during first pituitary hormone deficiency and GHD periods. GHD women had a higher prevalence of T2D and lipid-lowering medication, whereas GHD men had a higher prevalence of antihypertensive medication. Conclusions: The declined risks of nonfatal stroke in both genders and of nonfatal cardiac events in GHD men during periods on GH replacement may be caused by prescription of cardioprotective drugs and 6-yr GH replacement. GHD women had an increased prevalence of T2D, partly attributed to higher body mass index and lower physical activity.
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