Investigation of prevalence and risk factors of musculoskeletal disorders among tea harvesting farmers - A systematic review.

Background: Tea harvesting is a common agricultural occupation, usually conducted in mountainous regions with steep slopes and high altitudes. Despite the utilization of modern technology and mechanized equipment in agriculture, a substantial portion of tea harvesting continues to be traditional and physically strenuous. This dependence on manual labor can lead to a higher likelihood of musculoskeletal disorders among tea harvesting farmers.

Driver drowsiness is associated with altered facial thermal patterns: Machine learning insights from a thermal imaging approach.

Driver drowsiness is a significant factor in road accidents. Thermal imaging has emerged as an effective tool for detecting drowsiness by enabling the analysis of facial thermal patterns. However, it is not clear which facial areas are most affected and correlate most strongly with drowsiness.

Evaluation of driver drowsiness based on respiratory metrics.

Background: The transition from alertness to drowsiness can cause considerable changes in the respiratory system, providing an opportunity to detect driver drowsiness.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine which respiratory features indicate driver drowsiness and then use these features to classify the level of drowsiness and alertness.

Methods: Twenty male students (mean age 25.

A hybrid approach for driver drowsiness detection utilizing practical data to improve performance system and applicability.

Background: Numerous systems for detecting driver drowsiness have been developed; however, these systems have not yet been widely used in real-time.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate at the feasibility of detecting alert and drowsy states in drivers using an integration of features from respiratory signals, vehicle lateral position, and reaction time and out-of-vehicle ways of data collection in order to improve the system's performance and applicability in the real world.

Methods: Data was collected from 25 healthy volunteers in a driving simulator-based study.

Changes in Neck and Shoulder Muscles Fatigue Threshold When Using a Passive Head/Neck Supporting Exoskeleton During Repetitive Overhead Tasks.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effects of a head/neck supporting exoskeleton (HNSE) on the electromyographic fatigue threshold (EMG) of the neck and shoulder muscles during a simulated overhead work task.

Background: Overhead work is a well-known risk factor for neck and shoulder musculoskeletal disorders due to the excessive strain imposed on the muscles and joints in these regions.

Method: Fourteen healthy males performed a repetitive overhead nut fastening/unfastening task to exhaustion while wearing and not wearing the HNSE at two neck extension angles (40% and 80% of neck maximum range of motion).

Effect of muscular fatigue on the cumulative lumbar damage during repetitive lifting task: a comparative study of damage calculation methods.

Several methods have been put forward to quantify cumulative loads; however, limited evidence exists as to the subsequent damages and the role of muscular fatigue. The present study assessed whether muscular fatigue could affect cumulative damage imposed on the L5-S1 joint. Trunk muscle electromyographic (EMG) activities and kinematics/kinetics of 18 healthy male individuals were evaluated during a simulated repetitive lifting task.

Translation, cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Persian version of selected PROMIS measures for use in lumbar canal stenosis patients.

Background: The National Institutes of Health (NIH) developed a new measurement system called the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) which can be used for multiple health conditions. The 29-item short form (PROMIS-29) with seven domains was more often used by clinical researchers to measure the physical function, mood and sleeping status of patients with low back pain (LBP). Translation of the PROMIS into multiple languages and adaptation of its application in different cultural diversities can help to further standardize clinical research studies and make them comparable to each other.

Fatigue in transportation operations: A contextual factors survey among Iranian suburban drivers.

Background: Fatigue, as a persistent and serious occupational hazard, plays an important role in traffic accidents by reducing the driver's ability to maneuver with the vehicle and increasing the likelihood of falling asleep at the wheel.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify the individual contextual factors, sleep condition, lifestyle, job characteristics, environmental, and economic conditions that affect the fatigue and alertness of Iranian suburban bus drivers.

Methods: A questionnaire-based cross-sectional survey was used for this study.

Nonlinear analysis of postural changes related to the movement interventions during prolonged standing task.

This study assessed the effects of movement-based interventions on the complexity of postural changes during prolonged standing. Twenty participants, equally distributed in gender and standing work experience (SWE), completed three simulated prolonged standing sessions: without movement (control), leg exercise and footrest. The amount and complexity of variability in the centre of pressure (COP) and lumbar curvature angle were quantified using linear and nonlinear tools.

Drivers' subjective perceptions of the contextual factors influencing fatigue: A qualitative study of suburban bus drivers in Iran.

Background: Drivers' drowsiness is a significant issue globally known as a contributing factor to crashes in various transportation operations. Although there is evidence that suburban bus drivers experience drowsy driving, most previous studies are quantitative, which means that drivers experiencing drowsiness have not had the opportunity to explain their direct views and thoughts.

Objectives: This qualitative exploratory study subjectively investigates the contextual factors influencing fatigue among suburban bus drivers.

Perceived Discomfort, Neck Kinematics, and Muscular Activity During Smartphone Usage: A Comparative Study.

Objective: The present study aims to evaluate the effects of posture, task, and handgrip style on discomfort, neck kinematics, and concomitant muscular activity when using a smartphone (SP).

Background: Along with the popularity of smartphones, musculoskeletal disorders have become prevalent among smartphone users. However, comprehensive aspects of discomfort, kinematics, and electromyographic responses across various conditions remain to be investigated.

Setting research priorities to achieve long-term national road safety goals in Iran.

Background: Road traffic crashes (RTCs) and its associated injuries are one of the most important public health problems in the world. In Iran, RTCs rank second in terms of mortality. To address this issue, there is a need for research-based interventions.

Exploring individual factors influencing human reliability among control room operators: a qualitative study.

Identifying the individual factors is a major issue in determining the likelihood of human error and ultimately human reliability. In current human reliability assessment methods, this is determined based on a list of performance shaping factors and experts' judgment. This was a qualitative content analysis study, in which the participants were selected using purposive sampling from combined cycle power plant control rooms.

A Comprehensive Evaluation of Spine Kinematics, Kinetics, and Trunk Muscle Activities During Fatigue-Induced Repetitive Lifting.

Objective: Spine kinematics, kinetics, and trunk muscle activities were evaluated during different stages of a fatigue-induced symmetric lifting task over time.

Background: Due to neuromuscular adaptations, postural behaviors of workers during lifting tasks are affected by fatigue. Comprehensive aspects of these adaptations remain to be investigated.

Multi-dimensional model for determining the leading performance indicators of safety management systems.

Background: Health and safety performance measurements aimed to provide information on the progress and current situation of organizational strategies and activities.

Objectives: We developed a model to determine and select safety key performance indicators in order to assess safety management systems.

Methods: This study has been designed in six steps aiming at defining a model of leading performance indicators (LPIs) and selecting key performance indicators (KPIs) using the AHP method.

Head forward flexion, lateral bending and viewing distance in smartphone users: A comparison between sitting and standing postures.

Background: Smartphones (SPs) are widely used by people of all age groups and genders. Users spend many hours per day on the SPs for different purposes, which imposes significant stress on their musculoskeletal system.

Objectives: This study explored head forward flexion, lateral bending angle, and viewing distance while working with a SP in sitting/standing postures and one-handed/two-handed grips.

Identifying factors influencing cardiac care nurses' work ability within the framework of the SEIPS model.

Background: Due to their physically and mentally demanding job, nurses are exposed to high risk of fatigue and musculoskeletal disorders, through which their work ability could be adversely affected.

Objective: This study aims to identify factors influencing nurses' work ability by using a macroergonomic model.

Methods: Descriptive and qualitative analyses were carried out in two phases of the study.

Validity and reliability of work ability index (WAI) questionnaire among Iranian workers; a study in petrochemical and car manufacturing industries.

Objectives: Maintenance and promotion of employees' work ability is one of the important social goals. This study is aimed at investigating psychometric properties of the Persian translation of work ability index (WAI).

Methods: A total number of 750 employees were randomly selected from car manufacturing and petrochemical industries.

Design and ergonomic assessment of an infusion set connector tool used in nursing work.

Nursing is a physically demanding job characterized by a high prevalence of fatigue and musculoskeletal disorders. One of the high-exertion and repetitive nursing tasks is the manual connection of an infusion set to a medical fluid bottle. Such physical work can be eased by the design of new hand tools.

Using Image Processing in the Proposed Drowsiness Detection System Design.

Background: Drowsiness is one of the underlying causes of driving accidents, which contribute, to many road fatalities annually. Although numerous methods have been developed to detect the level of drowsiness, techniques based on image processing are quicker and more accurate in comparison with the other methods. The aim of this study was to use image-processing techniques to detect the levels of drowsiness in a driving simulator.

Effect of neck posture on cervicothoracic loads in overhead crane operators.

Awkward neck postures are commonly documented to be associated with an increased risk of neck disorders. This study intended to continuously monitor and evaluate neck postures and to estimate the cervicothoracic loads among overhead crane operators during work time. Neck postures were measured among 40 randomly selected operators by an inclinometer during 2 h of work time.

Full shift assessment of back and head postures in overhead crane operators with and without symptoms.

Objectives: Prolonged sitting with a flexed back and neck is recognized as being associated with an increased risk of neck and back pain disorders among overhead crane operators. The aim of this study was to compare back and head postures over a full shift of work between operators who experience back and neck pain, and healthy operators.

Methods: In a first phase, the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms was assessed using the Nordic questionnaire among 120 crane operators.

Determination the Levels of Subjective and Observer Rating of Drowsiness and Their Associations with Facial Dynamic Changes.

Background: We determined the levels of subjective and observer drowsiness and facial dynamics changes.

Methods: This experimental study was done in the virtual reality laboratory of Khaje-Nasir Toosi University of Technology in 2015. Facial dynamics changes like changes in eyes, mouth and eyebrows were surveyed on twenty-five drivers in 2015byKSS (Karolinska Sleepiness Scale) and ORD (Observer Rating of Drowsiness).