Conventional ergonomic observation methods, such as rapid entire body assessment (REBA), are limited in their sensitivity and reliability, particularly in detecting changes in input variables. This study integrates fuzzy logic with the REBA method, utilizing trapezoidal membership functions to fuzzify the input variables. The center of gravity method was employed for defuzzification, and if-then rules were formulated to enhance the REBA method. The findings revealed that the fuzzy REBA method is more sensitive to changes in the risk of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) than conventional REBA. Furthermore, the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of the risk scores obtained with the fuzzy REBA method ranged from 0.76 to 0.89, indicating reliable outcomes. The proposed fuzzy REBA method offers a more reliable approach for on-site ergonomic assessments, thereby reducing observational errors and potentially reducing the incidence of WMSDs in the workplace.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10803548.2024.2445980 | DOI Listing |
Int J Occup Saf Ergon
January 2025
Institute for Future (IFF), Qingdao University, People's Republic of China.
Conventional ergonomic observation methods, such as rapid entire body assessment (REBA), are limited in their sensitivity and reliability, particularly in detecting changes in input variables. This study integrates fuzzy logic with the REBA method, utilizing trapezoidal membership functions to fuzzify the input variables. The center of gravity method was employed for defuzzification, and if-then rules were formulated to enhance the REBA method.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPlants (Basel)
January 2025
Faculty of Natural Sciences, Vytautas Magnus University, Universiteto Str. 10, LT-53361 Akademija, Lithuania.
This study compared the effects of seed treatment with low-pressure cold plasma (CP) and atmospheric dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma on morpho-biochemical traits in Bertoni plants cultivated by two methods: in soil and aeroponics. We investigated the impact of the treatments on the germination, plant growth, and content of secondary metabolites, namely steviol glycosides (SGs), rebaudioside A (RebA), and stevioside (Stev), as well as phenolic compounds and flavonoids. Seeds were treated for 2, 5, and 7 min with CP or DBD and 5 min with vacuum six days before sowing.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Agromedicine
January 2025
Department of Occupational Health Engineering and Ergonomics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Objective: Farming tasks often involve repetitive movements, heavy lifting, awkward postures, and prolonged periods of standing or bending, all of which can contribute to the development of musculoskeletal issues (MSDs) such as back pain, joint pain, and muscle strains. The consequences include decreased work time, disability, and increased financial costs. Various ergonomic risk evaluation techniques have been created for industrial fields, but there is a shortage of specific techniques for farming occupations.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDisabil Rehabil Assist Technol
January 2025
Neurorehabilitation Engineering and Assistance Systems Research (NEAR), School of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia.
Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) during bed-to-wheelchair and wheelchair-to-commode transfers are a significant concern, yet prior assessments often focused on specific subtasks, overlooking potential cumulative risks. This study employed Xsens Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs) and force plates integrated with an automated Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) system to provide a continuous and comprehensive evaluation of WMSDs risks associated with the use of a walking belt and a floor lift. The continuous assessment revealed peak REBA scores ranging from 8.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNanomaterials (Basel)
December 2024
School of Physics and Information Technology, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710062, China.
During the preparation of single-domain (S-D) REBaCuO (RE-123) superconducting bulks, the seed crystals can serve as templates for crystal growth, guiding the newly formed crystals to grow in a specific direction, thereby ensuring the consistency of the crystal orientation within the sample. However, the infiltration temperature is typically restricted to approximately 1050 °C when employing NdBaCuO (Nd-123) crystal seeds in the traditional top-seeded infiltration growth (TSIG) technique for producing single-domain Y-123 bulk superconductors. In the present study, to overcome the temperature limitations of the heat treatment process, the optimized YO +011 IG (011 refers to BaCuO powder) method was employed to fabricate a group of single-domain Y-123 bulks with a high-temperature infiltration (1000-1300 °C).
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