Repetitive stress injuries (RSI) and musculoskeletal disorders in the United States and worldwide are increasing at an alarming rate due to the advent of ubiquitous computer usage. Factors that lead to computer-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) include inadequately designed workstations, poor posture, and lack of knowledge about proper ergonomics and use habits. Studies have documented the negative impact of improper posture and the MSD seen in students and office workers due to frequent computer usage. Objective: Determine if the frequency (single vs. continuous reminder) and/or use of feedback affects posture at a computer workstation. Participants: Observations of posture habits were made in three local schools and one local company. Feedback effects were tested on the students (ages 10-15). Methods: Real time feedback was given in two studies. In one study, instructions and a verbal reminder were given to students and in a second study, a prototype 'Posture Pad' was developed to provide continuous feedback to the user. Results: Verbal reminders to sit correctly led to transient improvement of posture. Use of the 'Posture Pad' resulted in significant improvement in posture with subjects exhibiting correct posture 98 ± 5% of the time. Conclusions: Real time feedback about how one is sitting is an effective mechanism for non-transient improvement of posture at computer workstations.
Delocalized–localized electron interactions are central to strongly correlated electron phenomena. Here, we study the Kondo effect, a prototypical strongly correlated phenomena, in a tunable fashion using gold nanostructures (nanoparticle, NP, and nanoshell, NS) + molecule cross-linkers (butanedithiol, BDT). NP films exhibit hallmark signatures of the Kondo effect, including (1) a log temperature resistance upturn as temperature decreases in a metallic regime, and (2) zero-bias conductance peaks (ZBCPs) that are well fit by a Frota function near a percolation insulator transition, previously used to model Kondo peaks observed using tunnel junctions. Remarkably, NP + NS films exhibit ZBCPs that persist to >220 K, i.e., >10-fold higher than that in NP films. Magnetic measurements reveal that moments in NP powders align, and in NS powders, they antialign at low temperatures. Based on these observations, we propose a mechanism in which varying such material nanobuilding blocks can modify electron–electron interactions to such a large degree.
The Christopher Columbus Awards Competition is a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, or “STEM” program, which challenges middle school students to identify and solve a community problem by the application of science and technology. Four California students (collectively known as the “Back Straight Boys”) worked as a team to address the issue of musculoskeletal problems associated with computer use. The prevalence of computer use both in schools and the work place continues to steadily increase. Globally, improper posture at computer workstations is a widespread problem. Studies have documented the negative impact of improper posture and the resultant musculoskeletal discomfort and pain experienced by students due to frequent computer usage. This project examined the posture habits of employees in an office environment and those of students in local elementary, middle, and high schools. The project also involved conducted trials while studying various types of feedback. This included the use of their prototype ergonomic device, the “Posture Pad”, developed to provide continuous posture feedback to the user. Participants using the “Posture Pad” displayed significantly better posture 95% of the time. Participants who received instructions and verbal reminders without the sensory feedback had dramatic improvements in posture. However, these improvements were transient. This project raised the public’s awareness to this growing problem and became a catalyst for the Back Straight Boys’ advocacy for and interest in ergonomics.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.