<b>Purpose:</b> Assess the relationship between tear film drying and sensation between blinks. <b>Methods:</b> MATLAB sampled a slitlamp video camera, a potentiometer and a microphone while subjects kept one eye open for as long as possible. 23 subjects rated the intensity of the ocular sensation while video and voice data were collected simultaneously. The tear drying on the cornea was measured. <b>Results:</b> The sensation was triphasic. Two linear functions described the latter 2 parts of the data (r &#8805; 0. 95). The correlation between TBUT and the elbow in the time-discomfort function was 0. 72. Extent of tear film drying was linearly correlated to time (median correlation = 0. 88). The correlation between the discomfort elbow and image elbow was 0. 93 with single data pair for each subject. Analysis of sensation characteristics showed significant differences between itching and burning for both intensity and time (p = 0. 03 and p = 0. 02 respectively). <b>Conclusions:</b> Simultaneous recording of ocular surface appearance, discomfort intensity and attributes of sensation provide novel information about the development of discomfort during ocular surface drying. The rapid increase in discomfort proceeding blinking has been quantified and the relationship between the time course of drying and discomfort is elucidated.

Elements of an individuals occupational exposure, such as their posture can affect their comfort during work, and also their long term musculoskeletal health. Knowledge as to the extent of the influence of particular aspects of the exposures can help in providing guidance on risk evaluation, and direct future technical design focus. In many situations the exposures interact, and even if the effects of individual exposures are understood, the interactions are often less so. This is certainly the case with off-road driving exposures. Specific investigations have focussed on the effects of vibration exposure, resulting in the development of international standards and guidelines on measurement and evaluation of exposure. Consideration of the posture of the operator can be accomplished through postural assessment tools, although none of the currently available methods are developed specifically for use within a vehicle environment. The issues of both the posture of the operator and the seated vibration exposure are particularly apparent in off-road agricultural driving environments, where the driving task dictates that operator is often required to maintain specific postures whilst also exposed to whole-body vibration. In agriculture, many of the tasks require the operator to maintain axially rotated postures to complete the task effectively. The analysis of the combined effects of the axial rotation of the operator and the whole-body vibration exposure has been limited to a few studies within the literature, and is currently poorly understood. The overall aim of the thesis was to assess the influence of axial rotation and whole-body vibration on the musculoskeletal discomfort of the neck and trunk, in order that the true extent of the exposure risk may be evaluated. A field study was conducted to determine the common characteristics of some typical exposures, to provide a basis for the laboratory studies. A survey of expert opinion was conducted, examining the knowledge and experience of experts in assessing the relative influence of axial rotation and whole-body vibration on operators musculoskeletal health. The main investigations of the thesis are focussed in the laboratory, where the objective and subjective effects of axial rotation (static and dynamic) and whole-body vibration were investigated. Objective measures included the investigation of muscular fatigue in response to exposures. The tasks investigated in the field study indicated that the exposures often exceed the EU Physical Agents Exposure Limit Value, and that the axial rotation is a large component of the postures required. The survey of expert opinion concluded that combined exposure to axial rotation and whole-body vibration would increase the risks of lower back pain, and that acknowledgement of combined exposures should be included when assessing for risk. The results of the laboratory studies indicated that the greatest discomfort was present when subjects were exposed to axial rotation in the neck and shoulders. Out of the 8 muscles investigated, at most 6 of the 8 indicated fatigue during an experimental exposure. The muscle group which was affected most by the exposures was the m. trapezius pars decendens. Findings demonstrated that when subjects were exposed to axial rotation and whole-body vibration they indicated discomfort and their muscles fatigued. However, there was poor correlation between the sites of discomfort and the location of muscular fatigue. The discomfort findings suggest that there is an increased risk of discomfort from experiencing axial rotation together with whole-body vibration. Investigations of muscular fatigue do not substantiate this finding.

In this dissertation I engage in life writing and literary métissage (Chambers, Hasebe-Ludt, Leggo, & Sinner, 2012; Hasebe-Ludt, Chambers, & Leggo, 2009) to explore and exemplify mindful, aesthetic, and compassionate practices for working through moments of crisis (Kumashiro, 2010) in teaching and learning. The dissertation is designed as a four-strand braid and organized around the active verb “practising” to dig deep into the dynamic, and often difficult, processes of teaching and learning: (1) Practising Vulnerability; (2) Practising Discomfort; (3) Practising Mindfulness; and (4) Practising Compassion. Each strand is composed of different genres of life writing: theoretical and analytical introductions, letter writing, journal pieces, comics, photos, poetry, creative non-fiction, collages, scenes from a play, and an alphabet book. The multimodal life writing pieces are worked examples (Gee, 2010) of contemplative practices and pedagogical praxis. Life writing offers concrete ways to practise mindfulness, reflection, and reflexivity, which, in turn, invite a more awakened, critical, and compassionate stance as an educator. If teachers want to move beyond simply promoting the importance of reflective practice, wellbeing, self-actualization, and compassion to their students then we need to show more teachers (and teacher educators) the messy process of doing so themselves. Reading life writing is a starting point for teachers at all stages in their careers to imagine how they could, or already do, engage in similar processes and invite them to cultivate compassion and self-compassion as a grounding stance for their life projects as teachers, learners, and human beings. My autoethnographic teacher inquiry (Cochran-Smith & Lytle, 2009) was prompted when I encountered “troubling” (Kumashiro, 2009) tensions when first teaching about homophobia and transphobia to teacher education students at a faculty of education on the Canadian prairies. I began to explore the vulnerability and discomfort of this teaching moment from an experimental (Davies, 2011), multimodal (Kress & Street, 2006; Pahl & Roswell, 2006), critical literacy stance (Janks, 2010; Vasquez, Tate, & Harste, 2013). My inquiry shifted after a diagnosis of breast cancer, which became an opportunity for me to awaken to more mindful, empathetic, and compassionate ways of being, living, teaching, and researching. / February 2017

Bakgrund: IBS (Irritabel Bowel Syndrome) är en funktionell mag-tarmsjukdom, med en oklar patofysiologi och etiologi. IBS är en vanlig åkomma hos den västerländska befolkningen och karakteriseras av återkommande buksmärta/obehag, uppblåsthet, diarré och/eller förstoppning samt ökad gasbildning. Det finns idag inget botemedel för IBS, men intresset för probiotika som behandling vid IBS har på senare tid ökat. Probiotika, vilket definieras som levande mikroorganismer, som när de intas i adekvata mängder ger en hälsovinst hos värden tros ha en symptomatisk effekt vid IBS, och har därmed varit av intresse för behandling av IBS. Syfte: Syftet med denna litteraturstudie är att undersöka om probiotika har någon terapeutisk effekt och kan användas som behandling vid IBS. Metod: Fem randomiserade, dubbelblindade, placebo-kontrollerade studier granskades. De undersökte den terapeutiska effekten av varierande probiotika på IBS-patienter. Artiklarna erhölls genom sökningar i den medicinska databasen PubMed, under februari månad 2016. Resultat: Av dessa fem studier visade fyra på en signifikant symptomförbättring av framförallt buksmärta/obehag. Bäst resultat sågs i en studie som undersökte probiotikan Lactobacillus plantarum 299v. Tre av fem studier visade på en signifikant förbättring av testpersonernas livskvalité. I endast en av studierna, som undersökte effekten av Escherichia coli Nissle 1917, påvisades ingen signifikant skillnad mellan E.coli (probiotika) och placebo. Slutsats: Baserat på de fem studierna föreligger det i nuläget skäliga bevis för att en behandling med specifika probiotika kan ge symtomförbättring av buksmärta/obehag hos IBS-patienter, och förbättrar patienternas livskvalité. Vidare studier krävs för att fastställa den mest effektiva probiotikan, dosen och behandlingslängden. / Background: IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) is a functional gastrointestinal disorder, with an unclear etiology and pathophysiology. IBS is a common disorder in the Western population and is characterized by recurrent abdominal pain/ discomfort, bloating, flatulence, diarrhea and/ or constipation. There is currently no cure for IBS, but the interest in probiotics as an option of treatment has recently increased. Probiotics have been defined as live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, provide a health benefit on the host, and are believed to have a symptomatic effect in IBS. Probiotics have therefore been of interest for the treatment in IBS. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine whether probiotics have a therapeutic effect and if it could be used as a treatment for IBS. Method: Five randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies were reviewed that examined the therapeutic effect of different probiotics in the IBS-patients. Articles were obtained through searches in the medical database PubMed, during the month of February 2016. Results: Four of the five studies showed a significant improvement of symptoms especially in abdominal pain/ discomfort. The best results were seen in a study that investigated the probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum 299v. Three of the five studies showed a significant improvement in quality of life (QOL) of the subjects in the study. One of the five studies which examined the effect of Escherichia coli Nissle 1917, there was no significant difference between E.coli (probiotics) and placebo. Conclusion: There is reasonable evidence that treatment with certain probiotics might provide improvement in symptoms of abdominal pain/ discomfort, and increase patients quality of life based on the five studies. Further studies are required to determine the most effective probiotic, dose and duration of IBS-treatment.

Thesis (Magister Technologiae - Discipline Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering) -- Vaal University of Technology / Discomfort glare is a topic that has been investigated for many years without any reasonable explanation regarding its effect on the human visual system. Results of previous research concluded that established methods have a lot of similarities in implementation; but a number of differences when comparing the results of observer's evaluations with the mathematically calculated glare ratings. Therefore, an alternative method of evaluating the influence of exposure to an unshielded light source was investigated to establish a more reliable and realistic response from observers. In order to address the discrepancies of previous evaluation systems concerning observer's varying opinions regarding the level of discomfort experienced, it was decided to investigate the feasibility of evaluating the brain activity of the observers exposed to an unshielded incandescent lamp. This was done in order to facilitate the differences in each individual observer's sensitivity to bright light sources and the influence of personal taste therefore, eliminating the effect of personal interpretation. The main purpose of this study was to determine whether it would be possible to get any response regarding brain functions when an observer is exposed to a bare light source. In order to determine the pathway of visual stimuli it was necessary to investigate the operating principles of the human eye in detail. Because the eye is only an instrument that makes seeing possible; it was also important to investigate the brain and all its different functions. The part of the brain where visual interpretation takes place was indicated as the occipital lobe. This is the part of the brain monitored for any change of functional status by taking measurements with an electroencephalogram (EEG). Measurements were indeed possible; it was presented as a suppression of the alpha brain activity. During the testing procedure it was observed that the observers were not equally photosensitive. There was also a difference in the amount of alpha suppression with the observer's eyes open and closed respectively. Because the alpha rhythm has a tendency to increase with closed eyes it was much easier to notice the suppression.

Schools should be safe places for young people to learn through freely expressing and sharing ideas. This requires respecting student privacy, as they otherwise feel distrusted and uncomfortable. At the same time, surveillance is becoming an increasingly important part of facilitating a safe school environment. This has created an interesting dynamic where increasingly pervasive surveillance solutions seeking safety and other benefits are threatening student privacy. Therefore, researchers stand before the urgent challenge of figuring out what is a desirable direction for this technology. This qualitative study focuses on students’ perspectives on surveillance and privacy. Data was collected through interviews, card sorting, and the use of a prototype together with scenarios. The results of the study expand upon current research and reveal that actively involving students in design and research processes is important to ensure sustainable solutions. Students desire more value in terms of control, assistance, safety and information. At the same time, many concerns about discomfort, distrust and abuse are present. A set of guidelines on important considerations for future surveillance research and design are presented which focus on collaboration, responsibilityand creativity. Key issues causing inefficient communication between studentsand researchers are discussed, and the need for providing further education on the topic is motivated.

O objetivo desta dissertação, situada na linha de pesquisa Psicologia e Educação e inscrita no campo das conexões entre a Psicanálise e a Educação, é refletir a respeito do mal-estar docente em relação ao desamparo psíquico do sujeito. Após a abertura de um panorama de nossa sociedade contemporânea, desenvolvido com base em estudos de Bauman, Lipovetsky e Jonas, no qual, abordei os efeitos da globalização na vida dos seres humanos, ressaltei os aspectos das pressões externas em relação ao mal-estar na atualidade. Em seguida, busquei em obras de Freud, Lacan e seus seguidores aspectos internos que nos predispõem a essa forma de sofrimento, mas que podem também direcionar o sujeito em busca de uma saída singular para esses problemas. Trata-se de uma pesquisa de cunho psicanalítico, desenvolvida em uma escola pública de educação infantil que contou com a participação de nove, das doze docentes que ali atuam. A pesquisa de campo se dividiu em quatro etapas e foi desenvolvida a partir do segundo semestre de 2007 até o início do primeiro semestre de 2009, tendo sido realizadas duas visitas por semana durante esse período. A primeira etapa caracterizou-se por observações e sondagens, ocorridas durante o segundo semestre de 2007. A segunda etapa da pesquisa teve início no fim de 2007 e se estendeu até fevereiro de 2008, caracterizando-se pela mudança do objeto de investigação é o período em que a pesquisa foi direcionada ao mal-estar que as professoras da escola revelavam sentir e se constituíram nas bases sobre as quais todo o trabalho se desenvolveu. A terceira etapa ocorreu no primeiro semestre letivo de 2008 e é caracterizada pelo envio de correspondências por parte das professoras, nas quais revelam seus sentimentos e expectativas quanto ao ambiente e ao cotidiano escolar. Essas cartas tornaram-se o eixo desta investigação. A quarta etapa teve início no segundo semestre de 2008 e se estendeu a maio de 2009 e se caracterizou pelo desenvolvimento de algumas atividades alternativas na escola. O mal-estar docente constatado refere-se, sobretudo, às relações vivenciadas entre os profissionais no ambiente escolar e às posições nas quais permanecem. A ênfase desta pesquisa encontra-se na escuta dessas professoras, enfatizando a possibilidade de elas se ouvirem e de perceberem que a ação surge sempre como possibilidade de mudança. Paralelamente, toda essa situação vivenciada ressoava igualmente em mim e, por esse motivo, optei por não descartar o material coletado. Após análises e reflexões, verifiquei a importância de buscarmos a linguagem do inconsciente que, em meio a tantas outras linguagens, permanece ainda esquecida no ambiente escolar. / The purpose of this dissertation, which lies in the research sphere of Psychology and Education, and also goes in the area of the connection between Psychoanalysis and Education, is to reflect the teaching discomfort in relation to the psychological abandonment of the subject. At first, I developed an overview of our contemporary society, based on the studies of Bauman, Lipovetsky and Jonas, in which I pointed out the effects of globalization in our lives, and emphasized the aspects of external oppression in relation to that discomfort nowadays. Next, I searched for internal aspects that can predispose us to this kind of distress, but may also direct the subject towards a particular outlet concerning these issues, based on the works of Freud, Lacan and their followers. It is a psychoanalytic research, developed in a childhood education public school, in which nine out of the twelve teachers who work there took part. The action research was divided into four steps that occurred from the second half of 2007 until the beginning of the first half of 2009, consisting of two visits per week. The first step was made up of observations and surveys, which occurred during the second half of 2007. The second phase of research began in late 2007 and lasted until February 2008, and it is characterized by the change on the research purpose in this period, the aim was at the discomfort that teachers indicated; it stated the bases on which all the work is done. The third stage occurred in the first semester of 2008 and is characterized by the letters those teachers sent, telling about their feelings and expectations concerning not only the school environment, but also its routine. Those writings have become the reference to this research. The fourth phase began in the second half of 2008, went through May 2009 and it was expressed by the development of some alternative activities at school. The teaching discomfort which could be verified, particularly refers to what those professionals experienced in the school environment and the remaining conditions. The emphasis of this research lies in listening to those teachers, emphasizing the possibility they have to listen to one another and understand that it is always possible to have changes in action. I chose not to discard the collected material as the experience also rebounded. Thus, after some analysis and reflection, Ive perceived the importance of seeking the language of the unconscious in the midst of many other languages, which is still overlooked in the school environment.

Orientador: Luís Carlos Paschoarelli / Banca: Antônio Martiniano Fontoura / Banca: José Carlos Plácido da Silva / Resumo: O design ergonômico estuda a relação entre os usuários e a tecnologia, objetivando a melhoria das interfaces e usabilidade dos produtos. Os calçados são produtos que interagem diariamente com seres humanos e objetivam protejer e adornar (através da moda) a extremidade dos membros inferiores, cuja estrutura física e fisiológica parece ser influenciada pelo uso de calçados com salto alto e suas dimensões. Este estudo objetivou compreender como se dá a percepção de desconforto/conforto pelo público feminino e analisar as caracteristicas antropométricas das Extremidades dos Membros Inferiores (EMIs) deste público. A metodologia atendeu aos aspectos éticos; foram utilizados protocolos padronizados e equipamentos específicos (Brannock) para a medição dos pés. Os resultados da abordagem perceptiva indicaram que o desconforto está associado ao uso de calçados com saltos alto, mas o uso desse produto ainda é preferido pelas usuárias. Quanto aos aspectos antropométricos, concluiu-se que as dimensões dos pés direito e esquerdo apresentam diferenças estatisticamente significativas (p '<OU=' 0,01), reiterando a necessidade de uma melhor adequação dimensional dos calçados aos parâmetros antropométicos específicos para a população feminina brasileira / Abstract: Ergonomic design studies the relationship between users and technology, aiming to improve product interface and usability. Footwear is a product that has an influence on human beings, and its purpose, by means of fashion, is to protect and to make women's feet more beautiful, whose physical and physiological structure seems to be influenced by the use of high-heeled shoes and their dimensions. the study herein aims to understand how women perceive discomfort and comfort as well as to analyze their related to ends of the lower limbs (EMI) anthropomorphic features. Methodology used is in compliance with ethical aspects; standard protocols and specific equipment (Brannock) were used for feet measure purposes. Perception-oriented approach results indicate that discomfort is associated with the use of high-heeled shoes; nonetheless users still prefer to use them. Concerning anthropomorphic features, conclusion is that right and left foot size present significant statistical differences (p '<OU=' 0,01), reinfrocing the need to better dimensionally fit footwear to Brazilian women population anthropomorphic-related parameters / Mestre

Comfort is a sensation and state of being that many people seek when they are working in the office, driving in a car, flying on an airplane, or laying in a hospital bed. The literature identifies many definitions and interpretations for comfort and discomfort, and many different ways that researchers have tried to measure comfort and discomfort. de Looze proposed a model to explain the relationship between comfort and discomfort using three key components: (a) the human, (b) the product, and (c) the environment. This dissertation added a measurement component to the model. In a repeated measures design, subjects (n=35) sat in three different office chairs for 60 minutes each on two different dates. Researchers collected subjective survey data and objective electronic data related to perceived sitting comfort and discomfort while participants completed office computer tasks. Data were analyzed to predict and quantify office worker seated comfort and discomfort using linear modeling and neural network modeling. Correlation values from the linear regression model developed in this experiment were R2 < 0.70, while the single hidden-layer neural network model predicted the comfort/discomfort responses with a higher correlation (R2=0.997). The 35 subjects in the study perceived measurable comfort differences between the three chairs tested. Subjective questions that treated comfort and discomfort in a non-linear relationship discriminated chair differences better than questions using a linear relationship. There was no significant difference between male and female comfort/discomfort responses. Comfort ratings decreased over time, while discomfort increased over time; at least 45-minute comfort testing is needed to understand subjects' comfort/discomfort in a particular office chair. Five common factors that were important to the model included: (a) fit of the product to the person, (b) the features of the product itself, (c) the time spent with the product, (d) the subjective questions, and (e) the objective pressure measurements.

The lack of adequate equipment and measurement tools in whole-body vibration has imposed significant constraints on what can be measured and what can be investigated in the field. Most current studies are limited to single direction measurements while focusing on simple postures. Besides the limitation in measurement, most of the current biomechanical measures, such as the seat-to-head transmissibility, have discrepancies in the way they are calculated across different labs. Additionally, this field lacks an important measure to quantify the subjective discomfort of individuals, especially when sitting with different postures or in multiple-axis vibration. This work begins by explaining discrepancies in measurement techniques and uses accelerometers and motion capture to provide the basis for more accurate measurement during single- and three-dimensional human vibration responses. Building on this concept, a new data collection method is introduced using inertial sensors to measure the human response in whole-body vibration. The results indicate that measurement errors are considerably reduced by utilizing the proposed methods and that accurate measurements can be gathered in multiple-axis vibration. Next, a biomechanically driven predictive model was developed to evaluate human discomfort during single-axis sinusoidal vibration. The results indicate that the peak discomfort can be captured with the predictive model during multiple seated postures. The predictive model was then modified to examine human discomfort to whole-body vibration on a larger scale with random vibrations, multiple postures, and multiple vibration directions. The results demonstrate that the predictive measure can capture human discomfort in random vibration and during varying seated postures. Lastly, a new concept called effective seat-to-head transmissibility is introduced, which describes how to combine the human body's biodynamic response to vibration from multiple directions. This concept is further utilized to quantify the human response using many different vibration conditions and seated postures during 6D vibration. The results from this study demonstrate how complicated vibrations from multiple-input and multiple-output motions can be resolved into a single measure. The proposed effective seat-to-head transmissibility concept presents an objective tool to gain insights into the effect of posture and surrounding equipment on the biodynamic response of the operators. This thesis is timely as advances in seat design for operators are increasingly important with evolving armrests, backrests, and seat suspension systems. The utilization of comprehensive measurement techniques, a predictive discomfort model, and the concept of effective seat-to-head transmissibility, therefore, would be beneficial to the fields of seat/equipment design as well as human biomechanics studies in whole-body vibration.