The purposes of the present work were: 1) to develop a computerized model that could predict the personal lift-assist device (PLAD) spring excursion and control spring stiffness for various individuals based on their anthropometry and working posture and 2) to test the PLAD’s (Version 6) effectiveness and user acceptability during static forward bending in an automotive assembly plant. Study 1 required 30 subjects to carry out a protocol that simulated unloaded stoop, squat, and freestyle lifting. Trunk inclination and knee angles were determined via 3 FastrakTM sensors, whereas a displacement transducer attached in-line with the PLAD determined excursion when the trunk or knees flexed. A model was created to determine spring excursion, and it was successfully validated with 10 additional subjects. A computerized model applying the excursion model and mathematical equations was also developed to calculate the required spring stiffness for offsetting a proportion of the L4/L5 bending moment for each individual in various postures. Study 2 investigated the effectiveness and user acceptability of the PLAD at an automotive manufacturing facility, using operators who performed an assembly process requiring forward bending and static holds. Surface EMG data were collected at six sites on the low back and abdomen, and a tri-axial accelerometer was mounted on each subject’s sternum to measure trunk inclination. A 20% reduction in the L4/L5 bending moment was provided to each wearer using the aforementioned computerized model. The PLAD was able to significantly reduce low back muscular activity, predicted-compression, and ratings of perceived exertion, without significantly changing abdominal activity or trunk inclination. Workers had positive opinions about the device, and 80% said they would wear the device everyday on-line. Additionally, the computerized model developed in Study 1 was effective, as worker low back muscular activity was reduced by approximately 20% when wearing the PLAD. With slight alterations, the PLAD appears to be beneficial in reducing low back forces and discomfort in many tasks that place excessive biomechanical loading on the low back. / Thesis (Master, Kinesiology & Health Studies) -- Queen's University, 2008-08-18 15:55:16.757

No description available.

A self-instructional training manual for conducting a multiple-stimulus without replacement (MSWO) preference assessment procedure was evaluated. The manual describes the MSWO procedure and how to summarize and interpret its results. Review questions that highlighted the key target behaviours were included at the end of each section of the manual, followed by an answer key. The manual was compared to a method description, adapted from the method sections of research articles published by DeLeon and Iwata (1996) and Roscoe, Fisher, Glover, and Volkert (2006). Eighteen undergraduate university students were assigned to two groups using a matched-pairs random assignment for the first 10 participants and random assignment for the next eight participants. Group 1 received the manual training first, followed by a crossover to the method description training if the pre-determined mastery criterion (85% correct or higher) was not met during simulated assessments. Group 2 received the training procedures in reverse order. The self-instructional manual was statistically significantly more effective than the method description in improving performance accuracy for conducting the MSWO procedure with an actor (a graduate student) simulating a person with an intellectual disability. Four out of nine participants in Group 1 met the mastery criterion after studying the manual only and one participant achieved mastery after the crossover. In contrast, none of the nine participants in Group 2 met the mastery criterion after studying the method description only and seven participants achieved mastery after the crossover. The remaining six participants all met the mastery criterion after observing a live demonstration of the procedure. Within each group, interventions were implemented in a modified multiple-baseline design across participants and the results showed that improvements occurred only after an intervention had been introduced. All participants who achieved mastery showed strong retention and generalization performances with novel actors and clients. On the social validity questionnaire, mean participant ratings showed that the manual was easier to follow and understand, and provided the necessary information for the assessment compared with the method description. The self-instructional manual has considerable potential as a low cost and effective tool to teach individuals to conduct the MSWO procedure.

En esta monografía se estudian dos manuales de enseñanza del español como segunda lengua con el fin de averiguar si siguen la recomendación del valor de equidad de género del plan de estudios 2011 en la institución escolar sueca. Para conseguir el objetivo de este estudio el propósito es dar respuesta a las siguientes preguntas: ¿Cómo se representa lo femenino y masculino en cada uno de los textos? ¿Qué diferencias y semejanzas se establecen en los manuales Gracias 7, Textos y Amigos dos, textbok con respecto a la representación de géneros? ¿Mediante qué estrategias consiguen los autores de los textos equiparar discursivamente la igualdad de género? Estas preguntas se contestan con ayuda del método hermenéutico-comparativo y el análisis discursivo. El resultado del análisis muestra que la mayoría de los ejemplos analizados en los dos manuales, en varios aspectos presentan ejemplos con equilibrio  en la construcción de equidad entre niñas, niños, mujeres y hombres y que los autores de los manuales utilizan diferentes estrategias para buscar un cambio en la construcción de lo femenino y lo masculino.

No description available.

Syftet med mitt examensarbete var att undersöka vilka faktorer som gör teknisk kommunikation tillgänglig och lättförståelig. Det skulle leda fram till en läsvärd lathund för användare av ett nytt CMS-system.   Arbetet har genomförts i samarbete med Telia, som är inne i ett förändringsarbete gällande sina informationssystem. De ska införa ett nytt så kallat PIM-system (Product Information Management), som ska innefatta ovan nämnda CMS-system och kommer innebära ett förändrat arbetssätt och nya arbetsuppgifter för min berörda målgrupp.   För att lösa problemet har jag tagit hjälp av en fokusgrupp och gjort en webbenkät. Jag har ställt mig frågor om vad teknisk kommunikation kan bidra med vid framtagning av ett instruerande material, samt i vilka syften användarna kan tänkas läsa den typen av material.   Med hjälp av teorier och ovanstående metoder producerade jag ett förslag på hur lathunden kan se ut. Jag testade också förslaget på målgruppen för att få deras åsikter, i syfte att förbättra slutresultatet. / The purpose of this thesis was to explore what factors make technical communication accessible and easily understandable. The thesis would result in a readable cheat sheet, made for users of a new CMS system.   The work was made in collaboration with Telia. The company is looking over its information systems to implement a so-called PIM system (Product Information Management) in the near future. The CMS system will be a part of that system and the change of process will also lead to changes in the work procedures and tasks of the personnel at Telia.   To solve this problem, I made an interview with a focus group and a questionnaire amongst the target group. I asked myself what technical communication could contribute to in the making of instructional material and also in what purposes you read that type of material.   With these methods, and of course the theory of this thesis, in mind I produced a prototype of what the cheat sheet would look like. I also tested the cheat sheet at my target group, to get their opinion on the material to make the appropriate improvements.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Indiana University, Dept. of Curriculum and Instruction, School of Education, 2007. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 68-09, Section: A, page: 3712. Adviser: David Flinders. Title from dissertation home page (viewed May 7, 2008).

Thesis (Ed. D.)--Teacherss College, Columbia University, 1971. / Typescript; issued also on microfilm. Sponsor: William J. Mahoney. Dissertation Committee: Joseph G. Shannon. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 105-107).

Thesis (Ed.D.)--Indiana University, Dept. of Instructional Systems Technology, 2008. / Title from home page (viewed on Jul 28, 2009). Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 69-12, Section: A, page: 4693.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Chicago, 1902. / Book without thesis note.