Os objetivos deste trabalho foram desenvolver um dispositivo apontador, com as mesmas funções de um mouse, controlado pelo movimento da cabeça, e comparar a eficiência do dispositivo proposto, utilizando o controle do cursor do computador no modo absoluto e relativo (joystick), operado por dez indivíduos tetraplégicos e por dez indivíduos sem acometimento neuromuscular. A maioria dos parâmetros estudados apresentou diferença significativa, entre as situações de controle absoluto e relativo, para os indivíduos de ambos os grupos, evidenciando que os parâmetros medidos no modo absoluto foram melhores que os medidos no modo relativo. O dispositivo apontador emula adequadamente as funções de deslocamento do cursor, mostrando que o modo de controle absoluto é mais eficiente que o modo de controle relativo / The objectives of this study were to develop a head controlled pointer device with mouse functions and compare its performance when operated in absolute versus relative (joystick like) modes by ten quadriplegic subjects and ten people without neuromuscular impairment. The device was composed of a video camera, a computer program and a reflective paper target attached to a cap which was then placed on the user´s head. Most of the measured parameters revealed a significant difference between the control modes, favouring the absolute one, for both studied groups. The developed head pointer adequately emulates the computer cursor displacement, with the absolute control mode being functionally more efficient than the relative control mode in this study.

Objetivo: Avaliar a responsividade da escala de avaliação funcional para pacientes com distrofia muscular de Duchenne (DMD), domínio 1 - sentar e levantar da cadeira (FES-DMD-D1). Método: Estudo observacional, retrospectivo e longitudinal (seguimento por um ano). Foi estudada, utilizando o software FES-DMD-DATA, uma amostra de 150 avaliações da atividade de sentar e levantar da cadeira, a partir de um banco de imagens com filmes de 30 crianças com DMD, executando atividades funcionais, avaliadas a cada três meses, em um período de um ano. A avaliação da FES-DMD-D1 foi aplicada por fisioterapeuta treinado, considerando os escores das fases de flexão, de contato e de extensão da atividade de sentar na cadeira e, das fases de flexão, de transferência e de extensão da atividade de levantar da cadeira. Para avaliar a responsividade da FES-DMD-D1 foram analisadas as avaliações dos períodos de seguimento de três, seis, nove e doze meses, por meio do tamanho do efeito (TE) e da média de resposta padronizada (MRP). Resultados: A responsividade da atividade de sentar na cadeira foi considerada de pequena a moderada nas avaliações a cada três meses (TE de 0,22 a 0,49 e MRP de 0,32 a 0,54), de pequena a moderada a cada seis meses (TE de 0,50 a 0,61 e MRP de 0,41 a 0,61), de pequena a grande a cada nove meses (TE de 0,69 a 1,11 e MRP de 0,49 a 0,79) e grande no período de um ano (TE de 1,07 e MRP de 0,80). Na atividade de levantar da cadeira, a responsividade foi pequena a cada três meses (TE de 0,21 a 0,35 e MRP de 0,28 a 0,45), de pequena a grande a cada seis meses (TE de 0,45 a 0,62 e MRP de 0,50 a 0,96), de moderada a grande a cada nove meses (TE de 0,76 a 0,89 e MRP de 0,74 a 1,47) e grande em um ano (TE de 1,28 e MRP de 1,24). Conclusão: A FES-DMD-D1 mostrou responsividade de moderada a grande, aumentando gradativamente nos intervalos de seis, nove e doze meses. Dessa forma, é indicado o uso da FES-DMD-D1 a partir de seis meses / Objective: To evaluate the responsiveness of the functional evaluation scale for patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) - domain 1: sitting and standing from the chair (FES-DMD-D1). Method: Observational, retrospective and longitudinal study with one year follow-up. A sample of 150 evaluations of sitting and rising from the chair was studied, using the FES-DMD-DATA software, from a bank of images of 30 children with DMD performing functional activities, evaluated every three months in a period of one year. FES-DMD-D1, which explores the scores of the phases of flexion, contact, extension of the activity of sitting on the chair, and of the phases of flexion, transference, extension of the activity of rising from the chair was applied by a trained physiotherapist. To evaluate the responsiveness of FES-DMD-D1 we considered the follow-up evaluations after three, six, nine and twelve months. The analysis used the effect size (ES) and standardized response mean (SRM). Results: The responsiveness of sitting on the chair was considered low to moderate in evaluations with three months intervals (ES from 0.22 to 0.49 and SRM from 0.32 to 0.54), low to moderate with six months intervals (ES from 0.50 to 0.61 and SRM from 0.41 to 0.61), low to high in nine months intervals (ES from 0.69 to 1.11 and SRM from 0.49 to 0.79) and high in the reassessment after one year (ES from 1.07 and SRM from 0.80). The responsiveness of the rising from the chair was low in three months (ES from 0.21 to 0.35 and SRM from 0.28 to 0.45), from low to high in six months (ES from 0.45 to 0.62 and SRM from 0.50 to 0.96), moderate to high in nine months (ES from 0.76 to 0.89 and SRM from 0.74 to 1.47) and high in a year (ES from 1.28 and SRM from 1.24). Conclusion: FES-DMD-D1 showed moderate to high responsiveness, gradually increasing for intervals of six, nine and twelve months. Thus, the use of FES-DMD-D1 is indicated from six months

A progressão da distrofia muscular de Duchenne (DMD) resulta no surgimento de múltiplas e variadas sinergias para compensar a fraqueza muscular e para lidar com as demandas de tarefas funcionais, como por exemplo, a marcha. Alguns instrumentos de avaliação funcional para pessoas com DMD permite a análise subjetiva (descrição) e objetiva (escore) sem levar em consideração os movimentos compensatórios. Por esta razão, os médicos e os fisioterapeutas enfrentam dificuldades na avaliação clínica e tomada de decisão. Este estudo teve como objetivo elaborar o domínio marcha da Escala de Avaliação Funcional para DMD / Functional Evaluation Scale (FES-DMD-D4), testar sua confiabilidade intraexaminador e interexaminadores e sua relação com a idade, escala Vignos e tempo de desempenho da marcha. Uma amostra de 120 vídeos da marcha de 30 crianças com DMD foi analisada. Os movimentos detectados foram classificados considerando suas características cinesiológicos e padrões de compensações. FES-DMD-D4 foi criada e submetida à avaliação de 10 especialistas. Após a incorporação das sugestões propostas, a escala foi utilizada no total da amostra para avaliação por três examinadores. Foi calculada a confiabilidade intraexaminador e interexaminadores utilizando ICC. As relações entre o FES-DMD-D4 e a idade, a escala Vignos e o tempo de desempenho foram testadas com teste de correlação de Spearman (p < 0,05). A FES-DMD-D4 foi composta por três fases, e 14 itens. Coeficientes de correlação intraclasse variaram de aceitável (0,79) a excelente (0,98). A pontuação total da FES-DMD-D4 correlacionou-se com a idade e o tempo de desempenho, mas não com a escala Vignos / The progression of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) results in the emergence of multiple and varied synergies to compensate muscle weakness and to deal with the demands of functional tasks, such as gait. Few functional evaluation instruments for people with DMD allows for subjective analysis (description) and objective (score) without taking into account the compensatory movements. For this reason, clinicians and physiotherapists face difficulties in clinical assessment and decision-making. This study aimed to elaborate the gait domain of the Functional Evaluation Scale for DMD, gait domain (FES-DMD-D4) and to test its reliability intraexaminer and interexaminers and its relationship with age, Vignos score and timed motor performance. A sample of 120 gait videos of 30 children with DMD was analyzed. The detected movements were classified, considering the kinesiological characteristics of the compensation movements. FES-DMD-D4 was created and submitted to the review of 10 experts. After the incorporation of the suggestions proposed by the experts, the scale was used to analyse a total sample by 3 examiners. The reliability intraexaminer and interexaminers was calculated using ICC. The relationships between FES-DMD-D4 and age, Vignos score and timed motor performance was tested with Spearman correlation test (p < 0.05). The FES-DMD-D4 was composed of 3 phases, and 14 items. Intraclass correlation coefficients ranged from acceptable (0.79) to excellent (0.98). The scores on FES-DMD-D4 correlated to age and timed motor performance, but not to Vignos score

Employees¡¦ perception of organizational political level will influence employees¡¦ decision whether to get involved with organizational politics or to isolate from organizational behaviors, it will reflect significantly on the working attitude directly and will influence the organizational commitment level and performance of employees indirectly, further more, it will decrease the organizational productivities. This research was conducted to focus on that whether employees¡¦ organizational political perception will influence their organizational commitments and performances, also to discuss the connection between each other. The research method this study used was group segmentations. After empirical analysis, we found out: 1. In the organizational political perception, ¡§boss¡¦s and colleague¡¦s behaviors¡¨ dimension has a significant negative correlation with affective commitment and normative commitment; ¡§the differences between policies and realities¡¨ dimension presents the same result as well. ¡§Boss¡¦s and colleague¡¦s behaviors¡¨ dimension has a significant positive correlation with continuance commitment. 2. There is only ¡§the differences between policies and realities¡¨ dimension reaching a significant positive correlation with task performance and contextual performance in organizational political perception. 3. By using K-mean ¡§Cluster analysis¡¨, we got four different types of group representing four different categories of ¡§organizational political perception¡¨. We named them by their characters, the names and characters are described as follow: 3-1 Slow: employees in the type do not react fast enough regarding political behaviors and working environment atmosphere due to the employees¡¦ insensitivity. 3-2 The perception of Complies in public but opposes in private: employees can sense that organization does not behave the same way in terms of policies and operations; they do nothing with this scenario. 3-3 The perception of keen actions: The members of perceptional organization are more sensitive with the interpersonal relationship, and they response the working environment with positive and active attitudes. 3-4 The perception of silence and waiting: Employees can sense that organization behaves in the same way in terms of policies and operations; they have a concept that ¡§Silence is gold¡¨. 4. In ¡§slow¡¨ type, the perception dimension of ¡§keeping silence and waiting for benefit¡¨ has a negative correlation with ¡§task performance¡¨; the perception dimension of ¡§the differences between policies and realities¡¨ has a negative correlation with ¡§affective commitment¡¨ and ¡§task performance¡¨. 5. In ¡§The perception of complies in public but opposes in private¡¨ type, the perception dimension of ¡§boss¡¦s and colleague¡¦s behaviors¡¨ has a positive correlation with ¡§continuance commitment¡¨, but has a negative correlation with ¡§contextual performance¡¨; the perception dimension of ¡§keeping silence and waiting for benefit¡¨ has a positive correlation with ¡§contextual performance¡¨. 6. In ¡§The percept of keen and action¡¨ type, the percept dimension of ¡§boss¡¦s and colleague¡¦s behaviors¡¨ has a negative correlation with ¡§affective commitment¡¨, but has a positive correlation with ¡§continuance commitment¡¨ and ¡§contextual performance¡¨. 7. In ¡§The perception of silence and waiting¡¨, the perception dimension of ¡§boss¡¦s and colleague¡¦s behaviors¡¨ has a negative correlation with ¡§normative commitment¡¨; the perception dimension of ¡§keeping silence and waiting for benefits¡¨ has a positive correlation with ¡§contextual performance¡¨; the perception dimension of ¡§the differences between policies and realities¡¨ has a negative correlation with ¡§affective commitment¡¨ and ¡§contextual performance¡¨.

Developing countries are increasing their adoption of information systems at the country level now. One important aspect distinguishing the implementation of information systems in developing countries from that in developed countries is that developing countries usually lack the resources and capability for training and support, and the workers need to learn to use the system from their own experience. Thus, a better understanding of the workers’ learning-by-doing after the implementation of an information system in developing countries may have important theoretical and practical implications, but empirical evidence on this issue remains limited. This dissertation seeks to fill in the gap by investigating workers’ learning-by-doing after the implementation of an information system at two levels. First, it studies how an individual customs agent’ experience preparing and submitting customs documents influences her performance in document preparation and submission tasks. Second, it also examines how an agent-inspector dyad’s experience working together affects the performance of customs inspection tasks completed through the cooperation of the dyad. The first chapter provides an overview of the dissertation. The second chapter examines how the relatedness of workers’ prior experience affects their learning-by-doing and operational performance in service work. Prior research has viewed relatedness along a single dimension. However, tasks and the underlying knowledge required for task performance can vary along multiple attributes. This chapter extends prior conceptualizations of relatedness by defining it as a multi-dimensional construct and also accounting for the level of task relatedness between different categories in each task dimension. It separates the level of workers’ experience from the relatedness of their experience, and then link the two constructs to workers’ task performance, including their efficiency and quality. Analyzing data on the processing of 998,258 import customs declarations in Costa Rica from 2006-2010, the second chapter finds that customs agents, the major workers processing the customs declarations, learn from their experience to improve their time to complete the task but not their quality of completion. Moreover, it finds that the relatedness of customs agents’ experience to their current task is positively related to the quality of task completion but has a U-shape relationship with completion time, such that the completion time first decreases with and then increases with an increase in customs agents' experience relatedness. The chapter also finds that the impact of customs agents’ experience relatedness is enhanced when the agents have more experience. Overall, the results highlight the role of experience relatedness in workers’ performance in learning-by-doing service work, and help to identify ways for managers to improve different operational performance measures. Many service tasks are completed by dyads rather than by an individual worker. In this setting, the individuals in the dyad not only need to acquire knowledge about the task, but also have to learn to work with each other. Thus, individuals’ experience working together may have significant performance implications for dyads. However, this effect remains largely unexamined, especially when there are conflicts within the dyad. In the third chapter, it theorizes how a dyad’s experience working together influences the dyad’s task performance, and label it as a learning-by-working-together effect. The chapter further proposes that the impact of dyad experience can vary across tasks with different levels of complexity, goal conflict, and combinations of the two. It examines learning-by-working-together in a setting where there is goal conflict, but the dyad must work together to complete the task: customs inspections. Based on a field study on data of 323,520 customs inspections in Costa Rica, the third chapter shows that the number of prior interactions between a customs agent and a customs inspector is positively associated with the agent-inspector dyad’s efficiency in customs inspection. In addition, it demonstrates that the impact of an agent-inspector dyad’s experience working together is greater for high-complexity tasks than for low-complexity tasks, and weaker for high-conflict tasks than for low-conflict tasks. It also shows that due to a joint effect of task complexity and task-level goal conflict, dyad experience exhibits the largest impact on the performance of high-complexity, high-conflict tasks. The chapter discusses the implications of our results for the study of learning curves and for the practice.

In the present study, the relationship between dispositional affectivity and job performance was investigated under the potential mediating effects of job satisfaction. The study was conducted in three phases. In Phase I, the scale development phase, an assistant evaluation form (AEF) was developed by collecting job analytic information from 35 Teaching Assistants (TAs) and critical incidents from 38 faculty members from a wide range of departments in Middle East Technical University (METU). In the second phase of the study, the pilot study, factor structure of the AEF was examined using principle component analyses. Pilot data were gathered from the faculty members working in different departments at METU. Results yielded two factors underlying the AEF. The first factor was named task performance, the second factor was named contextual performance. In the main study phase of the study, hypotheses were tested by gathering dispositional affectivity and job satisfaction data from 103 TAs, and performance evaluation data from 103 instructors whom the TAs had worked with during the previous semester. Results supported only the hypothesis stating that positive affectivity (PA) would predict job satisfaction. Results are discussed along with the limitations of the study and suggestions for future research.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karolinska institutet, 2002. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Göteborg : Univ., 2003. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karol. inst., 2005. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karolinska institutet, 2005. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.