Construction Automation Using Pen-Based Computers, HR-368, 1996

The Iowa Department of Transportation is committed to improved management systems, which in turn has led to increased automation to record and manage construction data. A possible improvement to the current data management system can be found with pen-based computers. Pen-based computers coupled with user friendly software are now to the point where an individual's handwriting can be captured and converted to typed text to be used for data collection. It would appear pen-based computers are sufficiently advanced to be used by construction inspectors to record daily project data. The objective of this research was to determine: (1) if pen-based computers are durable enough to allow maintenance-free operation for field work during Iowa's construction season; and (2) if pen-based computers can be used effectively by inspectors with little computer experience. The pen-based computer's handwriting recognition was not fast or accurate enough to be successfully utilized. The IBM Thinkpad with the pen pointing device did prove useful for working in Windows' graphical environment. The pen was used for pointing, selecting and scrolling in the Windows applications because of its intuitive nature.

Chaotic dynamics and team effectiveness: evidence from professional basketball

Considering teams as complex adaptive systems (CAS) this study deals with changes in team effectiveness over time in a specific context: professional basketball. The sample comprised 23 basketball teams whose outcomes were analysed over a 12-year period according to two objective measures. The results reveal that all the teams showed chaotic dynamics, one of the key characteristics of CAS. A relationship was also found between teams showing low-dimensional chaotic dynamics and better outcomes, supporting the idea of healthy variability in organizational behaviour. The stability of the squad was likewise found to influence team outcomes, although it was not associated with the chaotic dynamics in team effectiveness. It is concluded that studying teams as CAS enables fluctuations in team effectiveness to be explained, and that the techniques derived from nonlinear dynamical systems, developed specifically for the study of CAS, are useful for this purpose.

On the use of mobile inflatable hypoxic marquees for sport-specific altitude training in team sports.

BACKGROUND/AIM: With the evolving boundaries of sports science and greater understanding of the driving factors in the human performance physiology, one of the limiting factors has now become the technology. The growing scientific interest on the practical application of hypoxic training for intermittent activities such as team and racket sports legitimises the development of innovative technologies serving athletes in a sport-specific setting. METHODS: Description of a new mobile inflatable simulated hypoxic equipment. RESULTS: The system comprises two inflatable units-that is, a tunnel and a rectangular design, each with a 215 m(3) volume and a hypoxic trailer generating over 3000 Lpm of hypoxic air with FiO₂ between 0.21 and 0.10 (a simulated altitude up to 5100 m). The inflatable units offer a 45 m running lane (width=1.8 m and height=2.5 m) as well as a 8 m × 10 m dome tent. FiO₂ is stable within a range of 0.1% in normal conditions inside the tunnel. The air supplied is very dry-typically 10-15% relative humidity. CONCLUSIONS: This mobile inflatable simulated hypoxic equipment is a promising technological advance within sport sciences. It offers an opportunity for team-sport players to train under hypoxic conditions, both for repeating sprints (tunnel configuration) or small-side games (rectangular configuration).

Pràctiques d'exclusió als locals nocturns del centre històric de Barcelona. El dret d'admissió com a tècnica de discriminació racista

La investigació se centra en l'ús discriminatori del dret d'admissió en els bars de nit del centre de Barcelona. En concret, el terreny de camp el conformen quatre bars situats en el Raval, un barri que està experimentant un procés d'ennobliment. El treball de camp ha tingut una durada de deu mesos i s¿ha basat fonamentalment en l'observació etnogràfica. L'objectiu principal ha estat constatar sobre el terreny la pràctica efectiva de la discriminació, i com es du a terme, quines són les formes que adopta i les argumentacions en què es basa. La qüestió fonamental que cal respondre és com es duen a terme els protocols d'acceptació o rebuig d¿aquells què pretenen ingressar als bars de nit, a partir de criteris de detecció de persones pertanyents a determinats grups socials considerats indesitjables, moralment contaminants o perillosos. Aquest és el cas dels i les immigrants, especialment els que provenen del Marroc o d'Algèria, als quals molt sovint se'ls impedeix l'entrada perquè són considerats com una font permanent d'ansietat. Això és bàsicament per un prejudici construït envers el que s¿entén popularment com la figura del moro. Molt sovint, els immigrants àrabs són relacionats amb la delinqüència, i això serveix com a pretext perquè es puguin justificar les pràctiques d'exclusió que s'executen envers aquest grup social en nom del dret d'admissió. En definitiva, aquestes pràctiques discriminatòries funcionarien com un mecanisme la missió del qual seria reafirmar la inferioritat moral atribuïda a aquest col·lectiu i garantir que en els espais d'oci nocturn del Raval els i les joves de classe mitjana no estiguin en contacte amb els i les immigrants àrabs. En conseqüència, podem afirmar que l'exercici discriminat del dret d'admissió sembla tenir relació amb el procés d'ennobliment que està experimentant el barri.

Changes in the foraging strategy of female South American sea lions (Carnivora: Pinnipedia) after parturition.

This study tests the hypothesis that female South American sea lions shift from off-shore, pelagic prey to coastal, benthic prey after parturition in order to reduce the foraging trip duration and hence the time pups remain unattended on the beach during early lactation. The δ13C and δ15N values of the serum and blood cells of 26 South American sea lion suckling pups from northern Patagonia were used to track the dietary changes of their mothers from late pregnancy to early lactation, after correction for differential isotopic fractionation between tissues. Primary producers and potential prey species were also analysed to establish a baseline for interpreting the stable isotope concentration of serum and blood cells. Isotopic ratios revealed a generalized increase in the consumption of coastal-benthic prey after parturition. Such a generalized post-partum shift will allow females to spend more time on land and look after their pups. The effects of this foraging strategy on the nutritional quality of the female"s diet are discussed.

Centre orientador: acompanyar en el creixement de l’alumnat

La comunicació que presentem és el resultat del treball de recerca i reflexió realitzatpel Grup de Recerca en Acció Tutorial (GRAT) de l’ICE de la UB amb l’objectiu de definir el camíen la construcció dels centres orientadors. Pensem que un centre educatiu ha d'incorporar l'orientaciócom a eix vertebrador de la seva praxis docent. Tal i com apunten Giner i Puigardeu(2008) «La acción tutorial no puede ser una acción puntual, inconexa ni desordenada, sino todolo contrario, un engranaje participativo de los diferentes agentes educativos que participan dela educación de nuestros alumnos, donde su objetivo final es incidir en el alumno o alumna, en su crecimiento personal, en su encaje en la sociedad y en la construcción de la realidad que le envuelve».

Proposta educativa i cultural al centre cívic i cultural de Fornells de la Selva

Proposta de projecte educatiu i cultural ubicat al centre cívic i cultural “la Sitja” de Fornells de la Selva. El projecte he estat elaborat pensant en la viabilitat per poder presentar-lo a la regidoria per desenvolupar-lo o almenys perquè prenguin consciència de la importància de desenvolupar un projecte educatiu i cultural a l'equipament de “la Sitja”. El treball està basat en l'estudi i resultats i vol incidir en la millora de les polítiques educatives i culturals del municipi i concretament en les polítiques que es porten a terme al centre cívic i cultural. Les polítiques educatives i culturals parteixen de les necessitats detectades en l'estudi i tenen per finalitat final contribuir en la millora de la vida dels seus ciutadans

Multidisciplinary Safety Team (MDST) Factors of Success, 2014

This project included a literature review and summary that focused on subjects related to team building, team/committee member motivational strategies, and tools for effective and efficient committee meetings. It also completed an online survey of multidisciplinary safety team (MDST) members that focused on methods to increase meeting attendance and the identification of factors that make MDSTs successful. The survey had a response rate of about 15 percent. Finally, three small MDST focus groups were held and the participants discussed information similar to that investigated by the online survey. The results of these three activities were similar and complementary. In general, the outcomes of all three tasks show that a well-designed agenda that has items relevant to the meeting attendees is very important. In addition, the literature, online survey, and focus group results identified other characteristics that define a good team or MDST. Some of these characteristics included effective and consistent leadership, members that are allowed to provide input and have an impact, members that are vested in the activities of the group, and a match between the interests of the members and the focus/mission/purpose of the meetings/group. Meetings that are scheduled well in advance of the meeting date, include time for networking, local safety activity discussions, hands-on activities/tasks, and/or some type of educational or informational presentation or activity also appeared to be the most desirable. Lastly, it was shown that MDSTs can thrive and be successful through various means, but the ability to focus on a specific safety issue when the group is first organized was suggested as a benefit that could be of assistance for long-term sustainability.

El joc d'esquena del davanter centre al futbol, és més eficaç jugant de cara o girant-se?

Segons Castelo (1999, 2009) i Ardá i Casal (2003) la fase ofensiva del futbol es divideix en la fase de progressió, en la qual es busca progressar a porteria, i en la fase de manteniment o emergència, en la qual s’assegura la possessió de la pilota. L’objectiu és analitzar si quan el davanter centre rep la pilota d’esquena a porteria, es manté amb més eficàcia la possessió jugant en progressió o en emergència durant els 5” posteriors a la recepció de la pilota per part del davanter. L’estudi és Descriptiu d’Observació Directa, en aquest s’observen i s’analitzen, a través de vídeos, 10 partits de la fase de grups de la fase final de la Eurocopa 2012, en concret els partits són dels grups A i B. Els resultats confirmen la hipòtesi inicial, ja que es manté amb més eficàcia la pilota quan aquesta es juga en emergència (71%) que no pas en progressió (54%).

Preserving the health of ambulance personnel : some preliminary results from a study of pre-hospital emergency interventions

Little is known about the health of ambulance personnel, especially in Switzerland. This lack of knowledge is particularly striking in the specific field of occupational health. This study aims to identify and better understand protective and risk factors affecting the health of ambulance personnel. Both mental and physical health are considered. The approach used comprised two steps. The first step began in July 2008 and consisted in a qualitative study of real work activities performed by ambulance crews involved in pre-hospital emergency interventions. Researchers shadowed ambulance personnel for the duration of their entire work shift, in average for one week. The paper-pen technique was used to note dialogues, interactions, postural aspects, etc. When the situation allowed it, interventions were filmed. Some selected video sequences were used as a support for selfconfrontation interviews. Observations were performed by three researchers and took place in eleven services, for a total of 416 hours of observations (including 72 interventions + waiting time). Analysis, conducted by a multidisciplinary team (an ergonomist, an occupational therapist and a health psychologist), focused on individual and collective strategies used by ambulance personnel to protect their health. The second step, which is currently ongoing, aims to assess global health of ambulance personnel. A questionnaire is used to gather information about musculoskeletal complaints (Nordic questionnaire), mental health (GHQ-12), stress (Effort-Reward imbalance questionnaire), strategies implemented to cope with stress (Brief COPE), and working conditions. Specific items on strategies were developed based on observational data. It will be sent to all ambulance personnel employed in the French-speaking part of Switzerland. Preliminary analyses show different types of strategies used by ambulance personnel to preserve their health. These strategies involve postural aspects (e.g. use doorframe as a support to ease delicate manipulations), work environment adaptations (e.g. move furniture to avoid awkward postures), coping strategies (e.g. humor), as well as organisational (e.g. formal and informal debriefing) and collective (e.g. cooperation) mechanisms. In-depth analysis is still ongoing. However, patient safety and comfort, work environment and available resources appear to influence the choice of strategies ambulance personnel use. As far as possible, the strategies identified will be transformed into educational materials for professional ambulance personnel.