title: Investigating Tools and Methods for Data Capture of Forestry Workers

authors: Griffiths, Christopher John Gilder

subjects: Reaction Time

abstract: The forestry industry in New Zealand has been in the spotlight for many years due to its poor health and safety record. Workplace locations are often remote requiring extended travel times and worksites rarely offer any shelter from the elements. The nature of the work is physically demanding, requiring lots of ‘boots on the ground’ time, as such employees can be susceptible to impaired performance due to workplace fatigue. In order to assess the impact of activity on performance we initially investigated the relationship between activity measured as steps and simple reaction time. Using Fitbit Charge HR activity trackers we collected physiological data and tested reaction time at various times throughout the day. We identified that an inverse curve relationship existed between activity and reaction time; slower times being recorded at the start and end of the day with faster times through the middle of the day. 
We then expanded the scope of our study to incorporate individuals working in the forestry industry. PF Olsen a forest management company, sourced sub-contractor crews currently undertaking tree felling and harvesting operations within the Bay of Plenty.  Participating crews used separate operational techniques; mechanised by way of plant, manual using a more hands on approach, and hauling, a combination of the two aforementioned techniques.
 Using the same activity monitors as in our preliminary study we collected physiological data off crew members as they performed their daily duties. In order to assess the possible impact of fatigue we measured both simple and choice reaction time at three periods during the working day; start of shift, after four hours work and at the end of the shift. As workplace locations are open to the elements we also collected ambient temperature readings to further assess their impact as a contributory factor to performance impairment. We identified that in cold temperatures < 0oC individuals have slower reaction times, as temperature increases reaction time decreases. Furthermore we identified that reaction time varies across the daily monitoring periods; generally following the slow-fast-slow relationship as found in our preliminary study. We also noted large variations in reaction time for individuals working in close proximity to mechanised plant, suggesting that the extra vigilance needed to complete tasks in operational areas that are shared with mechanised plant can negatively impact the speed at which an individual can react. The use of automated activity collection facilitated by the use of activity monitors has also provided an insight into the physiological demands of typical roles performed within the harvesting operations. We also suggest captured data from activity trackers can be used in conjunction with current risk assessment processes to add an extra dimension to the risk assessment process, facilitating a more informed view of individual role demands.

text: Investigating Tools and Methods for Data Capture of Forestry Workers The forestry industry in New Zealand has been in the spotlight for many years due to its poor health and safety record. Workplace locations are often remote requiring extended travel times and worksites rarely offer any shelter from the elements. The nature of the work is physically demanding, requiring lots of ‘boots on the ground’ time, as such employees can be susceptible to impaired performance due to workplace fatigue. In order to assess the impact of activity on performance we initially investigated the relationship between activity measured as steps and simple reaction time. Using Fitbit Charge HR activity trackers we collected physiological data and tested reaction time at various times throughout the day. We identified that an inverse curve relationship existed between activity and reaction time; slower times being recorded at the start and end of the day with faster times through the middle of the day. 
We then expanded the scope of our study to incorporate individuals working in the forestry industry. PF Olsen a forest management company, sourced sub-contractor crews currently undertaking tree felling and harvesting operations within the Bay of Plenty.  Participating crews used separate operational techniques; mechanised by way of plant, manual using a more hands on approach, and hauling, a combination of the two aforementioned techniques.
 Using the same activity monitors as in our preliminary study we collected physiological data off crew members as they performed their daily duties. In order to assess the possible impact of fatigue we measured both simple and choice reaction time at three periods during the working day; start of shift, after four hours work and at the end of the shift. As workplace locations are open to the elements we also collected ambient temperature readings to further assess their impact as a contributory factor to performance impairment. We identified that in cold temperatures < 0oC individuals have slower reaction times, as temperature increases reaction time decreases. Furthermore we identified that reaction time varies across the daily monitoring periods; generally following the slow-fast-slow relationship as found in our preliminary study. We also noted large variations in reaction time for individuals working in close proximity to mechanised plant, suggesting that the extra vigilance needed to complete tasks in operational areas that are shared with mechanised plant can negatively impact the speed at which an individual can react. The use of automated activity collection facilitated by the use of activity monitors has also provided an insight into the physiological demands of typical roles performed within the harvesting operations. We also suggest captured data from activity trackers can be used in conjunction with current risk assessment processes to add an extra dimension to the risk assessment process, facilitating a more informed view of individual role demands.

year: 2016

title: The cycloauration of pyridine-2-thiocarboxamide ligands

authors: Kilpin, Kelly Joan

subjects: gold complexes

abstract: Reactions of H[AuCl₄] with N-substituted 2-pyridine thiocarboxamide ligands 2-(C₅H₄N)C(S)NHR (R= p-C₆H₄Me, CH₂Ph, Me, p-C₆H₄OMe) gave cycloaurated derivatives {(C₅H₄N)C(S)NR}AuCl₂, with the ligand bonded as the thiol tautomer through the deprotonated SH group and the pyridine N atom to give a five-membered metallacyclic ring. The X-ray structure determination of the R = CH₂Ph derivative shows a square-planar gold(III) complex that dimerises in the solid state by weak Au...S intermolecular interactions. In contrast, in the reaction of H[AuCl₄] with 2-(C₅H₄N)C(S)NHR where R = 2-pyridyl, the ligand was oxidised to give a 1,2,4-thiadiazolo[2,3-a]pyridinium heterocyclic ring that was crystallographically characterised.

text: The cycloauration of pyridine-2-thiocarboxamide ligands Reactions of H[AuCl₄] with N-substituted 2-pyridine thiocarboxamide ligands 2-(C₅H₄N)C(S)NHR (R= p-C₆H₄Me, CH₂Ph, Me, p-C₆H₄OMe) gave cycloaurated derivatives {(C₅H₄N)C(S)NR}AuCl₂, with the ligand bonded as the thiol tautomer through the deprotonated SH group and the pyridine N atom to give a five-membered metallacyclic ring. The X-ray structure determination of the R = CH₂Ph derivative shows a square-planar gold(III) complex that dimerises in the solid state by weak Au...S intermolecular interactions. In contrast, in the reaction of H[AuCl₄] with 2-(C₅H₄N)C(S)NHR where R = 2-pyridyl, the ligand was oxidised to give a 1,2,4-thiadiazolo[2,3-a]pyridinium heterocyclic ring that was crystallographically characterised.

year: 2010

title: Prevalence of sociodemographic factors in a cohort of diabetes mellitus: A retrospective study

authors: Erandathi, Madurapperumage A.

subjects: complications of diabetes

abstract: Exploring the sociodemographic factors of a cohort is a vital phase in revealing significant aspects of the societal health status. The health care sector utilises the results of exploratory analysis of the sociodemographic nature to fulfil various purposes such as constructing health care policies, allocating adequate resources, imposing necessary medications and many more. A large and growing body of evidence shows that understanding the pervasiveness of sociodemographic factors: age, ethnicity, gender, reveal crucial information. Therefore, this study aims to disclose the knowledge through analysing the sociodemographic details of a New Zealand diabetes cohort. Diabetes mellitus is a chronic fatal disease that occurs due to the inability to control proper blood sugar levels, which causes multitudinous acute and chronic complications. Diabetes became a high prevalence disease in the region of Waikato. Analysing the cohort of diabetes patients associated with complications of diabetes illustrate the prevalence of complications of diabetes among the patients. The dataset of the study has been collected from the Waikato district health board. This study intends to report the initial scanning of the dataset profile with visualising the resulting patterns of sociodemographic details from the samples and their association with complications of diabetes. The Sankey diagrams use to visualise the results of exploratory data analysis. The resulted graphs of the data screening descriptively illustrate the characteristics of the cohort associated with demographic factors. Maori population shows higher percentage (0.68) of diabetes patients than the other ethnicities, while having narrower age expansion (13-95) with early onset age, compared to others (20-103). Males (0.61%) are more vulnerable to diabetes than females (0.55%). Additionally, hypertension and cardiovascular diseases are common among the diabetes patients’ in the Waikato region. Maori male population is highly vulnerable to diabetes. This study will be beneficial in constructing and analysing the demographical categories of the cohort to comparatively study the pervasiveness of the diseases among resulting classes.

text: Prevalence of sociodemographic factors in a cohort of diabetes mellitus: A retrospective study Exploring the sociodemographic factors of a cohort is a vital phase in revealing significant aspects of the societal health status. The health care sector utilises the results of exploratory analysis of the sociodemographic nature to fulfil various purposes such as constructing health care policies, allocating adequate resources, imposing necessary medications and many more. A large and growing body of evidence shows that understanding the pervasiveness of sociodemographic factors: age, ethnicity, gender, reveal crucial information. Therefore, this study aims to disclose the knowledge through analysing the sociodemographic details of a New Zealand diabetes cohort. Diabetes mellitus is a chronic fatal disease that occurs due to the inability to control proper blood sugar levels, which causes multitudinous acute and chronic complications. Diabetes became a high prevalence disease in the region of Waikato. Analysing the cohort of diabetes patients associated with complications of diabetes illustrate the prevalence of complications of diabetes among the patients. The dataset of the study has been collected from the Waikato district health board. This study intends to report the initial scanning of the dataset profile with visualising the resulting patterns of sociodemographic details from the samples and their association with complications of diabetes. The Sankey diagrams use to visualise the results of exploratory data analysis. The resulted graphs of the data screening descriptively illustrate the characteristics of the cohort associated with demographic factors. Maori population shows higher percentage (0.68) of diabetes patients than the other ethnicities, while having narrower age expansion (13-95) with early onset age, compared to others (20-103). Males (0.61%) are more vulnerable to diabetes than females (0.55%). Additionally, hypertension and cardiovascular diseases are common among the diabetes patients’ in the Waikato region. Maori male population is highly vulnerable to diabetes. This study will be beneficial in constructing and analysing the demographical categories of the cohort to comparatively study the pervasiveness of the diseases among resulting classes.

year: 2022