Anthropometrics: An introduction

Anthropometrics: An introduction Biomechanics Lab Report This lab report is based on the Anthropometrics practical session that took place in week three. Introduction The aim of the session was to find out what our Anthropometrical measures were and how they would compared to some typical figures that were given out at the time. The study of Anthropometrics deals with the measurement of the dimensions, mass, and mass distribution of the human body. It provides estimates of the lengths, masses, location of the centres of mass, and moments of inertia of the human body that are used in the study of human motion There are 10 main parts of the body that will be measured during the study of Anthropometrics and they are the two forearms, the head, the two upper arms, the trunk, two thighs and two shanks. All these measurements will give us an indication whether we are fit and healthy or if we are underweight or overweight, . Anthropometrics was found by a French savant called Alphonse Bertillon who in 1883 gave the name Anthropometrics to a system that he designed which involved him taking certain measurements and when they were recorded he found out that every single individual could be distinguished from other people by these measurements. This is because he concluded that everyone has a different physique and surface area. Materials and method The equipment that was used during this practical session were things like Goniometers A plinth Some Calipers A Height Gauge A set of Scales A Tape measure Nomogram Grip Strength Gauge Goniometers are designed for the measurement of limb angular movement. The sensors are attached across the joint employing double-sided medical adhesive tape and connected to instrumentation. The sensors are lightweight an unobtrusive allowing the data of human activity to be displayed or recorded while leaving the subject to move freely in the normal environment. The first thing that we did was to calculate our body mass index and to do this we measured our height and weight by using a Height Gauge and a set of scales. Then we calculated our body mass index by multiplying the height by itself and then dividing the answer that we got by our weight and this gave us our body mass index. Then we measure the length of our legs by using a tape measure. Then we measure the greater Trochanter knee joint and the Lateral Malleous knee joint by using Calipers. We also used the Calipers to measure the width of our wrist, elbow, knee, ankle and armspan. Then we used a goniometer to measure the angle of our quadriceps. Then we used the calipers to measure our skin fold thickness. Then we used the grip strength gauge to see how strong we were. We used the plinth to measure the lower part of the body. For example we used it to measure our lower limbs. We did the measurements that are above except for the height, weight and body mass index first on our right side and then on our left side and this enabled us to find out the total measurements of the entire body. Finally we checked our surface area by using the nomogram. Results Anthropometrical Measures Value Height (m) 185cm Weight (kg) 72.8 kg BMI (kg/m2) 21.3 kg/m2 Left Right Leg Length, ASIS Medial Malleolus (m) 101 m 101 m Greater Trochanter-Knee Joint (m) 45 m 45 m Knee Joint Lateral Malleolus (m) 43 m 43 m Wrist width (m) 5.7 m 5.9 m Elbow width (m) 7.3 m 7.3 m Knee width (m) 10 m 10.2 m Ankle width (m) 7.6 m 7.4 m Armspan (m) 185 m 185 m Q angle 10Â ° 10Â °, Chest/Waist/Hip Circumference m Chest 90 m Waist 79 m Hip 86 m Waist to Hip Ratio (WHR) 0.91 whr Ratio Armspan to body height 1 cm Calf Circumference (m) 35 m 35 m Thigh Circumference (m) 47 m 46 m Grip Strength Ratio (L vs R) 34 26 Surface Area (Nomogram) 1.91 m2 Surface Area by calculation 1.93 m2 Skin fold thickness (rectus femoris) 8 5 Measure the ratio of ring finger length to index finger length m 0.925 m 0.924 m Discussion While analysing my results I found out that some of my results were normal and some of my results were below or above the average for that particular measurement. For example when I analysed my body mass index I found out that I was in the normal range for body mass index which was 20-25 kg/m Typical ranges for body mass index Underweight Healthy Range 20-25 kgm2 D Overweight 25-30 kgm2 Obese >30 kgm2 While analysing my results I found out that my skin fold thickness is lower than the normal average. For example the average skin fold thickness for a fit man is 14-17 percent whereas if you have a body fat percentage over 25+ you are classed as obese. On the other hand women will have a slightly higher body fat percentage than men because they have got a slightly wider physique than men and this means that women will have a higher body fat percentage. Skin fold thickness measurements are also used as an indication of obesity and it has been proven to be a more reliable method to find out how much fat we have in our bodies Typical values for body fat percentage Women % body fat Men % body fat Fit 21-24 % 14-17 % Obese 32 + % 25 +% While analysing my results I also found out that my q angle was lower than a normal q angle should be. For example a normal q angle should typically fall between 18Â °- 22Â °, with males usually at the lower end of the scale and females at the higher end of the scale. An abnormal Q angle will typically be increased from normal. This automatically increases the vulnerability to tracking problems like lower back, pelvis, leg and foot problems. An abnormal Q angle becomes further complicated when accompanied by a functional or anatomical short leg. Many people especially runners favour a functional short leg rather than anatomical short leg. They prefer a functional short leg to an anatomical leg because the functional leg is used to straighten an abnormal q angle whereas an anatomical leg just keeps it in place. In this case a heel raise is often recommended but this will make the problem worse by keeping the leg in an abnormal position when it should be in a normal position. A normal Q angle will have the patella rotated slightly more towards the mid line than the tibial tubercle. Also while analysing my waist to hip result. I found out that I am at a low risk of being overweight and getting a serious health problem. For example a man needs to have a waist to hip ratio of 0.90 to be at low risk of getting a serious health condition but if a man has a waist to hip ratio of more than 1.0 than he is classed as being at a high risk of getting a serious health condition. In comparison to this a woman needs to have a waist to hip ratio of less that 0.80 to be at a low risk of getting a serious health condition and if they have a waist to hip ratio of more than 0.85 then they would be classed as being at a high risk of getting a serious health condition. The types of health conditions that you could get if you are at high risk are things like Coronary Heart Disease, Hypertension and Diabetes. On the other hand there are some serious health conditions with being underweight and they are Osteoporosis, Diabetes, Infertility, Anorexia / Bulimia, Aneami and Aimmune Defici ency. These conditions mainly affect women who have a body mass index of less than 18.5.kgm2 When my results was compared with the averages for the different measurements I found out that they were below the normal average for some of the measurements and this is because everybody is different in many ways. For example people have different physiques so the amount of body fat that is found in a persons body varies and this means that everybodys body mass index will be different. Conclusion While concluding my results I found that I am fit and healthy and that I am in no danger of getting a serious health condition. I have also found out that there are a number of different conditions that affects people who are overweight and underweight. I have also concluded that everybodys Anthropometrical measures will be difference. This is due to the difference in physique, height, body mass and the surface area of the body. When I compared my results to some typical data I found out that I was around about the normal range for most of the measurements that were taken during the practical session. Reference Page Books Pheasant, T S, (1996), Bodyspace: Anthropometrics, Ergonomics, and the design of work, London, Taylor Francis Hall, J, S (1953) Basic Biomechanics, London, Human kinetics Websites http://www.chiroweb.com/archives/21/24/03.html www.biopac.com/s/sitesearch/runsearch.php?q=goniometer 28k www.worldchiropracticalliance.org/tcj/2004/jun/charrette.htm www.nth.nhs.uk/dtrack.asp?r=docs/presentations/Podiatric%20Biomechanics%20-%20A%20Hardy.ppt www.brianmac.co.uk/injury.htm

Good Practice in Human Resource Management HRM – Transcript

1. Good Practice in Human Resource Management (HRM) Based on an interview with Graham Walton, Library Service Development Manager at Loughborough University ExFiles FOLIO Course – January 2007 2. Graham’s Current Role Graham is the Library Service Development Manager at Loughborough University. He is responsible for overseeing the quality /evaluation of library services, marketing and publicity, developing new services, training staff as well as human resources. 3. Main Functions of HRM HRM is about â€Å"getting the right people with the right skills in right place†. It is crucial that Library HR processes meet the strategic aims of the organisation. The HRM manager has operational responsibility to follow wider organisational policies and practices. 4. Graham’s HRM Responsibilities Graham oversees the appraisal process of all library staff. This involves the development process, monitoring progress, collating final outcomes and identifying any training needs. Graham is responsible for all human resource aspects of non-academic contract library staff. This involves seeing the HR process through from start to finish: e. . writing job descriptions and person specifications, interviewing, selection, induction, de-briefing of leaving staff etc. Graham is also heavily involved in staff development and devising training programs. 5. How has Graham acquired HRM skills? Variety of ways including: One-year HRM course as part of an MBA. Internal courses on recruitment and selection. Learning through experience: â€Å"getting on with it†. Appl ying common sense. 6. Key challenges of HRM Workforce development – staff are now expected to learn new skills on a regular basis. Need to think about how you enable your staff to do this. Organisational Structure – need to think about the best way to configure this. What is the best way for people to work together? Need to allow opportunity for people to easily step out of their teams and work with others. Culture Change – this is a universal challenge and libraries are not necessarily the best-equipped at dealing with this. This is perhaps the most difficult challenge as culture is intrinsic and deep-rooted. Work/Life Balance – how do you match flexible working needs with providing services? 7. Success Factors for Effective HRM If the following 5 factors are in place, you should have effective HRM: Follow organisational policies and procedures. Exercise Fairness – make all your decisions based on evidence. You must be able to justify all your decisions should you need to defend any of them. Attention to detail – lots of things relating to HR that you need to remember and stick to (e. g. start dates, holiday entitlements etc). Awareness of individual differences – you need to know your staff individually and be aware how different people will react differently to situations. Open-door policy – you need to be approachable and always be ready to drop everything should someone come to you with an HR issue. 8. In what way does an effective HR manager influence their staff? An effective HR Manager: Leads by example – if you expect your staff to show certain characteristics then you need to show them yourself. Be open, fair and transparent in your methods at all times. Ensure that your staff feel valued and important within the organisation. Ensure that other managers realise that they all have a responsibility for HRM – for example a team leader must take on shared responsibility for the staff development of colleagues in their team. 9. Is there anything particularly unique to library and information service HRM? Most HRM issues are generic to all organisations, whether commercial or not-for-profit. One issue that is perhaps not common, is that libraries have the â€Å"professional vs. on-professional† debate. This can cause tension and conflict, meaning that some staff do not reach their full potential. 10. Innovative HRM Practices Two things we are trying/considering at Loughborough University which we have not tried before: A pool of temporary part-time staff that we can call on at short notice to reduce the strain on existing staff during periods of annual leave/sickness. Holding recruitment open days – this would involve placing an open advert inviting people to come to the library on a certain day. Library staff would then â€Å"speed-interview† all those attending and from this it would be decided who would be invited back for further interviewing. 11. How do you see your involvement in HRM evolving in the future? The aspects to focus on in the next few years will be: Staff skills mix/workforce development and how HR can move this along. There will be even greater pressure for increased flexible working and working from home. At present, it is unclear how this will manifest itself in the Library.

Journal of Food Safety

As we know, Johor was affected by the worst flood in 100 years in December 2006 and that disaster comes again in January 2007. According to historical of the natural disasters such as flood, food in affected areas may become contaminated and consequently be at risk for outbreaks of food-borne diseases, including diarrhea, dysentery, cholera, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever. Poor sanitation, including lack of safe water and toilet facilities and lack of suitable conditions to prepare food have led to mass outbreaks of food-borne diseases. The Minister of Malaysia Health were worried about cases, the improper sanitary facilities and contaminated water supply during flood at housing areas or at relief centers would result in contaminated food, as a prevention step, Assistant Environmental Health Officers (AEHO) has assign to made monitoring of food hygiene vital. The objective of this monitoring is to describe food hygiene surveillance activities carried out in flood relief centers and flood affected areas and the result that were carried out was determined. The food hygiene surveillance activities were carried out by the Assistant Environmental Health Officers (AEHO) in the districts and. Among the surveillance activities carried out are inspection of food preparation areas in relief centers, inspection of food premises in flood affected areas and food sampling. Premise inspections were carried out using a specific inspection format. For food samples inspections, the food samples that were emphasis included ready to eat and raw foods. For ready to eat foods holding samples were also taken. Samples taken were sent to Public Health Laboratory, Johor Bahru for microbiological analysis. Anti typhoid vaccination for food handlers were also carried out. Apart from that, observations made by the health teams were also taken into account. A total of 3,159 food preparation areas in relief centers were inspected. During the same period, a total of 2,317 food premises in flood affected areas were inspected as soon these premises started operating after the floods. Among the processes that had given highlighting during inspection were holding and serving of food where temperatures control and holding time were vital for food safety. Along with the areas given emphasis during the inspection were kitchens, stores, food packaging areas, food transportation vehicles and serving areas. Cooking utensils, water sources, hand washing facilities, garbage disposal area, pest control and suitability of building structures for preparation of food were also given a big attention during the inspections. .Base on the inspection that have done by the Assistant Environmental Health Officers (AEHO), the inspections showed that 69 food preparation areas in relief centers and 181 food premises in flood affected areas had unsatisfactory hygiene. Not only food premises areas are considering in those inspections, apart from that, the hygiene and practices of all food handlers were also monitored. Insanitary food preparation areas in relief centers and food premises were given health education and warnings to maintain hygiene by the Assistant Environmental Health Officers (AEHO). A total of 1,566 holding samples were taken and 425 samples were sent to the laboratory for analysis. Base on the result, they have gathered out that 46 of the samples analyzed were found to be positive for pathogenic bacteria such as E. coli, staphylococcus aureus and salmonella. The health personnel from the Johor Health Department in various districts carried out an excellent job in ensuring food safety during the floods. There were no outbreaks of food poisoning. However analysis of food samples taken during the floods did show the presence of pathogenic organisms but probably their numbers were not high enough to cause any food poisoning. When the flood has affected some areas, the contamination from microorganism into food were easily contaminated, that contamination can always occur at all points of the food chain, for instants inadequate washing, handling and cooking of food just before consumption is still a prime cause of food-borne diseases. Many infectious diseases are preventable by observing simple hygienic rules during food preparation whether in family settings or in large food catering facilities. According to the guidelines provided by the World Health Organization (WHO), there are five keys for safer food in disaster situation such as keeping clean, separating raw and cooked food, cooking thoroughly, keeping food at safe temperatures and lastly using safe water and raw materials. As a rational, the education to all individuals have to concern more to avoid the unwanted condition occurs, for instant when a disaster such as flood occurs, the public would already understand and be prepared to apply their knowledge in hygiene and food safety. As an example, the hand washing method which involves seven steps needs to be imbibed into all individuals through health education campaigns so that it becomes a common practice amongst all individuals. As a very good solution the promotion and enforcement of food hygiene requirements should be carried out continuously to ensure that every individual understands the need for hygiene and food safety during disaster situation such as flood.

Corruption And Its Effect On Economic Growth - 1487 Words

In this essay, I will present an argument against theories that propose that corruption may be beneficial to economic growth by presenting theoretical and empirical evidence that suggest otherwise. I will also discuss policies that will prove effective in eliminating corruption in developing countries. The international handbook on the economics of corruption defines corruption as the use of public resources to fund the private purposes. It usually involves the abuse of official power. Economic growth can be defined as increase in a country’s ability to produce output over a period of time (Investopedia, 2005). Although the consensus view in economic theory is that corruption has a negative impact on economic growth, there are instances where having a corrupt government has actually encouraged growth. These are instances where corruption is â€Å"economically expansionary Osterfeld (1992) . Leff (1964), has argued that some underdeveloped countries with a high level of bureaucracy and weak governance have been able to allocate resources more efficiently because of corrupt government officials. He argues that is because entrepreneurs and potential investors can sidestep the tremendous bureaucracy in these countries through the use of bribery (Leff, 1964). The Chinese economy in the 1980’s supports this theory because corruption acted as a means to â€Å"legalise enterprises† prior to Deng’s economic reforms. (Reyes, 2015). However both theoretical and empirical studies haveShow MoreRelatedThe Effects Of Corruption On Economic Growth1444 Words   |  6 Pagesagainst theories that propose that corruption may be beneficial to economic growth by presenting theoretical and empirical evidence that suggest otherwise. I will also discuss policies that will prove effective in eliminating corruption in developing countries. 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