This study aims to identify the dynamics of robotic-assisted surgery (RAS) teams and their metrics. A scoping review across seven science, engineering, and clinical databases was conducted. It was found that literature focuses on skills and interactions centralized around the surgeon and technical components of the robotic system; however, limited literature exists on skill proceduralization specific for other surgical team members performing robotic-assisted surgery procedures. A framework that identifies the individuals (i.e., surgeon, surgical team members, and robotic platform), with their respective skill requirements (technical and nontechnical), and the required interactions among the team and RAS systems was developed. Future research in RAS human-robot interaction can address the need to understand changing dynamics and skills required by the surgical team with the continuing evolution and adoption of surgical robot technology.

Reclined postures in vehicle seats have received increasing attention due to vehicle automation, but research using current seats may not be applicable. Furthermore, published recommendations for longitudinal seat back contour in automotive seats are difficult to apply to seat design due to insufficient information concerning reference points and contours. To address these gaps, a laboratory study was conducted with a specially constructed seat with a seat back pivot coincident with the seat H-point. Thirty men and women adjusted the seatback longitudinal to their preference at varying reclined angles and three different starting contours. Preferred head support locations were measured in each condition. The participants' selected seat back contours were strongly influenced by the starting contour but were unrelated to seat back angle and to participant characteristics. Bézier parameters were used to estimate the range of contours that would be needed to accommodate the preferences of a large percentage of sitters.

The aim of this study is to devise strategies for alleviating pressure discomfort associated with glasses-type wearables by examining pressure sensitivity at precise landmarks on the side of the head. A total of 197 healthy participants engaged in an experiment where pressure was applied using an automated force measuring system. Tactile threshold (TT), pressure discomfort threshold (PDT), maximum pressure tolerance (MPT), and pain pressure threshold (PPT) were gauged at 16 locations on the side of the head for each participant. The use of a series of grid-type templates facilitated the localization of landmarks based on individual head shapes and sizes. Notably, the area behind the ears exhibited higher pressure thresholds, while regions where temples sit horizontally were more sensitive to pressure. Gender differences were observed at specific locations, whereas age (<45 years old) and BMI did not exhibit any significant correlation with pressure thresholds. This research introduces an automated methodology for assessing pressure sensitivity through a high-density landmark map on the side of the head. The outcomes have significant implications for the ergonomic design of head-worn products, particularly for glasses-type wearables.

Checking performed by workers is crucial if safety is to be effectively managed in high-risk settings. We aimed to examine the influence of working memory capacity, mindfulness, sleep, and interruptions on checking performance for the detection of errors. A total of 86 participants completed a 32-min rail control simulation. Participants performed checks that involved matching versus critical analysis and assimilation with interruptions occurring during the task. Higher working memory capacity was associated with higher response accuracy and faster response latency. Response accuracy was also higher when participants engaged in matching compared to critical analysis and assimilation. Mindfulness and interruptions were not associated with performance. These results raise important questions about how checking and error detection can be optimised given differences in performance due to individual characteristics and task requirements.

The concept of Industry 5.0 underscores the societal importance of aligning digital technologies, human centrality (including work), and sustainability within production systems. However, its practical implementation faces significant challenges. Considering the central role of work in production systems as envisioned by ergonomics, this study addresses the following research question: What is the role of work, and how can it contribute to ensuring that technology-intensive production systems align with the principles of Industry 5.0, making them human-centered, sustainability-driven, and resilient? In this context, the objective of this research is (i) to map scientific contributions that connect digital technologies, sustainability, and work in production systems, (ii) to investigate gaps and opportunities in scientific literature and possible contributions related to the discipline of ergonomics and (iii) propose theoretical and practical implications. To this end, a systematic literature review was conducted in the Scopus database, aiming to identify studies that connected the three themes. A final sample of 115 articles was obtained, which served as the basis for a content analysis. The results revealed scientific contributions linking digital technologies and work within the context of sustainable development and corporate sustainability. The study also identified seven groups of papers (technology improvement, competent workers, interaction, expanded capabilities, work management, training and embodying) focusing on the intersection of work and digital technology, specifically, ways in which technology influences work/worker and vice versa. Future studies are called to deepen the theoretical concept of Industry 5.0; develop tools, frameworks and indicators; develop more empirical studies; focus more on the role of the worker; and develop solutions to monitor the impacts of technology on work overtime. This study also reinforces the potential of using the discipline of ergonomics as theoretical background to leapfrog knowledge for this research agenda. This is because this discipline has been already developing knowledge on the connection between work and sustainability towards different lines of research that can also be applied in the context of production systems with intensive use of digital technologies. Based on this, theoretical implications for researchers and practical implications for organizations and policymakers were defined, aiming to build human-centered and sustainable production systems.

Understanding the physical task demands across Army can help to inform physical employment standards (PES) and physical conditioning programs. Job task analysis was performed for 55 Australian Army trades to determine criterion tasks. Of the 139 criterion tasks, 60% were categorised manual handling and 32% load carriage. Lift to Platform tasks were most prevalent (34%) with a median lift height and mass of 1.5 m and 25 kg, followed by lift and carry tasks (23%) with a 30 m carry and 26 kg mass. Physiological demands were moderate, with a median V˙ O and relative intensity of 1.91 L min and ∼46% VO Load carriage median external load, and V˙ O2 were 22 kg and 2.05 L min. Combat Arms trades had higher task demands compared to non-combat trades. These results emphasise the importance of manual handling and load carriage for Army personnel and provide the basis for PES development and targeted physical conditioning.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are becoming increasingly common in both everyday life and professional contexts. The present study investigates the human factors that have to be considered in the adoption of UAVs in practice. In a one-factorial design, the impact of UAV indoor flights on human cognitive performance and well-being were analyzed. Fourty-eight participants were divided into an experimental (EG) and a control group (CG) and completed the Work Efficiency Test. In the EG, UAVs flew different path trajectories indoors behind a safety net. Additionally, flow experience, mental effort, and mental strain were measured. Results show that the EG performed marginally worse on the Work Efficiency Test than the CG and experienced less flow during task processing. Additional qualitative interviews showed that participants felt distracted by UAV noise and flight trajectories. Our results corroborate that the human factor cognitive performance should be considered in the implementation of UAV technology in the workplace.

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are commonplace in industry and a host of qualitative and quantitative approaches have been used to assuage the problem, including wearable sensors and biomechanical endurance models, both of which were used in the present study. Six endurance models (consumed endurance, new improved consumed endurance and the exponential and power Frey Law and Avin general and shoulder models) with four alternative maximum torque (Torque) quantification methods, including a novel approach to generate Torque, were compared. The proposed approach to quantify Torque, in combination with the new improved consumed endurance model produced the lowest root mean square errors (RMSE), and indicated improved performance compared to the literature. The mean RMSE was reduced from 41.08s to 19.11s for all subjects, from 26.13s to 12.16s for males, and 51.28s to 24.45s for females using the proposed method. R for 25% and 45% standardised intensity dynamic tasks were .459 and .314 respectively, P < .01. This research provided an optimised and individualised endurance prediction approach for loaded dynamic movements which can be applied to industry tasks and may lead to reduced upper-limb strains, and potentially WMSDs.

Carsickness (CS) experienced by vehicle passengers is a critical unsolved challenge that impacts existing human-driven vehicles and may limit the adoption of future autonomous vehicles. If CS is reduced, then passengers can perform productive tasks during their commutes. Prior research has demonstrated that a preemptively triggered tilting seat system (TSS), i.e., a seat that tilts the passenger in the direction of the vehicle's turn, can reduce CS response. However, no previous investigations have studied the impact of TSS on passengers performing representative productive tasks when riding a real vehicle under realistic driving conditions. This paper addresses this gap by presenting a human subject study to quantify passenger CS response and assess their task performance in the presence of a preemptively triggered TSS. Twenty-nine healthy adults with varying levels of self-reported motion sickness susceptibility participated in the study across two test conditions. This is the first in-vehicle study that assessed both CS response and passenger task performance for a diverse sample of passengers under realistic driving conditions emulated on a closed test track. The results from this study demonstrated that a preemptively triggered TSS reduces CS scores for male passengers and has no negative influence on their productive task performance. The results also demonstrated that a preemptively triggered TSS did not have an effect on CS scores for female passengers but had a small positive influence on their productive task performance. In addition, the majority of the study participants (∼70%) indicated via a qualitative questionnaire that they would want a preemptively triggered TSS in their car.

The breadth and depth of Uncrewed Aerial Vehicle (UAV) operations are expanding at a considerable rate. With expansion comes challenges for the design of automation to support decision making. This research takes the perceptual cycle model (PCM) and the derived trust version of the Schema World Action Research Method (T-SWARM), to identify the issues and challenges of pilot intervention in UAVs operating during highly automated states. Nine UAV pilots with current experience operating medium to large UAVs were interviewed, using T-SWARM, about incidents in which they initiated an intervention in system operation (i.e. to avoid weather or collision) and an event where the system initiated the intervention (i.e. due to system failure). The coded responses highlighted the challenges with what information is displayed, how it is displayed and how it influences decision-making in the UAV context. In addition, the responses also identified aspects that influence trust in the system, including personal disposition, affect interventions with the automation. Against each of the key factors identified recommendations are made to increase safety and operational efficiency of UAV operations. This research adds to the growing body of literature that supports the application of T-SWARM for eliciting knowledge in the aviation domain and specifically within the UAV domain.

Work-related injuries from overexertion, particularly lifting, are a major concern in occupational safety. Traditional assessment tools, such as the Revised NIOSH Lifting Equation (RNLE), require significant training and practice for deployment. This study presents an approach that integrates tactile gloves with computer vision (CV) to enhance the assessment of lifting-related injury risks, addressing the limitations of existing single-modality methods. Thirty-one participants performed 2747 lifting tasks across three lifting risk categories (LI < 1, 1 ≤ LI ≤ 2, LI > 2). Features including hand pressure measured by tactile gloves during each lift and 3D body poses estimated using CV algorithms from video recordings were combined and used to develop prediction models. The Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) model achieved an overall accuracy of 89 % in predicting the three lifting risk categories. The results highlight the potential for a real-time, non-intrusive risk assessment tool to assist ergonomic practitioners in mitigating musculoskeletal injury risks in workplace environments.

We describe the development and testing (across three studies) of an open-source device designed to measure sit-stand desk usage: the Desk Positioning System (DPS). Accuracy of the DPS was assessed under prescribed (Study 1) and free-living (Study 2; video criterion) conditions, across multiple desk-types. Study 3 assessed usability and acceptability in the short-term (1-week) and longer-term (5-weeks). RESULTS: In Study 1, the DPS was 100% accurate at identifying most conditions (presence at desk 59/72 conditions, detecting desk height 166/168). In Study 2 (n = 10) the DPS demonstrated high accuracy (F1>0.95) and precision (>0.98) against the criterion (7866 observations). Study 3 participants (n = 23) reported high device acceptability in both the short- (mean [sd] 4.4/5 [SD 0.4]) and longer-term (4.6/5 [0.5]). Usability was above the 68-score industry benchmark at the short- (72.4/100 [14.2]) and longer-term (74.7/100 [18.5]). CONCLUSION: The DPS may provide an accurate, acceptable and useable way of understanding sit-stand desk usage.

In automotive assembly lines, workers routinely used DC-powered pistol grip tools for the installation of threaded fasteners. The stiffness and damping offered by the hand-tool system dictates the handle displacement due to the reaction torque. The aim of the study was to predict the typical ranges of stiffness and damping offered by the upper extremity in different wrist orientations and locations while operating a pistol-grip hand tool. The hand-tool system was represented using a single degree-of-freedom torsional model and a deterministic approach was adopted to identify the system parameters. Tightening tasks were executed by ten experienced hand-tool operators at three torque levels (5 Nm, 7.5 Nm, and 10 Nm) and at four different fastener locations corresponding to varying wrist orientations. At 5 Nm, 7.5 Nm, and 10 Nm torques, the mean operator stiffnesses were 645 N/m, 879.5 N/m, and 1019 N/m respectively with a mean damping being 22.88 N/m, 15.14 N/m and 12.38 N/m respectively. The stiffness coefficients were different between wrist positions but not the damping coefficients. The research demonstrates the approach to model pistol grip hand tool operation and determine the stiffness and damping parameters. This approach could be used for determining optimal torque ranges and positions to minimize rotary tool handle displacement due to reaction torque, thereby reducing the risk of injury.

We explored the extent to which pre-fatigue gait variability during load carriage is associated with the ability of an individual to perform an obstacle course post-fatigue. Twenty-four military cadets were monitored during treadmill gait and completed an obstacle course before and after a full-body fatigue protocol. Gait variability measures were determined from spatiotemporal stride characteristics, joint angle trajectories, and inter-joint coordination. These measures were then used in multiple linear regression models to predict three measures of post-fatigue performance (i.e., hurdle completion time, maximum jump height, and maximum jump distance). Measures of joint kinematic variability predicted 73-89% of the variance in post-fatigue performance. Specifically, the significant predictors were sagittal plane variability of 1) hip angle and hip-knee coordination during swing phase; and 2) knee-ankle coordination during both stance and swing phase. Measures of joint kinematic variability obtained from gait thus appear relevant for predicting individual differences in adapting to fatigue, and such measures could aid in predicting post-fatigue performance in diverse dynamic tasks.

Emergency responders face significant human factors and ergonomic (HF/E) challenges related to physical, cognitive, emotional, and training demands during high-stress situations. This study investigates these issues through a survey of 60 emergency responders, identifying key HF/E concerns such as fatigue, cognitive overload, and emotional stress. The research proposes innovative artificial intelligence and smart technology-driven solutions, including personalized protective equipment with exoskeleton, augmented reality tools for situational awareness, and virtual reality-based training simulations, to address these challenges. With statistical analysis results, the study emphasizes integrative approach via enhancing responder safety, efficiency, and mental well-being. The findings provide high priority HF/E solutions for advancing adaptive technologies and improving all-hazard responses, ultimately benefiting both responders and the communities they serve.

This empirical and qualitative study focuses on COVID-19 crisis management in a French hospital, analyzing it from the perspective of organizational resilience to understand its evolution over time. The study identifies adaptation factors during pandemic management, supported by success factors, and it also identifies difficulty factors associated with resilience. These factors are analyzed at the different waves of the pandemic to understand the evolution of organizational resilience across various crisis management temporalities. The results highlight how certain factors initially considered as resilience capabilities, evolve to become vulnerability factors of the sociotechnical system, in particular due to their impacts on healthcare personnel.

In the last years, Industry 5.0 has proposed a sustainable and resilient industry model, where the human-centric approach places human needs at the center of the production process. Wearable robots have been designed to assist users, providing support for the entire body or specific regions during task performance. Ergonomic investigations are necessary to test the effects, advantages and possible drawbacks of occupational wearable devices. The present study focuses on the biomechanics of locomotion while wearing the Laevo V2.5 exoskeleton. Experimental tests involved twelve healthy volunteers. Spatio-temporal parameters, human 3D kinematics and exoskeleton 3D kinematics were compared in three settings (without exoskeleton, wearing the exoskeleton without and with passive support). These comparisons aimed to quantify the effects and the possible restrictions on user kinematics due to the interaction with the exoskeleton. Results highlighted a significant reduction in the gait speed (1.14 m/s no-exo, 1.07 m/s exo-no-support, 1.05 m/s exo-with-support) and the stride length (1.29 m no-exo, 1.24 m exo-no-support, 1.23 m exo-with-support) when wearing the exoskeleton. Human angular kinematics showed significant reductions in the range of motion for all joints when wearing the exoskeleton. However, results pointed out no significant differences between the no-support and support configurations, indicating that the primary effect is due to the exoskeleton structure rather than the support provided. Further assessment is essential to determine whether these changes in human kinematics align with ergonomic standards and reflect user adaptation, or if they fulfill acceptable limits, potentially leading to long-term negative effects.

Full-time housework includes long hours of musculoskeletal effort that can lead to intense pain, poor workability, stress and reduced quality of life. A comprehensive intervention that included biomechanical and psychosocial educational training was designed and evaluated using a four-arm randomized control trial. A total of 160 housewives recruited from a musculoskeletal disorders clinic were randomly assigned to one of four intervention groups: control, biomechanical, psychosocial and comprehensive (biomechanical and psychosocial). Measures were collected before the seven weekly training sessions, immediately after, and three months and six months later. There were significant sustained improvements compared to baseline in the biomechanical and the psychosocial groups for six risk factors, and all seven risk factors in the comprehensive group providing evidence of independent contributions from biomechanical and psychosocial training approaches. This supported the overarching hypothesis that a comprehensive educational intervention can effectively reduce risk factors associated with musculoskeletal disorders in full-time housewives.

With the rise in mental and behavioral health (MBH) conditions among school-age children in the United States (US), the number of Emergency Department (ED) visits have also increased. However, ED settings struggle to meet the needs of children with MBH conditions safely and efficiently. This study integrated SEIPS (Systems Engineering Initiative for Patient Safety) 3.0 and 2.0 frameworks to explore the temporal and non-linear aspects of pediatric MBH patients' journey and work processes (professional, patient, and collaborative work) to identify process barriers to pediatric MBH care in the ED. This mixed-method, multiple case study used observations, staff interviews, and time stamps of patient visits from electronic medical records at four EDs in the south-eastern US to inform the integrated patient journey and staff workflow process maps. Most barriers identified related to "medical and psychiatric evaluations" and "disposition and treatment plan" segments of the patient journey, suggesting potential points for interventions.

This study investigated the effects of postural loading during static posture holding on the performance of concurrent executive function tasks. Three executive function tasks, the letter memory, number-letter, and Stroop tasks, were employed for updating, shifting, and inhibition, respectively. Static posture holding involved three levels of postural loading (PL1, PL2, and PL3), corresponding to OWAS classes 1, 2, and 4, respectively. Increased postural loading resulted in decreased performance across tasks. At PL2 and PL3, compared to PL1, total score in the letter memory task decreased by 4.56% and 13.68%, switch trial reaction time in the number-letter task increased by 1.47% and 15.63%, and incongruent trial reaction time in the Stroop task increased by 4.15% and 13.44%. These findings contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the relationship between postural loading and executive functions, and offer valuable insights into how managing postural demands may enhance cognitive task performance.

Healthcare professionals (HCPs) are often required to complete their work under suboptimal ergonomic conditions in critical situations, inducing fatigue and musculoskeletal injury risk. These risks may vary depending on equipment and technique choices, which could require differing postures. Neonatal positive pressure ventilation (PPV) is administered to newborns who require resuscitation by holding a face mask over the nose and mouth and forcing air into the lungs with a device, such as a T-piece or a self-inflating bag (SIB). This study assessed if varying PPV device type and mask hold strategies impacted fatigue and musculoskeletal injury risk. Results show that using a SIB caused more frequent forearm extensor muscle fatigue (47.61% of trials) compared to the T-piece (14.29% of trials) and increased shoulder musculoskeletal injury risk (mean shoulder elevation angles: 45.58°(SIB) vs. 27.29°(T-piece)). When these devices are clinically comparable, the T-piece should be implemented for improved ergonomic outcomes.

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are prevalent and costly among preschool teachers and assistants (PTAs), contributing to high turnover rates. This study aimed to develop a self-assessment ergonomic questionnaire to evaluate physical and psychosocial risk factors in PTA work environments. A total of 318 PTAs were randomly selected to complete an online questionnaire covering demographic details, musculoskeletal pain, and occupational conditions, rating 73 items (attitudes) related to everyday tasks and psychosocial risk factors. The finalized Preschool Teachers' Work Environment Questionnaire (PEQ) comprised 46 items across five domains, demonstrating high reliability (Cronbach's Alpha: 0.814-0.953) and excellent test-retest stability (ICC >0.97). Logistic regression revealed significant associations between ergonomic factors (e.g., awkward and static postures, repetitive motions, and improper tools and equipment design) and WMSDs. The PEQ is an effective tool for identifying WMSD risk factors, underscoring the need for interventions that improve the well-being of PTAs. Future research should predict WMSD among diverse preschool teachers' populations in Israel and globally to identify risk factors and develop targeted prevention strategies.

The perceived visual complexity of a website immediately and persistently impacts the user experience. However, existing visual complexity research methods in the literature are not suitable for agile website development, often associating visual complexity with website structure and requiring advanced programming skills and large participant samples. This study proposes an accessible, definition-independent method to evaluate website complexity using multiscale entropy analysis of physiological signals. Our results show that the multiscale entropy derived from physiological data can effectively differentiate websites with varying complexity levels, even with a small number of participants. This approach achieves robust and significant effects, enabling its simultaneous application with user experience assessment in the agile website development process. The proposed MSE-based method provides an objective, unified tool to evaluate visual complexity without the burden of defining and calculating visual complexity, allowing design teams to focus on the website itself during agile software development projects.

Arm-support exoskeletons (ASEs) and back-support exoskeletons (BSEs) can be effective in reducing physical demands during various occupational tasks, yet evidence of their effects in pushing and pulling tasks remains limited. We examined the effects of using a passive ASE and a BSE on task completion time, shoulder and trunk kinematics, and muscle activity in the shoulder and back while pushing and pulling a moderately loaded (100 kg) cart. Forty volunteers (24 M and 16 F) completed the study. Using the BSE substantially reduced thoracic and lumbar erector spinae muscle activity for males, especially during the initial and ending phases of pushing (by up to ∼31.4 %) and pulling (by up to ∼25.4 %) compared to the No Device (ND) condition. In contrast, using the ASE showed no significant benefits, with females experiencing an increase in anterior deltoid muscle activity (by up to ∼46.3 %) compared to ND. Findings from this study help to understand the effects of BSEs and ASEs in pushing and pulling tasks and support the development of more versatile exoskeletons.

Seat belts have been in use for nearly 140 years and have a proven track record to be the single most effective tool in reducing fatal and nonfatal injuries in motor vehicle crashes (MVCs). However, belted passengers still contribute to more than 40% of all MVC fatalities. The likelihood of severe injuries and fatalities is significantly greater in rollover crashes. The motivation behind this research is to address some of the contributing factors related to belted rollover fatalities. In the United States, they contribute to about 3% of all motor vehicle crashes but account for almost 30% of all fatalities. The objective of this study was to investigate the ability of adults to unlatch a push-button seat belt buckle in a rolled-over orientation. Fifty-five (55) out of sixty (60) subjects in this study (92%) were able to unlatch their seat belt while in a rolled-over orientation. However, 96% of the female subjects and 83% of the male subjects were unable to exert enough force to exceed the force requirement of 133N specified in Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 209 at any given orientation. For male subjects, a reduction of almost 22%, and for female subjects, a reduction of almost 13% in the mean push force from upright to rolled-over orientation was observed. Results of the study suggest that reducing the maximum buckle release force to 50 N would accommodate the strength capabilities of 95% of subjects to unlatch the seat belt buckle in any orientation. This study emphasizes the need for investigating seat belt standards and regulations, some of which have not been changed since their inception in 1965.

Nausea and other debilitating symptoms associated with cybersickness continue to pose a significant challenge when using extended reality (xR) head-mounted displays (HMD). This study investigated if augmented reality (AR) HMD at-sea use produced cybersickness. Participants performed an observation task in AR HMD and reported their sickness at six, 5-min intervals. Results from Navy participants at sea were compared to another Navy sample and a general military sample performing the same task on land. This was done to understand if Navy personnel can better tolerate sickness than the general military sample and determine the interaction between seasickness and cybersickness. Data indicated that Navy personnel do not appear to be adapted to cybersickness. Findings also indicated that seasickness and cybersickness combined to be significantly more severe than seasickness alone. This led us to conclude that AR HMD use should be employed cautiously at sea.

Fall-related injuries on icy surfaces are a major public health concern. Slip-resistant winter boots that incorporate the latest composite outsole technologies have demonstrated the potential to prevent falls in winter weather in lab-based testing. However, the real-world benefits of this composite footwear remain difficult to measure because of a lack of accurate evaluation methods. In particular, existing methods rely on comparing self-reported slip counts to identify differences in slip resistance performance between different footwear models. However, prior research has primarily focused on slip detection on soapy and oily surfaces, revealing that small slips (≤30 mm) often go undetected, with humans correctly identifying them only 50% of the time. No studies have yet examined slip perception on icy surfaces, which possess significantly lower coefficients of friction compared to soapy and oily environments. The objective of this study was to investigate the agreement between self-reported slip counts and motion capture detected slips while walking on ice with winter footwear. Twenty-five healthy participants were asked to walk on ice surfaces (melting ice 0.5 ± 1.0 °C and cold ice -3.5 ± 1.0 °C) while wearing three models of winter boots with varying slip resistance performance (poor, moderate, good) and were asked to report any slips they experienced. Ground truth slip identification and slip length measurement was done using an 8-camera Vicon motion capture system. Slips were categorized as small slips (≤30 mm), moderate slips (30-100 mm), or large slips (>100 mm) for each boot and the proportion detected by participants was calculated. A total of 7743 slips were identified from 53,944 steps captured by the motion capture system with 4395, 1999 and 1349 slips recorded from the boots with poor, moderate and good slip resistance, respectively. These included 1658 small slips, 2521 moderate slips, and 3564 large slips. Overall, participants only reported 38.3% of these slips including 375 small slips (22.6% reported), 823 moderate slips (32.6% reported) and 1767 large slips (49.6% reported). These findings showed a strong positive correlation between self-reported slips and slip length (ρ = 0.573, p<0.001) demonstrating that participants were significantly more likely to report larger slips. The findings of this study demonstrate the need to develop more objective methods of recording slip events for real-world winter footwear evaluations.

-Automated driving (AD) in cars enables reclined positions when drivers disengage from driving tasks. The objective was to explore driver comfort in self-selected reclined positions during AD, and whether the chosen seat back angle is affected by stature. The study involved 29 participants in upright and reclined positions during AD on a test track at 30 km/h. After experiencing AD, the participants could adjust their reclined position settings. Seat settings of upright, reclined and adjusted reclined positions were collected, along with questionnaire and interview data about comfort. Statistical tests and thematic analysis were performed. The results implied that drivers may prefer reclined positions during AD, if they can observe the traffic and intervene with the AD system. Regardless of stature, drivers using AD do not want to recline as much as expected from static experiments. The automotive industry should revisit expectations for reclined positions to ensure driver comfort in AD.

Mental health issues are prevalent among college students, with digital interventions lacking in attempts to reduce participant attrition and address low engagement with technology. This study assessed changes in college students' beliefs regarding mental health after exposure to a digital mental health self-management coaching and education app, the Mental Health Evaluation and Lookout Program (mHELP). Participants' beliefs, measured using constructs from the Health Belief Model and Technology Acceptance Model, were compared to user engagement and changes in scores on validated scales for stress, depression, and anxiety. Participant beliefs including self-efficacy, perceived ease of use, and cues to action became more positive post-intervention. Higher participant self-efficacy indicated lower stress, anxiety, and depression ratings. Participants who believed stress to be a serious health threat and perceived the app as useful and easy to use were more likely to engage with the app. Providing digital mental health coaching showed significant relationships between students' beliefs regarding mental health self-management, their engagement with the app, and the reduction in stress and anxiety.