Glove Test Research Articles

An exploratory study of behavioral traits and the establishment of social relationships in female laboratory rats.

There is growing evidence that social relationships influence individual fitness through various effects. Clarifying individual differences in social interaction patterns and determinants for such differences will lead to better understanding of sociality and its fitness consequences for animals. Behavioral traits are considered one of the determining factors of social interaction. The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of individual behavioral traits on social relationship building in laboratory rats (Rattus norvegicus), a highly social species. Initially, the following behavioral characteristics were measured in individuals: tameness (glove test), activity (open field test), exploration (novel object test), sociability (three-chamber test), and boldness (elevated plus maze test). We then used DeepLabCut to behaviorally track three groups of four individuals (12 total) and analyze social behaviors such as approach and avoidance behaviors. Principal component analysis based on behavioral test results detected behavioral traits interpreted as related to exploration, boldness, activity, and tameness, but not sociability. In addition, behavioral tracking results showed consistent individual differences in social behavior indices such as isolation time and partner preference. Furthermore, we found that different components were correlated with different phases of social behavior; exploration and boldness were associated with the early stages of group formation, whereas activity was associated with later stages of relationship building. From these results, we derived hypothesize that personality traits related to the physical and social environment have a larger influence in the relationship formation phase, and the behavioral trait of activity becomes important in the maintenance phase of relationships. Future studies should examine this hypothesis by testing larger group sizes and ensuring there is less bias introduced into group composition.

An engineered glove to follow finger function in rheumatoid arthritis: an observational prospective study

The engineered Hand Test System (HTS) glove has shown high reliability in assessing the baseline functional status of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) hand. Starting from this achievement, the aim of the present observational prospective study was to assess the functionality of the single fingers of rheumatoid hand at follow-up. Eighty RA patients performed HTS glove tests at baseline and among these fifty-six patients were re-tested after 7 months. The HTS glove parameters [Touch Duration (TD), Movement Rate (MR), Inter Tapping Interval (ITI)] were correlated with disease activity and disability clinimetric indexes [Disease Activity Score 28 joint count—C-reactive protein (DAS28-CRP), Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI), Simplified Disease Activity Index (SDAI), Health Assessment Questionnaire—Disability Index (HAQ-DI), grip strength, visual analogue scale of pain (VAS), patient global assessment (PGA)], and with laboratory values. HTS glove parameters (TD, ITI, and MR) showed statistically significant correlations with clinimetric and clinical indexes at both time points (p < 0.05). During follow-up, a statistically significant variation of all HTS glove parameters for the fingers that have performed both the worst or best HTS test at baseline was detected (p < 0.05), while the mean HTS glove parameter values by considering all fingers did not show a statistically significant variation over time, as well as the traditional clinimetric indexes. Besides the objective role in assessing the RA hand function by integrating the traditional clinimetric indexes, the HTS glove seems a useful tool for evaluating worst or best finger function during time by measuring the movement speed.

Quality of life and upper limb disability in Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease: A pilot study.

Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) patients present mainly lower limbs disability, with slowly progressive distal muscle weakness and atrophy, but hands impairment is a relevant problem affecting the quality of life (QoL). The evaluation of the upper limb is of primary importance. Often these patients present subclinical disorders or report difficulties in manipulating objects, with little evidence in the most used outcome measures. We aim to investigate the impact of hand impairment in the perceived QoL of CMT persons and secondly whether the Disability of Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) scale can be useful in assessing upper limb abilities in CMT. We recruited 23 patients with confirmed genetic diagnosis of CMT. We performed a clinical evaluation with Sollerman Hand Function Test (SHFT), Thumb Opposition Test (TOT) and CMT examination score (CMTES). We completed the clinical assessment with DASH scale and the Short form 36 (SF36) questionnaire for a subjective evaluation of upper limb disability and quality of life. All patients also underwent an instrumental evaluation with a hand-held dynamometer measuring hand grip and tripod pinch and a sensor-engineered glove test (SEGT) to evaluate finger opposition movements in a quantitative spatial-temporal way. As expected, we found significant differences between CMT and control group performances in both clinical and instrumental assessment. Concerning QoL, we found that total score of SF36 and the SF36 Physical Composite Score (PCS) correlate with all clinical and instrumental Outcome Measures (OMs), particularly with Tripod pinch strength and TOT, which are considered major determinants of manual dexterity in CMT. DASH scale correlates with most clinical and instrumental OMs. Not surprisingly, we also found a correlation with DASH work, because CMT affects young patients engaged in work activities. However, we found a low correlation with the TOT and the dynamometer suggesting that DASH may not be the best scale for remote monitoring of upper limb disorders in CMT patients. Nevertheless, the results of our study confirm the usefulness of SF36 in recognizing the impact of upper limb disability in these subjects suggesting its use even in the remote monitoring of physical functioning.

Development of a simple method for determination of gas permeability resistance of whole chemical protective gloves

Objectives: We investigated the protection performance of whole gloves by developing a straightforward permeability resistance method and evaluating the permeation over 480 min. Methods: The permeation time for toluene was obtained for seven glove types according to the Japanese Industrial Standards. In addition, the permeability resistance of whole gloves was evaluated from the ratio of collected amount of toluene in the passive layered sampler attached to the inside and outside of the glove. Results: The permeation times of the two types of polyurethane gloves evaluated were less than 1 min each. However, the percentages of toluene that permeated through the whole gloves determined by the developed method were 32.5% and 6.8% for the thin and thick gloves, respectively, at 480 min and 71.8% and 24.1% for the thin and thick gloves, respectively, at 1,440 min. Permeation times for all three types of layered films were more than 1,440 min, but the whole glove tests showed differences of 1.7%, 3.1%, and less than 0.1% at 1,440 min. The causes of these differences were assumed to be related to variations in thickness, type of material, and differences in deposition state of the various gloves. Conclusions: It became possible to grasp the permeation performance throughout whole chemical resistant gloves, which could not be known only with material testing, using a straightforward permeability test method.

Glove performance in a warming climate: The role of glove material and climate on permeation resistance to organophosphate insecticides

Hands and forearms are the principal sites of dermal exposure to organophosphate insecticides, which makes glove use one of the most important components of an exposure control strategy. However, the selection of suitable gloves depends on issues such as task, type, and concentration of organophosphate as well as cost. In addition, chemical protection performance of gloves may be temperature dependent, which is of increasing concern in a warming climate. Two recommended reusable glove materials (polyvinylchloride and nitrile butadiene rubber) and one single-use glove (nitrile/neoprene) were tested for permeation resistance to actual formulations of organophosphate insecticides with active ingredients dimethoate and malathion. Chemical resistance parameters were measured using American society for testing and materials permeation test cells and compared across glove, organophosphate type, and temperature. The three gloves demonstrated comparable and adequate chemical resistance (less than one µg cm−2 min−1 for up to 8 hr exposure; 25–60 °C) for dilute forms of dimethoate and malathion, used during spraying activities. However, the single-use nitrile/neoprene glove is not designed to fully cover the elbow which limits its suitability. In permeation tests that reflect “worst case” exposure scenario to concentrated (neat) organophosphate formulations, as in mixing/loading tasks, a significant variation in chemical resistance between gloves was observed. While polyvinylchloride offered the maximum resistance, physical degradation of nitrile butadiene rubber after 3 hr of continuous exposure makes it unsuitable for handling neat dimethoate. The single-use nitrile/neoprene glove material had considerably poorer permeation resistance (up to 155-fold greater permeation and 6-fold shorter breakthrough) against neat formulations. Overall, elevated temperature (>40 °C) was shown to result in significantly greater (P < 0.05) cumulative permeation of neat formulation insecticides. This work demonstrates the variation in glove performance and potential for greater exposure risk particularly when mixing concentrated pesticides at elevated temperature conditions such as an occluded human skin or hot greenhouses. Training and guidance on testing, selection, use, and storage of gloves should consider in-use exposure scenarios and temperature-induced reduction in chemical protective performance.

Glove permeation of chemicals: The state of the art of current practice—Part 2. Research emphases on high boiling point compounds and simulating the donned glove environment

This second part of the review of the 21st century literature on glove permeation is divided into the following major themes; permeation data and mathematical models, exposure/risk assessment, and manufacturer data. The major issues in the literature were the demonstrations that increasing temperature and applying forces increased permeation; and that glove manufacturer data were sometimes not reproducible. Double gloving of disposable gloves was found to be effective in resisting chemical permeation for short periods of time. Harmonization of standards and commercial glove classifications were called for at conditions that were closer to the temperature and applied forces actually present in the workplace, including whole glove testing and quantitative rather than just qualitative criteria. More research was recommended in each section and subsection with particular emphasis on defining the efficiency of solid phase collection devices, and more data in areas like exposure to cosmetics, household products, liquid foods, drinks, and cleaning liquids. More research in exposure assessment for permeated chemicals with sensors on the inner glove surface and on the skin was called for. Finally, it was decided that the state of the art of current practice was in a situation that needed the permeation standards, research, and the permeation charts of glove manufacturers to be at conditions that better reflected those encountered by workers with donned gloves.

In-depth analysis of the emotional reactivity of American mink (Neovison vison) under behavioral tests

Currently, the importance of research into the behavior of farm animals is being highlighted. Monitoring animal temperament is a key aspect in improving their well-being. The aim of the study was to search for indicators facilitating classification of the emotional reactivity of mink (Neovison vison) using behavioral tests: glove and empathic tests. Both tests were applied to 760 mink in triplicate to assess their behavioral profile. Based on the obtained assessments, the animals subjected to the empathic test were classified into one of the four behavioral profiles: aggressive, curious, fearful, and neutral. The contact time of the mink with the new object in the empathic test clearly differentiates all four types of mink behavior. The significantly longest contact with the object was found for aggressive, and the shortest for neutral animals. The intensity and time of contact with the object may be an indicator of the behavioral profile of mink. Based on the results, it can be concluded that an additional predictor of the mink reactivity during behavioral tests should be taken into account, the intensity of contact with the object measured both by the intensity of direct contact and by the duration of this contact. The results shown in this study can be used as a selection indicator by including the temperament of farm mink in selection.

Development of a finger adapter method for testing and evaluating vibration-reducing gloves and materials

The objective of this study was to develop a convenient and reliable adapter method for testing and evaluating vibration-reducing (VR) gloves and VR materials at the fingers. The general requirements and technical specifications for the design of the new adapter were based on our previous studies of hand-held adapters for vibration measurement and a conceptual model of the fingers-adapter-glove-handle system developed in this study. Two thicknesses (2 mm and 3 mm) of the adapter beam were fabricated using a 3-D printer. Each adapter is a thin beam equipped with a miniature tri-axial accelerometer (1.1 g) mounted at its center, with a total weight ≤ 2.2 g. To measure glove vibration transmissibility, the adapter is held with two gloved fingers; a finger is positioned on each side of the accelerometer. Each end of the adapter beam is slotted between the glove material and the finger. A series of experiments was conducted to evaluate this two-fingers-held adapter method by measuring the transmissibility of typical VR gloves and a sample VR material. The experimental results indicate that the major resonant frequency of the lightweight adapter on the VR material (≥800 Hz) is much higher than the resonant frequencies of the gloved fingers grasping a cylindrical handle (≤300 Hz). The experimental results were repeatable across the test treatments. The basic characteristics of the measured glove vibration transmissibility are consistent with the theoretical predictions based on the biodynamics of the gloved fingers-hand-arm system. The results suggest that VR glove fingers can effectively reduce only high-frequency vibration, and VR effectiveness can be increased by reducing the finger contact force. This study also demonstrated that the finger adapter method can be combined with the palm adapter method prescribed in the standardized glove test, which can double the test efficiency without substantially increasing the expense of the test.

Towards Hand Model with Integrated Multichannel Sensor System for Thermal Testing of Protective Gloves

This paper deals with the development of a temperature sensor system consisting of multiple temperature sensors integrated into a model of a human hand and a system for data collection, processing and 3D visualization. The measuring part of the system uses temperature sensors TMP05, which enable daisy chain serial connection. The individual chains are then connected to the microprocessor. The microprocessor controls the temperature measurement and sends data to the computer, where data is processed, evaluated and visualized. The temperature sensors are mounted on flexible printed circuit boards which are placed into the human hand model and subsequently fixed by a UV curable adhesive. The model of the human hand is designed in accordance with the standard models for the production of rubber gloves and it is made on a 3D printer of polyamide PA6 filled with short carbon fibers. The final version of the system will have approximately two hundred sensors, which will be concentrated mainly in the area of fingers and back of the hand.

Testing overwork weakness in Charcot-Marie-tooth disease: Is it true or false?

The occurrence of the overwork weakness (OW) in Charcot-Marie-tooth (CMT) disease has been debated for a long time. Especially at the hands level, it is still unclear as to whether OW occurs. Contrasting results may relate to the different muscle groups evaluated and the instruments used. We concentrated to the upper limbs (UL). We recruited 120 subjects, 60 CMT patients and 60 normal controls and evaluated the strength of the tripod pinch and of the hand-grip with a dynamometer, the opposition ability with the thumb opposition test (TOT) and applied an innovative instrumental testing of hand function using the sensor engineered glove test (SEGT), which previously demonstrated its sensitiveness to measure severity of hands dysfunction in CMT patients. In CMT patients, TOT scores were significantly higher in the non-dominant hand (NDH) compared to dominant hand (DH), strength in the NDH was slightly but not significantly better than the DH. Finally, SEGT results were similar between the NDH and DH, whereas in normal controls the DH performed better. In conclusion, this study supports the existence of the overwork weakness in CMT. We can speculate that the dexterity and overall ability of the hands appear more impaired in the DH as a result of a weakness and incapacity of opposition. Our results support the importance of avoiding supramaximal exercises and educating patients to prevent incorrect movements.

A new method of ergonomic testing of gloves protecting against cuts and stabs during knife use

The paper presents a new method of ergonomic evaluation of gloves protecting against cuts and stabs during knife use, consisting of five manual dexterity tests. Two of them were selected based on the available literature and relevant safety standards, and three were developed by the authors. All of the tests were designed to simulate occupational tasks associated with meat processing as performed by the gloved hand in actual workplaces. The tests involved the three most common types of protective gloves (knitted gloves made of a coverspun yarn, metal mesh gloves, and metal mesh gloves with an ergonomic polyurethane tightener) and were conducted on a group of 20 males. The loading on the muscles of the upper limb (adductor pollicis, flexor carpi ulnaris, flexor carpi radialis, and biceps brachii) was measured using surface electromyography. For the obtained muscle activity values, correlations were found between the glove type and loading of the upper limb. ANOVA showed that the activity of all muscles differed significantly between the five tests. A relationship between glove types and electromyographic results was confirmed at a significance level of α = 0.05.

WSGC NASA Internship Final Report

This report describes the activities carried out during a 10-week, full-time internship at NASA’s Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston, Texas. As an intern on the Space Suit Assembly (SSA) Development Engineering team, I contributed to several ongoing projects related to the advancement of Extravehicular Activity (EVA) space suits. Current EVA suits were designed for limited activities and usage time, and projected requirements of future exploration missions necessitate research into new suit components and materials. During my internship, I contributed mainly to the testing protocol for upcoming High-Performance EVA Glove (HPEG) testing, tasks for Z-2 suit testing, and studied the effects of radiation on space suit materials.

Examining the Usefulness of ISO 10819 Anti-Vibration Glove Certification.

Anti-vibration gloves are commonly worn to reduce hand-arm vibration exposure from work with hand-held vibrating tools when higher priority and more effective controls are unavailable. For gloves to be marketed as 'anti-vibration' they must meet the vibration transmissibility criteria described in the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standard 10819 (2013). Several issues exist with respect to the methodology used for glove testing as well as the requirements for glove design and composition in ISO 10819 (2013). The true usefulness of anti-vibration gloves at preventing hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) is controversial, given that their performance is dependent on tool vibration characteristics and the anthropometrics of workers in real working conditions. The major risk associated with the use of anti-vibration gloves is that it will give employees and employers a false sense of protection against the negative effects of hand-transmitted vibration. This commentary examines the limitations of the current international standards for anti-vibration glove testing and certification, thereby calling into question the degree of protection that anti-vibration gloves provide against HAVS, and cautioning users to consider both their benefits and potential drawbacks on a case-by-case basis.

WSGC NASA Internship Final Report

This report describes the activities carried out during a 10-week, full-time internship at NASA’s Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston, Texas. As an intern on the Space Suit Assembly (SSA) Development Engineering team, I contributed to several ongoing projects related to the advancement of Extravehicular Activity (EVA) space suits. Current EVA suits were designed for limited activities and usage time, and projected requirements of future exploration missions necessitate research into new suit components and materials. During my internship, I contributed mainly to the testing protocol for upcoming High-Performance EVA Glove (HPEG) testing, tasks for Z-2 suit testing, and studied the effects of radiation on space suit materials.

An evaluation of dexterity and cutaneous sensibility tests for use with medical gloves

The ability of selected dexterity and cutaneous sensibility tests to measure the effect of medical glove properties (material, fit, and number of layers) on manual performance was analyzed. Manual performance testing of gloves to-date has focused on thicker gloves where the effects are more obvious. However, clinicians have reported dissatisfaction with some medical gloves and a perceived detriment to performance of new materials compared to latex. Three tests (Purdue Pegboard Test, Crawford Small Parts Dexterity Test, and Semmes-Weinstein Monofilaments) were performed by 18 subjects in five hand conditions (ungloved; best-fitting, loose-fitting and a double layer of latex examination gloves; best-fitting vinyl gloves). Tests were performed in the ungloved condition first, and the order of the gloved tests was randomized. Learning behavior was also measured. The Purdue test showed a significant effect of hand condition, but no differences between latex and vinyl. No significant effect of hand condition was found in the Crawford “Pins and Collars” test, but the “Screws” test showed promising discrimination between glove types. The Monofilaments test showed a significant effect of hand condition on cutaneous sensibility, particularly a reduction when “double-gloving,” but no significant differences between glove types. Existing tests show some ability to measure the effect of gloves and their properties on manual performance but are not comprehensive and require further validation. In order to fully describe the effects of medical gloves on manual performance, further tests should be designed with greater resolution and that better replicate clinical manual tasks.

Innovative quantitative testing of hand function in Charcot-Marie-Tooth neuropathy.

To describe a new test to quantitatively evaluate hand function in patients affected by Charcot-Marie-Tooth neuropathy (CMT). The sensor-engineered glove test (SEGT) was applied to CMT patients (N: 26) and compared with a cohort of healthy controls (HC, N: 26). CMT patients were further divided into subjects with clinically normal (group 1) or impaired hand (group 2) function. The SEGT parameters evaluated were touch duration, inter-tapping interval, and movement rate parameters of two different sequences: finger tapping (FT) and index-medium-ring-little (IMRL) performed at self-paced mode (SPM) and maximum velocity (MV). Hand function and strength were assessed by the 9-hole peg test (9HPT) and dynamometry. Disability of patients was measured by the CMT neuropathy score. CMT patients had significantly worst performances at SEGT than controls regarding the rate of execution of both FT (at MV) and IMRL sequences (at SPM and MV). The rate parameter at MV in IMRL sequence showed a significant trend of decreasing in its average between HC (n: 26, rate = 3.08 ± 0.52 Hz), group 1 (n: 9, rate = 2.64 ± 0.66 Hz) and group2 (n: 17, rate = 2.19 ± 0.45 Hz) (p for trend <0.001). No correlations were found with either 9HPT, dynamometry, electrophysiology, and the CMT neuropathy score. The SEGT test is sensitive to show hand dysfunction in CMT patients, with and without clinically impaired hands.

Tool-specific performance of vibration-reducing gloves for attenuating palm-transmitted vibrations in three orthogonal directions

Vibration-reducing (VR) gloves have been increasingly used to help reduce vibration exposure, but it remains unclear how effective these gloves are. The purpose of this study was to estimate tool-specific performances of VR gloves for reducing the vibrations transmitted to the palm of the hand in three orthogonal directions (3-D) in an attempt to assess glove effectiveness and aid in the appropriate selection of these gloves. Four typical VR gloves were considered in this study, two of which can be classified as anti-vibration (AV) gloves according to the current AV glove test standard. The average transmissibility spectrum of each glove in each direction was synthesized based on spectra measured in this study and other spectra collected from reported studies. More than seventy vibration spectra of various tools or machines were considered in the estimations, which were also measured in this study or collected from reported studies. The glove performance assessments were based on the percent reduction of frequency-weighted acceleration as is required in the current standard for assessing the risk of vibration exposures. The estimated tool-specific vibration reductions of the gloves indicate that the VR gloves could slightly reduce (<5%) or marginally amplify (<10%) the vibrations generated from low-frequency (<25 Hz) tools or those vibrating primarily along the axis of the tool handle. With other tools, the VR gloves could reduce palm-transmitted vibrations in the range of 5%–58%, primarily depending on the specific tool and its vibration spectra in the three directions. The two AV gloves were not more effective than the other gloves with some of the tools considered in this study. The implications of the results are discussed. Relevance to industryHand-transmitted vibration exposure may cause hand-arm vibration syndrome. Vibration-reducing gloves are considered as an alternative approach to reduce the vibration exposure. This study provides useful information on the effectiveness of the gloves when used with many tools for reducing the vibration transmitted to the palm in three directions. The results can aid in the appropriate selection and use of these gloves.

Anthropometric Robotic Hand for Pressurized Glove Torque Measurement

While robotic hands have been developed for tasks such as manipulation and grasping, their potential as tools for evaluation of engineered products — particularly compliant structures that are not easily modeled — has not been broadly studied. In this research, a low-cost anthropometric robotic hand is introduced that is designed to characterize glove stiffness in a pressurized environment. The interaction with the compliant pressurized glove provides unique performance requirements and design constraints. The anthropometric robotic hand was designed to mimic the human hand in a configuration corresponding to the neutral position in zero gravity, including the transverse arch, longitudinal arch, and oblique flexion of the rays. The resulting robotic hand also allows for realistic donning and doffing of the prototype glove, its pressurization, and torque testing of individual joints. Solid modeling and 3D printing enabled the rapid design iterations necessary to work successfully with the compliant pressure garment. An instrumentation and data processing method was used to calculate the required actuator torque at each finger's knuckle joint. The performance of the robotic hand was experimentally demonstrated with a prototype spacesuit glove at different levels of pressure, followed by a statistical repeatability analysis. The reliable measurement method validated the pressure-induced stiffening. The resulting robotic design and testing method provide an objective and systematic way of evaluating the performance of compliant gloves.

Design of an Infinite-Swept-Wing Glove for In-Flight Discrete-Roughness-Element Experiment

The Subsonic Aircraft Roughness Glove Experiment is an in-flight experiment designed to meet the NASA Environmentally Responsible Aviation project requirements. The goal of the experiment was to demonstrate the discrete-roughness-element technology to delay transition on a swept wing at transport-relevant conditions and subject to crossflow instability. In this paper, a redesign of that experiment is described for a different aircraft (Gulfstream-IIB), meeting the same requirements, but using a new methodology that promotes infinite-swept-wing flow on the glove test article. The new glove has the designation TAMU-0706. Increasing the demonstrated capabilities of both natural laminar flow and discrete roughness elements is a large step toward practical laminar flow on transport aircraft. Moreover, the infinite-swept-wing flow methodology not only increases the effective test region of the wing glove, but is well adapted for code-validation studies of discrete roughness element and other laminar-flow-control technologies.

The non-agoutimutation in Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) selected for behavior

The frequency of aa homozygous descendants was studied in crosses of Aa heterozygous Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus (Berkenhout, 1769)) parents selected for tame and aggressive behavior. First, Aa heterozygotes were obtained in crosses between tame homozygotes for the wild-type allele (AA) and aggressive homozygotes for the non-agouti allele (aa). The most tame and the most aggressive descendants were selected from the progeny of the Aa genotype by using the glove test. Then Aa rats were crossed among tame and among aggressive descendants, and the AA and Aa genotypes of grey descendants were identified by polymerase chain reactions (PCR). The segregation of descendants into the AA, Aa, and aa genotypes was cumulatively analyzed in five generations of selection with regard to the phenotypic manifestation of tame and aggressive behavior in their parents. The frequency of aa descendants in the progeny of mothers with low aggressive behavior scores was less than expected and less than in the progeny of mothers with high aggressive behavior scores.