bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
O1E.2 Influence of work organization and environment on health and productivity outcomes among construction apprentices: a total worker health® approach
Authors: Dale Ann , Evanoff Bradley , Rohlman Diane , Strickland Jaime , Kelly Kevin
Published: May 2020

Introduction

Construction is a hazardous industry, with well-recognized risks of traumatic injury and high physical demands. Other threats to construction workers’ health and well-being occur from work organization and work environment factors, including precarious employment, long commutes, long work hours, and employer policies regarding health and safety. These non-traditional hazards have been associated with injury and illness, psychosocial stress, and unhealthy behaviors including poor diet and smoking. The cumulative impacts of both traditional and non-traditional hazards on the health and well-being of construction workers are largely unknown.

Methods

We conducted annual surveys among apprentice construction workers to identify relationships between four study domains: work organization and environment, health behaviors, health outcomes, and work outcomes.

Results

963 baseline surveys were completed and returned by apprentice construction workers (90% response rate, mean age 28). Preliminary analyses examined associations between work organization factors and four self-reported outcomes: lower work ability, lower productivity, higher rates of missed days of work due to injury, and use of prescription pain medication. We found that all four outcomes were associated with high job demands, low supervisor support, and low job security. Other factors associated with one or more outcomes included low job security, mandatory overtime, low coworker support, and low foreman supervision of safety. Compared to commercial construction workers, those in residential construction reported higher use of pain medication and higher rates of missed days due to work injuries. One year follow-up data from 901 workers are now being analyzed; we will present results of relationships between the four study domains.

Discussion

Cross-sectional data highlight non-traditional worksite health risks, and suggest potential interventions to improve heath behaviors and outcomes among construction workers.
O2A.2 Pesticides and respiratory health; the GB based pipah study
Authors: Fishwick David , Harding Anne-Helen , Fox David , Yiqun Chen , Pearce Neil , Frost Gillian
Published: May 2020

We administered a cross sectional respiratory questionnaire in January to 4814 PIPAH (Prospective Investigation of Pesticide Applicators’ Health) participants. Of the 2562 respondents (53% response) with a median age of 60.2 years, 97.4% were male and 34.1% ever smoked.

The prevalence of ever doctor diagnosed conditions was 11.4% for asthma, 1.29% for COPD, 0.9% for chronic bronchitis and 0.4% for farmer’s lung.

Self-reported symptoms, however, were more prevalent. Nasal allergies were reported by 21.4%, coughing in winter (possibly signifying chronic bronchitis) by 13.7%, chest tightness or difficulty in breathing by 12.9% and trouble in breathing by 9%. The majority (n=1806, 86%) had mixed, loaded handled or applied pesticides in the last 12 months, in a range of work areas.

For those respondents actively using pesticides, the association between respiratory health and pesticide use was investigated using logistic regression. Doctor diagnosed; none of the doctor diagnosed conditions were statistically associated with (binary) pesticide use in the last 12 months. Doctor diagnosed asthma was only associated with age (OR 0.987, p=0.024) and ever smoking (OR 1.47, p=0.004).

Self-reported; self-reported nasal allergies (OR=1.81), chest tightness (OR=2.18) and trouble breathing (OR=2.68) were associated with ‘golf courses, bowling greens, sports grounds’ work, cough (OR=1.91) with forestry and cough (OR=1.4) and wheeze (OR=1.31) with grain store work. After adjustment for age, self-reported nasal allergy was significantly inversely associated with pesticide use (OR 0.72, p=0.03), although no significant associations with pesticide use were identified for other self-reported symptoms.

This study has identified low levels of doctor diagnosed ill health in this group, in contrast to more prevalent self-reported symptoms; suggesting the possibility of under-diagnosis of respiratory ill health. Forestry and grass-exposed areas were associated with nasal allergies and cough. Pesticide use specifically was only associated with nasal allergies.
O2A.5 Agricultural exposures and risk of NHLs, by subtypes: results from the agriculture and cancer (AGRICAN) cohort
Authors: Busson Amandine , Tual Séverine , Boulanger Mathilde , Renier Marine , Pons Romain , Piel Clément , Pouchieu Camille , Perrier Stéphanie , Levêque-Morlais Noémie ,   AGRICAN-Group, Guizard Anne-Valérie , Monnereau Alain , Baldi Isabelle , Lebailly Pierre
Published: May 2020

Purpose

Several studies and meta-analyses demonstrated that farmers have an excess risk of Non-Hodgkin Lymphomas (NHL), including Multiple Myeloma (MM). It has been suggested that pesticides could explain these results. Therefore circumstances of pesticide exposures (on crops, seeds or animals) and other farming tasks need to be explored in relation to NHL risk overall and major subtypes. From the large cohort of French farmers AGRICAN, we assessed the risk of NHL by subtypes (1) compared to the general population and (2) among farmers to identify the farm activities and tasks linked to NHLs subtypes.

Methods

AGRICAN cohort enrolled more than 1 80 000 adults registered with the Mutualité Sociale Agricole, from 11 areas. Incident NHLs cases were identified by individual cross linkage with cancer registries from enrolment (2005–2007) to 2013. Lifetime work on 13 crops and 5 types of animals and the tasks performed (with duration and size information) were collected by enrollment questionnaire. Standardized incidence ratios (SIR) were calculated. Associations between NHLs and crops, animals and specific tasks were analyzed using Cox models.

Results

1,133 NHL incident cases were identified (269 MM, 244 chronic lymphocytic leukemia and small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL-SLL), and 190 diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL)). Increased risks were observed for NHL overall and MM (SIR=1.05, and SIR=1.23, respectively). Positive associations were observed with exposure to pesticides i) on crops: DLBCL (grassland), MM (corn, wheat/barley and potato), CLL-SLL (corn, wheat/barley and vineyard) and DLBCL (tobacco), ii) in seed treatment: in CLL-SLL (sunflower, wheat/barley) and in MM (wheat/barley, corn) and iii) for use on animals (MM). Other tasks were linked to NHL risk: hay making (LDGCB) and harvesting corn (MM) and wheat/barley (CLL-SLL).

Conclusion

Our results supports the role of pesticide exposure on NHL risk, not only on crops. Moreover, specific associations according to NHLs subtypes were observed.
O2C.2 Does region of residence matter for return-to-work after work-related injury? A comparative analysis of six canadian workers’ compensation jurisdictions
Authors: Macpherson Robert , Shen Hui , Koehoorn Mieke , Amick Benjamin , Collie Alex , Smith Peter , McLeod Christopher
Published: May 2020

Objectives

To investigate regional differences in return-to-work following work-related injury and whether these differences persist after adjusting for individual characteristics.

Methods

Workers’ compensation claims from six Canadian provinces were used to create comparable cohorts of workers aged 15–80 with a work-related injury resulting in at least one disability day from 2011 to 2015. Workers’ residential postal codes were mapped to Census standard geographic units to categorize workers into six regions representing decreasing urban density and metropolitan influence (ranging from large urban areas of 100,000+people to rural areas of <10 000 people with no metropolitan influence). Cox regression models were used to estimate the effect of urban-rural residence on the likelihood of injured workers transitioning off work disability benefits within one-year post-injury, adjusting for confounders, including provincial compensation jurisdiction. Models were stratified by industry sectors.

Results

The cohort included 7 46 029 work disability claims, of which the majority resided in large urban areas (69%). Unadjusted models showed that workers residing in smaller urban and rural areas had a lower likelihood of transitioning off work disability benefits compared to those in large urban areas. Urban-rural differences persisted in adjusted models (e.g. HR=0.91 95% CI 0.89, 0.94 for workers in rural areas with no metropolitan influence). Industry-stratified models showed that greater differences existed between urban and rural places of residence for workers in the transportation and construction sectors, and smaller differences for workers in the health care and manufacturing sectors.

Conclusions

The main finding suggests that injured workers in more rural areas face barriers in returning to work and that workers’ compensation resources may need to be allocated to address these regional disparities. Future research will incorporate both individual and regional-level variables in a multilevel model framework to identify the characteristics that are the most important in explaining variability in work disability duration.
O2C.5 Increasing costs of occupational injuries in association with high ambient temperatures in adelaide, south australia, 2000–2014
Authors: Xiang Jianjun , Hansen Alana , Pisaniello Dino , Bi Peng
Published: May 2020

Objective

To investigate the impact of ambient temperature on compensation costs due to work-related injuries, and to provide an evidence base about the economic benefits of developing workplace heat prevention strategies in a warming climate.

Methods

Workers’ compensation claims obtained from SafeWork South Australia for 2000–2014 were transformed into daily time series format and merged with meteorological data. The relationship between temperature and compensation costs were estimated using a generalized linear model after controlling for long-term trends, seasonality, and day of week. A piecewise linear spline function was used to account for non-linearity.

Results

A total of 4 64 139 workers’ compensation claims were reported during the 15 year period in South Australia, resulting in AU$14.9 billion dollars compensation payment. Overall, it is a reversed V-shaped temperature-cost association. A 1°C increase in maximum temperature was associated with a 1.1% (95% CI, 0.2%–2.0%) increase in daily injury compensation expenditure below 35.2°C. Specifically, significant increases of injury costs were observed in males (1.4%, 95% CI 0.3%–2.5%), young workers (3.0%, 95% CI 1.2%–4.9%), older workers≥65 years (2.4%, 95% CI 0.5%–4.4%), labourers (2.7%, 95% CI 0.5%–4.8%), machinery operators and drivers (3.5%, 95% CI 1.6%–5.3%) and the following industries: agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting (12.3%, 95% CI 2.2%–23.3%); construction (7.8%, 95% CI 0.02%–16.3%); and wholesale and retail trade (2.4%, 95% CI 0.5%–4.4%). Costs for compensating occupational burns and ‘skin and subcutaneous tissue diseases’ increased by 3.1% (95% CI 1.2%–5.1%) and 2.7% (95% CI 0.1%–5.4%) respectively, with a 1°C increase in maximum temperature.

Conclusion

There is a significant association between temperature and work-related injury compensation costs in Adelaide, South Australia for certain subgroups. Heat attributable workers’ compensation costs may increase with the predicted rising temperature.
O3A.1 Assessing the under-estimation of occupational respiratory diseases in taiwan: analyses of disease burdens and healthcare costs
Authors: Chen Chung-Yen , Cheng Yawen
Published: May 2020

Background

Respiratory diseases, including pneumoconiosis, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and respiratory malignancies, are featured by their multi-etiological nature and long latency periods, adding to the difficulties in recognizing their work-relatedness. Due to their heavy overall disease burdens and high healthcare spending, examining the fraction of respiratory diseases attributable to occupational factors is helpful in understanding the magnitude of under-estimation of occupational injuries and diseases.

Methods

Prevalence rates of various occupational exposures were assessed retrospectively with self-reported surveys or job-exposure matrices. Relative risks of theses exposures were drawn from international epidemiological literatures. The above two parameters were used to calculate population attributable risk percentages (PAR%), and with that the numbers of visiting and amounts of payment attributable to occupational factors were estimated based on the claim data of the National Health Insurance (NHI). The estimates were compared with the data of actual payment by the Workers’ Compensation Insurance (WCI).

Results

We estimated that around 15 000 patients visited medical facilities for occupational respiratory diseases in 2015, costing a total of 10 million USD. In contrast, less than 200 cases were approved by WCI in the same year. A 100-fold gap between the estimated and actual payment was also noted. Estimation analyses further indicated that 9.6% of cases and 48.1% of healthcare costs were asbestos-related.

Conclusion

For occupational respiratory diseases with long latency periods and great causal complexity, the scope of under-estimation was substantial, and their medical expenses had been largely paid by NHI rather than WCI. To increase the visibility of occupational respiratory diseases, workplace exposure assessment and disease surveillance should be improved and public awareness of occupational diseases should be raised.
O3A.3 Do airway inflammation and airway responsiveness markers at start of apprenticeship predict their evolution during initial training? A longitudinal study
Authors: Demange Valérie , Zmirou-Navier Denis , Bohadana Abraham , Wild Pascal
Published: May 2020

The natural history of airway inflammation and symptoms in occupations at risk of asthma is still not fully understood. We aimed to study the evolution during apprenticeship of inflammation markers, bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) and symptoms in at-risk subgroups as defined from measurements of markers made shortly after the start of training.

Respiratory symptoms, FEV1and airway resistance post-bronchial challenge (MBC) test results, fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) measurements, and eosinophils in nasal lavage fluid were longitudinally investigated in apprentice bakers, pastry-makers and hairdressers. Four baseline risk groups were defined, based on, (i) a high level of FeNO (NO), (ii) eosinophils>1% (Eosino), (iii) a≥15% decrease in FEV1during the MBC test (HR), and (iv) a≥50% increase in the resistance (Resist). The statistical analysis relied on mixed models.

At baseline, the inflammation markers were related to the MBC markers. There was no evidence to suggest that the baseline risk groups predict a differential evolution of the airway inflammation and bronchial responsiveness markers, or the asthma-like symptoms considered. The baseline risk groups defined from MBC test predicted the levels of MBC markers. Similarly, the baseline risk groups based on eosinophilic inflammation predicted the levels of markers for eosinophilia. Twelve possible new asthma cases were identified, only the HR risk group predicted their occurrence.

Among this young population, at-risk groups based on initial high levels of inflammation markers did not experience any worsening during the follow-up. Initial BHR predicted consistently high levels of all markers considered and occurrence of possible asthma. These results have been published in BMC Pulmonary Medicine (Demangeet al. BMC Pulm Med. 2018 July 11;18(1):113).
O3B.2 Occupational exposures and sickness absence trajectories among finnish employees: a register linked nationally representative follow-up study
Authors: Lallukka Tea , Kaila-Kangas Leena , Mänty Minna , Seppänen Johanna , Haukka Eija , Kausto Johanna , Leino-Arjas Päivi , Kaikkonen Risto , Halonen Jaana , Shiri Rahman
Published: May 2020

Background

Physical workload factors have been linked to the risk of sickness absence, however, some work exposures can also be protective of work ability. We aimed to first identify sickness absence trajectories in a nationally representative occupational cohort, and second to examine the associations between physical workload factors, potential protective factors and sickness absence trajectories.

Methods

We examined a nationally representative cohort of working aged Finnish adults interviewed and medically examined at baseline in 2000–2001 (n=3814). Both potentially protective (sitting and keyboard use) and risk factors (e.g. handling of heavy loads and vibration) were included. All medically confirmed sickness absence periods 2002–2008 were included in the trajectory analyses to identify latent groups with similar sickness absence trends. These data were derived from the registers of the Social Insurance Institution of Finland. The models were adjusted for sociodemographic factors, health behaviors and physical and mental health.

Results

We found a group with a very low level, a group with a stable low level, and a group with a high and increasing level of sickness absence. After full adjustments, prolonged sitting and use of keyboard emerged as protective factors that were associated with a lower risk of belonging to the trajectory with high and increasing sickness absence (HR 0.60; 95% CI 0.45–0.80). In turn, the risk increased with the number of physical workload factors reported, and was highest for those with four or more workload factors (HR 2.84; 95% 2.08–3.88).

Conclusions

Physical work is associated with the risk of long-term sickness absence, with the highest risk found for those with several different physical workload factors. As the risk remained after controlling for various pertinent risk factors, this highlights the need to find ways to better maintain work ability of those with the physically most strenuous work.
O3B.5 The mental health of police, firefighters and paramedics in the UK biobank: a comparison with the general working population
Authors: Stevelink Sharon , Fear Nicola , Hotopf Matthew
Published: May 2020

It is our responsibility to protect and look after the health of members of the emergency services as this directly impacts on the country’s readiness to respond to these disasters and is a critical part of our duty of care towards this important group of workers. This study examined the mental health outcomes and associations with individual and job characteristics among emergency services personnel compared to a random sample of working people, thereby using data from the UK Biobank. This data source contains data on over half a million adults in the UK, who were at the time of recruitment between 40–69 years. Over 2 80 000 reported being in work. Current emergency services personnel were identified based on Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) 2000 codes. A random sample of age and sex matched people working in other occupations were selected from the UK Biobank for comparative purposes. The prevalence of the outcomes of interest, based on current and life time measures of depression, anxiety, alcohol misuse, post-traumatic stress disorder, suicide and trauma will be presented. The findings will be discussed in the light of current policies and strategies and recommendations for further practice will be outlined.
O3D.5 National policies and social inequalities in exit paths from working life in sweden
Authors: Nilsson Kerstin , Kadefors Roland , Östergren Per-Olof , Rylander Lars , Albin Maria
Published: May 2020

We investigated the impact on work life exits from reduced access to disability pension (2006), and financial incentives to extend working life.

Method and material

We used labour statistics, social insurance, and income data, for all employees in Sweden, to compare occupational groups (SSYK, based on ISCO-88), and blue and white collar workers, with regard to i) lost years in working life due to death, disability pension and long-term sick-leave preceding disability pension 2007–2010, ii) granted disability pensions 2007–2011, and iii) premature age pension in 2004 and 2011.

Results

Years lost in working life were similar for men and women in the same 1-digit SSYK occupational group, somewhat higher for those born outside Sweden, but showed a clear gradient from white to blue collar occupations, e.g. on average 0.39 ys versus 2.40 ys lost for Legislators/senior officials/managers and in Elementary occupations, respectively (women born in Sweden).

In 2006 the prevalence of disability pension in the age group 50–64 was 3.61% among women and 2.49% among men, with 10/10 of the highest prevalence occupations (4-digit SSYK code) in men, and 9/10 in women, being blue collar ones. Approved applications decreased 2006–2011 by 74.4% in women, and 64.3% in men; for mental disorders (ICD-10-SE; F00-F99) 64.9% in women and 48.8% in men, for musculoskeletal disorders (M00-M99) 91.1% and 90.0%, respectively.

The prevalence of premature age pension increased between 2004 and 2011: men 2.5% to 6.4%, women 1.7% to 5.5%. Blue collar occupations were most affected.

Conclusions

The socioeconomic divide in lost years of working life between white and blue collars prevailed. There was an apparent flow from disability to premature age pension, in particular in female blue collars. The findings indicate the budgetary savings of disability pensions transferred the economic burden of disease to individuals, and mainly to female blue collar workers.
O3E.6 Association between workplace bullying and common mental disorders in judiciary brazilian civil servants from southern brazil
Authors: Feijó Fernando , Fassa Anaclaudia , Pearce Neil
Published: May 2020

Introduction

Bullying has been described as a risk factor for mental disorders, however there is a lack of evidence on this subject in low- and middle-income countries. Therefore we aimed to evaluate the association between workplace bullying and common mental disorders in a sample of Judiciary Brazilian civil servants.

Methods

Cross-sectional study with a sample of 1667 workers from the Brazilian Federal Judiciary in southern Brazil. The Negative Acts Questionnaire (NAQ-r) was used to measure bullying at work and the Self Report Questionnaire (SRQ-20) was used to evaluate Common Mental Disorders (CMD). Poisson regression was used to test associations of interest, controlling for confounders.

Results

The overall prevalence of CMD was 33.5%. The prevalence of workplace bullying was 17.7%. In the crude analysis, exposure to bullying (at least one negative act in a weekly basis in the last six months) was associated with a 2.07-fold (CI 1.81–2.36, p<0.001) higher prevalence of CMD. After controlling for sociodemographic and occupational confounders, workers exposed to bullying presented a 1.51-fold (CI 1.31–1.73, p<0.001) higher prevalence of CMD.

Discussion

Judiciary Brazilian civil servants may be at a high risk of being exposed to bullying and having common mental disorders. Our findings corroborate the results of studies from high-income countries, where bullying is considered an important occupational determinant of mental health. Prevention policies to eliminate bullying in organizations are urgent, what may help to decrease the prevalence of mental disorders among workers.
O4A.5 Night shift work is associated with abnormal liver function
Authors: Tse Lap Ah , Wang Feng , Zhang Liuzhuo , Li Zhimin
Published: May 2020

Objective

To examine the relationship between night shift work and elevated level of alanine transaminase (e-ALT) of workers, stratified by status of non-alcohol fatty liver.

Methods

We established a prospective cohort of night shift workers in Shenzhen, China. All 4740 male workers who had liver function data from the baseline survey of this night shift workers’ cohort were included in the current analysis. We collected information on demographics, lifestyles, and lifetime working schedule from standardized questionnaire. We examined workers’ NAFL status using liver sonography and their serum ALT levels using the automatic biochemical analyzer. Unconditional logistic regression models were used to evaluate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI).

Results

This cohort contained 39.5% night shift workers. Compared with the day workers, night shift workers had higher odds of e-ALT (OR: 1.18; 95% CI 1.00–1.40). Stratified analysis showed that a positive gradient between night shift years and elevated e-ALT was only restricted to the night shift workers without NAFL. No similar trend was observed among those with NAFL.

Conclusions

Night shift work is positively associated with the abnormal liver function in workers without NAFL, which indicates that shift work involving circadian disruption is likely to affect abnormal liver function.

[National Natural Science Foundation of China (Project number 81273172 and 81372964), Shelly@cuhk.edu.hk (Lap Ah Tse)]
Clinical impact of CT coronary angiography without exclusion of small coronary artery segments: a real-world and long-term study
Authors: Logghe Yannick , Van Hoe Lieven , Vanhoenacker Piet , Bladt Olivier , Simons Philip , Kersschot Erik , Van Mieghem Carlos
Published: May 2020

Objectives

CT coronary angiography (CTCA) has become a valuable diagnostic test in the workup of patients with possible coronary artery disease (CAD). Because of inherent limitations in spatial resolution, epicardial vessels with a small diameter, in general less than 1.5–2 mm, have so far been excluded in studies assessing clinical utility of CTCA. This study sought to assess the clinical impact of CTCA taking into account pathology in small coronary arteries.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of all patients with possible CAD who underwent dual-source CTCA and subsequent invasive coronary angiography (ICA) between January 2010 and July 2017. Patients with an Agatston calcium score ≥1000 were reported separately. Diagnostic accuracy of CTCA on a patient, vessel and segment level was calculated. The physician’s therapeutic decision was defined as conservative, medical antianginal treatment or revascularisation. Using ICA as the reference, we calculated the precision of CTCA to replicate these therapeutic recommendations.

Results

In total, 1209 patients underwent both CTCA and ICA. Overall diagnostic performance of CTCA showed a sensitivity of 90% (95% CI 86% to 93%) and specificity of 40% (95% CI 36% to 45%). With regard to clinical decision making, CTCA showed good performance: 91% of patients who were treated medically or by revascularisation were correctly identified. Prevalence of disease in small vessel segments was low: 16% showed significant CAD on ICA. Prevalence of significant disease was 70% in patients with an Agatston score ≥1000: the majority underwent revascularisation.

Conclusions

From a true patient perspective, without exclusion of smaller coronary artery segments, CTCA allows safe patient management.
Management of Fatigue in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: Pope Janet E
Published: May 2020

Fatigue in rheumatoid arthritis is highly prevalent. It is correlated only weakly with disease activity but more so with pain, mood, personality features, poor sleep, obesity and comorbidities. Fatigue can be measured by many standardised questionnaires and more easily with a Visual Analogue Scale or numeric rating scale. Most patients with RA have some fatigue, and at least one in six have severe fatigue. Chronic pain and depressed mood are also common in RA patients with significant fatigue. It affects function and quality of life and is worse on average in women. Evidence-based treatment for fatigue includes treatment of underlying disease activity (with on average modest improvement of fatigue), exercise programmes and supervised self-management programmes with cognitive-behavioural therapy, mindfulness and reinforcement (such as reminders). The specific programmes for exercise and behavioural interventions are not standardised. Some medications cause fatigue such as methotrexate. More research is needed to understand fatigue and how to treat this common complex symptom in RA that can be the worst symptom for some patients.
Peripheral spondyloarthritis: a neglected entity—state of the art
Authors: Carron Philippe , De Craemer Ann-Sophie , Van den Bosch Filip
Published: May 2020

Peripheral spondyloarthritis (pSpA) refers to a number of seemingly different spondyloarthritis subsets in which psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is the most common, and symptoms of arthritis, enthesitis or dactylitis predominate the clinical presentation. Although formal classification criteria for pSpA have been introduced in 2011, only a minority of epidemiological and clinical studies addressed this clinical entity as a separate disease. Moreover, research on outcome measures and treatment modalities in pSpA has been mainly focused on PsA. Subsequently, all biological treatments are off-label in patients with non-psoriatic pSpA. Its neglected status has important implications for clinical practice since the emerging group of early-diagnosed non-psoriatic pSpA patients remains poorly characterised and lacks specific treatment recommendations. This review summarises what is currently known regarding pSpA in terms of epidemiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis and therapeutic approach.
Impact of shelter-in-place order for COVID-19 on trauma activations: Santa Clara County, California, March 2020
Authors: Forrester Joseph D , Liou Raymond , Knowlton Lisa M , Jou Ronald M , Spain David A
Published: May 2020

Introduction

The shelter-in-place order for Santa Clara County, California on 16 March was the first of its kind in the USA. It was unknown what impact this order would have on trauma activations.

Methods

We performed a retrospective analysis of institutional trauma registries among the two American College of Surgeons Level 1 trauma centers serving Santa Clara County, California. Trauma activation volumes at the trauma centers from January to March 2020 were compared with month-matched historical cohorts from 2018 to 2019.

Results

Only 81 (3%) patients were trauma activations at the trauma centers in the 15 days after the shelter-in-place order went into effect on 16 March 2020, compared with 389 activations during the same time period in 2018 and 2019 (p<0.0001). There were no other statistically significant changes to the epidemiology of trauma activations. Only one trauma activation had a positive COVID-19 test.

Discussion

Overall trauma activations decreased 4.8-fold after the shelter-in-place order went into effect in Santa Clara County on 16 March 2020, with no other effect on the epidemiology of persons presenting after traumatic injury.

Conclusion

Shelter-in-place orders may reduce strain on healthcare systems by diminishing hospital admissions from trauma, in addition to reducing virus transmission.
Neurological signs following suspected exposure to stinging nettles in two dogs
Authors: Puig Jordi , Griffin Aileen S , Montoliu Patricia
Published: May 2020

Two gun dogs presented with a combination of neuromuscular and autonomic signs following suspected exposure to stinging nettles (Urtica dioica) in the UK. Both dogs developed first clinical signs on the same day and had been working in the same area where the presence of stinging nettles had been reported. Clinical signs included urticaria, tachypnoea, hypersalivation, bilateral miosis, ambulatory tetraparesis, muscle fasciculations and myokymia and generalised decreased hyporeflexia. Complete blood count and acetylcholinesterase activity were within normal limits apart from the elevated creatine kinase levels. One dog had three toxic episodes over a period of three weeks and the second case had a single toxic insult. Both dogs made a complete recovery after supportive care including intravenous fluid therapy, antihistamines, proton pump inhibitors, analgesics, antibiotics and steroidal eye‐drops. There was no report of any permanent clinical signs as a result of the exposure.
Septic epiphysitis and sequestrum formation in the glenoid of the scapula in a five‐month‐old foal diagnosed by computed tomography
Authors: Clements Peter E , Jones Becky , Coomer Richard
Published: May 2020

A five‐month‐old Connemara foal presented for acute‐onset, severe left forelimb lameness with fever, neutrophilia and an elevated serum amyloid A concentration. Radiographs were suspicious of septic physitis of the proximal humerus. CT identified a large defect involving the central portion of the subchondral bone plate of the glenoid and a sequestered bony fragment within the defect, which were not seen radiographically. CT findings were consistent with septic epiphysitis and sequestrum formation, which had significant implications on available treatment options. The foal was given a poor prognosis for returning to soundness so was subject to humane euthanasia.
Chondroitin polymerizing factor (CHPF) contributes to malignant proliferation and migration of hepatocellular carcinoma cells
Authors: Xu Qigang , Lin Wei , Tao Chonglin , Huang Xiaming , Li Junjian
Published: May 2020

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors in the human digestive system, and has been recognized as a serious threat to public health worldwide. This study explored the role of chondroitin polymerizing factor (CHPF) in the development and metastasis of HCC. Immunohistochemistry analysis was performed to detect CHPF expression in HCC tissues and para-carcinoma tissues. qRT-PCR and Western blot analysis were used to determine the mRNA and protein expression of CHPF. MTT assays, colony formation assays, and flow cytometry were used to evaluate the cell proliferation, colony formation, and cell apoptosis, respectively. Wound-healing and Transwell assays were performed to evaluate cell migration. The results show that CHPF was not only up-regulated in HCC tissues compared with para-carcinoma tissues, but was also related with more advanced stages of HCC. Further studies revealed that CHPF knockdown significantly inhibited cell proliferation and colony formation, and induce cell apoptosis of HCC cells. Moreover, suppressing the expression of CHPF reduced the migration and invasiveness of HCC cells. In conclusion, we demonstrated that CHPF plays important roles in the development and progression of HCC, and high expression levels of HCC may be related with poorer prognosis. The results from this study may provide a potential therapeutic target for HCC treatment.
Thermal Dynamics for Characterizing Nonlinear Circuit Behavior
Authors: Buscarino Arturo , Famoso Carlo , Fortuna Luigi , Frasca Mattia , Patanè Luca
Published: May 2020

In this paper, we focus on the thermal characterization of nonlinear electronic circuits deriving some conditions which suggest the existence of a relationship with the specific dynamic behavior shown by the circuit. A series of thermographic experiments indicate that the chaotic behavior in electronic circuits is associated with slower thermal transients, a slow linear growth of the temperature during the normal operating regime and lower overall temperature increase with respect to other dynamical regimes. Three experimental case studies are reported and discussed, considering also the effect of chaos control strategies.
An Extension of Discrete Lagrangian Descriptors for Unbounded Maps
Authors: García-Garrido Víctor J.
Published: May 2020

In this paper, we provide an extension for the method of Discrete Lagrangian Descriptors with the purpose of exploring the phase space of unbounded maps. The key idea is to construct a working definition, that is built on the original approach introduced in [ Lopesino et al., 2015a ], and which relies on stopping the iteration of initial conditions when their orbits leave a certain region in the plane. This criterion is partly inspired by the classical analysis used in Dynamical Systems Theory to study the dynamics of maps by means of escape time plots. We illustrate the capability of this technique to reveal the geometrical template of stable and unstable invariant manifolds in phase space, and also the intricate structure of chaotic sets and strange attractors, by applying it to unveil the phase space of a well-known discrete-time system, the Hénon map.
High-Order Analysis of Canard Explosion in the Brusselator Equations
Authors: Qin Bo-Wei , Chung Kwok-Wai , Algaba Antonio , Rodríguez-Luis Alejandro J.
Published: May 2020

The aim of this paper is to obtain a high-order approximation of the canard explosion in the Brusselator equations. This classical chemical system has been extensively studied but, until now, only first-order approximation to the canard explosion has been provided. Here, with the help of the nonlinear time transformation method, we are able to obtain an approximation to any desired order. Our results strongly agree with those obtained by numerical continuation.
The structural, spectral, frontier molecular orbital and thermodynamic analysis of 2-hydroxy 2-methyl propiophenone by MP2 and B3LYP methods
Authors: Ghafoor Sidra , Mansha Asim , Asim Sadia , Usman Muhammad , Zahoor Ameer Fawad , Ali Hafiz Saqib
Published: May 2020

In the present work, we have studied the 2-hydroxy 2-methyl propiophenone (2H2MPP) theoretically as well as experimentally. The optimized molecular structure has been obtained by the density functional theory (DFT), second-order Moller–Plesset perturbation theory (MP2) and Hartree Fock (HF) in the gas phase as well as in different media like ethanol, DMSO and heptane. FT-IR and FT-Raman spectra were computed as well as recorded and fundamental vibrational wavenumbers were assigned. The electronic absorption spectra were calculated by employing the time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) to get the information about excitation energies, oscillator strength and excited state geometries in gas phase and in different solvent media. Chemical activity and chemical stability obtained by HOMO-LUMO studies using a HF/6-31[Formula: see text]G and MP2/6-311[Formula: see text]G calculations. The chemical interpretation of hyperconjugation interactions obtained by the Natural Bond Orbital (NBO) analysis. Moreover, electrostatic potential (ESP) calculations performed to get the visual representation of relative polarity of molecule. Thermodynamic parameters like enthalpy, entropy, heat capacity, and Gibbs free energy computed with varying temperature from 10[Formula: see text]K to 500[Formula: see text]K. The aim of the current investigation is to find out the quantum chemical properties of the title compound which show an active role in the pharmaceutical and printing industries.
Orderly Arranged Bead-Chain Cu2O-Mn3O4-NiO Ternary Nanocomposites with High Specific Capacitance for Supercapacitors
Authors: Su Lei , Zhang Chunyong , Shu Li , Huang Linna , Li Jianning , Qin Hengfei
Published: May 2020

A series of metal oxide nanocomposites have been successfully synthesized by electrospinning technology. The obtained nanocomposites (Cu2O-Mn3O4-NiO) are an ordered arrangement of metal oxide particles (10[Formula: see text]nm), with the shape like bead chain. The acquired Cu2O-Mn3O4-NiO ternary nanocomposites were used as electrode materials to manufacture a supercapacitor. Electrochemical tests showed that the synthesis of nanocomposites made of electrode materials had good electrochemical performance in 6[Formula: see text]mol/L KOH electrolyte. The results showed that at a scan rate of 5[Formula: see text]mV/s, the specific capacitance of Cu2O-Mn3O4-NiO had a larger specific capacitance of 1306[Formula: see text]F/g than NiO, Cu2O-NiO and Mn3O4-NiO. The excellent electrochemical performance showed that the electrostatic spinning method is an effective technology for developing nanocomposites for energy storage devices.
Surface Evolution and Wave Loads on a Horizontal Plate in Different Tsunami-like Waves
Authors: Wang Qian , Fang Yong-Liu , Liu Hua
Published: May 2020

Physical experiments are conducted to study the interaction between the tsunami-like waves and the horizontal plate. The surface evolution and wave-induced loads are measured to explore the hydrodynamic characteristics when different waves are employed to simulate the tsunami. The solitary wave, surge wave, and undular bore are generated in laboratory as the simplification of the offshore tsunami wave. The bottom-fixed plate places near the free surface. It is found that the elevated plate attenuates the solitary waves locally, while the submerged plate leads to the wave focus phenomenon. The plate has less influence on the surface variation of the surge wave propagating. Results of loads show the different loading process of each tsunami-like wave. The inertial wave force and the local pressure from the rising surface dominate the inline force and vertical force, respectively. The value of loads induced by the surge wave is less than that of the solitary wave. The undular bore is generated by the superimposition of the solitary wave on the surge wave. The part of the solitary wave plays a local role in the wave force, while the surge part dominates the surface evolution.
Automated classification of dual channel dental imaging of auto-fluorescence and white lightby convolutional neural networks
Authors: Wang Cheng , Qin Haotian , Lai Guangyun , Zheng Gang , Xiang Huazhong , Wang Jun , Zhang Dawei
Published: May 2020

Prevention is the most effective way to reduce dental caries. In order to provide a simple way to achieve oral healthcare direction in daily life, dual Channel, portable dental Imaging system that combine white light with autofluorescence techniques was established, and then, a group of volunteers were recruited, 7200 tooth pictures of different dental caries stage and dental plaque were taken and collected. In this work, a customized Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) have been designed to classify dental image with early stage caries and dental plaque. Eighty percentage ([Formula: see text]) of the pictures taken were used to supervised training of the CNNs based on the experienced dentists’ advice and the rest 20% ([Formula: see text]) were used to a test dataset to test the trained CNNs. The accuracy, sensitivity and specificity were calculated to evaluate performance of the CNNs. The accuracy for the early stage caries and dental plaque were 95.3% and 95.9%, respectively. These results shown that the designed image system combined the customized CNNs that could automatically and efficiently find early caries and dental plaque on occlusal, lingual and buccal surfaces. Therefore, this will provide a novel approach to dental caries prevention for everyone in daily life.
Design Optimization and Analysis of Thermoacoustic Refrigerators
Authors: Prashantha B. G. , Swamy D. R. , Soragaon Bhimasen , Nanjundeswaraswamy T. S.
Published: May 2020

Thermoacoustic refrigeration, a novel technology, uses eco-friendly gases like helium, air or the mixture of noble gases as working substances in the absence of moving parts. The design, optimization and analysis of thermoacoustic refrigerators using helium and air as oscillating gases are discussed. Pure helium is chosen since it is proven as the best and economical working gas compared to the alternate pure or the mixture of noble gases. Air is chosen since it is abundant in nature and the least cost of the pressurized dry air cylinders. The design optimization strategies discussed in this paper serve as a guide for aspiring researchers in the design and development of thermoacoustic coolers. Cooling power as a function of stack diameter is discussed. Theoretical results of the optimized coolers are compared with DeltaEC simulation results for validation and are in agreement with each other.
Bottom-Up and Top-Down Paradigms for Psychopathology: A Half-Century Odyssey
Authors: Achenbach Thomas M.
Published: May 2020

Bottom-up paradigms prioritize empirical data from which to derive conceptualizations of psychopathology. These paradigms use multivariate statistics to identify syndromes of problems that tend to co-occur plus higher-order groupings such as those designated as internalizing and externalizing. Bottom-up assessment instruments obtain self-ratings and collateral ratings of behavioral, emotional, social, and thought problems and strengths for ages 1½–90+. Ratings of population samples provide norms for syndrome and higher-order scales for each gender, at different ages, rated by different informants, in relation to multicultural norms. The normed assessment instruments operationalize the empirically derived syndromes and higher-order groupings for applications to clinical services, research, and training. Because cross-informant agreement is modest and no single informant provides comprehensive assessment data, software compares ratings by different informants. Top-down paradigms prioritize conceptual representations of the nature and structure of psychopathology, as exemplified by psychodynamic, DSM/ICD, and HiTOP paradigms. Although these paradigms originated with observations, they tend to prioritize conceptual representations over empirical data.
Contractile work directly modulates mitochondrial protein levels in human engineered heart tissues
Authors: Ng Ronald , Sewanan Lorenzo R. , Brill Allison L. , Stankey Paul , Li Xia , Qyang Yibing , Ehrlich Barbara E. , Campbell Stuart G.
Published: May 2020

In this work, we present a novel bioreactor that allows for active length control of engineered heart tissues during extended tissue culture. Specific length transients were designed so that engineered heart tissues generated complete cardiac work loops. Chronic culture with various work loops suggests that mitochondrial mass and biogenesis are directly regulated by work output.
Using 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide as a model of menopause for cardiovascular disease
Authors: Konhilas John P. , Sanchez Jessica N. , Regan Jessica A. , Constantopoulos Eleni , Lopez-Pier Marissa , Cannon Danielle K. , Skaria Rinku , McKee Laurel A. , Chen Hao , Lipovka Yulia , Pollow Dennis , Brooks Heddwen L.
Published: May 2020

Before menopause, women are protected against cardiovascular disease compared with age-matched men; this protection is gradually lost after menopause. We present the first evidence that demonstrates menopausal females are more susceptible to pathological cardiac remodeling while perimenopausal and cycling females are not. The 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide model permits appropriate examination of how increased susceptibility to the pathological process of cardiac remodeling accelerates from pre- to perimenopause to menopause.
Cardiac Mechano-Electric Coupling: Acute Effects of Mechanical Stimulation on Heart Rate and Rhythm
Authors: Quinn T. Alexander , Kohl Peter
Published: May 2020

The heart is vital for biological function in almost all chordates, including humans. It beats continually throughout our life, supplying the body with oxygen and nutrients while removing waste products. If it stops, so does life. The heartbeat involves precise coordination of the activity of billions of individual cells, as well as their swift and well-coordinated adaption to changes in physiological demand. Much of the vital control of cardiac function occurs at the level of individual cardiac muscle cells, including acute beat-by-beat feedback from the local mechanical environment to electrical activity (as opposed to longer term changes in gene expression and functional or structural remodeling). This process is known as mechano-electric coupling (MEC). In the current review, we present evidence for, and implications of, MEC in health and disease in human; summarize our understanding of MEC effects gained from whole animal, organ, tissue, and cell studies; identify potential molecular mediators of MEC responses; and demonstrate the power of computational modeling in developing a more comprehensive understanding of ‟what makes the heart tick.ˮ