bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
O1A.3 Occupational insecticide exposure, glycemic regulation and bronchoconstriction: preliminary results from a short-term cohort study among small-scale farmers in uganda
Authors: Rune Hassan Hansen Martin , Jørs Erik , Sandbæk Annelli , Sekabojja Daniel , Ssempebwa John , Mubeezi Ruth , Staudacher Philipp , Fuhrimann Samuel , Schlünssen Vivi 
Published: May 2020

IntroductionEpidemiological studies have suggested associations between exposure to some classes of non-persistent insecticides, airways obstruction (Doust et al, 2014) and diabetes mellitus (Evangelou et al, 2016). Yet the evidence is limited by cross-sectional study designs and exposure metrics based on self-reported information only. The purpose of this study is to investigate these associations in a strong study design employing objective exposure metrics.MethodsFrom September 2018 to February 2019, we are conducting a short-term cohort study in a population of 370 small-scale farmers in Uganda, half of which are conventional farmers and the other half working towards organic certification. We examine participants before, during and after the October-November agricultural pesticide-spraying season. In each study round, participants perform spirometry, and glycemic regulation is assessed by analysis of glycated aemoglobin A (HbA1c) as well as fasting plasma glucose for a subgroup. Detailed questionnaire-based information on pesticide usage (frequency, intensity, duration, specific compounds, personal protective equipment etc.) is used to construct an internal task-exposure matrix. The task-exposure matrix will be validated by erythrocyte choline esterase (AchE) activity as a proxy for organophosphate and carbamate exposure, as well as passive pesticide samplers (silicone wristbands) worn by participants between the study rounds.Results and discussionThe baseline (pre-spraying season) data collection is finalized. Data collection for the two rounds of follow-up (during/after the spraying season) is ongoing. At the conference, we will present the first results on temporal changes across the spraying season in AchE and associations with glycated aemoglobin A, fasting plasma glucose and lung function.ReferencesDoust, et al. Is pesticide exposure a cause of obstructive airways disease?European Respiratory Review2014June 1;23(132):180–92.Evangelou, et al. Exposure to pesticides and diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Environment International2016May 1;91:60–8.
O3E.2 Risk of mental health disorders in human service occupations: a register based study of 445,651 norwegians
Authors: Kristensen Petter , Hanvold Therese N , Hasting Rachel L , Merkus Suzanne L , Mehlum Ingrid S 
Published: May 2020

ObjectivesMental disorders contribute strongly to disability. Work in human service occupations has been considered a risk factor in several studies. We aimed at quantifying this relationship in a prospective follow-up of all employed persons born in Norway, 1967–1976.MethodsWe conducted follow-up in several national registries. Based upon the ISCO98 four-digit code, we classified 2007 occupations into customer contact, client/patient contact, and reference (no contact). Client/patient contact was subdivided into health care, education and social work. We collected mental disorder diagnoses (ICD-10 F00-F99), in particular affective (F30-F39) and stress-related (F40-F48), in the Norwegian Patient Registry, 2008–2011. Four-year prevalence differences (PD) per 100 across occupational categories were estimated in binomial regression models adjusted for year of birth, marital history, current family pattern, and education level.ResultsAmong 4 45 651 employed persons, 18% held customer-related occupations while 25% held occupations with client/patient contact. The total four-year prevalence of mental disorder was 8.6/100 (38,207 patients). Affective and stress-related prevalences were 5.3 and 6.5 for women, and 3.0 and 3.2 for men, respectively. Adjusted PD estimates showed positive associations between client/patient contact occupations and mental disorders: for women, affective and stress-related disorder PD estimates were 1.1 (95% confidence interval (CI); 0.9–1.3) and 1.3 (CI; 1.0–1.5), respectively. The corresponding PD estimates for men were 1.7 (CI; 1.5–2.0) and 1.5 (CI; 1.2–1.7). We found strongest associations for women in social work (PD 2.3 for stress-related disorders) and men in health care (PD 2.6 for affective disorders). Associations with other mental disorder categories were weak, as were associations with customer contact occupations.ConclusionsAffective and stress-related morbidity was clearly associated with occupations involving client/patient contact for both sexes. We cannot dismiss health selection as an alternative to a causal effect of work-related factors. This register-based study is not well suited to provide mechanistic explanations.
O3E.4 Layoffs and the mental health and safety of remaining workers: a quasi-experimental study of the U.S. aluminum industry
Authors:   UC Berkeley School of Public Health Holly Elser, Ben-Michael Elijahu , Rehkopf David , Modrek Sepideh , Eisen Ellen , Cullen Mark 
Published: May 2020

BackgroundRelatively few studies have examined the effects of layoffs on remaining workers, although the effects of layoffs and downsizing events may extend beyond those employees who lose their jobs.MethodsWe examined the effects of layoffs on mental healthcare utilization and injury risk among workers at 30 U.S. plants between 2003 and 2013. We defined layoffs as reductions in the hourly workforce of 20% or more at each plant. Using a difference-in-differences approach, we compared the change in outcomes during layoffs versus the same three-month period one year previously, accounting for secular trends with control plants.ResultsOur study population included 15 502 workers and seven layoff events between 2003 and 2012. Layoffs were associated with decreases in reported injuries (−0.006, 95% CI −0.013, 0.001), and increased probability of outpatient visits (0.010, 95% CI 0.003, 0.017) and prescriptions (0.014, 95% CI −0.0006, 0.027) for mental health. Among men, injury risk decreased more substantially (−0.010, 95% CI −0.018,–0.001) and among women the increase in outpatient visits was more pronounced (0.017, 95% CI 0.003, 0.031). Most notably, the observed increase in prescription utilization appeared attributable primarily to increased frequency of opioid prescriptions (0.016 95% CI 0.005–0.027).ConclusionOur results indicate an association between layoffs and remaining workers’ mental health and safety. However, decreased injury may reflect changes in reporting practices, and changes mental healthcare utilization may reflect changes in care-seeking. Future research on concordance of service utilization and underlying health and safety may yield valuable insight into the experiences employed workers in the wake of layoffs.
O4A.2 Joint effects of night work and shift rotation on treated depression in a longitudinal cohort of manufacturing workers
Authors: Ferguson Jacqueline , Elser Holly , Costello Sadie , Cullen Mark , Eisen Ellen 
Published: May 2020

Past research consistently identifies shift work – a type of scheduled work that includes both night work and schedule rotations – as risk factor for depression. However, relatively few studies have examined whether people working more nights or rotations are more likely to seek treatment for depression.A total of 5848 workers across 33 plants in the American Manufacturing Cohort (AMC) were followed 2003–2013. The first observed episode of treated depression was defined from insurance claims as two depression-related outpatient visits or two prescribed antidepressants within 365 days. Using detailed timeclock data, night work (≥3 hours between 23:00 and 6:00) was defined as the percent of shifts that included a night shift and was categorized into non-night work 0%; low >0%–30%; medium >30%–70%; and high 70%–100%. Shift rotations (≥6 hours between subsequent shift start times), were similarly defined and classified as none 0%, infrequent <10%, and frequent rotations≥10%. We examined the joint effects of night work and shift rotation on the time to first episode of treated depression using Cox proportional hazards regression.Shift workers were more likely to be treated for depression compared with non-rotating, non-night workers. Workers with medium exposure to night work had the highest association with treated depression compared with permanent non-night workers, and the joint effects were similar between those with frequent rotations (HR: 1.64, 95% CI: 1.00–2.67) and infrequent rotations (1.53, 0.99–2.37). Associations were slightly elevated among permanent night workers (1.27, 0.72–2.25) and workers with high exposure to night work regardless of rotations (1.36, 0.86–2.17).Recent shift work exposure may be associated with higher rates of treated depression, and night work, rather than rotation, may be driving the association. However, there may be selection out of night work due to underlying depression and we were unable to differentiate new-onset from preexisting disease.
O4A.3 Do shift workers have a different exposure to workplace carcinogens than non-shift workers?
Authors: El-zaemey Sonia , Carey Renee 
Published: May 2020

BackgroundThere is limited information on whether the prevalence of exposure to workplace carcinogens varies among shift workers and non-shift workers.MethodsThis analysis used data from the Australian Work Exposures Study-Cancer, a telephone survey which examined exposure to carcinogens in the workplace. Workers were classified as shift workers if they indicated that their usual roster ever included work between the hours of midnight and 5 am. Modified Poisson regression was used to estimate the adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs) and 95% confidence internals (CIs).ResultsAmong the 5425 workers, 6.88% reported doing shiftwork. Overall, shift workers were more likely to be exposed to any carcinogen (aPR=1.16; 95% 1.06–1.26) and to multiple carcinogens (aPR=1.17; 95% 1.06–1.30) than non-shift workers.ConclusionsOur study shows that there are differences in exposure to carcinogenic agents among shift and non-shift workers, and so there is a need for prevention programs in order to reduce these discrepancies.
O4A.4 The relationship between shift work and sleep disturbance in hospital workers
Authors: Koh Dong-Hee , Park Ju-Hyun , Yoon Seo-Hyun , Kim Hyun-Joo 
Published: May 2020

IntroductionMany hospital workers suffer from sleep disturbance due to shift work. The best way to mitigate the problem would be reducing night shift. However, that is commonly impossible in reality. Thus, we aimed to examine the factors associated with sleep disturbance and suggest better-rotating schedules for hospital workers.MethodsWe used sleep questionnaires asking sleep disturbance including sleep onset and maintenance problems for measuring health outcomes. Also, We obtained a duty schedule of the workers for assessing exposure. We examined the effect of the pattern of shift schedule and amount of night shifts on sleep disturbance.ResultsA total of 590 workers participated in this study. Female (95%) 3-rotating shift (92%) workers dominated. For workshift pattern, two consecutive night shifts increased the risk of sleep maintenance problem significantly. For the amount of night shift, two or more night shifts per week increased the risk of sleep onset problem significantly.ConclusionOur results suggest that avoding consecutive night shifts and restricting night shift to one time per week would be helpful to prevent sleep disturbance in hospital workers.
O4B.2 Patterns and predictors of return to work after major trauma: a prospective, population based registry study
Authors: Collie Alex , Simpson Pamela , Cameron Peter , Ameratunga Shanthi , Ponsford Jennie , Lyons Ronan , Braaf Sandra , Nunn Andrew , Harrison James , Gabbe Belinda 
Published: May 2020

BackgroundEmployment is an important marker of functional recovery from injury. There are few population-based studies of long-term employment outcomes, and limited data on the patterns of return to work post injury.ObjectivesThis study sought to characterise patterns of engagement in work over the four-year period following major traumatic injury, and to identify factors associated with those patterns.MethodWe conducted a population-based, prospective cohort study using the Victorian State Trauma Registry. A total of 1086 working age individuals, in paid employment or full-time education before injury, were followed-up through telephone interview at 6, 12, 24, 36, and 48 months post-injury. Responses to return to work (RTW) questions were used to define four discrete patterns: early and sustained; delayed; failed; no RTW. Predictors of RTW patterns were assessed using multivariate multinomial logistic regression.ResultsSlightly more than half of respondents (51.6%) recorded early sustained RTW. A further 15.5% had delayed and 13.3% failed RTW. One in five (19.7%) did not RTW. Compared with early sustained RTW, predictors of delayed and no RTW included being in a manual occupation and injury in a motor vehicle accident. Older age and receiving compensation predicted both failed and no RTW patterns. Pre-injury disability was an additional predictor of failed RTW. Presence of co-morbidity was an additional predictor of no RTW.ConclusionsA range of personal, occupational, injury, health and compensation system factors influence RTW patterns after serious injury. Early identification of people at risk for delayed, failed or no RTW is needed so that targeted interventions can be delivered.
O4C.3 Job strain, exposure to carcinogens and the wellbeing of migrant workers
Authors: Daly Alison , Reid Alison 
Published: May 2020

IntroductionJob strain adversely affects wellbeing. It is unclear if job strain increases the risk of exposure to carcinogens. The aim of this study is to examine how high strain jobs influence exposure to carcinogens and wellbeing and whether this varies by migration status.MethodsA national telephone survey conducted in 2016/17 examined exposure to workplace hazards among 1630 migrant workers (born in India, New Zealand and the Philippines). Exposure to carcinogens was assessed an online platform that automates exposure assessment. High job strain and wellbeing was measured using standardised questionnaires. Univariate statistics examined high job strain and exposure to carcinogens by country of birth. Models were developed to explore these associations.ResultsThere were no differences in prevalence of job strain by country of birth with percents ranging from 23.8% [95% CI 18.6,30.0] for India-born workers to 26.5% [95% 21.7,31.8] for New Zealand-born. A lower percent of migrants born in India or the Philippines were exposed to any carcinogens at work 55.2% [95% CI 51.2,59.0]) compared New Zealand workers (68.8% [95% CI 63.9,73.4] vs 55.2% [95% CI 51.2,59.0]). Wellness means ranged from 13.6 [95% CI 13.1,14.1] for Philippines-born workers to 14.3 [95% CI 13.9,14.7] for New Zealand-born. Wellbeing was adversely impacted by high job strain (Coef=2.1 95% CI 1.7,2.6). There was no difference by country of birth. Job strain was not associated with exposure to carcinogens but country of birth was with workers born in India having a lower probability of being exposed (Predicted probability of exposure:. 50 (95% CI. 46,.54) compared with the other migrant workers.DiscussionHigh strain jobs adversely affected wellbeing independent of migrant status. Job strain was not associated with either exposure to carcinogens or migrant status. However migrant status was associated with exposure to carcinogens.
Fluorene exposure among PAH-exposed workers is associated with epigenetic markers related to lung cancer
Authors: Alhamdow Ayman , Essig Yona J , Krais Annette M , Gustavsson Per , Tinnerberg Håkan , Lindh Christian H , Hagberg Jessika , Graff Pål , Albin Maria , Broberg Karin 
Published: May 2020

ObjectivesExposure to high-molecular-weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) may cause cancer in chimney sweeps and creosote-exposed workers, however, knowledge about exposure to low-molecular-weight PAHs in relation to cancer risk is limited. In this study, we aimed to investigate occupational exposure to the low-molecular-weight PAHs phenanthrene and fluorene in relation to different cancer biomarkers.MethodsWe recruited 151 chimney sweeps, 19 creosote-exposed workers and 152 unexposed workers (controls), all men. We measured monohydroxylated metabolites of phenanthrene and fluorene in urine using liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry. We measured, in peripheral blood, the cancer biomarkers telomere length and mitochondrial DNA copy number using quantitative PCR; and DNA methylation ofF2RL3andAHRRusing pyrosequencing.ResultsMedian PAH metabolite concentrations were higher among chimney sweeps (up to 3 times) and creosote-exposed workers (up to 353 times), compared with controls (p<0.001; adjusted for age and smoking). ∑OH-fluorene (sum of 2-hydroxyfluorene and 3-hydroxyfluorene) showed inverse associations with percentage DNA methylation ofF2RL3andAHRRin chimney sweeps (B (95% CI)=–2.7 (–3.9 to –1.5) forF2RL3_cg03636183, and –7.1 (–9.6 to –4.7) forAHRR_cg05575921: adjusted for age and smoking), but not in creosote-exposed workers. In addition, ∑OH-fluorene showed a 42% mediation effect on the inverse association between being a chimney sweep and DNA methylation ofAHRRCpG2.ConclusionsChimney sweeps and creosote-exposed workers were occupationally exposed to low-molecular-weight PAHs. Increasing fluorene exposure, among chimney sweeps, was associated with lower DNA methylation ofF2RL3andAHRR, markers for increased lung cancer risk. These findings warrant further investigation of fluorene exposure and toxicity.
Analytic self-gravitating 4-Baryons, traversable NUT-AdS wormholes, flat space-time multi-Skyrmions at finite volume and a novel transition in the SU(3)-Skyrme model
Authors: Ayón-Beato E. , Canfora F. , Lagos M. , Oliva J. , Vera A. 
Published: May 2020

AbstractWe construct the first analytic self-gravitating Skyrmions with higher Baryon charge in four dimensions for theSU(3)-Skyrme–Einstein-$$\Lambda $$Λtheory by combining the generalized hedgehog ansatz with the approach developed by Balachandran et al. to describe the first (numerical) example of a non-embedded solution. These are genuineSU(3) analytic solutions instead of trivial embeddings ofSU(2) intoSU(3) and its geometry is that of a Bianchi IX Universe. The Skyrme ansatz is chosen in such a way that the Skyrme field equations are identically satisfied in the sector with Baryon charge 4. The field equations reduce to a dynamical system for the three Bianchi IX scale factors. Particular solutions are explicitly analyzed. Traversable wormholes with NUT-AdS asymptotics supported by a topologically non-trivialSU(3)-sigma soliton are also constructed. The self-gravitating solutions admit also a suitable flat limit giving rise to Skyrmions of charge 4 confined in a box of finite volume maintaining the integrability of theSU(3) Skyrme field equations. This formalism discloses a novel transition at finite Baryon density arising from the competition between embedded and non-embedded solutions in which the non-embedded solutions prevail at high density while are suppressed at low densities.
Feasible production of hydrogen from methanol reforming through single stage DC microplasma reactor
Authors: Meiyazhagan S. , Yugeswaran S. , Suresh K. , Ananthapadmanabhan P. V. , Kobayashi A. 
Published: May 2020

Plasma-assisted methanol reforming is an effective technology to produce hydrogen for various clean energy applications. In this study, hydrogen was produced from methanol reforming in a unique single stage microplasma reactor. Microplasma was produced between the capillary stainless steel tube electrodes by using high voltage direct current (DC) power supply. Blend of methanol and water was supplied to the microplasma reactor in a controlled flow rate using nitrogen as carrier gas. The effects of applied input power to the discharge and methanol feed rate on the performance of the plasma methanol decomposition were investigated. The experimental results showed that increasing the applied input power expressively increased the methanol conversion and hydrogen energy yield. In contrast, the increased feed rate significantly decreased the methanol conversion efficiency though it enriched the hydrogen energy yield. Under selective conditions, hydrogen energy yield of 24.14 g kW[Formula: see text] h[Formula: see text] was achieved with the conversion efficiency of 71% and 50% selectivity for H2, which is comparatively better than many of plasma-assisted methanol reforming processes. This investigation reveals that methanol reforming through a single stage microplasma reactor has the ability to produce hydrogen efficiently without coke formation at room-temperature and atmospheric pressure.
Optimization of large power factor in molybdenum oxide thin films deposited on Si substrate
Authors: Ge Xue , Zhu Hanming , Yue Song 
Published: May 2020

The performance of thermoelectric (TE) thin films strongly depends on the substrates. In our previous study, we investigated the power factor (PF) 1.78 mW/[Formula: see text] at 700 K in [Formula: see text] thin film grown on single crystalline Si, comparable to the state of art in other TE thin films. Such boosted PF originates mainly from the significantly enhanced Seebeck coefficient, correlated with the contribution of the Si substrate. In this paper, the PF has been prominently optimized up to 12.5 mW/[Formula: see text] at 668 K by adjusting the thickness of [Formula: see text] film in the [Formula: see text]/Si system, which could be understood in the frame work of parallel slab model. Experimentally, the effective TE properties were susceptible to the substrate–film interface. The existence of Mo in [Formula: see text] film might limit the formation of [Formula: see text] interfacial layer. These results suggest a simple, low-cost, scalable technique route to explore highly effective TE devices.
VALIDITY OF A FBG-BASED SMART SOCK SYSTEM FOR MEASURING TOE GRIP FUNCTION IN HUMAN FOOT
Authors: LEOW YIXUAN , HENG MARABELLE LI-WEN , LIU YIMIN , FONG DANIEL T. P. , CHAN CHI CHIU , KONG PUI WAH 
Published: May 2020

This study developed a smart sock system using optical fiber technology to measure the toe grip function of individual toes. The system comprised Fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors incorporated into a sock garment for measuring maximum toe flexion displacements. Calibration equation of each FBG sensor was determined from 3D motion capture system on 10 female subjects. The validity of the smart sock system was checked by comparing maximum toe flexion displacement against the gold standard of 3D motion capture. The root mean squared error was 0.95 (0.57) cm across 10 toes. The magnitude of toe displacement and error was similar between the left and right feet. In conclusion, the FBG-based smart sock system can successfully measure maximum toe flexion displacements of individual toes simultaneously. This system can be developed to support the evaluation of toe grip function in clinical and field settings.