bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Estimation of net‐costs for prevention of occupational low back pain: Three case studies from the US
Authors: Lahiri Supriya , Gold Judith , Levenstein Charles 
Published: November 2005

AbstractBackgroundOccupational low back pain (OLBP) is widespread in industrialized societies. We present a model to estimate the net economic costs of investments in ergonomic interventions at the company level to reduce work‐related low back pain.MethodsCosts of interventions are defined by incorporating not only the costs of investment of equipment and labor, but also by taking into account the avoided costs of lost work time, medical care costs, and productivity improvements. In the net‐cost model, all costs are annualized and are calculated at the level of an individual organization. Three case studies have been performed based on data from three companies in the manufacturing sector of the United States using the above approach.ResultsThe net‐cost estimates for the three case studies consistently show that ergonomic interventions applied appropriately can result in substantial cost savings for the companies.ConclusionsAlthough generalizing on the basis of three case studies is not ideal, our analyses show that it might be in the economic interest of management to play a more active role to prevent back pain. Gathering useful retrospective cost data, even on interventions deemed effective by corporate innovators, proved to be extremely difficult. We conclude that it is essential to incorporate a protocol for collecting cost and effectiveness data in the standard operating procedures of ergonomists and companies introducing such innovation. We intend to validate the net‐cost model for the monitoring and reporting of such data through prospective studies in a variety of industrial settings and in countries at various stages of economic development. Am. J. Ind. Med. 48:530–541, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Review of estimates of the global burden of injury and illness due to occupational exposures
Authors: Driscoll Timothy , Takala Jukka , Steenland Kyle , Corvalan Carlos , Fingerhut Marilyn 
Published: November 2005

AbstractBackgroundOver the last decade, there have been several attempts to estimate the global burden of ill health due to work activity. The most recent of these is the Comparative Risk Assessment (CRA) project of the World Health Organization.MethodsPublished estimates of global burden of injury and disease due to occupational factors were summarized, compared, and contrasted with the aim of putting the CRA estimates into context, identifying the most reliable and appropriate estimate for total burden due to occupational risks, and making recommendations regarding future work.ResultsThe best estimate of global work‐related deaths of workers is approximately two million per year, with disease responsible for the vast majority of these, but even this is likely to be a considerable underestimate of the true number of deaths because of shortcomings in the available data.ConclusionsThe CRA estimates of burden due to individual risk factors appear appropriate for the limited number of exposures and conditions included, but are a major underestimate of the overall number of work‐related deaths at a global level due to exclusion of risk factors because of data limitations. Improvements in global estimates are likely to come from the use of different methodologies and improvements in the availability and use of local data. Am. J. Ind. Med. 48:491–502, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The global burden of non‐malignant respiratory disease due to occupational airborne exposures
Authors: Driscoll Timothy , Nelson Deborah Imel , Steenland Kyle , Leigh James , Concha‐Barrientos Marisol , Fingerhut Marilyn , Prüss‐Üstün Annette 
Published: November 2005

AbstractBackgroundOccupational non‐malignant respiratory disease arises from exposure of workers to airborne agents, mostly particulate or dusts. We describe the worldwide mortality and morbidity from asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and pneumoconioses arising from these occupational exposure and focus on cases reported in the year 2000.MethodsThe proportions of workers exposed to the agents, and their levels of exposure, were estimated using workforce data and the CAREX (CARcinogen EXposure) database. These were combined with relative risk measures (for asthma and COPD) or absolute risk measures (for the pneumoconioses) to develop estimates of deaths, disability‐adjusted life years (DALYs) and attributable fraction (for asthma and COPD).ResultsThere were an estimated 386,000 deaths (asthma: 38,000; COPD: 318,000; pneumoconioses: 30,000) and nearly 6.6 million DALYS (asthma: 1,621,000; COPD: 3,733,000, pneumoconioses: 1,288,000) due to exposure to occupational airborne particulates.ConclusionsOccupational airborne particulates are an important cause of death and disability worldwide. Am. J. Ind. Med. 48:432–445, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The global burden of selected occupational diseases and injury risks: Methodology and summary
Authors: Nelson Deborah Imel , Concha‐Barrientos Marisol , Driscoll Timothy , Steenland Kyle , Fingerhut Marilyn , Punnett Laura , Prüss‐Üstün Annette , Leigh James , Corvalan Carlos 
Published: November 2005

AbstractBackgroundAround the globe, work has a heavy impact on health. To better advise policy makers, we assessed the global burden of disease and injury due to selected occupational hazards. This article presents an overview, and describes the methodology employed in the companion studies.MethodsUsing the World Health Organization (WHO) Comparative Risk Assessment methodology, we applied relative risk measures to the proportions of the population exposed to selected occupational hazards to estimate attributable fractions, deaths, and disability‐adjusted life years (DALYs). Numerous occupational risk factors had to be excluded due to inadequate global data.ResultsIn 2000, the selected risk factors were responsible worldwide for 37% of back pain, 16% of hearing loss, 13% of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), 11% of asthma, 8% of injuries, 9% of lung cancer, and 2% of leukemia. These risks at work caused 850,000 deaths worldwide and resulted in the loss of about 24 million years of healthy life. Needlesticks accounted for about 40% of Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C infections and 4.4% of HIV infections in health care workers.ConclusionsExposure to occupational hazards accounts for a significant proportion of the global burden of disease and injury, which could be substantially reduced through application of proven risk prevention strategies. Am. J. Ind. Med. 48:400–418, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The cost effectiveness of occupational health interventions: Prevention of silicosis
Authors: Lahiri Supriya , Levenstein Charles , Nelson Deborah Imel , Rosenberg Beth J. 
Published: November 2005

AbstractBackgroundThe failure to recognize occupational health as an economic phenomenon limits the effectiveness of interventions ostensibly designed to prevent disease and injury. Hence, consideration of economic efficiency is essential in the evaluations of interventions to reduce hazardous working conditions. In this paper, we present an analysis of the cost effectiveness of alternative means of preventing silicosis.MethodsTo evaluate the cost effectiveness of specific interventions for the prevention of occupationally induced silicosis, we have used the simulation models based on the generalized cost‐effectiveness analysis (GCEA) developed by the WHO‐CHOICE initiative for two representative subregions namely AMROA (Canada, United States of America), and WPROB1 (China, Korea, Mongolia).ResultsIn both of the two subregions, engineering controls are the most cost effective with ratios varying from $105.89 per healthy year or disability adjusted life year saved in AMROA to approximately $109 in WPROB1. In the two subregions, the incremental cost‐effectiveness ratio of engineering controls (EC) looks most attractive. Although dust masks (DM) look attractive in terms of cost, the total efficacy is extremely limited.ConclusionsTo the extent that this analysis can be generalized across other subregions, it suggests that engineering control programs would be cost effective in both developed and developing countries for reducing silica exposure to save lives. Note that this analysis understates health benefits since only silicosis and not all silica‐related diseases are considered. Am. J. Ind. Med. 48:503–514, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The global burden due to occupational injury
Authors: Concha‐Barrientos Marisol , Nelson Deborah Imel , Fingerhut Marilyn , Driscoll Timothy , Leigh James 
Published: November 2005

AbstractBackgroundOccupational injuries are a public health problem, estimated to kill more than 300,000 workers worldwide every year and to cause many more cases of disability. We estimate the global burden of fatal and non‐fatal unintentional occupational injuries for the year 2000.MethodsThe economically active population (EAP) of about 2.9 billion workers was used as a surrogate of the population at risk for occupational injuries. Occupational unintentional injury fatality rates for insured workers, by country, were used to estimate WHO regional rates. These were applied to regional EAP to estimate the number of deaths. In addition to mortality, the disability‐adjusted life years (DALYs) lost, which measure both morbidity and mortality, were calculated for 14 WHO regions.ResultsWorldwide, hazardous conditions in the workplace were responsible for a minimum of 312,000 fatal unintentional occupational injuries. Together, fatal and non‐fatal occupational injuries resulted in about 10.5 million DALYs; that is, about 3.5 years of healthy life are lost per 1,000 workers every year globally. Occupational risk factors are responsible for 8.8% of the global burden of mortality due to unintentional injuries and 8.1% of DALYs due to this outcome.ConclusionsOccupational injuries constitute a substantial global burden. However, our findings greatly underestimate the impact of occupational risk factors leading to injuries in the overall burden of disease. Our estimates could not include intentional injuries at work, or commuting injuries, due to lack of global data. Additional factors contributing to grave underestimation of occupational injuries include limited insurance coverage of workers and substantial under‐reporting of fatal injuries in record‐keeping systems globally. About 113,000 deaths were probably missed in our analyses due to under‐reporting alone. It is clear that known prevention strategies need to be implemented widely to diminish the avoidable burden of injuries in the workplace. Am. J. Ind. Med. 48:470–481, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Estimating the global burden of low back pain attributable to combined occupational exposures
Authors: Punnett Laura , Prüss‐Ütün Annette , Nelson Deborah Imel , Fingerhut Marilyn A. , Leigh James , Tak SangWoo , Phillips Sharonne 
Published: November 2005

AbstractBackgroundThere is little information about the global burden of non‐traumatic low back pain (LBP) attributable to the effects of physical and psychosocial occupational stressors.MethodsBased on a review of the epidemiological evidence, occupation‐specific relative risks were used to compute attributable proportions by age, gender, and geographical sub‐region for the economically active population aged 15 and older. The reference group was professional/administrative workers; other risk categories were Low, clerical and sales; Moderate, operators (production workers) and service; and High, farmers.ResultsWorldwide, 37% of LBP was attributed to occupation, with twofold variation across regions. The attributable proportion was higher for men than women, because of higher participation in the labor force and in occupations with heavy lifting or whole‐body vibration. Work‐related LBP was estimated to cause 818,000 disability‐adjusted life years lost annually.ConclusionsOccupational exposures to ergonomic stressors represent a substantial source of preventable back pain. Specific research on children is needed to quantify the global burden of disease due to child labor. Am. J. Ind. Med. 48:459–469, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Determination of the solubility of a monomer in water by multiple headspace extraction gas chromatography
Authors: Chai X.‐S. , Hou Q. X. , Schork F. J. 
Published: November 2005

AbstractIn water‐based polymerization (suspension, microsuspension, emulsion, miniemulsion, and microemulsion polymerization), the solubility of the monomer in the aqueous phase can have profound effects on the final polymer product. This article demonstrates a novel method for the determination of monomer solubility in water with headspace gas chromatography (GC). In this method, an excess amount of an organic solute of interest was added into a closed headspace vial containing a given volume of water. The organic solute and water in the vial was well mixed by strong hand shaking; then, the equilibrated vapor solute in the vial at a desired temperature was measured by headspace GC with a multiple headspace extraction mode. In each headspace extraction, a part of the vapor phase in the vial was vented for GC analysis and replaced with an inert gas. The excess amount of solute in aqueous solution was eventually removed from the vial after multiple headspace extractions, and the solute concentration in water reached its saturation point. After that point, the concentration of the solute in the vapor dramatically decreased in each subsequent headspace extraction. By plotting vapor concentration versus headspace extraction number, we determined the transition point. The vapor concentration at this point corresponded to the solute solubility, which was calculated through a calibration. This method was very simple and automated; it could easily be used for organic solute solubility measurement at an elevated temperature. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 99: 1296–1301, 2006
Thermal diffusivity of polyolefins by temperature wave analysis
Authors: Chang H. J. , Morikawa J. , Hashimoto T. 
Published: November 2005

AbstractThe thermal diffusivities of 25 kinds of polyolefin films, including high‐density polyethylene, low‐density polyethylene, linear low‐density polyethylene, polypropylene, 4‐methylpentene, and ethylene–octene copolymer, were determined by temperature wave analysis in a continuous temperature scan. The thermal diffusivity decreased with increasing temperature, and the temperature dependence was steeper in the solid state than in the melt state. A supercooling phenomenon was observed in the crystallization process during cooling. The thermal diffusivity of polyethylene in the solid state was in a good correlation with the density at room temperature, and a higher temperature coefficient was observed in high‐density polyethylene with a higher thermal diffusivity. The influence of the catalyst system on the thermal diffusivity was also observed in the ethylene–octene copolymer. The thermal diffusivity was sensitive to the precise change in the microstructure of the crystalline polyolefin, which was influenced not only by the chemical structure but also by the thermal history. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 99: 1104–1110, 2006
Preparation of soap‐free cationic emulsion using polymerizable surfactant
Authors: Jin Liqiang , Liu Zonglin , Xu Qinghua , Li Yanchun 
Published: November 2005

AbstractA kind of polymerizable surfactant, methacryloyloxyethylhexadecyldimethylammonium bromide (DMHB) was used to synthesis soap‐free cationic emulsion with styrene (St), methyl methacrylate (MMA), and methacryloyloxyethyltrimethylammonium chloride (MATMAC) by emulsion polymerization using 2,2′‐azobis(isobutylamidine hydrochloride) (AIBA) as a cationic initiator. The effects of polymerizable surfactant concentration, initiator concentration, and reaction temperature on the conversion of monomer were investigated. The results indicated that the rate of polymerization could be expressed as Rp = kp[AIBA]0.42[DMHB]0.45 and the apparent activation energy (Ea) was 83.42 kJ/mol. The particle size, ζ potential, and apparent charge density of cationic latices were also measured. The average diameter of copolymer particles decreased with increasing DMHB, MATMAC, and AIBA content; the charge properties of the particles were decided by the DMHB, MATMAC, and AIBA content. The polymerization mechanism is discussed. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 99: 1111–1116, 2006
Structure and properties of organoclay/EPDM nanocomposites: Influence of ethylene contents
Authors: Ma Yong , Wu You‐Ping , Wang Yi‐Qing , Zhang Li‐Qun 
Published: November 2005

AbstractFour organoclay (OC)/ethylene–propylene–diene rubber (EPDM) nanocomposites with different ethylene contents were prepared by melt blending. X‐ray diffraction spectrum (XRD) and transmission electronic microscope (TEM) photos showed that OC/EPDM nanocomposites were intercalated, and the ethylene content had little influence on the dispersion of OC. The addition of OC prolonged the optimum cure time and reduced the crosslink density of OC/EPDM. The improvement in tensile strength of OC/EPDM nanocomposites with high ethylene contents (67–70%) was larger than that of OC/EPDM nanocomposites with low ethylene contents (52–52.5%). XRD results of the stretched samples testified that the extension promoted orientation of silicate layers, and induced crystallization of polyethylene (PE) segments in OC/EPDM nanocomposites with high ethylene contents. The highly oriented micro‐fibrillar structure and more oriented amorphous chains, which resulted from strain‐induced crystallization of PE segments and the orientation of clay layers in OC/EPDM nanocomposites with high ethylene contents (67–70%), should be responsible for larger improvement in tensile strength than that of those nanocomposites with low ethylene contents (52–52.5%) © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 99: 914–919, 2006
Polybenzoxazine containing polysilsesquioxane: Preparation and thermal properties
Authors: Liu Yonghong , Zhang Weian , Chen Yan , Zheng Sixun 
Published: November 2005

AbstractBenzoxazine bearing trimethoxylsilane (BA‐b) was successfully synthesized via Mannich condensation among phenol, paraformaldehyde, and γ‐aminopropyltrimethoxysilane. The hydrolysis and condensation of the BA‐b catalyzed by hydrochloric acid can afford a soluble polysilsesquioxane bearing benzoxazine groups (denoted PSSQ‐b). By initiating the cocuring reaction of PSSQ‐b with difunctional benzoxazine of bisphenol A (BA‐a), the inorganic–organic hybrids of polybenzoxazine with polysilsesquioxane were prepared. The hybrids displayed enhanced Tg's in comparison with the control polybenzoxazine. In terms of initial decomposition temperature (Td) and char and ceramic yields, the hybrids exhibited improved thermal stability as shown by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 99: 927–936, 2006
Time dependences of conduction and self‐heating in acetylene carbon black‐filled high‐density polyethylene composites
Authors: Song Yihu , Zheng Qiang 
Published: November 2005

AbstractThe time dependences of electrical conduction and self‐heating behaviors in high‐density polyethylene filled with acetylene carbon black of 0.082 in volume fraction are studied in relation to voltage and ambient temperature. The characteristic decay current constant τi, and the exponential growth time constant for self‐heating τg are determined for the samples under voltages U above the critical value Uc for the onset of self‐heating. The influences of voltage and ambient temperature on τi and τg as well as the amplitude of the low‐resistance to high‐resistance switching are discussed on the basis of the random resistor network (RRN) model and the relationship between Uc and the intrinsic resistivity. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 99: 1124–1131, 2006
Evaluating the thermal stability of high performance fibers by TGA
Authors: Liu Xiaoyan , Yu Weidong 
Published: November 2005

AbstractThe thermal degradation of eight types of high performance fibers (HPFs) was measured under nitrogen and air atmosphere. The degree of degradation, as measured by weight loss using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and the characteristic degradation temperatures were obtained. The kinetics of the thermal degradation has also been analyzed according to the Freeman–carroll method and the activation energies of the HPFs were estimated. The experimental results show that para‐aramids (Kevlar® 29, 49, 129, and Twaron®2000) have similar thermal stability, but their thermal degradation temperatures and activation energies in air are different from those in nitrogen, which means that the thermostability of the fiber depends not only on its intrinsic structure but also on the atmosphere and temperature of testing environment. Terlon® fiber shows higher degradation temperature as a copolymer of para‐aramid, and its initial degradation temperature is 476.4°C in air. It can also be found that the PBO (poly(p‐phenylene benzobisoxazole)) fiber has the highest thermal degradation temperature among the samples tested, but its activation energy is not the highest in both air and nitrogen atmosphere. And the UHMW‐PE (ultra high molecular weight polyethylene) fiber has the lowest thermal degradation temperature, and it begins to degrade when the temperature reaches 321.8°C under air atmosphere. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 99: 937–944, 2006
Effects of N‐trimethyl chitosan chloride as an absorption enhancer on properties of insulin liquid suppository in vitro and in vivo
Authors: He Wen , Du Yumin , Dai Wenbing , Wu Yan , Zhang Mian 
Published: November 2005

AbstractN‐trimethyl chitosan chloride (TMC), with degree of quaternization (DQ) of 42.77% (TMC40) and 63.03% (TMC60), respectively, were synthesized and used as absorption enhancers in an insulin rectal liquid suppository from poloxamers. The effects of the TMCs on the liquid suppository were investigated. Compared with sodium salicylate (10%), which increased the gelation temperature and decreased the gel strength and bioadhensive force of the liquid suppository, both TMCs increased the three indices due to hydrogen bonding between the amino groups of TMCs and hydroxyl groups of poloxamers. The higher the concentration of TMCs was, the higher the three indices were. At the same concentration, the enhancing effect of TMC60 was higher than that of TMC40. Compared with those of 10% sodium salicylate, the enhancing effects of TMC40 with concentrations of 0.05% and 0.10% and TMC60 with concentration of 0.05% were weaker, while the other testing concentrations all showed better absorption enhancing ability with lower plasma glucose levels, AUC0–4 h (the area below basal glucose level) and Cnadir (the plasma glucose levels at the nadir). Histological assessment was performed by observing irritation of the liquid suppository on the rectal tissues and observation rate of three types of gland changes in the rectal epithelium. Compared with the control (75.48 ± 16.76), TMC40 and TMC60 exhibited little change in observation rates of normal gland (72.10 ± 10.24 and 71.93 ± 9.88, respectively), while sodium salicylate showed significant lower observation rates of normal gland (51.28 ± 13.44). The insulin rectal liquid suppository with TMCs is more effective and safer than that with sodium salicylate. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 99: 1140–1146, 2006