Review
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Ali Sahebi, Naser Hasheminejad, Masoumeh Shohani, Atefeh Yousefi, Somayeh Tahernejad, Azadeh Tahernejad
Summary: This study found that the prevalence of PPE-associated headaches in HCWs was relatively high during the COVID-19 pandemic.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Review
Biology
Thinh To Quoc, Ildiko Bacskay, Palma Feher, Adam Paller, Boglarka Papp, Krisztina Biro, Zoltan Ujhelyi
Summary: Nowadays, personalized protection against infectious agents has become crucial. Personalized nasal filters are a revolutionary solution that can effectively defend our body against environmental damage and pathogens. These filters not only maintain our health but also contribute to environmental protection.
Review
Chemistry, Analytical
Miguel A. Espinosa, Pedro Ponce, Arturo Molina, Vicente Borja, Martha G. Torres, Mario Rojas
Summary: This comprehensive paper reviews devices and technologies for home detection of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), emphasizing distinctions among representative devices. The critical variables for monitoring sleep behavior are found to be oxygen saturation, body position, respiratory effort, and respiratory flow. The prevalent trend is the development of level IV devices measuring one or two signals and supported by prediction software. Noteworthy methods achieving optimal results involve neural networks, deep learning, and regression modeling, with an accuracy of approximately 99%.
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Emily Franzosa, Tamar Wyte-Lake, Emma K. Tsui, Jennifer M. Reckrey, Madeline R. Sterling
Summary: COVID-19 has highlighted the importance of home care services in supporting older and disabled individuals during a public health emergency. However, home care agencies are often disconnected from disaster planning efforts and struggle to access necessary resources, putting both workers and patients at risk. This article summarizes the experiences of home health care workers and agencies during COVID-19 and suggests implications for future disaster preparedness policies and practice.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Vidya Arankalle, Archana Kulkarni-Munje, Ruta Kulkarni, Sonali Palkar, Rahul Patil, Jitendra Oswal, Sanjay Lalwani, Akhilesh Chandra Mishra
Summary: This study assessed the immune response of healthcare workers to COVISHIELD and COVAXIN vaccines. The results showed that COVISHIELD generated higher neutralizing antibody titers while COVAXIN exhibited a stronger T-cell response. However, after 6 months, there was a decrease in neutralizing antibody titers, emphasizing the need for early booster immunization.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Malgorzata Okrasa, Milena Leszczynska, Kamila Salasinska, Leonard Szczepkowski, Pawel Kozikowski, Katarzyna Majchrzycka, Joanna Ryszkowska
Summary: The study aimed to develop viscoelastic polyurethane foams for respiratory protective devices seals, analyzing the impact of different formulations on foam performance. Higher I-NCO and water content levels resulted in decreased density and increased pore size of the foam, while functional parameters were found to be satisfactory at lower I-NCO and water content levels.
Review
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Pavel Otrisal, Constantin Bungau, Vladimir Obsel, Zdenek Melicharik, Gabriela Tont
Summary: This paper discusses the obligation to use at least FFP2 level respiratory protective equipment in public transport and commercial areas within the European Union, as well as the meanings of selected symbols and markings on respirators. It also mentions the issues related to public procurement conditions affecting respirators. This review aims to provide an informative guide for understanding and using appropriate respiratory protective devices in various situations.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Elisabeth Eckert, Laura Kuhlmann, Thomas Goeen, Frank Muench
Summary: This pilot study evaluated the urinary plasticizer metabolite levels of selected hospital workers to estimate their work-related exposure. The results showed that the workplace environment has a perceptible impact on individual urinary plasticizer metabolite levels, but the contribution to internal exposure is marginal.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Milena Kriegsmann-Rabe, Katja Maus, Nina Hiebel, Constantin Klein, Franziska Geiser
Summary: Thousands of Eastern Europeans work as live-in home care workers in Germany, facing various stressors and challenges. The study focuses on identifying these stressors and examining the factors that promote well-being and resilience among the care workers.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Louise Reid, Grace Sisel
Summary: This paper reports on a study that analyzed 135 Amazon reviews of 5 'top-selling' smart devices. The study found that these devices are being used to supplement informal caring in different ways. The implications of this phenomenon, particularly for 'caring webs' and expectations about the future role of digital devices in informal caring, need to be considered.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Diana M. Ceballos, Zhao Dong, Junenette L. Peters, Robert F. Herrick, Paridhi Gupta, John D. Spengler
Summary: Toxic metals such as lead, cadmium, and arsenic are present at construction worksites and can be unintentionally transported to the homes of workers, contaminating their living spaces. This pilot study aims to understand the sources and predictors of metals in the homes of construction workers and explore the potential exposure of other workers.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Industrial
Xiaoyue Wang, Ru Ning, Xian Zhao, Congshan Wu
Summary: In the existing studies, the positive effects of protective devices on the reliability of balanced systems have been overlooked. This paper proposes two reliability models for balanced systems with multi-state protective devices from the perspectives of dynamic and static balanced concepts. The models consider new triggering and protection mechanisms based on the characteristics of the balanced systems. The reliability of the proposed models is derived using the Markov process embedding method combined with Monte-Carlo simulation, and the practical engineering applications validate the applicability of the proposed systems and correctness of the method.
RELIABILITY ENGINEERING & SYSTEM SAFETY
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Sumit Mandal, Ishmam Zahin Chowdhury, Nur-Us-Shafa Mazumder, Robert J. Agnew, Lynn M. Boorady
Summary: This study aims to scientifically investigate the sweat drying performance of different protective fabrics used in high-risk sectors' workers' clothing and explores the effects of wetted area, air flow, and evaporative resistance on drying performance.
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Zhi Yang, Mimi Mun Yee Tse, Joanne Wai Yee Chung, Doris Yin Kei Chong, Thomas Kwok Shing Wong
Summary: This pilot study aimed to explore the impact of a compassion-oriented training program on Personal Care Workers (PCWs) in a nursing home. The results showed that the PCWs experienced a decline in compassion after participating in the program. Qualitative data analysis identified the multi-faceted nature of compassion, barriers and threats to compassion, and the transfer of skills at the workplace as important factors affecting the effective implementation of compassion training programs.
Review
Dermatology
Jiade Yu, Jennifer K. Chen, Christen M. Mowad, Margo Reeder, Sara Hylwa, Sarah Chisolm, Cory A. Dunnick, Ari M. Goldminz, Sharon E. Jacob, Peggy A. Wu, Jonathan Zippin, Amber Reck Atwater
Summary: Prolonged wear of masks and respirators can lead to allergic and irritant dermatoses in healthcare workers, mainly caused by substances released from mask materials and prolonged pressure and friction. The occurrence of these skin disorders is associated with personal history and duration of wear.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF DERMATOLOGY
(2021)