The COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to widespread fatigue among workers, posing a significant challenge to occupational health. Grounded in Conservation of Resources (COR) theory, this study examines the association between pandemic-related fatigue and job satisfaction and investigates whether economic security serves as a moderating factor. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among employed residents in Ningbo, China, shortly after the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions. Data were collected using a COVID-19 Occupational Health Impact Questionnaire, which included demographic characteristics, COVID-19 history, employment status, the Fatigue Assessment Scale (FAS), a multidimensional Economic Security Index, and a job satisfaction measure. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess associations and statistical interactions (moderation effects). Among 1,938 participants included in the final analysis (retention rate: 98.5% of completed questionnaires), fatigue was significantly associated with lower job satisfaction (adjusted odds ratios (OR) = 0.27, 95% confidence intervals (CI): 0.22-0.34, p < 0.001). Although economic security was positively associated with job satisfaction (OR = 2.92, 95% CI: 2.39-3.58, p < 0.001), it did not significantly moderate the association between fatigue and job satisfaction (P for interaction = 0.458). The association between fatigue and lower job satisfaction was consistent across both economically secure (OR = 0.33, 95% CI: 0.24-0.44) and economically insecure (OR = 0.25, 95% CI: 0.10-0.65) subgroups. Fatigue is strongly associated with job dissatisfaction. In this cross-sectional study, we did not find evidence that economic security moderated this association. These findings suggest that fatigue is strongly associated with job dissatisfaction across economic strata. Future research should examine whether workplace fatigue mitigation strategies are associated with in protecting employee well-being in the post-pandemic era.
Mood and anxiety disorders are the most common pregnancy complications in the United States. Global public health crises increase the risk of these disorders, impact obstetric professionals that serve perinatal women, and introduce new challenges to accessing mental healthcare, particularly for economically marginalized perinatal women. Accordingly, the study purpose is to develop a taxonomy of mental healthcare access during public health crises for economically marginalized perinatal women. In-depth interviews were conducted with obstetric professionals (n=14) serving economically marginalized perinatal women during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our research team employed a modified grounded theory to develop a taxonomy comprising dimensions, components and factors for perinatal mental healthcare access. Results from obstetric professionals were then triangulated with data from economically marginalized perinatal women (n=24) who attempted to access mental healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic. Obstetric professionals enumerated factors related to a six dimension taxonomy of access, including approachability, availability, affordability, accessibility, accommodation, and acceptability. Dimensions were triangulated and found to align with experiences of perinatal women. Each dimension included multiple components and factors influential to the respective component. For example, the dimension of affordability included direct mental healthcare costs (the component) which reportedly increased for patients due to a rise in un- and under-employment and loss of employer-sponsored health insurance (the factors). Findings highlight opportunities for policymakers and healthcare professionals to identify components impacted across the six dimensions of access for economically marginalized perinatal women and respond to the factors influential. Interventions could include ongoing support to normalize mental healthcare, collaborations with community-based organizations, prioritization of patient-centered and collaborative care models.
This study examines the gendered socioeconomic impacts of infectious disease outbreaks, including both epidemics (e.g., yellow fever, Ebola, Marburg and Mpox) and pandemics (e.g., COVID-19), on populations in Guinea, using data from the Decentralize and Operationalize One Health Platforms (DOPERAUS) project. A mixed-methods approach combined quantitative survey data (N = 906) from participants aged 18 and over and qualitative data from an open-ended questionnaire answered by 508 respondents to capture both measurable outcomes and nuanced experiences. Sampling accounted for gender, age, and vulnerable populations. Analyses incorporated descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney tests, and thematic coding of qualitative data. Findings reveal gendered disparities in how socioeconomic impacts are experienced during infectious disease outbreaks. Women disproportionately bore caregiving and household management responsibilities and were more affected by income loss and reduced market access, as many reported being unable to sell their goods in the qualitative data. Men were more affected by income loss and disruptions to traditional gender roles based on the quantitative data. Vulnerability was also shaped by age and occupational status, with adults aged 30-49 and those in informal or precarious employment experiencing heightened economic and social stress. Women frequently relied on informal borrowing and community support to cope with financial strain, highlighting structural gaps in social protection systems. These results underscore the intersectional nature of infectious disease outbreaks impacts, showing that gender alone does not fully explain vulnerability. The study emphasizes the importance of integrating social science perspectives into the One Health approach. Understanding household dynamics, community roles, and economic inequalities is essential for designing effective and equitable outbreak preparedness and response strategies.
This study investigated the epidemiological characteristics and associated risk factors of neonatal calf diarrhea (NCD) across 115 dairy cattle farms representing seven geographical regions in Türkiye. Our findings revealed a calf diarrhea prevalence of 26.81%, with an associated mortality rate of 15.58%. Furthermore, NCD was observed to cause a substantial 11-30% reduction in weight gain, highlighting its significant economic impact. Logistic regression analysis identified that the presence of dedicated maternity and calf housing, timely colostrum administration, and stringent hygiene protocols (specifically teat and bottle disinfection) significantly mitigate the risk of diarrhea. Notably, the probability of NCD was 81% lower in enterprises equipped with a maternity compartment and 71% lower in those with separate calf housing. While seasonal variations and regional climatic differences-specifically in temperate and Mediterranean zones-indicated a lower incidence of diarrhea, these parameters did not reach statistical significance. The study concludes that strategic investments in managerial infrastructure and the rigorous application of preventive hygiene practices are paramount to minimizing the substantial economic losses attributed to neonatal calf diarrhea in the dairy industry.
Dysphagia is a critical challenge in nursing homes, associated with malnutrition, aspiration pneumonia, and increased mortality. This study evaluates the impact of an integrated protocol combining instant homogenized meals, nutritional monitoring, and continuous staff training across five Italian nursing homes. A multicentric retrospective observational pilot study was conducted on 99 frail residents. The cohort was characterized by high functional dependence (88% total dependence) and severe nutritional vulnerability (99% malnutrited or at risk). Clinical evolution was compared between the 120 days preceding (pre-implementation) and the 120 days following the adoption of the protocol (post-implementation). Parameters analyzed included anthropometric data, bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), biochemical tests, adverse events (pneumonia, pressure ulcers), and economic/organizational impact in the post-implementation period (measured in two nursing homes). In the post-implementation phase, an attenuation of weight decline was observed compared to the preceding period. BIA parameters showed favorable changes: phase angle increased significantly (p < 0.001), intracellular water rose while extracellular water decreased, and the ECM/BCM ratio improved, suggesting a more favorable body-composition and hydration pattern, although these findings should be interpreted cautiously given the possible influence of fluid shifts. Biochemically, increases in transferrin (p < 0.01), total protein, and albumin were recorded, supporting a coherent pattern of improved protein nutritional status. Clinically relevant adverse events decreased: aspiration pneumonia dropped from 8.2% to 5.1% (a 38.7% reduction), and pressure ulcers decreased from 24.7% to 19.2% (a 22.3% reduction). Economically, the cost per dietary day reduced by 17.5% (-€1.62), driven by a reduction in meal preparation time from 11 min 22 s to 3 min 21 s per guest. Qualitative analysis highlighted standardized consistencies, improved safety, and increased staff confidence. Likely, the integrated protocol was associated with a possible attenuation of nutritional decline in an extremely frail population, with coherent improvements in selected BIA-derived and biochemical markers and fewer recorded clinical complications. Process standardization may enhance resident safety and operational efficiency, although these exploratory findings require confirmation in controlled prospective studies. These findings support managing dysphagia as a multidimensional clinical and organizational pathway rather than a simple texture modification strategy.
Out-of-hours primary care (OOH-PC) has been introduced in many health systems to reduce non-urgent emergency department (ED) use. While prior studies suggest potential efficiency gains, economic evaluations rarely stratify outcomes by patient risk, limiting policy relevance. This study assesses the cost-effectiveness of diverting low-risk patients from ED to OOH-PC. Compare direct medical costs, time spent at the facility, and hospitalization probability across risk and care setting subgroups from a societal perspective. We analysed data from a cluster-randomized trial conducted in Belgium that examined a nurse-led triage system. Under the study trial's extended Manchester Triage System (eMTS) protocol, patients eligible for primary care were assigned to OOH-PC and are referred to in our study as low-risk, while those assigned to the ED are defined as high-risk. To complement previous work, we stratified costs and effects by risk group. Mixed-effects regression models estimated costs, time at the facility, and hospitalization, with bootstrap confidence intervals. We also calculated the incremental net monetary benefit (INMB). Treating low-risk patients at the OOH-PC instead of at the ED reduced costs by €24 (€14-€39) per patient, shortened the time spent at the facility by 69 (52-94) minutes. From a societal perspective, the average INMB was €49.5 per low-risk patient. Aggregately, we estimated that the 37 intervention weekends in 2019 led to an average saving of €14,136 in direct medical costs and cumulative time savings of 28 days. Diverting low-risk patients from the ED to OOH-PC resulted in cost- and time-savings for low-risk patients at the study site. These findings highlight the potential to improve out-of-hours healthcare delivery to maximize benefits for patients and healthcare systems, although confirmation in other healthcare settings is required before wider implementation.
Functional dyspepsia (FD) is a prevalent disorder of gut-brain interaction (DGBI) and is associated with substantial impact on health care utilisation. However, analyses examining patient-specific characteristics that contribute to this burden remain limited. This study assessed the economic burden of patients with FD and examined patient-specific characteristics related to costs. Patients who had been recruited for a randomised controlled trial completed several questionnaires. Health care utilisation and productivity losses were measured using the iMTA Medical Consumption Questionnaire and Productivity Cost Questionnaire. Participants also completed the EuroQol 5-Dimension 5-Level, Nepean Dyspepsia Index, Generalised Anxiety Disorder-7, and Patient Health Questionnaire-9. Non-parametric bootstrapping was applied to calculate the mean annual costs. Multivariable linear regression was used to identify patient-specific characteristics associated with costs. Data were obtained from 73 participants (median age 39 years; 75% female). Mean annual total costs accounted for €12,192 (2.5th to 97.5th percentiles, €1125 to €36,369), of which €10,240 (2.5th to 97.5th percentiles, €0 to €34,771) were indirect costs. Higher disease-specific quality of life (QoL) was associated with lower annual total costs (regression slope = -€4726 per 0.1-point increase in QoL; 95% CI, -€7636 to -€1815; p = 0.002), while symptom severity, generic health-related QoL or scores for anxiety or depression were not significantly associated. Patients with poorer disease-specific QoL, but not necessarily those with more severe symptoms or higher scores for anxiety and depression, are particularly likely to incur higher annual costs. Understanding the nature of costs and associated patient characteristics is essential for enabling more targeted strategies. The TENDER trial was registered on Clinicaltrials.gov under NCT03652571 on August 17, 2018.
Nutrition is a key determinant of performance, carcass traits, and production efficiency in beef cattle. In this context, feed additives have emerged as a promising strategy to enhance nutrient utilization and reduce production costs. We aimed to evaluate the effects of replacing urea with a product extruded urea enriched with essential oils (NFeed®) on nutrient intake, performance, blood parameters, and feed cost in feedlot-finished Nellore young bulls. Twenty-four non-castrated animals with an average initial body weight of 394.6 ± 53 kg were randomly assigned in a completely randomized design, following the treatments considering different combinations of NPN source in diet: 0% NFeed (100% of non-protein nitrogen from urea), 50% NFeed (50% of non-protein nitrogen from urea and 50% of non-protein nitrogen from NFeed), 75% NFeed (25% of non-protein nitrogen from urea and 75% of non-protein nitrogen from NFeed) and 100% NFeed (100% of non-protein nitrogen from NFeed). Final body weight, total weight gain, and average daily gain had a linear response, with the highest values in the 100% NFeed treatment. Feed efficiency and feed conversion exhibited linear effects, with the 100% NFeed diet resulting in the greatest feed efficiency and the lowest feed conversion. A quadratic effect was observed for plasma urea, and gamma-glutamyl transferase levels. The replacement of conventional urea with extruded urea enriched with essential oils (NFeed) represents a viable nutritional strategy for finishing beef cattle in feedlot systems. Increasing levels of NFeed linearly improved animal performance while maintaining similar feed intake, increasing feed efficiency reducing feed conversion, and the cost per kilogram of body weight gain. Thus, we recommend a partial replacement of urea by NFeed as a non-protein source in beef cattle feedlot.
PiggyBac (PB) transposons, such as the canonical transposon from Trichoplusia ni and the more recently discovered Mage from Lepidoptera, are "cut-and-paste" mobile genetic elements widely harnessed as non-viral vector systems for gene therapy and transgenesis. Despite the ecological and economic significance of the insect order Hymenoptera, the evolutionary history and functional diversity of PB transposons within this group remain largely unexplored. To address this gap, we conducted a systematic investigation of PB transposons across 287 hymenopteran species. Our analysis revealed a widespread distribution, with PB elements detected in nearly half (137/287) of the genomes examined. Phylogenetic reconstruction identified four distinct clades, indicating a significant and previously unappreciated evolutionary diversity among hymenopteran PB transposases, and suggesting they have been highly active and dynamic. From this bioinformatic screen, we selected three PB transposons from Holcopasites calliopsidis (hcPB), Macropis europaea (mePB), and Andrena dorsata as strong candidates for recent activity. Functional validation using a binary transposition assay demonstrated that hcPB and mePB possess remarkable activity, comparable to the engineered hyperactive hyPB transposase. In contrast, adPB exhibited minimal transposition activity under the same conditions. We further engineered these systems based on successful strategies used for hyPB, which involves deleting an inhibitory N-terminal phosphorylation region and appending a second C-terminal domain. While this modification enhanced hyPB activity, it had variable effects on the new transposases: hcPB activity was maintained, but mePB activity decreased by approximately 20%. Intriguingly, merely deleting the N-terminal region severely impaired or abolished the activity of both hcPB and mePB, indicating distinct regulatory mechanisms. In summary, we have uncovered a rich diversity of active PB transposons in Hymenoptera and characterized two powerful new transposases (hcPB and mePB). These findings significantly advance the genome engineering toolkit, providing highly efficient tools with great promise for basic research and therapeutic applications.
The objective of this study is to combine morbidity in terms of various levels of growth faltering or malnutrition among surviving children with mortality to better understand the determinants of infant and child health. This study uses data from the latest National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-5 of India conducted during 2019-21 to provide a framework that integrates both mortality and morbidity as a measure of infant and child health to investigate their association with maternal and other socio-economic determinants of health. The outcome variable representing health status of a child is defined as a categorical variable with four progressively worsening levels- no malnutrition, moderate malnutrition, severe malnutrition, and not alive. The levels of morbidity in terms of growth faltering or malnutrition are defined in line with the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. Cumulative Link Mixed Model (CLMM) with partial proportional odds framework has been used to assess the association of risk factors with the outcome variable. Multivariate Imputations by Chained Equation has been employed to address high amount of missingness in three risk factors. Parameter estimates from CLMMs fitted to each of the 20 multiply imputed datasets were combined using Rubin's rules to obtain pooled estimates. Among the examined determinants, maternal education and household wealth index demonstrated the strongest associations with child health outcomes. Notably, low birth weight and non-institutional delivery are consistently strong risk factors across all thresholds of child health status, from moderate malnutrition till mortality. Antenatal care incompleteness does not associate with whether a child enters moderate malnutrition, but it strongly associates (14-19% higher odds) with severe malnutrition and with death, confirming its role in preventing the worse child health outcomes. Combining child mortality and morbidity allows better indication of child health status with added sensitivity through progressive health status levels, ranging from best scenario (no malnutrition) to worst scenario (death). Consequently, it enables a more comprehensive assessment of maternal and socioeconomic determinants of child health. In addition, using such combined outcome ensures complete utilization of information available in a survey dataset, irrespective of the mortality status of the child.
BackgroundSustainable Human Resource Management (SHRM) blends the concept of sustainability with human resource. It talks about creating long-term value for the organization.ObjectiveThe presented study aims to identify the drivers and sub-drivers of SHRM in the Indian automobile manufacturing industry with the help of relevant literature, selection of important drivers/sub-drivers and evaluate their cause & effect relationships, influence on each other and final ranking of drivers and sub-drivers.MethodsPrincipal Component Analysis (PCA) has been applied for identification of important drivers/sub-drivers and Fuzzy Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) has been applied to evaluate cause & effect relationships and influence of drivers and sub-drivers on each other along with their ranking.ResultsA total number of 22 sub-drivers were identified through a review of relevant literature. By the use of PCA, the number of sub-drivers were reduced to 11 from 22. Fuzzy DEMATEL was applied on drivers and sub-drivers separately to evaluate their cause & effect relationships and ranking. It was found that Economic driver has the highest rank and Social driver has the least rank.ConclusionThe findings reveal that Social and Economic drivers act as causes (driving factors) in implementing SHRM, while Environmental driver acts as an effect (dependent factor). The study enables firms to identify which drivers and sub-drivers most influence the implementation of SHRM and which areas require greater attention. It also provides practical insights for policymakers and industry leaders to enhance long-term organizational sustainability.
Metagenomic information can aid in both genomic and phenotypic predictions of economically relevant traits. Financial restraints often result in a trade-off between the number of samples sequenced and the depth of sequencing. Therefore, it is critical to understand how changes in sequencing depth impact phenotypic prediction accuracy to make optimal use of resources. This study utilized host genomic and rumen metagenomic information of 717 beef cattle to make phenotypic predictions for average daily dry matter intake (ADDMI) and average daily gain (ADG). Metagenomic samples were sequenced at an average depth of 20 million reads (20M set) and were downsampled to 50% (10M set), 25% (5M set), and 10% of the reads (2M set). Rumen microbial open reading frames (ORF) were predicted from each set of reads and used to define a random metagenomic effect in a mixed model framework. Variance components were estimated for each model using all available data, i.e., no masking of phenotypes. Cross-validation schemes were utilized to determine prediction accuracy. Models which incorporated host genomic and metagenomic information explained more variation and generally had greater prediction accuracies than models with either effect alone. Models using the 2M or 5M set resulted in smaller microbiability estimates and lower prediction accuracy for both ADDMI and ADG compared to models using the 10M or 20M sets, though these differences were often not large when measures of uncertainty were considered. For ADDMI, there were only slight differences in microbiability and prediction accuracy between different downsampled sets in most scenarios. For ADG, the 20M set had roughly equivalent microbiability estimates as the other sets but also had a notably greater prediction accuracy, dependent on cross-validation scheme. Spearman correlations of metagenomic effect solutions, termed the estimated metagenomic value (EMV), between all sets for all models were always >0.90. However, the correlations between the EMV for models with the 5M, 10M, and 20M sets were always higher than those with the EMV from the 2M set. The 10M and 20M EMV always had correlations >0.98. Thus, dependent on trait and reference population composition, metagenomic predictions from data sequenced at a depth of 2-10 million reads per sample may yield results approximately equivalent to those from data sequenced at 20 million reads per sample in terms of variance explained and phenotypic prediction accuracy. Features of the rumen metagenome can be used to make predictions for economically relevant traits in beef cattle. Financial restrictions often require a trade-off between the number of samples to be sequenced and the sequencing depth. This study compared the results of phenotypic predictions for feed intake and weight gain in beef cattle from models which used an average of 2 million, 5 million, 10 million, or 20 million rumen metagenomic sequence reads per sample. The proportion of variation explained and prediction accuracy both marginally increased as the number of sequence reads increased. However, these increases were slight and dependent on both the trait of interest and the reference population composition.
Pectinases play a vital role in the degradation of pectic part of the plant cell wall and are considered in the group of hydrolytic enzymes. In the present scenario, demand of economically feasible and environment friendly techniques and approaches has significantly led the research on the microbial production, standardization of process parameters and improvements of pectinases. The development of pectinase-based bioprocesses has been found to promote sustainable industrial practices by reducing the use of chemicals, energy, and waste, thereby supporting eco-friendly production systems. The unique aspect of this review is that it explains traditional methods of pectinase production alongside novel methods, which include solid-state and submerged fermentation, recombinant DNA techniques, heterologous gene expression, protein engineering, CRISPR/Cas genome editing technologies, enzyme immobilization, and nanobiotechnological methods, which improve the production, stability, and performance of pectinases. It further demonstrates the increasing importance of the use of pectinases in sustainable manufacturing through decreasing the use of chemicals and energy, as well as reducing waste production from industry. It illustrates that innovations in microbial strain engineering, process optimization, and utilization of low-cost substrates have significantly increased the economic viability and efficiency of producing pectinases. Yet, some issues associated with commercialization, standardization of production processes, recovery, and stability of enzymes still exist. Overall, this review paper gives an overview of the recent advancements and limitations of next-generation pectinases.
Substantial gaps in the implementation of adolescent and youth-friendly health services (AYFHS) have been identified in Uasin Gishu (UG) county, Kenya, across all eight domains of the WHO global standards, particularly with respect to adolescent health literacy, community support, provider competencies, and equity and non-discrimination. To respond, we undertook a qualitative analysis to explore contextual challenges of implementing AYFHS from the perspectives of adolescents and young adults (AYA) aged 10-24 years, policymakers, caregivers of AYA, healthcare providers, peer mentors, and community leaders. We used a hybrid inductive/deductive thematic analysis to explore contextual and systems-level determinants of implementing AYFHS in UG county, Kenya. Our analysis generated four major themes: 1) priorities of political leadership and health systems management; 2) financial challenges; 3) human resources and facility infrastructure; and 4) social-cultural barriers. Participants perceived political will, leadership, and health systems management to be obstacles to implementing AYFHS. Further, participants stated that financial challenges were a leading barrier to the implementation of AYFHS in the county, and that dispersion of funds from the county government to facilities was inadequate. Intersecting with the political-economic context, participants discussed limited human resources, poor facility infrastructure, and supply issues as determinants of implementation. Lastly, social-cultural norms in association with sexual and reproductive health discussed as a substantial issue. Addressing implementation determinants of AYFHS, including political, economic, and social-cultural barriers, can enable adoption and facilitate implementation and scale of AYFHS that are a fundamental component of living healthy and productive lives for AYA in Kenya.
This study examines the governance of sexuality in China in the absence of explicit legislation. Utilizing reflexive thematic analysis of in-depth interviews with 22 sexual minority adults in urban China and informed by a phenomenological approach to participants' lived experiences, we explore a regulatory framework in which same-sex relationships are neither criminalized nor protected. We identify four interrelated mechanisms operating within what we characterize as a state-family governance configuration. First, regulatory ambiguity refers to the lack of explicit laws, which creates ongoing uncertainty, allowing families to assume de facto enforcement roles. Second, familial sovereignty highlights parents' claims to direct the life choices of their adult children, grounded in economic dependencies and legitimized through the concept of mianzi (or "face"). Third, affective governance describes the reciprocal mobilization of emotional and cultural obligations, framing compliance as an expression of care. Finally, economic dependencies rooted in the post-reform neo-familist context provide the material foundation that strengthens the other mechanisms. Our contribution is positioned as a middle-range theorization within the governmentality tradition, specifically applied to post-reform urban China. We highlight familial sovereignty as the most novel mechanism, distinguishing it from perspectives that oversimplify parental authority to intergenerational reciprocity or cultural inheritance.
Phenols are essential intermediates widely used in chemical and pharmaceutical industries, yet conventional synthetic routes typically demand energy-intensive conditions and multi-step procedures. Herein, we report a green and efficient cascade strategy for phenol synthesis that integrates in situ electrochemical hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) generation with chemical oxidation of arylboronic acids using molecular oxygen under mild conditions. This approach demonstrates excellent functional-group tolerance and broad substrate scope (20 examples), achieving high conversion and selectivity without employing toxic solvents. A three-dimensional covalent organic framework (3D COF) with hexaazatrinaphthalene (HATN) building units and htp topology is designed as a robust electrocatalyst, delivering a remarkable H2O2 production rate of ∼7.0 mol gcat -1 h-1. Mechanistic studies reveal that the abundant nitrogen sites in the COF backbone act as hydrogen-bond acceptors, which facilitate proton transfer, promote a well-matched proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) process, and stabilize the key *OOH intermediate, thereby collectively enhancing the selectivity and activity of the 2e- oxygen reduction reaction. Techno-economic (TEA) analysis further validates the potential economic feasibility of this integrated route based on laboratory scale. This work highlights the potential of rationally engineered 3D COFs to bridge electrosynthesis and synthetic chemistry, offering a mild and sustainable alternative to conventional energy-intensive phenols production.
Work-related mental disorders comprise conditions of psychological distress in which causal factors are associated with elements of the work environment. These disorders impose substantial economic and social burdens on affected workers and are frequently associated with alcohol consumption and the use of other psychoactive substances. To conduct an epidemiological analysis of reported cases of work-related mental disorders in Brazil between 2012 and 2021, investigating their association with alcohol and other drug misuse. This analytical, quantitative study was based on notification data obtained from the Department of Informatics of the Brazilian Unified Health System. Sociodemographic characteristics, work-related conditions, and information on alcohol consumption and the use of other drugs were collected. Data were analyzed using statistical tests and multivariate analytical techniques. Work-related mental disorders predominantly affected women, individuals with higher educational attainment, and those who self-identified as White or Brown. Alcohol consumption and the use of other drugs showed limited statistical significance as factors associated with the reported cases. Strategies aimed at improving working conditions, expanding access to psychological support, and preventing substance misuse are essential to address work-related mental disorders, a major public health concern in Brazil. Identifying risk factors associated with these disorders may inform more effective interventions and promote improved work organization, thereby reducing their impact on the health of the working population and on the national economy.
Sustainable energy conversion depends on the development of effective and economical electrocatalysts. In this work, we highlight the development of cobalt oxide (Co3O4) as an electrocatalyst by employing a scalable and economical Successive Ionic Layer Adsorption and Reaction (SILAR) method onto an electrically activated pencil graphite (Ac-PGE) as an affordable substrate for monitoring the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). According to electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, the SILAR process produced uniform deposition and improved surface activation, which resulted in a considerably reduced charge transfer resistance (R ct) of 0.08 kΩ. The OER overpotential was observed at 240 mV at 10 mA cm-2 with a Tafel slope of 47.57 mV dec-1, and a turnover frequency of 0.082 s-1 at the activated electrode. LSV and OCP demonstrate that Co3O4@Ac-PGE performs better electrochemically than the other electrodes under investigation (In-PGE, Ac-PGE, and Co3O4@In-PGE). Additionally, after 8 hours, it maintained more than 93% of its initial activity, demonstrating exceptional endurance. Overall, it was observed that the Co3O4@Ac-PGE electrode developed by the SILAR method outperforms a number of traditional and noble-metal-based catalysts and offers a practical, long-lasting, and financially sustainable approach to effective water-splitting and renewable energy conversion. The structural and surface properties of the modified electrodes were investigated using energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). This work shows a scalable and cost-effective strategy to design an efficient electrocatalyst by using SILAR for OER, which can contribute towards Green Hydrogen production.
Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) three-dimensional (3D) printing offers a flexible and economical method for producing radiotherapy phantoms with tailored geometries and material properties. While numerous studies have focused on imaging or photon radiotherapy, research on 3D printing for proton and light ion beam therapy remains limited. Accurate knowledge of the radiological properties of FDM-printed materials is crucial to ensure reliable dose calculation and treatment planning in ion beam therapy. A comprehensive literature review was conducted to identify publications reporting relevant radiological parameters, including mass density, computed tomography (CT) number given in Hounsfield units (HU), electron density, and stopping power, for FDM printing filaments. Based on the collected data, an FDM lookup table was generated, summarising the radiological properties of these materials across different printing settings. A total of 17 material classes comprising 70 distinct filaments were analysed and indexed in an open-access lookup table. Polylactic acid (PLA) was the most frequently investigated material, reported in over 34 publications. Among the investigated radiological parameters, the CT number showed the greatest variability for a given material. For samples printed at 100% infill, values ranged from -180 HU to 227 HU for PLA. Recommendations for reducing this variability through standardised reporting are provided. This review provides an overview of FDM 3D printing materials in ion beam therapy. It serves as a practical reference for clinical personnel, medical physicists, and researchers in selecting suitable materials for radiotherapy applications. Moreover, it highlights the need for standardised characterisation methodologies and 3D printing guidelines.
Castanopsis, the dominant genus in evergreen broadleaved forests, is widely distributed across South and Southeast Asia. It has significant ecological and economic value, providing resources such as timber, firewood, food, and traditional medicines. China is a center of Castanopsis diversity, with its plantation areas having increased steadily in recent decades. However, severe outbreaks of canker and dieback disease were observed in Castanopsis carlesii and C. hystrix plantations in 2021. In this study, we isolated fungal pathogens from diseased tissues, and identified a novel species, Lasiodiplodia carlesii, based on morphological characteristics and multi-locus phylogenetic analyses of ITS, tef1-α, tub2, and rpb2. Pathogenicity tests demonstrated that L. carlesii not only causes canker and dieback symptoms on multiple Castanopsis species (including C. carlesii, C. hystrix, and C. faberi), but also produces water-soaked brown lesions on the fruits of Syzygium samarangense. These results suggest that L. carlesii has a broad host range, and exhibits cross-family infection. Collectively, this study identifies L. carlesii as a novel pathogen posing a substantial threat to Castanopsis plantations and provides a critical foundation for developing targeted management strategies.