Ergonomic design and evaluation of a diagnostic ultrasound transducer holder

Background. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are injuries and disorders that affect the body’s movement and musculoskeletal system. Awkward postures represent one of the major ergonomic risk factors that cause WMSDs among sonographers while working with an ultrasound transducer. This study aimed to design and evaluate a new holder for the ultrasound transducer. Materials and methods. In the first phase a new holder was designed for the transducer, considering design principles. Evaluation of the new holder was then carried out by electrogoniometry and a locally perceived discomfort (LPD) scale. Results. The application of design principles to the new holder resulted in an improvement of wrist posture and comfort. Wrist angles in extension, flexion, radial deviation and ulnar deviation were lower with utilization of the new holder. The severity of discomfort based on the LPD method in the two modes of work with and without the new holder was reported with values of 1.3 and 1.8, respectively (p?<?0.05). Conclusion. Overall, this study indicated that applying ergonomics design principles was effective in minimizing wrist deviation and increasing comfort while working with the new holder.     

Development of Regenerated Cellulose/Citric Acid Films with Ionic Liquids

Nowadays, the importance of green and biodegradable plastics as viable substitutes for non-degradable petroleum-based materials is felt more than ever. Regenerated cellulose (RC) as a potential candidate suffers from poor processability and inferior properties, limiting its wide applications. In this study, it is demonstrated that citric acid (CA) enhances physical, mechanical, and thermal properties of RC films, due to RC-citric acid compatibility. 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (EMIMCl) as a green ionic liquid was employed for the processing of RC. The optimum properties in terms of thermal stability, mechanical strength, contact angle, water uptake, and oxygen permeability were achieved at 10 wt% of CA. However, further incorporation of CA adversely affected the film properties. This behaviour was explained by the crosslinking and plasticizing effects of CA. Furthermore, in vitro cytotoxicity test demonstrated that RC/CA films are cytocompatible, suggesting the potential advantage of using these biopolymeric films for biomaterial and biological applications.

     

Characterization and Optimization of Persian Gum/Whey Protein Bionanocomposite Films Containing Betanin Nanoliposomes for Food Packaging Utilization

Journal of Polymers and the Environment - In this study, composite packaging films were produced from relatively inexpensive materials including Whey protein isolate (WPI) and Persian gum (PG),...     

Using artificial intelligence to make sustainable development decisions considering VUCA: a systematic literature review and bibliometric analysis

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Sustainable development emergent subfields have been rapidly evolving, and their popularity increased in recent years. Sustainable development is a...     

Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in the indoor air of intensive care unit (ICU) for severe COVID-19 patients and its surroundings: considering the role of environmental conditions

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - There is ambiguity about the airborne transmission of the SARS-CoV-2. While a distance of 6 feet is considered a safe physical distance, new findings...     

Investigating surface roughness,material removal rate and corrosion resistance in PMEDM of γ-TiAl intermetallic

Titanium aluminide intermetallics offer an attractive combination of low density and good oxidation, corrosion and ignition resistance with unique mechanical properties. In this study two series of machining tests are designed. Firstly the powder mixed electrical discharge machining (PMEDM) of γ-TiAl by means of different powders such as aluminum, chrome, silicon carbide, graphite and iron is performed to investigate the output characteristics of surface roughness and topography, material removal rate (MRR), electrochemical corrosion resistance of machined samples and also the machined surfaces are investigated by means of EDS and XRD analyses. Secondly after selection the aluminum powder as the most appropriate kind of powder, the current, pulse on time, powder size and powder concentration are changed in different levels for overall comparison between EDM and PMEDM output characteristics. In the first setting of input machining parameters, aluminum powder improves the surface roughness of TiAl sample about 32% comparing with EDM case and also aluminum particles with the size of 2 μm, in the second setting of input parameters lead to 54% enhancement of MRR comparing with EDM case. The electrochemical corrosion results show that, corrosion resistance of the samples which are machined by graphite and chrome powders respectively are about three and two times more than the sample which is machined without powder.     

Long-term variations of water quality parameters in the Maroon River, Iran

Sixteen water quality parameters have been monitored at four stations located along the Maroon River during 1989?C2008. The trend analysis was performed on seasonal and annual time-scales using the Mann?CKendall test, the Sen??s slope estimator and the linear regression. The relationships of the water quality parameters to river discharge were also investigated. The statistical methods showed both positive and negative trends in annual water quality data. However, significant trends were detected by the statistical methods only in calcium, magnesium, sodium absorption ratio, pH, and turbidity series. The results indicated that the concentrations of the water quality parameters increased in spring and winter seasons, while the concentrations were diluted in summer and autumn seasons in the last two decades. Moreover, the highest numbers of significant trends were found in the spring and summer series, respectively. According to the regression analysis, most of the water quality parameters were negatively correlated with river discharge.     

Possible treatment with medicinal herbs and their ingredients of lung disorders induced by sulfur mustard exposures: a review

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Chemical warfare (CW) agents are toxic synthetic chemicals that affect human’s health, and sulfur mustard (SM) is a well-known chemical weapon...     

Biomonitoring of unmetabolized polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in urine of waterpipe/cigarette café workers

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Fresh tobacco or the smoke resulting from waterpipe and cigarette contains large amounts of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which consumption...