Social status might be a determinant of occupational health inequalities. This study analyzed the effects of social status on both work environments and health outcomes.
The study sample consisted of ...27,598 wage employees aged 15 years and older from among the Korean Working Condition Survey participants in 2011. Work environments included atypical work, physical risks, ergonomic risks, work demands, work autonomy, social supports, and job rewards. Health outcomes comprised general health, health and safety at risk because of work, the World Health Organization-5 Well-being Index, work-related musculoskeletal disease, and work-related injury. Multivariable logistic-regression models were used to identify the associations between social status and work environments and health outcomes.
Employees in the demographically vulnerable group had lower occupational status compared with their counterparts. Low social status was largely related to adverse work environments. Especially, precarious employment and manual labor occupation were associated with both adverse work environments and poor health outcomes.
Precarious and manual workers should take precedence in occupational health equity policies and interventions. Their cumulative vulnerability, which is connected to demographics, occupational status, adverse work environments, or poor health outcomes, can be improved through a multilevel approach such as labor market, organizations, and individual goals.
Abstract
The prognostic and therapeutic relevance of molecular subtypes for the most aggressive isocitrate dehydrogenase 1/2 (
IDH
) wild-type glioblastoma (GBM) is currently limited due to high ...molecular heterogeneity of the tumors that impedes patient stratification. Here, we describe a distinct binary classification of
IDH
wild-type GBM tumors derived from a quantitative proteomic analysis of 39
IDH
wild-type GBMs as well as
IDH
mutant and low-grade glioma controls. Specifically, GBM proteomic cluster 1 (GPC1) tumors exhibit Warburg-like features, neural stem-cell markers, immune checkpoint ligands, and a poor prognostic biomarker, FKBP prolyl isomerase 9 (
FKBP9
). Meanwhile, GPC2 tumors show elevated oxidative phosphorylation-related proteins, differentiated oligodendrocyte and astrocyte markers, and a favorable prognostic biomarker, phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (
PHGDH
). Integrating these proteomic features with the pharmacological profiles of matched patient-derived cells (PDCs) reveals that the mTORC1/2 dual inhibitor AZD2014 is cytotoxic to the poor prognostic PDCs. Our analyses will guide GBM prognosis and precision treatment strategies.
We present a sensor of vertical forces based on single-layer graphene, with a working range that corresponds to the pressure of a gentle touch that can be perceived by humans. Polydimethylsiloxane ...(PDMS) is employed for the supporting material of the graphene layer and also works as a force absorber of the sensor. In spite of the low gauge factor that arises from the intrinsic electromechanical character of single-layer graphene, we achieve a resistance variation of about 17 + or - 7% in response to an applied vertical pressure of 10 kPa by introducing a pressure-amplifying structure of patterned lines that induces additional structural deformation of the graphene layer for the applied vertical force. In addition, we demonstrate a method to enhance the sensitivity of the sensor by applying resistive single-layer graphene.
In this article we report on a 3 × 3 mm tactile interaction sensor that is able to simultaneously detect pressure level, pressure distribution, and shear force direction. The sensor consists of ...multiple mechanical switches under a conducting diaphragm. An external stimulus is measured by the deflection of the diaphragm and the arrangement of mechanical switches, resulting in low noise, high reliability, and high uniformity. Our sensor is able to detect tactile forces as small as ~50 mgf along with the direction of the shear force. It also distinguishes whether there is a normal pressure during slip motion. We also succeed in detecting the contact shape and the contact motion, demonstrating potential applications in robotics and remote input interfaces. Since our sensor has a simple structure and its function depends only on sensor dimensions, not on an active sensing material, in comparison with previous tactile sensors, our sensor shows high uniformity and reliability for an array-type integration.
A new stiffness measurement method is proposed that utilizes the lateral deformation profile of an object under indentation. The system consists of a force measurement module between a pair of ...equidistant touch sensing modules. Unique feature of the method is that by adjusting the touch module separation, indenter protrusion, and spring constant of the force sensing module, one can choose a desired sensing range for the force module. This feature helps to enhance the stiffness differentiation between objects of similar hardness and avoids measurement saturation. We devised a portable measurement system based on the method, and tested its performance with several materials including polymer foams and human skin.
In this article, we report on a flexible sensor based on a sandpaper molded elastomer that simultaneously detects planar displacement, rotation angle, and vertical contact pressure. When ...displacement, rotation, and contact pressure are applied, the contact area between the translating top elastomer electrode and the stationary three bottom electrodes change characteristically depending on the movement, making it possible to distinguish between them. The sandpaper molded undulating surface of the elastomer reduces friction at the contact allowing the sensor not to affect the movement during measurement. The sensor showed a 0.25 mm
displacement sensitivity with a ±33 μm accuracy, a 0.027 degree
of rotation sensitivity with ~0.95 degree accuracy, and a 4.96 kP
of pressure sensitivity. For possible application to joint movement detection, we demonstrated that our sensor effectively detected the up-and-down motion of a human forefinger and the bending and straightening motion of a human arm.
In this article, we report on a highly sensitive tactile shear sensor that was able to detect minute levels of shear and surface slip. The sensor consists of a suspended elastomer diaphragm with a ...top ridge structure, a graphene layer underneath, and a bottom substrate with multiple spatially digitized contact electrodes. When shear is applied to the top ridge structure, it creates torque and deflects the elastomer downwards. Then, the graphene electrode makes contact with the bottom spatially digitized electrodes completing a circuit producing output currents depending on the number of electrodes making contact. The tactile shear sensor was able to detect shear forces as small as 6 μN, detect shear direction, and also distinguish surface friction and roughness differences of shearing objects. We also succeeded in detecting the contact slip motion of a single thread demonstrating possible applications in future robotic fingers and remote surgical tools.
Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of work environment on health problems of nurses. Methods: The subjects of the study were 395 nurses who were wage workers among KWCS ...(Korean Working Conditions Survey) respondents in 2014. The work environments were measured by the KWCS questionnaire. Results: 48.5% of the 395 nurses had health problems. The prevalence of musculoskeletal diseases (34.7%) was the highest among all health problems. The ergonomic work environment was significantly related to musculoskeletal disorders, headache and eye strain, and fatigue. In addition, the increase in work-individual interface area was significantly related to fatigue. Conclusion: The work environment of nurses affects health problems. It is therefore important to develop strategies that improve the health problems of nurses by reducing ergonomic and psycho-social risk factors.
Abstract Objective As one of the fastest growing ethnic minority groups in the United States, Korean American (KA) women experience a heightened cervical cancer burden. The advent of the human ...papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine offers an unprecedented opportunity to eliminate cervical cancer disparities in KA women. However, the uptake of HPV vaccine among KA adolescents remains suboptimal. Hence, we set out to explore knowledge, perceptions, and decision making about HPV vaccination among KA women. Methods We conducted four focus groups of 26 KA women who participated in a community-based, randomized, controlled trial to promote breast and cervical cancer screening. Focus group data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Results Four main themes emerged from the focus groups: 1) limited awareness and knowledge of HPV vaccine, 2) perceptions and beliefs about HPV vaccination (acceptance, negative perceptions, ambivalence), 3) patterns of decision making about HPV vaccination (hierarchical, peer influenced, autonomous, and collaborative), and 4) promoting HPV education and information sharing in the Korean community. Conclusion KA women are generally positive toward HPV vaccination, but lack awareness and knowledge about HPV. Culturally tailored HPV education programs based on KA women's decision-making patterns and effective information sharing by trustworthy sources in comfortable environments are suggested strategies to promote HPV vaccination in the KA community. The findings point to the need for a multilevel approach to addressing linguistic, cultural, and system barriers that the recent immigrant community faces in promoting HPV vaccinations. In the development of targeted interventions for KA women, educational strategies and patterns of decision making need to be considered.
Purpose: This study aimed to identify differences in physical working environments, psychosocial working environments, and health outcomes according to the employment type of delivery workers. ...Methods: This study was a secondary analysis of data collected from the Fifth Korean Working Conditions Survey (KWCS). Participants were 84 Korean delivery workers. Data were analyzed using the SAS 9.4 Version, x2 test and Fisher’s exact test. Results: Statistically significant differences were found according to the employment type of delivery workers (special types, wage) including “noise”, “vibrations”, “repetitive movements”, “supervisor support”, “colleague support”, “manuals on emotional expression”, “existence of trade union, works council or similar body”. Conclusion: This study suggests the necessity of improving the working environment and health outcomes of delivery workers belonging to special employment types. In developing these, the laws and systems must be reorganized to enable the recognition of delivery workers as wage workers. In addition, delivery companies should be held responsible for managing delivery workers.
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