Thermo-mechanical vibration analysis of annular and circular graphene sheet embedded in an elastic medium

In this study, the vibration behavior of annular and circular graphene sheet coupled with temperature change and under in-plane pre-stressed is studied. Influence of the surrounding elastic medium 011 the fundamental frequencies of the single-layered graphene sheets (SLGSs) is investigated. Both Winkler-type and Pasternak- type models are employed to simulate the interaction of the graphene sheets with a surrounding elastic medium. By using the nonlocal elasticity theory the governing equation is derived for SLGSs. The closed-form solution for frequency vibration of circular graphene sheets lias been obtained and nonlocal parameter, inplane pre-stressed, the parameters of elastic medium and temperature change appears into arguments of Bessel functions. The results are subsequently compared with valid result reported in the literature and the molecular dynamics (MD) results. The effects of the small scale, pre-stressed, mode number, temperature change, elastic medium and boundary conditions on natural frequencies are investigated. The non-dimensional frequency decreases at high temperature case with increasing the temperature change for all boundary conditions. The effect of temperature change 011 the frequency vibration becomes the opposite at high temperature case in compression with the low temperature case. The present research work thus reveals that the nonlocal parameter, boundary conditions and temperature change have significant effects on vibration response of the circular nanoplates. The present results can be used for the design of the next generation of nanodevices that make use of the thermal vibration properties of the graphene

Benefits, barriers, and facilitators of using speech recognition technology in nursing documentation and reporting: A cross-sectional study

Background and AimNursing reports are necessary for clinical communication and provide an accurate reflection of nursing assessments, care provided, changes in clinical status, and patient-related information to support the multidisciplinary team to provide individualized care. Nurses always face challenges in recording and documenting nursing reports. Speech recognition systems (SRS), as one of the documentation technologies, can play a potential role in recording medical reports. Therefore, this study seeks to identify the barriers, benefits, and facilitators of utilizing speech recognition technology in nursing reports. Materials and MethodsThis cross-sectional was conducted through a researcher-made questionnaire in 2022. Invitations were sent to 200 ICU nurses working in the three educational hospitals of Imam Reza (AS), Qaem and Imam Zaman in Mashhad city (Iran), 125 of whom accepted our invitation. Finally, 73 nurses included the study based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data analysis was performed using SPSS 22.0. ResultsAccording to the nurses, "paperwork reduction" (3.96, +/- 1.96), "performance improvement" (3.96, +/- 0.93), and "cost reduction" (3.95, +/- 1.07) were the most common benefits of using the SRS. "Lack of specialized, technical, and experienced staff to teach nurses how to work with speech recognition systems" (3.59, +/- 1.18), "insufficient training of nurses" (3.59, +/- 1.11), and "need to edit and control quality and correct documents" (3.59, +/- 1.03) were the most common barriers to using SRS. As well as "ability to fully review documentation processes" (3.62, +/- 1.13), "creation of integrated data in record documentation" (3.58, +/- 1.15), "possibility of error correction for nurses" (3.51, +/- 1.16) were the most common facilitators. There was no significant relationship between nurses' demographic information and the benefits, barriers, and facilitators. ConclusionsBy providing information on the benefits, barriers, and facilitators of using this technology, hospital managers, nursing managers, and information technology managers of healthcare centers can make more informed decisions in selecting and implementing SRS for nursing report documentation. This will help to avoid potential challenges that may reduce the efficiency, effectiveness, and productivity of the systems

Pulmonary Functions of Welders in Gas Transmission Pipelines in Iran

This study evaluated the influence of welding on pulmonary functions in welders. Spirometry tests were performed before and after work shift in 91 welders and 25 clerks (control group). We examined forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), FEV1/FVC ratio and forced expiratory flow 25%–75%(FEF 25–75). Significant differences were found for FVC and FEV1/FVC between welders and the control group in pre- and post-shift measurements (p .05). Most welders had at least 1 of the respiratory symptoms. Significant differences were found between pre- and post-shift indices (as percentage of predicted values calculated with spirometer) and between the welders engaged in some welding tasks and the control group before work shift. This study documented work-related changes in pulmonary functions in the welders and marked drops in these functions without symptoms in some welders

Assessment of Welders Exposure to Carcinogen Metals from Manual Metal Arc Welding in Gas Transmission Pipelines, Iran

Background: Welding can produce dangerous fumes containing various metals especially carcinogenic ones. Occupational exposure to welding fumes is associated with lung cancer. Therefore, welders in Gas Transmission Pipelines are known as a high-risk group. This study was designed to determinate the amounts of metals Cr, Ni, and Cd in breathing zone and urine of welders and to assess the possibility of introducing urinary metals as a biomarker due to occupational exposure.Methods: In this cross sectional study, 94 individuals from Gas Transmission Pipelines welders, Iran, Borujen in 2011 were selected and classified into 3 groups including Welders, Back Welders and Assistances. The sampling procedures were performed according to NIOSH 7300 for total chromium, nickel, and cadmium and NIOSH 7600 for Cr+6. For all participants urine samples were collected during the entire work shift and metals in urine were determined according to NIOSH 8310.Results: Back Welders and Assistances groups had maximum and minimum exposure to total fume and its elements, respectively. In addition, results showed that there are significant differences (P<0.05) between Welders and Back Welders with Assistances group in exposure with total fume and elements except Ni. Urinary concentrations of three metals including Cr, Cd and Ni among all welders were about 4.5, 12 and 14-fold greater than those detected in controls, respectively. Weak correlations were found between airborne and urinary metals concentrations (R2: Cr=0.45, Cd=0.298, Ni=0.362). Conclusion: Urinary metals concentrations could not be considerate as a biomarker for welders' exposure assessment

Occupational exposure to manganese-containing welding fumes and pulmonary function indices among natural gas transmission pipeline welders

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to evaluate manganese (Mn)-containing welding fumes' exposure, assess urinary Mn as a biomarker for Mn exposure and investigate the correlation of Mn in air, total fumes and urinary Mn with pulmonary function indices in 118 welders and 37 unexposed controls from two regions in Iran, Assaluyeh and Borujen. Methods: Air samples were collected on mixed cellulose ester membrane filters in personal air samplers and then analyzed using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) (NIOSH Method 7300). For all participants, urine samples were collected during the entire work shift, and Mn in urine was determined by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy according to NIOSH Method 8310. Spirometric measurements were also done for participants. Results: The maximum exposures to airborne Mn and total fumes were 0. 304 ± 0. 256 mg/m3 and 21.52 ± 9.40 mg/m3, respectively. The urine Mn levels in the various groups ranged between 0.77 to 7.58 μg/l. The correlation between airborne Mn and urinary Mn was significant for total whole participants. Some values of spirometric indices were statistically lower in welders rather than controls. Conclusions: Our results indicate that many welders have been exposed to higher concentrations of Mn-containing welding fumes. Urinary Mn can be used as a biomarker for Mn exposure. There were weak inverse correlations between Mn-containing welding fumes and pulmonary function indices, and the inverse correlation between urinary Mn with forced vital capacities (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) was significant

Occupational exposure to manganese-containing welding fumes and pulmonary function indices among natural gas transmission pipeline welders

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to evaluate manganese (Mn)-containing welding fumes' exposure, assess urinary Mn as a biomarker for Mn exposure and investigate the correlation of Mn in air, total fumes and urinary Mn with pulmonary function indices in 118 welders and 37 unexposed controls from two regions in Iran, Assaluyeh and Borujen. Methods: Air samples were collected on mixed cellulose ester membrane filters in personal air samplers and then analyzed using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) (NIOSH Method 7300). For all participants, urine samples were collected during the entire work shift, and Mn in urine was determined by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy according to NIOSH Method 8310. Spirometric measurements were also done for participants. Results: The maximum exposures to airborne Mn and total fumes were 0. 304 ± 0. 256 mg/m3 and 21.52 ± 9.40 mg/m3, respectively. The urine Mn levels in the various groups ranged between 0.77 to 7.58 μg/l. The correlation between airborne Mn and urinary Mn was significant for total whole participants. Some values of spirometric indices were statistically lower in welders rather than controls. Conclusions: Our results indicate that many welders have been exposed to higher concentrations of Mn-containing welding fumes. Urinary Mn can be used as a biomarker for Mn exposure. There were weak inverse correlations between Mn-containing welding fumes and pulmonary function indices, and the inverse correlation between urinary Mn with forced vital capacities (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) was significant