Tattooing : A national survey in the general population of France

Non peer reviewe

Succession Planning – Selling Your Store to Your Employees

In 2013, 45 employees of two isolated, rural independent grocery stores in Maine formed a worker cooperative with the express purpose of purchasing the stores from the retiring owner. Over a period of many months, the Island Employee Cooperative incorporated, signed a purchase and sale agreement, developed a business plan, secured financing, and purchased the stores that many had been working in all of their lives. This elegant transition model maintains local ownership and empowers a dedicated workforce while providing competitive advantage and increasing community support. Learn about the core team that formed to support this transaction, the process and challenges to making it happen, the motivations of both buyers and seller, and the details of the financing package. We also briefly discuss food access and local foods as they factored into this process

Evaluation of morphological traits, genetic diversity and major resistance genes in barley subpopulations cultivated under organic and conventional farming systems

Received: March 13th, 2021 ; Accepted: June 21st, 2021 ; Published: September 6th, 2021 ; Correspondence: [email protected] crop varieties currently grown in organic conditions have been bred for conventional farming, and are not adapted to increased environmental variability under organic farming conditions and unpredictable environmental fluctuations due to climate change. This can be mitigated by the use of heterogeneous material, increasing genetic diversity and enabling adaptation to local conditions. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of several generations of cultivation in parallel under organic and conventional farming systems on the genetic diversity, morphological traits and frequency of major disease resistance genes as indicators of adaptation to the farming system in heterogeneous spring barley populations with differing levels of diversity. Populations in differing generations originating from crosses between two, three, 10 and 15 parental genotypes were cultivated in organic and conventional farming systems for three, four or 10 generations, thus forming subpopulations in each environment. These subpopulations were genotyped, and tested for morphological traits in both farming systems. A significant effect of cultivation environment on tillering capacity (p < 0.05) was found for all tested populations and in several cases for plant height, ear length and grain number per spike, indicating some adaptation trends. In the short term, genetic diversity parameters were not decreased in the later generation populations in comparison to the initial populations with the exception of observed heterozygosity, as expected for a self-pollinating species. No clear differences in genetic diversity parameters between populations cultivated under either organic or conventional condition for several generations were identified

Comparison of biological markers in aerosol-weighed workplaces

Funding Information: Funding information This work was supported by ESF project “The development of up-to-date diagnostic and research methods for the risks caused by nanoparticles and ergonomic factors at workplaces” (Agreement No. 2013/0050/1DP/1.1.1.2.0/13/ APIA/VIAA/025). Publisher Copyright: © 2019, The Author(s). Copyright: Copyright 2019 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.Airborne particulates present a potential hazard to health in a variety of indoor workplaces, from offices to the manufacturing floor. Dust and aerosols are two of the most common occupational risk factors in the workplace worldwide. It is very important to understand when it is sufficient to describe dust exposure only by given mass concentration that dust particles could be in the nanosized range in the workplace air even for brief exposures, such as welding aerosols. The main objective was to assess total dust and nanoparticle concentrations in the selected workplaces and to evaluate their impact on workers’ health. This project describes nanoparticle concentrations and their potential impact on workers’ health considering the exposure levels in three workplaces. Industrial and non-industrial environments have been included in the project. The office environment was used as an indicator for the background level of comparison with the metalworking and woodworking industries for measurements of dust particles including the nanoscale particles (> 100 nm). Fraction size of the samples according to a dispersity of > 10 μm, 0.25–10 μm, < 0.25 μm, and 1–100 nm was analysed in order to describe the particles’ chemical composition at the different stages. The worst working conditions (the smallest particles, 12 nm), the highest total dust concentrations, and the lowest difference between total inhalable particle and nanoparticle concentrations were detected among woodworkers. These findings provide a basis on how to evaluate nanoparticle exposure and its impact on workers’ health because the highest immune cell counts and relatively high IL-6 expression were observed among woodworkers compared with the other groups. The data show a negative tendency of nanoparticle exposure concentrations on workers’ health based on the increase of inflammatory processes and damage to airway epithelial cell functionality.Peer reviewe

Wrist hypothermia related to continuous work with a computer mouse : A digital infrared imaging pilot study

Publisher Copyright: © 2015 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. Copyright: Copyright 2017 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.Computer work is characterized by sedentary static workload with low-intensity energy metabolism. The aim of our study was to evaluate the dynamics of skin surface temperature in the hand during prolonged computer mouse work under different ergonomic setups. Digital infrared imaging of the right forearm and wrist was performed during three hours of continuous computer work (measured at the start and every 15 minutes thereafter) in a laboratory with controlled ambient conditions. Four people participated in the study. Three different ergonomic computer mouse setups were tested on three different days (horizontal computer mouse without mouse pad; horizontal computer mouse with mouse pad and padded wrist support; vertical computer mouse without mouse pad). The study revealed a significantly strong negative correlation between the temperature of the dorsal surface of the wrist and time spent working with a computer mouse. Hand skin temperature decreased markedly after one hour of continuous computer mouse work. Vertical computer mouse work preserved more stable and higher temperatures of the wrist (>30 °C), while continuous use of a horizontal mouse for more than two hours caused an extremely low temperature (<28 °C) in distal parts of the hand. The preliminary observational findings indicate the significant effect of the duration and ergonomics of computer mouse work on the development of hand hypothermia.publishersversionPeer reviewe

In vitro impact preliminary assessment of airborne particulate from metalworking and woodworking industries

Funding Information: This work was supported by ESF project “Development of up-to-date diagnostic and research methods for the risks caused by nanoparticles and ergonomic factors at workplaces” Agreement No. 2013/0050/1DP/1.1.1.2.0/13/ APIA/VIAA/025. Publisher Copyright: © 2021, The Author(s).Inhalation is the main route of exposure to airborne pollutants. To evaluate the safety and assess the risks of occupational hazards different testing approaches are used. 3D airway epithelial tissues allow to mimic exposure conditions in vitro, generates human-relevant toxicology data, allows to elucidate the mode of action of pollutants. Gillian3500 pumps were used to collect the airborne particulate from woodworking and metalworking environments. EpiAirway tissues were used to model half working day (4 h), full working day (8 h), and 3 working day exposures to occupational pollutants. Tissue viability was assessed using an MTT assay. For preliminary assessment, RT-qPCR analyses were performed to analyze the expression of gelsolin, caspase-3, and IL-6. Tissue morphology was assessed by hematoxylin/eosin staining. An effect on the proliferation of lung epithelial cell line A549 was assessed. Acute exposure to workspace pollutants slightly affected tissue viability and did not change the morphology. No inhibiting effect was observed on the proliferation of A549 cells. Preliminary analysis showed that both types of particles suppressed the expression of gelsolin, with the effect of metalworking samples being more pronounced. A slight reduction in caspase-3 expression was observed. Particles from metalworking suppressed IL-6 expression.publishersversionPeer reviewe

Work conditions and occupational morbidity in Latvia

Copyright: Copyright 2012 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.The aim of study was to analyse work conditions and occupational morbidity in Latvia during a 15-year period for recommendations to employment policy programmes. The study included the analysis of the database of occupational risk factor measurements in more than 7000 enterprises and companies performed in period 1995-2010 by the Laboratory of Hygiene and Occupational Diseases of the Institute of Occupational Safety and Environmental Health of Riga Stradins University. The analysis of registered occupational diseases according to the data from the Latvian State Registry of Occupational diseases run by the Centre of Occupational and Radiation Medicine of Pauls Stradins Clinical University Hospital for the same period was performed. Occupational diseases in Latvia are diagnosed and coded in accordance with the International Classification of Diseases. Results of measurements showed that for one third of measured occupational risk factors values exceeded recommended limits. The traditional work risk factors (chemical, physical, biological etc.) have been partly replaced by new risks (ergonomic and psychosocial factors). The results of the study indicated that the following enterprises form a major risk group of non-compliance with legislation regarding occupational health and safety: small enterprises; enterprises of private and non-governmental sectors; enterprises of different industries (construction, metal processing and wood processing). The number of firstly diagnosed occupational diseases and patients has gradually increased. The total number of firstly diagnosed and registered occupational patients per 100,000 employees was 11.2 in 1995 and 140.5 in 2009. The structure of occupational diseases shows musculoskeletal diseases (46.1%) as the leading group of diseases followed by diseases of the nervous system and organs of sense (29.3%), traumatic disorders and intoxications (11.7%).publishersversionPeer reviewe

HBM4EU Occupational Biomonitoring Study on e-Waste—Study Protocol

Funding Information: This work has received external funding from the European Union?s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No. 733032 and received co-funding from the author?s organizations and/or Ministries. Publisher Copyright: © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.Workers involved in the processing of electronic waste (e-waste) are potentially exposed to toxic chemicals. If exposure occurs, this may result in uptake and potential adverse health effects. Thus, exposure surveillance is an important requirement for health risk management and prevention of occupational disease. Human biomonitoring by measurement of specific biomarkers in body fluids is considered as an effective method of exposure surveillance. The aim of this study is to investigate the internal exposure of workers processing e-waste using a human biomonitoring approach, which will stimulate improved work practices and contribute to raising awareness of potential hazards. This exploratory study in occupational exposures in e-waste processing is part of the European Human Biomonitoring Initiative (HBM4EU). Here we present a study protocol using a cross sectional survey design to study worker’s exposures and compare these to the exposure of subjects preferably employed in the same company but with no known exposure to industrial recycling of e-waste. The present study protocol will be applied in six to eight European countries to ensure standardised data collection. The target population size is 300 exposed and 150 controls. Biomarkers of exposure for the following chemicals will be used: chromium, cadmium and lead in blood and urine; brominated flame retardants and polychlorobiphenyls in blood; mercury, organophosphate flame retardants and phthalates in urine, and chromium, cadmium, lead and mercury in hair. In addition, the following effect biomarkers will be studied: micronuclei, epigenetic, oxidative stress, inflammatory markers and telomere length in blood and metabolomics in urine. Occupational hygiene sampling methods (airborne and settled dust, silicon wristbands and handwipes) and contextual information will be collected to facilitate the interpretation of the biomarker results and discuss exposure mitigating interventions to further reduce exposures if needed. This study protocol can be adapted to future European-wide occupational studiespublishersversionPeer reviewe

HBM4EU Occupational Biomonitoring Study on e-Waste—Study Protocol

Funding Information: This work has received external funding from the European Union?s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No. 733032 and received co-funding from the author?s organizations and/or Ministries. Publisher Copyright: © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.Workers involved in the processing of electronic waste (e-waste) are potentially exposed to toxic chemicals. If exposure occurs, this may result in uptake and potential adverse health effects. Thus, exposure surveillance is an important requirement for health risk management and prevention of occupational disease. Human biomonitoring by measurement of specific biomarkers in body fluids is considered as an effective method of exposure surveillance. The aim of this study is to investigate the internal exposure of workers processing e-waste using a human biomonitoring approach, which will stimulate improved work practices and contribute to raising awareness of potential hazards. This exploratory study in occupational exposures in e-waste processing is part of the European Human Biomonitoring Initiative (HBM4EU). Here we present a study protocol using a cross sectional survey design to study worker’s exposures and compare these to the exposure of subjects preferably employed in the same company but with no known exposure to industrial recycling of e-waste. The present study protocol will be applied in six to eight European countries to ensure standardised data collection. The target population size is 300 exposed and 150 controls. Biomarkers of exposure for the following chemicals will be used: chromium, cadmium and lead in blood and urine; brominated flame retardants and polychlorobiphenyls in blood; mercury, organophosphate flame retardants and phthalates in urine, and chromium, cadmium, lead and mercury in hair. In addition, the following effect biomarkers will be studied: micronuclei, epigenetic, oxidative stress, inflammatory markers and telomere length in blood and metabolomics in urine. Occupational hygiene sampling methods (airborne and settled dust, silicon wristbands and handwipes) and contextual information will be collected to facilitate the interpretation of the biomarker results and discuss exposure mitigating interventions to further reduce exposures if needed. This study protocol can be adapted to future European-wide occupational studiespublishersversionPeer reviewe

NONWOVEN DEVELOPMENT BY THE MULTILAYER STRUCTURE

The main two directives of the European Commission (EC) has been regulating the automotive industry. The aforementioned directives and education of residents on environmental issues has created the need for new materials that have been produced from renewable resources and should be recycled at the end of product life cycle. The objective of this project is to develop a nonwoven materials (NWM) that would incorporate fibers of plants, which could be grown in Latvia because of suitable local climate conditions, for the use in automotive industry. Furthermore, inclusion of polymer fibers in the NWM will expand the areas of use of such material – the NWM can be transformed into a composite material by means of a thermal press. Manufacturing process of NWM consist of structure modelling and material samples manufacturing. NWM samples production process to be carried out by fibers preparation, fibers mixing, formation by airlaid method, preparation of fiber webs for fixation with a mechanical needle punching method, mechanical fixation of fiber webs, preparation of fixed fiber webs for NWM manufacturing and manufacturing of NWM by mechanical needle punching method. This article reflects the comparison of two compositions NMW (Polylactid (PLA) (60 wt%) and long flax fibres (40 wt%), and PLA (60 wt%) and technical hemp fibres (40 wt%)) with the same structure by visual appearance, geometrical parameters and tensile strength. The average surface density of hemp NWM varies in the range of 792.09 to 958,71 g•m−2 , thickness varies from 6.91 to 9.23 mm. Flax NWM average surface density is higher than hemp NWM and varies in range of 1,064 to 1,260 g•m−2, thickness of the material varies from 12.62 to 15.54 mm. For comparison, the surface density of NWM currently used in automotive industry, depending on the use of the material, varies from 100 to 1,400 g•m−2