This study supports the current view of a multifactorial etiology in idiopathic LB problems, and emphasizes the importance of multiple intervention strategies in industrial settings.

The purpose of this study was to determine the association between the prevalence of lower back problems, fear-avoidance beliefs, and pain-coping strategies in using an analytical cross-sectional epidemiological study among a group of 109 workers in a South African manganese industry. Outcome (LBP) was defined using a guided questionnaire and functional rating indexes. Exposure to psychosocial risk was determined using the Fear-Avoidance Beliefs (FABQ) and Coping Strategies (CSQ) questionnaires. Using inclusive and stringent definitions for perceived LBP, point prevalence was 37.6 and 29.4%, respectively. Only 8 cases of LBP were, however; recorded officially over a 7-year period reflecting a tendency of underreporting. Multivariate logistic regression analyses indicated significant adjusted relative risk ratios (RR) for work-related fear-avoidance beliefs (RR 2.35; 95% CI 1.39-3.95) as a singular psychosocial risk while no specific coping strategy could be isolated. In conclusion, work hardening and a contented ethos of the manual laborers under study moderates the association between the prevalence and etiology of LBP.

The objective was to determine the association between the prevalence of lower back problems (LBP), fear-avoidance beliefs and pain coping strategies using an analytical cross-sectional epidemiological study among a group of 366 workers in a South African stainless steel industry. Outcome (LBP) was defined using a questionnaire and a functional rating index. Exposure to psychosocial risk was determined using the Fear-Avoidance Beliefs (FABQ) and Coping Strategies (CSQ) questionnaires. Multivariate logistic regression analyses for LBP indicated the following significant risk factors: work-related fear-avoidance beliefs (OR 3.40; 95% CI 2.20-5.25), catastrophizing (1.31; 1.01-1.7) and pain coping self statements (1.47; 1.16-1.87). Significant protective associations were found for increased activity levels (OR 0.57; 95% CI 0.42-0.78). These findings have utility in preventative screening procedures to identify workers with such beliefs and coping strategies who are at risk for prolonged work restrictions.

Introduction Back complaints are a common in society. Methods An analytical cross-sectional epidemiological study was carried out among 366 steel plant workers to examine the prevalence and association between lower back problems (LBP) and family and workplace related psychosocial risk factors. Results Using inclusive and stringent definitions for LBP, point prevalence was 35.8% and 15.3%, respectively. Logistic regression analyses indicated significant adjusted odd ratios (OR) for negative perceptions of workplace support (2.32; CI 1.09-4.92), unexpected events (2.58; CI 1.19-5.59) and working under time pressures and deadlines (2.83; CI 1.24-6.48). A significant protective association was found for control over the order and pace of working tasks (OR 0.30; CI 0.14-0.63). A significant univariate association was further found between LBP and negative perceptions of family (1.97; CI 1.06-3.68) support. Conclusion These findings suggest that workers who feel more in control on the job and who have good family and workplace support systems in tact are less likely to experience LBP. Supervisors are therefore encouraged to develop appropriate support and organizational systems which may be an inexpensive, but potentially beneficial, means of reducing worker stress and LBP.

Gaia16aye was a binary microlensing event discovered in the direction towards the northern Galactic disc and was one of the first microlensing events detected and alerted to by the Gaia space mission. Its light curve exhibited five distinct brightening episodes, reaching up to I=12 mag, and it was covered in great detail with almost 25,000 data points gathered by a network of telescopes. We present the photometric and spectroscopic follow-up covering 500 days of the event evolution. We employed a full Keplerian binary orbit microlensing model combined with the motion of Earth and Gaia around the Sun to reproduce the complex light curve. The photometric data allowed us to solve the microlensing event entirely and to derive the complete and unique set of orbital parameters of the binary lensing system. We also report on the detection of the first-ever microlensing space-parallax between the Earth and Gaia located at L2. The properties of the binary system were derived from microlensing parameters, and we found that the system is composed of two main-sequence stars with masses 0.57±0.05 M and 0.36±0.03 M at 780 pc, with an orbital period of 2.88 years and an eccentricity of 0.30. We also predict the astrometric microlensing signal for this binary lens as it will be seen by Gaia as well as the radial velocity curve for the binary system. Events such as Gaia16aye indicate the potential for the microlensing method of probing the mass function of dark objects, including black holes, in directions other than that of the Galactic bulge. This case also emphasises the importance of long-term time-domain coordinated observations that can be made with a network of heterogeneous telescopes.

An analytical cross-sectional epidemiological study carried out among 109 manganese plant workers aimed to examine the prevalence and association between lower back problems (LBP) and occupational risk factors. Outcome was defined using a guided questionnaire and a functional rating index. Exposure to occupational risk factors was determined using self-reported questionnaires and workstation analyses. Multivariate logistic regression analyses indicated significant adjusted odds ratios (OR) for prolonged 90° trunk flexion (OR 2.16; CI 1.15-4.05); manual handling (1.89; 1.17-3.08); load carriage (1.54; 1.08-2.19); and lifting (4.61; 1.37-15.47). The findings openUP (August 2007) illustrate regional and occupational specifics of risk for LBP, and indicate that selfselection or adaptation to task-specific demands could possibly lead to observations of ergonomically relevant risk factors, which do not necessarily yield statistically significant associations with LBP. The findings further support multi-modal preventative approaches.

Despite the popularity and health benefits of running, a popular sporting activity performed by many individuals worldwide, runners are at risk of being injured. Of concern is the lack of evidence-based data and information on Ethiopian 10, 000-meter long-distance runners. The purpose of this study was to establish the incidence and the risk factors associated with lower-extremity running-related injuries amongst 10, 000-meter long distance runners in Ethiopia. A prospective study was used over a period of ten months in eleven running clubs and twelve Youth Athletics Training Programs in Amhara Regional State and Addis Ababa. Participants completed a self-reported questionnaire on 1) demographic characteristics; 2) risk factors associates with running-related injuries and, 3) their injury status. Logistic regression analysis and odds ratio (OR) and its 95% confidence interval (CI) was estimated for the predictor variables. The incidence of running-related injury was 62.4%, corresponding to 0.35 injuries per 100 running hours or 3.54 injuries per 1000 running hours. The most commonly injured anatomical site was the knee (33.6%), with a strain the most common type of injury (36.4%). Participants previously injured had an 8.20 higher OR (2.14-31.40). Runners who train respectively 40km-50km (OR = 0.003, 95% CI, 0.000-0.073) and 50km-60km (OR = 0.053, 95% CI, 0.004-0.728) per week and runners that wore running shoes eight to eleven months (OR = 0.033, 95% CI, 0.003-0.392) was significantly associated with a protective benefit against running-related injuries. Runners, coaches, and medical professionals must acknowledge the specific risk factors associated with runningrelated injuries. The results underscore urgent interventions to ensure that 10 000-meter Ethiopian long distance runners become injury free.

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