Work-related upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders,

Carbon‐based quantum dots (CQDs), including spherical carbon dots and graphene quantum dots, are an emerging class of photoluminescent (PL) materials with unique properties. Great progress has been made in the design and fabrication of high‐performance CQDs, however, the challenge of developing solid‐state PL CQDs have aroused great interest among researchers. A clear PL mechanism is the basis for the development of high‐performance solid‐state CQDs for light emission and is also a prerequisite for the realization of multiple practical applications. However, the extremely complex structure of a CQD greatly limits the understanding of the solid‐state PL mechanism of CQDs. So far, a variety of models have been proposed to explain the PL of solid‐state CQDs, but they have not been unified. This review summarizes the current understanding of the solid‐state PL of solid‐state CQDs from the perspective of energy band theory and electronic transitions. In addition, the common strategies for realizing solid‐state PL in CQDs are also summarized. Furthermore, the applications of CQDs in the fields of light‐emitting devices, anti‐counterfeiting, fingerprint detection, etc., are proposed. Finally, a brief outlook is given, highlighting current problems, and directions for development of solid‐state PL of CQDs.

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One of the factors associated with the high prevalence of upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders, such as carpal tunnel syndrome, among dental practitioners is the repeated high pinch force applied during periodontal scaling. The goal of this study was to determine the relationship between the pinch force applied during periodontal scaling and the forces generated at the tip of the tool. A linear biomechanical model that incorporated tool reaction forces and a calculated safety margin was created to predict the pinch force applied by experienced and inexperienced dentists during periodontal scaling. Six dentists and six dental students used an instrumented scaling tool while performing periodontal scaling on patients. Thumb pinch force was measured by a pressure sensor, while the forces developed at the instrument tip were measured by a six-axis load cell. A biomechanical model was used to calculate a safety factor and to predict the applied pinch force. For experienced dentists, the model was moderately successful in predicting pinch force (R(2)=0.59). For inexperienced dentists, the model failed to predict peak pinch force (R(2)=0.01). The mean safety margin was higher for inexperienced (4.88+/-1.58) than experienced (3.35+/-0.55) dentists, suggesting that students apply excessive force during scaling.

Increased experience in periodontal scaling leads to the application of less pinch force to accomplish scaling. Nonetheless, the applied peak pinch forces in both groups are high and may pose a risk for the development of musculoskeletal disorders of the distal upper extremity.

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One of the techniques taught in dental and dental hygiene programs is to use finger rests to stabilize the instrument while performing dental scaling or other types of dental work. It is believed that finger rests may also reduce muscle stress and prevent injury due to muscle fatigue. In this study the effects of three different finger rest positions on hand muscle activity and thumb pinch force were compared. Twelve predental students performed simulated dental scaling tasks on a manikin using three different finger rest positions: 1) no finger rest, 2) one finger rest, and 3) two finger rests. Muscle activity and thumb pinch force were measured by surface electromyography and a pressure sensor, respectively. Using two finger rests was always associated with reduced thumb pinch force and muscle activity, as compared to not using any finger rests (p<0.05), while using one finger rest reduced thumb pinch force and muscle activity in most cases. Hence, using finger rests plays an important role in reducing the muscle load of the hand in students performing simulated dental hygiene work. It is concluded that dental and dental hygiene students may benefit from instructions for using finger rests at an early stage of their clinical training. Including biomechanical and ergonomic principles in dental and dental hygiene curricula will raise awareness of ergonomics among dental practitioners and help them incorporate these principles into daily practice.

Influenza is a contagious respiratory disease and risks public health in China, and it has caused wide public concern in recent years. Immunocompromised patients, such as children and elderly people, suffer more severe influenza complication and some extreme cases are even life threatening. To identify the influenza characteristics and its correlation with various climatic and environmental pollution factors, we collected the reported influenza epidemic of hospitalized children in Children's Hospital of Soochow University from 2016 to 2019. Our results show that the main influenza virus subtypes are A/H1N1, A/H3N2, B/BV, and B/BY. We also identified the characteristics of the prevalent influenza virus subtypes in different months, seasons, years, and patients' age. Of all the influenza infected patients, the most susceptible groups are children over 3 to 5 years of age, and more cases are reported in winter than other seasons. We also found that influenza is also highly correlated with climatic and environmental pollution factors, and the autoregressive integrated moving average model is employed for the short‐term influenza prediction in Suzhou city, which can provide scientific basis for the prevention and control of influenza and public health decision‐making.