BackgroundIt is well known that ergonomic risk factors and back pain are related. However, few studies have examined the relationship between simultaneous exposure to these risk factors and back pain in a Korean population. We aimed to investigate the relationship between simultaneous exposure to ergonomic risk factors and work-related lower back pain (LBP) based on the fourth Korean Working Conditions Survey (KWCS).MethodThe fourth KWCS (2014) was used for this study. Chi-square tests and logistic regression were used to assess relationship between 5 ergonomic risk factors and work-related LBP. We also analyzed the relationship between simultaneous exposure to 2 risk factors and work-related LBP.ResultsAll 5 ergonomic risk factors (fatigue-inducing and painful posture; lifting or moving people; dragging, pushing, or moving heavy objects; standing posture; and repetitive hand or arm movements) were significantly correlated with work-related LBP in the severe exposure group (adjusted odd ratios [aOR] 5.09, 95% confidence interval [CI] 4.46–5.83; aOR 1.98, 95% CI 1.62–2.42; aOR 2.09, 95% CI 1.82–2.40; aOR 1.79, 95% CI 1.60–2.01; aOR 2.04, 95% CI 1.82–2.30, respectively). When exposed to 2 risk factors simultaneously, the relationship between exposure and work-related LBP was not greater than exposure to only 1 risk factor in our study (usually exposed to ‘fatigue-inducing or painful posture’ aOR 2.17, 95% CI 2.02–2.34; high exposure to both ‘fatigue-inducing or painful posture’ and ‘dragging, pushing, or moving heavy objects’ aOR 2.00, 95% CI 1.82–2.20).ConclusionsThere was a strong relationship between severe exposure to each ergonomic risk factor and work-related LBP. However, when exposed to 2 ergonomic risk factors simultaneously, the relationship between exposure and work-related LBP was not stronger than when exposed to only 1 risk factor in our study.

Composite cathodes comprising nanoscale powders are expected to impart with high specific surface area and triple phase boundary (TPB) density, which will lead to better performance. However, uniformly mixing nanosized heterophase powders remains a challenge due to their high surface energy and thus ease with which they agglomerate into their individual phases during the mixing and sintering processes. In this study, we successfully synthesized La 0.6 Sr 0.4 Co 0.2 Fe 0.8 O 3−δ (LSCF)−Gd 0.1 Ce 0.9 O 1.95 (GDC) composite cathode nanoscale powders via an in situ sol−gel process. High-angle annular dark field scanning transmission electron microscopy analysis of in situ prepared LSCF−GDC composite powders revealed that both the LSCF and GDC phases were uniformly distributed with a particle size of ∼90 nm without cation intermixing. The in situ LSCF−GDC cathode sintered on a GDC electrolyte showed a low polarization resistance of 0.044 Ω cm 2 at 750 °C. The active TPB density and the specific two phase (LSCF/pore) boundary area of the in situ LSCF− GDC cathode were quantified via a 3D reconstruction technique, resulting in 12.7 μm −2 and 2.9 μm −1 , respectively. These values are significantly higher as compared to reported values of other LSCF−GDC cathodes, demonstrating highly well-distributed LSCF and GDC at the nanoscale. A solid oxide fuel cell employing the in situ LSCF−GDC cathode yielded excellent power output of ∼1.2 W cm −2 at 750 °C and high stability up to 500 h.

Soil washing, ex situ mechanical technique, is one of the few permanent treatment alternatives to remove metal contaminants from soils by employing physical separation based on mineral processing technologies to remove discrete particles or metal-bearing particles and/or chemical extraction based on leaching or dissolving process to extract the metals from the soils into an aqueous solution. However, washwater remained from soil washing process contains discrete particulate particles along with heavy metals as solution phase to be treated separately, as well as this process can produce large amount of sludge that requires further treatment, slow metal precipitation, poor settling, the aggregation of metal precipitates. Electrical treatments including electrocoagulation and electrolysis can be effective in removing these substances from washwater. This paper reviews the theoretical models in applying electrocoagulation and electrolysis to remove heavy metals and discrete particulate particles in washwater by examining and comparing the status of washwater treatment technologies which have been undertaken, mostly in the US and EU for the period 1990-2012.

Background: The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical outcome in patients aged less than 55 years who underwent arthroscopic tenodesis and arthroscopic repair for type 2 superior labrum anterior and posterior (SLAP) lesions. Methods: Between April 2008 and December 2014, surgery was performed on a total of 45 patients with isolated type 2 SLAP lesions. Arthroscopic repair was performed in 22 patients and arthroscopic tenodesis was performed in 23 patients. In both groups, the clinical outcomes at follow-ups were evaluated using the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) score, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, and visual analogue scale (VAS) score. Results: In both groups, the VAS scores for pain had improved significantly throughout the postoperative follow-up period. The VAS score showed a statistically significant difference at postoperative 3 and 6 months (p<0.05); however, there was no statistically significant difference between preoperative and postoperative results at 12 months (p>0.05). In both groups, the functional outcome was statistically improved postoperatively. In a comparison of the UCLA and ASES scores between the two groups, there was a statistically significant difference at postoperative 3 and 6 months (p<0.05), but there was no statistically significant difference between preoperative and postoperative results at 12 months (p>0.05). Conclusions: Based on the results of this and other studies, patients with isolated type 2 SLAP lesions showed better short-term clinical outcome with tenodesis than with repair. However, there was no difference between the two groups at the final follow-up. (Clin Shoulder Elbow 2017;20(1):24-29)

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