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With the rapid advance in synthetic biology and the expanding field of synthetic genomics, the realization of a redesigned yeast genome has become an achievable milestone. Multiple eukaryotic chromosomes, meticulously designed and synthesized, are now being systematically integrated to create an entirely synthetic eukaryotic cell. This comprehensive review examines the fundamental design principles and construction strategies, highlighting critical technological breakthroughs in pursuing the first synthetic eukaryotic cell. Additionally, it underscores the critical contributions of the Sc2.0 project, which has provided essential tools and engineered cellular platforms that have significantly accelerated research and industrial progress. The ethical and legal implications arising from synthetic eukaryotic life are also explored, offering insights into future research directions for synthetic eukaryotic genomes. The remarkable advances in deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis hold immense potential, promising to unlock new opportunities across medicine, industry, agriculture, and research.

The increase in emerging and reemerging infectious diseases has underscored the need for the prompt monitoring of intact infectious viruses and the quick assessment of their infectivity. However, molecular techniques cannot distinguish between intact infectious and noninfectious viruses. Here, two distinct methodologies have been developed for the expeditious and dependable quantification of intact infectious H1N1 virus, and several experiments have been conducted to substantiate their efficacy. One is an integrated cell absorption quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) method (ICA-qPCR), and the other is a combined propidium monoazide qPCR method (PMA-qPCR). The quantification limit is 100 cell culture infective dose 50 % (CCID50)/mL in ICA-qPCR following a 1.5-hour cell absorption or 126 CCID50/mL after a 15-minute incubation. For PMA-qPCR, the limit was 2,512 CCID50/mL. The number of genome copies quantified by the ICA-qPCR and PMA-qPCR methods was strongly correlated with the infectious titer determined by the CCID50 assay, thereby enabling the estimation of virus infectivity. The ICA-qPCR and PMA-qPCR methods are both suitable for the identification and quantification of intact infectious H1N1 virus in inactivated samples, wastewater, and biological materials. In conclusion, the ICA-qPCR and PMA-qPCR methods have distinct advantages and disadvantages, and can be used to quantify intact infectious viruses rapidly. These methodologies can facilitate the identification of the presence of intact infectious viruses in wastewater or on pathogen-related physical surfaces in high-level biosafety laboratories and medical facilities. Furthermore, these methodologies can also be utilized to detect other highly pathogenic pathogens.

In the last century, global pandemics have been primarily driven by respiratory infections, which consistently rank among the top 20 causes of death worldwide. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has underscored the intricate nature of managing multiple health crises simultaneously. In recent years, climate change has emerged as a major biosafety and population health challenge. Global warming and extreme weather events have intensified outbreaks of climate-sensitive infectious diseases, especially respiratory diseases. Influenza and COVID-19 have emerged as two of the most significant respiratory pandemics, each with unique epidemic characteristics and far-reaching consequences. Our comparative analysis reveals that while both diseases exhibit high transmission rates, COVID-19′s longer incubation period and higher severity have led to more profound and prolonged socioeconomic disruptions than influenza. Both pandemics have highlighted the exacerbating effects of climate change, with extreme weather events intensifying the spread and impact of these diseases. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed vulnerabilities in global healthcare systems and economies on an unprecedented scale, outstripping the strain caused by influenza outbreaks. Importantly, the COVID-19 pandemic has not only reshaped global public health strategies but also significantly impacted the epidemiology of influenza. Despite these differences and associations, both diseases underscore the urgent need for robust pandemic preparedness and adaptable public health strategies. This review delineates the overlaps and distinctions between influenza and COVID-19, offering insights into future challenges and the critical steps needed to enhance healthcare system resilience and improve global responses to pandemics.

Viral infectious clones (ICs) serve as robust platforms for studying viral biology and screening antiviral agents using reverse genetics. However, the molecular profiles and complex limitations of human coronaviruses (HCoVs) pose a challenge to ICs development. In this study, we report a novel platform to develop the ICs for HCoV-OC43-VR1558 using a one-step assembly method in yeast by transformation-associated recombination (TAR) technology. Recombinant HCoV-OC43-VR1558, named as rOC43(1558)-WT, was rapidly generated by TAR. In addition, recombinant HCoV-OC43-VR1558-expressing reporter genes, named as rOC43(1558)-ns2FusionRluc, was also generated based on TAR by inserting the ns2 region of the IC with Renilla luciferase (Rluc). We further characterized their replication through virus titration using 50 % tissue culture infective dose (TCID50) and indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA), luciferase reporter assay, and western blotting (WB) assay. The genetic stability of the recombinant HCoV-OC43 was assessed through viral genome sequencing following passaging in BHK-21 cells. These reporter viruses were validated as screening tools for inhibitors in vitro by evaluating the antiviral activities of remdesivir and chloroquine. The phenotypes of HCoV-OC43-VR1558 and HCoV-OC43-VR759 were compared in vitro and in vivo. The TAR-based one-step assembly of IC was successfully applied, facilitating the rapid generation of recombinant HCoV-OC43 and providing a useful platform for the investigation of biological mechanisms, development of vaccines and diagnostic tests, and screening inhibitors of HCoVs.

Pigs are vital genetic mixing vessels for human and avian influenza viruses because their tracheal epitheliums possess both sialic acid α-2,6-Gal and α-2,3-Gal receptors. Cross-species transmission of influenza A viruses from swine to humans occurs occasionally. The first case of human infection with the Eurasian avian-like H1N1 swine influenza virus (EAH1N1 SIVs) genotype G4 was detected in Jiangsu Province, China, in February 2023, and backtracking epidemiological investigations did not reveal a clear source of the infection. The hemagglutination (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) amino acid variant sites, antiviral drug susceptibility, and antigenic variation of the isolated A/Jiangsu/27271/2023 (JS/27271/23) virus were analyzed, and we evaluated the protective effect of sera collected from occupationally exposed populations in 2024 against the virus. Compared with the vaccine strain, the nucleotide sequence similarities of JS/27271/23 HA and NA were 96.5 % and 95.2 %, respectively. JS/27271/23 was sensitive to polymerase inhibitors (favipiravir and baloxavir), and the antigenicity of its HA protein was 8-fold different from that of the vaccine strain. The percentage of occupationally exposed population with antibody titers of ≥ 40 against A/Hunan/42443/2015 (HN/42443/15) and A/Jiangsu/1/2011 (JS/1/11) were 7.25 % and 2.25 %, respectively, and the geometric mean titers (GMT) were 6.24 and 5.34, respectively. Out of 400 serum samples examined, none had antibody titers of ≥ 40 against JS/27271/23. This suggests that low serum levels of antibodies to EAH1N1 SIVs in occupationally exposed populations may not provide adequate protection because of significant differences in amino acid sites and antigenicity between this virus and the current vaccine strain of EAH1N1 SIVs. There is no evidence of human-to-human transmission of EAH1N1 SIVs. Therefore, surveillance for EAH1N1 SIVs and the development of new vaccine strains are required.

Recently, there has been a continuous stream of reports on emerging tick-borne pathogens affecting humans. Qinghai Province, located in the northweastern region, is one of China’s major pastoral areas, providing a suitable environment for ticks' survival and transmitting tick-borne pathogens. Here, we collected 560 free-living and parasitic ticks from 11 locations in Qinghai Province using the flag-drag method or tweezers, identifying them as belonging to 4 species of ticks. The overall positivity rate for tick-borne pathogens was 51.61 %, comprising Rickettsia (34.64 %), Anaplasma (5.00 %), Ehrlichia (2.14 %), Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (BBSL) (7.50 %), Babesia (0.18 %), and Theileria (5.89 %). Sequencing revealed the presence of 7 species of Rickettsia, 4 species of Anaplasma, 2 species of Ehrlichia, 2 species of BBSL, 1 species of Babesia, and 3 species of Theileria. Among the ticks, 6.43 % were co-infected with 2 pathogens, while 0.36 % exhibited co-infection with 3 pathogens. Significant correlations (P

In 2022, a sharp rise in global cases of mpox virus (MPXV) led the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare it a public health emergency of international concern. However, progress in developing drugs targeting MPXV has been slow. Here, we investigate the natural alkaloid narciclasine as a potential inhibitor of poxviruses. Our investigation demonstrates that narciclasine at 40 nmol/L (nM) to 160 nM dosages effectively blocks vaccinia virus (VACV), a representative poxvirus. Specifically, narciclasine disrupts the production of extracellular enveloped virus (EEV), which is crucial for viral spread. Narciclasine’s antiviral impact is probably attributed to its activation of the RhoA signaling pathway. This study highlights narciclasine’s potential as a promising new therapeutic candidate against poxviruses, offering prospects for its development into a potent antiviral agent that is essential for combating emerging poxvirus outbreaks.

Q fever is a zoonotic disease caused by infection with Coxiella burnetii (C. burnetii). Due to its atypical symptoms and the absence of specific detection methods, Q fever is underdiagnosed commonly. Herein, we report a case of Q fever confirmed by metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) in March 2024 in Guangdong Province, China. The patient initially experienced fever and was admitted to hospital six days later. Despite a series of laboratory tests conducted at the hospital, the pathogen remained undetermined. Ten days after admission, mNGS revealed that the patient was infected with C. burnetii. The patient subsequently underwent treatment with doxycycline and recovered well. Epidemiological investigation revealed that the patient had been exposed to sheep infected with C. burnetii without any protective measures in Jiangxi Province, China. Based on the comprehensive results of mNGS, exposure history, clinical manifestations and treatment response, the patient was confirmed as a Q fever case. As a neglected and underestimated illness, Q fever necessitates an elevation in awareness among medical staff and the public. The public should be encouraged to take personal protective measures when exposed to livestock. Further research is needed to explore the rational application of mNGS in the diagnosis of uncommon and unknown diseases.

Background: Occupational heat stress caused by excessive environmental heat gain disrupts thermoregulatory mechanisms and harm workers' health and productivity. Kitchens are known for their thermal risks; however, research on heat stress in kitchen is limited. This study aimed to bridge this knowledge gap by assessing, the prevalence of heat-stress-related symptoms, and associated factors among kitchen workers in Gondar City, Ethiopia. Methods: This institutional-based cross-sectional study (April to June 2023) evaluated heat stress among hospitality kitchen workers in Ethiopia. Heat exposure was measured using hygrometers. A simple random sample of 605 participants completed a survey and data was exported to Statistical Package for Social Science version 26. To assess strength and direction an adjusted odds ratio with 95% confidence interval (CI) was employed. A p-value of less than 0.05 was utilized to identify significant associations. Results: Over the last 6 months 67.1% (95% CI: 63.0, 71.1), of the participants reported heat-stress symptoms. Multivariable analysis revealed that age ≥40 years [AOR: 2.28; 95% CI (1.08, 4.82)], high workload [AOR: 1.89; 95% CI (1.04, 3.49)], poor heat mitigation practice [AOR: 2.39; 95% CI (1.58, 3.59), wood fuel [AOR: 2.60; 95% CI (1.54, 4.40)], improper ventilation [AOR: 3.28; 95% CI (1.56, 6.87)], and higher heat index value [AOR: 2.15; 95% CI (1.35, 3.42)] were factors significatly associated with heat stress related symptoms. Conclusion: This study identified a high prevalence of heat–stress-related symptoms among kitchen workers. Mitigation strategies include improved ventilation, cooling, advanced building designs, and heat reduction technologies. Future research should utilize standard heat-stress assessment tools.

Background: This study characterized the risk of new-onset asthma among workers in Manitoba, Canada. Methods: Accepted time loss claims from the Workers' Compensation Board of Manitoba from 2006 to 2019, containing workers' occupations and industries, were linked with administrative health data from 1996 to 2020. After restricting the cohort to the first claim per person in an occupation and applying age and coverage exclusions, the cohort comprised 142,588 person–occupation combinations. Asthma cases were identified if workers had at least two medical records for asthma (International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, 493) within a 12-month period, within the 2 years before 3 years after cohort entry. New-onset asthma was identified using a 3-year washout period. Asthma hazard ratios by occupation and industry were estimated using Cox proportional hazard models, adjusted for age, and stratified by sex. Results: Increased asthma risk was observed among workers with known asthmagen exposure, including male veterinary and animal health technologists and technicians (hazard ratio 3.97, 95% CI 1.78–8.86), male fish processing workers (3.40, 1.53–7.57), and male machining tool operators (2.91, 1.72–4.92). Increases were also observed for occupations with unknown or suspected allergens, including gas station attendants, drivers, mail/postal and related workers, public works and maintenance laborers, mine laborers and crane operators, and some indoor worker groups. Decreased risks were observed among nurses and residential and commercial installer and servicers. Conclusion: This database linkage study successfully identified occupations and industries with known sensitizing agents or irritants, and several occupation and industries not typically associated with work-related asthma, warranting further investigation.

Background: In the Chinese coal industry, widespread blame avoidance behavior (BAB) greatly impacts coal mine accidents. Therefore, it is necessary to stop the BAB of coal mine managers and raise the management level of coal mine enterprises for the safe development of Chinese coal industry. Methods: Based on the semi-structured interviews and questionnaire surveys (20 middle-level managers in coal mines), this paper used the Grounded Theory and Nvivo Software qualitative research methodology to open, spindle, and selectively encode the interview data. Then, an index system of factors influencing BAB of coal mine managers was constructed. The influence degree, affected degree, centrality degree, cause degree of each influencing factor were calculated and the hierarchical model of influencing factors of BAB of coal mine managers was established by the DEMATEL-ISM method which is a decision support tool used to evaluate and analyze the interdependencies between influencing factors. Results: Index system of factors influencing BAB of coal mine managers included four levels and 12 influencing factors: individual, organizational, institutional environmental, and situational factors. The hierarchical model identified eight causal factors and four consequential factors, of which safety management (15.355), work attitude (14.380), and work group performance (14.281) in the top three of the centrality rankings are the key factors affecting the avoidance behavior of coal mine managers; A 3-level multilevel structure was constructed to reflect the interactions among the factors influencing the BAB of coal mine managers in terms of direct, indirect, and root causes, and corresponding improvement measures were proposed. Conclusion: This study offers a theoretical complement and practical guidance for stopping BAB of coal mine managers.

Background: Exposure to respirable dust (RES) and respirable crystalline silica (RCS) is common in mining operations and is associated with health effects such as pneumoconiosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), interstitial pulmonary fibrosis, silicosis, lung cancer, and renal disease. Methods: This study used industry occupational exposure data for respirable dust from two surface lithium mines in Western Australia for the period between 2017 and 2023. A total of 1122 samples were collected in workgroups across four departments - administration and support, mining, crushing and processing, and maintenance. Results: The study found that the overall RES concentration did not exceed the exposure standard. However, Crusher Dry/Wet Plant Personnel (0.558 mg/m3) and Workshop Boilermakers (0.842 mg/m3) recorded elevated exposure to RES. The highest mean exposures for RCS over the seven-year study period were measured for Management Administration & Technical (0.068 mg/m3), followed by Crusher Dry/Wet Plant Personnel (0.042 mg/m3), exceeding the ES. Maximum results for both RES (15.00 mg/m3) and RCS (2.50 mg/m3) indicated exceedances. Conclusion: The study demonstrated a decline in exposure to RES over the seven years of study from 0.472 mg/m3 to 0.151 mg/m3, with a slight increase in 2019 and 2022. A decline in the concentration of RCS was observed between 2019 -2021, followed by an increase after 2021. The mean concentration of RCS exceeded the exposure standard in 2023. Based on the study results and the established adverse health effects associated with exposure to silica, various control measuresto protect workers from RCS exposure should be considered.

Background: Platform work offers flexibility and autonomy to workers, but there are concerns about the impacts of excessive labor control exercised by digital platforms using algorithmic management. This study assessed the level of labor control exerted by digital platforms and explored its associations with psychosocial work conditions and workers' mental well-being. Methods: A total of 487 location-based platform workers in Taiwan, encompassing ride-hailing, delivery, and house chore services, participated in this questionnaire survey. A 5-item scale was created to assess platform-mediated labor control. Psychosocial work conditions, including demands, job control, work rewards, and mental well-being, including burnout and self-rated mental health status, were assessed using validated instruments. Cronbach's α and principal component analysis were employed to assess the validity of the labor control scale. Logistic regression analysis and path analysis were conducted to investigate the relationship between labor control and workers' mental health. Results: Exploratory factor analyses confirmed the structural validity and the internal consistency of the scale. Logistic regression models revealed that higher levels of labor control were associated with an increased risk of burnout and poorer mental health. Path analyses further indicated that higher labor control through digital platforms raised mental health risks by increasing job demands. Conclusion: Algorithmic management is associated with increased stress among platform workers as they try to meet the platform's performance metrics.

Background: Nowadays, as in every branch of industry, a large amount of data can be collected in mining, both in productivity and occupational safety. It is increasingly essential to transform this data into useful information for enterprises. Data mining is very useful in processing and extracting useful information from the processed data. This study aims to analyze the data of occupational accidents with injuries between 2010 and 2021 in an underground hard coal mine by data mining. Methods: The injured accident data for the relevant years were organized and analyzed using data mining algorithms. These algorithms were implemented with the WEKA data mining program, an open-source application. Results: According to different test methods, k-Nearest Neighborhood and Support Vector Machine algorithms succeeded in classification and prediction. The k-Nearest Neighborhood and Support Vector Machine algorithms achieved 100% (training set) and 66% (cross-validation) performance, respectively, according to two different test methods. One of the critical phases of the study is the determination of the attributes and subclasses that are effective in the origin of accidents by association rules mining. Thus, more detailed information was obtained about the root causes of the accidents. A result of Apriori and Predictive Apriori implementations revealed that the root causes of occupational accidents according to the accident locations are the worker experience, the working hours in the shift, and the worker position. In addition, shifts, accident causes, especially monthly production, and monthly wages were also influential. Conclusions: These results are also in accordance with the actual situation in the enterprise. As a result of the research, practical suggestions were presented for evaluating occupational accidents and taking precautions.

Objective: The study aimed to investigate whether mindfulness could mitigate the impact of job and interpersonal demands arising from stressful organizational cultures in predicting depression during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A total of 280 Korean physical therapists participated in this study. To verify the mediated moderation model, this study implemented an SPSS 26.0 PROCESS Macro (v.3.5) that was based on the verification of Hayes' conditional indirect effect. Results: The study confirmed the moderated mediation effect of mindfulness on the mediating relationship between stressful organizational culture, job demands/interpersonal demands, and depression. Moreover, the conditional indirect effect of mindfulness was found to be statistically significant. However, the impact on interpersonal stress differed from anticipated outcomes. Conclusions: Mindfulness, applicable within the framework of the Job Demands-Resources model theory, served as a resource variable and moderated the impact of organizational culture on members' depression. Amidst ongoing debates on mindfulness effectiveness, this study partially confirmed its potential within the Job Demands-Resources model, suggesting a role in mitigating the influence of organizational culture on members' depression as a resource variable.

Background: Agriculture is vital for economic growth and livelihoods in northern Thailand, yet it is challenged by hazardous practices such as improper chemical use and machinery accidents. This study aimed to evaluate the risk and determine the relationship between pesticide exposure and knowledge, attitudes, and safety behaviors. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between October and December 2017 in the San Pa Tong district of Chiang Mai, Thailand. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and face-to-face interviews with 280 farmers. Results: The findings indicated that knowledge and safety behavior scores varied significantly with educational attainment and training received. Farmers with higher education levels or those who had undergone training exhibited better knowledge and safer behavioral practices, whereas income levels did not significantly affect knowledge or safety behaviors. The pesticide exposure risk level was associated with the study variables, with those recognizing a ‘normal’ risk level demonstrating greater knowledge and safer behaviors than those who reported the risk level as safe or at risk. A strong positive correlation between knowledge and safety behavior was observed, indicating that increased awareness can result in more cautious practices. These findings suggest that educational and training programs are crucial for promoting safer pesticide use among farmers. Although attitudes toward pesticide safety varied based on income, education, and training positively influenced knowledge and behavior. Conclusion: The study concludes that understanding farmers’ perceptions of pesticide risks is essential for designing and implementing effective educational interventions.

Workers and employers in the informal economy are often outside the scope of legal frameworks of occupational safety and health (OSH) service in South Asia. The present study aimed to find practical support measures to improve their safety and health. International Labour Organization’s participatory training activities in five selected informal economy workplaces comprising waste collection and recycling in India, sewage cleaning in Pakistan, home-based manufacturing in Nepal, small-scale construction in Nepal, and cotton farming in India were studied. The common steps taken in the training were collaboration with local trade unions and employer organizations to reach informal economy workplaces, collection of local good practices in OSH for designing participatory training contents, training worker and employer OSH trainers, assisting trained worker and employer trainers in conducting cascading training activities in their own workplaces, and follow-up visits for support and sustainability. It was found that working with local trade unions and employer organizations had the strong potential to reach various informal economy workplaces. Applying the easy-to-apply participatory training methodologies was vital in delivering practical OSH support.

Background: The study was planned to determine the attitudes of medical faculty students in clinics toward patient safety. Methods: It is a mixed-design study using quantitative and qualitative methods. The “student information form” and the “Attitudes toward Patient Safety Culture Questionnaire (APSQ)” created using “Google Forms” were e-mailed to clinical students of the medical faculty. Quantitative data were collected from 125 students. Then, semi-structured focus group interviews were conducted with six students from each class. The data were obtained through video and audio recordings of the 45-minute interviews through the Zoom program. Results: According to the results, 86% of the 125 students did not receive any training on patient safety. The total score of the students on the APSQ was 94.87 ± 14.32. Six main themes and twenty sub-themes emerged from the qualitative data. The main themes are students' awareness of patient safety, students' misconceptions about “patient safety,” students' knowledge about the scope of patient safety, students' experiences with medical errors, deficiencies in educational processes on patient safety, and suggestions for educational approaches to patient safety. Conclusions: After completing undergraduate medical education, physicians typically assume roles as general practitioners in various healthcare settings, such as hospital’s emergency departments, home care, or community health centers. The lack of awareness among medical students about patient safety is a significant concern that needs to be addressed. As stakeholders in their education, students recognize the importance of being well-prepared to provide safe and effective patient care in their future roles as physicians.

Immigrants in the United States (U.S.) healthcare workforce face challenging working conditions. This study aimed to compare the working conditions of healthcare workers based on immigration status. Using National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) 2015 data, we compared the sociodemographic characteristics and working conditions between 374 non-U.S. born and 1,986 U.S. born healthcare workers. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine associations between immigration status and selected working conditions. It was found that non-U.S. born and U.S. born healthcare workers differed in sociodemographic and occupational characteristics. After adjusting for sociodemographic covariates, non-U.S. born healthcare workers had higher odds of non-permanent contract work (aOR: 1.87, 95% CI [1.25, 2.79], p

Individuals are constantly exposed to hazardous factors that can affect their health, the hazards encountered in the workplace can lead to the development of occupational diseases. Risk mitigation measures help to reduce the risks, but they are often designed without consideration of interactions between occupational exposures. Therefore, there is a need for research and it resulted in international research plans and programmes. The aim of this scoping review is to provide an overview of the scientific results related to the link between multiple occupational exposures and human health outcomes. Sixty-three articles were reviewed. Research articles were included only if they mentioned: several combined exposures, the direct characterisation of each exposure, and exposure/health outcome associations. Seven activity sectors were identified: ‘extraction and energy production and distribution’, ‘health care’, ‘banks, public administration and defence’, ‘chemical production’, ‘manufacturing industry’, ‘agriculture and food industry’ and ‘transport and logistics’. Six multiple exposures scenarios were identified: chemical (n = 35), chemical/physical-biomechanical (n = 22), chemical/psychosocial-organisational (n = 6), physical-biomechanical (n = 9), physical-biomechanical/psychosocial-organisational (n = 13), and psychosocial-organisational (n = 12). The health problems identified concern nervous, mental, respiratory, musculoskeletal, auditory and other systems. Eighty-eight of 97 (91%) multiple exposure/health problem associations were reported to be statistically significant. Twenty studies (32%) provided specific risk prevention advice for multiple exposures. Prevention aimed at reducing risks to workers' health is still underdeveloped, further research is needed to improve prevention methods. No study was related to biological risk, and some other multiple exposures known to have health effects were not identified as well. This highlights the need for more multiple exposures research.

Background: Firefighting is risky and impacts the mental and physical health of personnel. While most research focuses on men firefighters, recent work has highlighted mental health concerns among women including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Social support is a known protective factor for mental health; however, women may be excluded from the supportive peer network of the firehouse. Methods: This cross-sectional study compared the prevalence of perceived stress, peer (functional) support, anxiety, depression, PTSD, chronic work discrimination and harassment, resilience, and job satisfaction in recruit (n=184) and incumbent (n=200) career women firefighters. Results: While depression and perceived stress did not differ between recruits and incumbents, recruits were more likely to score in the range of concern for anxiety (26.1% and 15.5%, respectively). Incumbents were more likely to score at risk for PTSD (16.5% and 10.3%, respectively) and more likely to report sex discrimination, sexual harassment, and sexist behaviors in the workplace. Compared to the low stress group, those who reported moderate or high stress were more likely to score in the range of concern for anxiety (OR=3.86, CI=1.76-8.89) and PTSD (OR=1.30, CI=1.15-1.47), and report poor organizational cohesion (OR=1.13, CI=1.02-1.25). Conclusion: Addressing mental health in the context of women firefighters requires a comprehensive and multi-faceted approach including collaboration between fire departments, mental health professionals, advocacy groups, and the broader community.

Background: Work organization and psychosocial factors influencing sleep patterns may be significant risk factors for developing obesity and metabolic syndrome (MetS). However, the impact on the health of working patterns in the fishing sector is not well characterized. The aim of the study is to determine the prevalence of MetS and its components in fishermen and to analyze occupational-specific risk factors contributing to metabolic alterations. Methods: One hundred forty-three male fishermen from Apulia (Southern Italy) and 93 male university workers age-matched and from the same geographical area were included in this cross-sectional study. A questionnaire was administered to investigate socio-demographic variables, work activity, health status, and dietary habits. All subjects underwent clinical evaluation and blood sampling to depict their metabolic profile. Results: A higher body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and waist-to-hip ratio (p

Background: Long working hours and caregiving responsibilities are prevalent in many societies. These demands can lead to stress and adverse mental health outcomes. This study examines the associations of long working hours and family caregiving on psychological well-being and their interactions among South Korean wage workers. Methods: Using data from the Korean Working Conditions Survey, this cross-sectional study involved 33,063 participants. Long working hours were categorized as 40 and 52 hours a week, and caregiving was assessed through self-reports of non-work-related caregiving activities. The World Health Organization Well-Being Index was used to measure psychological well-being, with Poisson regression models analyzing the associations and interactions between working hours, caregiving activities, and psychological well-being. Results: The prevalence of low psychological well-being was significantly higher among individuals with both long working hours and caregiving responsibilities than among those with either or neither stressor (adjusted prevalence ratio = 1.81; 95% confidence interval: 1.42–2.31, multiplicative scale = 1.32; 95% confidence interval: 1.00–1.73). Conclusion: This study highlights the significant mental health implications of combining long working hours with caregiving responsibilities in the Republic of Korea. The synergistic interaction between these factors suggests that interventions and policies aimed at reducing work-related stress and supporting caregivers could have substantial benefits for mental health.

The studies exploring the mechanisms by which organisational changes may impact health outcomes are lacking. The objectives of the study were to examine the prospective associations of organisational changes with the deterioration of psychosocial work factors. The study was based on the prospective data of the national French working conditions survey collected in 2013, 2016, and 2019. The study sample included 5200 employees working in the private sector. A large set of organisational changes and psychosocial work factors were collected from employers and employees respectively. Multilevel mixed-effects robust Poisson regression models were used. Organisational changes were prospectively associated with the deterioration of psychosocial work factors related to job insecurity, role stressors, and job demands. The strongest prospective association was found between downsizing and the increase in job insecurity. The associations between organisational changes and health outcomes may be mediated by psychosocial work factors.

In order to clarify the pre-exist immunity background of different human coronaviruses (HCoV), this study investigated the positive rate of spike (S) protein antibodies of HCoV, including HCoV- severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) −associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV-1), severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), HCoV-229E, HCoV-NL63, HCoV-HKU1 and HCoV-OC43, before and after the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak. We utilized pseudotyped virus-based neutralization assays (PBNA) or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) to detect antibody levels against HCoV in serum samples collected in 2009–2010 and 2023. The PBNA results showed that neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-1 and the MERS-CoV were negative. In the serum samples from 2009 to 2010, neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 (D614G) were negative, whereas in the serum samples from 2023, 73 samples (73 %) showed neutralizing reactions with the SARS-CoV-2 D614G strain, 96 samples (96 %) with the BA.5 strain, and 91 samples (91 %) with the BF.7 strain. Among pre-COVID-19 samples, 33 % (33/100) showed neutralizing reactions with HCoV-229E and 63 % (63/100) with HCoV-NL63. Among post-COVID-19 samples, 50 % (50/100) showed neutralizing reactions with HCoV-229E and 49 % (49/100) with HCoV-NL63. Due to the different receptors of alpha coronavirus genus compared to other beta coronavirus genus, neutralizing antibodies against HCoV-OC43 and HCoV-HKU1 virus cannot be detected by constructing corresponding pseudotyped virus. Binding antibodies against HCoV-OC43 and HCoV-HKU1 virus were detected using ELISA. The results revealed that among pre-COVID-19 samples, 83 % (83/100) and 45 % (45/100) had binding activity with HCoV-OC43 and HCoV-HKU1, respectively. Among post-COVID-19 samples, 100 % (100/100) and 81 % (81/100) had binding activity with HCoV-OC43 and HCoV-HKU1, respectively.

Despite the availability of vaccines and antiviral treatments, the continued emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants and breakthrough infections underscores the need for new, potent antiviral therapies. In a previous study, we established a transcription and replication-competent SARS-CoV-2 virus-like particle (trVLP) system that recapitulates the complete viral life cycle. In this study, we combined high-content screening (HCS) with the SARS-CoV-2 trVLP cell culture system, providing a powerful phenotype-oriented approach to assess the antiviral potential of compounds on a large scale. We screened a library of 3,200 natural compounds and identified drupacine as a potential candidate against SARS-CoV-2 infection. Furthermore, we utilized a SARS-CoV-2 replicon system to demonstrate that drupacine could inhibit viral genome transcription and replication. However, in vitro, enzymatic assays revealed that the inhibition could not be attributed to conventional antiviral targets, such as the viral non-structural proteins nsp5 (MPro) or nsp12 (RdRp). In conclusion, our findings position drupacine as a promising antiviral candidate against SARS-CoV-2, providing a novel scaffold for developing anti-coronavirus disease 2019 therapeutics. Further investigation is required to pinpoint its precise target and mechanism of action.

The vaccinia virus Tiantan (VTT) is widely utilized as a smallpox vaccine in China and holds significant importance in the prevention of diseases stemming from poxvirus infections. Nevertheless, few studies have investigated the influence of VTT infection on host gene expression. In this study, we constructed time series transcriptomic profiles of HeLa cells infected with both VTT and western reserve (WR) strains. We observed similar patterns of viral gene expression, while the expression levels of host genes varied between the two strains. There was an immediate and significant repression of host gene expression, particularly in genes associated with oxidative phosphorylation. Conversely, genes involved in nerve growth factor (NGF)-stimulated transcription were significantly activated. The upregulation of genes linked to the ribonucleic acid (RNA)-induced silencing complex (RISC) suggested a potential role for posttranscriptional regulation in the interaction between the vaccinia virus and the host. In the later stages of infection, pathways such as extracellular matrix organization, neutrophil degranulation, complement and interferon responses, translation, and programmed cell death are largely inhibited. A significant number of host genes exhibit correlations with changes in the expression levels of viral genes. The host genes that are negatively correlated with viral genes are mainly enriched in pathways associated with translation and the response to viral infection. This study significantly contributes to advancing our understanding of the dynamics between the vaccinia virus and the host, improving the application of VTTs and facilitating the development of effective vaccines against diseases such as smallpox and monkeypox.

Biosafety hazards can trigger a host immune response after infection, invasion, or contact with the host. Whether infection with a microorganism results in disease or biosafety concerns depends to a large extent on the immune status of the population. Therefore, it is essential to investigate the immunological characteristics of the host and the mechanisms of biological threats and agents to protect the host more effectively. Emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, such as the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, have raised concerns regarding both biosafety and immunology worldwide. Interdisciplinary studies involved in biosafety and immunology are relevant in many fields, including the development of vaccines and other immune interventions such as monoclonal antibodies and T-cells, herd immunity (or population-level barrier immunity), immunopathology, and multispecies immunity, i.e., animals and even plants. Meanwhile, advances in immunological science and technology are occurring rapidly, resulting in important research achievements that may contribute to the recognition of emerging biosafety hazards, as well as early warning, prevention, and defense systems. This review provides an overview of the interdisciplinary field of biosafety and immunology. Close collaboration and innovative application of immunology in the field of biosafety is becoming essential for human health.

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) infection, responsible for chikungunya fever and occasionally severe symptoms, has emerged as an increasing global health concern following several large-scale outbreaks from Africa, Asia, Europe, and America. Over the past two decades, South and Southeast Asia regions have gradually become hot spots for outbreaks involving multiple CHIKV lineages. In China, most CHIKV infections are imported, making it crucial to trace the origins and transmission routes for effective prevention and control. In January 2024, a case of imported chikungunya fever was confirmed in Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province, China. However, the serum CHIKV viral concentration was too low for cultivation [reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) detection, cycle threshold = 32.62]. Despite this, we successfully obtained the viral genome sequence directly from the whole blood sample using an optimized metatranscriptomic sequencing strategy, achieving a full-length viral genome with an average depth of 54.3X. Further analysis confirmed that the CHIKV virus belonged to the Asian lineage, traced to Timor-Leste, where an endemic CHIKV outbreak had been reported in January 2024, consistent with the patient’s travel history. Finally, we analyzed genetic evolutionary trends and amino acid site variations. This study highlights the identification of a CHIKV infection origin using direct whole-blood metatranscriptomic sequencing, a valuable method for rapidly sequencing low viral-load samples.

Rhinovirus (RV) is a common pathogen that causes respiratory tract infection and can cause outbreaks in hospitals and welfare institutions. A cluster of respiratory diseases occurred in a primary school in Shenyang City, Liaoning Province, China, in 2022. In this outbreak, a total of 31 students had symptoms similar to those of upper respiratory tract infection, mainly cough and sore throat. Among them, 27 throat swabs were collected and identified for respiratory pathogens by TaqMan low-density array (TLDA), quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), reverse transcription-nested PCR and whole-genome sequencing. Out of the 27 specimens, 24 tested positive for RV, and 21 RV viral protein 1 sequences were obtained, of which 15 (71.43%) were identified as RV-A49, while 2 RV-A20 and 4 sequences from 2 specimens were RV-A30 coinfected with RV-C15. In addition, one whole-genome sequence (WGS) of RV-A49 was obtained, and three unique amino acid mutations were found compared to 23 WGS of RV-A49 from GenBank. In conclusion, this outbreak of upper respiratory tract infection is caused by RV, mainly RV-A49.

Mpox is a zoonotic disease caused by the monkeypox virus (MPXV). Diagnosing and treating the disease has become a global health concern requiring close attention to its spread to non-endemic regions. Clinical diagnosis is based on laboratory test results. Conventional detection techniques include real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), genome sequencing, antigen and antibody identification, and virus isolation. Nevertheless, these methods fall short of rapidly and efficiently identifying MPXV, as they require specialized training, specific laboratory environments, and professional-grade equipment. Emerging technologies offer complementary advantages to meet diverse diagnostic needs, including various point-of-care testing (POCT) approaches and integrating biosensors with rapid detection techniques. This review discusses prospective future research avenues for MPXV detection, examining the advances and challenges of various detection techniques which may contribute to the ongoing elimination of mpox human-to-human transmission and serves as a reference for developing effective prevention and control strategies.

Background: Risk perception plays a crucial role in workers' unsafe behaviors. However, little research has explored why workers generate biased risk perceptions, namely underestimating or overestimating the risks of unsafe actions. Cognitive biases in risk perception arise from uncertainties about the dangers of unsafe behaviors. As a typical heuristic strategy, the anchoring effect is critical in decision-making under uncertain conditions. Consequently, this study empirically analyzed the influence of anchoring effects on workers' risk perception. Methods: In 2022, a survey was conducted with 1,418 coal mine workers from Shanxi Province, China. The survey instruments assessed workers' risk perception of unsafe behavior, anchoring effects, need for cognition, and safety knowledge. Multivariable linear regression models were employed to analyze the associations among these variables. Results: The findings verified the proposed anchoring effects. Specifically, experimenter-provided high-risk anchors led workers to overestimate unsafe behavior risks, thus reducing their tendency to engage in such behavior. In contrast, experimenter-provided low-risk anchors and accident-injury experiences (self-generated anchors) decreased workers' risk perception, increasing their propensity to engage in unsafe behavior. Additionally, workers' safety knowledge and need for cognition significantly affected anchoring effects. Conclusion: This research enhances workplace safety studies by applying the anchoring effect from psychology to risk perception research. Suggestions for improving risk perception encompass implementing hazard warnings, fostering safety education, and providing training. Furthermore, managers should give special attention to workers with accident-injury experience and promptly correct their accident fluke mentality, thereby improving overall risk awareness.

Background: The aim of this research is to analyze the transformation of workers perceptions of the safety climate in an oil and gas company in Indonesia when they experience a change in ownership from a multinational to a national company. Methods: This cross-sectional study used questionnaires distributed offline and online in three periods of ownership of Company X. Data analysis was carried out descriptively by comparing workers perception scores regarding the safety climate at Company X when managed by the multinational holder, transition period, and national holder. Results: Workers perceptions of the safety climate in Company X when it experienced a change in ownership from a multinational company to a national company has a trend of decreasing scores (from 8.07 to 7.48). Overall, a decreasing trend in scores occurred in several sub-variables of safety climate, namely management commitment (8.33 to 7.56), communication (8.10 to 7.64), safety priority (8.55 to 7.68), personal appreciation of risk (8.25 to 5.48), involvement (7.50 to 7.36), and personal priority and need for safety (8.25 to 5.48). Conclusions: Ownership changes cause a trend of decrease in employee perceptions of the safety climate at Company X. Company's priority on safety related to production target factors is decreasing due to the change of ownership. On the other hand, the national period had a higher score in supportive environments and work environments, compared to the multinational period.

Background: In the food manufacturing industry, exposure to inhalable aerosols contributes to respiratory illnesses such as occupational asthma and rhinitis. However, there is a lack of comprehensive exposure assessment studies. This study evaluated occupational exposure to inhalable aerosols in an instant powdered food manufacturing plant during work operations involving dried food and powders. Methods: In total, 50 workers from an instant powdered food manufacturing plant were recruited. Personal inhalable aerosol exposure measurements were taken for both full-shift and task-based activities. The concentrations of inhalable aerosols were analyzed to identify any variation within and across departments, as well as between seasons, handedness, and sex. Results: In total, 134 personal air samples were collected, and the particulate mass was determined gravimetrically. The concentrations of inhalable aerosols ranged from 0.1 to 27 mg/m3 for full-shift exposure measurements and 3.1 to 73 mg/m3 for task-based measurements. Statistically significant differences in mean aerosol concentrations were found across departments (A:B p

Background: Limited research has delved into the effects of work characteristics on premenstrual symptoms (PMS) in women, which can influence work performance and overlook potential hazards for women in their work environments. This study aimed to investigate the impact of shift work and working in a clean room on premenstrual symptoms, menstrual status, and menstrual pain among employed females in an electronics manufacturer. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on menstruating female employees between August and December 2014, aged 18–55, who received regular employee health checks. Questionnaires were designed to collect information on demographics, personal lifestyle, menstrual status, menstrual pain scores, and self-reported premenstrual symptoms. Results: Among 7,193 participants, 18.6% reported moderate to severe menstrual pain affecting their work. Female workers who reported shift work showed an increased prevalence of moderate to severe premenstrual symptoms, including fatigue (RR = 1.20), somatic discomforts (RR = 1.04), diarrhea (RR = 1.04), and tension (RR = 1.05). Additionally, shift work was associated with an elevated risk of experiencing a moderate or significant impact of menstrual pain on work (RR = 1.03), menstrual irregularity (RR = 1.30), and high menstrual pain (RR = 1.23). Working in a clean room was associated with an increased risk of high menstrual pain (RR = 1.13). Subjects working shifts in a clean room had the highest pain scores compared to the other groups. Conclusion: This study underscores the association of work-related factors on PMS in female employees. Our findings contribute to a better understanding of premenstrual symptoms in female workers with different work characteristics, emphasizing the potential hazards of work-related factors on female employees.

Background: In recent years, the rise of workplace racial discrimination and microaggressions has decreased the efficiency and productivity of organizations and institutions, and realization of organizational goals globally. Accordingly, it was decided to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis in the present study with the aim of investigating the prevalence of microaggression and racial discrimination in the workplace. Methods: The PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect and Google Scholar databases were systematically searched for studies that had reported the effects of work stress among managers. The search did include a lower time limit and was conducted in June 2023. The heterogeneity of the studies was investigated using the I2 index, and accordingly random effects method was adopted for meta-analysis. Data analysis was conducted with the Comprehensive Meta-Analysis (v.2) software. Results: In the review of seven studies with a sample size of 2998 people, the overall prevalence of microaggression and racial discrimination in the workplace was found to be 73.6% and 18.8%, respectively. Publication bias within the selected studies was examined with the Egger's test, which indicated the absence of publication bias for the pooled prevalence of workplace microaggression (p: 0.264) and for the pooled prevalence of workplace racial discrimination (p: 0.061). Conclusion: The results obtained from this report indicate the high impact of micro-aggression and racial discrimination in the workplace. Considering the negative effects of such behaviours, the findings from this study will be helpful to managers and health policymakers.

Background: Sickness presenteeism (SP) has gained attention in occupational health. This study aimed to analyze the relationship between SP and depressive symptoms by occupation and employment type during the COVID-19 pandemic in Korea. Methods: Community Health Survey data (August 16 to October 31, 2020–2021) were used to assess depressive symptoms and SP among workers (n = 221,241; mean age 46.0; 53.5% male). Depressive symptoms were measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and SP was defined by the ability to rest at home when exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of depressive symptoms were estimated using multiple logistic regression analyses for each sex and year stratum. The interaction between SP and occupation on depressive symptoms was assessed using relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI). Results: The prevalence of depressive symptoms was higher in individuals with SP than in those without SP (4.22% [n = 696] vs. 1.89% [n = 3861], respectively). After adjusting for demographic and occupational variables, the association between SP and depressive symptoms was significant in both sexes in 2020 and 2021 (OR [95% CI]: 2.18 [1.82–2.62], 2.41 [1.97–2.93], 2.05 [1.77–2.38], 2.47 [2.11–2.88] for male–2020, male–2021, female–2020, and female–2021, respectively). A marginally significant interaction between service workers and SP on depressive symptoms was observed among male workers in 2021 (RERI = 2.37, 95% CI = [−0.04–4.78]) but not in other strata. Conclusion: SP is significantly associated with depressive symptoms in Korean workers across employment and occupational types, with a prominent association in service workers.

Background: Long-haul truck drivers (LHTD) experience disproportionately greater chronic disease risk, which may be influenced by both occupational and lifestyle factors. This study aimed to explore the multilevel factors associated with LHTD's diet and physical activity (PA). Methods: Thirty in-depth interviews were conducted with LHTD in the Southern California border region. Interview questions captured occupational and lifestyle factors relating to PA and diet at multiple levels and were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: Emergent themes relating to both diet and PA included time constraints, attitudes and perceived beliefs, and accessibility of environments to engage in PA and healthy eating. Themes specific to PA were weather conditions and flatbed job duties. Themes specific to diet included access to refrigerators/microwaves and social interactions. Conclusion: Findings from this study can inform the development of tailored, multi-level interventions to encourage PA and healthy dietary behaviors among LHTD.

Background: The wood-processing industry has historically exhibited high rates of occupational hazards resulting in illness and injury. One of the major causes of high injury rates is small firm size, as resource constraints generally preclude hiring safety officers. This study examined the effect of a safety leadership training program that included coaching for managers on workers' safety behaviors and safety climate in three wood-processing companies. Methods: One or two managers at each site participated in this study. The manager training consisted of safety leadership education, safety observation, positive or corrective feedback on workers' behaviors, goal setting, and low-cost rewards for meeting goals. The dependent variable was the percentage of safe employee behaviors recorded on a critical behavior checklist developed for this study. Safety climate was measured before and after the intervention. An AB multiple baseline design across settings was adopted. After the baseline (A), the training program (B) was introduced to each site at different points in time. Results: After the introduction of safety leadership training, the mean rate of safety compliance increased by 15.3%, from 80.38% to 95.68%, and safety climate scores increased significantly from an average of 3.2 to 3.47. Conclusion: These results suggest that safety leadership coaching can be effective in improving safety management in small sawmilling sites. Implications, limitations, and possible future research directions are discussed.

Background: As the tremendous impact of extreme workloads, arduous working conditions, and disorganization disrupt humane job definitions in some industries, the need for workplace re-articulation was interfered to ameliorate psycho-social factors and suggest organizational intervention strategies. Especially for colossally wounded health-care (HC) systems, today it is now even more unrealizable to retain workforce resilience considering the immense impact of overwhelming working conditions. Methods: This study introduces employment of concurrent engineering tools to re-design humane workplaces annihilating abatement over devoured resources. The study handles HC-workforce resilience in a pioneering motive to introduce transformation of well-known motivators and proposes solutions for retention and resilience issues grounding on HC workers’ own voice. Results: The proposed adjustable approach introduces integral use of focus group studies, SWARA, and QFD methods, and was practiced on a real-world case regarding Turkish HC workforce. The paper also presents widespread effects of findings by tendering generalized psycho-social rehabilitation strategies. Results confirmed the modifications of the most potent incessant motivators. Conclusion: “Burn out issues” and “Challenging work” were found as the most important motivator and satisfier, respectively, to be exigently fulfilled. Corrective interventions, required resolutions, and workplace articulation connotations were arbitrated in terms of entire outcomes on four dimensions in three different planning periods considering the current status, repercussions of pandemic, and contingency of similar catastrophes. Descriptive illustrations were additionally presented to support deducted interpretations.

Occupational use of cleaning products can cause asthma in healthcare workers but the cleaning agents responsible are not yet known. This study aimed to identify respiratory and other hazards in cleaning products on the National Health Service (NHS) supply chain online catalogue and used in the NHS. Information on cleaning products, their composition, and H-statements that identified hazard characteristics of chemical substances in them was obtained from chemical safety data sheets (SDSs). Furthermore, a quantitative structure-activity relationship model and a published asthmagen list were used to identify potential additional respiratory hazards. 473 cleaning products and 229 substances were identified. SDSs reported only 4 respiratory sensitizers but an additional 51 were suggested by the other 2 methods. In contrast, 25 respiratory irritants were identified using SDSs and only one from the asthmagen list. This comprehensive overview of cleaning agents' hazards has potential use in future risk assessment and epidemiological studies.

Background: Organizational downsizing may be significantly linked to depressive symptoms, yet research on this impact in Asian contexts is limited. This study investigates the association between downsizing during the COVID-19 pandemic and depressive symptoms across diverse employment statuses. Methods: This study used the data from 6th Korean Working Conditions Survey. Depressive symptoms were measured using WHO-5 well-being index with a cut-off of 50. Downsizing was defined as decrease in the number of employees during last three years. Multivariable logistic regression adjusted for socio-demographic and occupational factors was used to estimate the adjusted odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for depressive symptoms associated with downsizing, including subgroup analyses. Results: Among 26,247 Korean workers (mean age: 43.4, men: 47.5%), the prevalence of depressive symptoms was 29.5% (n = 7,751), and the proportion of downsizing was 15.2% (n = 3,978). The prevalence of depressive symptoms was significantly higher among the downsizing group (36.7%, n = 1,460) than among the no-downsizing group (28.3%, n = 6,291). The result of logistic regression revealed a significant association between downsizing and depressive symptoms (adjusted OR [95% CI]: 1.39 [1.29–1.50]), particularly pronounced among high socioeconomic status workers. Conclusion: This study underscores the significant association between depressive symptoms and organizational downsizing, especially high vulnerability of socioeconomically advantaged and stable workers. These findings highlight the necessity for targeted mental health support and further longitudinal research to clarify the relationship between employment changes and mental health within the Korean workforce.

Introduction: Following the Republic of Korea electric power industry site-specific safety management system, this paper proposes a novel safety autonomous platform (SAP) architecture that can automatically and precisely manage on-site safety through ensemble artificial intelligence (AI) models. The ensemble AI model was generated from video information and worker's biometric information as learning data and the estimation results of this model are based on standard operating procedures of the workplace and safety rules. Methods: The ensemble AI model is designed and implemented by the Hadoop ecosystem with Kafka/NiFi, Spark/Hive, HUE, and ELK (Elasticsearch, Logstash, Kibana). Results: The functional evaluation shows that the main function of this SAP architecture was operated successfully. Discussion: The proposed model is confirmed to work well with safety mobility gateways to provide some safety applications.

Background: This article aims to show that work-life balance (WLB) for workers with disabilities can have important meanings that can affect turnover intention and exclusion from the labor market. Methods: Using the Korean Panel Survey of Employment for the Disabled (1st–8th), panel logit models were applied to analyze the effect of WLB on the voluntary turnover intention and behavior of workers with disabilities. WLB types were categorized into four groups (Work-Life Dissatisfaction Group, Only Work Dissatisfaction Group, Only Life Dissatisfaction Group, and Work-Life Balance Group) based on the integration of job satisfaction and life satisfaction. Results: Turnover intention was significantly higher in the work-life imbalance groups (Work-Life Dissatisfaction Group, Only Work Dissatisfaction Group), which is commonly associated with job dissatisfaction. The effect of WLB on turnover intention was 1.38 times higher in Only Work Dissatisfaction Group (β: 2.25, 99% confidence interval [CI]: 1.50, 2.31), characterized by dissatisfaction solely with their job, than in Work-Life Dissatisfaction Group (β: 1.90, 99% CI: 1.97, 2.53), which was experiencing dissatisfaction with both work and life. Only Work Dissatisfaction Group resulted in actual turnover, with females (β: 0.73, 95% CI: 0.37, 1.09) more likely to exit the labor market and males (β: 0.66, 99% CI: 0.41, 0.89) showing a higher tendency to change jobs. Conclusion: WLB policy should focus on job dissatisfaction, a key predictor of turnover intention that leads to actual turnover behavior. Furthermore, women workers with disabilities are a priority policy target group to prevent exclusion from labor.

Background: This study aimed to identify the prevalence of workplace hazards and organizational protection resources according to the size of the enterprise in the manufacturing industry of the Republic of Korea. Methods: We analyzed data of waged workers (weighted N = 5,879) from the Fifth Korean Working Conditions Survey (2017). Enterprise sizes were categorized as “micro enterprises” (less than five employees), “small enterprises” (5–49 employees) and “medium-large enterprises” (50 or more employees). Self-reported exposure to 18 physical, chemical, ergonomic, and psychological hazards were measured. The presence of organizational protection resources such as a labor union, a safety delegate working at the company, designated spaces to deal with safety, and the provision of health and safety information was evaluated. Results: Compared to workers in medium-large enterprises, those in micro enterprises showed a higher proportion of exposure to most of physical, chemical, ergonomic, and psychological hazards, except for exposure to solvents, prolonged sitting, and experiencing a state of emotional unrest. On the other hand, workers in micro enterprises had the lowest proportion of access to organizational protection resources. Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that manufacturing workers at the micro enterprise in the Republic of Korea are exposed to the most hazardous work environment and yet have access to the fewest organizational protection resources.

Background: A decrease in physical fitness with age can impact work ability. Exploring the role of physical fitness is important for identifying interventions to enhance work ability among aging workers. We sought to determine the association between physical fitness and physically demanding work ability in aging workers. Methods: We recruited workers aged 45–65 years from eight departments of a university hospital in Bangkok, Thailand. Work ability was assessed using the work ability index (WAI), and physical fitness components were evaluated through various tests. Associations between work ability and physical fitness were examined using a multivariable regression analysis. Results: The response rate was 46.4% (n = 216). The mean WAI score was 41.6. Participants with an overweight or obese body mass index (BMI) had 1.8 (95% CI –3.1, –0.4) points lower WAI scores than did those within a healthy BMI range. A handgrip strength test revealed that participants in the good/very good group had 2.5 (95% CI: 0.6, 4.3) higher WAI scores than did those in the very poor/poor group. For a single-leg stance test, participants in the above-average group had 2.1 (95% CI: 0.7, 3.5) points greater WAI scores than did those in the below-average group. No significant associations were found between work ability and 3-min step, chair stand, or sit-and-reach test scores. Conclusion: The overall work ability of the participants was good. Body composition, muscle strength, and balance were associated with work ability. Promoting physical fitness is a viable strategy for enhancing work ability among aging workers.

Background: Dust generated during various wood-related activities, such as cutting, sanding, or processing wood materials, can pose significant health and environmental risks due to its potential to cause respiratory problems and contribute to air pollution. Understanding the factors influencing dust emission is important for devising effective mitigation strategies, ensuring a safer working environment, and minimizing environmental impact. This study focuses on developing an artificial neural network (ANN) model to predict dust emission values in the machining of black poplar (Populus nigra L.), oriental beech (Fagus orientalis L.), and medium-density fiberboards. Methods: The multilayer feed-forward ANN model is developed using a customized application built with MATLAB code. The inputs to the ANN model include material type, cutting width, number of blades, and cutting depth, whereas the output is the dust emission. Model performance is assessed through graphical and statistical comparisons. Results: The results reveal that the developed ANN model can provide adequate predictions for dust emission with an acceptable level of accuracy. Through the implementation of the ANN model, the study predicts intermediate dust emission values for different cutting widths and cutting depths, which are not considered in the experimental work. It is observed that dust emission tends to decrease with reductions in cutting width and cutting depth. Conclusion: This study introduces an alternative approach to optimize machining-process conditions for minimizing dust emissions. The findings of this research will assist industries in obtaining dust emission values without the need for additional experimental activities, thereby reducing experimental time and costs.

Background: Nearly half of patients diagnosed with cancer are in the middle of their traditional working age. The return to work after cancer entails challenges because of the cancer or treatments and associated with the workplace. The study aimed at providing more insight into the occupational outcomes encountered by workers with cancer and to provide interventions, programs, and practices to support their return to work. Methods: A scoping review was conducted using the Arksey and O’Malley framework and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses for scoping review guidelines. Relevant studies were systematically searched in PubMed/MEDLINE, SCOPUS and Grey literature from 01 January 2000 to 22 February 2024. Results: The literature search generated 3,017 articles; 53 studies were considered eligible for this review. Most of the studies were longitudinal and conducted in Europe. Three macroarea were identified: studies on the impact of cancer on workers in terms of sick leave, employment, return to work, etc.; studies reporting wider issues that may affect workers, such as the compatibility of treatment and work and employment; studies reporting interventions or policies aiming to promote the return to work. Conclusion: There is a lack in the literature in defining multidisciplinary interventions combining physical, psycho-behavioural, educational, and vocational components that could increase the return-to-work rates. Future studies should focus on interdisciplinary return to work efforts with multiple stakeholders with the involvement of an interdisciplinary teamwork (healthcare workers and employers) to combine these multidisciplinary interventions at the beginning of sick leave period.

Summary: Background: Racial disparities in the outcomes of adult community-acquired pneumonia are well described. However, the presence of racial and ethnic disparities in paediatric community-acquired pneumonia and the mechanisms underlying these disparities remain unclear. Motivated by disparities related to age and geography in paediatric sepsis, we evaluated the association between the joint exposure of race/ethnicity, age, and geographic region and mortality for community-acquired pneumonia to provide opportunities for assessment of future interventions that provide equitable healthcare. We hypothesized that geographic region and age would inform the association between race or ethnicity and mortality in community-acquired pneumonia. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of children age < 18 years with community-acquired pneumonia hospitalized between 2016 and 2021 in the Public Health Information System (PHIS) database. Models included a priori stratification of age ≤ 1 year and geographic region. Racial and ethnic groups (White, Black, Hispanic/Latino, and Other), four geographic regions (Northeast, South, Midwest, or West), and two age categories (