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Biomechanical overload is considered a significant occupational risk in manufacturing and a potential cause of musculoskeletal disorders. This research aims to introduce new methodologies for the quantitative risk evaluation of biomechanical risk by combining surface electromyography with a motion acquisition system based on inertial measurement units. Due to the lack of experimental data in the literature acquired in a real industrial environment during the working shift, an on-the-field study regarding an automotive assembly line workstation has been carried out in collaboration with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles Italy S.p.A. Data related to the trunk flexion forward and the erector spinae muscle activity have been acquired for several consecutive working cycles by considering three different workers. Data analyses indicated kinematic and muscular activity patterns consistent with those expected and that the proposed wearable technologies can be integrated and used simultaneously during work activities. Furthermore, the results demonstrated data repeatability, strengthening the feasibility and usefulness of the combined use of kinematic and electromyography technologies to assess biomechanical overload in production lines. This study could lay the bases for the future definition of a method for assessing biomechanical overload due to awkward postures.

Healthcare workers are at an increased risk of contracting Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. Tuberculin skin test (TST) and interferon gamma release assay (IGRA) represent the available tests most used for the diagnosis of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). Different borderline zones have been proposed for defining conversions and reversions to improve the interpretation of the IGRA test results as part of serial testing. From 2012 to 2017, 5468 health students of an Italian University Hospital were screened for tuberculosis infection through the execution of the TST and, in case of positivity, of the QuantiFERON-TB&reg, Gold In-Tube assay (QFT&ndash, GIT). The QFT&ndash, GIT is considered &ldquo, borderline&rdquo, with values from 0.35 to 0.99 IU/mL. Among the students who performed the QFT&ndash, GIT assay, 27 subjects presented a range of values defined as borderline. The QFT&ndash, GIT was repeated after 90 days on 19 subjects with borderline values and showed a negativization of the values in 14 students and a positive conversion in three cases, while for two students, a borderline value was also found for the second test, with a 74% regression of the borderline cases. The introduction of QuantiFERON borderline values is a useful assessment tool to bring out LTBI case candidates for chemoprophylaxis.