Exploring the meaning of early contact in return-to-work from workplace actors' perspective

Purpose.?The objective of this article was to explore the meaning of early contact in return-to-work, and how social relational actions and conditions can facilitate or impede early contact among actors in the workplace.

Method.?An exploratory qualitative method was used, consisting of individual open-ended interviews with 33 workplace actors at seven worksites across three public employers in Sweden. The workplace actors represented in these interviews included re-entering workers, supervisors, co-workers and human resources managers. Organisational policies on return-to-work were collected from the three employers.

Results.?The analysis indicated that early contact is a complex return-to-work measure with shifting incentives among workplace actors for making contact. For instance, the findings indicated obligation and responsibilities as incentives, incentives through social relations, and the need to acknowledge and balance the individual needs in relation to early contact.

Conclusion.?The findings strengthen the importance of early contact as a concept with a social relational context that comprises more than just an activity carried out (or not) by the employer, and suggest that early contact with a sick-listed worker is not always the best approach for a return-to-work situation. This study provides a starting point for a more articulated conceptualisation of early contact.     

眼球表面的蒸发与干眼

通过对眼球表面蒸发量的测定与研究发现,过强的眼表蒸发会导致干眼。眼表蒸发受多种因素影响,如眼表温度、睑板腺功能、环境湿度与空气质量、暴露性眼病和角膜接触镜的配戴等。从这一角度来说,有效减少眼表蒸发对治疗干眼有重要的意义。     

眼部给药系统的研究进展

由于眼部特殊的生理结构与诸多屏障的存在,传统的眼用制剂存在生物利用度低、眼内保留时间短以及刺激性强等问题,常常难以达到预期治疗效果。近年来,各种新技术如纳米技术、植入技术、接触镜片的研究和应用,使得眼部给药有了长足的发展。其中纳米材料具有尺寸小、可降解、靶向性强以及对生物组织刺激性小等特点,多种纳米载体如聚合物胶束、纳米粒、纳米混悬液、脂质体与纳米乳等,已被广泛用于眼部给药系统。目前以上多种新技术在眼部给药系统中显示出良好的应用前景。笔者就近年来这方面的研究与应用作一综述,以期为眼部给药系统的研发提供参考。     

Effect of Contact Point of Wire Ring on Cooling Behavior during Stelmor Cooling

The influence of the contact point of wire rod on the inhomogeneity of cooling behavior within wire ring was investigated to reveal the fundamental cooling mechanism of wire rod during the Stelmor cooling process. A hotspot, a relatively high-temperature region within wire ring compared with other regions, was generated in both the central (WR_c) and edge (WR_e) regions of the wire ring. The WR_e exhibited hotspots regardless of ring configuration. Meanwhile, the WR_c exhibited hotspots with an inline arrangement; otherwise, no hotspot occurred in the WR_c with a staggered arrangement. Compared with the middle regions of the wire ring, hotspots easily occurred at both the WR_c and WR_e due to the low-contact angle of the two wire rings. Moreover, the possibility of hotspot formation increased with increasing wire diameter due to the high-contact area and load caused by the weight of the wire rod. This is the primary reason why the WR_c with a large diameter had hotspots despite the large ring pitch. Three solutions were suggested to improve the homogeneity in the mechanical properties within wire ring.     

Effect of Ball Burnishing Pressure on Surface Roughness by Low Plasticity Burnishing Inconel 718 Pre-Turned Surface

The low plasticity burnished surface roughness is significantly affected by the low plasticity burnishing (LPB) parameters. This research proposed the analytical prediction model to predict the LPBed surface roughness and optimal LPB pressure based on Hertz contact mechanics and the slip-line field theory. In this study, the surface formatted process was divided into the smoothing stage (SS) and the indentation stage (IS). The smoothing mechanism of SS and the deterioration mechanism of IS were analyzed theoretically. The analytical prediction model for the LPBed surface roughness was proposed based on Hertz contact mechanics and slip-line field theory. The proposed analytical prediction model was validated by the LPBed surface roughness of AISI 1042, and the error of the analytically predicted results was less than 13.3%. After validation, the proposed model was applied to predict the LPBed surface roughness of Inconel 718. The single-factor experiments were conducted. The error between the proposed model prediction results and experimental results was less than 7% for the LPBed surface roughness of Inconel 718. The optimal LPB pressure interval was calculated to be [12.2 MPa, 17.5 MPa], corresponding to the experimental one as [12 MPa, 18 MPa]. It indicated that the proposed model could accurately predict the LPBed surface roughness and conduct the LPB processing.     

Widening or narrowing inequalities? The equity implications of digital tools to support COVID‐19 contact tracing: A qualitative study

BackgroundAs digital tools are increasingly used to support COVID‐19 contact tracing, the equity implications must be considered. As part of a study to understand the public''s views of digital contact tracing tools developed for the national ‘Test and Protect’ programme in Scotland, we aimed to explore the views of groups often excluded from such discussions. This paper reports on their views about the potential for contact tracing to exacerbate inequalities.MethodsA qualitative study was carried out; interviews were conducted with key informants from organizations supporting people in marginalized situations, followed by interviews and focus groups with people recruited from these groups. Participants included, or represented, minority ethnic groups, asylum seekers and refugees and those experiencing multiple disadvantage including severe and enduring poverty.ResultsA total of 42 people participated: 13 key informants and 29 members of the public. While public participants were supportive of contact tracing, key informants raised concerns. Both sets of participants spoke about how contact tracing, and its associated digital tools, might increase inequalities. Barriers included finances (inability to afford smartphones or the data to ensure access to the internet); language (digital tools were available only in English and required a degree of literacy, even for English speakers); and trust (many marginalized groups distrusted statutory organizations and there were concerns that data may be passed to other organizations). One strength was that NHS Scotland, the data guardian, is seen as a generally trustworthy organization. Poverty was recognized as a barrier to people''s ability to self‐isolate. Some participants were concerned about giving contact details of individuals who might struggle to self‐isolate for financial reasons.ConclusionsThe impact of contact tracing and associated digital tools on marginalized populations needs careful monitoring. This should include the contact tracing process and the ability of people to self‐isolate. Regular clear messaging from trusted groups and community members could help maintain trust and participation in the programme.Patient and Public ContributionOur patient and public involvement coapplicant, L. L., was involved in all aspects of the study including coauthorship. Interim results were presented to our local Public and Patient Involvement and Engagement Group, who commented on interpretation and made suggestions about further recruitment.     

Social Contact Patterns Associated With Tuberculosis: A Case-control Study in Southwest Iran

ObjectivesTuberculosis (TB) is a major public health concern worldwide. Social contact patterns can affect the epidemiology and risk of airborne diseases such as TB. This study was designed to investigate the social contact patterns associated with TB.MethodsIn this case-control study, groups of participants with and without TB were matched by age and sex. Participants reported the nature, location, frequency, and average duration of social contacts over 1 month. The duration and number of social and spatial contacts were compared between groups using the chi-square test and the t-test. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to quantify the relationship between social contact time and TB status. Data were analyzed using Stata version 11 statistical software. A p-value of <0.05 was considered to indicate statistical significance.ResultsIn this study, 80 patients with TB and 172 control participants were included, and a total of 3545 social contacts were registered. Social contact with family members (OR, 1.72; 95% CI, 1.10 to 2.40), contact with a person with TB (OR, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.16 to 2.01), and contact at the participant’s home (OR, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.19 to 1.82) were significantly associated with TB status.ConclusionsThe duration of long-term social contact, rather than the number of contacts, may be the main contact-related factor associated with TB transmission in this population. The focus of contact-tracing efforts should be on finding and treating both family members and long-term contacts in non-household settings.     

Electrical Properties of In Situ Synthesized Ag-Graphene/Ni Composites

Ag/Ni composite contact materials are widely used in low-voltage switches, appliances, instruments, and high-precision contacts due to their good electrical conductivity and processing properties. The addition of small amounts of additives can effectively improve the overall performance of Ag/Ni contact materials. Graphene has good applications in semiconductors, thermal materials, and metal matrix materials due to its good electrical and thermal conductivity and mechanical properties. In this paper, Ag-graphene composites with different added graphene contents were prepared by in situ synthesis of graphene oxide (GO) and AgNO₃ by reduction at room temperature using ascorbic acid as a reducing agent. The Ag-graphene composites and nickel powder were ball-milled and mixed in a mass ratio of 85:15. The Ag-graphene/Ni was tested as an electrical contact material after the pressing, initial firing, repressing, and refiring processes. Its fusion welding force and arc energy were measured. The results show a 12% improvement in electrical conductivity with a graphene doping content of approximately 0.3 wt% compared to undoped contacts, resulting in 33.8 IACS%. The average contact fusion welding force was 49.49 cN, with an average reduction in the fusion welding force of approximately 8.04%. The average arc ignition energy was approximately 176.77 mJ, with an average decrease of 13.06%. The trace addition of graphene can improve the overall performance of Ag/Ni contacts and can promote the application of graphene in electrical contact materials.