Management of work-relevant upper limb disorders: a review

Background Upper limb disorders (ULDs) are clinically challenging and responsible for considerable work loss. There is a need to determine effective approaches for their management. Aim To determine evidence-based management strategies for work-relevant ULDs and explore whether a biopsychosocial approach is appropriate. Methods Literature review using a best evidence synthesis. Data from articles identified through systematic searching of electronic databases and citation tracking were extracted into evidence tables. The information was synthesized into high-level evidence statements, which were ordered into themes covering classification/diagnosis, epidemiology, associations/risks and management/treatment, focusing on return to work or work retention and taking account of distinctions between non-specific complaints and specific diagnoses. Results Neither biomedical treatment nor ergonomic workplace interventions alone offer an optimal solution; rather, multimodal interventions show considerable promise, particularly for occupational outcomes. Early return to work, or work retention, is an important goal for most cases and may be facilitated, where necessary, by transitional work arrangements. The emergent evidence indicates that successful management strategies require all the players to be onside and acting in a coordinated fashion; this requires engaging employers and workers to participate. Conclusions The biopsychosocial model applies: biological considerations should not be ignored, but psychosocial factors are more influential for occupational outcomes. Implementation of interventions that address the full range of psychosocial issues will require a cultural shift in the way the relationship between upper limb complaints and work is conceived and handled. Dissemination of evidence-based messages can contribute to the needed cultural shift

Persistence, metabolism, and toxicological assessment of ethametsulfuron-methyl in rutabaga (Brassica napobrassica Mill.)

The fate and persistence of ethametsulfuron-methyl (methyl 2-(((((4-ethoxy-6-(methylamino)-1,3,5-triazine-2-yl) amino) carbonyl) amino) sulfonyl) benzoic acid) was investigated to provide data for its Canadian registration for use on rutabaga (Brassica napobrassica Mill.) crops for the control of wild mustard (B. kaber (DC) L. C. Wheeler). Absorption and translocation of ethametsulfuron-methyl in rutabaga did not change for the duration of the study (50 DAT). Less than 4% of recovered (\sp{14}C) ethametsulfuron-methyl was present in the rutabaga root. Ethametsulfuron-methyl was metabolized through a proposed -OCH\sb2CH\sb2-OH unstable intermediate that dissipated after 3 DAT to two major metabolites as determined by mass spectrometry, O-desethyl ethametsulfuron-methyl and N-desmethyl-O-desethyl ethametsulfuron-methyl. It was estimated that at a spray dose of 30 g ai ha\sp{-1} and a harvest weight of 0.5 kg, the edible portion of the rutabaga root would contain no ethametsulfuron-methyl and approximately 1.3 ppb total of both identified metabolites. Based on residue analysis and toxicological data, it is reasonable to expect that the registration of ethametsulfuron-methyl for use on rutabaga crops will be approved. In other experiments, attempts to use known chemical inhibitors of cytochrome P450 as evidence for the involvement of cytochrome P450 in the metabolism of ethametsulfuron-methyl in rutabaga was inconclusive

Effects of Cover Crop, N and Residue Management on the Financial Sustainability of Processing Tomatoes in Southwestern Ontario

Given the potential environmental and economic sustainability consequences of cover crop adoption, N fertilizer application, and residue management, this study focuses on the yield and financial effects of these on processing tomato production in Ontario, Canada. The study employs financial modeling using field data from a long-term cover crop experiment (oat, cereal rye, radish, and a radish-rye mixture) from 2010 to 2020. Averaged over six experimental years, compared to no cover (87 Mg ha−1) radish (99.6 Mg ha−1) and radish-rye mix (95.2 Mg ha−1) cover crops produce statistically significantly higher tomato yields as isolated practices, increasing farm net returns by $1120 ha−1 and$604 ha−1, respectively. When combined with N application, rye application additionally results in tomato yields statistically significantly higher than the base practice of no cover crop, zero N application and retained residue. Oat cover does not appear to have a statistically significant effect on tomato yields in this dataset. The application of N fertilizer results in statistically significantly higher tomato yield, increasing net returns by $882 ha−1, while residue management does not

The undebated issue of justice: silent discourses in Dutch flood risk management

Flood risk for all types of flooding is projected to increase based on climate change projections and increases in damage potential. These challenges are likely to aggravate issues of justice in flood risk management (henceforth FRM). Based on a discursive-institutionalist perspective, this paper explores justice in Dutch FRM: how do institutions allocate the responsibilities and costs for FRM for different types of flooding? What are the underlying conceptions of justice? What are the future challenges with regard to climate change? The research revealed that a dichotomy is visible in the Dutch approach to FRM: despite an abundance of rules, regulations and resources spent, flood risk or its management, are only marginally discussed in terms of justice. Despite that the current institutional arrangement has material outcomes that treat particular groups of citizens differently, depending on the type of flooding they are prone to, area they live in (unembanked/embanked) or category of user (e.g. household, industry, farmer). The paper argues that the debate on justice will (re)emerge, since the differences in distributional outcomes are likely to become increasingly uneven as a result of increasing flood risk. The Netherlands should be prepared for this debate by generating the relevant facts and figures. An inclusive debate on the distribution of burdens of FRM could contribute to more effective and legitimate FRM

Engaging Occupational Safety and Health Professionals in Bridging Research and Practice:Evaluation of a Participatory Workshop Program in the Danish Construction Industry

Engaging occupational safety and health (OSH) professionals has scarcely been evaluated as a means for transferring knowledge to practice about physical workload in the construction industry. The aim of this work was to examine how participants used and incorporate research-based knowledge from a three-day training course into practice. Twenty OSH professionals from the Danish construction industry participated in a workshop-training course. Researchers presented new knowledge and results about physically demanding work. The participants selected which themes they wanted to work with and developed an action plan. Evaluation was done using surveys and phone interviews. Analysis was based on how the OSH-professionals describe themselves, organizations, and the construction industry. Participant’s average scores on the level of implementation of their chosen action plans were 3 (on a response scale from 1–5, where 1 is ‘to a very low degree’ and 5 is ‘to a very high degree’) immediately after the workshop program and 2.5 at follow-up. Qualitative evaluations showed that actions had been initiated, and some progress had been made. The participants were satisfied with the workshop course and the possibility to increase their knowledge through inputs from researchers and colleges and strongly believe that they would succeed with implementing their action plans in the future

Opportunities to reduce nitrous oxide emissions from horticultural production systems in Canada

Publication history: Accepted - 26 July 2021; Published - 3 August 2021.Horticultural systems, specifically vegetable production systems, are considered intensive agricultural systems as they are characterized by high nitrogen (N) fertilizer application rate, frequent tillage, and irrigation operations. Accordingly, horticultural production in temperate climates is prone to N losses — mainly during post-harvest (during fall and winter) or pre-plant (spring) periods — such as N2O emissions and nitrate leaching. The risk for N losses is linked to low crop N use efficiency (NUE) combined with a narrow C:N and high N content of crop residues. Here we reviewed the studies conducted in Canada and similar climates to better understand the risk of N2O emission and potential agronomic management strategies to reduce N2O emissions from horticultural systems. Current knowledge on N2O emissions from horticultural systems indicate that increasing crop NUE, modifying the amount, type, time, and rate of N fertilizer inputs, and adopting cover crops in crop rotations are some of the effective approaches to decrease N2O emissions. However, there is uncertainty related to the efficiency of the existing N2O mitigation strategies due to the complex interactions between the factors (soil characteristics, type of plant species, climatic conditions, and soil microbial activity) responsible for N2O production from soil. Little research on N2O emissions from Canadian horticultural systems limits our ability to understand and manage the soil N2O production processes to mitigate the risk of N2O emissions. Thus, continuing to expand this line of research will help to advance the sustainability of Canadian horticultural cropping systems.Funding provided by the NSERC CREATE Climate-Smart Soils and Mitacs Elevate programs

ARIA 2016:Care pathways implementing emerging technologies for predictive medicine in rhinitis and asthma across the life cycle

The Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) initiative commenced during a World Health Organization workshop in 1999. The initial goals were (1) to propose a new allergic rhinitis classification, (2) to promote the concept of multi-morbidity in asthma and rhinitis and (3) to develop guidelines with all stakeholders that could be used globally for all countries and populations. ARIA-disseminated and implemented in over 70 countries globally-is now focusing on the implementation of emerging technologies for individualized and predictive medicine. MASK [MACVIA (Contre les Maladies Chroniques pour un Vieillissement Actif)-ARIA Sentinel NetworK] uses mobile technology to develop care pathways for the management of rhinitis and asthma by a multi-disciplinary group and by patients themselves. An app (Android and iOS) is available in 20 countries and 15 languages. It uses a visual analogue scale to assess symptom control and work productivity as well as a clinical decision support system. It is associated with an inter-operable tablet for physicians and other health care professionals. The scaling up strategy uses the recommendations of the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing. The aim of the novel ARIA approach is to provide an active and healthy life to rhinitis sufferers, whatever their age, sex or socio-economic status, in order to reduce health and social inequalities incurred by the disease

ARIA 2016: Care pathways implementing emerging technologies for predictive medicine in rhinitis and asthma across the life cycle

The Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) initiative commenced during a World Health Organization workshop in 1999. The initial goals were (1) to propose a new allergic rhinitis classification, (2) to promote the concept of multi-morbidity in asthma a