ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic has emphasized the need for non-contact medical robots to alleviate the heavy workload and emotional stress experienced by healthcare professionals while preventing infection. In response, we propose a non-contact robotic diagnostic system for otolaryngology clinics, utilizing a digital twin model for initial design optimization. The system employs a master-slave robot architecture, with the slave robot comprising a flexible endoscope manipulation robot and a parallel robot arm for controlling additional medical instruments. The novel 4 degrees of freedom (DOF) control mechanism enables the single robotic arm to handle the endoscope, facilitating the process compared to the traditional two-handed approach. Phantom experiments were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed flexible endoscope manipulation system in terms of diagnosis completion time, NASA task load index (NASA-TLX), and subjective risk score. The results demonstrate the system's usability and its potential to alternate conventional diagnosis. © 2013 IEEE.
ABSTRACT
With respect to the explosion of single-use plastic packaging consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic, environmentally friendly substitutes are critically needful for sustainable development. Therefore, the present work focuses on the functional properties of bioplastic blends prepared through hot compressing molding of thermoplastic starch (TPS) and spent coffee grounds (SCG) in different ratios (0%–20% SCG) as the potential features of SCG were extensively employed in biocomposites for the first time. The insertion of dark brown SCG into TPS hindered UV transmission by 100% at 320 nm and 99.2% at 400 nm. Moreover, the samples with 15% and 20% SCG induced a surge in radical scavenging activity from 7.95% to over 92% at a concentration of 0.1 g/ml owing to the rich source of antioxidants in SCG. The lignin component and high carbon content also improved the thermal performance of TPS/SCG blends, enhancing thermal stability, delaying onset and maximum degradation temperatures, and achieving the HB rating in the UL-94 test. Compared to a pure TPS matrix, TPS blends incorporating up to 10% SCG exhibited improvement in elastic modulus without deterioration of tensile strength. © 2022 Society of Plastics Engineers.
ABSTRACT
COVID-19 has changed the way we live and made the future come faster. Although changes such as work from home are changing how we commute, studies on the association between commuting time and mental health are lacking. We used the Korean Working Condition Survey, a nationally representative cross-sectional survey. A total of 23,415 waged workers in 20-59 years of age were selected. It was investigated that the association between commuting time and depressive symptoms which were measured by the World Health Organisation- Five Well-Being Index (WHO-5). Compared with the shortest commuting time (< 30 min), those who spent 60 min or longer commuting had a significantly higher odd ratio (OR) for depressive symptoms (1.16;95% CI: 1.04, 1.29). Among males, workers aged 40–49, in the lowest income quartile, unmarried, not having children, having white-collar jobs, working standard hours groups, and without shiftwork showed a significant association between long commuting time and increased depressive symptoms. Among females, workers aged 20–29, in the lowest income quartile, having 2 or more children, and shiftwork showed higher ORs for the association between long commuting time and depressive symptoms. In our study, long commuting time was associated with increased depressive symptoms measured by the WHO-5 well-being index. In the future, it is not expected that changes in commuting will equally and simultaneously be applied to workers with various socio-economical statuses. Our study implies that an approach to mental health according to the characteristics is necessary.