Occupational musculoskeletal disorders management using Fuzzy TOPSIS Assessment of Repetitive Tasks (ART).

BACKGROUND: In order to evaluate occupational disorders and ergonomic problems in a workplace, Multiple Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) problem solving methods such as Fuzzy Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) can be utilized. OBJECTIVE: In this paper, Musculoskeletal Disorder (MSD) risk factors were evaluated in a manufacturing company in Iran by a method called Assessment of Repetitive Tasks (ART) of the upper limbs integrated with Fuzzy TOPSIS in order to prioritize the corrective actions. METHODS: This study was done with a descriptive-analytical approach. The company under study had 240 employees who were working in seven different shops. Out of all tasks, 13 tasks were included in the study. Required information was gathered by a demographic questionnaire and ART method. Also, Fuzzy TOPSIS was utilized for the prioritization of the company shops based on the ergonomic control needs. RESULTS: Data analysis from ART indicated that 74.6% of the reviewed tasks were high risk. Based on the F- TOPSIS-ART results, Production shop prioritized as the highest need for MSD control. CONCLUSIONS: Because there is time and financial resources limit in ergonomic control activities, a fuzzy prioritization approach such as Fuzzy TOPSIS ART can be used to take advantage of the available resources and control risks to as low as reasonably practicable (ALARP) level.

Optimization of solid-phase extraction using developed modern sorbent for trace determination of ametryn in environmental matrices.

In recent years, there has been a significant increase in molecularly imprinted solid-phase extraction (MISPE) technique for the purification and clean-up of environmental samples. In this study, solid-phase extraction using the imprinted polymer has been optimized with the experimental design approach for a triazine herbicide, named ametryn with regard to the critical factors such as sample pH, sample concentration, sample flow-rate, sample volume, elution solvent, washing solvent and sorbent mass. These factors were evaluated statistically and also validated with spiked drinking water samples and showed a good reproducibility over six consecutive days as well as six within-day experiments. Also, in order to the evaluate efficiency of the optimized MISPE protocols, enrichment capacity, reusability and cross-reactivity of cartridges have been studied. Finally, a selective MISPE was successfully demonstrated for ametryn with a recovery of above 90% for spiked drinking water samples. It was concluded that the central composite design could prove beneficial for aiding the MIP and MISPE development.

Application of multivariate analysis to the screening of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) for ametryn.

Among the solid-phase extraction (SPE) techniques, a novel system for a triazine herbicide named ametryn, has been developed based on a molecular imprinted polymer (MIP) phase. Through this method, the synthesis of the complementary to ametryn MIP was accomplished and the factors influencing its efficiency have been optimized. Through the optimization process, the type and the amounts of functional monomer and solvents, template amount, cross-linker, initiator as well as the polymerization temperature were considered to be evaluated. Based on the obtained results, the optimum conditions for the efficient polymerized sorbent, considering the recovery efficiency were solvent: acetonitrile, 6.41 mL; monomer: methacrylic acid, 5.41 mmol; template: 1.204 mmol; cross-linker: 27.070 mmol; initiator: 2.03 mmol; temperature: 40.86 degrees C. The optimum molar ratio among the template, monomer and cross-linker for ametryn was 1:4.49:22.48. The reversed-phase HPLC-UV was used for the ametryn determination, using an isocratic solvent delivery system (acetonitrile: H(2)O, 60:40), flow-rate of 0.8 mL min(-1) and a UV wavelength of 220 nm. In line with the obtained results, using central composite design (CCD) can increase the precision and accuracy of synthesis and optimization of MIP to ametryn and possibly other similar analogues.