Critical success factors for ergonomics programs and their relationship to benefits of health and safety in Mexico's manufacturing industries.

This research determines the critical factors for implementing ergonomics programs related to health and safety benefits in the manufacturing industries of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, from the middle/upper management perspective. The sample was non-probabilistically selected for convenience, comprising individuals in middle and senior management positions. An original questionnaire containing 105 items measuring five latent variables was developed, reviewed, and validated for data collection. The sample size totalled 206 participants. Structural equation models using partial least squares (PLS) were employed to analyse interrelationships between variables. This research demonstrated acceptable reliability and quality indices. Management commitment emerged as the most significant factor, exerting the highest direct, indirect, and total effects on the work environment and prevention activities, significantly enhancing health and safety benefits. Consequently, manufacturing companies in Juarez City must strive to improve management commitment in the working environment and prevention activities since both strategies can increase employee health and safety benefits.

This paper presents a method focusing on the critical success factors of ergonomics programs associated with health and safety benefits in Mexico's manufacturing industries. The study uses structural equation modelling from the middle/upper management perspective. The proposed approach has potential applications across various industries.

Programa educativo de cáncer de mama en mujeres que acuden a quimioterapia en el contexto de la pandemia de COVID-19 / Breast Cancer educational program in women who attend chemotherapy during the context of COVID-19 pandemic

Introducción: el cáncer de mama es la principal causa de muerte oncológica en México, por lo que la alfabetización en salud durante la pandemia de COVID-19 resulta de gran importancia para reducir la morbimortalidad. Objetivo: evaluar la efectividad y grado de satisfacción de un programa educativo oncológico durante la pandemia de COVID-19. Material y métodos: estudio cuasiexperimental pre y posintervención educativa (programa educativo breve), en 31 pacientes que acudieron a quimioterapia durante la pandemia entre abril y julio de 2021, incluyendo educación sobre COVID-19, educación terapéutica sobre cáncer de mama y herramientas de promoción de la salud. El alfabetismo en salud se analizó mediante prueba de rangos de Wilcoxon, para muestras relacionadas. Resultados: la prueba de Wilcoxon fue estadísticamente significativa en el pre y-posprograma educativo (Z = 4.876, p = < 0,001) con un incremento del 70% al 83,3% de aciertos posprograma educativo y un grado de satisfacción del 87,09%. Conclusión: un programa educativo breve, implementado en un hospital oncológico durante la pandemia, es eficaz para incrementar el alfabetismo en salud y es bien valorado por las participantes. (AU)

Introduction: Breast cancer is the most important cause of cancer death in Mexico, so health literacy during the COVID-19 pandemic is very important to reduce morbidity and mortality. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness and satisfaction of an educational oncology program during the COVID-19 pandemic. Material and methods: Quasi-experimental study pre-post educational intervention (brief educational program), in 31 patients who underwent chemotherapy during the pandemic between April and July 2021, including COVID-19 education, therapeutic education in breast cancer and health promotion recommendations. Health literacy was analyzed using the Wilcoxon rank test for related samples. Results: The Wilcoxon test was statistically significant pre-post educational program (Z − 4,876, p < 0.001) with an increase from 70% to 83.3% of correct answers after the educational program and a satisfaction of 87.09%. Conclusion: A brief educational program, implemented in a cancer hospital during the pandemic, is effective in increasing health literacy and is highly valued by the participants. (AU)

Effects of mental workload on manufacturing systems employees: A mediation causal model.

BACKGROUND: Although some research has been done in the Mexican manufacturing industry regarding mental workload, none has explored its association with physical fatigue, body weight gain, and human error simultaneously. OBJECTIVE: This research examines the association between mental workload and physical fatigue, body weight gain, and human error in employees from the Mexican manufacturing systems through a mediation analysis approach. METHODS: A survey named Mental Workload Questionnaire was developed by merging the NASA-TLX with a questionnaire containing the mental workload variables mentioned above. The Mental Workload Questionnaire was applied to 167 participants in 63 manufacturing companies. In addition, the mental workload was used as an independent variable, while physical fatigue and body weight gain were mediator variables, and human error was a dependent variable. Six hypotheses were used to measure the relationships among variables and tested using the ordinary least squares regression algorithm. RESULTS: Findings indicated that mental workload significantly correlates with physical fatigue and human error. Also, the mental workload had a significant total association with human error. The highest direct association with body weight gain was provided by physical fatigue, and body weight gain had an insignificant direct association with human error. Finally, all indirect associations were insignificant. CONCLUSION: Mental workload directly affects human error, which physical fatigue does not; however, it does affect body weight gain. Managers should reduce their employees' mental workload and physical fatigue to avoid further problems associated with their health.

Seroepidemiología del virus de Epstein-Barr en estudiantes universitarios del Alto Paraná, Paraguay / Seroepidemiology of Epstein-Barr virus among university students from Alto Paraná, Paraguay

Introducción. La infección por el virus de Epstein-Barr (VEB) es la causa más frecuente de mononucleosis infecciosa, y también está asociada a varios tipos de cáncer. La prevalencia de la infección por este virus varía en diferentes poblaciones y no hay publicaciones sobre la epidemiología de esta infección en Paraguay. Objetivo. Describir la seroprevalencia de la infección por VEB en estudiantes universitarios y las características sociodemográficas asociadas. Materiales y Métodos. Estudio transversal en estudiantes de una universidad pública del departamento Alto Paraná, Paraguay. Se incluyeron 101 participantes, mediante muestreo de casos consecutivos. Se aplicó un cuestionario y se tomó muestras sanguíneas. Se determinó la presencia de anticuerpos por el método ELISA de captura de IgG específicos contra el antígeno de la cápside viral -VCA del VEB, además se evaluaron factores asociados a la seropositividad. Resultados. La seroprevalencia global fue 89,1% (90/101), asociado (p<0,025) a la condición socioeconómica baja (93,4%vs 76%, OR: 4.9 [IC 95%: 1,2 ­16,3]). Conclusión. La seroprevalencia contra el virus de Epstein-Barr es alta en estudiantes universitarios y está asociada a la condición socioeconómica baja. Palabras Clave: estudios seroepidemiológicos; anticuerpos; infecciones por virus de Epstein-Barr; estudiantes; Paraguay

Introduction. Infections by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is the most common cause of infectious mononucleosis and is also linked to multiple cancers. The prevalence of EBV infection varies in different populations and there is no publication about the epidemiology of this infection in Paraguay. Objective.To describethe seroprevalence among university students and associated sociodemographic characteristics. Material and Methods.Cross-sectional study in students from a public university in Alto Paraná, Paraguay.A total of 101 participants were recruited through consecutive sampling.Aquestionnaire was applied and blood samples were obtained. Antibodies were determined by Epstein-Barr Virus IgG anti-VCA capture ELISA method, and factors associated with seropositivity were evaluated. Results. The overall seropositivity was 89,1%(90/101), which was associated(p<0,025) with low socioeconomic status (93,4%vs 76%, OR: 4.9 [95% CI: 1.2 -16.3]). Conclusion. The seroprevalence to EBV is high in collegestudents which is associated to low socioeconomic condition. Key words: seroepidemiologic studies; antibodies; Epstein-Barr virus infections; students; Paraguay

Soledad y ansiedad durante el confinamiento por COVID-19. El efecto mediador de la regulación emocional / Loneliness and anxiety during COVID-19 lockdown. The mediating effect of emotion regulation

Resumen El confinamiento ocasionado por la pandemia del COVID-19 ha impactado en la vida de los estudiantes universitarios en todo el mundo. Conocer sus efectos en la salud mental y el comportamiento será una prioridad en los siguientes años. En este contexto, el objetivo de la presente investigación fue analizar por primera vez las relaciones directas e indirectas entre la experiencia de soledad, las estrategias de regulación emocional desadaptativas (rumiación, evitación, supresión, catastrofización y autoculpa) y la ansiedad en una muestra de universitarios mexicanos. Con base en él, se hipotetizó que las estrategias de regulación emocional desadaptativas mediarían la relación entre la soledad y la ansiedad. Para lograr este propósito se especificó un modelo de ecuaciones estructurales. Un total de 824 estudiantes universitarios participaron en la presente investigación. Los resultados mostraron que los datos se ajustaron de manera adecuada al modelo estructural especificado. Por otra parte, también se encontró que la soledad tuvo un efecto directo que no fue estadísticamente significativo con la ansiedad. En conclusión, estos hallazgos revelan la presencia de un efecto de mediación al mostrar que la soledad estuvo relacionada indirectamente con la ansiedad por su relación con las estrategias de regulación emocional desadaptativas. Con ello, al analizar la función mediadora de las estrategias de regulación emocional desadaptativas se aportaron, por primera vez en México, nuevos elementos que permiten conocer con mayor profundidad los efectos directos e indirectos de estos tres constructos.

Abstract The lockdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the lives of undergraduate students around the world. Knowing its effects on mental health and behavior will be a priority for years to come. Due to the multiple negative effects that confinement by the COVID-19 pandemic has brought, this study aims to provide new scientific evidence that will allow a better understanding of the effects of the experience of loneliness caused by this pandemic. Based on the procedural model of emotion regulation created by Gross, the objective of this research was to analyze the direct and indirect relations between the experience of loneliness, maladaptive emotion regulation strategies (rumination, avoidance, suppression, catastrophizing, and self-blame) and anxiety in a sample of Mexican undergraduate students. Based on this goal, it was hypothesized that maladaptive emotion regulation strategies would mediate the relation between loneliness and anxiety. To achieve this purpose, a total of 824 undergraduate students participated in the present research. In addition to providing their sociodemographic data, they answered the De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale, the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire, the Cognitive-Behavioral Avoidance Scale, the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire, and the Beck Anxiety Inventory. In order to carry out the mediating analysis, a structural equation model was created which included three latent variables (loneliness, maladaptive emotion regulation strategies and anxiety). This model was tested using the Lavaan software. The indirect effects were analyzed using the bootstrapping method. The results showed that maladaptive emotional regulation strategies had a mediating role which was positive and significant in the relation between loneliness and anxiety. Regarding the measurement model, confirmatory factor analysis was used to test the measurement model comprising the three latent variables. Results showed that the measurement model fit the observed data appropriately. Furthermore, with the purpose of examining the validity of the measurement model, the average variance extracted and square root of the average variance extracted were calculated. Findings indicated that the average variance extracted for each construct was higher than all the squared correlations involving that construct. This confirmed the discriminant validity of all variables of study. Regarding the structural model, results showed acceptable data fit. The model explained 48 % of the variance in anxiety. The structural equation analysis revealed that loneliness was related positively with maladaptive emotion regulation strategies. Similarly, maladaptive emotion regulation strategies were associated positively with anxiety. Likewise, it was possible to confirm the main hypothesis of this study which stated that maladaptive emotion regulation strategies would mediate the influence of loneliness on anxiety among Mexican university students. Finally, it was confirmed that loneliness had a nonsignificant direct effect on anxiety. Regarding the contribution of each of the five maladaptive emotion regulation strategies, rumination had a significant function in the mediating process showing that loneliness had an impact on anxiety via the continuous thoughts that participants had about their own emotions. In turn, because of the strategy of catastrophizing, participants intensified their thoughts and emotions waiting for the worse scenario which in turn increased their levels of anxiety. Likewise, the strategies of avoidance and suppression had also a significant contribution on the mediating role of maladaptive strategies. Finally, the strategy of self-blame was a significant contribution to the mediating function. Therefore, with the purpose of controlling emotions associated with loneliness, it was possible that participants could blame themselves as a mechanism to regulate their emotions. In conclusion, these findings reveal the presence of a mediating effect by showing that loneliness was indirectly related to anxiety via its relation with maladaptive emotion regulation strategies.

Low-Level Radon Activity Concentration-A MetroRADON International Intercomparison.

An international comparison of continuous monitors measuring radon activity concentration was performed to validate the traceability of the European radon calibration facilities. It was carried out by comparing the secondary standards used by these previous facilities, ranging from 100 Bq·m-3 to 300 Bq·m-3. Secondary standards were individually compared to a secondary reference device previously calibrated in a reference radon atmosphere traceable to a primary standard. The intercomparison was organized by the National Institute for Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological Protection (SUJCHBO) in the period from October 2019 to April 2020 within the European Metrology Program for Innovation and Research (EMPIR), JRP-Contract 16ENV10 MetroRADON. Eight European laboratories participated in this study. The results of the experiment are presented and discussed.

Intercomparison of Radon Flux Monitors at Low and at High Radium Content Areas under Field Conditions.

Interlaboratory exercises are a good tool to compare the response of different systems to the same quantity and to identify possible inconsistencies between them. One of the main goals of the EMPIR 19ENV01 traceRadon project is to harmonize radon flux measurements based on different systems and methodologies. In the framework of the traceRadon Project, two radon flux intercomparison campaigns were carried out in October 2021 at high and at low radon source areas. Four institutions participated in the field intercomparison exercises with their own systems. Every system was based on a specific radon monitor (diffusion or pump mode) and an accumulation chamber (with manual or automatic opening). Radon fluxes were calculated by each participant using both exponential and linear fittings of the radon activity concentration measured over time within the accumulation chambers. The results of this study show mainly: (i) the exponential approach is not advisable due to the variability of the radon flux and the leakage of the systems during long-time measurements; (ii) the linear approach should be applied to minimize the measurement period in agreement with the time response and sensitivity of the monitors; (iii) radon flux measured at high radon source areas (radium content of about 800 Bq kg-1) risks being underestimated because of the influence of advective effects; (iv) radon flux measured at low radon source areas (radium content of about 30 Bq kg-1) may present large uncertainties if sensitive radon monitors with pump mode are not used.

Análisis de trayectoria de las creencias patriarcales y sexistas, actitudes favorables a la violencia y violencia en el noviazgo / [Trajectory analysis of patriarchal and sexist beliefs, attitudes favorable to violence and dating violence]

El objetivo de esta investigación fue analizar las relaciones entre las creencias patriarcales y sexistas, las actitudes favorables a la violencia física, psicológica y sexual hacia las mujeres y hacia los hombres, y la presencia de la violencia en el noviazgo. Participaron 774 universitarios mexicanos (52,33% mujeres). Los resultados mostraron que los hombres han desarrollado más actitudes favoreciendo el uso de la violencia física, psicológica y sexual en contra de las mujeres a partir de la influencia de las creencias patriarcales y sexistas. Las mujeres con mayor adhesión a las creencias patriarcales y sexistas presentaron más actitudes favorables a la violencia física, psicológica y sexual hacia ellas mismas. Las mujeres que tuvieron puntuaciones más altas en las actitudes que favorecen la violencia hacia ellas tuvieron un mayor nivel de victimización. En conclusión, los cuatro modelos de análisis de trayectorias revelaron el impacto que tienen las creencias patriarcales y sexistas en la violencia en el noviazgo por medio de las actitudes que favorecen la violencia hacia las mujeres y hacia los hombres.

Dating violence research needs to examine the perspective and experience that women and men have of this type of violence and the cognitive factors associated with it. In order to fill this gap, the objective of this research was to analyze the relations between patriarchal and sexist beliefs, attitudes favorable to physical, psychological, and sexual violence towards women and men, and the prevalence of dating violence. A total of 774 Mexican university students (52.33% women and 47.67% men) participated answering five instruments. In order to examine the data obtained, four path analysis models were created. The results showed that men have developed more attitudes supporting the use of physical, psychological, and sexual violence against women from the influence of patriarchal and sexist beliefs. Likewise, women who reported greater adherence to patriarchal and sexist beliefs presented more favorable attitudes towards physical, psychological, and sexual violence towards themselves. In turn, it was found that female participants who reported higher scores in the attitudes supporting sexual, psychological, and sexual violence towards themselves had a higher level of victimization. In conclusion, the four models revealed the impact that patriarchal and sexist beliefs have on dating violence through attitudes supporting violence towards women and men.

A globally Mittag-Leffler bounded high-gain observer for systems with unknown dynamics and noisy measurements.

In this work, we present a globally Mittag-Leffler bounded high-gain observer for fractional order nonlinear systems with unmodeled dynamics and additive measurement noise at the output. Our proposal starts from an alternative representation of the fractional order system, whose output does not depend on the additive measurement noise and in which the original system's output is treated as an additional state variable. This representation allows us two things: 1) to simultaneously estimate the state variables and the uncertain term and 2) to incorporate into the design scheme a fractional integral-type contribution, which is useful to give robustness against the measurement noise and the unmodeled dynamics, as well as to attenuate the noise amplification, typical of any high-gain observer. Through the corresponding mathematical analysis, we prove that the estimation error of the proposed observer is uniformly bounded and converges asymptotically to a globally Mittag-Leffler compact attractive set, this is, the proposed observer is globally Mittag-Leffler bounded. Additionally, we show that under certain conditions, such as an integer derivation order or the absence of measurement noise, the proposed observer exhibits some particular properties. Finally, we consider a continuously stirred biochemical reactor to exemplify our design methodology. The numerical results confirm that the observer is able to accurately estimate the state variables as well as the uncertainty term of the fractional model. In other words, the globally Mittag-Leffler bounded high-gain observer is robust against measurement noise and uncertainties.

Tumor limítrofe del ovario: revisión de un viejo conocido con nuevas propuestas terapéuticas / Ovarian borderline tumor: Review of an old acquaintance with new therapeutic proposals

Resumen ANTECEDENTES: Las pacientes con un tumor limítrofe del ovario pueden tratarse conservadoramente en etapas tempranas y con ello conseguir una supervivencia considerable. Las etapas avanzadas tienen un periodo libre de enfermedad prolongado, algunas con crecimiento de implantes peritoneales y recaída posterior a 10 años del tratamiento. OBJETIVO: Conocer cuál es el pronóstico de las pacientes con un tumor limítrofe del ovario, y su tratamiento en México y otros países. MÉTODOLOGÍA: Revisión sistemática de ensayos clínicos recientes registrados en las bases de datos de PubMed, Embase y Cochrane de artículos publicados en inglés y en español entre los años 2006 y 2021. Además, una revisión analítica de la experiencia acumulada en 10 años en la atención de pacientes con tumor limítrofe del ovario atendidas en la Unidad Médica de Alta Especialidad de Oncología del Centro Médico Nacional siglo XXI del Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, en la Ciudad de México y otros centros médicos de la República Mexicana. RESULTADOS: Se encontraron 62 artículos relacionados con los términos de búsqueda; de éstos, se descartaron 11 porque no eran artículos originales solo de tumores limítrofes del ovario y 4 porque el texto completo estaba escrito en idiomas diferentes al inglés y español. Uno más se eliminó porque sus conclusiones diferían del objetivo planteado y su sustento se consideró endeble. Al final se analizaron 41 artículos. CONCLUSIONES: Las posibilidades de atención quirúrgica de pacientes con tumor limítrofe del ovario, con preservación de la fertilidad, son altas pues su recurrencia es baja. Los tumores microinvasores mucinosos, con permeación vascular y linfática, tendrán mayor posibilidad de recaída a largo plazo. En general, su pronóstico de supervivencia, en cada etapa, es alto. La linfadenectomía retroperitoneal no está indicada en etapas tempranas de la enfermedad.

Abstract BACKGROUND: Patients with borderline ovarian tumor can be treated conservatively in early stages and thereby achieve considerable survival. Advanced stages have a prolonged disease-free period, some with peritoneal implant growth and relapse after 10 years of treatment. OBJECTIVE: To know the prognosis of patients with borderline ovarian tumor and its treatment in Mexico and other countries. METHODOLOGY: Systematic review of recent clinical trials registered in PubMed, Embase and Cochrane databases of articles published in English and Spanish between 2006 and 2021. In addition, an analytical review of the experience accumulated in 10 years in the care of patients with borderline ovarian tumor attended at the Oncology High Specialty Medical Unit of the XXI Century National Medical Center of the Mexican Social Security Institute, in Mexico City and other medical centers in the Mexican Republic. RESULTS: We found 62 articles related to the search terms; of these, 11 were discarded because they were not original articles only on ovarian borderline tumors and 4 because the full text was written in languages other than English and Spanish. One more was eliminated because its conclusions differed from the stated objective and its support was considered weak. In the end, 41 articles were analyzed. CONCLUSIONS: The chances of surgical care of patients with ovarian borderline tumor, with fertility preservation, are high because its recurrence is low. Mucinous microinvasive tumors, with vascular and lymphatic permeation, will have a higher chance of long-term relapse. In general, their prognosis for survival, at each stage, is high. Retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy is not indicated in early stages of the disease.