Work Ability Index and Work Ability Score: A Comparation between both Scores in a Persistent COVID-19 Cohort

Aims: The present study aims to compare the assessment of work ability based on the use of the Work Ability Index (WAI) with another questionnaire base only on the use of WAI’s first item, termed as the “Work Ability Score” (WAS). Study design: A cohort of 384 Spanish workers included in a Post COVID-19 condition or persistent COVID-19 multicenter research was utilized. Place and Duration of Study: This cohort was enlisted in four hospitals (Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid;Hospital Universitario Virgen Macarena, Sevilla, Andalucía;Hospital Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid and Complejo Asistencial Universitario de Salamanca, Castilla y León), since 2021 until 2022. Methodology: 384 Spanish workers (176 men and 208 women;aged 20 to 70 years) with Post COVID-19 condition or persistent COVID-19 were included. Descriptive analysis of primary scores was conducted. Given the non-normal distribution of data, the Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests were employed. Spearman and Kendall correlations were employed to assess the relationship between WAI and WAS, also used weighted Kappa to estimate the degree agreement between WAI and WAS. Logistic regression models were utilized to study determinants influencing WAI and WAS, categorized as poor or moderate. Results: WAI had an average score of 32.98 (SD = 10.28), whereas WAS had an average of 5.95 (SD = 2.77). Significant differences were observed in both WAI and WAS across the same variables. Strong and statistically significant correlations were evident between WAI and WAS (rs = 0.83, p < 0.001). All the variables used in the logistic regression model (gender, the sector employment, and previous chronic diseases) were statistically significant in both questionnaires. Conclusion: WAS questionnaire could be used as a tool for reliable assessment of work ability among Spanish workers with Post COVID-19 condition or Persistent CO-VID-19.

Exploring the employment readiness and return to work status of breast cancer patients and related factors

Objective:To investigate the employment status,employment readiness,and other factors affecting the ease or difficulty with which breast cancer patients effect their return to work(RTW).Methods:This study adopted a mixed-method design,recruiting participants from among breast cancer patients in a cancer hospital in Hunan from December 2018 to June 2019.We approached 300 individuals,192 of whom ultimately participated in this study.The quantitative part of the study involved several scales:the Patient Health Questionnaire-9(PHQ-9),the Brief Fatigue Inventory(BFI),the Work Ability Index(WAI),and the Lam Assessment of Employment Readiness(LASER).The qualitative part involved a set of open-ended questions and written responses collected from 41 participants who had already returned to work at the time of data collection.Their written responses mainly concerned factors influencing RTW.Results:Forty-one breast cancer patients had returned to work.The results reported a median total Cognitive Symptom Checklist score of 9.00(6.00,15.25),a median WAI score of 5.00(3.50,9.75),a median BFI score of 26.00(14.75,42.00),a median total PHQ-9 score of 8.00(5.25,17.00),and a LASER score of 50.35±11.90.Multiple regression analysis showed that the participants’cancer stage,cognitive limitations,depression,fatigue,and work ability were significant predictors of employment readiness(P<0.05).Exploring the qualitative data,we found that higher skill levels,better social support,and a flexible work schedule facilitated RTW;stress,lack of confidence in one’s work skills,depression,and fatigue are all possible barriers to RTW.Conclusion:The findings indicate that breast cancer patients have a low level of employment readiness.Nurses and other healthcare providers can develop relevant interventions to promote employment readiness and ultimately achieve RTW in this study population.

Implementation of a Return to Work Strategy in Germany—Are There Changes in Work-Related Rehabilitation Measures and Employment Status in Chronic Conditions?

Objectives: Aging workforces with increasing numbers of chronic conditions require health initiatives with greater workplace focus. A regional pension insurance introduced a Return To Work (RTW) strategy for insurants with chronic conditions. The objective was to identify the degree of implementation of work related measures in medical rehabilitation and the extent of RTW outcomes. Methods: 5883 insurants were considered. Severe Restriction of Work Ability (SRWA), Work-related Medical Rehabilitation (WMR), and Case Management (CM) were examined for 2008 and 2012. An Index of Employment status (IoE) was used in a logistic regression. Results: Utilization of WMR raised from 12.3% in 2008 to 66.1% in 2012. The proportion of insurants with SRWA and WMR grew from 8% up to 40.1%. In 2008, 14.7% of insurants with SRWA received WMR;in 2012, it grew to 76.6%. On the other hand, in 2012 26% got WMR without SRWA and 12.2% had SRWA and got no WMR. CM was not conducted in 2008 but reached 20.2% in 2012. Across all indications, WMR resulted in positive RTW as measured by IoE: OR = 0.75 (KI-95%: 0.67 - 0.86). Conclusion: WMR was successfully implemented according to the German guideline. There is a need to optimize the linkage between SRWA and WMR and CM to provide need-based care.

A Systematic Study of Soil Collanses for Railway Slopes

A set of soil collapse prediction and prevention swtem for railway slopes is builtis this paper. Based on the field investisation, Oreen-Ampt model, the quantitytheory and computeraided decision-making sgutem, convereion tables ofworking rainfall ,grading tables of resistant ability to rainfall, and the warningrairifall levels are made, forming the chief part of a practical computer-aideddecisionmaking system. Usins the system, the danser degree of railway slopescan be predicted, and the reinforcins ensineerins and the flood control workcan also be arranged ratiofially.

High strength-ductility nano-structured high manganese steel produced by cryogenic asymmetry-rolling

A bulk nanostructured twinning-induced plasticity （TWIP） steel with high ductility and high strength was fabricated by cryogenic asymmetry-rolling （cryo-ASR） and subsequent recovery treatment. It was found that the cryo-ASRed TWIP steels exhibit simultaneous improvements in the ductility, strength and work hardening. Typical microstructures of the cryo-ASR TWIP steel were characterized by shear bands and intensive mechanical nano-sized twins induced by cryogenic deformation. These mechanical nano-scale twins remain thermally stable during the subsequent recovery treatment. It is believed that the ductility enhancement and high work-hardening ability for the cryo-ASR TWIP steels should be mainly attributed to the high-densitv pre-existing nano-scale twins.