Predictive factors associated with trajectory of job satisfaction of workers with physical disabilities: A latent growth curve analysis.

BACKGROUND: Job satisfaction is a highly useful factor in maintaining a successful work life for the disabled. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate how job satisfaction among workers with physical disabilities evolves over time, and to identify predictive factors that influence the trajectory of job satisfaction. METHODS: A longitudinal data analysis using the three-year databases of the 2016-2018 Employment Panel Survey for the Disabled (n = 693). A latent growth curve model analysis was conducted to determine the trajectory of the job satisfaction among workers with physical disabilities, as well as the predictive factors affecting it. RESULTS: Job satisfaction among workers with physical disabilities increased over time, and there were substantial individual differences in the trajectory of the job satisfaction. The significant predictors for the job satisfaction over the three years were degree of disability, computer usage ability, employment support services, and experience of discrimination. Gender, educational background, interpersonal relationship/organizational adaptability, convenience facilities for the disabled, job suitability, disability acceptability, and self-esteem had a considerable impact on the intercept of the job satisfaction, but not on the slope. CONCLUSION: The findings would inform healthcare providers to establish mid-to-long-term vocational rehabilitation intervention plans that could increase the job satisfaction among workers with physical disabilities.

Measuring posture change to detect emotional conditions for workers: A scoping review.

BACKGROUND: The emotional management of workers can not only increase the efficiency of work, but also contribute to the improvement of the productivity of a company. OBJECTIVE: This scoping review surveyed the literature to identify the relationship between postural expression and emotion during sedentary tasks. METHODS: We searched relevant literature published up to December 1, 2019 using seven electronic databases (PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, Web of Science, PsycINFO, IEEE Xplore, and MEDLINE Complete). RESULTS: A total of 14 publications were included in this scoping review. It was found that the application of pressure sensor and camera-based measurement equipment was effective. Additionally, it was proposed to predict the emotional state of the worker by using forward and backward movements as the main variable as opposed to left and right movements. The information-based analysis technique was able to further increase the accuracy of workers' emotion prediction. CONCLUSIONS: The emotion prediction of workers based on sitting posture could be confirmed for certain movements, and the information-based technical method could further increase the accuracy of prediction. Expansion of information-based technical research will further increase the possibility of predicting the emotions of workers based on posture, and this will in turn promote safer and more efficient work performance.

Association of heat shock protein 8 with atopic march in a murine experimental model.

Background: Atopic march (AM), a unique characteristic of allergic diseases, refers to the sequential progression of atopic dermatitis (AD) in infants to allergic asthma and allergic rhinitis in children and young adults, respectively. Although there are several studies on AM, the establishment of an AM murine model to expand our understanding of the underlying mechanism and to identify the potential biomarkers is yet to be achieved. In this study, an improved murine model was established by applying a method to minimize skin irritation in inducing AD, and it was used to perform integrated analyses to discover candidate biomarkers. Methods: To induce atopic dermatitis, 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) was applied to the ear skin once a week, and this was continued for 5 weeks. From the second application of DNCB, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Dp) extract was applied topically 2 days after each DNCB application; this was continued for 4 weeks. Dp sensitization and intranasal challenges were then performed for 4 weeks to develop conditions mimicking AM. Results: Exacerbated airway inflammation and allergic responses observed in the AM-induced group suggested successful AM development in our model. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) and mass spectrometry analysis identified 753 candidate proteins from 124 2-DE spots differentially expressed among the experimental groups. Functional analyses, such as Gene Ontology (GO) annotation and protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis were conducted to investigate the relationship among the candidate proteins. Seventy-two GO terms were significant between the two groups; heat shock protein 8 (Hspa8) was found to be included in six of the top 10 GO terms. Hspa8 scored high on the PPI parameters as well. Conclusion: We established an improved murine model for AM and proposed Hspa8 as a candidate biomarker for AM.

The association of plasma cytokines including VEGF with recurrent wheezing in allergic patients.

BACKGROUND: Various cytokines have been studied to determine their functions in the pathogenesis of allergic diseases and their potential as therapeutic targets, but the roles and clinical applicability of many of these cytokines still remain unclear. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to measure the plasma levels of eight cytokines known to be relevant to allergic diseases, and to determine their association with the diagnostic characteristics of allergic patients. METHODS: The levels of a panel of eight cytokines (IL-5, IL-10, IL12p70, Leptin, CXCL5/ENA-78, CCL2/MCP-1, PDGFBB, and VEGF) were measured in plasma obtained from 83 allergic patients. We investigated whether the cytokine levels differed between children and adults. Statistical analyses were then performed to examine their association with the diagnostic characteristics of allergic patients. RESULTS: The levels of leptin, CCL2/MCP-1, PDGFBB, and VEGF were significantly higher in adult patients with allergic rhinitis than in children. Among patients with asthma, the levels of leptin and PDGFBB were elevated in adults. PDGFBB and VEGF levels were significantly associated with asthma. Interestingly, there was a significant association between VEGF level and recurrent wheezing regardless of the analyzed conditions. The levels of VEGF and PDGFBB or CCL2/MCP-1 showed a significant increase together in the presence of recurrent wheezing in child patients. CONCLUSIONS: The plasma levels of four cytokines, particularly VEGF, showed significant associations with some diagnostic characteristics in allergic patients. We suggested that plasma VEGF, which performs pleiotropic functions in allergic responses, could serve as a serological marker relevant to recurrent wheezing in allergic patients.

Use of a visual feedback-equipped reacher in reach-to-grasp movements.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of using a visual feedback-equipped reacher when performing reach-to-grasp tasks. [Subjects and Methods] Seventeen healthy participants with no illnesses or physical disabilities were selected for this study. Activation of the flexor digitorum superficialis and extensor digitorum muscles was assessed using electromyography. Wrist and shoulder momentums were calculated using a three-axis acceleration sensor. Participants were instructed to move 10 ears of plastic corn from right to left using a reacher with and without visual feedback. [Results] Comparison of muscle activity under the two conditions revealed a statistically significant reduction in the activity of the FDS and ED with feedback compared to without. The three-axis accelerometer values showed that wrist momentum decreased significantly with visual feedback compared to without feedback. [Conclusion] The results showed that using the vision-assisted reacher affected upper limb muscle activation and momentum. It is important that assistive devices be developed for effective energy use. Here, providing visual feedback during reacher use was shown to reduce users' physical fatigue.

Changes in gluteal pressure and center of force during sitting in children with cerebral palsy.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to measure gluteal pressure and center of force (COF) during sitting in children with cerebral palsy (CP). [Subjects and Methods] The participants were five children with CP and five typically developing controls. We measured peak gluteal pressure and COF using the TekScan system. During the measurements, all children sat on the therapeutic table for 1 minute without back and foot support. [Results] The peak gluteal pressure and COF in children with CP were significantly higher than values in controls. [Conclusion] This study suggests that it is important to distribute hip pressure evenly and transfer COF in a forward direction during rehabilitation in children with CP.

The effects of virtual reality-based bilateral arm training on hemiplegic children's upper limb motor skills.

BACKGROUND: Hemiplegic cerebral palsy is a neurological symptom appearing on the unilateral arm and leg of the body that causes affected upper/lower limb muscle weakening and dysesthesia and accompanies tetany and difficulties in postural control due to abnormal muscle tone, and difficulties in body coordination. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of virtual reality-based bilateral arm training on the motor skills of children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy, in terms of their upper limb motor skills on the affected side, as well as their bilateral coordination ability. METHODS: The research subjects were three children who were diagnosed with hemiplegic cerebral palsy. The research followed an ABA design, which was a single-subject experimental design. The procedure consisted of a total of 20 sessions, including four during the baseline period (A1), 12 during the intervention period (B), and four during the baseline regression period (A2), For the independent variable bilateral arm training based on virtual reality, Nintendo Wii game was played for 30 minutes in each of the 12 sessions. For the dependent variables of upper limb motor skills on the affected side and bilateral coordination ability, a Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT) was carried out for each session and the Pediatric Motor Activity Log (PMAL) was measured before and after the intervention, as well as after the baseline regression period. To test bilateral coordination ability, shooting baskets in basketball with both hands and moving large light boxes were carried out under operational definitions, with the number of shots and time needed to move boxes measured. The results were presented using visual graphs and bar graphs. RESULTS: The study's results indicated that after virtual reality-based bilateral arm training, improvement occurred in upper limb motor skills on the affected sides, and in bilateral coordination ability, for all of the research subjects. Measurements of the effects of sustained therapy after completion of the intervention, during the baseline regression period, revealed that upper limb motor skills on the affected side and bilateral coordination ability were better than in the baseline period for all subjects. CONCLUSION: This study confirmed that for children with hemiplegic with cerebral palsy, bilateral arm training based on virtual reality can be an effective intervention method for enhancing the upper limb motor skills on the affected side, as well as bilateral coordination ability.

Arabidopsis ABCG14 is essential for the root-to-shoot translocation of cytokinin.

Cytokinins are phytohormones that induce cytokinesis and are essential for diverse developmental and physiological processes in plants. Cytokinins of the trans-zeatin type are mainly synthesized in root vasculature and transported to the shoot, where they regulate shoot growth. However, the mechanism of long-distance transport of cytokinin was hitherto unknown. Here, we report that the Arabidopsis ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter subfamily G14 (AtABCG14) is mainly expressed in roots and plays a major role in delivering cytokinins to the shoot. Loss of AtABCG14 expression resulted in severe shoot growth retardation, which was rescued by exogenous trans-zeatin application. Cytokinin content was decreased in the shoots of atabcg14 plants and increased in the roots, with consistent changes in the expression of cytokinin-responsive genes. Grafting of atabcg14 scions onto wild-type rootstocks restored shoot growth, whereas wild-type scions grafted onto atabcg14 rootstocks exhibited shoot growth retardation similar to that of atabcg14. Cytokinin concentrations in the xylem are reduced by ∼90% in the atabcg14 mutant. These results indicate that AtABCG14 is crucial for the translocation of cytokinin to the shoot. Our results provide molecular evidence for the long-distance transport of cytokinin and show that this transport is necessary for normal shoot development.

Exogenously applied 24-epi brassinolide reduces lignification and alters cell wall carbohydrate biosynthesis in the secondary xylem of Liriodendron tulipifera.

The roles of brassinosteroids (BRs) in vasculature development have been implicated based on an analysis of Arabidopsis BR mutants and suspension cells of Zinnia elegans. However, the effects of BRs in vascular development of a woody species have not been demonstrated. In this study, 24-epi brassinolide (BL) was applied to the vascular cambium of a vertical stem of a 2-year-old Liriodendron, and the resulting chemical and anatomical phenotypes were characterized to uncover the roles of BRs in secondary xylem formation of a woody species. The growth in xylary cells was clearly promoted when treated with BL. Statistical analysis indicated that the length of both types of xylary cells (fiber and vessel elements) increased significantly after BL application. Histochemical analysis demonstrated that BL-induced growth promotion involved the acceleration of cell division and cell elongation. Histochemical and expression analysis of several lignin biosynthetic genes indicated that most genes in the phenylpropanoid pathway were significantly down-regulated in BL-treated stems compared to that in control stems. Chemical analysis of secondary xylem demonstrated that BL treatment induced significant modification in the cell wall carbohydrates, including biosynthesis of hemicellulose and cellulose. Lignocellulose crystallinity decreased significantly, and the hemicellulose composition changed with significant increases in galactan and arabinan. Thus, BL has regulatory roles in the biosynthesis and modification of secondary cell wall components and cell wall assembly during secondary xylem development in woody plants.

EST analysis of functional genes associated with cell wall biosynthesis and modification in the secondary xylem of the yellow poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera) stem during early stage of tension wood formation.

A cDNA library was constructed from secondary xylem in the stem of a 2-year-old yellow poplar after being bent for 6 h with a 45° configuration to isolate genes related to cell wall modification during the early stages of tension wood formation. A total of 6,141 ESTs were sequenced to generate a database of 5,982 high-quality expressed sequence tags (ESTs). These sequences were clustered into 1,733 unigenes, including 822 contigs and 911 singletons. Homologs of the genes regulate many aspects of secondary xylem development, including those for primary and secondary metabolism, plant growth hormones, transcription factors, cell wall biosynthesis and modification, and stress responses. Although there were only 1,733 annotated ESTs (28.9%), the annotated ESTs obtained in this study provided sequences for a broad array of transcripts expressed in the stem upon mechanical bending, and the majority of them were the first representatives of their respective gene families in Liriodendron tulipifera. In the case of lignin, xylem-specific COMTs were identified and their expressions were significantly downregulated in the tension wood-forming tissues. Additionally, the majority of the auxin- and BR-related genes were downregulated significantly in response to mechanical bending treatment. Despite the small number of ESTs sequenced in this study, many genes that are relevant to cell wall biosynthesis and modification have been isolated. Expression analysis of selected genes allow us to identify the regulatory genes that may perform essential functions during the early stages of tension wood formation and associated cell wall modification.