Psychosocial correlates of cortisol levels in fingernails among middle-aged workers.

It was recently suggested that cortisol levels in fingernails reflect cumulative hormone exposure over a relatively long period. This exploratory study cross-sectionally investigated the relationships between fingernail cortisol level and psychosocial stress in a sample of middle-aged workers (94 men and 29 women). The participants were asked to grow their fingernails for ∼2 weeks and then provide fingernail samples from every digit by using nail clippers.

Identification of risk factors for new-onset sciatica in Japanese workers: findings from the Japan epidemiological research of Occupation-related Back pain study.

Study Design: Two-year, prospective cohort data collected for the Japan epidemiological research of Occupation-related Back pain study were used for the analysis.

Objective: To identify potential risk factors for the development of new-onset sciatica in initially symptom-free Japanese workers with no history of sciatica.

Summary Of Background Data: Although the associations between individual and occupational factors and cases of new-onset sciatica are established, the effect of psychosocial factors on the development of sciatica has still not been adequately clarified.

Thermodynamics and mechanism studies on electrochemical removal of cesium ions from aqueous solution using a nanoparticle film of copper hexacyanoferrate.

Nanoparticle (NPs) film of copper hexacyanoferrate (CuHCF(III)) was developed for electrochemically cesium separation from wastewater. Different form the electro- or chemical deposited films, CuHCF(III) NPs were firstly covered with ferrocyanide anions, so that they can be well dispersed in water and formed ink. Then CuHCF(III) NPs can be uniformly coated by simple wet printing methods, so it is feasible to prepare NPs film of any sizes, or any patterns at low cost.

Proton-exchange mechanism of specific Cs+ adsorption via lattice defect sites of Prussian blue filled with coordination and crystallization water molecules.

We have revealed the fundamental mechanism of specific Cs(+) adsorption into Prussian blue (PB) in order to develop high-performance PB-based Cs(+) adsorbents in the wake of the Fukushima nuclear accident. We compared two types of PB nanoparticles with formulae of Fe(III)4[Fe(II)(CN)6]3·xH2O (x = 10-15) (PB-1) and (NH4)0.70Fe(III)1.