Quality improvement study into the effectiveness of the semi-custom, prefabricated shoe insert program (Quadrastep System) at reducing complaints of discomfort in an industrial setting.

A common source of reduced productivity and lost work time in the industrial setting is musculoskeletal discomfort in the feet, knees, hips, and low back. Even when working identical job posts, these symptoms can vary widely between employees, and could potentially be caused by intrinsic foot biomechanics coupled with long-term standing activities. Therefore, to prevent injury and reduce daily discomfort, onesize-fits-all approaches such as anti-fatigue mats or off-the-shelf shoe insoles may be less effective than treating each employee’s specific biomechanical traits. The Quadrastep System is a prefabricated, semi-custom shoe insert system that bridges the gap between more expensive, fully customized orthotics and off-the-shelf options. We studied the effectiveness of the system in a large manufacturing plant by assessing and providing Quadrastep inserts to 28 volunteers. After 2 months of daily wear, 94% of these volunteers said they received some benefit from the inserts, while 52% reported full resolution of daily symptoms.

Safety assessment of shoe insoles treated with various biocidal compositions

The article deals with the study of the antimicrobial activity of shoe insoles treated with biocidal compositions . Antimicrobial treatment was carried out in distilled water using the following chemical agents: polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), salicylic acid (SA), copper sulfate, urea, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), benzoic acid. The antimicrobial activity of the modified materials was determined against test cultures - E. coli and molds p.Penicillium. It was found that the studied samples of shoe insoles have a stable antibacterial effect - the growth inhibition zone is from 2 mm to 4 mm, but there is no fungal resistance.

Occupational photoallergic contact dermatitis to thiourea in a firefighter

Thioureas are a relatively uncommon cause of allergic contact dermatitis and a rare cause of photoallergic contact dermatitis. They are primarily used as vulcanization accelerators in the production of neoprene, and common sources of exposure include gloves, shoe insoles, wet suits, and orthopedic braces. We report a multifactorial case of severe episodic photoallergic contact dermatitis to thiourea in a 29-year-old firefighter. Multiple sources of neoprene exposure were identified, including a firefighting mask, continuous positive airway pressure strap, and hockey helmet.

Antibacterial Shoe Insole-Coated CuO-ZnO Nanocomposite Synthesized by the Sol-Gel Technique

In this study, CuO-ZnO composite was synthesized via the sol-gel method using oxalic acid to form the medium complex and its applications in antibacterial have been conducted with B. cereus, E. coli, S. aureus, Salmonella, and P. aeruginosa. Then, nanopowder of CuO-ZnO was coated on shoe insoles and their antibacterial effect with S. aureus was tested. The nanocomposite products were characterized by XRD, XPS, SEM, TEM, and UV-Vis. The results showed that the CuO-ZnO composite has the average particle size in a range of 20-50 nm, the point of zero charge of 7.8, and the bandgap of 1.7 eV. XPS result shows the composite structure with Cu2+ in the product. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of CuO-ZnO nanocomposite was 0.313 mg·mL-1 for S. aureus and Samonella, 0.625 mg·mL-1 for E. coli, and 5 mg·mL-1 for B. cereus and P. aeruginosa. The shoe insoles coated with 0.35 wt.% of CuO-ZnO nanocomposite also had high antibacterial activity against S. aureus, and this antibacterial nanocomposite was implanted durably on the surface of the shoe insoles.

Machining Parameter Optimization of EVA Foam Orthotic Shoe Insoles

In this study, ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) foam orthotic shoe insoles with different surface roughnesses (Ra) are investigated in terms of CNC milling strategy. Based on a hybrid Taguchi-response surface methodology (TM-RSM) approach, machining parameters, including tool path strategy, spindle speed, feed rate, and step over, as well as material hardness, are of particular interest. The main aim of this work is to develop mathematical models and determine the optimum machining parameters. Experiments are conducted on a CNC milling machine with a standard milling cutter and run under dry coolants. The optimal conditions are established based on TM and then used to determine the optimum values in the RSM modeling. The main finding of the present work is that there are significant improvements in the Ra, by up 0.24% and 4.13%, and machining time, by up 0.43% and 0.41%, obtained with TM-RSM in comparison to TM analysis.

Explanation of the Term cuo shu 蔖疋 on Strip No. 1 of the Yangtianhu 仰天湖 Bamboo Manuscript

There have been different explanations of the text written on strip no. 1 of the Chu bamboo slips excavated from Yangtianhu 仰天湖, Changsha 長沙, Hunan. Based on a newly published Warring States private seal inscription containing a two-word first name as well as the ancient habit of using loan graphs, this article suggests that the expression cuo shu 疋in the bamboo manuscript should be read as cuo ju 蔖苴, meaning “shoe insoles made of straw.”