Alternative Work Research Articles

The Feasibility of Heat Extraction Using CO2 in the Carbonate Reservoir in Shandong Province, China

CO2 is being considered as an effective alternative working fluid for geothermal applications due to its superior fluid dynamics and heat transfer properties compared to water. Utilizing sedimentary rocks for geothermal energy recovery through a CO2-plume geothermal system, especially in carbonate reservoirs, has been shown to be a practical approach that eliminates the need for hydraulic fracturing. However, uncertainties remain regarding the thermal and hydraulic behavior, particularly the chemical interactions between CO2 and carbonate rocks. This study develops a comprehensive wellbore–reservoir coupling reactive transport model based on specific information obtained from the Ordovician limestone geothermal reservoir in Shandong, China. The model aims to assess the feasibility of heat extraction in carbonate reservoirs by evaluating the heat extraction performance and fluid–rock interaction. The results indicate a rapid temperature drop after CO2 breakthrough due to the Joule–Thomson effect. Simultaneously, the fluid transitions into and maintains a two-phase state throughout the operation. Chemical reactions within the reservoir are not aggressive since complete mixing between unsaturated water and CO2 only occurs in the vicinity of the production well, highlighting the potential of utilizing carbonate reservoirs for efficient heat extraction in geothermal systems. Further research is needed to optimize the performance of CO2-based geothermal systems in carbonate reservoirs.

22‐2: Significant Improvement of a‐IGZO Source‐Gated Transistor Current over Traditional Design through Architecture Modification

We introduce a new architecture, alternative double work function (a‐DWF), device to dramatically enhance the output current of source gated transistors (SGT) while retaining low voltage saturation. The smaller output current of SGT and previous DWF devices compared to conventional thin‐film transistors (TFT) has previously limited their application range.

An application (ePRO) -based patient reported outcomes of quality of life from an innovative cancer care delivery model.

e23176 Background: With the accessibility of smartphones, it has become possible to develop applications for patient-reported outcomes. Quality of life (QoL) is an important measure in oncology research. We developed a phone application that could use any standardized form to be filled in by the patient. Here, we report using the EORTC questionnaire, QLQ-C30, built into the application as a form for data collection from our ongoing district cancer care program, which offers support at government district hospitals in India using an alternate oncology work force. Methods: An application (ePRO) was created, which allows one doctor administrator to follow the patients. Once the application is downloaded, the patient opens the QoL questionnaire (QLQ-C30), built into the application, and completes it using a smartphone. The researcher downloaded the data in Excel format and analyzed it. The application was attempted at a tertiary cancer center and a public hospital district cancer unit. A cross-sectional study was conducted over six months in 2023.The data were analyzed using SPSS version 24. Results: The application was downloaded and activated on the smartphones of 441 patients. Patients completed the form available through the application. Of all the respondents, 229 (51.9%) were male and 212 (48.1%) were female. The mean QoL of the tertiary hospital was 69.29, with a standard deviation (SD) of 18.98.The QoL scores were 50.94 (SD 23.50) in district hospital 1 and 77.01 (SD 17.35) in district hospital 2. The difference between one district and the other was significant (p < 0.001). The symptom scale scores varied between district hospitals and other hospitals. Conclusions: This presentation serves two purposes: to validate a new patient-reported outcome application and to provide data on QoL from peripheral centers compared with tertiary centers. The use of technology is feasible and can help gather patient-reported outcomes easily. There appears to be a difference in the quality of life of patients from different geographical locations. [Table: see text]

An investigation into employee and organisational dynamics in a flexible work framework

The object of this research is to provide a detailed perspective of employee and organisational dynamics in a flexible work practices framework, intra- and post-pandemic. This paper aims to explore the influence of flexible work practices on the employee and the organisation. The most challenging issues during the intra-Covid-19 pandemic period were individual and organisational adaption to new work practices with the aim of sustaining optimum levels of worker morale and productivity, which became meaningful in the context of the continuation of flexible work in transformed and alternative work settings post-pandemic. During this research, non-empirical research was conducted in the arrangement of a review utilising existing empirical evidence, which provides for literature of varied methodologies. This resulted in a detailed non-structured analysis of the remote work concept and its diverse employee and organisational inferences. As a result of the research, it is shown that although improved productivity was regarded as a remote work gain, the merit of employee motivation and job satisfaction is deemed forecasters of prime organisational performance with the consideration that maintaining and supporting an operationally efficient and strengthened organisational work culture should be an organisational aim. In future, a proposed approach of synthesising remote work expertise in policies and syllabi will endorse and sustain the progression of the post-pandemic workplace. It is therefore suggested that a comprehensive PESTLE analysis be performed by utilising the proposed flexible work five-factor model towards crafting a comprehensive list of influences on employee and organisational remote work dynamics for the success of continued remote work practices.

Exploring the moderating effects of perceived alternative job opportunities and work experience on the relationship between job satisfaction and turnover intentions: A study among educators in Lebanon

Turnover is a common occurrence where employees choose to leave an organization. Despite previous research on turnover intentions and job satisfaction, the impact of work experience and perceived alternative job opportunities, especially during economic crises, has not been adequately studied. This study aims to explore the relationship between turnover intentions and job satisfaction, considering factors of work experience and perceptions of other job opportunities. This study was conducted in Lebanon, and 156 educators were surveyed via electronic questionnaires. The data analysis included descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and hierarchical regression modeling. The findings reveal a significant negative correlation between turnover intention and job satisfaction (r = –0.315*, p < 0.05). Perceived alternative job opportunities do not show a significant correlation with job satisfaction (ß = –0.028, p > 0.05), thus having no moderating role. However, work experience significantly moderates the relationship between job satisfaction and turnover intentions (ß = –0.052*, p < 0.05). Despite the negative impact on job satisfaction, Lebanon’s economic crisis affects teachers’ decision to stay due to limited job opportunities. AcknowledgmentThe authors sincerely appreciate all the teachers who devoted their time to participate in the survey.

COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF INNOVATION IN PISTON ENGINE AND LOW TEMPERATURE COMBUSTION TECHNOLOGIES

Global transport today is mainly powered by the Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) and throughout its century and a half of development it has become considerably more efficient and cleaner. Future prospects of the ICE rely on the scientific work conducted today to keep this trend of higher efficiency and cleaner emissions in new engines going. The aim of this article is to give a comprehensive review of development directions in novel piston engine designs, which seek to overcome the drawbacks of the ubiquitous 4-stroke piston engine. One of the directions of development is devoted to improving the mechanisms and the general layout of the piston engine to reduce losses within the engine. Research teams working with alternative engine work cycles like the 5- and 6-stroke engine and technologies for extracting waste heat seek to reduce thermal losses while novel layouts of valve trains and crank assemblies claim to significantly improve the mechanical and Volumetric Efficiency (VE) of piston engines. These novel ideas include camless or Variable Valve Action (VVA) and engines with Variable Compression Ratio (VCR) or opposed pistons. One alternative approach could also be to totally redesign the reciprocating mechanism by replacing the piston with some other device or mechanism. Additional scientific work is investigating Low Temperature Combustion (LTC) technologies such as Turbulent Jet Ignition (TJI) and Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition (HCCI) and its derivatives like Premixed Charge Compression Ignition (PCCI) and Reactivity Controlled Compression Ignition (RCCI) that have shown improvements in thermal and fuel conversion efficiency while also significantly reducing harmful emissions. These combustion strategies also open the path to alternative fuels. The contemporary work in the combustion engine fields of research entail technical solutions from the past that have received a modern approach or are a completely novel idea. Nonetheless, all research teams work with the common goal to make the piston engine a highly efficient and environmentally friendly device that will continue to power our transport and industry for years to come. For this, solutions must be found to overcome the mechanical limitations of the traditional layout of the piston engine. Similarly various improvements in combustion technology are needed that implement state of the art technology to improve combustion characteristics and reduce harmful emissions.

Enhancing Closed System Efficiency through CuO Nanofluids: Investigating Thermophysical Properties and Heat Transfer Performance

Working fluids play a crucial role in closed systems to ensure efficient performance, particularly in systems for heating, cooling, or power generation, where the heat transfer coefficient is pivotal. This study delves into the thermodynamic properties and stability of copper oxide (CuO) nanofluids as alternative working fluids in closed systems. Investigating colloidal suspensions of CuO nanoparticles, the research aims to enhance heat transfer efficiency. CuO nanoparticles, sized at 40nm and 80nm, were dispersed in base fluids like water, ethylene glycol, and oil sans surfactants. The study, divided into static and dynamic phases, examines key nanofluid properties including viscosity, thermal conductivity, specific heat, and heat transfer rate. Through methodologies such as KD2 Pro for thermal conductivity, rheometer for viscosity, and small heat exchanger for heat transfer rate analysis, the effects of volume concentration, temperature, and nanoparticle size on nanofluid performance were evaluated. Sedimentation analysis employed both quantitative (standard deviation calculations) and qualitative (sediment capture methods) approaches. The findings highlight the superior heat transfer rate of 40nm CuO nanofluid at 0.467% volume concentration which is 9.08 kJ/s, suggesting its potential to optimize system efficiency, particularly in heating, cooling, and power generation applications.

Learning Crowd Motion Dynamics with Crowds

Reinforcement Learning (RL) has become a popular framework for learning desired behaviors for computational agents in graphics and games. In a multi-agent crowd, one major goal is for agents to avoid collisions while navigating in a dynamic environment. Another goal is to simulate natural-looking crowds, which is difficult to define due to the ambiguity as to what is a natural crowd motion. We introduce a novel methodology for simulating crowds, which learns most-preferred crowd simulation behaviors from crowd-sourced votes via Bayesian optimization. Our method uses deep reinforcement learning for simulating crowds, where crowdsourcing is used to select policy hyper-parameters. Training agents with such parameters results in a crowd simulation that is preferred to users. We demonstrate our method's robustness in multiple scenarios and metrics, where we show it is superior compared to alternate policies and prior work.

Establishing a Strategic Foresight Learning and Action Network (SF-LAN) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

This article chronicles the experiences and lessons learned in establishing strategic foresight (SF) in a U.S. government organization. This has value to the field of foresight, which is seeking to establish foresight in organizations as an intentional capability to explore alternative futures and work towards preferred futures. This work also has particular value to other federal agencies establishing or considering establishing a SF practice.

What makes public transit demand management programmes successful? A systematic review of ex-post evidence

ABSTRACT Transit crowding results in negative experiences and mode change for transit riders and operational challenges for operators. The COVID-19 pandemic initiated an ongoing transformation of how, when, and where people travel, yet the challenge of balancing demand and supply in transportation remained topical. The pandemic has also exposed the traditional approach of infrastructure expansion for being too slow to respond to the challenges of crowding in a timely manner. As such, this paper provides a systematic literature review of the ex-post studies that evaluated the impact of transit demand management strategies. The paper synthesises the findings from 13 different programmes analysed in 20 studies. It is concluded that at least within the scope of the limited number of identified ex-post studies, the practice of alternative work schedules that allow employees greater freedom when to travel is the demand management approach that can bring the most significant crowding reduction. Once that flexibility is expanded, other strategies that appeal to riders’ preferences might have a larger effect as well. The findings of this review aim to encourage transit agencies to develop collaborations with large employers that can introduce alternative work schedules.

Latent Heat Loss Through Fabrics During an Alternate Simulated Work–Rest Sequence

Humans produce different rates of sweating depending on the intensity level of a given activity. The clothing worn during the activity has a significant effect on the latent heat loss that can occur before, during, and after the activity. The water adsorption and spreading properties of a material yield differences in the amount of heat exchange that can occur between the person and the environment. Current test methods evaluate this using a value known as evaporative resistance, which is used to determine the heat exchange potential of a material. However, this value is only taken once the material has reached “steady state” and does not consider the sweating period before steady state is reached, or the drying period after steady state is reached. Therefore, an area under the curve (AUC) value was derived during these periods to compare the heat exchange properties of different materials. A sweating guarded hot plate was used to simulate different sweat rates, and therefore activity levels, to compare materials constructed of cotton, viscose, polyester, and wool. The overall latent heat loss of the hydrophobic wool was much less compared to the other samples with a gentler slope and lower AUC values than the other samples. It was found that the segment of time analyzed has a significant impact on the conclusion drawn about the latent heat loss of a material, p < 0.0001. Sweat rate also has a significant impact on the heat loss value, p < 0.0001, but is perhaps less useful when comparing samples to each other. It was found that comparing the different periods of the test could yield different conclusions when comparing materials for latent heat loss. Several current test methods do not consider phases outside of the steady state period and therefore miss valuable information pertinent to user comfort during these phases, especially in the post-exercise phase.

Project Delay Factor Analysis Using Fault Tree Analysis (FTA) Method and Rescheduling with Critical Path Method (CPM) in Ducting Manufacturing Projects at PT. FRA

Ducting manufacturing project at PT. The FRA was planned to be completed in 14 days, but was implemented in 19 days and 5 days late. The method to find the cause of project delays is Fault Tree Analysis (FTA), then analyze rescheduling with the Critical Path Method (CPM). The purpose of this study is to identify factors of work delay, determine new steps for project contractors and reschedule with alternative working hours and labor additions. The results of the analysis using the FTA method obtained the main cause of delay in drawing engineering work of 0.0002592 and obtained 4 new steps for project contractors. The results of rescheduling using the CPM method obtained a percentage increase in productivity with the alternative of adding working for 4 hours with a duration of 25% or 6 days faster than the normal duration of 19 days to 13 days and an additional cost of 91.96%, which is Rp. 21,500,000. While the percentage of productivity increase with alternative labor additions with a duration of 38.75% or 5 days faster than the normal duration of 19 days to 14 days and additional costs of 178.57%, namely Rp. 31,200,000. So it can be concluded by using the FTA method the main cause is drawing engineering work and 4 new steps are obtained and using the CPM method alternative scheduling is obtained to increase overtime work hours more effectively and additional costs are not too large, so that the company does not experience delays for future ducting projects.

Sitting versus standing work postures during simulated laparoscopic surgery: in terms of user preferences, comfort, performance and biomechanics

Prolonged standing in surgery has been linked to an increased risk of musculoskeletal disorders. The aim of this study was to determine whether sitting could serve as an alternative work posture in laparoscopic procedures. Twenty medical students in their third and fourth years were recruited. Sitting and standing were compared at two task complexity levels on a laparoscopic surgery simulator. Measured variables included user posture preferences, perceived discomfort, performance and biomechanics. Electromyography data from the upper trapezius and erector spinae muscles were analysed. Results showed that posture did not affect surgical performance and erector spinae muscle activation. Sitting showed higher muscle activation at the trapezius muscles; however, perceived discomfort was unaffected. Most participants preferred sitting for the difficult task and standing for the easy task. Findings showed that sitting, with appropriate seat design considerations, could serve as an alternative or even as a preferred work posture for simulated laparoscopic procedures.

‘Rocking the boat’ at the boundaries of social work practice

The response to the immigration crisis of 2015 raised issues about how social work as a profession in the UK was responding to what was unfolding in Calais, France. This article draws on evidence from a qualitative study conducted between 2018 and 2020 that analysed the narratives of 13 front-line local authority social workers’ experiences of volunteering with a charity. It was found that social workers were motivated to volunteer with the charity due to its commitment to social work’s core values of social justice and human rights through a radical social work approach and activism on issues affecting asylum seekers and refugees. This article highlights the opportunities for an alternative social work practice and recommends ways of embedding this in social work practice and education.

Factors affecting on Agricultural Labour Supply in Davangere district of Karnataka: An economic analysis

This study conducted in Davangere district of Karnataka has analysed the factors affecting on agricultural labour supply. The study is based on the primary data collected from 200 sample agricultural labours. The study revealed that socio-economic factors like age, education, caste and land holding are negatively influenced on agricultural labour supply. As far as age is concerned, young labours of the rural area are reluctant to work as agricultural labourer even though they have no alternative works available in their locality. Participation in agricultural activities is the lowest among the young labours compared to middle age group labours. Education plays a vital role in selection of employment. Labours participation in agricultural works is found to be relatively more among the illiterate labours compared to educated labours. Educated youths are not willing to work as agricultural labour and they want to work as salaried employee in urban areas or government employee. Agricultural labour supply is also affected by the caste. This study revealed that labour participation in agricultural activities is more in scheduled caste followed by scheduled tribe and other category. And, the most significant feature is that among the all castes labours are engaged in non-agricultural works. Another important factor is land holding of the family. Labours participation in agricultural activities is more in land less (having no land) families compared to land holding (<than 2acres) families. For all these reasons agricultural labour supply has been declining drastically and it has affected the farm productivity. On the other hand wages are increasingly for agricultural operations due to labour scarcity and it has increased the production cost for the farmers.

TWO STUDIES EXAMINING THE INTERCONNECTED EFFECTS OF WORK-LIFE BALANCE BENEFITS, EMPLOYEE RECOMMENDATIONS, AND JOB QUALITIES ON EMPLOYEE ATTRACTION AND JOB ACQUISITION INTENT.

Our proposal is based on Spence's (1978) signaling theory, which states that companies intentionally boost their attractiveness as employers by communicating about work-life balance benefits, positive employee recommendations, and highly desirable job attributes. In order to test these theories, we do two experiments. Findings from our initial study corroborate the combined and direct effects of these factors on an applicant's attractiveness as an employer. In a two-part, two-level collaborative design, we were able to do this by using carefully crafted scenarios to manage and impact the positive effects of work-life balance, employee ideas, and job attributes. A total of 320 MBA students from India were polled for this data. Examining information gathered from 360 Indian graduates of MBA programs using a 3x2x2 cross-subject design, Study 2 assessed the impact of three unique alternative work arrangements.

TEARS OF HOPE: THE PLIGHT OF WORKING STUDENTS UNDER TVL-LATE AFTERNOON PROGRAM

This study investigated the challenges faced by working students enrolled in the Technical Vocational Livelihood Late-Afternoon Program (TVL-LAP) and examined the impact of their employment on their academic performance. The research design employed was descriptive-qualitative, using a phenomenological approach to capture the participants' authentic stories and experiences through in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. Thematic analysis using Creswell’s (2013) six steps in the qualitative data analysis process was applied to identify prominent patterns within the interviews, which were categorized according to the main themes and core ideas. After the data analysis, three (3) essential themes emerged across all the study questions. Essential themes in the experiences and challenges focused on providing for economic needs, meeting multiple demands, and seeking consideration. Self-motivation, finding time to study, and compassionate teachers and peers were revealed as essential themes in coping mechanisms. Commitment to goals in life, the value of support from God and others, and helping oneself surfaced in shared insights. Findings suggest that providing flexible schedules or alternative work arrangements, offering academic support services, encouraging peer support groups, and providing training and support in time management and problem-solving can help students become more resourceful and efficient in balancing academic and work responsibilities.<p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/soc/0758/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>

Role of CO2-based mixtures in the organic Rankine cycle using LNG cold energy

Organic Rankine cycle (ORC) is an attractive method for recovery of liquefied natural gas (LNG). Zeotropic mixtures are optimal working fluids for improving the ORC power generation performance. In this study, eight CO2-based binary mixtures were selected as alternative working fluids for the utilization of medium-temperature LNG cold energy for ORC. The effect of CO2-based binary mixture on thermodynamic performance of ORC was presented and investigated. The genetic algorithm was applied to optimize the thermodynamic performance of ORC so as to determine the optimal working fluid among CO2-based binary mixtures. The results indicate that CO2-based binary mixtures significantly improve the thermodynamic performance of ORC in the recovery of LNG cold energy when compared with pure-CO2 ORC. There is a specific CO2 mass fraction that leads to the highest net power output of the ORC, and the mass fraction of CO2 increases with higher condensation temperatures (For CO2/Propane, the condensation temperatures are −55 °C, −40 °C, and −30 °C, and this CO2 mass fraction is 0.35, 0.65, and 0.8, respectively). Furthermore, the ORC using CO2/R134a exhibits the highest net power output at 13.50 kW among the eight alternative CO2-based binary mixtures.

A silver lining for the excluded: Exploring experiences that micro‐task crowdsourcing affords workers with impaired work access

AbstractMicro‐task crowdsourcing (MTCS) platforms offer alternative work settings outside traditional work boundaries and thus increasingly attract crowdworkers who face exclusion from access to other work. However, we know little about these crowdworkers' perspective on MTCS and its implications for their personal life. Building on insights from three qualitative surveys with responses from 538 crowdworkers and 576 forum posts in total, we show that despite the often challenging work conditions, MTCS platforms provide these crowdworkers with a work environment in which they can participate in paid work activities without feeling excluded due to their personal circumstances. As a result, MTCS platform work provides these crowdworkers with a set of positive experiences that were not possible before. These afforded experiences go beyond work‐related experiences but relate directly to crowdworkers' personal situation and life. Our research yields implications for the literature on MTCS and also for policy makers and stakeholders concerned with the creation of more inclusive work settings.

The remote work of child protection professionals during COVID-19: A scoping review and thematic analysis

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic created new challenges and barriers for the work of child protection professionals (CPPs) and intensified existing hardships for families and children, increasing the risk of child maltreatment. As new restrictions and precautions were implemented by governments worldwide to stop the virus from spreading, CPPs had to adapt to a new reality of working remotely. However, limited research has investigated how remote work impacted CPPs and child protection work and how CPPs handled this alternative work style. ObjectiveThis review aims to address gaps in the research to reveal the creative and effective approaches CPPs developed to overcome the challenges presented by COVID-19, defined as the ‘positive legacy’ of CPPs, particularly in adapting to remote work challenges. MethodThis review was conducted using a scoping review, followed by two rounds of thematic analysis. The scoping review was conducted in six languages: Hebrew, Arabic, French, Portuguese, Spanish, and English. ResultsThe first round of thematic analysis found 18 articles relevant to this review. The second round extracted two main themes: 1) the challenges of remote work and 2) overcoming the challenges of no contact. ConclusionsThe findings of this review may be used to inform future strategies for child protection during a pandemic. They also provide an opportunity to rethink the relationship child protection work has with technology to systematically reform current and future protection policies and practices, including outside of a pandemic.