Average Work Research Articles

Working Hours, Shift, and Remote Work by Industry and Occupation in U.S. Full-time Workers.

This study examines working hours, shift work, and remote work patterns by occupation and industry among U.S. full-time workers, along with the association between working and sleeping hours. Utilizing data from 2011 to 2020 American Time Use Survey, this national household survey examines how individuals aged 15 years or older in the United States spend their time within a 24-hour period. In 2011 to 2019, U.S. full-time workers averaged 8.1 hours of work and 7.8 hours spent sleep on workdays, increasing to 9.6 hours on non-workdays. Among all occupations, Emergency medical technicians and paramedics had the longest average working hours (10.4 hours). Protective services occupations had the highest percentage (41.7%) of workers reporting often working shifts other than daytime. Among all industries, truck transportation industry had the longest average working hours (9.2). Food services and drinking places industries had the highest percentage (28.6%) of workers reporting often working shifts other than daytime. Working hours showed a negative association with sleeping hours. In 2020, 34.0% of full-time workers reported remote work due to COVID-19, with the largest percentage (72.3%) occurring in business and financial operations. The study findings offer essential benchmarks for comparing working hours and schedules across diverse occupations and industries. These insights empower occupational health practitioners to advocate for prevention measures, addressing health concerns arising from prolonged working hours and shift work.

The education of fishing workers about accidents caused by marine animals: a study in the Região dos Lagos of Rio de Janeiro

Fishing exposes workers to various occupational risks, including accidents caused by poisonous, venomous and traumatizing marine animals. With this in mind, the aim of this study is to present educational activities for people working in the fishing activities in the Região dos Lagos (Lakes Region) of Rio de Janeiro, southeastern Brazil, with a focus on accidents caused by marine animals (ACMA). The protocol was approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee of the Universidade Federal de Viçosa (CAAE: 53959421.8.0000.5153). The activities were carried out in the municipalities of Armação dos Búzios, Arraial do Cabo and Cabo Frio and included a workshop on the subject, lasting an average of four hours, preceded (pre-test) and followed (post-test) by an assessment consisting of objective questions on the ACMA. A total of 47 workers (with an average working time of 15.2±12.8 years) took part in the activity. Each professional suffered an average of three ACMA. A comparison of the pre-test and post-test results showed a higher percentage of correct answers to almost all the questions. Further studies are needed to estimate the risks of ACMA among fishing workers and to improve educational actions to minimize the impact of these injuries on this population.

Professional burnout and quality of life of nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic

Introduction. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, average medical workers turned out to be the most vulnerable category among medical workers in terms of professional stress, professional burnout, and a decrease in quality of life. Goal. To establish the features of professional burnout and the quality of life of MS in specialized COVID hospitals, multidisciplinary hospitals (MP hospitals), as well as polyclinics (PCs) during the pandemic of the new coronavirus infection COVID-19. Material and methods. The study was performed at the Department of Occupational Diseases and Clinical Pharmacology named after the Honored Scientist of the Russian Federation, Professor V.V. Kosarev of the Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation and the Regional Center of Occupational Pathology of the Samara City Hospital No. 5. The following MS groups were examined: the first group consisted of nurses working in a COVID hospital (n=29); the second group consisted of nurses working in a multidisciplinary hospital (n=31); the third group consisted of nurses working in polyclinics (n=29); The fourth, control group (GC), included employees of engineering, technical and economic specialties that are not related in their field of activity to work in medical organizations (n=190). The assessment of professional burnout syndrome was carried out using the Maslach Burnout professional burnout assessment questionnaire, the V.V. Boyko questionnaire, the quality of life was determined using the SF-36 questionnaire. Results. It has been established that the work of MS during the COVID-19 pandemic is associated with the impact on medical workers of a number of specific risk factors related to the provision of medical care to infected patients, as well as with significant changes in work regarding aspects related to organization, safety, which contribute to an increase in the level of occupational stress, professional burnout, and a decrease in the quality of life. Conclusion. The work of MS in a COVID hospital, when compared with MS in hospitals, nurses working in polyclinics, is associated with an increase in the level of professional stress, the level of professional burnout. It is necessary to continue research on the emotional state of MS in order to timely carry out preventive treatment to preserve the health of this category of medical workers. Limitations of the study. The study has regional (Samara region) and professional (in terms of detailing the working conditions in the studied comparison groups) limitations. Compliance with ethical standards. The study was carried out within the framework of the complex topic of the Department of Occupational Diseases and Clinical Pharmacology named after Honored Scientist of the Russian Federation Professor V.V. Kosarev of the Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of the Russian Ministry of Health of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation «A systematic approach to early diagnosis, prevention and prediction of the impact of low-intensity industrial factors on the health of workers» (state registration number AAAA18-118122190069-6, date registration on December 21, 2018). The study was approved by the local Ethics Committee of the Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of the Russian Ministry of Health on 11/23/2021. Patient consent. Each participant of the study gave informed voluntary written consent to participate in the study and publish personal medical information in an impersonal form in the journal «Meditsinskaya sestra (The Nurse)»

Differential effects of a social work staffing intervention on social work access among rural and highly rural Veterans: A cohort study.

To evaluate the impact on rural Veterans' access to social work services of a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) national program to increase social work staffing, by Veterans' rurality, race, and complex care needs. Data obtained from VA Corporate Data Warehouse, including sites that participated in the social work program between October 1, 2016 and September 30, 2021. The study outcome was monthly number of Veterans per 1000 individuals with 1+ social work encounters. We used difference-in-differences to estimate the program effect on urban, rural, and highly rural Veterans. Among rural and highly rural Veterans, we stratified by race (American Indian or Alaskan Native, Asian, Black, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, and White) and complex care needs (homelessness, high hospitalization risk, and dementia). We defined a cohort of 740,669 Veterans (32,434,001 monthly observations) who received primary care at a participating site. Average monthly social work use was 8.7 Veterans per 1000 individuals. The program increased access by 49% (4.3 per 1000; 95% confidence interval, 2.2-6.3). Rural Veterans' social work access increased by 57% (5.0; 3.6-6.3). Among rural/highly rural Veterans, the program increased social work access for those with high hospitalization risk by 63% (24.5; 18.2-30.9), and for Veterans experiencing homelessness, 35% (13.4; 5.2-21.7). By race, the program increased access for Black Veterans by 53% (6.1; 2.1-10.2) and for Asian Veterans by 82% (5.1; 2.2-7.9). At rural VA primary care sites with social work staffing below recommended levels, Black and Asian Veterans and those experiencing homelessness and high hospitalization risk may have unmet needs warranting social work services.

Oncology nurses' practices on diagnosis, prevention, and management of delirium

Objective: To determine oncology nurses’ practices about the diagnosis, prevention, and management of delirium. Background: Delirium can occur at any stage of the disease process of patients with cancer, or it can develop when the first diagnosis is learned. Study Design and Methods: A cross-sectional design was used. The study was conducted between May 10 and July 16, 2021 in Turkey with 181 nurses who worked in the oncology units of public and private hospitals and were reached by using the snowball sampling method. Data were statically analysed. Results: Of the nurses, 48.6% have a bachelor's degree and the average working years in oncology is 6.61+ 5.47, 38.1% had been making routine delirium assessments, and only 5.5% of these nurses had prior experience using a screening tool. Also, 38.1% of the nurses had difficulty diagnosing delirium, with the patient group they had difficulty diagnosing most often being patients with dementia, hypoactive delirium, and those who were sedated, respectively. The rate of nurses who worked with a patient with delirium in the last month was 31.5%, and 40.3% could not determine the type of delirium. While the nurses' definition of hyperactive delirium findings was high, their definition of hypoactive delirium findings such as lethargy (48.8%), decreased psychomotor activity (47.7%) and withdrawal (56.1%) was low. In the study, it was found that being male, having an undergraduate degree in nursing, having professional work experience, having a lower patient-to-nurse ratio, using a screening tool, having experience working with patients diagnosed with delirium, and having positive views on delirium treatment had a significant impact on nurses' routine follow-up of delirium (p<0.05). In addition, it was determined that those who had experience working with patients diagnosed with delirium had less difficulty diagnosing delirium (p<0.05). Also, 82.4% of the nurses stated that they first applied pharmacological treatment after the diagnosis of delirium and that they most frequently used haloperidol (35%), benzodiazepine (29.8%) and dexmedetomidine (22.8%). Although nurses were self-confident about the management of delirium, they thought that it was difficult to prevent and treat delirium in patients with cancer. Conclusions: Although approximately one-third of the nurses had cared for patients diagnosed with delirium in the last month, the rate of using a measurement tool for routine delirium screening and diagnosis was low. Implications for research, policy, and practice: It was concluded that it was important to support the education of nurses with case examples in in-service or certificate programs, workforce planning should be made according to patient/nurse ratios, and evidence-based care procedures should be prepared and implemented so that oncology nurses could do routine follow-up of delirium in patients diagnosed with cancer, use a valid and reliable screening tool, and manage effectively and appropriately delirium. What is already known about this topic? Although the incidence of delirium is high in cancer patients, it is not always diagnosed appropriately or managed effectively. Despite the factors limiting diagnosis and treatment in cancer patients, 40% of delirium cases can be prevented. Delirium is a syndrome that can be managed with pharmacological and non-pharmacological applications. What this paper adds: In the diagnosis and management of delirium, whether nurses use screening tools and do routine follow-up, the level of their education, their experience working with patients diagnosed with delirium, the number of patients they provide care for, their self-confidence, and their positive attitudes towards delirium are factors that impact on the diagnosis and outcomes. Nurses should be supported with case-based education that will increase their knowledge and skills regarding the diagnosis and management of delirium in patients diagnosed with cancer. This approach will increase nurses' experience before they encounter a patient with delirium. For effective diagnosis and management of delirium, workforce planning should consider patient/nurse ratios in oncology units as a workload management and patient safety measure. It is recommended to prepare and implement institutional care procedures for the diagnosis, management and follow-up of delirium in oncology units.

Community interpreting in Germany: results of a nationwide cross-sectional study among interpreters

BackgroundCommunity interpreters (CIPs) play a crucial role in various community services, including healthcare, when service providers and users do not share a common language. However, there is a lack of evidence-based data on this population globally. This explorative cross-sectional study aims to gain a better understanding of CIPs and their work in Germany.MethodsA nationwide online survey was conducted among CIPs in Germany to collect data on their qualification background, working conditions, mental health, interpreting-related psychosocial distress and sociodemographics. Participants were recruited through interpreting pools, training institutions and migrant organizations. Data were analyzed descriptively, dependent t-test, multiple logistic and hierarchical stepwise regression analyses were performed to predict participation in interpreting-specific training, interpreting competence and interpreting-related psychosocial distress.ResultsAcross all 16 federal states, N = 873 responses were used for analysis. Most participants are female (74%), born abroad (77%) and have a high level of education (69%). The vast majority interpret occasionally in their leisure time (44%) and are self-employed/freelance (51%). 34% interpret solely or additional on a voluntary basis (unpaid). The median hours of interpreting per month are 10 h, 75% do not exceed 30 h. On average interpreters work in four different settings. 69% attended any kind of interpreting training with a median of 25 h in total. Interpreting in more settings emerged as an associated factor with participation in training. Of those who have never attended any training, 69% consider themselves as rather/very competent in interpreting. Interpreting more frequently, having less severe anxiety symptoms, getting higher and more often paid and being less satisfied with the payment is associated with self-reported interpreting competence. In total, 36% reported moderate or severe psychosocial distress regarding interpreting. Higher general psychosocial distress and depressive symptoms, higher interpreting frequency and lower payment satisfaction were found to be associated with higher distress regarding interpreting. Additionally, factors such as precarious work conditions, lack of recognition and discrimination (e.g. racism and sexism) were reported as distressing.ConclusionThis study provides a first comprehensive evidence-based national database on CIPs in Germany. The findings can be valuable for the development of qualifications, guidelines, policies and the process of professionalizing the field of CIPs.

Multimorbidity and its Associated Factors in Korean Shift Workers: Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study.

Multimorbidity is a crucial factor that influences premature death rates, poor health, depression, quality of life, and use of health care. Approximately one-fifth of the global workforce is involved in shift work, which is associated with increased risk for several chronic diseases and multimorbidity. About 12% to 14% of wage workers in Korea are shift workers. However, the prevalence of multimorbidity and its associated factors in Korean shift workers are rarely reported. This study aimed to assess multimorbidity prevalence, examine the factors associated with multimorbidity, and identify multimorbidity patterns among shift workers in Korea. This study is a population-based cross-sectional study using Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data from 2016 to 2020. The study included 1704 (weighted n=2,697,228) Korean shift workers aged 19 years and older. Multimorbidity was defined as participants having 2 or more chronic diseases. Demographic and job-related variables, including regular work status, average working hours per week, and shift work type, as well as health behaviors, including BMI, smoking status, alcohol use, physical activity, and sleep duration, were included in the analysis. A survey-corrected logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors influencing multimorbidity among the workers, and multimorbidity patterns were identified with a network analysis. The overall prevalence of multimorbidity was 13.7% (302/1704). Logistic regression indicated that age, income, regular work, and obesity were significant factors influencing multimorbidity. Network analysis results revealed that chronic diseases clustered into three groups: (1) cardiometabolic multimorbidity (hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes, coronary heart disease, and stroke), (2) musculoskeletal multimorbidity (arthritis and osteoporosis), and (3) unclassified diseases (depression, chronic liver disease, thyroid disease, asthma, cancer, and chronic kidney disease). The findings revealed that several socioeconomic and behavioral factors were associated with multimorbidity among shift workers, indicating the need for policy development related to work schedule modification. Further organization-level screening and intervention programs are needed to prevent and manage multimorbidity among shift workers. We also recommend longitudinal studies to confirm the effects of job-related factors and health behaviors on multimorbidity among shift workers in the future.

Workload analysis using energy expenditure and the work posture evaluation approach with brief method at PT XYZ

Abstract PT XYZ is a company operating in the tire retreading sector on JL. Medan-Banda Aceh, Cot Seurani Village, Muara Batu District, Aceh Utara. Retreading truck tires is carried out through several processes such as inspection, grating, repairing, gluing tire, installing tire treads, installing wheels and rings, cooking tires and finishing. The vulcanization process which is carried out manually and repeatedly makes workers easily fatigued, making them vulnerable to injury and the risk of Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs). This research aims to calculate the workload of PT XYZ workers. PT XYZ to determine the level of worker fatigue using the Energy Expenditure approach and assessing worker work posture using the BRIEF method to assess work postures that cause complaints of pain in workers’ body parts. Researchers measured the resting pulse and working pulse of 8 workers, then classified the Cardiovascular Load (%CVL) and Energy Expenditure workload levels of the workers and assessed work posture using the BRIEF worksheet. The results of calculating the worker’s workload obtained an average %CVL value of 57.92%, the average result of the worker’s Energy Expenditure was 6,8048 Kcal/8 hours with very heavy work criteria. The average BRIEF work posture value is 3.28 in the high risk category. The suggestions given regarding the problem of workers who easily experience fatigue, high workloads and unergonomic work postures are to increase the number of workers, add benchrest jacks at each work station, add a table with wheels and rings and add chairs for finishing workers, lighten the work and reduce excessive bending activities for tire retreading workers.

Design of a Low Power and Wide Frequency Range Ring VCO

This paper proposes a low-power, wide frequency range ring VCO circuit structure based on the application of switch power supply modulation technology. Circuit simulation is completed based on CMSC 180nm BCD process. Simulation results show that the VCO circuit can work at a power supply voltage of 3-5 V, and it has a relatively wide frequency range. Under a 5V power supply voltage and a control voltage range of 4.2V~2.2V, the output frequency range is 0.4-11.96MHz. Under a 3V power supply voltage and a control voltage of 2.2V~0.2V, the output frequency range is 0.56~12.3MHz. For the VCO circuit, the maximum average working current of the power supply is less than 80uA, and the average current of the power supply is only 35uA under a 5V power supply voltage and a 10MHz working frequency. The VCO circuit meets the requirements of low power consumption. It can be applied to switch power supply chips.

Factors associated with work engagement among specialist nurses in china: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundThe positive impacts of work engagement among specialist nurses on retention, organizational commitment, and quality of care are well-documented. However, there is a lack of research on the specific differences in work engagement among specialist nurses. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to assess the level of work engagement among specialist nurses in China and identify its influencing factors.MethodsA descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in China from April to July, 2023, with 724 nurses selected from 22 hospitals through convenience sampling involved. The survey was conducted by using self-administered general information questionnaires and work engagement scales. Questionnaire Star was employed as the online data collection tool. The collected data was analyzed by using descriptive statistics and stepwise regression analysis to draw meaningful conclusions from the study.ResultsAmong specialist nurses in Xiamen, China, who had a response rate of 97.10%, an average work engagement score is 140.35 (SD=18.17), with the highest score for the work attitude at 4.65 (SD=0.52) and the lowest score for the work recognition at 4.09 (SD=0.85). It was shown through regression analysis that factors such as career satisfaction, involvement in challenging case discussions, marital status, gender, presence of promotion advantage and title accounted for 14.5% of the total variance in the model and were significant explanatory variables that could predict work engagement.ConclusionIt is shown that specialist nurses in Xiamen, China have a high level of work engagement. It is imperative for nursing managers to prioritize the work engagement of specialist nurses, provide the specialist nurses with ample development opportunities and room for growth, and effectively promote the overall development of specialist nurses by improving work engagement in various aspects.

Investigation of the Ergonomics and Workload of Farm Women during in Planting and Weeding Operations

The study was done to determine the anthropometric, physical, physiological, and workload characteristics of women operators (N=7) during manual sowing and weeding activities for several medicinal plants. The planting and weeding activities were done using a shovel and a hand hoe. Anthropometric measurements were taken for women aged 20 to 50. The physiological fluctuations in chosen participants' energy and strength during different agricultural operations, as well as the implications in body part discomfort score, were evaluated. The average resting and working heart rates, EER, OCR, and BPDS are all measured to assess physiological characteristics. Female responders reported an average resting heart rate of 78.91 bpm for weeding and 81.46 bpm for planting. Planting and weeding had an average working heart rate of 100.85 and 97.14 (bpm, respectively). The average EER and OCR values for the relevant procedures were 6.35 and 5.31 (kJ/min) and 0.52 and 0.45 (l/min), respectively. The BPDS levels of the chosen participants were 19.5 and 21.4, respectively. The data imply that the workers were more compatible and comfortable when weeding using a hand hoe.

Identification of polypyrrole-encapsulated BiSCl as a viable conversion/alloying anode material for high-performance lithium storage

Anode materials combining conversion and alloying mechanisms are increasingly valued in advanced rechargeable batteries for their exceptional theoretical capacities and advantageous working voltages. This study showcases BiSCl as a promising conversion/alloying anode material, demonstrating a high specific capacity and enhanced durability through polypyrrole encapsulation. Employing in situ X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, ex situ transmission electron microscopy, and field emission scanning electron microscopy, we offer a detailed analysis of the lithiation mechanism in BiSCl. The anode exhibits a low average working potential of approximately 0.6 V, supporting a theoretical specific capacity of 784 mAh/g and a volumetric capacity of 4664 mAh/cm3. The innovative BiSCl-PPy core-shell composite effectively addresses the challenges of volumetric expansion and polysulfide dissolution. This composite delivers a remarkable reversible capacity of 753 mAh/g at a current rate of 100 mA/g, maintaining 96% of its specific capacity over 400 cycles, and sustains 419 mAh/g at 500 mA/g after 800 cycles, demonstrating more superior performance than that of BiSCl. These findings establish BiSCl as a highly promising conversion/alloying anode material for lithium storage, significantly enhanced in durability by the BiSCl-PPy core-shell composite.

Decent Work Profiles of Korean Workers: Antecedents and Outcomes of Profile Membership

Recent research has explored profiles of decent work based on the Psychology of Working Theory. However, such investigations have rarely been attempted in Korea. This study applied latent profile analysis to discover decent work profiles and their relationships with antecedents and outcomes. Among 605 Korean workers, five distinct profiles emerged: indecent (7.9%), low safety and healthcare access (34.9%), average (38.1%), decent (13.7%), and value-dominant but low rest (5.4%). Higher subjective social status and work volition were associated with the decent work group, whereas women and individuals with less education were linked to work characterized by greater vulnerability. Furthermore, satisfaction with work needs, job, and life varied significantly across these profiles. The decent work group generally exhibited the highest satisfaction, whereas the indecent work group had the lowest. The low-safety and healthcare access work group tended to exhibit higher satisfaction levels than the indecent work group, but lower levels than the average work group. The v alue-dominant but low-rest work group exhibited life satisfaction comparable to the decent work group. The findings of this study highlight the distinctive characteristics of the working conditions in South Korea. Based on these results, we discuss theoretical and practical implications.

An examination of the usefulness of a quantitative appraisal method in nursing human resource management in primary hospital operating rooms: An example of integrated collaborative scheduling.

In recent years, China medical and health services have made great development. However, the management of nursing human resources in operating room of primary hospitals still faces a series of challenges. In the nursing work of operating room, high-quality nursing human resource management is important for improving the efficiency of operating room and ensuring the safety of patients. From January 2022 to December 2022, comprehensive collaborative scheduling and quantitative scoring evaluation methods were carried out in our hospital, and relevant data were collected. The flexible scheduling combined quantitative scoring performance appraisal system and the traditional scheduling plus average distribution performance appraisal system were statistically analyzed and compared in terms of annual surgical cases, annual overtime hours, annual back work hours, annual compensatory rest hours, and average daily working hours. This study was based on 30 medical staff (27 females and 3 males) in the operating room of a primary hospital. The annual operation volume increased by 387 cases compared with before, and the attitudes of patients to the service attitude and preoperative waiting time were significantly improved, reaching more than 95%. In addition, in the survey of surgeons, it was found that their satisfaction with preoperative preparation and operation time was significantly higher than that of the traditional scheduling method, and reached more than 95%. In the survey of nursing staff, it was found that the satisfaction with the traditional scheduling method was about 80%, and the satisfaction directly reached 100% after the comprehensive collaborative scheduling system. Based on the above survey, the satisfaction of nurses, doctors and patients with the new comprehensive collaborative scheduling system has improved compared with before. After the implementation of the comprehensive collaborative scheduling system, the annual surgical volume has increased significantly, and the average daily working hours of nursing staff have decreased. Comprehensive collaborative scheduling is an effective method of nursing human resource management in operating room, which can effectively improve the work efficiency of nurses and the satisfaction of patients, doctors and nurses. In practice, this method needs to be continuously explored and refined to adapt to different application scenarios and requirements.

Mixed polyanionic NaFe1.6V0.4(PO4)(SO4)2@CNT cathode for sodium-ion batteries: Electrochemical diffusion kinetics and distribution of relaxation time analysis at different temperatures

We report the electrochemical sodium-ion kinetics and distribution of relaxation time (DRT) analysis of a newly designed mixed polyanionic NaFe1.6V0.4(PO4)(SO4)2@CNT composite as a cathode. The specific capacity of 104 mAhg−1 is observed at 0.1 C with the average working voltage of ∼3 V. Intriguingly, a remarkable rate capability and reversibility are demonstrated up to very high current rate of 25 C. The long cycling test up to 10 C shows high capacity retention even after 2000 cycles. The detailed analysis of galvanostatic intermittent titration technique (GITT) and cyclic voltammetry (CV) data reveal the diffusion coefficient of 10−8–10−11 cm2s−1. We find excellent stability in the thermal testing between 25–55 °C temperatures and 80% capacity retention up to 100 cycles at 5 C. Further, we analyze the individual electrochemical processes in the time domain using the novel DRT technique at different temperatures. The ex-situ investigation shows the stable and reversible structure, morphology and electronic states of the long cycled cathode material. More importantly, we demonstrate relatively high specific energy of ≈155 Wh kg−1 (considering the total active material loading of both the electrodes) at 0.2 C for full cell battery having excellent rate capability up to 10 C and long cyclic stability at 1 C.

The prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder among emergency medical services personnel in Saudi Red Crescent Authority, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Determining the prevalence of PTSD and contributing variables among (EMS) specialists was the goal of the current investigation. Furthermore, limited evidence exists regarding the application of PCL-5 for EMT practitioners, and the incidence of PTSD among different age groups and genders in Saudi Arabia. This cross-sectional descriptive study includes 211 prehospital care providers of the Saudi Red Crescent Authority stations in Riyadh. The randomization was done using Google Forms into subgroups according to participants' gender, years of experience, occupations, and average working hours. The presence and severity of PTSD symptoms were evaluated using the 20-item PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) self-report questionnaire. Data were analyzed using Pearson Chi-Square, Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests. The reliability statistics were calculated using Cronbach's Alpha for the 20-survey questionnaire. The comparison of PCL-5 total scores indicated more PTSD symptomatology among females (1.61 + 0.799) as compared to male workers (1.13 + 0.642). The total score of PTSD demonstrated no statistically significant (P=0.79) differences between our age group classifications. In terms of the participants' city (Riyadh), the total PTSD score was less than the cutoff point which is 31. PTSD total score may not be affected by working experience as indicated by the non-significant difference in prevalence among EMT practitioners having <5 years, 5-10 years and above 10 years of working experience (P=0.215 with X2 = 3.076). PTSD incidence is affected by the type of occupation as statistically significant differences between groups (P=0.001) were recorded depending on the position and responsibilities of EMS practitioners. PTSD is also affected by average working hours per week, and there were statistically significant differences between groups (P=0.001). The total score of PTSD in the case of emergency service practitioners was found to be 33.7% among all the research participants, which may be regarded as a high prevalence when compared to the general population. Our investigations would contribute to a better understanding of the underlying factors of mental stress in EMS specialists in Saudi Arabia and to the development of adequate mental health practices.

Functional connectivity is linked to working memory differences in children with reading learning disability

Reading learning disability (RLD) is characterized by a specific difficulty in learning to read that is not better explained by an intellectual disability, lack of instruction, psychosocial adversity, or a neurological disorder. According to the domain-general hypothesis, a working memory deficit is the primary problem. Working memory in this population has recently been linked to altered resting-state functional connectivity within the default mode network (DMN), salience network (SN), and frontoparietal network (FPN) compared to that in typically developing individuals. The main purpose of the present study was to compare the within-network functional connectivity of the DMN, SN, FPN, and reading network in two groups of children with RLD: a group with lower-than-average working memory (LWM) and a group with average working memory (AWM). All subjects underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), and data were analyzed from a network perspective using the network brain statistics framework. The results showed that the LWM group had significantly weaker connectivity in a network that involved brain regions in the DMN, SN, and FPN than the AWM group. Although there was no significant difference between groups in reading network in the present study, other studies have shown relationship of the connectivity of the angular gyrus, supramarginal gyrus, and inferior parietal lobe with the phonological process of reading. The results suggest that although there are significant differences in functional connectivity in the associated networks between children with LWM and AWM, the distinctive cognitive profile has no specific effect on the reading network.

On the structural evolution of pristine P2-type Na0.67Ni0.33Mn0.67O2 for symmetric full cell application

P2 type Na0.67Ni0.33Mn0.67O2 (NNMO) is a widely studied layered oxide cathode material for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) because of its high capacity (160 mAhg-1 practically achieved) and broad voltage window (2–4.5 V). The redox activity in NNMO is shown by both Ni2+ and Mn4+ ions, making it a prospective symmetric SIB electrode material. The average working potential of the symmetric full cell is less due to the limited average working voltages of both the redoxes in a half cell between 2 V and 4.5 V, resulting in poor energy density. Herein, we report the feasibility of the NNMO symmetric full cell by widening the operational voltage window of NNMO. The electrochemical performance of NNMO half cells between 0.01 V and 4 V and the structural evolution during cycling are mapped by ex-situ XRD. Na0.44MnO2-like tunnel-type structure (Pbam) with high Na+ content (>0.90) exists at potentials close to the Mn3+/4+ redox reaction during cycling. The phase change was relatively reversible, implying that the NNMO anode works at such low voltages without the hazard of severe capacity losses. The symmetric full cell made using NNMO cycled between 0.01 V and 3 V and, at C/10 rate, delivered a capacity of ∼68 mAhg−1.

Association between exposure to airborne trichloramine and health effects in indoor swimming pool workers.

The main objective of this study was to comprehensively investigate the association between trichloramine (TCA) exposure and respiratory health effects in swimming pool workers. In this study, air sampling was performed for TCA concentrations at fixed locations (static measurements) and on individual workers (personal measurements) in six indoor public swimming pools during periods of high swimmer attendance over the winter school break. Health effects were evaluated using questionnaires and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) tests performed before and after the working day. In these swimming pools, the environmental TCA concentration ranged from 0.11 to 0.88 mg/m³. Worker exposure ranged from 0.05 to 0.72 mg/m³ for personal measurements. Furthermore, in each swimming pool, the average worker exposure to TCA exceeded the recommended occupational exposure limit of 0.35 mg/m³. Personal TCA measurements were consistently lower than static measurements performed around the pool, with a reduction ranging from 21% to 49%. This can be explained by the time that the workers spend in the pool area, office, and break room. The most common respiratory health effects self-reported by the workers were coughing, shortness of breath, and sneezing with prevalence rates of 38%, 37%, and 35%, respectively. This study demonstrated an association between TCA exposure and eye irritation. Analysis of the FENO tests revealed that individuals with preexisting asthma or allergies exhibited sustained FENO elevation. The findings suggest that occupational exposure to TCA in indoor swimming pools is a matter of concern. Implementing and improving workplace safety measures is crucial for safeguarding the respiratory health of swimming pool workers.

Olfactory Dysfunction in Healthcare Workers with COVID-19: Prevalence and Associated Factors.

The COVID-19 pandemic is a real global health crisis. Its clinical presentation has evolved over time with an increasing number of symptoms. Olfactory dysfunction (OD) has recently been recognized as a frequent symptom relevant to screening for COVID-19, especially in pauci-asymptomatic forms. However, the underlying mechanisms of OD are not yet fully understood. To determine the prevalence of OD in healthcare workers with SARS-CoV-2 and to identify its associated factors. This is a cross-sectional, analytical study, carried out during a period of six months and including all healthcare workers at Farhat Hached Academic Hospital (Tunisia) who were diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 by PCR, RAT, or chest CT scan. A total of 474 healthcare workers were included, representing a participation rate of 85.4%. The mean age was 41.02±10.67 years with a sex ratio of 0.2. The distribution of this population by department noted that it was mainly maternity (13.9%). The most presented workstation was nursing (31.4%). OD represented 39.2% of the reasons for consultation. Hospitalization was indicated in 16 patients (3.4%). The average duration of hospitalization was 8.87 ± 7.8 days. The average time off work was 17.04 ± 11.6 days. OD persisted for more than 90 days in 35 patients (7.4%). After multiple binary logistic regression, OD was statistically associated with female gender (p =0.001; OR 95% CI: 2.46 [1.4-4.2]) and blue-collar occupational category (p =0.002; OR IC95%:3.1 [1.5-6.5]). A significant association was also noted between OD and professional seniority and absence from work duration (p =0.019; OR 95% CI: 0.97 [0.95-0.99] and p =0.03; OR 95% CI: 0.97 [0.95-0.99]) respectively. OD is common in COVID-19 patients. The identification of its associated factors may contribute to enhancing the understanding of its mechanism and drive therapeutic options.