Break Time Research Articles

To Research on Application and Maintenance of Sulfur Hexafluoride (SF6) Circuit Breaker

Circuit breakers play an extremely important role in power systems, and Sulfur Hexafluoride (hereinafter referred to as SF6) gas is the medium for the main functions of circuit breakers, and it has the functions of insulation and arc suppression. After the excavation of SF6 and reports on its application in electric power equipment and recently related literature, inspiring the author to summarize - the unique characters of SF6 and the arc suppression and operation principle, and explained some proper terms on the nameplate of the circuit breaker, all those combine an article, which can be prone to understand, at the same time it is easy to navigate of international journal on the website. In addition, for the abnormal situation of the connecting circuit breaker between the two busses in the substation, the "time constant" formed by the equivalent resistance and inductance value of the DC component of the zero-sequence fault current is related to the breaking time of the circuit breaker. Finally, combined above mentioned character with the points that must be paid attention to maintenance and being repaired on SF6 breaker in during, those things will be compiled into an article, which can be used as a reference for technical personnel in the field of power engineering.

The dual nature of cyberloafing

AbstractCyberloafing occurs when employees use electronic devices for nonwork activities while at work. It can have both constructive (means of regulating stress) and destructive (form of counterproductive work behavior) impact. For jobs where there is a fixed schedule of work versus break time, defining cyberloafing is clearcut. In other jobs where employees are allowed to self‐regulate their work flows, it can be difficult to distinguish cyberloafing from legitimate breaks.

보육교사의 총근무시간과 스트레스 반응에 따른 휴게시간의 매개효과

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between working hours, break time, and stress response among childcare teachers. We hypothesized that break time could help alleviate the negative impact of long working hours on stress levels among childcare teachers. We measured stress response across four sub-dimensions: emotional, cognitive, behavioral, and physical. We collected data from 362 childcare teachers working in various daycare centers (e.g., national and corporate, private and home day care centers) in the Gyeonggi-do area. We analyzed the data using descriptive statistics and a stepwise regression model using SPSS 28 and JAMOVI. Our results show that working hours were positively associated with all four dimensions of stress response, indicating that longer working hours can lead to increased stress in all domains. However, when we included break time in the analysis, the association between working hours and behavioral/physical stress response was no longer significant. For emotional and cognitive stress response, the working hour coefficient remained significant but decreased in magnitude. Additionally, we found a direct negative effect of break time on stress, suggesting that taking breaks can help alleviate stress across all four dimensions. The results of this study are meaningful in that they provided basic data and ideas on the direction of institutional development for this, hoping that the need for rest time and the working environment for childcare facilities will be re-examined.

ESG를 활용한 사회적 자본 증진을 위한 사업장 내 휴게시설에 대한 이론적 고찰

Purpose: Rest facility in workplace regulation aims to offer a facility for all workers of every workplace. Although present regal guideline gives quantitative standards and guarantees physical resting of worker, there is no qaulitative guide in order to accommodate competitive advantage of firm. This study figure out elements to reinforce ESG advantage of firms as looking for qualitative conditions, that rest facility would have, for producing social capital. Method: The scope of study is rest facility in workplace by regulation. The method is theoretical and a priori because there is little case at start of enforcement. Result: The resting facility would contribute to produce social capital, which would be linked to ESG performance of firms. Resting facility plays a proactive role of excavating potentiality of firm from increasing social capital as well as a basic role of having break times. As taking proactive role, the rest facility has some qualities like accessibility, livability, necessity, good maintenance, and reciprocity but also follows legal standard.

Is Nursing Satisfaction Influenced By Having Regular Break Time?

Background: Nursing shortages have been an issue for decades; however, shortages have been on the rise in recent years. The COVID-19 pandemic only exacerbated the issue and brought to light many of the challenges that nurses are facing in the workforce. A common theme has been overworked nurses that are now experiencing burnout, which is causing them to take a break from nursing or leave the field permanently. Objective: The aim of this research study is to understand if a lack of adequate breaks is causing a decrease in job satisfaction among nurses. Methods: A quality improvement research study was conducted over 8 weeks and included 17 registered nurses. A 10-question survey was distributed via SurveyMonkey. Data Analysis: Microsoft Excel Data Analysis program and SurveyMonkey Analysis program were used for data analysis to quantify responses. Results: Over 50% of the nurses surveyed do not have mandatory breaks during their 12-hour shifts. 94% of nurses are feeling some degree of burn out at their current jobs, with 76% of those nurses either contemplating leaving or undecided if they will leave. Conclusion: The survey was able to identify that most nurses working 12-hour shifts in an acute care setting do not get adequate breaks. The cause of the lack of breaks was not studied; however, it showed that almost all the nurses surveyed were feeling burned out and a little more than half are contemplating leaving their jobs. There was a significant amount that said receiving mandatory breaks during their shift would improve the burn out they are facing.

Virtual Study Space: A Novel Way of Focus Management

Abstract: Spark motivation, productivity, and focus with aesthetic background study spaces along with a Pomodoro timer to keep study sessions productive using Virtual Study Space. In Virtual Study Space, students can create their custom environment from highly curated minimalist themes, and work with the ability to control background noises to reduce distraction that provides the perfect background companion while one is working away at a lengthy to-do list. The virtual environment also features a video call for students to work together as a team to promote learning using collaboration to support the provision of organizational activities and the exchange of information and educational material. Thus, the implementation of this website becomes a practical depiction of the relations between rational beliefs about studying, academic procrastination, academic life satisfaction, and academic achievement. Tasks in the creation of the website include the development of the study environment, which is setting up web elements and embedding videos as workspaces. The student can choose user-friendly backgrounds according to the study moods such as cafes, nature and libraries. Next is the building of the timer where the user can work along with break time scheduled according to the Pomodoro timer. Lastly, the website has a feature of tracking tasks inside the study space by making a list of priorities to enable efficient planning of tasks to be accomplished in the correct time frame to keep the studentorganized with their work.

Optimizing indoor air quality and noise levels in old school classrooms with air purifiers and HRV: A CONTAM simulation study

Efforts at the national level are being made to improve the indoor air quality of school classrooms. Air purifiers and heat recovery ventilation (HRV) are commonly used to achieve this objective. However, the noise generated by these systems often disrupts classes, leading students to be hesitant in utilizing them. This study proposes an operating method to minimize noise while improving indoor air quality through CONTAM simulations. The method involves operating the HRV in low wind mode during class time and strong wind mode during break time. The dissatisfaction rate (measured by the duration in which the CO2 concentration exceeded 1500 PPM) was minimal, with a rate as low as 0.2% over one year of occupancy. In the case of fine dust PM2.5, operating the air purifier 1 h earlier than occupancy time, while maintaining the existing HRV operation, resulted in a low dissatisfaction rate (PM2.5 concentration exceeded 15 μg/m3 during occupancy time for one year) of 2.6%. According to student reports, the use of weak wind mode during class and strong wind mode during break time resulted in reduced annoyance from the equipment noise. They expressed overall contentment with the experimental noise level, as long as the indoor air quality was improved. The study findings provide an effective and feasible approach to satisfying both noise and indoor air quality requirements. Furthermore, the methodology adopted in this study can be valuable for developing appropriate air purifier facility capacities in different schools.

The Importance of Supporting Lactation in the Workplace

In 2019 the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) updated its Common Program Requirements to include requirement I.D.2.c), which supports lactation at work. The requirements state institutions must provide “clean and private facilities for lactation that have refrigeration capabilities, with proximity appropriate for safe patient care”.3 The FLSA (Fair Labor Standards Act) had already placed some protections for lactation, employers included under the FLSA must provide lactating persons protected time and space for up to a year.4 And in 2022 the FLSA was amended to include the Providing Urgent Maternal Protections (PUMP) Act. The PUMP act expands lactation support to cover more workers, states that employers must provide space that is not a bathroom, allow for reasonable break times, and protections against harassment or retaliation regarding lactation time.4,5 These rules and regulations are critical to supporting women and parents in the workplace and creating an equitable and diverse environment.

Comprehensive analysis and expression profiles of the AP2/ERF gene family during spring bud break in tea plant (Camellia sinensis)

BackgroundAP2/ERF transcription factors (AP2/ERFs) are important regulators of plant physiological and biochemical metabolism. Evidence suggests that AP2/ERFs may be involved in the regulation of bud break in woody perennials. Green tea is economically vital in China, and its production value is significantly affected by the time of spring bud break of tea plant. However, the relationship between AP2/ERFs in tea plant and spring bud break remains largely unknown.ResultsA total of 178 AP2/ERF genes (CsAP2/ERFs) were identified in the genome of tea plant. Based on the phylogenetic analysis, these genes could be classified into five subfamilies. The analysis of gene duplication events demonstrated that whole genome duplication (WGD) or segmental duplication was the primary way of CsAP2/ERFs amplification. According to the result of the Ka/Ks value calculation, purification selection dominated the evolution of CsAP2/ERFs. Furthermore, gene composition and structure analyses of CsAP2/ERFs indicated that different subfamilies contained a variety of gene structures and conserved motifs, potentially resulting in functional differences among five subfamilies. The promoters of CsAP2/ERFs also contained various signal-sensing elements, such as abscisic acid responsive elements, light responsive elements and low temperature responsive elements. The evidence presented here offers a theoretical foundation for the diverse functions of CsAP2/ERFs. Additionally, the expressions of CsAP2/ERFs during spring bud break of tea plant were analyzed by RNA-seq and grouped into clusters A-F according to their expression patterns. The gene expression changes in clusters A and B were more synchronized with the spring bud break of tea plant. Moreover, several potential correlation genes, such as D-type cyclin genes, were screened out through weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA). Temperature and light treatment experiments individually identified nine candidate CsAP2/ERFs that may be related to the spring bud break of tea plant.ConclusionsThis study provides new evidence for role of the CsAP2/ERFs in the spring bud break of tea plant, establishes a theoretical foundation for analyzing the molecular mechanism of the spring bud break of tea plant, and contributes to the improvement of tea cultivars.

The decline in breaktimes and lunchtimes in primary and secondary schools in England: Results from three national surveys spanning 25 years

AbstractBreaktimes are ubiquitous in English schools. Research suggests they have social value for children, but school staff often have a range of concerns about breaktimes and tend to undervalue them. However, there is little understanding about these times, not least because data are not collected about their organisation and characteristics. This paper brings together data from three national surveys undertaken in 1995, 2006 and 2017 of head teachers of primary and secondary schools to provide an understanding of the nature, organisation and staff attitudes towards breaktimes and how they have changed over 25 years. At each survey point, completed questionnaires were received from representative random samples of over 1000 primary and secondary schools. Results showed marked reductions in the average total amount of time for breaks, the virtual abolition of afternoon breaks and a decline in time available for lunchtime breaks. The reductions were largely for behavioural reasons and to increase time for learning. Results also show variations in the length of breaktimes across school types and in relation to socioeconomic disadvantage, and changes to the amount of supervision provided by schools. Attitudes towards breaks varied across primary and secondary phases, and the withholding of breaks was used by schools to address poor pupil behaviour and disengagement. Schools continued to have concerns about the management of behaviour during breaktimes, even when breaks had already been shortened. It is suggested that staff undervalue the potential contribution that breaktimes afford the development and wellbeing of children and young people in school.

Acute effects of different intervals between repeated sprints on performance responses in amateur futsal athletes

Objective: Verify the influence of different break times between sprints on the performance of amateur futsal athletes. Methods: 10 individuals, men, amateur futsal athletes (Age: 21.5 ± 1.6; Weight: 72.4 ± 6.88; Height: 1.72 ± 0.05; BMI: 24.3 ± 1.2; Fat%: 13.7 ± 3.3, VO2peak: 49.1 ± 10.5) participated in the study. Individuals were randomly selected to perform sessions with sprints (10 sets 20 m) with different pause times of 15 (S15), 30 (S30) and 60 (S60) seconds. For performance analysis, the speed (km / h) applied to each sprint was used and monitored by a device with a photocell (CEFISE Biotecnologia Esportiva®). Results: There was an interaction between speed and interval time (p = 0.000). For condition S15, a greater reduction in performance was observed (p ≤ 0.05), while for S30 and S60, no significant reduction in performance was observed (p > 0.05). The data for the area under the curve showed a significant difference (p = 0.000), where the interval of 60 s (S60) was longer compared to the values of 30 (S30) (p = 0.000) and 15 s (S15) (p = 0.000). However, there were no significant differences between the 30 and 15 s data (p = 0.248). Conclusion: A shorter time (15 s) interval between repeated sprints can significantly affect performance compared to longer breaks (30 and 60 s), but all the conditions tested here can be positive for the improvement of performance, mainly in sports that demand fast and efficient motor actions such as futsal.

Dynamics of a Newtonian droplet in the turbulent flow of a shear thinning fluid in a microchannel

The dynamics of a single Newtonian drop in a turbulent microscopic flow are strongly influenced by the shear thinning behavior of the continuous phase. The central aim of this study is to map and describe the various dynamic modes of a single Newtonian drop in terms of both the rheology of the continuous phase and the Reynolds number. In the presence of shear thinning the drops are elongated in the form of long filaments, and the stronger the shear thinning behavior of the matrix, the longer their characteristic break time is. Single drop dynamics is found to be dominated by local extension. Our findings could be useful for addressing the turbulent emulsification of non-Newtonian fluids.

Airborne disease transmission during indoor gatherings over multiple time scales: Modeling framework and policy implications

Indoor superspreading events are significant drivers of transmission of respiratory diseases. In this work, we study the dynamics of airborne transmission in consecutive meetings of individuals in enclosed spaces. In contrast to the usual pairwise-interaction models of infection where effective contacts transmit the disease, we focus on group interactions where individuals with distinct health states meet simultaneously. Specifically, the disease is transmitted by infected individuals exhaling droplets (contributing to the viral load in the closed space) and susceptible ones inhaling the contaminated air. We propose a modeling framework that couples the fast dynamics of the viral load attained over meetings in enclosed spaces and the slow dynamics of disease progression at the population level. Our modeling framework incorporates the multiple time scales involved in different setups in which indoor events may happen, from single-time events to events hosting multiple meetings per day, over many days. We present theoretical and numerical results of trade-offs between the room characteristics (ventilation system efficiency and air mass) and the group's behavioral and composition characteristics (group size, mask compliance, testing, meeting time, and break times), that inform indoor policies to achieve disease control in closed environments through different pathways. Our results emphasize the impact of break times, mask-wearing, and testing on facilitating the conditions to achieve disease control. We study scenarios of different break times, mask compliance, and testing. We also derive policy guidelines to contain the infection rate under a certain threshold.

Rod and Cone Dark Adaptation in Congenital Aniridia and Its Association With Retinal Structure.

To characterize the association between dark-adapted rod and cone sensitivity and retinal structure in PAX6-related aniridia. Dark-adaptation curves were measured after a 5-minute exposure to bright light with red (625 nm) and green (527 nm) 2° circular light stimuli presented at ≈20° temporal retinal eccentricity in 27 participants with aniridia (nine males; 11-66 years old) and 38 age-matched healthy controls. A two-stage exponential model was fitted to each participant's responses to determine their cone and rod thresholds over time. The thicknesses of macular inner and outer retinal layers were obtained from optical coherence tomography images in 20 patients with aniridia and the 38 healthy controls. Aniridia-associated keratopathy (AAK) grade (0-3) and lens opacities were quantified by clinical examination of the anterior segment. The rod-cone break time was similar between patients with aniridia and healthy controls. Dark-adapted cone and the rod thresholds were higher in aniridia compared with healthy controls. In aniridia, foveal outer retinal layer thickness correlated with both final cone and rod thresholds. A multiple regression model indicated that foveal outer retinal layer thickness and age were the main explanatory variables to predict both final cone and rod thresholds in aniridia when the AAK grade was 2 or less. The results show that both rod- and cone-related functions are affected in PAX6-related aniridia and suggest that retinal anatomical and physiological changes extend beyond the area commonly studied in this condition: the central macula.

Multi-objective design optimization of a high performance disk brake using lichtenberg algorithm

Purpose: This work is dedicated to disk brake rotor optimization using parametric and topological optimizations considering three conflicting objectives: mass, temperature variation, and breaking time. The rotor had explicit equations modeled and the Multi-objective Lichtenberg Algorithm (MOLA), which is executable in Matlab®, performed a parametric optimization to find the general rotor design parameters. Several optimization techniques have been developed last few years, however, the ones that have presented better results are meta-heuristics associated with posteriori decision-making techniques. Thus, in this work, this powerful and recently created multi-objective meta-heuristic was applied. The MOLA found more than 3000 solutions and the TOPSIS was used for decision-making. Then, the rotor was designed in the SolidWorks® 3D software and the ANSYS software was applied to perform topological optimization, where more mass was removed and analysis regarding the work stresses was done. To the best author’s knowledge, this is the first work to consider multi-objective parametric and topological optimization for this structure at the same time in the literature. A considerable mass reduction was obtained. It was possible to find a rotor weighing only 164.8 g with the lowest safety factor across the entire rotor equals 2.02. Therefore, a rotor optimized with reliable, lightweight, and that allows a low braking time was found. Also, these results show that the methodology used can be applied in other structures with complex parameterization.

Irish Schoolyards: Teacher’s Experiences of Their Practices and Children’s Play-“It’s Not as Straight Forward as We Think”

ABSTRACT With the inclusion of play as a right, schools are urged to consider whether all children can access play opportunities in schoolyards. Refocusing on play as occupation is identified as an important way in which occupational therapists can contribute within schools. Greater knowledges of children’s play and teachers’ practices, in schoolyards in an Irish context, is required however to guide practices. This inquiry used interviews to explore with 10 primary school teachers, their practices, and experiences of children’s play in Irish schoolyards. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to generate three interrelated themes. These were a) Break(in)time: Play in schoolyards as different from other ways of doing within schools, b) play as producing inclusion and exclusion, c) and certainties and uncertainties produced in teachers’ everyday practices. This inquiry generated knowledges on the social nature of children’s play and teachers” practices in Irish schoolyards as negotiated processes, interacting with diverse intentions, and the particularities of each schoolyard. The consequences of individualizing choice were highlighted as central to the production of inclusion and exclusion in schoolyards. Greater consideration of how children’s play and teachers” practices occur as collective occupations, is proposed to advance inclusive schoolyards.

Effect of nano-SiO2 on the flowback-flooding integrated performance of water-based fracturing fluids

Nanomaterials have the characteristics of reducing water molecular clusters and improving surface properties. Therefore, it can effectively enhance the oil displacement (or imbibition) effect while developing low permeability and unconventional reservoirs. Volume fracturing based on horizontal wells has become the primary technology in developing unconventional reservoirs. In this paper, we investigated the effect of nano-SiO2 on the rheology, flowback, and subsequent oil displacement performance of fracturing fluid. Results showed that nano-SiO2 had little impact on the swelling and dispersion properties of the two thickeners (i.e., guar gum and emulsion polymer). The apparent viscosity of these two thickener solutions decreased by less than 15% after aging for 24 h. Nevertheless, nano-SiO2 particularly influenced the rheological properties of guar gum based fracturing fluid. That is to say, the increase in the amount of nano-SiO2 gradually reduced the temperature and shear resistance of the fracturing fluid. When the concentration of nano-SiO2 reached 5%, the temperature and shear resistance of fracturing fluid decreased by 40%–60% in the temperature range of 80 to 100 °C. However, nano-SiO2 had little effect on the fracturing fluid's breaking time and the solution's viscosity after breaking, and the surface tension of the solution slightly increased after breaking. The fracturing fluid added with nano-SiO2 improved the performance of inhibiting clay swelling after the gel was broken. In addition, the solution after gel breaking had an excellent demulsification effect on emulsified crude oil when the concentration of nano-SiO2 was less than 0.2%. While the concentration of nano-SiO2 was greater than 0.5%, the increase in nano-SiO2 concentration gradually strengthened the emulsification between crude oil and gel-breaking fluid. Nano-SiO2 also had an excellent oil displacement effect, and it increased the recovery efficiency of primary water flooding by 9.99–13.34 percentage points. IThe field test of nanoparticle flooding and fracturing integrated technology was carried out for two wells in the Mahu tight oil reservoir of Xinjiang Oilfield, NW China. The pilot tests of the two wells were very successful, and the cumulative oil production on the 180th day after the fracturing operation was 20–50% higher than that of the comparison well.

Airborne infection risk in classrooms based on environment and occupant behavior measurement under COVID-19 epidemic

ABSTRACT The changes of indoor environment and occupant behavior (OB) are two main causes for the gap between predicted and actual airborne infection risk. To improve the accuracy of COVID-19 airborne infection risk assessment, the environment (CO2 concentration) and OBs (occupant area per person (OA) and activity level (AL)) in three typical classrooms of a primary school in Tianjin, China was selected to conduct the on-site measurement. Based on the measured data, a modified Wells-Riley model was proposed to predict the infection risk, and a risk-controlled ventilation strategy was developed to calculate the ventilation demand. Results indicated that classrooms in the breaking time (B-T) showed a lower indoor CO2 concentration (C in), larger OA, and higher AL than in the teaching time (T-T). The variation tendency of the calculated infection risk increment in T-T was consistent with C in while in B-T was significantly affected by OA and AL, and the maximum fluctuation extent in B-T was two times of that in T-T. Moreover, to avoid the risk spreading in classrooms, a feasible solution of dynamic ventilation control based on the real-time infection risk was proposed, thus facilitating to provide a healthy and sustainable environment for students in classrooms.

Effects of virtual reality natural experiences on factory workers' psychological and physiological stress.

Manufacturing facilities and factories are stressful work environments. Interventions to improve factory workers' stress is necessary to promote occupational health. This study aimed to examine the effects of virtual reality natural experiences on furniture factory employees' psychological and physiological stress. A single-blinded, non-randomised quasi-experimental study was conducted between July and December 2021. Factory workers were recruited from two factories, and all participants at a given factory were assigned to either an experimental group or a comparison group. The intervention was conducted in a clean conference room once a week for 12 weeks during the worker's break time. The experimental group received virtual reality natural experiences consisting of 30-minute nature-based 360° videos which were played in a headset. The generalised estimating equations were performed for the statistical analyses. In total, 35 participants completed the intervention. As to psychological stress, the experimental group showed improvements in distress, depression, and anxiety, and a positive affect after the intervention compared to the comparison group. As to physiological stress, the experimental group showed improvements in indicators of heart rate variability compared to the comparison group, including standard deviations of all normal-to-normal intervals, low-frequency power, and high-frequency power. Virtual reality is an innovative platform to bring the natural environment into an indoor environment to create similar health effects.

Analysis of pacing and kinematics in 3000 m freestyle in elite level swimmers

ABSTRACT This study aimed to determine elite swimmers’ pacing strategy in the 3000 m event and to analyse the associated performance variability and pacing factors. Forty-seven races were performed by 17 male and 13 female elite swimmers in a 25 m pool (20.7 ± 2.9 years; 807 ± 54 FINA points). Lap performance, clean swim velocity (CSV), water break time (WBT), water break distance (WBD), stroke rate (SR), stroke length (SL) and stroke index (SI) were analysed including and excluding the first (0–50 m) and last lap (2950–3000 m). The most common pacing strategy adopted was parabolic. Lap performance and CSV were faster in the first half of the race compared to the second half (p < 0.001). WBT, WBD, SL and SI were reduced (p < 0.05) in the second half compared to the first half of the 3000 m when including and excluding the first and last laps for both sexes. SR increased in the second half of the men’s race when the first and last laps were excluded. All studied variables showed significant variation between the two halves of the 3000 m, the highest variation being obtained in WBT and WBD, suggesting that fatigue negatively affected swimming kinematics.