Daily Work Activities Research Articles

Premenstrual Syndrome

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a recurrent constellation of affective and physical symptoms that begin during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle and resolve completely or almost completely during the follicular phase. Symptoms range in severity from mild to severe. The pathophysiology of PMS is discussed in this chapter, and potential causes are listed in a table. The diagnosis and differential diagnosis are reviewed. To warrant medical attention, evaluation, and intervention, premenstrual symptoms must be recurrent and sufficiently severe to interfere with daily work and social activities. Mild cases of PMS can be treated with lifestyle modification (e.g., good sleep patterns, regular exercise) and nonpharmacologic therapy (e.g., bright-light therapy, stress management, behavioral therapy). More severe cases warrant aggressive intervention, with pharmacologic therapy and even surgery in women who respond very well to a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist and have completed childbearing. This review contains 1 figure, 5 tables and 51 references Key Words: Premenstrual syndrome, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, anxiogenic progesterone metabolites, estrogen, progesterone.

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN DISTANCE AND IN-CLASS LEARNING

COVID-19 pandemic has had immense impact on usual daily life and working activities, forced to adapt to new circumstances. The system of medical education has to solve a number of pressing issues on changing the mode of teaching and learning. Distance learning is often described as a flexible and effective system of non-stop professional education, sensitive to the needs of the society. Distance learning extensively uses internet technologies for communication through video conferences, emails, providing access to learning materials, including multimedia presentations, videos, visual aids, etc. However, this form of learning is not widespread in the training of medical professionals. Notwithstanding the advantages, distance learning needs constant improvement of all parties of educational process that is possible only after analyzing its shortcomings based on own experience and described in relevant reports. The study was aimed at compare the students’ academic performance demonstrated during distance learning and traditional in-class learning. The material of the study included the grades, which medical students got during distance learning and grades they got before the spring quarantine. We also used the data on students' grades for the identical periods of the 2018-2019 academic year. Distance learning during the quarantine was scheduled in accordance with the existing curriculum, and conducted by all educators of the Department of Pathological Anatomy with Autopsy Course and based on the combination of two online platforms: Zoom and Google classroom. During the video conferences at the Zoom platform, the faculty staff explained and discussed the theme material using multimedia presentations, engaged students into different learning activities. To monitor student’s understanding of important concepts, we created online quizzes with seven different question types which are graded automatically Google Classroom. Results can be viewed in a summary format, by individual respondents, or by specific question answers. Quizzes can be assigned to a Google Classroom class and quiz results can be exported to the Google Classroom group. Google classroom was widely used in training students to the national licensing exam “Krok 1. General Medicine”. Our study showed a decline in students’ academic performance through the online learning period. The comparison of students’ academic performance data for the same period of the previous academic year demonstrated that academic progress of students during distance learning decreased compared to the same period of the previous academic year. Thus, several questions arise: what causes this decline and whether it is possible to grant high-quality online learning on the course of pathomorphology. Since it was the first experience when higher medical educational setting faced such a challenge, we can find a clear answer only based on multifactorial analysis of students' academic performance. We can conclude on distance learning and analysis of students’ academic performance that this format did not provide high-quality knowledge acquisition in pathomorphology. Thorough study of all factors impacting students’ learning outcomes and ways to improve distance learning is of great importance in order to prevent any possible challenges in future.

Ergonomics Study Among Operators in Water-Jet Production Area in Aircraft Industry

This paper is to conduct the ergonomics risks assessment (ERA) among the operators in water-jet production workstation area in aircraft industry, working with aircraft panels’ liners named Oriented Strand Board (OSB) and the aircraft panels which require forceful exertion, lifting and carrying task in order to complete the operation activity. The possibility of Work Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSDs) among operators could occur due to their daily working activities. The objectives of this study are to conduct the initial ERA and advance ERA among the waterjet production operators. Twelve male operators had been participated in this study with range age 20 to 40 years old. Nordic checklist, operational interviews, observations, Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) tool and Manual Handling Assessment Chart (MAC) tool as part of advance ERA evaluation were applied in this study. The initial ERA results recommend for further investigation on awkward posture and forceful exertion among the operators in waterjet production. The results from REBA shows that all operators obtain high risk ergonomics score i.e. 10 scores for load weight and high repetitive in lifting and carrying task. The results from MAC validate that gripping mechanism during lifting and carrying activity requires ergonomics intervention for reducing the forceful exertion and high repetitive risk. The results from ERA, REBA and MAC assessment in this study are novel contribution in the aircraft production since the similar data is not exist yet. The results will be translated into measurable design parameters for waterjet workstation improvement in future design workstation.

Mind the Gap! Decoupling Between Policy and Practice in the Policing of Illegal Wildlife Trade.

Despite numerous promises and pledges at national and international levels to confront what many acknowledge as a crisis, illegal trade in wild plants and animals continues to grow and diversify. Empirical research conducted in Norway and Uganda from 2013 to 2015 indicates that despite the different circumstances in which law enforcement operates in the two countries, policing agents face a number of comparable challenges. Drawing on institutional theory the paper argues that decoupling, that is, gaps between official policies and daily work activities within the policing organizations, compromises enforcement in both countries. Challenges stem from conflicting demands, poor resources and want of guidelines that oblige officers to prioritize the control of illegal wildlife trade in practice.

Allergic rhinitis and asthma symptoms in a real-life study of MP-AzeFlu to treat multimorbid allergic rhinitis and asthma

BackgroundAsthma affects up to nearly 40% of patients with allergic rhinitis (AR). Poor control of AR symptoms is associated with poor asthma control. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of AR treatment with MP-AzeFlu on symptoms of AR as well as symptoms of asthma.MethodsThis prospective study used a visual analog scale (VAS) to assess symptoms of AR and asthma before and after treatment with MP-AzeFlu (Dymista®; azelastine hydrochloride plus fluticasone propionate; 1 spray in each nostril twice daily for 2 weeks). Participants suffered from moderate-to-severe AR according to Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma criteria, with acute AR symptoms (AR-VAS scores ≥ 50 mm) on inclusion day. In addition to symptom assessment, patients recorded the impact of AR symptoms on quality-of-life measures before, during, and at the conclusion of the treatment period (approximately 14 days). Patients self-reported change in frequency of their usage of asthma reliever medication on the last day of treatment.ResultsOf 1103 study participants, 267 (24.2%) had comorbid asthma. These participants reported using a mean of 5.1 puffs of asthma reliever medication in the week before treatment with MP-AzeFlu. A total of 81.8% of patients with comorbid asthma responded to AR therapy (AR-VAS < 50 mm on at least 1 study day). Among patients with AR and comorbid asthma, MP-AzeFlu was associated with improved VAS scores across all study parameters, including AR symptom severity, asthma symptom severity, sleep quality, daily work or school activities, daily social activities, and daily outdoor activities. Asthma symptom severity decreased from a mean of 48.9 mm to 24.1 mm on the VAS. Self-reported frequency of asthma reliever medication use was reduced for 57.6% of participants (n = 139/241).ConclusionMP-AzeFlu used to relieve AR symptoms was associated with reduced asthma symptom VAS scores and frequency of asthma reliever medication usage. Changes in overall symptoms of AR and asthma were correlated.

A STUDY ON THE PUBLIC READINESS TOWARDS LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT (LRT) SERVICES IN JOHOR BAHRU

This research was entitled ‘A study on public readiness towards Light Rail Transit (LRT) services in Johor Bahru’ that focus on the study on the public readiness among citizen that lives in Johor Bahru towards the Light Rail Transit (LRT) services in Johor Bahru area as one of public transportation modes in future. Currently, Johor Bahru is having a rapid development in infrastructure sector but they still have a limited of public transportation modes that can be used in the area. Because of that, the number of private vehicle user getting increase and will cause a traffic congestion. LRT was one of public transportation that can be implement in Johor Bahru area since it has been constructed in Klang Valley area in Malaysia. The main purpose of this research is to identify the public preferences on public transportation modes by suggesting a Light Rail Transit (LRT) as one of public transportation modes in order to help people in Johor Bahru area in their daily work activities. Researcher will distribute a questionnaire to people live in Johor Bahru area, interview with Prasarana Malaysia Bhd and Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA) and also using secondary data as well. The result from this research can be used by some authority that responsible for making a development in Johor Bahru area.

The Perception of COVID-19 among Italian Dentists: An Orthodontic Point of View.

COVID-19 has severely impacted dentists, who are at a great risk of infection. This study aimed to investigate if dentists are anxious about returning to their daily activities, and what the perception of the risk is for dentists and orthodontists regarding orthodontic procedures. An online questionnaire, including the Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4), was sent to Italian dentists during the final days of the lockdown with items about anxiety, fear, distress, perceived risk for operators, and concerns about orthodontic patients caused by working during the COVID-19 outbreak. Data were analyzed with a chi-square test and logistic regression analysis. The level of significance was set as p < 0.05. A total of 349 dentists completed the survey, including 183 orthodontists. Returning to their daily work activity was a source of anxiety for 192 participants and this was associated with the level of distress (odds ratio (OR) = 3.7; p < 0.001). Most of the orthodontists (67.6%) thought that they would increase the number of working hours during the week (OR = 1.8; p = 0.007). Italian dentists were mostly scared to return to their daily activities because they considered their jobs a high risk to them and their families. Dentists with an exclusive/prevailing orthodontic activity were forced to increase their working day during the week.

Self-control during daily work activities and work-to-nonwork conflict

Drawing on theories of self-regulation we propose that the nature of the activities performed at work, particularly those requiring self-control, can play an important role in the work-to-nonwork conflict process. We argue that because functional nonwork behavior requires continued self-control after work, occurrences of work-to-nonwork conflict will be more likely when one's limited self-control resources are expended during the day, and incidents of subsequent self-control failure in relation to the nonwork domain become more likely. We test hypotheses via a daily diary study, capturing the timing of different activities across a workday, along with independent ratings of how much self-control the activities require. We find, at the within-person level, that the extent that work activities performed that day require selfcontrol explains variance in work-to-nonwork conflict, beyond the effects of work hours and mediated by depleted state self-control capacity after work. Furthermore, afternoon self-controlled work activities, compared to morning, are more strongly associated with work-to-nonwork conflict. Against our hypothesis, low sleep quantity weakened the association between self-controlled work activities and self-control capacity. We discuss our findings in relation to the utility of self-regulation approaches to work-to-nonwork conflict based on the self-control strength model.

Middle managers in open-plan offices: feeling free and frustrated

Following the spatial turn in organisation studies, this research attempts to investigate the relation between designed organisational space and organisational control. In particular, the study explores how middle managers experience control in open-plan offices and how this affects their feelings and daily work activities. Through a study of a major Norwegian telecom company - which has redesigned its headquarters, transforming them from traditional closed offices to open-plan offices - this paper illustrates the experience of ambivalence felt by middle managers in the studied environment, which is perceived by managers as a tension between feeling empowered and in control versus feeling trapped and controlled. We illustrate how this ambivalence emerges through the interplay of various feelings connected to seduction, equality, performance evaluation, enacting control and being controlled, frustration and the need to escape. The findings show how this contradictory experience negatively affects middle managers' daily work activities.

Middle managers in open-plan offices: feeling free and frustrated

Following the spatial turn in organisation studies, this research attempts to investigate the relation between designed organisational space and organisational control. In particular, the study explores how middle managers experience control in open-plan offices and how this affects their feelings and daily work activities. Through a study of a major Norwegian telecom company - which has redesigned its headquarters, transforming them from traditional closed offices to open-plan offices - this paper illustrates the experience of ambivalence felt by middle managers in the studied environment, which is perceived by managers as a tension between feeling empowered and in control versus feeling trapped and controlled. We illustrate how this ambivalence emerges through the interplay of various feelings connected to seduction, equality, performance evaluation, enacting control and being controlled, frustration and the need to escape. The findings show how this contradictory experience negatively affects middle managers' daily work activities.

Model for integrated care for the mentally ill in the community

Integrated care is a complex set of planned and managed services for a specific group of patients with specific needs, provided by different health and social institutions. The introduction of this type of services in the field of psychiatric care is necessary because of a number of factors related to both the nature and course of mental diseases and the need to provide long-term comprehensive care for patients in the community. One of the successful models is the Dutch one, which provides flexibly assertive care to the mentally ill in their home and social environment. The services are provided by multidisciplinary teams covering a certain number of persons on a territorial basis. Both intensive care and treatment, as well as ongoing support in daily work or domestic activities, are provided. In Bulgaria, integrated care is a priority in a number of regulatory documents. Thus, after the adaptation of the proposed model and the combined efforts of the medical and social institutions, continuous care of the mentally ill in the community can be successfully implemented in our country.

Bidirectional Control of Myoelectric Prostheses in Upper Limb Amputees: Current Results and Expectations

Abstract The most common causes of upper-limb amputations include traumatic etiology and malignity, followed by peripheral vascular diseases. Prosthetic fitting along with conducting a rehabilitation program provide the greatest possible degree of independence to the upper-limb amputees in performing their daily tasks, occupational, recreational and work activities. Despite recent advance in strategies of design and control, the lack of sensory feedback is, according to patients, one of the most important characteristics lacked by commercial myoelectric prostheses. This reason has led to the need for the development of comprehensive prosthetic part which would provide intuitive control and realistic sensory feedback to the amputees enabling them thus to more easily accomplish the tasks which are essential for easier performance of activities of daily life. Electromyography, and recently, electroneurography signals have been used for the development of more efficacious upper-limb prosthetic control. Several recent studies have demonstrated the efficacy of homologous and somatotopic approach in upper-limb amputees, by applying implanted and surface electrodes. This work presents novel methods for effective bidirectional control of myoelectric prostheses in patients with upper-limb amputations using motor control and sensory feedback. The above-mentioned approaches are applicable and have good prospects in further clinical use. The intraneural, extraneural and surface approach can be more or less applicable depending on the etiology and the level of amputation. From a clinical point of view, various approaches should be combined for obtaining more efficient control of bidirectional prostheses and corresponding sensory feedback.

Assessment of patient experiences following total sacrectomy for primary malignant sacral tumors: A qualitative study.

Few reports have investigated patient experiences following total en bloc sacrectomy. The aims of this study were to obtain a deeper understanding of patients' personal experiences, needs, and satisfaction with the treatment to reveal areas in which perioperative and long-term patient care can be improved. A qualitative design was applied to examine patient experiences and supportive care needs. Patients treated between 2007 and 2017 were identified from our institutional database. A total of 28 survivors were interviewed (13 females, age 13-75 years). Eight themes were identified: the effect of surgery on patients' (a) daily lives, (b) social activities, (c) work or school activities, (d) and family lives; (e) acceptance of ostomy surgery; (f) need for guidance regarding long-term rehabilitation; (g) satisfaction with the medical services provided in the hospital; and (h) satisfaction with the treatment outcomes. Total en bloc sacrectomy can yield satisfactory oncological outcomes; however, the procedure is a life-changing event for patients and their families. Physicians must provide long-term support and guidance after surgery to enable patients to fully understand and cope with the changes in their lives.

Analysis of activities undertaken by ward-based clinical pharmacy technicians during patient hospital journey

IntroductionPrevious studies recognise insufficient time as an obstacle to pharmacists expanding their clinical-based activities and services. For such a reason, the role of well-trained ward-based clinical pharmacy technicians (CPTs) is...

Servidores com deficiência na universidade: barreiras para a inclusão

As pesquisas ainda são incipientes quanto à temática de servidores/funcionários/trabalhadores com deficiência, tanto na rede privada quanto no setor público, sendo necessários mais estudos sobre a inserção e a permanência desse público, relativamente recente, no mercado de trabalho. Este estudo tem como objetivo identificar e analisar as possíveis barreiras existentes no ambiente de trabalho de servidores com deficiência de uma Universidade federal do sul do Brasil. Esta é uma pesquisa de natureza qualitativa exploratória, que se utilizou de entrevistas constituídas por questionários semiestruturados aplicada a quatro servidores com deficiência. Os resultados apontam que as barreiras atitudinais, comunicacionais/linguísticas e arquitetônicas estão presentes nos discursos dos servidores, influenciando em sua permanência na instituição. Revelam que as ações institucionais ainda não conseguem incidir sobre todos os obstáculos enfrentados em suas atividades laborais cotidianas. Essas barreiras ainda não foram superadas, pois a inclusão trata-se de um processo político, pedagógico, cultural e social muito amplo. Romper com os paradigmas segregacionista e assistencialista seculares demandam ações e requerem tempo. O paradigma inclusivo é recente, as leis por si só não garantem mudanças nas atitudes das pessoas, só as regula. É necessário, portanto, a criação de uma cultura inclusiva na Universidade. As conclusões apontam para a necessidade de um acompanhamento/capacitação dos servidores de maneira mais efetiva, de modo que a instituição possa oferecer ações que incidam diretamente sobre as barreiras que se revelam em seu local de trabalho.

Persistent visual disturbances after concussion.

Ocular dysfunction, including eyemovement defects, has been documented in up to 69% of patients with concussion. However, standard sports-related concussion assessment protocols do not typically include any clinical examination of the ocular system. The aim of this article is to inform general practitioners (GPs) about ocular defects associated with concussion, identify test procedures and highlight the important role of GPs within the concussion paradigm. Ocular dysfunction that commonly occurs with concussion includes abnormalities of accommodation, convergence, saccades and smooth pursuits. This may cause blurred vision, double vision, ocular pain and difficulty with close work. Symptoms can severely affect daily work, school or play activities. Patients complaining of extended ocular symptoms following concussion should be referred to an ophthalmologist for a complete ocular assessment.

Effect of Migraine Headache on Productivity of Patients According to Migraine Disability Assessment Score: A Cross-Sectional Study.

IntroductionMigraine, a primary headache disorder, is usually recurrent with moderate to severe intensity. Migraine is the third most common cause of disability under the age of 50. There are various scoring systems for assessing this disability, one of which is MIDAS; the Migraine Disability Assessment Score. The objective of our study was to determine the extent of disability among migraine patients, patterns of prophylaxis, and their healthcare-seeking behaviors.MethodsThis survey was done in 50 migraine patients at Jinnah postgraduate medical Centre from April to May 2018. The questionnaire inquired about the demographic information, management of migraine, and effect of this condition on their sleep, and the last part had assessment to know about their functional disability.ResultsThe majority of the patients were females with a mean age of 31 ± 10 years. Acetaminophen was the most common medication used during a migraine attack, followed by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Only 54% of subjects admitted using prophylaxis, out of which 94% had stopped taking it after some time, with the most common reason being their side effects. β-blockers were the most common prophylaxis used. Only 32% had a regular follow-up visit with their doctors. Patients were graded according to the MIDAS score as: little or no disability, 22%; mild disability, 14%; moderate disability, 24%; and severe disability, 40%.ConclusionsThe majority of migraine patients were found to have severe disability, which affected their daily work and social activities. Despite an increase in disability rate due to migraine, people do not seek regular medical care for this type of headache in Pakistan.

Monitoring of arsenic, mercury and organic pesticides in particulate matter, ambient air and settled dust in natural history collections taking the example of the Museum für Naturkunde, Berlin.

Chemical compounds such as arsenic, mercury and organochlorine pesticides have been extensively used as preventive and curative conservation treatments for cultural and biological collections to protect them from pest and mould infestations. Most of the aforementioned compounds have been classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic and teratogenic and represent a health risk for staff exposed to contaminated objects. A total of 30 compounds were analysed in settled dust, particulate matter and surrounding air collected at several locations in the natural history collections and adjacent rooms of the Museum für Naturkunde, Berlin (MfN, Natural History Museum, Berlin, Germany). Gas chromatography and mass spectrometry techniques were used to quantify dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (2,4'-DDT; 4,4'-DDT) and their metabolites (2,4'-DDE; 4,4'-DDE; 2,4'-DDD; 4,4'-DDD), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), 3 isomers of hexachlorocyclohexanes (α-HCH, β-HCH, γ-HCH), the degradation product of γ-HCH with similar toxicological profile, gamma-pentachlorocyclohexene (γ-PCH) and pentachlorophenol (PCP). Atomic absorption spectrometry was used to analyse arsenic and mercury. In order to assess the pathways of contamination with biocides in dust, formations of particulate matter during individual daily work activities, particle number concentrations (PNCs) were measured. Heavy element concentrations found at the MfN were higher than the organochlorine compounds. The maximum concentration of arsenic and mercury in dust was 3507mg/kg and 32mg/kg, respectively, and in air, 48ng/m3 and 1.6ng/m3, respectively. The maximum concentration of the sum of DDTs in dust was 2mg/kg (not detected in air); for PCP, the maximum levels in dust and air were 0.65mg/kg and 10ng/m3, respectively; for γ-HCH, 130mg/kg and 320ng/m3, respectively; and finally, for γ-PCH, 2.1mg/kg and 230ng/m3, respectively. Twelve PNC measurements were obtained from seven different collection rooms and the diaries of the participants' activities. PNCs were highly variable between work activities. Higher personal PNCs were associated with activities like opening storage boxes with prepared animals, reading old books or handling objects. This study has shown that taxidermic objects in museum collection may be a cause for arsenic exposure during handling of objects.

Exploring the roles of collaboration factors towards ERP adoption

This research was conducted to recognize the antecedents of ERP usage, by using TAM and incorporating collaborative factors as external precursors. In this research, data was collected from a reputable manufacturing organization in Indonesia. A total of 59 individuals from the organization participated in this research actively use ERP in their daily work activities. The qualitative data was then statistically analyzed by using PLS-SEM. The results provided insights into how collaborative factors shape users’ perception of usefulness and ease of use, which in turn affects their behavioral intention to use ERP. Attitude towards use was affected by usefulness and ease of use perceived, whereas behavioral intention towards use was affected by usefulness perceived. Internal collaboration affected both perceived usefulness and ease of use. On the other hand, external collaboration was deemed as insignificant contributors in shaping users’ perceived of usefulness and ease of use.

Evaluation of thermal imaging for the diagnosis of repetitive strain injuries of the wrist and hand joints

Infrared thermography is an imaging tool that captures infrared radiation emitted by the body, which helps in the diagnosis of inflammatory diseases. The aim of this research was to evaluate the feasibility of the use of thermal imaging in the diagnosis of repetitive strain injuries (RSI) in the wrist and hand joints. Thermal images were collected from the wrist and hand region of 33 volunteers. From these total, there were 23 volunteers with complaints of pain in one hand and wrist, due to RSI in their daily working activities (study group); while the other 10 volunteers had no complains (control group). The volunteers underwent clinical assessment by an orthopedist and were also associated through the ultrasound evaluation. Thermal imaging analysis was performed in the wrist and hand joints complaining regions and compared with the healthy side/limb. The thermal variations, i.e., based on the infrared imaging temperature measurements, were compared between the study and control groups, through the clinical and ultrasound diagnoses by the Anova, Bonferroni, and LSD tests. Between the study group, there was a significant difference with p = 0.037 for Bonferroni and p = 0.012 for LSD. The ROC curve showed that thermography presents 50% sensitivity and 82% specificity using a cutoff of 0.65 °C for temperature differences. The results showed that the infrared thermography analysis might be able to evaluate the inflammatory process from repetitive strain injuries, helping its diagnosis and monitoring of such condition.