Difficult Work Research Articles

Detection Of Malarial Parasite Using Microscopic RBC Images

Malaria is an infectious sickness that influences a large number of lives each year. Customary conclusion of malaria in lab requires an accomplished individual and cautious investigation to segregate sound and contaminated red platelets (RBCs). It is likewise exceptionally tedious and may deliver wrong reports because of human mistakes. The target of this paper is to show how profound learning engineering, for example, convolutional neural organization (CNN) and Resnet-50 which can be valuable continuously malaria identification successfully and precisely from input pictures and to lessen difficult work with a portable application. To this end, we assess the presentation of a custom CNN model utilizing a repetitive stochastic inclination plummet (SGD) enhancer with a programmed learning rate locater and get an exactness in characterizing sound and tainted cell pictures with a serious level of accuracy and affectability. This result of the paper will work with microscopy determination of malaria to a portable application so unwavering quality of the therapy and absence of clinical mastery can be settled.

Admitting otherwise: Diversity work, contextuality and the future of anthropology

The difficult work of decolonizing UK anthropology teaches us important lessons about our field. Rethinking the curriculum may be the easy part. Making university admissions fairer is a harder task. The biggest challenge of all is transforming the institutional cultures and demographic profile of anthropology’s students and faculty. The Covid-19 pandemic showed that rapid change is possible: its aftermath is an opportunity for more radical rethinking of this diversity work in anthropology.
 Many UK universities currently use ‘contextual’ information about undergraduate applicants to make admissions ‘fairer’. Would a more self-reflective understanding of ‘contextuality’ include the institutional contexts of universities themselves? Most social anthropology departments are found in ‘Russell group’ and ‘Sutton-30’ universities. Their student populations are more likely to be able-bodied, white, female and middle class than those in other universities: these students have a disproportionate opportunity to access PhD research funding. The growth in postgraduate education also exacerbates these differences. This paper combines institutional history and student data to reconceputalise and broaden debates around ‘contextual admissions’. Acknowledging the institutional racism within UK universities, a more encompassing definition of ‘contextuality’ would allow a critical attention to the academic cultures that create barriers to widening participation, retention and progression to postgraduate study.

Consent and dissent among platform-based workers: How symbolism steers Uber drivers’ motivation

Online platforms have opened up new opportunities for workers who strive to become ‘their own boss’, while creating new constraints and difficult working environments that fall outside traditional, more secure employment relationships. This article investigates the mechanisms through which workers on online platforms consent to their working conditions, and the mechanisms that motivate their dissent. Interviews with 58 actors linked to the expansion of Uber in Cape Town, South Africa, revealed that platforms are loaded with meaningful symbols, and that symbolism plays a great role in the motivation of platform workers. Our findings contribute new theoretical insights about how platforms, by enacting several interactions simultaneously, convey meanings and emotions that either coalesce into workers’ positive perception of their working conditions, or collapse into negative behavior and demotivation.

Bearing Witness in Oncology Nursing: Sharing in Suffering Across the Cancer Care Trajectory.

Bearing witness in oncology nursing is a critical practice for supporting patients with cancer, and yet it is an understudied phenomenon most described at the end of life. A literature review was performed to better understand the importance of bearing witness across the cancer care trajectory and to elucidate how the practicing oncology nurse can operationalize this skill in the clinical setting. Studies suggest that oncology nurses who successfully bear witness in their practice not only assist patients and families in meaning-finding, but also sustain themselves for the difficult work of oncology through the deeply gratifying gift they receive from the experience.

How agroecological farming practices reshape cattle farmers’ working conditions

ABSTRACT Concerns for the future of the French livestock sector are growing, amongst others due to the profession’ low attractiveness which is partly related to its difficult working conditions. Agroecology in its search for social sustainability could offer better working conditions to farmers. The objectives of this study are; i) to understand whether expected changes in working conditions are taken into consideration when cattle farmers decide to adopt or not agroecological practices, ii) to study the impact of these practices on their working conditions and ii) to discuss the use of a multidimensional framework to study farmers’ working conditions. A framework addressing seven dimensions known to impact farmers’ working conditions was used to interview 22 French cattle farmers adopting agroecological practices. Improving working conditions was rarely the main motivation of farmers to adopt agroecological practices. Although never completely anticipated, all farmers experienced an impact of the adoption of agroecological practices on their working conditions (e.g. changes in work organization, health or pleasure derived from work). Across farms, all dimensions were impacted but consequences on working conditions were situation specific. The framework allowed a comprehensive understanding, from farmers’ point of view, on how working conditions are constituted and showed that farmers make trade-offs between different dimensions.

Physiological Consequences of Oceanic Environmental Variation: Life from a Pelagic Organism's Perspective.

To better understand life in the sea, marine scientists must first quantify how individual organisms experience their environment, and then describe how organismal performance depends on that experience. In this review, we first explore marine environmental variation from the perspective of pelagic organisms, the most abundant life forms in the ocean. Generation time, the ability to move relative to the surrounding water (even slowly), and the presence of environmental gradients at all spatial scales play dominant roles in determining the variation experienced by individuals, but this variation remains difficult to quantify. We then use this insight to critically examine current understanding of the environmental physiology of pelagic marine organisms. Physiologists have begun to grapple with the complexity presented by environmental variation, and promising frameworks exist for predicting and/or interpreting the consequences for physiological performance. However, new technology needs to be developed and much difficult empirical work remains, especially in quantifying response times to environmental variation and the interactions among multiple covarying factors. We call on the field of global-change biology to undertake these important challenges.

Lack of recognition at the societal level heightens turnover considerations among Nordic eldercare workers: a quantitative analysis of survey data

BackgroundRecruiting and retaining staff are standing challenges in eldercare. Low pay, difficult working conditions, and social relations at the workplace impact on turnover intentions. Few studies have used quantitative data for estimating the role of recognition by the wider society for staff instability. This study examines how perceived lack of recognition at the societal level affects Nordic eldercare workers’ considerations of leaving their jobs.MethodsThe 2015 Nordcare survey among frontline eldercare workers in Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden (N = 3,677) is analysed. Issues such as working conditions, financial strain, work-life balance, and appreciation by care recipients and colleagues, were covered. Recognition at the societal level was measured by perceptions of being valued by top municipal leaders, mass media, and the general public. Analyses are made with cross-tabulations and multivariate linear probability regression models.ResultsIn the total sample, 41.1 % had “seriously considered to quit during the last 12 months”. About one third felt “not at all valued” by top municipal leaders, while one fourth felt “not at all valued” by mass media. In bivariate analyses, perceptions of recognition were strongly associated with considerations to quit. These associations were reduced, but remained sizeable and highly significant in multivariate analyses adjusted for age, gender, health, working conditions, financial stress, workplace relations, and other known turnover predictors.ConclusionsLack of recognition by societal agents such as top municipal leaders, mass media, and the general public, is widely felt by Nordic eldercare workers. Feeling poorly valued by such sources is associated with frequent considerations to leave one’s employment. Perceived lack of recognition by the wider society has a significant and independent impact on staff instability in the eldercare sector. Societies’ recognition order is embedded in social structures which are resistant to change, but policies which succeed in raising the societal recognition of eldercare work may contribute to reduced retention difficulties in eldercare.

Simultaneously improving piezoelectric properties and temperature stability of Na0.5K0.5NbO3 (KNN)-based ceramics sintered in reducing atmosphere

It is a very difficult work to sinter K0.5Na0.5NbO3 (KNN)-based materials with good reduction resistance in strong reducing atmosphere. 0.945K0.48Na0.52Nb0.96Ta0.04O3−0.055BaZrO3 + 0.03ZrO2 + y mol%MnO (KNNT−0.055BZ + 0.03Zr + yMn) ceramics sintered in reducing atmosphere were prepared successfully by conventional solid-state reaction methods. MnO dopant increases grain size at y = 5–8 due to strong lattice distortion and then decreases grain size at y = 9 due to much Mn4Nb2O9 accumulated at the grain boundary. MnO dopant as an excellent sintering aid can effectively reduce volatilization of alkali metal by decreasing the sintering temperature (Tsinter). Reducing alkali metal volatilization can greatly reduce oxygen vacancies and improve piezoelectric properties. MnO dopant can improve the anti-reduction properties. The KNNT−0.055BZ + 0.03Zr + yMn ceramics at y = 6–9 show outstanding anti-fatigue of unipolar piezoelectric strain under the synergistic effect of reduced oxygen vacancies due to reduced volatilization and increased grain size. Piezoelectric properties and temperature stability of KNNT−0.055BZ + 0.03Zr ceramics sintered in reducing atmosphere are improved simultaneously by MnO dopant. Optimum inverse piezoelectric coefficient (d33*) of ceramics at y = 8 reaches up to 480 pm/V under low driving electric field E = 20 kV/cm at room temperature, and its temperature stability of d33* reaches 158 °C. It will be an excellent lead-free material candidate for the preparation of multilayer piezoelectric actuators co-fired with nickel electrode.

Features of the psychoemotional state of doctors providing medical care in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic

Due to the difficult working conditions, the lack of effective treatment methods, and the high mortality rate, the work of doctors with a new coronavirus infection significantly affects their mental and emotional state.Objective. To study the features of the psychoemotional state of doctors, providing medical care in the context of a pandemic of a new coronavirus infection in Smolensk.Material and methods. A questionnaire was developed to study the psychoemotional state of health professionals. 110 doctors working with COVID-19 patients were interviewed at the bases of the Smolensk Regional Emergency Hospital, the Clinical Emergency Hospital, and the Clinical Hospital No. 1 in Smolensk. The results of the responses were statistically analyzed and revised.Results. There was an increased level of anxiety (average score 8.427) and depression (average score 7.518). 26.4% of the respondents were found to have a gross sleep disorder. 76.4% of doctors indicated a deterioration in their condition since starting work with COVID-19 patients. For the majority of medical professionals, the main factors that help to maintain normal psychoemotional state are the support of relatives and colleagues (93.6%) and the provision of PPE (74.5%).Conclusions. According to the results of the study, increased anxiety, depression and deterioration of the general condition of doctors working in «red zones» were found. An extremely low organization and availability of psychological support for doctors struggling with a new coronavirus infection was revealed.

Practising postcolonial pedagogies in higher education teaching and research

Teaching about global development challenges is a complex and demanding process both for students and teachers. In this article, I examine the potential of postcolonial pedagogies in facilitating the process of learning to unlearn and in developing learners’ agency in reading the world. I focus on two teaching encounters to examine the potential of postcolonial pedagogies; one is a Sustainable Development module, part of a degree programme in formal higher education and the second teaching encounter are preparatory sessions for overseas volunteers.This paper examines the process and implications of utilising postcolonial pedagogies in these settings and is written from my perspective as a self-reflexive teacher and researcher. This form of teaching and learning raises three particular tensions for me: structural concerns in the Irish education system, pedagogical questions as well as personal implications for me as a teacher and my knowledge base. This article concludes with a summary of these identified tensions, outlining continuing questions rather than presenting solutions. Teaching about global development challenges is difficult, challenging and emotional work, demanding vigilance and reflexivity by the teacher.

“DEViR”: A Software for Determining and Visualizing Optimal Tree Felling Direction in Three-Dimensional Terrain

Felling trees, which is the basis of forestry activities, is dangerous and difficult work that needs to be performed carefully. These activities can affect forest workers’ safety, damage the remaining forest, or reduce the value of the extracted product. Most of the accidents and injuries in forestry operations occur due to the trees not falling in the desired direction. Directional mistakes in tree felling processes or underestimating the criteria negatively affect the felling process, which may increase the damage on the product. In terms of life safety and property quality, not only the felling direction but also the safe escape route for the crew should be determined during tree felling. If these issues are ignored due to incomplete information or carelessness, they can cause serious safety problems. However, work safety can be improved through training programs. The primary purpose of this study was to develop a training tool, called “DEViR”, to assist loggers for determination and visualization of the optimal tree felling direction. "DEViR" software was specifically designed to determine the ideal tree felling direction, as well as the escape route for the crew, and dangerous work zone according to safety rule of two tree in a 3D virtual environment. The sample application of the software was run considering artificially placed trees in a study area located in the city of Erzurum in Turkey. The findings of the sample application indicated that the use of this computer-aided simulation systems can provide felling direction solutions with high accuracy and details that cannot be done by a logger’s decision. The results indicated that as the Digital Elevation Model (DEM) and orthomosaic resolution increases, "DEViR" can perform more realistic modeling and accurate calculations, but computation time and hardware requirement increase with increasing data size. Also, it was found that "DEViR" software is a good training tool as it presents visual material, animates the tree felling process interactively, and reflects the result of every decision to the user. Thus, it has great potentials to increase the performance of the loggers in training and daily felling operations.

Gate Road Support Deformation Forecasting Based on Multivariate Singular Spectrum Analysis and Fuzzy Time Series

Underground mining engineers and planners in our country are faced with extremely difficult working conditions and a continuous shortage of money. Production disruptions are frequent and can sometimes last more than a week. During this time, gate road support is additionally exposed to rock stress and the result is its progressive deformation and the loss of functionality of gate roads. In such an environment, it is necessary to develop a low-cost methodology to maintain a gate road support system. For this purpose, we have developed a model consisting of two main phases. The first phase is related to support deformation monitoring, while the second phase is related to data analysis. To record support deformations over a defined time horizon we use laser scanning technology together with multivariate singular spectrum analysis to conduct data processing and forecasting. Fuzzy time series is applied to classify the intensity of displacements into several independent groups (clusters).

Migration Attractiveness as a Factor in the Development of the Russian Arctic Mineral Resource Potential

The development of mineral resources in the Arctic territories is one of the priorities of the state policy of Russia. This endeavor requires modern technologies, high-quality personnel, and a large number of labor resources. However, the regions of the Arctic are characterized by difficult working and living conditions, which makes them unattractive to the working population. The research objectives were to study the importance of Arctic mineral resources for the Russian economy, the Arctic mineral resource potential, and the migration attractiveness of Arctic regions. The migration processes in these locations were analyzed and modeled using a new econometric tool—complex-valued regression models. The authors assume that the attractiveness of the Arctic regions is determined by the level of their social and economic development and can be assessed using a number of indicators. A comparative analysis of four regions that are entirely in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation was carried out based on the calculation of integral indicators of the social and economic attractiveness of these territories. Forecasting migration growth using the proposed complex-valued models produced better results than simple trend extrapolation. The authors conclude that complex-valued economic models can be successfully used to forecast migration processes in the Arctic regions of Russia. Understanding and predicting migration processes in the Arctic will make it possible to develop recommendations for attracting labor resources to the region, which will contribute to the successful development of its resource potential. The methodology of this study includes desk studies, a graphical method, arithmetic calculations, correlation analysis, statistical analysis, and the methods of the complex-valued economy.

Використання статистичних методів у HR-аналітиці

Abstract. Introduction. The article substantiates the feasibility of using machine learning for more effective management of company personnel, analyzes the factors that reduce or increase staff turnover. The directions of the research are the search for key indicators, the collection and thorough analysis of which will allow to identify the causes of the outflow of qualified personnel in a timely manner, as well as to detect the risks associated with the recruitment of unskilled personnel. Purpose. The aim of the study is to summarize effective HR metrics and successful practices of applying machine learning techniques in HR management of the company, justify the feasibility of their use in decision-making on staff motivation, and forecasting the outflow of employees to reduce staff turnover. Results. The results of the study allowed us to conclude that with the help of machine learning methods it is possible to make decisions on personnel management more quickly compared to traditional methods of HR departments, which is especially relevant for companies with a large number of employees. For effective HR management, finding more effective ways to motivate employees to work more productively, to career growth, ways to reduce the outflow, it is advisable to use methods of assessing relationships. Thus, the assessment of relationships revealed that seniority, monthly salary, the position held and the length of stay in it, the level of satisfaction with working conditions, the age of the employee are the key indicators that reduce the outflow of qualified personnel. Instead, overtime work, difficult working conditions, and marital status are key to employees' desire to find a better job. Conclusions. The application of the HR metrics discussed in the article in combination with machine learning technologies will allow to more quickly assess the threats associated with a decrease in labor productivity and low employee motivation and to avoid the outflow of qualified personnel in advance. By processing millions of data units and analyzing information about staff, it is possible to reveal the true potential of the employee and by creating the appropriate working conditions to increase its productivity and, consequently, the growth of the company as a whole.

Se’i lua’i lou le ulu taumamao: privileging Pacific notions of success in higher education

ABSTRACT In Aotearoa New Zealand, despite decades of education policy reforms attempting to address Moana/Pacific underachievement, Moana/Pacific knowledge is often still absent in universities. Moana/Pacific scholars have long argued that recognising and including indigenous knowledges in university curricula has positive benefits for students, institutions and wider society. We posit that embedding indigenous knowledges within institutions is the difficult work that must be done first; understanding what Moana/Pacific learners mean by success is one area that would benefit from a deeper engagement with indigenous knowledges, as success is a term that is widely used in education but is often not clearly defined. The Samoan proverb – se’i lua’i lou le ulu taumamao – means to pick fruit from the furthest branches of the breadfruit tree. This metaphor refers to the action of privileging Moana/Pacific notions of success in higher education, by focusing on our successful Moana/Pacific learners on the furthest branches. In this article we present, using our Lalaga/Lalanga approach to privilege Moana/Pacific voices, the definitions of success gathered from two distinct research projects. These two projects explored the experiences of successful Moana/Pacific learners. Our Lalaga/Lalanga approach to purposefully consider our projects together helped us to surface three tensions for Pacific student success: (1) measures/’testing’ of success; (2) transitioning between educational contexts; and (3) being Moana/Pacific learners in tertiary settings. Our Lalaga/Lalanga approach also reflects our ‘positional methodology’, a term we introduce here to capture the considerations around who we are in relation to our research rationale as our positionality always influences our methodological choices.

Impact psychologique de la pandémie de COVID-19 sur les soignants en réanimation

Alors que l’infection à SARS-COV-2 s’est rapidement propagée au niveau mondial, on a assisté à une mobilisation massive des soignants auprès des personnes infectées. En réanimation, les conditions de travail déjà habituellement difficiles se sont durcies, avec une augmentation forte de la charge de travail, une nécessaire et indispensable réorganisation des soins, des décisions complexes relatives à l’admission des patients et une modification de l’accueil des familles. Le tout dans un climat d’incertitude générale et d’insécurité personnelle. Cet article propose une mise au point sur l’impact psychologique de cette crise sur les soignants en réanimation et les possibles dispositifs d’accompagnement à partir des données récentes de la littérature et notamment des données issues de l’étude PsyCOVID-ICU coordonnée par les auteurs de cet article.

A Model for Strengthening Mentors: Frames and Practices.

The extensive body of literature on mentoring has largely ignored the developmental needs of mentors themselves. This conceptual and practice-oriented paper asks mentors and others to consider the needs of mentors who may or may not arrive ready to deal with the challenges of being effective mentors. The authors ask: how should mentors think about their own growth and development? Drawing on a broad spectrum of academic literatures, three frames are proposed for guiding mentors’ thinking about themselves and four practices to spur their continuous improvement. The three frames are a simultaneous dual focus on people and tasks as mentors exercise leadership; an inclusive mind-set that works across the multidimensionality of identities in others and themselves; and a keen sense of the threats and rewards of managing the perceptions of others. We recommend the use of four practices for self-examination: engage in structured self-reflection; participate in standardized assessments to see others and one’s self differently; build peer support among colleagues; and ask for feedback in concrete terms. We conclude by offering the benefits and challenges as mentors engage in the difficult work of acquiring in-depth self-awareness.

Survive and thrive wellbeing programme: an innovative experiential wellbeing programme for trainees in Health Education England- Thames Valley (HEE-TV)

AimsThe aim of this project was to develop an experiential programme which encouraged trainees to develop their own processes for mental resilience acting to mitigate difficult work and life environments.BackgroundDoctors are at considerable risk of work-related stress, burnout and mental health problems, particularly trainees, many of whom are experiencing symptoms earlier in their career. The Thriving at Work Review, the British Medical Association and HEE all call for cultural and organizational change that works to prioritise, promote and enhance wellbeing by providing good working conditions and an atmosphere that encourages open discussion about mental health with access to appropriate support that destigmatises mental health.MethodAcross HEE-TV we identified that there were no regular wellbeing initiatives for trainees, and specifically no psychologist-facilitated Cognitive Behavioural Therapy-style sessions to enhance resilience. Six schools identified a specific need for HETV-targeted resources focused on enhancing trainee mental wellbeing.The current course has morning sessions that cover self-awareness, and afternoons are psychologist-facilitated sessions. The initial pilot was run for the School of Anaesthetics, and later offered to specialties with a General Medical Council-survey identified need. Multiple improved iterations of the course have been driven by detailed trainee feedback, including adding the psychology sessions to give trainees tools for self-help.ResultWe triangulated feedback from attendees at the sessions, nominated trainee representatives from all specialties across Thames Valley via the Trainee Advisory Committee (TAC), and HEE-TV quality assessors. Feedback from trainees who attended was almost universally positive. The Quality Committee noted improvement of trainee morale in Anaesthetics and direct improvement in aspects of the learner environment that would not have happened without this intervention. The TAC endorsed this as one of the measures to support trainees in difficult learner environments. They also recommended it be rolled out for all as a preventative measure as there can be a time lag before items appear on the Risk Registers and are officially recognized as requiring support. The biggest measure of success is that HEE-TV have agreed to fund these sessions ongoing.ConclusionWe learned that an iterative response to trainee feedback and careful co-ordination is key to successful engagement via the training programme directors who arrange regional training programmes. This, and making the SAT course free at the point of use, makes it easier for trainees to access this programme. In addition we will be including the trainee voice is shaping bespoke aspects of the day for each specialty.

The prescribed time sliding mode control for attitude tracking of spacecraft

AbstractWith the development of the space missions, there are extensive missions in the demand of the prescribed time convergence. However, it's still a difficult work to combine the prescribed time method with the sliding mode control due to the infinite gain of the prescribed time method while approaching the prescribed time and two periods of sliding mode control. In this paper, a new prescribed time sliding mode control method is proposed for general systems with matched disturbances, from the second‐order system to the high‐order system. A novel sliding mode variable with explicit time term is designed for achieving the prescribed time convergence. More importantly, as time approaches the prescribed time, the singularity of control input can be avoided. Finally, this paper presents a disturbance observer‐based prescribed time sliding mode control method for attitude tracking of spacecraft, and the efficiency of this method has been verified through the numerical simulations.

The Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic on Stress Vulnerability of Nursing Students According to Labour Market Status.

Nursing has always been a stressful job affecting the physical and mental health of the nurses, but the new medical context of the COVID-19 pandemic has enhanced this issue. The objective of this paper is to study differences between non-employed and employed nursing students in the medical system of Romania before and during the epidemic using matching methods and a sample of 526 nursing students. Stressors and strategies for coping with stress were also identified during the pandemic. The results indicated that employed students were more vulnerable to stress compared to non-employed ones before and during the pandemic. Females registered significantly higher stress scores compared to males in the period of the epidemic. The analysis of the overall sample suggested that gender and environment were significant stress factors during the pandemic, but living conditions were not relevant. The most effective coping strategies against stress for nurses during the COVID-19 crisis were based on self-control and the spiritual dimension, unlike the previous period when other colleagues’ support helped most nurses to overcome difficult working conditions. The implications of this study might help medical management in ensuring a less stressful environment for nurses during the epidemic.