Intermittent Work Research Articles

Retirement preparedness: A study of gender, marital status, and motivation factors by using a theory of planned behavior model

Although working men and women share common retirement concerns, women encounter unique challenges in securing their retirement. These challenges arise from factors such as part-time work, intermittent work histories, and potential wealth disparities. Marital status also exerts a profound influence on retirement decisions. Marital status significantly impacts their financial security as they approach retirement. This study investigates the intricate relationship between gender, marital status, and theory of planned behavior factors that influence retirement planning among older adults. Utilizing data from the 2014 Health and Retirement Study (HRS) and RAND, the research analyzed 2,657 participants aged 50 to 62, all of whom reported full or part-time employment. Also, the research leveraged the theory of planned behavior to examine motivational factors affecting retirement planning. The study’s findings highlight the significant association of gender with expected retirement timing, revealing that married women typically anticipate retiring earlier than both unmarried women and men. In addition, older adults who secure retirement resources tend to retire earlier. It is important to develop tailored policies and initiatives to address the specific retirement challenges women face. It is imperative to develop retirement support systems that consider the gender, marital statuses, and retirement resources of older adults, and to give special attention to those who are vulnerable. This study provides valuable insights into the intricate interplay of gender, marital status, retirement motivation factors and retirement planning among older adults.

Thermal balance of human body at local workplace

Building thermal technologists are occasionally faced with the problem of creating thermal balance in space-limited places situated in a very large cold hall whose complete heating would not be economical. A typical case may be a small local workplace in a large industrial hall. Such a workplace is usually arranged for temporary and intermittent work of one or several persons. Portable electric radiant panels as sources of heat for local workplaces seem to be convenient due to their directional heat radiation. In practice, local heating is solved intuitively using the method of trial and error, although there may be a chance to develop a numerical method to solve this problem exactly. In this paper, a new computational method is presented to create thermal balance in a local workplace situated in a large cold hall. The method intensively employs view factors in combination with the algebraic radiosity method and metabolic heat output of working persons. Although the radiant heat flows of the radiant panels represent dominant parts of their heat powers, the complete energy characterization of the panels requires adding heat transfers caused by convection. The convective heat transports have been estimated using the Rayleigh and Nusselt numbers.

Human–Wildlife Conflict, Drought and Chieftainship Illegitimacy in the Zambezi Valley, Northwestern Zimbabwe

Drawing on five years of intermittent ethnographic work at Kariba, I discuss the impoverishment of the Tonga of Mola chiefdom in the context of escalating human–wildlife conflict and frequent drought. I critically examine emerging competing forms of knowledge regarding traditional authority and environmental challenges between the chief and his subjects. I argue that persistent environmental crisis in the region is generating different conflictual forms of knowledge regarding traditional authority. In advancing this argument, I draw extensively upon the broader literature on power, authority and legitimacy. Local people firmly believe that these problems are induced by the current chief’s avoidance and reluctance to enact rainmaking ceremonies and to appease ancestors. I document people’s opinions about the current chief’s ‘rebellious’ behaviour and how they believe it exacerbates their impoverishment and suffering through drought and attacks by animals. I demonstrate why and how the chief’s behaviour contributes to the waning of his authority. The chief offers counter-narratives but, interestingly, both the chief’s and the people’s narratives relate to their relationship with the spirits and ancestors. By documenting these spiritual and religious narratives of human–wildlife conflicts and droughts, I extend the debates on power, knowledge and authority in southern Africa.

Competitive Cross-Country Skiers Have Longer Time to Exhaustion Than Recreational Cross-Country Skiers During Intermittent Work Intervals Normalized to Their Maximal Aerobic Power.

To investigate differences in time to exhaustion (TTE), O2 uptake (V˙O2), and accumulated O2 deficit (O2def) between competitive and recreational cross-country (XC) skiers during an intermittent-interval protocol standardized for maximal aerobic power (MAP). Twelve competitive (maximal V˙O2 [V˙O2max]=76.5±3.8 mL·kg-1·min-1) and 10 recreational (V˙O2max=63.5±6.3 mL·kg-1·min-1) male XC skiers participated. All tests were performed on a rollerski treadmill in the V2 ski-skating technique. To quantify MAP and maximal accumulated oxygen deficit(MAOD), the skiers performed a steady-state submaximal test followed by a 1000-m time trial. After a 60-minute break, TTE, V˙O2, and accumulated O2def were measured during an intermittent-interval protocol (40-s work and 20-s recovery), which was individually tailored to 120% and 60% of each subject's MAP. During the 1000-m time trial, the competitive skiers had 21% (95% CI, 12%-30%) shorter finish time and 24% (95% CI, 14%-34%) higher MAP (all P < .01) than the recreational skiers. No difference was observed in relative exercise intensity (average power/MAP; P = .28), MAOD (P = .18), or fractional utilization of V˙O2max. During the intermittent-interval protocol, the competitive skiers had 34% (95% CI, 3%-65%) longer TTE (P = .03) and accumulated 61% (95% CI, 27%-95%) more O2def (P = .001) than the recreational skiers during work phases. Competitive XC skiers have longer TTE and accumulate more O2def than recreational XC skiers during an intermittent-interval protocol at similar intensity relative to MAP. This implies that performance in intermittent endurance sports is related to the ability to repeatedly recharge fractions of MAOD.

Metabolomic, oxidative, and inflammatory responses to acute exercise in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

BackgroundThere is currently a need to identify metabolomic responses to acute exercise in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). ObjectiveWe investigated the metabolomic, oxidative, and inflammatory responses to constant (CE) and intermittent (IE) work rate exercises in COPD. MethodsSixteen males with COPD performed a symptom-limited incremental cycle exercise test (ICE). Metabolomic, oxidative, and inflammatory responses to CE and IE (based on the performance of ICE) were analyzed in the plasma. ResultsFructose-6-phosphate, 3-phosphoglyceric acid, l-carnitine, and acylcarnitines levels were significantly decreased, whereas alpha-ketoglutaric, malic, 2-hydroxybutyric, and 3-hydroxybutyric acids were increased, after CE and IE (p<0.05). Increases in citric, isocitric, and lactic acids, as well as decreases in pyruvic and oxalic acids, were only present with IE (p<0.05). Isoleucine was decreased after both exercises (p<0.05). We observed an increase in inosine-5′-diphosphate, uric acid, ascorbic acid, and pantothenic acid, as well as a decrease in 5-hydroxymethyluridine, threonic acid, and dehydroascorbic acid, after IE (p<0.05). Catalase, reduced glutathione, and total antioxidant status difference values for both exercises were similar (p>0.05). The change in glutathione peroxidase (GPx) with CE was more significant than that with IE (p = 0.004). The superoxide dismutase change was greater with IE than with CE (p = 0.015). There were no significant changes in inflammatory markers after exercise (p>0.05). ConclusionCE and IE cause isoleucine, l-carnitine, and acylcarnitine levels to decrease, whereas ketone bodies were increased, thus indicating the energy metabolism shift from carbohydrates to amino acid utilization and lipid metabolism in COPD. Compared with CE, IE produces significant changes in more metabolomics in terms of carbohydrates, lipids, amino acids, nucleotides, and vitamins. Acute CE and IE alter circulating GPx levels in COPD.

A fresh look at sports PSM-systems

Abstract The aim of the proposed study is to reveal the correlations between the dynamics of Respiratory Rate (RR) and Heart Rate (HR) during intermittent physical work at maximum power on a cycle ergometer. The stage of investigating the General functional athlete readiness (GFAR) was conducted using the sports standard “R-Engine” and the cycle ergometer in 16 volunteers (10 men, 6 women) whose average age was 21±1.17 years. To determine the athletic potential of the volunteers in this study, we used our own Coefficient of Anaerobic Capacity (CANAC Q, beats). Continuous registration of the heart rate and respiratory rate of volunteers in the maximum power sports test was performed by the “RheoCardioMonitor” system with a module of the athlete functional readiness based on the method of Transthoracic electrical impedance rheography (TEIRG). The degree of correlation of functional indicators (M, HRM, GFAR) with CANAC Q in all experimental series of the study group as a whole (n=80) was at a very high level, which confirmed the effectiveness of using the Coefficient of Anaerobic Capacity (CANAC Q) in assessing the general functional athlete readiness of the volunteers. CANAC Q is measured in “beats” of the heart and is recorded very accurately using the method of transthoracic electrical impedance rheography (TEIRG). For this reason, as a promising sports PSM-system, CANAC Q can replace the methods for determining the functional athlete readiness by blood lactate concentration and maximum oxygen consumption.

The Myth of Men's Stable, Continuous Labor Force Attachment: Multitrajectories of U.S. Baby Boomer Men's Employment.

Over the past several decades, U.S. men's paid work has transformed from a state of high stability and continuity to a state of increased instability and precarity. Despite this, full-time employment throughout adulthood remains the presumed standard for modern American men. The authors investigated the diversity of men's workforce experiences using the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth "National Longitudinal Survey of Youth - 1979 cohort" and identified six multitrajectories of men's time spent employed, unemployed, and out of the labor force from ages 27 to 49. The authors identified one multitrajectory of steady work, three of increasing unemployment or time out of work, one of increasing steady work, and one of intermittent work. Contrary to conventional assumptions, only 41 percent of men followed a trajectory of continuous, high employment over the duration of their prime earning years. This suggests that most men do not achieve the "ideal worker norm," raising implications for how research and policy conceptualize men's work experiences.

Atypical Employment Relations in Brazil After the Labor Reform

The purpose of this publication is to provide an overview of labor law changes in Brazil that have significantly affected fundamental employment principles. Laws 13.427/17 and 13,467/17, collectively known as the Labor Reform, introduced atypical forms of employment, heavily modifying individual and collective labor laws. In particular, the changes include: employment in the form of intermittent work, telework, outsourcing or hyper-sufficient workers. The labor law reform, which has been carried out, introduces a number of novelties into the Brazilian legal system and raises many questions and doubts. There are concerns about whether the regulation undermines the existing legal order and thus threatens the dignity of workers, their physical and mental health, as well as negatively affects the working environment.

Sparsity-Aware Intelligent Spatiotemporal Data Sensing for Energy Harvesting IoT System

In this era of the Internet of Things (IoT), the increasing number of IoT devices benefit from energy harvesting (EH) technology which enables a sustainable data acquisition process, including data sensing, communication, and storing for promoting the well beings of the society. However, intermittent and low EH power confines the data acquisition process. Specifically, due to frequent harvesting power outages and depletion of energy for expensive data transmission to the IoT edge server, insufficient energy is allocated for data sensing resulting in the missing of key information. To address this issue, this article proposes a sparsity-aware spatiotemporal data sensing framework for EH IoT devices to minimize the data sensing rate/energy while acquiring comprehensive information and reserving sufficient energy. In this framework, the IoT devices sample critical sparse spatiotemporal data, and then the sparse data are sent to the edge server for reconstruction. To maximize the reconstruction accuracy subject to the limited power supply and intermittent work patterns of EH devices, we first propose the QR-based algorithm QR-ST to initiate a sensing scheduling for each EH device. Due to the unstable and intermittent work pattern, the schedule needs to be dynamically fine-tuned based on environmental inputs. Therefore, we further propose a multiagent deep reinforcement learning-based method named S-Agents for the IoT edge server to globally select the sensing devices at each time slot, where the spatial and temporal features of reconstructed data are guaranteed. Experimental results show that the proposed framework reduced the reconstruction error by 66.30% compared with baselines.

Housing characteristics of crack cocaine users in Northeast Brazil, 2011-2013.

We compared sociodemographic characteristics, substance use patterns, sexual behavior, use of health services, and criminal records of homeless vs. domiciled users. Data are from the Brazilian National Survey on Crack Use. A discriminant model and correspondence analysis cross-compared characteristics of users according to their housing status. The logistic model revealed associations between "living in the streets" and female gender and intermittent work. "Homelessness" was also associated with the use of tobacco and "oxi" in the previous 30 days, reliance on soup kitchens, low access to public mental health services, and arrests in the previous year. Correspondence analysis highlighted the spatial proximity of the variables as follows: "having traded sex for drugs", "informal work", "age 31 years or older", "access to public mental health services", "problems with law enforcement", and female gender with homeless crack users. People who smoke crack cocaine in Northeast Brazil are seldom studied. Their profiles, stratified according to their housing conditions, show subgroups with specific characteristics. While domiciled users have access to specialized clinics, homeless users basically reported access to free food and harm reduction services.

Rest period and object load effects on upper limb muscle strength recovery for manual load transfer

This study examined the rest period and object load influence on upper limb muscle strength recovery after a simulated 9 min intermittent repetitive manual work. Eight task conditions consisting of four rest periods (2.25, 4.5, 9, 13.5 min) and two object loads (1 and 2 Kg) were studied. Twelve male subjects were recruited to participate. Four muscles in the right upper limb were tested using surface electromyography. Heart rate and rating of fatigue were measured during the experiment. The experimental results showed that the rest period of 4.5 min, which was not the largest, could be the most efficient recovery level that might result in obtaining better muscle strength recovery and larger heart rate reduction with a shorter rest time. The study results provided fundamental work/rest pattern data that could be considered in early intervention strategies for muscle fatigue prevention at worksites. Limitations and recommendations regarding the current study were highlighted. Relevance to industryUpper limb repetitive manual load transfer tasks are common at worksites, and can result in work-related musculoskeletal disorders. The results from this study should be useful in work/rest scheduling for repetitive manual load transfer tasks.

The sensitivity of shoulder muscle fatigue to vertical hand location during complex manual force exertions

Occupational shoulder overexposures, including increased muscle activity and associated localized muscle fatigue, typically scale with manual exertion height during static or intermittent overhead work. It is unknown how this response is affected during complex (i.e. multi-directional and varying magnitude) manual force exertions, and how this work profile may attenuate task endurance. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of manual exertion height on shoulder muscle fatigue responses during a multi-directional manual exertion protocol. Fourteen participants completed a shoulder fatiguing protocol by exerting manual forces (push up, down, left, and right) at three vertical hand location heights (low, shoulder and overhead). Decline in strength, myoelectric indicators of fatigue, ratings of perceived discomfort and endurance time were used to track the progression of fatigue at the different height conditions, and differential effects due to direction of exertion were also examined. The overhead and shoulder height conditions resulted in significantly increased muscle activation, discomfort and strength decline in comparison to the low condition. Fatigue responses between overhead and shoulder level work were generally similar, as no differences existed in endurance time, RPD and mean power frequency for these conditions, but the overhead condition resulted in a substantial 18% reduction in downwards strength. The downwards exertions seemed to elicit the greatest fatigue response, despite the upwards direction requiring the highest global muscle activity. These results add evidence that repetitive overhead work should be avoided when possible, but provides novel insight on how direction of force application can be further considered in design recommendations.

Validating an Adjustment to the Intermittent Critical Power Model for Elite Cyclists—Modeling W′ Balance During World Cup Team Pursuit Performances

Modeling intermittent work capacity is an exciting development to the critical power model with many possible applications across elite sport. With the Skiba 2 model validated using subelite participants, an adjustment to the model's recovery rate has been proposed for use in elite cyclists (Bartram adjustment). The team pursuit provides an intermittent supramaximal event with which to validate the modeling of W' in this population. Team pursuit data of 6 elite cyclists competing for Australia at a Track World Cup were solved for end W' values using both the Skiba 2 model and the Bartram adjustment. Each model's success was evaluated by its ability to approximate end W' values of 0 kJ, as well as a count of races modeled to within a predetermined error threshold of ±1.840 kJ. On average, using the Skiba 2 model found end W' values different from zero (P = .007; mean ± 95% confidence limit, -2.7 ± 2.0kJ), with 3 out of 8 cases ending within the predetermined error threshold. Using the Bartram adjustment on average resulted in end W' values that were not different from zero (P = .626; mean ± 95% confidence limit, 0.5 ± 2.5kJ), with 4 out of 8 cases falling within the predetermined error threshold. On average, the Bartram adjustment was an improvement to modeling intermittent work capacity in elite cyclists, with the Skiba 2 model underestimating the rate of W' recovery. In the specific context of modeling team pursuit races, all models were too variable for effective use; hence, individual recovery rates should be explored beyond population-specific rates.

Employer approaches to recognizing and managing intermittent work capacity

PurposeThis study explored how intermittent work capacity (IWC) presents in workplaces in order to advance conceptual understanding of this phenomenon and establish a set of initial principles to assist in its management.Design/methodology/approachThe study followed a grounded theory approach in a multi-stage data collection process. In total, 25 employers representing diverse employment sectors were recruited with a goal of exploring their experiences with IWC. The first phase of the study comprised individual interviews with all employers. A subset of these employers later participated in two focus groups organized by company size. Finally, in-depth case studies were conducted with two information rich organizations to understand their approaches to managing IWC. Analysis methods consistent with grounded theory were used.FindingsAlthough employers have a variety of positive motivations for supporting employees with IWC, they are challenged by the uncertainty arising from the unpredictable work patterns associated with IWC. Five distinct expressions of uncertainty were identified. Negotiation of this uncertainty involves attention to a range of factors, including intrapersonal factors, workplace relations and morale, specific job demands, communication processes, and structural and organizational factors.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings of this study advance understanding of the expression of IWC, and factors that influence its impact. This paper presents a series of workplace strategies that both enable the well-being and capabilities of employees who experience IWC, and ensure productive and diverse workplaces.Originality/valueThe findings of this study advance understanding of the expression of IWC, and factors that influence its impact. This paper presents a series of workplace strategies that both enable the well-being and capabilities of employees who experience IWC, and ensure productive and diverse workplaces.

Gig Work as a Manifestation of Short- Termism: Crafting a Sustainable Regulatory Agenda

Abstract Commercial platforms were once lauded as a facet of the sustainable ‘sharing economy’. Today, the short-termism associated with ‘gig work’ is widely condemned as an obstacle to sustainable development. This article begins by examining what is meant by ‘sustainability’, including how we might interpret and apply the Sustainable Development Goals adopted by the United Nations and endorsed by the International Labour Organization. The second substantive part of the article analyses contemporary practices associated with intermittent and insecure platform work which have been identified globally, with reference to longer term and inter-related economic, environmental and social effects. The third part reflects on how appreciation of these effects could shape a future reform agenda oriented towards sustainable development. It is argued that recognition of the desirability of sustainability could enhance the case for holistic legal reform, promoting collective solidarity and action across geographical and temporal borders, while traversing doctrinal boundaries, to make gig work (as we now know it) a thing of the past.

The social protection of platform workers in Romania: Meeting the growing demand for affordable and adequate coverage?

AbstractIn a changing world of work, platform workers struggle to gain adequate protection, and effective access to the benefits provided by the social security system form a part of this. Social security benefits in Romania are particular in that access is based on a person having a professional income, regardless of the legal status of the worker (subordinate or self‐employed). As a rule, all workers are covered in the event of illness and changing family circumstances as well as for pensions. In contrast, coverage for self‐employed workers for unemployment benefits, work injury and occupational disease benefits, paid leave in the event of illness, protection against the risks related to pregnancy or to care for a sick child is voluntary. Given the diffusion of platform work, the article addresses the specific situation of platform workers in Romania, formally covered by the social security system, but who face obstacles related to eligibility criteria, administrative formalities, the risk of the automatic termination of work and intermittent work patterns.

Il part-time e il lavoro intermittente nell’accordo integrativo aziendale per i ciclo-fattorini di Takeaway.com Express Italy (gruppo Just Eat)

The comment deals with the part-time work regulation, contained, inparticular, in Part II of the JustEatTakeaway supplementary companyagreement. The use of this instrument is expected to be massive, consideringthat it is, in the parties' plans, the common form of work in the company.The author analyses the provisions contained in the collective agreement,especially in the light of the discipline contained in the CCNL Logistica,Trasporto, Merci e Spedizione and in the Protocol signed on 18 July 2018 forthe same sector. The author also discusses the rules on overtime andsupplementary work and the rules on intermittent work, which are also subjectto specific contractual regulations.

Erratum: Bartram et al (2018).

In the article Bartram JC, Thewlis D, Martin DT, Norton KI. Accuracy of W′ recovery kinetics in high performance cyclists—modeling intermittent work capacity. Int J Sports Physiol Perform. 2018;13(6):724–728, https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.2017-0034, there was a typo in the equation for Skiba 2 in Figure 1—the numerator and denominator of the ending fraction in the last centered equation were transposed. The online version of this article has been corrected. The authors apologize for the error.

The effect of intermittent training with plyometric exercises on aerobic and anaerobic capacities

This study check the effectiveness of the intermittent work as a key method of work of the quality in the quantity by the layout of a plyometric work. The question always remains to find the training methods scientifically validated which lead to improve these qualities. We put forward the hypothesis that the intermittent training by plyometric exercises will improve the football players, aerobic an anaerobic capacities. Twenty football players aged between 18 and 23 years coming from Tissemsilt university team were invited to participate in our study (table1). Our population was spilt up into 2 groups in a random way. An experimental group (EG) and control group (CG). The programme was calibrated on 8 weeks and planned as follow: two weeks of intermittent work 10s/20s, four weeks of intermittent work 30s/30s, two weeks of intermittent work 15s/30s. The frequency of these types of training was 2 sessions/week. The footballers did a physical tests: (SJ; CMJ). The (RSA) test, and the Yo-yo test. The tests were again proposed to the footballers: this allowed us to compare the obtained results between the two tests before and after the training. After eight weeks of training, we recorded a development in the experimental sample in the (MAS), vertical jump (CMJ), and (RSA) tests, while we did not record a significant difference in the vertical jump (SJ) test (p&lt;0.05), As with the control sample, the development was limited to (MAS) and (RSA) only. This study shows the effectiveness of the training programme applied to the experimental sample in the post-tests between the two groups, with the exception of the vertical jump test (SJ), where there was no significant difference.

Curriculum Development, Implementation, and Evaluation During the COVID-19 Confinement Period in France.

Since March 2020 Europe has faced the COVID-19 epidemic. General confinement measures imposed by governments have had a strong impact on cultural practices, including within dance schools. This article describes the actions implemented by the Dance Department of the Lyon National Conservatory of Music and Dance (CNSMDL, France) in order to ensure pedagogical continuity during the confinement period. The study focused on the 12 preparatory-year students in contemporary dance. Despite numerous constraints-primarily small workspaces, unstable Internet connections, and the difficulty of correcting technical dance moves at a distance-all students and teachers were able to maintain pedagogical follow-up through a series of constructed activities. Students appreciated the social aspect (the relationship with their teachers and fellow students) and day-structuring component of the scheduling. The online activities helped to avoid student isolation, and motivation seemed unaffected. While online exercises can never replace "in the flesh" dance classes, this crisis provided an opportunity to develop pedagogical innovations and tools that could be reused in face-to-face dance instruction in other contexts such as injuries and intermittent work conditions.