Non-working Days Research Articles

Effectiveness of a multicomponent intervention to promote physical activity among Japanese remote workers: a pilot open-label randomized controlled trial.

Remote work (ie, teleworking) may adversely affect physical activity (PA) among workers, but no strategies have been effectively implemented to address this issue. We aimed to test whether a multicomponent intervention program could promote the PA of remote workers. This study was an 8-week pilot open-label randomized controlled trial. Fifty-one participants (19 women) aged 23-58years were recruited via an information technology company in Tokyo, Japan, and randomly assigned to the control (n = 26) or intervention (n = 25) group. The intervention group was provided a multicomponent intervention that comprised individual (lecture, print material, goal setting, feedback, and posters), sociocultural (supportive atmosphere and team building), and organizational (encouraging message from an executive) strategies. The control group only received posters. The primary outcome was an 8-week change in objectively measured moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA). The secondary outcomes were changes in light PA, moderate PA, vigorous PA, steps, and sedentary time. We also conducted subdomain analyses divided into working and nonworking days. No significant difference was observed in MVPA changes between the 2 groups. However, the intervention group showed significant improvement in light PA by +14.0min/d (95% CI, 1.7-26.2). Subdomain analyses also showed no significant differences in MVPA changes between the 2 groups. However, MVPA in the intervention group significantly increased by +9.4min/d (95% CI, 2.5-16.2) on working days. The present multicomponent intervention was feasible for remote workers, although some revisions are necessary to enhance the effect size.

Vertical concentration distributions of atmospheric particulates in typical seasons of winter and summer during working and non-working days: A case study of high-rise buildings

It is important to understand the vertical distribution characteristics of outdoor particulates concentration in typical seasons of winter and summer when people's living spaces are getting higher and higher above the ground. The different heights of floors (1st, 7th, 11th, 17th, and 27th) of a high-rise building in Xi'an at 8:00, 12:00, 15:00, 18:00, and 22:00, respectively, were tested and analyzed in this paper. The results showed that the concentrations on non-working days were much lower than that on working day sat different times and on different floors, and the concentrations of particulates were relatively low in summer. The particulates reached the highestat 12:00 in summer, with the average concentrations of PM10, PM2.5, and PM1.0were37.3, 31.6, and 29.4 ?g/m3.While reached the highest at 15:00 in winter, with the average concentrations of PM10, PM2.5, and PM1.0were 82.4, 64.8, and 57.7 ?g/m3. The distribution of atmospheric environment in Xi'an is mainly dominated by small particulates. The particle sizes of low floors are mainly range from 1.0 to 2.5 ?m, and the high floors are less than 1.0?m.With the increase of floors and time, PM1.0/PM2.5and PM2.5/PM10show a trend of first decreasing and then increasing on working days, while PM1.0/PM2.5and PM2.5/PM10show a trend of first increasing, then decreasing and next increasing on non-working days. In addition, outdoor meteorological parameters will also have a certain impact on particulates concentration distribution. It provides reference values for controlling the particulates concentration in high-rise buildings.

Monitoring of Noise Pollution Level during Working and Non-Working Day at Transport Stations, Udaipur, India

Noise is a serious pollutant. In the present study, Railway Station and Bus Stop are selected in Udaipur city of India. The selected site offers a wide difference in human activities. In the framework of the baseline noise assessment, screening of all the selected sites was through an appropriate sound meter application. The data were collected on one working and one non-working day. The assessment of a single day was divided into five phases, for half an hour. It was seen that the level of noise was higher at the Bus station than that of Railroad station. The value of disturbance index was likewise noticed higher at the Bus station than Railroad station. At the Bus station frequency of noise was recorded high at early afternoon as well as additionally at the night time and is least at morning. While at the Railroad Station, level of noise was most extreme at morning and is least during night. Hence the current study shows how transport station causes the clamor contamination. In the current analysis, noise levels at all sites sampled at various times of the day were typically found to be in a wide range, with bus station showing more noise pollution than railway station and that is also in the noon and night time and is least at morning time. This happens as a result of a number of factors, including congested and overcrowded roads, poorly managed traffic, and road development operations

A nationwide survey for the provision of acute stroke rehabilitation in Japan: initial dose and weekend/holiday rehabilitation

ObjectivesThe early initiation of acute stroke rehabilitation with a sufficient dose, including at weekends/holidays, is important to improve functional outcome. We investigated the status of acute stroke rehabilitation in Japan by using a nationwide survey. Materials and MethodsFacility features, rehabilitation dose provided in the first week in each stroke subtype, and weekend/holiday rehabilitation were investigated by using the results of a web-based survey among primary stroke centers. The relationships between facility features and weekend/holiday rehabilitation were also analyzed. ResultsA total of 639 stroke centers (66.6%) completed the questionnaire. The overall median dose was 2.0 (interquartile range, 1.7–3.0) U/day (1U = 20 min). After 7 days, the overall median dose increased to 4.0 (2.0–5.4) U/day. Almost 50% of facilities replied that they could not provide a sufficient dose of rehabilitation; the main reason was a lack of therapists (31%). For rehabilitation on long weekends, no rehabilitation was provided on 3-day weekends in 19% of facilities, and in 5% of facilities on ≥4-day weekends. The mean number of therapists was almost 50% less in the facilities that provided no rehabilitation on 3-day weekends compared to those that provided daily rehabilitation (19.4 vs. 36.2 therapists, respectively, p < 0.001). ConclusionsIn this survey, the provision of acute stroke rehabilitation, including non-working days, was clarified. According to the results, prospective interventional or observational studies are needed to design more effective rehabilitation programs to improve outcome. In particular, it is important to determine the optimal dose and intensity of acute stroke rehabilitation.

Propuesta de un indicador de cargas de trabajo en la atención de pacientes en hospitalización a domicilio de Osakidetza – Servicio Vasco de Salud

Introduction and objectivesThe Hospital at Home (HaH) setting currently lacks adequate workload indicators. This study suggests an indicator that can help in improving professional resources allocation. Materials and methodsProspective data was collected during May 2021 from patients treated in nine HaH units of Osakidetza-Basque Health Service (North of Spain). Direct care and travel times of healthcare staff was recorded. Data on inpatient days, number of visits, sociodemographic variables, health status, and patient pathologies, among others, were collected. The proposed indicator encompasses both the average visit time and the visit rates. It is called intensity and represents the average daily workload time per patient. ResultsA total of n = 1,171 users were included in the analyses. Their mean age was 69.8 years, 45.5% were women and 25% lived more than 12 km away from the corresponding HaH unit. Workload variations were observed for nursing-only and medical-nursing teams, depending on the type of day and patient classification group. The average nursing-only teams workload time on working days was 10.82 min and on non-working days it was 14.78 min. The average workload time for medical-nursing teams, during the same days, was 20.40 min and 4.59 min, respectively. It was observed that certain patient types, like those in palliative care, represented a high workload for medical-nursing teams on working days. ConclusionsThe intensity indicator can help answering the question of how many patients can be assigned to a professional. It can also be used to adjust the staffing needs of the HaH units.

Working at the office or from home during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study of temporal patterns of sitting and non-sitting among normal-weight and overweight Brazilian office workers

BackgroundThis study documents and compares temporal patterns of physical behaviours, assessed using accelerometry, on working and non-working days among normal-weight (body mass index [BMI] < 25 kg/m2) and overweight (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2) office workers who were either working exclusively at the office (WAO) or exclusively from home (WFH) during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, behaviours were measured over 7 days using a thigh-worn accelerometer in 43 workers WAO (21 normal-weight and 22 overweight) and 73 workers WFH (33 normal-weight and 40 overweight). 24-h behaviours were completely described in terms of sitting in short (≤ 5 min), moderate (> 5 and ≤ 30 min) and long bouts (> 30 min), non-sitting in short (≤ 5 min) and long bouts (> 5 min), and time-in-bed. These behaviour compositions were transformed into five isometric log-ratios (ilr) coordinates according to compositional data analysis procedures. Differences between workplace (WAO vs. WFH) and BMI groups (normal-weight vs. overweight) were tested using ANCOVA with adjustment for age and gender.ResultsCompared to workers WAO, workers WFH spent more time-in-bed relative to time awake during working days, more time sitting relative to non-sitting, less time in short bouts of sitting relative to moderate and long bouts, less time in moderate bouts of sitting relative to long bouts, and more time non-sitting in short bouts relative to long bouts. Effect sizes [ηp2\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\eta_{p}^{2}$$\\end{document}] were between 0.05 and 0.21 and p-values between < 0.001 and 0.04. Irrespective of workplace, overweight workers spent less time sitting in short relative to moderate and long bouts (ηp2\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\eta_{p}^{2}$$\\end{document} = 0.06, p = 0.01) than normal-weight workers, while differences in the other ilr coordinates were insignificant. During non-working days, behaviours did not differ significantly by workplace, while overweight workers spent more time sitting relative to non-sitting (ηp2\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\eta_{p}^{2}$$\\end{document} = 0.10, p < 0.001), less time sitting in short relative to moderate and long bouts (ηp2\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\eta_{p}^{2}$$\\end{document} = 0.13, p < 0.001), and less time sitting in moderate relative to long bouts (ηp2\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\eta_{p}^{2}$$\\end{document} = 0.04, p = 0.03) than normal-weight workers. We found no interactions between workplace and BMI.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that WFH and being overweight predispose to more time sitting and less temporal variation in behaviours, thus reinforcing that these workers could likely benefit from interventions to reduce prolonged sitting time and increase variation.

Sedentarism in Recreational Marathon Runners.

Although it has been previously observed that sedentary behavior (SB) was not related to training duration in marathon runners, little information existed about the relationship of SB with training, anthropometric and physiological characteristics in this population. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of SB and its correlation with performance parameters (such as body fat percentage, maximal oxygen uptake and weekly training volume) as well as its variation by sex and day (ie, weekdays versus weekend) in recreational marathon runners. A total of 151 finishers (women, n = 29; men, n = 122; age 43.1 (8.7) years, mean (standard deviation)) in the Athens marathon 2017 performed a series of anthropometric and physiological tests, and completed the Multi-context sitting time questionnaire. SB did not correlate with anthropometric and physiological characteristics and no difference in these characteristics was shown between low and high sedentary participants (p > 0.05). SB did not differ between women and men (p > 0.05), but differed between working and non-working days (p < 0.05). In contrast to previous findings on the general population indicating an association of a high SB with a low cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness, our finding of no correlation between SB and physical fitness in marathon runners suggested that endurance exercise might offset the negative effects of SB.

Remuneration of labour for the work on the days off: law enforcement issues

The problematic aspects of providing compensation for the employees who work on the days off, especially of the assessment of compensation, are being under research in the article. The authors give consideration to the certain issues of the remuneration of labour for the work on the days off in case of providing an another non-working day, payment structure, multiplicity factor. As a result of the research the authors conclude that current problems in the law enforcement process are caused by the controversial position of the Constitutional court of the Russian Federation concerning the described issue.

Weekend and holiday admissions for decompensated heart failure and in-hospital mortality. A cumulative effect of “nonworking” days?

Introduction and objectivesThe aim of this study was to analyze whether nonelective admissions in patients with heart failure (HF) on nonworking days (NWD) are associated with higher in-hospital mortality. MethodsWe conducted a retrospective (2018-2019) observational study of episodes of nonelective admissions in patients aged 18 years and older discharged with a principal diagnosis of HF in acute general hospitals of the Spanish National Health System. NWD at admission were defined as Fridays after 14:00hours, Saturdays, Sundays, and national and regional holidays. In-hospital mortality was analyzed with logistic regression models. The length of NWD was considered as an independent continuous variable. Propensity score matching was used as a sensitivity analysis. ResultsWe selected 235 281 episodes of nonelective HF admissions. When the NWD periods were included in the in-hospital mortality model, the increases in in-hospital mortality compared with weekday admission were as follows: 1 NWD day (OR, 1.11; 95%CI, 1.07-1.16); 2 days (OR, 1.13; 95%CI, 1.09-1.17); 3 (OR, 1.16; 95%CI, 1.05-1.27); and ≥4 days (OR, 1.20; 95%CI, 1.09-1.32). There was a statistically significant association between a linear increase in NWD and higher risk-adjusted in-hospital mortality (chi-square trend P=.0002). After propensity score matching, patients with HF admitted on NWD had higher in-hospital mortality than those admitted on weekdays (OR, 1.11; average treatment effect, 12.2% vs 11.1%; P<.001). ConclusionsWe found an association between admissions for decompensated HF on an NWD and higher in-hospital mortality. The excess mortality is likely not explained by differences in severity. In this study, the “weekend effect” tended to increase as the NWD period became longer.

The ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on physical activity and screen time among Canadian adults.

Canadian and international research has shown that the COVID-19 pandemic led to changes in health behaviours, including participation in physical activity and screen time. The Canadian Community Health Survey asks Canadian adults (aged 18 to 64 years) and older adults (aged 65 and older) to report the time they spend active by domain: recreation, transportation, and household and/or occupation. Survey respondents are also asked to report their screen time on days they worked and days they did not work. The present analysis compares the physical activity from four cross-sectional samples collected during 2018 (n=50,093), January to mid-March 2020 (n=13,933), September to December 2020 (n=25,661) and January 2021 to February 2022 (n=45,742). Screen time is compared between 2018 and 2021. Sub-annual analyses examine how physical activity and screen time varied within and between years. The percentage of 18- to 64-year-old women meeting the physical activity recommendation did not change from 2018 (54.3%) to 2021 (55.1%), while a slight decrease was observed among men (63.0% in 2018 to 59.8% in 2021). The percentage of adults aged 65 years and older meeting the recommendation increased from 2018 to 2021 among both men (40.7% to 43.8%) and women (33.4% to 36.9%). Total physical activity decreased by 17.5 minutes per week among 18- to 64-year-old men and increased by 8.4 minutes per week among 18- to 64-year-old women. Men and women aged 65 and older increased their total physical activity by about 30 minutes per week from 2018 to 2021. The percentage of 18- to 64-year-old adults in the lowest screen time category decreased from 53.9% in 2018 to 45.0% in 2021 on work days and from 37.8% in 2018 to 28.0% in 2021 on non-work days. The percentage of adults aged 65 and older in the lowest screen time category decreased from 49.4% in 2018 to 37.8% in 2021 on work days and from 29.4% in 2018 to 21.5% in 2021 on non-work days. Physical activity among men aged 18 to 64 years decreased from 2018 to 2021, while women of this age group maintained their physical activity. Older adults increased their physical activity from 2018 to 2021. Many Canadian adults shifted from the lowest screen time category (two hours or less per day) to the highest screen time category (four hours or more per day) during the 2020 and 2021 pandemic years. It is unknown whether the short-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on physical activity and screen time will persist over time. Ongoing surveillance of the longer-term impacts of the pandemic on the health behaviours of Canadians is important.

Hybrid office work in women and men: do directly measured physical behaviors differ between days working from home and days working at the office?

We investigated and compared temporal sitting patterns among male and female hybrid office workers when working at the office (WAO), working from home (WFH), and for non-working days (NWD). We analyzed data collected in 2020 among 165 hybrid office workers, carrying thigh-worn accelerometers for 938 days in total. Day type (WAO, WFH, or NWD) and time in bed were identified using diaries. Time awake was exhaustively classified as non-sitting time and time sitting in short, moderate, and long bouts. Effects of day type and gender on the 24-h compositions of physical behaviors were analyzed using multilevel linear mixed models. During workdays (both WAO and WFH), workers spent less time in bed and more time sitting, particularly in moderate and long bouts, than during NWD. Time in bed was longer when working from home than when working at the office, and more of the awake time was spent sitting. Differences between WAO and WFH in ratios between short, moderate, and long bouts of sitting were small and inconsistent. Men spent more time sitting than women, and more time in moderate and long sitting bouts relative to short bouts. When working from home, hybrid office workers sat more during their hours awake compared to when working at the office. Sitting time was larger during working days than during non-working days and was higher in men than in women. These results may contribute to support organizational policies for hybrid work.

A multifaceted assessment of the nutritional status, diet and eating habits of midwives working on a shift schedule in Wrocław, Poland: evaluation of macronutrients, vitamins and minerals in the diets of midwives participating in the study.

The aim of the study was to assess the nutritional status and diet of midwives working on a shift schedule in public hospitals in Wrocław, Poland, and to analyze the variation in their diet according to their working hours (day shift, night shift) and on a non-working day. In the group of 50 midwives, employed in 4 public hospitals in Wrocław weight and body composition, waist and hip circumference, waist-hip-ratio and BMI were assessed. The nutritional habits and quality of the study participants' diets were assessed by 3-days food dietary recall, including 1 day shift day, 1 night shift day, and 1 non-working day. More than half of the subjects were assessed as having excess body weight (BMI ≥25 kg/m2). Thirty percent of participants had BMI ≥25-<30 kg/m2 and 24% BMI ≥30 kg/m2, 70% had a body fat percentage >30%. Fifty-six percent of the diets had an energy value <90% of the subject's total daily energy expenditure. Significantly higher energy value of diets on the night shift day compared to the morning shift day (1959.05±596.09 kcal vs. 1715.36±654.55 kcal, p = 0.01) were observed. The same relationship applied to cholesterol content (349.50±155.33 mg vs. 261.39±190.59 mg, p = 0.002). A high intake of phosphorus and sodium, exceeding the recommended dietary intake, was noticed. The occurrence of a night shift in the shift work schedule is an element of that model that may have a significant impact on the nutritional and health value of shift workers' diets. Therefore, it seems reasonable to implement nutritional education programs promoting healthy eating choices and habits during night work. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2023;36(5):618-31.

A Comparison Study of Predictive Models for Electricity Demand in a Diverse Urban Environment

The increasing population migration to urban and peri-urban areas increases basic service needs for cities worldwide. Residential electricity demand increases with more customers and varies with novel uses, such as charging electric vehicles, which may add additional dynamics to the residential electricity demand profile. Widespread installation of smart electricity meters provides fine temporal resolution data reflecting current demands and supports predicting future demands. As part of a demand-side management program, understanding the main drivers of current electricity usage based on demand-driven and exogenous predictors represents a valuable tool for utilities facing new demand scenarios. This work presents the application of multiple models to forecast electricity demand based on the input data and the forecasting horizon. Models with exogenous variables as predictors are part of the input–output category, including a Feed Forward Neural Network, Random Forest, and a Linear Gaussian State Space model. The second category is demand-driven models, where predictors include only previous demand values. The demand-driven models in our analysis include a univariate Nonlinear Autoregressive Neural Network and a Linear Gaussian State Space. Using smart electricity meter data from the greater Chicago area, we compare the performance of the models on two different types of accounts: single- and multi-family residential users when forecasting one and multiple steps. Results show that the Linear Gaussian model reports an R2 of 0.99 compared to an average R2 of 0.92 from the Feed Forward Neural Networks and Random Forest when forecasting single- and multi-family electricity demand one step ahead. However, Nonlinear Autoregressive Neural Networks report an average R2 of 0.85 compared to the Linear Gaussian R2 of 0.58 when forecasting 48 steps. We also found that the most important predictors for single-family demand are temporal variables like weekdays, working and non-working days, and day hours. For multi-family demand, electricity demand at the same hour as the previous week replaces weekdays as a significant predictor. Different forecasting models can assist utilities and city planners to manage demand under different and novel residential electricity usage conditions.

Clinical Outcomes according to Timing to Non Invasive Ventilation Initiation in COPD Patients with Acute Respiratory Failure: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Nighttime and non-working days are characterized by a shortage of dedicated staff and available resources. Previous studies have highlighted that patients admitted during the weekend had higher mortality than patients admitted on weekdays ("weekend effect"). However, most studies have focused on specific conditions and controversial results were reported. We conducted an observational, monocentric, retrospective cohort study, based on data collected prospectively to evaluate the impact of the timing of NIV initiation on clinical outcomes in COPD patients with acute respiratory failure (ARF). A total of 266 patients requiring NIV with a time gap between diagnosis of ARF and NIV initiation <48 h were included. Interestingly, 39% of patients were not acidotic (pH = 7.38 ± 0.09 vs. 7.26 ± 0.05, p = 0.003) at the time of NIV initiation. The rate of NIV failure (need for intubation and/or all-cause in-hospital death) was similar among three different scenarios: "daytime" vs. "nighttime", "working" vs. "non-working days", "nighttime or non-working days" vs. "working days at daytime". Patients starting NIV during nighttime had a longer gap to NIV initiation compared to daytime (219 vs. 115 min respectively, p = 0.01), but this did not influence the NIV outcome. These results suggested that in a training center for NIV management, the failure rate did not increase during the "silent" hours.

Shifting summer holidays in Spain as an adaptation measure to climate change

This paper assesses whether moving summer holidays to the warmest period of the year in Spain could be a useful climate change adaptation strategy. While the most popular period for Spanish summer holidays has traditionally been August, we illustrate that the second half of July is the hottest period of the year and when the negative effects of high temperatures are most pronounced. If the holiday period in the second fortnight of August was moved to the second fortnight of July, some of the associated impacts would be mitigated due to the reduced anthropogenic activity during non-working days. In particular, we find a significant reduction in the annual peak of labour productivity loss (~25 %) and, to a lesser extent, of electricity demand and near-surface ozone concentrations (~3–4 %). Finally, we also show that global warming could lead to enhanced differences between both fortnights (even with no change in the seasonal cycle of temperature) because of the non-linear relationships between temperature and its impacts. Therefore, the positive effect of shifting holidays would be even larger in the coming future.

The importance of sleep regularity: a consensus statement of the National Sleep Foundation sleep timing and variability panel

ObjectiveTo develop and present consensus findings of the National Sleep Foundation sleep timing and variability panel regarding the impact of sleep timing variability on health and performance. MethodsThe National Sleep Foundation assembled a panel of sleep and circadian experts to evaluate the scientific evidence and conduct a formal consensus and voting procedure. A systematic literature review was conducted using the NIH National Library of Medicine PubMed database, and panelists voted on the appropriateness of 3 questions using a modified Delphi RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method with 2 rounds of voting. ResultsThe literature search and panel review identified 63 full text publications to inform consensus voting. Panelists achieved consensus on each question: (1) is daily regularity in sleep timing important for (a) health or (b) performance? and (2) when sleep is of insufficient duration during the week (or work days), is catch-up sleep on weekends (or non-work days) important for health? Based on the evidence currently available, panelists agreed to an affirmative response to all 3 questions. ConclusionsConsistency of sleep onset and offset timing is important for health, safety, and performance. Nonetheless, when insufficient sleep is obtained during the week/work days, weekend/non-work day catch-up sleep may be beneficial.

Characteristics and related factors of suicide attempts among patients admitted to an Iranian poisoning center: Implications for suicide prevention

BackgroundSuicide is a major public health concern worldwide. Iran is no exception, with suicide rates increasing in recent years. Understanding the characteristics and related factors of suicide attempts can help inform suicide prevention efforts in Iran. MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted on patients who attempted suicide and were admitted to the poisoning emergency of an intoxication center in Shiraz, Iran, between November 2019 and January 2020. Data were collected using data sheets containing study variables completed by oral interviewers and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. ResultsThe study included 302 individuals, with the majority being females (63.6%), and the mean age was 28.19 (SD 19.25) years. The majority of patients were living in urban areas (82.5%) and unmarried (60.9%). Medical drug abuse was the most common method of self-poisoning (76.5%), followed by narcotics (15.6%). Suicide attempts were predominantly carried out at night (59.9%) and on working days (78.5%). Most patients had no history of previous suicidal attempts (64.2%), psychiatric problems (64.6%), or physical illnesses (84.8%). Female gender (P = 0.017) and the presence of an underlying disease (P = 0.016) were the two risk factors significantly associated with suicide on non-working days. ConclusionOur study highlights the need for comprehensive suicide prevention strategies that consider the complex interplay of individual, sociocultural, and environmental factors that contribute to suicidal behaviors. The high proportion of female suicide attempters and the timing of suicide attempts suggest the need for gender-specific suicide prevention programs and focused suicide prevention efforts during high-risk periods. Additionally, the association between physical illnesses and suicide attempts underscores the importance of integrated mental and physical health care services.

Study of Air and Noise Pollution Due to Transportation in Tarnaka

To assess the concentration of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, and level of temperature and noise due to transportation vehicles from Secunderabad to Uppal. Road vehicles are primary source of air pollution in urban cities and they also are a considerable source of noise pollution. During this study, pollutants like Carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide were studied besides other parameters like temperature and noise levels were studied for a period of seven days, that is five working and two nonworking days’ from 4th of March till 10th of March 2018, at different time intervals in one of the busiest routes of Hyderabad. The area selected for the study stretches from Secundrabad Railway Station to Uppal Ring Road with ten sampling points. Relative frequency distribution and cumulative relative frequency distribution are used for assessing noise, temperature, CO and CO2 levels. The results of this study identify the status of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and noise pollution. During these days and these different sampling locations, I could come to a conclusion that maximum CO is 12 PPM, CO2 887 PPM, temperature 41℃ and noise is 78 decibels. The study concludes with suggestions for control of air pollution and noise pollution to avoid any health-related issues

Dispatchable capacity optimization strategy for battery swapping and charging station aggregators to participate in grid operations

Taking the aggregator as a unit, battery swapping and charging stations (BSCSs) for electric vehicles (EVs) can be aggregated and dispatched by grid operators, to realize the demand-side resource regulation. Considering the characteristics of an aggregator’s multilateral services, in this study, BSCSs need to ensure the quality of swapping service for EV users and participate in the demand-side regulation response. Firstly, we analyze the operation mechanism of a BSCS in the aggregation mode and propose a state transition model for EV batteries. On this basis, the EV demand uncertainty is incorporated by a distributed robust optimization (DRO) approach for multi-timescale inventories, and an optimization model to maximize the BSCSs’ income is established, which obtains the optimal load planning and dispatchable capacity scheduling for a BSCS aggregator. Extensive simulations and numerical results show that the BSCS aggregator with demand-side regulation capacity can increase its income by 59.05% and 36.78% on working and non-working days, respectively. Also, the aggregator does not worsen the original power load while meeting the EV swapping demand and can decrease the daily load fluctuations by 0.65% and 12.89%, reduce the peak–valley difference by 5.81% and 7.80%, and increase the load rate by 3.67% and 4.08% in working and non-working day situations through providing the dynamic dispatchable capacity for the grid.

Indoor CO2 monitoring in a surgical intensive care unit under visitation restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Indoor CO2 concentration is an important metric of indoor air quality (IAQ). The dynamic temporal pattern of CO2 levels in intensive care units (ICUs), where healthcare providers experience high cognitive load and occupant numbers are frequently changing, has not been comprehensively characterized. We attempted to describe the dynamic change in CO2 levels in the ICU using an Internet of Things-based (IoT-based) monitoring system. Specifically, given that the COVID-19 pandemic makes hospital visitation restrictions necessary worldwide, this study aimed to appraise the impact of visitation restrictions on CO2 levels in the ICU. Since February 2020, an IoT-based intelligent indoor environment monitoring system has been implemented in a 24-bed university hospital ICU, which is symmetrically divided into areas A and B. One sensor was placed at the workstation of each area for continuous monitoring. The data of CO2 and other pollutants (e.g., PM2.5) measured under standard and restricted visitation policies during the COVID-19 pandemic were retrieved for analysis. Additionally, the CO2 levels were compared between workdays and non-working days and between areas A and B. The median CO2 level (interquartile range [IQR]) was 616 (524-682) ppm, and only 979 (0.34%) data points obtained in area A during standard visitation were ≥ 1,000 ppm. The CO2 concentrations were significantly lower during restricted visitation (median [IQR]: 576 [556-596] ppm) than during standard visitation (628 [602-663] ppm; p < 0.001). The PM2.5 concentrations were significantly lower during restricted visitation (median [IQR]: 1 [0-1] μg/m3) than during standard visitation (2 [1-3] μg/m3; p < 0.001). The daily CO2 and PM2.5 levels were relatively low at night and elevated as the occupant number increased during clinical handover and visitation. The CO2 concentrations were significantly higher in area A (median [IQR]: 681 [653-712] ppm) than in area B (524 [504-547] ppm; p < 0.001). The CO2 concentrations were significantly lower on non-working days (median [IQR]: 606 [587-671] ppm) than on workdays (583 [573-600] ppm; p < 0.001). Our study suggests that visitation restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic may affect CO2 levels in the ICU. Implantation of the IoT-based IAQ sensing network system may facilitate the monitoring of indoor CO2 levels.