Performance-related Problems Research Articles

Gestion des relations familles immigrantes-écoles-communautés en temps de pandémie de COVID-19 : une analyse de documents

In the pre-pandemic period, school headmasters were responsible for ensuring the academic and social integration of immigrant students by promoting innovation, relations within the educational team and school-family-community relations (MELS, 2008 ; MÉES, 2019). However, the pandemic and the massive use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) has led to a deterioration in these relations, resulting in performance-related health problems and unforeseen changes (OECD, 2020). The initial question in this article is: how have school headmasters managed the school-family-community relations embedded in the activity of accompanying immigrant students fostered by the use of ICT in a context of unplanned change? A systematic literature review identified 43 empirical studies. Their grounded theory analyses led to the modelling of problems and their theorisation. This systematic review confirms the importance of school-family-community relations and their management for the academic and educational success of immigrant students during a pandemic. The underlying problems of relationship management include problems of educational quality; divergence of viewpoints in terms of performance; development of psychosocial risks at work linked to these divergences and to social inequalities (digital inequalities, gender inequalities in children's education within the family, housing inequality).

A scoping review of occupational health education programs for music students and teachers

Embedding musicians’ occupational health training in music education curricula is widely recommended due to the well-documented high prevalence of performance-related health problems (PRHPs) among musicians across their lifespan. A scoping review was conducted to examine the range of evidence from implementations of musicians’ health education programs, regarding the maintenance of hearing, musculoskeletal, psychological, and vocal health, as well as injury prevention strategies to minimize the risk of PRHP. Eligible sources of evidence included published and unpublished studies reporting occupational health education programs (which may have incorporated information on physical or psychological health, exercise, or somatic movement training) implemented with pre-tertiary and tertiary music students and teachers. Studies reporting stand-alone psychological health education were excluded. Key characteristics from included studies were extracted and charted. Data charts outline commonalities across the reported results, including physical, psychological, educational, and behavioral change outcome measures. Out of 46 records included for data extraction, 35 reported programs with tertiary-aged music students, seven reported programs with pre-tertiary-aged music students, two reported programs with music teachers, and two reported systematic reviews. Reported benefits from this research with both pre-tertiary and tertiary music students suggest that musicians’ health education and injury prevention strategies reduce self-reported playing-related pain and music performance anxiety. However, future implementation studies need to address identified challenges such as effective behavior change and the enablers and barriers to the long-term adoption of strategies for optimal music performance and health outcomes. This review highlights the need for further research into designing and embedding musicians’ health education into all music training settings, including more implementations with pre-tertiary music students, as well as training to support the professional development needs of instrumental and vocal teachers.

Evaluation of the efficiency of parallel algorithms using intel parallel studio

The paper analyzes the means of evaluating the effectiveness of parallel programs. The research focuses on im- proving the performance of basic linear algebra operations performed on parallel computing systems with shared memory. The Intel Parallel Studio environment is used, which provides a powerful set of tools and resources for analyzing and optimizing parallel programs. The results of the study make it possible to solve performance-related problems and improve the operation of parallel programs.

Small and medium business transformational leadership and supply chain management

The performance-related problems facing small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in South Africa are well known. Efforts to find lasting solutions are ongoing and include empirical research focusing on various business practices and models. Applying leadership practices and supply chain management to SMEs provides fertile ground for groundbreaking solutions. This study tested the relationship between transformational leadership, supply chain execution and supply chain performance in manufacturing SMEs in South Africa. The study uses structural equation modelling to examine this empirical connection using data collected from 411 professional employees drawn from SMEs in three South African provinces. The study found that idealised influence and intellectual stimulation exert a positive impact on supply chain execution. Supply chain execution is positively linked to four supply chain performance factors, namely agility, reliability, cost optimisation and responsiveness.Transdisciplinary contribution: The study connects transformational leadership, which is an organisational behaviour construct to supply chain management, the latter of which is an emerging business discipline. The study recognises that business strategy is implemented by people whose conduct and practices are pivotal to strategic success. In addition, the study has an entrepreneurship orientation as it addresses the challenges facing manufacturing SMEs in South Africa.

Dropping or stopping out of apprenticeships: The role of performance- and integration-related risk factors

The dropout rate in vocational education and training (VET) programs is high in Germany. Yet, this study shows that most instances of dropout are not permanent departures from VET. Instead, most trainees later re-enter into a new training program in a different occupation or company (a phenomenon labelled “stopout”). We use Tinto’s model of college dropout, which suggests that the importance of performance-related and integration-related risk factors differs for permanent dropouts and stopouts, and their timing. Our analyses are based on longitudinal data from the National Educational Panel Study (NEPS), which provides measures for competencies and socioemotional (also called noncognitive) skills prior to starting VET programs, information to capture factors related to dis/satisfaction with training and longitudinal information on school-to-work transitions. To examine the relative importance of performance- and integration-related factors, we use Shapley decompositions. Our analyses reveal that performance-related risk factors (in terms of low math competence) increase the risk of permanently dropping out, and both cognitive and socioemotional skills predict occupational changes (occupational stopouts). Whether the VET program corresponds to the desired occupation is the most important integration-related factor, and a poor match increases the risk of both permanent dropout and occupational stopout. Moreover, lower satisfaction with training leads to changes in occupations or training companies. Finally, early training dissolutions are more strongly linked to integration-related problems, while later ones are more due to performance-related problems.

Prevalence of major depressive disorder and its associated factors among students of private higher secondary schools of science stream, Rajkot city, Gujarat: A cross-sectional study

Background: Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a mood disorder characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, worthlessness, and a loss of interest in activities. There is an emerging concern about the prevalence of MDD among high school students. Aims and Objectives: The objective of the study was to estimate the prevalence of MDD among students of private higher secondary schools and to find association between MDD with sociodemographic variables and other predictors of MDD. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among the students of private higher secondary school of science stream in Rajkot city of Gujarat. A total of 1219 students were enrolled in the study. The students were screened for MDD by Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) modified for teens. Severity of the depression according to PHQ-9 scale had been described as Minimal Depression, Mild Depression, Moderate Depression, Moderately Severe Depression, and Severe Depression. Data were entered and analyzed using Microsoft excel 2007 and Epi info version 7.1.5.2. The Chi-square test was used to check association between MDD and its various predictors. Results: The prevalence of MDD was found to be 3.20% with highest proportion (9.21%) in Muslim students. Significant association found between MDD and its predictors such as physical illness, flow of ongoing study, and performance in study and addiction. Conclusion: It is recommended that the students should be assessed periodically to know their depression status and academic performance-related problems. Responsible factors should be identified and addressed with the help of parents, teachers, psychologists, and psychiatrists for prompt resolvement.

Athletes and the Arts and Performing Arts Medicine: Leveraging Sports Medical Expertise to Improve the Care of Performing Artists.

Athletes and the Arts and Performing Arts Medicine: Leveraging Sports Medical Expertise to Improve the Care of Performing Artists.

Lessons Learned From the Capacity-Building and Mentorship Program to Improve Health Information Systems in 11 Districts of Ethiopia.

Health information systems (HIS) performance in Ethiopia is currently insufficient, and improvements are required to ensure that decision making is data driven. We share our experiences from the early-stage implementation of a package of HIS capacity-strengthening interventions as part of an innovative academic-government collaboration that addresses challenges in HIS performance. We used routine program data to assess HIS performance using the Performance of Routine Information System Management (PRISM) assessment tools. The assessment employed a pre-post design and was conducted in a total of 24 selected health facilities (6 hospitals and 18 health centers) from 11 districts in Ethiopia at project baseline (2018) and midline (2020). Source document completeness rate reached less than 80% for the majority of the assessed data elements. Improvements were observed in quarterly report completeness (26% vs. 83%) and timeliness (17% vs. 48%). Though data inaccuracies are noted for all assessed data elements in 2020, the majority (83%) of skilled birth attendance and HIV reports (68%) fall within the acceptable range of reporting accuracy. The identification of performance-related problems, using performance monitoring team (PMT) meetings, improved between 2018 and 2020 (67% vs 89%). Similar improvements were also observed in developing action plans to solve identified problems via the PMT (52% in 2018 vs. 89% in 2020). Data use for planning and target setting (65% in 2018 vs. 90% in 2020), reviewing performance (58% in 2018 vs. 60% in 2020), and supervision (51% in 2018 vs. 53% in 2020) all improved among assessed health facilities. This study showed that a capacity-building and mentorship program that engages experts from multiple disciplines and sectors can improve the quality and use of health data. This partnership enabled engagement between government and academic stakeholders and allowed for a more robust exchange of resources and expertise toward HIS improvement.

Analysis of factors influencing German youth football players` club membership with a particular focus on dropout

ABSTRACT The article explores the impact of intrapersonal, interpersonal and structural conditions as well as influences from other areas of life on youth football membership and dropout. With reference to a life course approach, football players (n = 15) from various clubs (n = 4) were interviewed using biographical mapping. Stable and unstable phases alternate in the course of a club membership. Influencing factors vary over time and mutual reinforcements can be observed. Above all, high football priority, pleasant relationships in clubs and favourable structural conditions proved to be stabilizing. In contrast, performance-related and interpersonal problems, structural deficiencies, and alternative leisure-related priorities have destabilizing effects. Four types of membership courses are identified, which are partly similar and partly differ from each other regarding relevant influencing factors. The analysis of influencing factors expands previous findings through a more process-related perspective, and therefore, provides alternative options for dealing with dropouts.

The role of sex in the association between cannabis use and working memory-related brain activity.

Although cannabis use patterns differ between men and women, studies on sex differences on the effects of cannabis on the brain and cognitive control are largely lacking. Working memory (WM) is a component of cognitive control believed to be involved in the development and maintenance of addiction. In this study, we evaluated the association between cannabis use and WM (load) related brain activity in a large sample, enabling us to assess sex effects in this association. The brain activity of 104 frequent cannabis users (63% men) and 85 controls (53% men) was recorded during an N‐back WM task. Behavioral results showed a significant interaction between WM load and group for both accuracy and reaction time, with cannabis users showing a relatively larger decrease in performance with increasing WM load. Cannabis users compared to controls showed a relatively smaller reduction in WM (load) related activity in the precuneus and posterior cingulate cortex at higher WM load. This WM (load) related activity was not associated with performance nor cannabis use and related problems. An exploratory analysis showed higher WM‐related activity in the superior frontal gyrus in men compared to women. While cannabis users showed higher WM (load) related activity in central nodes of the default mode network, this was not directly attributable to group specific worsening of performance under higher cognitive load. Further research is necessary to assess whether observed group differences increase with higher cognitive load, how group differences relate to measures of cannabis use, and how sex affects these group differences.

Exploring the Impact of the Somatic Method 'Timani' on Performance Quality, Performance-Related Pain and Injury, and Self-Efficacy in Music Students in Norway: An Intervention Study.

The importance of including performance-related body mechanics into music education to improve performance quality and prevent performance-related injuries has been stressed by many researchers recently. However, it is unclear how this information could be delivered most effectively. The somatic method ‘Timani’ provides a practical solution by combining expertise in music performance and functional body mechanics with the goal of achieving a more efficient playing technique. Since no in-depth study has been conducted to assess the method before, we explored the impact of this method on young musicians’ performance through an online, 4-week-long Timani intervention with a mixed-methodology design. 17 students (mean age = 19.17 years) were recruited from the Norwegian Academy of Music. They participated in two group workshops at the beginning and the end of the project and received four individual Timani sessions administered by certified teachers. We collected survey data at the workshops about performance-related pain and self-efficacy, and qualitative feedback after each session. In addition, all sessions were observed by the researcher and semi-structured interviews were conducted with the teachers about the perceived outcomes and their experiences with teaching the method online. Our findings show that the intervention had a positive impact on a physical, professional, and to some extent, psychological and behavioral level. The improvements included better posture when playing, enhanced control and dexterity in the upper extremities, and improved breathing mechanisms. The seven students who had performance-related pain pre-intervention reported a reduction in the discomfort. The positive results were achieved by the dual expertise of the teachers in music performance and functional body mechanics, the structure of the sessions, the communication, and the pedagogical tools used. Both students and teachers felt that administering the sessions online was satisfactory and produced good results. Timani is a promising method to establish healthy playing and singing habits thus improving performance quality and preventing performance-related problems and has great potential in reducing pre-existing injuries and pain. Also, it can be effectively taught online which has further implications for the logistics of delivery.

Leadership Approaches and Its Influence on Performance of Selected Private Security Firms in Nairobi City County, Nairobi, Kenya

The private security industry suffers adversely from performance-related problems, due to lack of professionalism, managers failure in vetting the security guards, guards lacking basic skills to secure crime scenes, reporting the crime and demotivated staff who earn little salaries. The worsening security situation within the Nairobi Metropolitan area has led to the increase of private security firms. Some of the firms are not licensed and regulated leading to low performance standards. This study focus was how to improve performances in the private security firms through leadership approaches. The study employed descriptive research design and targeted 30 private security firms and its 312 employees. The sample size is 96 staffs which is 30% of the targeted population. Primary data was collected using self-administered questionnaires that had closed-ended questions hence having quantitative data. The data was analyzed using descriptive, correlation and regression analysis and results showed that leadership approaches had positive and significant effect to performance of the private security firms. The study concluded that leadership approaches had positive significant effect to performance.

Application of MEPLWF: method performance evaluation of the Light Wood Frame construction system

Abstract One of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) set out in this agenda, objective 11 is related to the search for more sustainable cities and communities. This study wishes to contribute in this effort, presenting a method application to evaluate the performance of light wood frame buildings in Brazil. The structure of the method used, named MEPLWF, is based on five dimensions, which involve criteria and sub-criteria that analyse technical, social, environmental and economic requirements to evaluate buildings. It allows the examination of the operating results of buildings and the discovery of performance-related problems. The proposed method was applied in a real case study in southern Brazil, during the pre-occupation phase of the building. As a result, the performance identified in the building was 94%, which is a high performance. The application of the method in this case study diagnosed points that should be reviewed by the construction company, such as items related to fire protection and safety, flexibility and adaptability of the building system, environmental plan, energy efficiency and Costs.

Synthesizing the Literature on Stress Velopharyngeal Insufficiency in Musicians: Recommendations for Music Educators

Many musicians experience performance-related health problems (PRHPs), most of which are preventable. Music educators play a primary role in the prevention of PRHPs in the music classroom. Stress velopharyngeal insufficiency (SVPI) in wind musicians is a condition affecting soft palate closure, causing air to escape through the nose while blowing through the mouth into the instrument. Although SVPI is serious and potentially career ending for wind instrumentalists, there are limited resources for music educators on SVPI prevalence, causes, management, and prevention. Therefore, this synthesis of existing literature on SVPI in musicians provides music educators with awareness and understanding of SVPI. Information on SVPI symptoms, treatment pathways, prevention, and recommendations for practical solutions to manage SVPI in the music studio are given. A comprehensive understanding of terminology, symptoms, prevalence, and solutions may equip music educators to intervene more effectively in identifying SVPI in their classroom or studio.

Exploring influential factors affecting guest satisfaction

探究影响顾客满意度的因素：基于消费者评论的大数据和商务分析研究目的以消费者评论为主体的社交网络口碑营销对于影响消费者决策和提高服务提供商的品牌形象、销量、和服务创新起到重要作用。然而, 很少研究探索社交媒体上的真正酒店客人评论。因此, 商务分析技术在文献中还是很少使用的, 这种技术应该更多得到科研上的应用以给酒店从业人员给与启示。因此, 本论文旨在探究影响酒店顾客满意度的因素, 通过消费者评论和商务分析, 以展示商务分析技术是如何为酒店业和科研界来使用的。研究设计/方法/途径本论文使用大数据和商务分析技术来进行数据分析。大数据和商务分析能够为酒店从业人员开发有效战略以提高产品和服务质量, 最后达到顾客满意。因此, 本论文分析了Tripadvisor.com的200, 431酒店评论数, 通过商务分析技术, 以探索和审视影响顾客满意度的重要因素。研究结果研究结果显示服务、客房、和价值比成为影响顾客满意度的前三项因素。品牌类型和负面情绪是影响顾客满意度的负面因素。其他因素成为影响顾客满意度的正面因素。研究原创性/价值本论文是利用消费者评论的商务分析来探究影响顾客满意度与具体衡量因素之间关系的起点范例, 以此, 帮助酒店从业商来解决服务中的欠缺因素, 提高绩效。

Identifying supportive daytime lighting characteristics for enhancing individuals’ psychophysiological wellbeing in windowless workplace in tropical Malaysia

Inappropriate architectural lighting exposures in workplaces are causing light-induced health and performance-related problems among healthy, urban individuals. This paper presents part one of an integrated tropical architectural lighting design framework for improving dayshift individuals’ psychophysiological wellbeing in windowless workplace in Malaysia. The paper discusses five architectural lighting factors, namely intensity, spectrum, timing, duration, spatial distribution. The daytime lighting characteristics that influence individuals’ psychophysiological wellbeing indicators (IPWI) were analysed. Findings indicated a dearth of literature in the lighting characteristics to support IPWI in the tropics, as evidence was predominantly from seasonal climate contexts. This motivated a critical discussion on the lighting factors and recommendations of alternative design consideration for a tropical Asian context. Potential daytime architectural lighting characteristics likely to support dayshift IPWI in windowless workplace in tropical Malaysia were also recommended for further investigations. These recommendations in the framework are expected to facilitate healthier windowless workplace design in Malaysia.

Influence of Binders on Combustion Properties of Biomass Briquettes: A Recent Review

Briquettes are widely used as a renewable energy material for solving the problem of dependency and over-consumption of wood fuel as a source of energy for human use. However, their performance depends on the types and nature of binders used during the preparation and densification process. Most of the performance-related problems such as low yield and energy content can be significantly improved with the use of binders in right proportions. This review discusses the state-of-the-art of fuel briquettes and the influence of binder’s properties on the combustion characteristics, energy content, mechanical durability, and density of fuel briquettes. The compatibility between the binders and the fuel briquettes to obtain a better yield is also discussed with the resulting mechanical and combustion properties. The mechanical durability of fuel briquettes can be improved by reducing the content of lignin, fat, and other extractives in the binder, as well as improving the binder’s variables such as the particle size, texture, and quantity. By using binders mixed with phosphorus-based additives such as Ca(H2PO4)2 and NH4H2PO4, the combustion rate of fuel briquettes can be enhanced and the pollutant emissions during the combustion process can be reduced to the minimum. In addition, the higher the binders’ compacting pressure and processing temperature, the higher the density and energy content per unit volume of fuel briquettes.

SysML-based Optimisation of Global Variables Arrangement for Visualisation in Distributed Control Systems Oriented Towards Communication Performance

Distributed Control Systems (DCSs) often perform complex and critical operations in the industry. To make work of operators easier, they are often equipped with Human-Machine Interface (HMI) panels that allow observing the current state of a process, as well as adjusting the configuration. However, when visualisation consists of several displays with many controls and a high number of calculations, it is possible to encounter some performance-related problems due to communication between a controller and the HMI panel. This problem can be limited by arranging global variables in the way that decreases the number of requests or transmitted data. The paper shows an approach of solving this problem, based on a set of SysML models that specify visualisation displays and auxiliary programs, together with involved global variables. The proposed approach can be expanded to operate as a part of a comprehensive methodology of modelling, implementation, visualisation, and testing of a DCS.

Optimizing multi‐tier application performance with interference and affinity‐aware placement algorithms

SummaryCloud providers are constantly seeking to become more cost effective, where a common strategy is to consolidate multiple applications in physical machines using virtualization techniques. This consolidation, however, may result in performance related problems such as resource interference. Moreover, if the workload is composed of multi‐tier applications, an increasingly popular method of application development, especially for web and mobile, in which tiers need to communicate through the network, we have another possible source of performance degradation, which we refer as network affinity. In order to reduce the effects of such problems, placement techniques are used to better distribute the applications in the physical machines. Several of these placement techniques consider resource interference or network affinity in order to decide the best placement, however, none of them apply both criteria at the same time. In our previous work, we identified that a combined approach could result in better solutions for this problem and proposed a set of placement policies that explore this tradeoff. In this paper, we propose placement algorithms based on these policies and evaluate the proposed solutions for different workload scenarios using a visual simulation tool we developed called CIAPA. CIAPA introduces a performance degradation model, a cost function, and heuristics to find a placement with the minimum cost for a specific workload of multi‐tier applications. In our preliminary experiments, we compared the solution generated by CIAPA with other placement strategies from related work, and have verified that, for the tested scenarios, it delivers placement decisions with better cost and, consequently, improved performance. We observed a reduction in response time of 10% when compared to interference strategies and up to 18% when considering only affinity strategies.

Supply chain dynamism, information sharing, inter-organisational relationships and supply chain performance in the manufacturing sector

Orientation: Manufacturing supply chains in South Africa are susceptible to various internal and external threats that continue to suppress their performance. Information is required that can be used by firms in such environments to overcome the existing threats and improve their supply chains.Research purpose: This study sought to examine the relationship between supply chain dynamism, information sharing and inter-organisational relationships and supply chain performance in the manufacturing sector in South Africa.Motivation for the study: There is a gap in literature on the linkage between supply chain dynamism, information sharing and inter-organisational relationships and supply chain performance in the South African manufacturing sector.Research design, approach and method: Empirical data were collected from a purposive sample of 340 supply management professionals recruited from 31 manufacturing firms based in Gauteng Province. Data were analysed using structural equation modelling, which involved a confirmatory factor analysis and hypotheses tests.Main findings: The results indicate a significant positive relationship between supply chain dynamism and both information sharing and inter-organisational relationships; between information sharing and both inter-organisational relationships and supply chain performance; and between inter-organisational relationships and supply chain performance.Practical/managerial implications: Supply management professionals in the manufacturing sector may use the results of this study as a tool in the diagnoses of supply chain performance-related problems, by checking for the proper alignment of the factors considered in the research.Contribution/value-add: These results validate the importance of effective supply chain management practices in shaping supply chain performance in manufacturing environments. By monitoring and responding positively to the changes in key resources within manufacturing supply chains, managers can be able to improve the sharing of information and develop better relationships among trading partners, leading to superior performance of the entire supply chain.