Strike Period Research Articles

Quantifying the effect of striking with picketing on grocery store foot traffic

Unionized workers often use striking and picketing to raise attention to their grievances, dissuade customers from patronizing a business, and pressure employers in negotiations. Despite its wide use and recognition in popular culture, the effects of picketing and striking on retail business are not well understood. Adjacent literature has used cell phone tracking and other digital geo-tagging techniques to measure the effects of factory closures, COVID-19 restrictions, and stimulus payments on store patronage and economic activity. This article provides a case study using mobile geolocation data to quantify the loss of store foot traffic due to striking with picketing by analyzing the 2022 King Soopers strike in Colorado, USA. Using the historic foot traffic data of the past two years for 118 King Soopers locations, 78 of which went on strike, two SARIMA models were trained, and their predicted foot traffic values were compared to the actual values during the strike period. This technique indicates an average 47% decrease in foot traffic for striking stores and a 14% decrease in foot traffic for nonstriking locations.

Examining the influence of Covid-19 restrictions, a nurse strike, and SARS-CoV-2 coinfection on bacteremia mortality: A Danish population-based cohort study (2019–2022)

ObjectivesBacteremia is an acute severe infection with high mortality. Changes in healthcare services and coinfections with SARS-CoV-2 may have affected the mortality for bacteremia during the COVID-19 pandemic, which has been reported for other major diseases. In this study we examine the all-cause bacteremia mortality amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. MethodsA population-based cohort study comprised of laboratory confirmed bacteremia episodes in the Capital Region, Denmark (March 2019–February 2022). Cox proportional hazards models were used to calculate hazard ratios (HR) and 95 % confidence intervals (CI) for all-cause bacteremia mortality associated with the Covid-19 restriction period, a strike period, and coinfection with SARS-CoV-2, adjusted for possible confounders. ResultsA total of 14,912 bacteremia episodes were identified in 12,693 patients during the study period. The 30- and 90-day all-cause mortality were 19 % and 27 %, respectively. The fully adjusted HR for 30- and 90-day all-cause mortality associated with the Covid-19 restriction period were 0.91 (95 % CI, 0.84 to 0.99) and 0.90 (95 % CI, 0.84 to 0.96), respectively, compared to the remaining time period. The corresponding HRs associated with SARS-CoV-2 coinfection were 1.29 (95 % CI, 1.11 to 1.50) and 1.36 (95 % CI, 1.20 to 1.55) compared to patients without coinfection. The association between the national nurse strike and all-cause bacteremia mortality was inconclusive. ConclusionsIn this large population-based cohort study, a significant reduction in all-cause mortality for bacteremia was observed during the Covid-19 restriction period in Denmark, while coinfection with SARS-CoV-2 seem to be a substantial risk factor for all-cause bacteremia mortality.

Uncovering 2-D toroidal representations in grid cell ensemble activity during 1-D behavior

Minimal experiments, such as head-fixed wheel-running and sleep, offer experimental advantages but restrict the amount of observable behavior, making it difficult to classify functional cell types. Arguably, the grid cell, and its striking periodicity, would not have been discovered without the perspective provided by free behavior in an open environment. Here, we show that by shifting the focus from single neurons to populations, we change the minimal experimental complexity required. We identify grid cell modules and show that the activity covers a similar, stable toroidal state space during wheel running as in open field foraging. Trajectories on grid cell tori correspond to single trial runs in virtual reality and path integration in the dark, and the alignment of the representation rapidly shifts with changes in experimental conditions. Thus, we provide a methodology to discover and study complex internal representations in even the simplest of experiments.

Spatiotemporal Variations in Biophysical Water Quality Parameters: An Integrated In Situ and Remote Sensing Analysis of an Urban Lake in Chile

This study aims to develop and implement a methodology for retrieving bio-optical parameters in a lagoon located in the Biobío region, South-Central Chile, by analyzing time series of Landsat-8 OLI satellite images. The bio-optical parameters, i.e., chlorophyll-a (Chl-a, in mg·m−3) and turbidity (in NTU) were measured in situ during a satellite overpass to minimize the impact of atmospheric distortions. To calibrate the satellite images, various atmospheric correction methods (including ACOLITE, C2RCC, iCOR, and LaSRC) were evaluated during the image preprocessing phase. Spectral signatures obtained from the scenes for each atmospheric correction method were then compared with spectral signatures acquired in situ on the water surface. In short, the ACOLITE model emerged as the best fit for the calibration process, reaching R2 values of 0.88 and 0.79 for Chl-a and turbidity, respectively. This underlies the importance of using inversion models, when processing water surfaces, to mitigate errors due to aerosols and the sun-glint effect. Subsequently, reflectance data derived from the ACOLITE model were used to establish correlations between various spectral indices and the in situ data. The empirical retrieval models (based on band combinations) yielding superior performance, with higher R2 values, were subjected to a rigorous statistical validation and optimization by applying a bootstrapping approach. From this process the green chlorophyll index (GCI) was selected as the optimal choice for constructing the Chl-a retrieval model, reaching an R2 of 0.88, while the red + NIR spectral index achieved the highest R2 value (0.79) for turbidity analysis, although in the last case, it was necessary to incorporate data from several seasons for an adequate model training. Our analysis covered a broad spectrum of dates, seasons, and years, which allowed us to search deeper into the evolution of the trophic state associated with the lake. We identified a striking eight-year period (2014–2022) characterized by a decline in Chl-a concentration in the lake, possibly attributable to governmental measures in the region for the protection and conservation of the lake. Additionally, the OLI imagery showed a spatial pattern varying from higher Chl-a values in the northern zone compared to the southern zone, probably due to the heat island effect of the northern urban areas. The results of this study suggest a positive effect of recent local regulations and serve as the basis for the creation of a modern monitoring system that enhances traditional point-based methods, offering a holistic view of the ongoing processes within the lake.

Exploring the impact of input variables on option value: a study using experimental design and analysis techniques

The Black Scholes Model (BSM), a well-known approach for determining the fair value of options, has a long history. The price of the underlying asset, the strike price, volatility, time period, interest rates, and dividend yields are several of the input variables that have an impact on option pricing. This study intends to investigate the effects of these variables on option values. Taguchi’s methodology of design of the experiment is used for the experimental setup and to optimize the factors for option values. Taguchi method L27 design of experiment (DOE), analysis of variance (ANOVA), regression analysis, and analysis of means (ANOM) were used to investigate the effects of these input parameters on option values. MINITAB 18 software is used to carry out the analysis. The factors, in order of their significance from highest to lowest, were identified as: strike price, time period, interest rate, underlying asset price, volatility and dividend concerning to call option value for the given dataset. This technique can be used by traders to determine how various factors impact option values. The proportion contribution of these factors to the call values is also quantified using ANOVA.

Combined genotype of HCRTR2 and CLOCK variants in a large family of cluster headache with familial periodicity phenotype.

Cluster headache (CH) is a debilitating condition with severe and recurrent headaches characterized by circannual and circadian rhythms. A genetic contingent was suggested, and several loci were described in large cohorts. However, no variant associated with CH for multiplex families has been described. The purpose of our study was to examine candidate genes and new genetic variants in a multigenerational family of cluster headaches in which two members have original chronobiological characteristics that we have called the phenomenon of "family periodicity". We performed a whole genome sequencing in four patients in a large multigenerational family of cluster headache to identify additional loci associated with CH. This allowed us to replicate the genomic association of HCRTR2 and CLOCK as candidate genes. In two family members with the same phenotypic circadian pattern (familial periodicity) the association of polymorphism NM_001526.4:c.922G > A was shown in the HCRTR2 gene, and NM_004898.4:c.213T > C in the CLOCK gene. This whole genome sequencing reproduced two genetic risk loci for CH already involved in its pathogenicity. This is the first time that the combination of HCRTR2 and CLOCK gene variants is identified in a multigenerational family of CH with striking periodicity characteristics. Our study supports the hypothesis that the combination of HCRTR2 and CLOCK gene variants can contribute to the risk of cluster headache and offer the prospect of a new area of research on the molecular circadian clock.

The spillover effect of industrial action on the profitability of platinum mining companies

This study was aimed at determining the effects of industrial action on profitability in the South African platinum mining sector. We compared companies where employees engaged in industrial action (affected companies) to strike-free companies (competing companies). Industrial action refers to strikes by rock-drillers, as these strikes typically result in the shutdown of production at the mines affected. A t-statistics analysis of significant differences in revenue and earnings of affected and non-affected platinum companies was conducted using data from platinum mining companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange from 2011 to 2015. Contrary to international studies, which suggest that the spillover effects of industrial action positively affect competing companies, our findings show that profits in the platinum sector decrease significantly during strike periods for both affected and competing companies. The results indicate industrial action is a threat to the profitability of all companies, and that employee demands should be prioritized and negotiated before they result in industrial action. Improved dialogue between management, labour unions, and employees in the platinum mining industry is recommended. The study contributes to the scanty literature on the effect of industrial action on the profitability of mining companies in a developing economy.

Anomalous periodicity and parafermion hybridization in superconducting qubits

Topological quantum computation relies on a protected degenerate subspace enabling complicated operations in a noise-resilient way. To this end, hybrid platforms based on non-Abelian quasiparticles such as parafermions hold great promise. These are predicted to emerge at the interface between fractional quantum Hall states and superconductors and therefore naturally couple to superconducting qubits. Here, we study a parafermionic fluxonium circuit and show that the presence of topological states yields a striking periodicity in the qubit spectrum. In addition, peculiar and marked signatures of different parafermion coupling, associated with multiple tunneling of fractional quasiparticles, can be detected in the qubit microwave spectrum. Finite parafermion coupling can reduce the full degeneracy of the non-Abelian manifold, and we show that this configuration can be used to assess the remaining degree of protection of the system.

Headache: A Review

Headache is the pain of any kind or discomfort in the head excluding the lower part of the face and including the upper part of the neck. Of all the painful states that afflict humans, headache is undoubtedly the most frequent and the most common reason for medical consultation. Epidemiology of headache in Bangladesh is not exactly known but statistics from several countries may reflect the burden of headache all over the world as well as in our country. About 40 million Americans suffer from severe HA annually. Classification of Headache disorders are Primary Headache Disorders Secondary Headache Disorders. Primary headache disorders includes Migraine, Tension type of headache (TTH), cluster headache and other trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias, and others (hypnic headache, primary thunderclap headache, hemicrania continua, new daily-persistent headache (NDPH). Tension-type of headache is the most common variety of headache with one year prevalence has been variably reported from 30%-90%. Migraine is a common, frequently incapacitating, headache disorder characterized by episodic attacks of moderate-to-severe headaches, and various combinations of neurological, gastrointestinal and/or autonomic nervous system dysfunction. Cluster headache (CH) is a strictly unilateral .headache that occurs in association with crania autonomic features and, in most patients, has a striking circadian periodicity. Treatment of tension type of headache includes reassurance, symptomatic, prophylactic. Symptomatic treatment comprises analgesics e.g. paracetamole, NSAID, anxiolytic e.g. diazepam, other benzodiagipine (BNZ). The patient with a headache often finds himself a medical orphan. He is fortunate indeed if his headache is transient, for other wise he may find himself on an excursion to the ophthalmologist, otolaryngologist, neurologist, dentist, psychiatrist, chiropractor, and the latest health spa.

Test empirique de l’hypothèse de l’efficience informationnelle faible du marché boursier Marocain à l’ère du Covid-19

The Covid 19 caused several changes on the economic scene worldwide, the financial markets do not escape this, indeed an important instability of these markets was noticed in the various stock exchanges due to the situation of uncertainty in which the operators were.
 The period of the covid was marked in the financial markets by an overreaction of the investors to the available information, during this striking period, the Moroccan market knew a remarkable collapse which can be explained by the concerns of the operators as for the propagation of the pandemic, this leads us to question the hypothesis of the informational efficiency of the financial markets and pushes us to seek explanations as for the processes of the determinations of the prices of the financial assets
 To this end, and given the scarcity of work in this direction, this article tries to verify the hypothesis of informational efficiency of the Moroccan stock market in the context of covid19.

The impact of strike action by Ghana registered nurses and midwives on the access to and utilization of healthcare services.

As the largest professional group, nurses and midwives play instrumental roles in healthcare delivery, supporting the smooth administration and operation of the health system. Consequently, the withdrawal of nursing and midwifery services via strike action has direct and indirect detrimental effects on access to healthcare. The current study examined the impact of strike action by nurses and midwives with respect to access to and use of health services. Data were collected retrospectively from a total of 181 health facilities from all the 16 administrative regions of Ghana, with the support of field officers. Because the strike lasted for 3 days, the data collection span three consecutive days before the strike, three days of the strike and three consecutive days after the strike. Data analysis was focused comparing the utilization of healthcare services before, during and after strike. Data were analysed and presented on the various healthcare services. This was done separately for the health facility type and the 16 administrative regions. The results showed that; (1) the average number of patients or clients who accessed healthcare services reduced drastically during the strike period, compared with before the strike. Majority of the regions recorded more than 70% decrease in service use during the strike period; (2) the average number of patients or clients who accessed healthcare services after the strike increased by more than 100% across majority of the regions. The study showed that strike action by nurses and midwives negatively affected access to and utilization of healthcare services.

Market response to typhoons: The role of information and expectations

AbstractDamages from tropical storms are enormous and predicted to increase with climate change. This study uses high‐frequency data to investigate typhoons' effects through information channels on Taiwan's wholesale vegetable market during the 1996–2014 period. We first identify effects on prices and quantities during storms' striking periods and further separate price effects into those due, respectively, to supply and demand shifts. The results show that for typhoons that make landfall, prices rise significantly during the striking period, and the decomposition results indicate that most of the price effects during periods with warnings but no landfall are due to demand shifts, which supports evidence of precautionary purchases by consumers. However, during the landfall period, the price effect is mainly driven by decreased supply. In addition, we find that typhoon effects differ between specific vegetables, and the magnitude of precautionary purchase is correlated with expected damage to those vegetables. Consumers also make more precautionary purchases when they face higher‐intensity typhoons or learn typhoons will make landfall within 24 h, and such prior information related to intensity or landfall urgency can also amplify early harvest effects by farmers.

The impact of health care strikes on patient mortality: A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies.

This study sought to evaluate the impact of health care strike action on patient mortality. EMBASE, PubMed CINAHL, BIOETHICSLINE, EconLit, WEB OF SCIENCE, and grey literature were searched up to December 2021. A systematic review and meta-analysis were utilized. Random-effects meta-analysis was used to compare mortality rate during strike versus pre- or post-strike, with meta-regression employed to identify factors that might influence the potential impact of strike action. Studies were included if they were observational studies that examined in-hospital/clinic or population mortality during a strike period compared with a control period where there was no strike action. Seventeen studies examined mortality: 14 examined in-hospital mortality and three examined population mortality. In-hospital studies represented 768,918 admissions and 7191 deaths during strike action and 1,034,437 admissions and 12,676 deaths during control periods. The pooled relative risk (RR) of in-hospital mortality did not significantly differ during strike action versus non-strike periods (RR=0.91, 95% confidence interval 0.63, 1.31, p=0.598). Meta-regression also showed that mortality RR was not significantly impacted by country (p=0.98), profession on strike (p=0.32 for multiple professions, p=0.80 for nurses), the duration of the strike (p=0.26), or whether multiple facilities were on strike (p=0.55). Only three studies that examined population mortality met the inclusion criteria; therefore, further analysis was not conducted. However, it is noteworthy that none of these studies reported a significant increase in population mortality attributable to strike action. Based on the data available, this review did not find any evidence that strike action has any significant impact on in-hospital patient mortality.

Effects of a Labor Dispute on a Hospital-Based Helicopter Air Ambulance Service's Volume and Destinations

ObjectiveIn the United States, there are few unionized hospitals with air medical transport agencies. When labor disputes and strikes occur, information about the effect on helicopter air ambulances and critical care ground transport services is limited. For this study, a helicopter air ambulance and critical care ground transport agency's volume of transports was examined before, during, and after a strike and compared with volumes from the prior year. MethodsThis was a retrospective, descriptive comparative review of a unionized hospital's air ambulance and critical care mobile ground transport service records from March 28 to July 22, 2018 (control year, 872 transports) and March 28 to July 22, 2019 (strike year, 863 transports). ResultsCompared with the prior year, during the strike period alone, the volume of flight transports remained stable; however, there was a significant 31% loss in transports for time-critical diseases including trauma, stroke, and myocardial infarction. ConclusionThe unionized helicopter air ambulance experienced little change in overall volume, but there was a statistically and financially significant decline in flight transports for patients with time-critical diseases. When preparing for labor disputes, potential declines in the transportation of this population type should be considered, and future studies should look at patient and requesting agency preferences during strikes.

Impact of an emergency department resident strike during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Daegu, South Korea: a retrospective cross-sectional study.

BackgroundTo prepare for future work stoppages in the medical industry, this study aimed to identify the effects of healthcare worker strikes on the mortality rate of patients visiting the emergency department (ED) at six training hospitals in Daegu, South Korea.MethodsWe used a retrospective, cross-sectional, multicenter design to analyze the medical records of patients who visited six training hospitals in Daegu (August 21–September 8, 2020). For comparison, control period 1 was set as the same period in the previous year (August 21–September 8, 2019) and control period 2 was set as July 1–19, 2020. Patient characteristics including age, sex, and time of ED visit were investigated along with mode of arrival, length of ED stay, and in-hospital mortality. The experimental and control groups were compared using t-tests, and Mann-Whitney U-test, chi-square test, and Fisher exact tests, as appropriate. Univariate logistic regression was performed to identify significant factors, followed by multivariate logistic regression analysis. ResultsDuring the strike period, 31,357 patients visited the ED, of which 7,749 belonged to the experimental group. Control periods 1 and 2 included 13,100 and 10,243 patients, respectively. No significant in-hospital mortality differences were found between strike periods; however, the results showed statistically significant differences in the length of ED stay. ConclusionThe ED resident strike did not influence the mortality rate of patients who visited the EDs of six training hospitals in Daegu. Furthermore, the number of patients admitted and the length of ED stay decreased during the strike period.

Doctors Strike During COVID-19 Pandemic in Malaysia

Doctors Strike During COVID-19 Pandemic in Malaysia

Not a Penny off the Pay, Not a Second on the Day: Long-term Wage Settlement at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited

This case study presents the delicately poised situation of the workers who were on strike, demanding better wages from their employer, during wage negotiations in India. It highlights the dispute resolution mechanisms, the rubric to evaluate the strike as well as whether wages are to be paid for the duration of the strike period within the framework of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, of India. This case study is based on the strike, which occurred in September 2019, during the wage settlement at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). It is developed completely from secondary and publicly available reports and information. The researchers have used the specific legislative framework of Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, of India to understand certain practical aspects of the applications of the legislation. The major issues highlighted in this specific case study are the process outlined for the workers to go on a strike, rubric to evaluate a strike and whether wages are to be paid for the duration of the strike period. It is also a good case study to explore the strategies for effective collective bargaining when one is at a relative disadvantage as opposed to their opponents.

Changes in Emergency Department Performance during Strike of Junior Physicians in Korea.

Objective A nationwide strike that took place from August 21 to September 7, 2020, which was led by young doctors represented by residents and interns, resulted in shortages of manpower at almost all university and training hospitals. This study aimed to identify differences in the process and outcomes of emergency department (ED) patient care by comparing the performance over about 2 weeks of the strike with that during the usual ED operations. Methods This retrospective observational study evaluated ED flow and performance during the junior doctors' strike and compared it with the usual period in a single tertiary-care academic hospital. The outcome variables were defined as ED length of stay, crude mortality, and hospital mortality and adjusted for demographic and clinical parameters. The effect of the doctors' strike on hospital mortality adjusted for demographic and clinical variables was investigated using logistic regression. Results A total of 1,121 and 1,496 patients visited the ED during the strike and control periods (both 17 days), respectively. The care usually provided by four or six physicians, including one specialist, was replaced with that by one or two specialists at any one time. During the trainee doctors' strike, EM specialists managed patients with fewer consultations. However, the proportion of patients who underwent laboratory and radiologic tests did not change significantly. The median ED length of stay significantly decreased from 359 minutes (interquartile range, IQR: 147–391) in the control period to 326 minutes (IQR: 123–318) during the strike period (P < 0.001). The doctors' strike was not found to have a significant effect on mortality after adjustments with other variables. Conclusion During the junior doctors' strike in 2020 in Korea, EM specialists efficiently managed the care of emergency patients with higher levels of acuity without compromising the survival rate, through fewer consultations and faster disposition.

The Impact of a Nursing Strike on Glycemic Control in Hospitalized Patients with Diabetes.

IntroductionHyperglycemia and hypoglycemia have been found to increase morbidity and mortality among hospitalized patients with diabetes. In July of 2018, our academic medical center experienced a 48-hour nursing strike, during which time 600 replacement nurses were employed. This cohort study evaluated the impact of the nursing strike on glycemic control among hospitalized patients with diabetes.MethodsPoint-of-care fingerstick blood glucose (POC BG) values among hospitalized patients with diabetes were compared between the 48-hour nursing strike period and two 48-hour periods when the nursing strike did not occur. We evaluated the percentage of POC BG values that were hyperglycemic (POC BG 181-250 mg/dL), severely hyperglycemic (POC BG >250 mg/dL), and hypoglycemic (POC BG <70 mg/dL). Additionally, we assessed the proportion of patients who experienced one or more days of hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, or severe hyperglycemia.ResultsWe found a significant association between the distributions of POC BG test results during the nursing strike; test results more frequently showed hyperglycemia, severe hyperglycemia, or hypoglycemia during the nursing strike than during the control period (p=0.006). There was a significant difference in the days of hypoglycemia, with 7.7% of patients experiencing one or more days of hypoglycemia during the strike period compared with 1.4% of patients during the control period (p=0.03).ConclusionNursing strikes have been employed as a last resort in contract negotiations with hospitals, but they have the potential to significantly affect patient care and safety. Further studies are needed to evaluate these impacts to prepare for future workforce disruptions.

Environmental factors, winter respiratory infections and the seasonal variation in heart failure admissions

Seasonal cycles of AHF are causally attributed to the seasonal pattern of respiratory tract infections. However, this assumption has never been formally validated. We aimed to determine whether the increase in winter admissions for acute heart failure (AHF) can be explained by seasonal infectious diseases. We studied 12,147 patients admitted for AHF over a period of 11 years (2005–2015). Detailed virology and bacteriology data were collected on each patient. Meteorological information including daily temperature and relative humidity was obtained for the same period. The peak-to-low ratio, indicating the intensity of seasonality, was calculated using negative binomial regression-derived incidence rate ratios (IRR). AHF admissions occurred with a striking annual periodicity, peaking in winter (December-February) and were lowest in summer (June–August), with a seasonal amplitude (January vs. August) of 2.00 ([95% CI 1.79–2.24]. Occurrence of confirmed influenza infections was low (1.59%). Clinical diagnoses of respiratory infections, confirmed influenza infections, and influenza-like infections also followed a strong seasonal pattern (P < 0.0001; Peak/low ratio 2.42 [95% CI 1.394–3.03]). However, after exclusion of all respiratory infections, the seasonal variation in AHF remained robust (Peak/low ratio January vs. August, 1.81 [95% CI 1.60–2.05]; P < 0.0001). There was a strong inverse association between AHF admissions and average monthly temperature (IRR 0.95 per 1℃ increase; 95% CI 0.94 to 0.96). In conclusion, these is a dominant seasonal modulation of AHF admissions which is only partly explained by the incidence of winter respiratory infections. Environmental factors modify the susceptibility of heart failure patients to decompensation.