Traditional Work Research Articles

Hybrid work – a reconceptualisation and research agenda

Abstract We begin this conceptual paper, by outlining three recent developments in the context of the changing the nature of work: (1) the increasing proportion of remote work, (2) the quickly expanding use of (generative) AI applications, and (3) the growing advancements in virtual world technologies and platforms. We argue that the synthesis of these developments will vastly impact traditional work models and practices. This transformation warrants a critical rethinking of the traditional understanding of hybrid work which, so far, has predominantly focused on the spectrum of in-person and remote work. We suggest adjusting this perspective and posit grand challenges and related research questions in order to do so.

Available Transfer Capability Assessment of Multiarea Power Systems with Conditional Generative Adversarial Network

Available transfer capability (ATC) is an important measurement index to evaluate the security margin of interconnected power grids and serve as a reference for the transmission right transaction. In modern power systems, ATC is affected by the transmission network topology, renewable power output uncertainty, and load demand uncertainty. Traditional works usually model the power source-load uncertainty by using robust optimization, interval optimization, or chance-constraint optimization, which cannot fully reflect the probabilistic distribution of the daily source-load uncertainty. This paper proposes an ATC assessment methodology based on the typical stochastic scenarios of renewable output and load demand of multiarea power systems. Furthermore, the conditional generative adversarial network (CGAN) algorithm is adopted to generate and select representative scenario sets based on historical raw data, which can fully reflect the usual operating condition of a system with high renewable energy penetration. The scenario set that is fed into the ATC assessment model can fully characterize the impact of source-load uncertainty on daily ATC. Finally, the proposed method is verified by a modified three-area IEEE 9-bus system and a real-world provincial power system.

The quantum mechanics of skincare: A context for the biochemistry curriculum.

Designing a relevant and engaging curriculum for biochemistry undergraduates can be challenging for topics which are at the periphery of the subject. We have used the framework of context-based learning as a means of assessing understanding of quantum theory in a group of students in their junior year. Our context, the role of retinol in skincare, provides a basis for the simple application of quantum mechanical principles to a biological context in an adaptation of the polyene in a box concept. As part of the learner journey, they gain experience of practical computational chemistry, which provided an in silico alternative to traditional laboratory work during the SARS-CoV-19 pandemic. Student feedback was overwhelmingly positive, and this approach is now firmly embedded in the undergraduate curriculum.

Effectiveness of Music Interventions in Occupational Stress of Women

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate if listening to music can help reduce stress for women who work in an electric car parts factory in Mashhad. Methods: Out of 200 people in this study, 32 were chosen at random and split into two groups: one for the experiment and one for comparison. To gather information, we used a job stress questionnaire and a music therapy plan that consisted of 30 sessions, which lasted for one month. In this study, we played the music that the participants liked 4 times during each session. Each time, we played the music for 15 minutes, while they were taking a break or before they started working. Results: There were 16 participants in the group we tested. The people in the control group followed their normal way of doing things and did not use this procedure. The research found that music intervention helps decrease the occupational stress in women more than the traditional work schedule method. The effect size of the music intervention was 0.809, which means it had approximately an 81% impact on reducing stress. Conclusion: The results of the pre-tests and post-tests indicated that the stress levels of women in the experiment group decreased significantly after listening to music. Based on these findings, it can be concluded that listening to music while taking breaks at work helps to lower job stress.

A silver lining for the excluded: Exploring experiences that micro‐task crowdsourcing affords workers with impaired work access

AbstractMicro‐task crowdsourcing (MTCS) platforms offer alternative work settings outside traditional work boundaries and thus increasingly attract crowdworkers who face exclusion from access to other work. However, we know little about these crowdworkers' perspective on MTCS and its implications for their personal life. Building on insights from three qualitative surveys with responses from 538 crowdworkers and 576 forum posts in total, we show that despite the often challenging work conditions, MTCS platforms provide these crowdworkers with a work environment in which they can participate in paid work activities without feeling excluded due to their personal circumstances. As a result, MTCS platform work provides these crowdworkers with a set of positive experiences that were not possible before. These afforded experiences go beyond work‐related experiences but relate directly to crowdworkers' personal situation and life. Our research yields implications for the literature on MTCS and also for policy makers and stakeholders concerned with the creation of more inclusive work settings.

Ceramic Product Design Based on Chinese Festival Element

In order to improve cultural and artistic value, the study investigates the significance of incorporating Chinese festivals into digital ceramic design. The integration of Chinese festivals into digital ceramics is a way to celebrate and preserve traditional Chinese culture while communicating historical and cultural significance, according to a thematic analysis. This combination provides a forum for intercultural communication and creativity. Additionally, by enhancing artistic and cultural elements, combining Chinese festivals with digital ceramic product designs has synergistic value. With ceramics, this method allows for creative expression, storytelling, and cultural heritage preservation. Tradition and technology work together to create distinctive, eye-catching digital ceramic works that encapsulate the spirit of Chinese festivals while also preserving and advancing cultural traditions. Essentially, the study highlights how Chinese festivals can be incorporated into digital ceramic design. It demonstrates how this integration fosters creativity and cultural preservation by bridging the gap between tradition and technology. Similar to how symbols are essential to ceramic design, fusing traditional and modern aesthetics makes ceramic products more appealing and allows for deeper cultural significance. In order to bridge the gaps in Chinese ceramic design and ultimately advance Chinese culture and ceramics through innovative design, the study emphasises the necessity of semiotic approaches and thematic holiday-themed ceramic designs. This study advances the knowledge of how traditional culture can enhance modern ceramic design, creating a bond with consumers and preserving the health of China's ceramics sector.

Technostress Phenomenon as a Silent Impact of ICT Era: Case Study Indonesian Female Civil Servants

The transition of work systems from traditional systems to information, communication and technology (ICT)-based work systems after Covid 19 has had certain impacts on employees in all government offices in the world. The implementation of the work from home (WFH) policy established by a number of government offices in Indonesia is a reasonable decision to anticipate the spread of Covid 19 and implement a new normal work system. The transition from traditional work systems to new ICT-based and online work systems has had a direct and indirect impact on human life, especially civil servants in government offices in Indonesia. There are silent actors who are most affected, suchus women or mothers employee, because they have dual roles, household work and office work. This research was conducted to analyze the factors that driving technostress in female civil servants when working ICT-based or online. The study aims to carry out advocacy and provide recommendations for solutions to related parties. This research method uses a qualitative approach. The research analysis show that there are several factors that trigger technostress in female civil servants in Indonesia, such as unlimited working hours, when children or family members are sick, have to caring babies or toddlers while working virtually, technological capabilities issue, signal and network issue, limited facilities during WFH, unavailability of household assistants/caregivers, and so on. Based on the results of research and data analysis, this research recommends that even though WFO or WFH with working ICT -base system are implemented, the Indonesian Government must continue to make policy regulations regarding maximum working time hours for civil servants, especially female researchers in Indonesia. This is to avoid excessive and inefficient working time which can result in technostress. The ICT work system teaches us to change our lifestyle by prioritizing health and a balanced work system.

The anti-urolithiasis activity and safety of strangury-relieving herbs: A comparative study based on fruit fly kidney stone model

Ethnopharmacological relevanceUrolithiasis is one of the oldest and most widespread urological diseases suffered globally. In the long history of Traditional Chinese Medicine, there're numerous herbs documented with strangury-relieving properties playing crucial roles in treating various urological disorders, including dysuria, hematuria, and renal colic, etc., which may be caused by urolithiasis. Exploring these herbs may reveal safer, more effective, and cost-efficient drugs and therapies for urolithiasis. Aim of the studyThis study aims to assess the anti-urolithiasis efficacy and safety of 46 Chinese traditional and folk herbal drugs using the fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) kidney stone model, in order to identify the most valuable ethnomedicinal materials. Materials and methodsWater extract and 50% ethanol extract of each herb were prepared respectively. 0.2% (w/w) sodium oxalate was chosen as appropriate lithogenic agent through fruit fly life span study. Male fruit-flies within three days of emergence were aged for an additional three days, then were randomly divided into experimental groups, model group and control groups (n = 20). The flies in blank control group, model group and positive control group were fed with standard food, standard food containing 0.2% sodium oxalate, standard food containing 0.2% sodium oxalate and 3% (w/w) Garcinia cambogia extract, respectively. Meanwhile, flies in the experimental groups were raised on standard food containing 0.2% sodium oxalate and 3% (w/w) herbal extract. The anti-urolithiasis capability of the extracts was evaluated using stone area ratio (the stone area divided by the area of the Malpighian tubule) and stone-clearing rate. Additionally, the 7-day mortality rate was employed as an indicator of safety. ResultsOut of the 46 herbs, 24 exhibited significant anti-urolithiasis effects in their water extracts. Among them, Herba Nephrolepidis, Herba Humuli, Herba Desmodii Styracifolii, Cortex Plumeriae Rubrae, and Herba Mimosae Pudicae showed us a low 7-day mortality rate of fruit-flies as well. However, only a limited number of herbal extracts (8 out of 46) showed obvious anti-urolithiasis activity in their 50% ethanol extracts. ConclusionHighly potential anti-urolithiasis candidates were discovered from strangury-relieving herbs recorded in classical Traditional Chinese Medicine works, highlighting the significant value of traditional and folk ethnopharmacological knowledge.

Gender Equality for Whom? The Changing College Education Gradients of the Division of Paid Work and Housework Among US Couples, 1968-2019.

In response to women's changing roles in labor markets, couples have adopted varied strategies to reconcile career and family needs. Yet, most studies on the gendered division of labor focus almost exclusively on changes either in work or family domain. Doing so neglects the process through which couples negotiate and contest traditional work and family responsibilities. Studies that do examine these tradeoffs have highlighted how work-family strategies range far beyond simple traditional-egalitarian dichotomies but are limited to specific points in time or population subgroups. Using data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics and latent-class analysis, this article provides the first population-based estimates of the couple-level tradeoffs inherent in work-family strategies in the United States, documents trends in the share of couples who fall into each of these strategies, and considers social stratification by gender and college education in these trends. Specifically, I identify seven distinct work-family strategies (traditional, neotraditional, her-second-shift, egalitarian, his-second-shift, female-breadwinner, and neither-full-time couples). Egalitarian couples experienced the fastest increase in prevalence among college-educated couples, whereas couples that lacked two full-time earners increased among less-educated couples. Still, about a quarter of all couples adopted "her-second-shift" strategies, with no variation across time, making it the modal work-family strategy among dual-earner couples. The long-run, couple-level results support the view that the gender revolution has stalled and suggest that this stall may be caused partly by strong traditional gender preferences, whereas structural resources appear to facilitate gender equality among a selected few.

Enhancing heat transfer in thermosyphons: The role of self-rewetting nanofluids, and filling ratios for improved performance

This study investigates the complex dynamics of heat transfer and phase change within a flat-shaped thermosyphon, examining various parameters and working fluids. The research explores the effects of different working fluids, filling ratios, and heat inputs on the system's thermal performance. This study employs an axisymmetric model, to enhance the accuracy of the solution compared to a 2D model while maintaining a low computational cost. To validate our numerical model, we conducted comprehensive comparisons with experimental data, including the axisymmetric model, and capturing the nanofluid effects. Remarkably, our simulations consistently align with the experimental findings, demonstrating a high degree of accuracy and reliability in our model.The findings show that self-rewetting nanofluids exhibit superior heat transfer capabilities and a reduced risk of dry-out compared to traditional working fluids. Notably, self-rewetting fluids and self-rewetting nanofluids exhibit a unique behavior, reversed surface tension trends with rising temperatures, which effectively prevents dry-out by attracting liquid to hot regions. Additionally, the enhanced thermal conductivity of nanofluids during boiling enhances their performance furthermore. Also, the research studies the impact of filling ratios on temperature profiles and heat transfer rates, emphasizing the importance of higher filling ratios in lowering bottom plate temperatures. These insights offer valuable guidance for optimizing thermosyphons in applications like electronic cooling.

Retaining the transportation benefits of COVID-19 induced work from home: Understanding the role of worker productivity

The abrupt switch to work from home during the COVID-19 pandemic has not only altered people’s commutes but also changed their entire work-life balance. While some workers were quick to adapt and maintain or even increase productivity, others experienced a decrease in productivity. Self-assessed productivity changes after switching from traditional in-person work to work from home is studied using a survey of 3,780 workers (including full-time college students). A probabilistic statistical model is used to estimate the probabilities that workers’ self-reported productivity during the pandemic remained the same, decreased, in some ways increased and in other ways decreased, or increased. The model estimation results identify workers who were resilient and adaptable (having a higher probability of increasing their productivity) and those less adaptive workers, who were more likely to experience a decrease in productivity. It was found that race, ethnicity, household income, household size, education, gender, the presence of children in the household, level of life satisfaction, being a student, prior experience with online meetings, and commute distances all play a role in how the workers’ productivity changed. This study provides insights for the development of effective policies to improve equity (by targeting vulnerable populations) and sustainability (by retaining the transportation and environmental benefits of telework) in the post COVID-19 reality.

Public–Private Partnership (PPP) in Road Infrastructure Projects: A Review of Evolution, Approaches, and Prospects

Public–private partnerships (PPPs) are a widely used procurement method for constructing, maintaining, and operating roads, constituting an alternative to the traditional public works model (TPW). This is because the efficiency of the PPP model has been highlighted over the TPW model. This study carried out a bibliometric analysis of 734 public articles from Scopus on PPPs in road infrastructure projects between 1993 and 2022. The results allow us to identify the general characteristics of the research; the most relevant articles; the most productive journals; and the most prolific authors, institutions, and countries and their main international cooperation networks, as well as to detect the main current research topics, which are: financial management, costs and pricing systems, privatization of transport infrastructure services, and sustainability. Consequently, this study provides a comprehensive overview of research on PPPs in road infrastructure projects over the last 30 years. This can reinforce and complement previous bibliometric analyses on PPPs in road infrastructure projects.

Joint optimization of utility and privacy in mobile edge computing

In mainstream research on Mobile Edge Computing (MEC), considerations for user privacy are often overlooked. This paper introduces Differential Privacy techniques to MEC, which obfuscate specific parameter values when transmitting user data, preventing leakage of sensitive information. Simultaneously, privacy, latency, and energy are incorporated as components of the utility function. We model the task offloading process using a deep reinforcement learning model and propose the use of the Deep Deterministic Policy Gradient (DDPG) algorithm in conjunction with a Laplacian privacy budget for joint optimization of privacy and utility during offloading. After sufficient training, the DDPG model can effectively approximate the optimal solution. Compared to traditional work, the optimized framework gives ample consideration to user privacy needs and outputs the optimal task offloading ratio solution with relatively low time complexity. This approach effectively safeguards user privacy while also considering the efficiency of task offloading.

Application of Big Data Technology in Audit

In the new era of rapid development of big data technology, the three key points of high-quality development of auditing are auditing talents, auditing rule of law and auditing technology. In the traditional audit process, auditors focus on professional judgment and professional competence, make audit plans, implement audit procedures and draw audit conclusions. However, there are many problems in traditional audit work, such as difficulty in obtaining sufficient external information and inefficiency in analyzing audit evidence. Therefore, auditors apply big data technology to audit work to solve various problems and put forward corresponding safeguard measures.

A cross-model hierarchical interactive fusion network for end-to-end multimodal aspect-based sentiment analysis

For the aspect-based sentiment analysis task, traditional works are only for text modality. However, in social media scenarios, texts often contain abbreviations, clerical errors, or grammatical errors, which invalidate traditional methods. In this study, the cross-model hierarchical interactive fusion network incorporating an end-to-end approach is proposed to address this challenge. In the network, a feature attention module and a feature fusion module are proposed to obtain the multimodal interaction feature between the image modality and the text modality. Through the attention mechanism and gated fusion mechanism, these two modules realize the auxiliary function of image in the text-based aspect-based sentiment analysis task. Meanwhile, a boundary auxiliary module is used to explore the dependencies between two core subtasks of the aspect-based sentiment analysis. Experimental results on two publicly available multi-modal aspect-based sentiment datasets validate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.

A Study to Know the Role of AI and Sustainability in Agriculture

Artificial intelligence (AI) has become an increasingly important tool in agriculture, providing farmers with innovative solutions to improve productivity, efficiency, and sustainability. Using AI-powered tools such as drones, sensors, and machine learning algorithms, farmers can gather and analyze data about soil health, crop growth, and weather patterns to make informed decisions and optimize their operations. AI has the potential to transform agriculture by enabling more precise and targeted applications of fertilizers, pesticides, and other inputs, reducing waste, and increasing yields. It also has the potential to reduce the environmental impact of agriculture by minimizing the use of harmful chemicals and promoting sustainable farming practices. Additionally, AI can assist in the automation of tedious and repetitive tasks, freeing up farmers to focus on more strategic decision-making and higher-value activities. This can also help to address labor shortages in the agriculture sector, particularly in countries with aging populations or where traditional agriculture work is seen as less desirable. Overall, the use of AI in agriculture has the potential to revolutionize the industry, making it more efficient, sustainable, and profitable while also ensuring that we can continue to feed a growing global population in a responsible and sustainable manner. Keyword: Artificial Intelligence, AI in Agriculture, AI and Agriculture, Sustainable Farming, AI application in Agriculture

Sosialisasi Pemanfaatan Bahan Bangunan Bersejarah dan Perkembangannya: Kolaborasi Komunitas Peneliti Peninggalan Warisan Filipina di Kota Semarang

Registered heritage buildings and sites are not just shapes and designs passed down from generation to generation. The materials and techniques used are part of the tangible and intangible heritage and contribute to the authenticity of the monument. This activity is a collaboration between the cultural heritage community of Semarang City and the City of Manila which visited Semarang. This activity aims to understand the authenticity of historical architectural works through their material and technical elements in Asia by comparing similar works in the cities of Semarang and the Philippines. It is hoped that the results of this activity will be able to find authentic images in several examples of traditional Asian architectural works and provide alternatives for forming place identities in both the cities of Semarang and Manila.

Unraveling the Choice Not to Work

With the arrival of Covid 19, more and more people began to alter their ways of working. While traditional working practices are gradually disappearing, many firms turned to working from home during the quarantine, which also led to the development of new patterns of electronic device use. Due to the significant reduction in the labor force for many positions that need on-site work caused by people being unable to leave their living space, the business is ultimately forced to lay off employees. People consequently made the decision to stop working. People lose interest in looking for work over time, and this pessimistic outlook is sure to have an effect on both the body and the mind. And this is not just the sole responsibility of one person, since others, like the family and the government, have to bear the costs of this decision. Therefore, it is in no way a value that should be shared. The functioning of society and the economy is necessary for an improvement in the happiness index of the populace.

Study on thermo-electrical performance of spray-cooled concentrating photovoltaic system using oleic acid modified nanofluid

In the utilization of solar photovoltaics, concentrated photovoltaic technology can effectively improve the efficiency of solar cells, but it is limited by the problems of contact thermal resistance and low thermal conductivity of working fluid in cooling technology. This article proposes a modified nanofluid spray cooling HCPV system, which not only overcomes the low heat carrying capacity of traditional working fluids, but also solves the problem of contact thermal resistance in the heat transfer process, further reducing the cell temperature to achieve higher heat transfer efficiency and electrical efficiency. At first, oleic acid (OA)-modified Al2O3 nanofluids (OA-Al2O3-H2O/C2H6O) were prepared. Otherwise, stability test methods and spray cooling heat transfer test benches were developed and built. Finally, the stability of nanofluids, the temperature field distribution and electrical efficiency of solar cells under high energy current density were tested, and the effects of flow rate and base-liquid ratio on system performance were analyzed. The results showed that: OA can keep Al2O3-H2O/C2H6O nanofluids more than 48 h, and the surface temperature is stable at 40 °C. Meanwhile, the electrical efficiency is always above 27 %, up to 29.37 % and 1.3 % higher than working fluid water.

Employee engagement at a private higher education institution during the COVID-19 pandemic

Orientation: During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, organisations, including higher education institutions, had to shift their thinking regarding traditional work models to new ones conducive to the lockdown.Research purpose: This study investigated employees’ levels of engagement during work-from-home (WFH) within a private higher education institution in South Africa in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.Motivation for the study: While some studies have looked at the effect of WFH on employee engagement, few studies could be located that look at this phenomenon within a private higher education setting.Research approach/design and method: This study adopted the positivistic research paradigm using a quantitative research approach. The target population included 133 personnel. Total population sampling was used, and the data were collected by administering an online survey using the 17-item Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES). Descriptive statistics, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), independent sample t-tests, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and effect sizes were used to analyse the data. A satisfactory response rate of 79% was realised.Main findings: The study found that despite the difficulties and anxieties brought about by the radical shifts to WFH, the personnel could still thrive and show high levels of engagement. This was attributed to positive drivers of engagement such as autonomy, psychosocial safety, convenience, social union, and most importantly, organisational support.Practical/managerial implications: Work-from-home is regarded as a viable work arrangement for the foreseeable future. Private higher education should take note of the suggestions put forward to improve, sustain and manage employee engagement successfully.Contribution/value-add: This study contributes to the body of knowledge surrounding employee engagement in the WFH context within the private higher education sphere.