Type Of Occupation Research Articles

The Correlation between Occupation and Birth Interval in Primary Postpartum Hemorrhage

ntroduction: Postpartum hemorrhage stands as one of the major contributors to maternal mortality globally. Postpartum hemorrhage is a rapid heavy vaginal bleeding that can cause signs and symptoms of hypovolemic shock. Many factors cause postpartum hemorrhage classified into indirect causes, namely type of delivery, age, parity, birth spacing, family income, education, and occupation. Objective: This study aims to determine the correlation between occupation and birth spacing with primary postpartum hemorrhage. Method: This study uses a case-control approach with a purposive sampling technique. The sample for this study included multigravida mothers and mothers diagnosed with primary postpartum hemorrhage at Ananda Maternity and Child Hospital, Makassar, in 2021. The total sample was 174 consisting of 84 cases and 84 control samples. The research instrument data is in the form of secondary data, namely medical records. Data analysis employed the chi-square test for bivariate analysis and multiple logistic regression for multivariate analysis, with a significance level of 0.05 Result: The results of the bivariate analysis showed a relationship between occupation (p-value: 0.000) and delivery distance (p-value: 0.000). Working mothers are 6 times at risk for experiencing primary postpartum hemorrhage (OR= 5.833) while mothers whose delivery interval is < 2 years or > 5 years have 4 times the risk (OR= 3.719). The results of the multivariate analysis show that the work and pregnancy distance is significantly related to the risk of postpartum hemorrhage (value P: 0,000) where the odds ratio for work (OR = 6,178) is higher than the distance of pregnancy (OR = 4.008). Conclusion: Occupational factors and birth spacing are significantly associated with primary postpartum hemorrhage, working mothers have a higher risk of experiencing primary postpartum hemorrhage. Pregnant women and women of childbearing age should receive more education about postpartum hemorrhage and its influencing factors to help prevent and identify it early.

Differential psychosocial consequences between male and female workers who have suffered an amputation in an occupational accident.

The main goals of this study are to determine the sociodemographic, occupational and psychosocial characteristics and type of amputation of people affected by occupational amputations in Navarre, Spain, and to analyse the differing characteristics based on sex. People affected by occupational amputations in Navarra between January 2000 and December 2019 were identified by the Public and Work Health Institute of Navarre. Sociodemographic, amputation, psychopathological (Symptom Checklist, SCL-90-R; Severity Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Scale-Revised, EGS-R), maladjustment (Maladjustment Scale), pain (Numeric Pain Rating Scale) and suicide (Columbia Scale Screening for Suicidal Ideation, C-SSRS) characteristics were assessed. Of the 557 workers identified, 80 were included in the study. The results showed the presence of relevant psychosocial repercussions with a moderately high level of psychopathological symptoms, a Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) prevalence rate of 10%, re-experimentation as the most relevant symptom, and labour and leisure as the most affected areas. Sex differences were found in PTSD re-experimentation symptoms (higher in women) and leisure maladjustment (higher in men). No sex differences were found in the remaining variables studied. This study demonstrates the relevance of psychosocial consequences in workers with amputations. Research on this topic is necessary due to the scarcity of studies conducted to date.

Dynamic risk factors for complex regional pain syndrome after distal radius fracture surgery: multivariate analysis and prediction.

Distal radius fractures are a common orthopedic injury, particularly prevalent among elderly and osteoporotic patients. Although surgical treatment effectively restores fracture alignment and stabilizes the bone, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) can occur as a postoperative complication, severely impacting patients' rehabilitation and quality of life. Therefore, assessing the risk factors for postoperative CRPS is crucial for early clinical intervention, aiming to improve recovery outcomes and overall patient well-being. This study aims to dynamically evaluate the risk factors for CRPS following distal radius fracture surgery through a retrospective analysis. The goal is to provide scientific evidence for early clinical identification and intervention. A retrospective analysis was conducted on 191 adult patients who underwent distal radius fracture surgery between January 2021 and December 2022, comprising 89 males and 102 females, with an average age of 59.7 ± 11.6(18-75) years. Baseline and follow-up data, including demographic information, clinical characteristics, and psychological assessments, were collected. Descriptive statistics, univariate, and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify independent risk factors and assess their dynamic changes over time. Age, gender, occupation, fracture type, surgical method, osteoporosis, pain score (VAS), functional disability score (DASH), anxiety score (GAD-7), depression score (PHQ-9), physical therapy, and occupational therapy significantly affected the incidence of CRPS. Age and VAS scores were consistent risk factors. Female gender, internal fixation surgery, and high DASH scores posed higher risks in the early postoperative period but decreased over time. Occupation and fracture type were more significant in the mid to late postoperative period. Psychological factors were most significant in the midterm, while physical and occupational therapy were protective factors early on. The occurrence of CRPS is the result of many factors. Elderly patients, females, and manual laborers had higher risks, with complex fractures and internal fixation surgery patients showing increased risk later on. Osteoporotic patients had higher risks in the mid to late postoperative period. VAS, DASH, GAD-7, and PHQ-9 scores were significantly associated with CRPS. Early physical and occupational therapy can effectively prevent CRPS, but further research is needed to evaluate their long-term effects.

A cross-sectional study of the impact of stigma on quality of life in hemiplegic stroke patients following suicide attempts in nursing homes

To analyze the factors affecting stigma and quality of life in hemiplegic stroke patients following suicide attempts in nursing homes and to provide a theoretical basis for developing interventions in clinical care. General demographic information, the Stigma Scale for Chronic Illness (SSCI), and the Quality of Life Scale (SF-36) were used to investigate 259 patients with hemiplegia after stroke following nursing home suicide from January to April 2024. Univariate statistical analyses were performed to assess the impact of potential determinants on quality of life. Multiple regression models and stratified analyses with smoothed curve fitting were used for further evaluation. Multiple regression modeling showed that the factors influencing the quality of life in hemiplegic stroke patients following suicide attempts in nursing homes were stigma, Age, marital status, education, type of occupation, monthly household income, and duration of illness. The level of quality of life before unadjusted variables was strongly associated with high school and college education (β = 11.9, 95% CI: 8.2–15.6; P < 0.001), (β = 13.1, 95% CI: 9.2 -16.9; P < 0.001). After adjusting for confounders such as marital status (Married, Unmarried), Age (< 30, 30–40, 40–50, > 50) (β = 8.1, 95% CI: 4 .6–11.6; P < 0.0001). (β = 9.5, 95% CI: 6.0–13.1;P < 0.0001), the results were not significantly different. Curve fitting revealed threshold nonlinear associations between intrinsic and extrinsic stigma and quality of life, with quality of life decreasing as stigma increased. Conclusion Stigma is negatively correlated with the level of quality of life in hemiplegic stroke patients following suicide attempts in nursing homes. Different demographic profiles moderated patients’ quality of life levels, and effective psychological intervention strategies should be used to improve patients’ quality of life.

Analysis of NSSO data sets for a spatial evaluation of water and housing inequality in India

Achieving all Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 to meet basic needs and improve quality of life has become ever more significant. This study examines the accessibility and factors affecting safe drinking water and housing across India's socioeconomic strata to support Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 06 and 11. The study also assesses government programs that provide affordable housing and safe water. This study analyses key aspects of the 76th National Social Survey on Housing and Sanitation (NSSO WASH) data on housing conditions and drinking water to determine how each component affects people's standard of living. Descriptive analysis, probit, and multinomial logistic regressions were used to tabulate socioeconomic factors such household size, location, gender, income, education, occupation type, social group, and scheme recipient. Our study found that there was 20% more likely that households in the lowest quintile income bracket have access to clean drinking water; thanks to government schemes like the National Rural Drinking Water Programme and Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation. Due to socioeconomic inequities, some social groups are more likely to lack safe water services, according to the study. Gender and education, especially female family members, affect access to basic needs. Rural households get 26% less safe drinking water than urban households. Vulnerable groups face lack of access to clean water and safe housing/shelter due to these gaps. Further, a new composite index has been devised to assess housing and clean water inequalities across Indian states. To achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, research recommends increased government initiatives and investments, as well as appropriate monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, for WASH conditions, boosting women's education and awareness in suboptimal states.

Anxiety and Depression among patients with chronic pain

Background: Chronic pain is a pervasive and debilitating state experienced by many individuals across the globe. It produces a wide range of physiological impact which are well documented in literature but the psychological impact which is also equally profound has not received much attention. This study aims to investigate severity of anxiety and depression in patients with chronic pain that contributes to the development of holistic and effective treatment approaches. Materials and Methods: A non-experimental descriptive cross-sectional design was adopted. Non probability purposive sampling was used to recruit a sample of 50 patients with chronic pain attending OPD services in a secondary hospital, Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh. Patients who aged between 20 and 70 years with a chronic pain for at least 3 months were included. Patients with malignant pain were excluded. Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) was used to capture data on anxiety and depression. Results: The mean anxiety score on HADS was 9.2 (SD-3.72) and depression score was 8.48 (SD-3.23). Nearly one third of participants (32%) reported abnormal level of anxiety and 26% had reported abnormal depression. There is no significant association found between level of anxiety and Sociodemographic variables such as age, gender, marital status, type of family, education and occupation. Level of depression showed a significant association with age (p=0.042). Conclusion: Patients with chronic pain experience varying degrees of anxiety and depression. Routine assessment of these attributes would help the healthcare team to plan patient-tailored interventions to manage pain and to prevent anxiety and depression.

Sources of stress and outcomes in carepartners of persons with chronic heart failure

Abstract Background Serving as a carepartner (CP) for someone with chronic heart failure (HF) can be challenging and difficult and may yield adverse psychological outcomes. Sources of HF CP burden and strain may come from physical, informational, and tangential demands. Yet additional life events and sources of stress may be present and compound experiences of HF CPs. Greater understanding of the factors associated with stress sources is needed to direct CP assessment and interventions. Purposes To explore the contributions of CP perceptions of HF care burden and strain, other sources of stress from occupational type and working status, and financial concerns to CP psychological outcomes and to examine the influence of social support in mitigating these outcomes. Methods CPs of persons with chronic HF, defined as providing care for the person with HF at least 4 hours a week, were enrolled. Baseline variables and measures were demographics (age, marital status, education), sources of stress (CP perceived strain and burden [Oberst, STRAIN], caring for others, occupation type, working status, and financial concerns. Psychological outcomes were overall perceived stress (PSS) and depression (CES-D) with social support measured by the Enriched Social Support Inventory (ESSI). Relationships among stress sources and outcomes were assessed using best model subsets regression analysis (Akaike information criterion) comparing the models with and without adjusting for social support. For each model, age, caring for others, CG strain (mental and physical), CG burden (time and difficulty), financial worry, occupation type and status were considered for the model. Results CPs of persons with HF (n=127; 92% women; 58% Black; primarily spouses and adult children) were included. For stress, the best model included age, caring for others, mental strain, occupation and CP burden of difficulty and time (adjusted r2=0.381). After adjusting for social support, occupation type was not significant, and adjusted r2 increased to 0.462. For depression, caring for others and CP burden (difficulty) were included in the best model subset (adjusted r2=0.208). After adjusting for social support, caring for others was not significant, and the adjusted r2 increased to 0.286. Conclusion Sources of stress from higher perceived CP burden of the person with HF, occupation type, and having other caregiving roles contributed to overall stress with social support mitigating the effects of occupation type and caring for others. These findings support further study of comprehensive assessments of sources of stress and their contributions to adverse psychological outcomes for CPs within the context of social support to tailor CP interventions to the CP’s specific needs. The consistent role of social support in attenuating psychological stress warrants study of ways to clinically incorporate social support into interventions to improve outcomes for CPs.

Thoughts on Self-Harm in Polish Pregnant and Postpartum Women During the Pandemic Period.

Background: The risk of depression during pregnancy and postpartum is high and has intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this study was to estimate the risk of depressive disorders and self-harm thoughts in the third trimester of pregnancy and the first week postpartum in the pandemic period. Methods: This study involved a total of 317 pregnant and postpartum women. The risk and severity of depressive disorders and the prevalence of self-harm thoughts in women during the perinatal period were assessed using EPDS. Results: Pregnant women were significantly more likely to have higher EPDS scores compared to postpartum women. Mild depressive symptoms were reported by 22.08% of pregnant women and 17.18% of postpartum women, and severe symptoms were observed in 25.97% of pregnant women and 16.56% of postpartum women. Thoughts of self-harm were reported by 11.69% of pregnant women and 17.79% of postpartum women. Self-harm thoughts were significantly more common among pregnant women: multiparous women, pregnant women who received psychiatric treatment before pregnancy, those diagnosed with depressive disorders, those who suffered from prolonged periods of anxiety and sadness, and those lacking a supportive person. Among postpartum women, there were statistically significant differences in the prevalence of self-harm thoughts for place of residence, education, type of occupation, number of pregnancies, course of pregnancy, and presence of a supportive person. Conclusions: The increased prevalence of depressive symptoms and self-harm thoughts related to the COVID-19 pandemic highlights the urgent need for screening among pregnant women and the implementation of clinical interventions.

ProtAct-Us from serious injuries with long-term consequences

Abstract Battling serious injuries and long-term consequences in road traffic remains one important issue in the overall goal of resilient future road transport and its Vision Zero. Challenges of increasing personal transport in urban areas coupled with autonomous vehicles and shuttles, new mobility devices and the overall need to ensure the safety of vulnerable road users as well as all types of vehicle occupants’ require solid medical background knowledge paired with innovative engineering approaches. EU Horizon Europe is currently funding the ProtAct-Us consortium (2024-2027) that aims at protecting all Road User Groups from serious injury and long-term physical, cognitive and mental health consequences related to road crashes through innovatively interlinked research action between medical and engineering methods and approaches. ProtAct-Us works on the following goals and challenges: i) Medical data correlation, standardisation and classification of long-term consequences of road crashes; ii) Robust and reliable medical, epidemiological and engineering tools like agreed methods to collect information on long-term consequences, upgraded Human Body Models and virtual assessment methods for the extremities, head, neck and face allowing for effective countermeasure development for all road users; iii) Reduction of long-term consequences and related socio-economic cost of road crash related injuries for all road users. The ProtAct-Us solutions will influence new standards in respect of extending current injury codification system with relevant long-term aspects, allowing new physical as well as virtual safety assessment procedures and adaption of rules and regulations to be implemented. Finally, scientifically well-founded suggestion for future implementation into policy, regulatory, and standardization guidelines for an inclusive safety improvement approach for in- as well as post-crash will be provided.

Heavy Work Investment (HWI) and Its Effect on Employees’ Physical and Mental Health

Abstract Background Economic reality and centrality of work have led to employees investing much time and effort in work. However, The number of hours spent at work may not be the only explanation, and other characteristics, such as type of work, employees’ personality, economic status, motivations, etc., need to be considered. The Heavy Work Investment model (Snir &amp; Harpaz, 2012) considers these variables and classifies employees into four types of investors. This study examines the physical and mental health consequences of each HWI group. Methods Participants (N = 962) were workers who came to a medical center for annual medical screenings. About 70% were males, and the average age was 50.13 years (SD = 9.53). They divided into 5 groups: Typical full-time workers (N = 208, 29.2%), ‘Needy’ (N = 111, 15.6%), ‘Employer directed’ (N = 111, 15.6%), ‘Workaholic’ (N = 192, 26.9%) and ‘Work devoted’ (N = 91, 12.7%). The personal data was cross-referenced with the respondents’ health data. Differences for categorical variables were examined with Chi-square analyses. Results ‘Employer-directed’ employees, more than ‘work-devoted’ employees, perceived their health status as preventing them from performing mild activities. ‘Employer-directed’ and ‘needy’ employees, more than ‘work-devoted’ employees, perceived their health status as interfering with their social activities and their pain as interfering with their regular activities. ‘Workaholic’ employees suffered from more diseases than ‘work-devoted’ employees, and they were found to be 3.70 times more likely to be at a high risk of cardiovascular disease than typical full-time workers. Conclusions It is possible to anticipate types of health damage according to occupation type and develop occupation-adjusted health promotion programs. It is necessary to base labor laws on protecting employees’ health, particularly regarding time and workload’ outside of work’ in both hours (additional or flexible) and location (hybrid work). Key messages • Inspire organizations to be aware of potential injuries caused by HWI and promote the creation of intervention programs, potentially significantly improving employees’ health and well-being. • Evidence for the necessary laws that protect employees’ health, particularly regarding time and workload ‘outside of work’ in both hours (additional or flexible) and location (hybrid work).

On the Selection of Workplace in the COVID-19 Era Using Attitudinal Factors

After two years of living with the threat of COVID-19 in Ontario, Canada, pre-pandemic circumstances returned. During the pandemic, we relied on ICT-based tools to carry out our daily tasks, and now we have reached a tipping point. Should we keep our new routines to benefit us in the future? Or should we return to our routines before the pandemic? This study utilized a travel survey to examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on work activity-travel behavior and the persistence of new traditions in the post-pandemic era. The data for this study comes from a sample of 1,000 Greater Toronto Area residents who participated in a web-based survey in July, 2021, when Ontario began the third phase of reopening. This paper investigates work activity and workplace selection in more depth. Using factor analysis, a collection of latent attitudinal variables was identified. An integrated choice and latent variable model estimated the influential systematic and latent variables on the perceived workplace selection in the post-pandemic condition. The results showed that 71% of responders want to continue working from home at least once weekly after the pandemic. The preferred frequency of telecommuting in the post-pandemic period was positively correlated with education level, positive feelings about telecommuting experience, and certain occupation types, while negatively associated with age.

Preparedness, Challenges, and Opportunities for Digital Intervention for Chronic Disease Management: A Qualitative Study in Rural Areas of South Korea

ABSTRACT Motivated by the prevalence of an aging population and the associated increase in chronic diseases, coupled with rising medical expenditure, the Korean government initiated a pilot project in Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon-do, a rural area, to implement a “smart online-to-offline (O2O) digital health care model” aimed at managing and preventing chronic diseases. However, there is limited understanding regarding perspectives and levels of preparedness for digital health among stakeholders at various levels. In-depth focus group interviews were conducted with elderly and non-elderly community members, health care providers, and staff members at Pyeongchang Health and Medical Center. The study found the presence of both positive and negative perceptions and a lack of preparedness across different levels. At the end-user level, it was observed that community members, especially the elderly, have low levels of health and digital literacy, compounded by limited access to social support. At the health care provider level, there was uncertainty about the acceptance of the digital health program. At the area level, the need to bolster health staff members and enhance their capacity was observed. Recommendations include: customizing the design of the online and offline service components by considering end-user factors (such as age, occupation, and household type) that may contribute to disparities in health; establishing a platform for providers to share their experiences to facilitate the effective incorporation of digital health into their practices; and preparing an appropriate provider payment mechanism.

The association of the type of occupation and obesity among Indonesian workers based on the 2018 Indonesian Food Barometer (IFB) data

The association of the type of occupation and obesity among Indonesian workers based on the 2018 Indonesian Food Barometer (IFB) data

Collecting population-representative bike-riding GPS data to understand bike-riding activity and patterns using smartphones and Bluetooth beacons

Bike-riding GPS data offers detailed insights and individual-level mobility information which are critical for understanding bike-riding travel behaviour, enhancing transportation safety and equity, and developing models to estimate bike route choice and volumes at high spatio-temporal resolution. Yet, large-scale bicycling-specific GPS data collection studies are infrequent, with many existing studies lacking robust spatial and/or temporal coverage, or have been influenced by sampling biases leading to these data lacking representativeness. Additionally, accurately detecting bike-riding trips from continuously collected raw GPS data without human intervention remains a challenge. This study presents a novel GPS data collection approach by leveraging the combination of a smartphone application with a Bluetooth beacon attached to a participant’s bike. Aided by minimal heuristic post-processing, our method limits data collection to trips taken by bike without the need for participant intervention, carefully optimising between survey participation, privacy challenges, participant workload, and robust bike-riding trip detection. Our method is applied to collect 19,782 bike trips from 673 adults spanning eight months and three seasons in Greater Melbourne, Australia. The collected dataset is shown to represent the underlying adult bike-riding population in terms of demographics (sex, occupation and employment type), temporal and spatial patterns. The average trip length (median = 4.8 km), duration (median = 20.9 min), and frequency of bicycling trips (median = 2.7 trips/week) were greater among men, middle-aged and older adults. The ‘Interested but Concerned’ riders (classified using Geller typology) rode more frequently, while the ‘Strong and Fearless’ and ‘Enthused and Confident’ groups rode greater distances and for longer. Participants rode on roads/streets without bike infrastructure for more than half of their trips by distance, while spending 24% and 17% on off-road paths and bike lanes respectively. This population-representative dataset will be key in the context of urban planning and policymaking.

Expression Analysis of Caspase-3 (CASP3) Gene in Leukemia Patients Using Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR) and Western Blot Techniques

CASP3 belongs to the caspases family and accounts for several critical activities, including apoptosis and other pathological and physiological processes. CASP3 also influences the multiple functions in cellular development such as homeostasis, hematopoietic growth and embryonic growth. It has significant involvement in the initiation and development of cancers including breast, colon and uterine cancers. However, molecular studies on the CASP3 gene in leukemia have not been widely conducted. The present study was designed to analyse the expression level of the CASP3 gene in leukemia patients. The results were further compared between different parameters such as types of leukemia, age, gender, occupation, WBC count and location-based. About 112 leukemia blood samples along adjacent controls were collected to analyse the CASP3 expression in this study cohort. The mRNA of each patient and control samples were isolated, quantified and converted to complementary DNA (cDNA). Relative expression of the CASP3 gene was measured using the quantitative PCR (qPCR) and Western blot analyses. Results showed that the relative expression of CASP3 was found to be significantly downregulated at both mRNA and protein levels in leukemia patients compared to normal controls. Further analysis showed that expression of CASP3 was downregulated in patients receiving the combination of chemotherapy as well as radiotherapy compared with patients receiving chemotherapy. These findings from our research showed the lower expression of CASP3 is associated with an increased risk of development and proliferation of leukemia. It can, therefore, be concluded that lower expression of the CASP3 gene may contribute to the initiation and development of leukemia.

How do health content creators perform well? An integration research of short video and livestream behaviors.

Short-video platforms have demonstrated vast potential for health education. To meet diverse user requirements, many short-video platforms have integrated livestreaming functionalities. This integration presents challenges for health content creators in formulating effective performance strategies, including decisions about which format to use (short video or livestream) and what type of content to produce. This study utilizes panel data from a prominent short-video platform in China to empirically investigate the impact of different forms and content characteristics on the performance of health content creators. We conducted an empirical analysis using panel data obtained from a leading short-video platform in China. Our analysis focused on understanding how the behaviors associated with short videos and livestreaming impact the performance of health content creators. We examined form-level differences, analyzing the distinct roles of short video and livestreaming behaviors. Additionally, we explored content-level characteristics, investigating the effects of content coverage, health knowledge content, and advertising content on both short-term and long-term performance. The moderation effects of the creator's occupation and certification type were also analyzed. Our form-level analysis revealed that health creators' behaviors in short videos and livestreaming play distinct roles in their performance. Livestreaming behaviors resulted in short-term economic returns, while short video behaviors had a more significant effect on follow-ups, which are often viewed as long-term, more sustainable performance indicators. Content-level analysis showed that content coverage and health knowledge content enhance long-term performance but do not increase short-term performance. Conversely, advertising content was found to be essential for securing short-term financial income. The study also identified that the creator's occupation and certification type moderate the impact of content on performance. This study integrates two media forms (short video and livestream), providing direct insights into the performance of health content creators in the realm of health education. Health content creators need to strategically balance their use of short videos and livestreaming to optimize both short-term and long-term performance outcomes. Specifically, increasing content coverage and health knowledge can enhance long-term engagement, while incorporating advertising content is crucial for immediate financial gains.

Effects of occupant thermostat preferences and override behavior on residential demand response in CityLearn

As space heating accounts for 54% of annual residential electricity consumption in Quebec, demand response programs specifically target load shifting through the automated control of thermostat setpoints during peak hours. On a district scale, varied thermostat preferences and setpoint override behaviors can have an impact on the success of the demand response program. This study examines two unique occupant types (Average, Tolerant) in terms of thermostat setpoint preferences as well as three different occupant Levels-of-Detail (LoDs) and analyzes their effects on the energy flexibility provided during demand response periods. For our baseline scenario, LoD 1, a static setpoint schedule is used and there is no control of the heat pump, while LoD 2 and LoD 3 incorporate thermostat setbacks during demand response events. LoD 2 assumes the occupant is comfortable within 2°C from the setpoint while LoD 3 allows the occupant to override the DR setbacks. We estimate the flexibility services provided by a ten-house residential community through the automated control of heat pumps during a three-month winter period, and we implement and simulate our study in CityLearn using reinforcement learning-based control for district-level energy management. When comparing LoD 3 to LoD 1, electricity cost was reduced by approximately 12% and net electricity consumption was reduced by approximately 17% during demand response periods. Likewise, we find that LoD 2 could overestimate savings in net electricity consumption, cost, and peak demand by 5% compared to LoD 3. The number of hours where the indoor temperature deviated more than ▪ from the setpoint occurred for less than 5% of the timesteps on average for the 10 buildings for LoD 3 while still achieving significant net electricity consumption reductions, thus highlighting that we can provide energy flexibility services to the grid while balancing occupant thermal comfort. Finally, the agents learned optimal decision-making that reduced the number of overrides across the training episodes for both Average and Tolerant occupants. We thus present a multi-agent framework as a means for addressing various occupant setpoint preferences and override behaviors for the control of heat pump systems at the neighborhood level.

Propositional Idea Density in the Writing of Native Speakers and Asian Learners of English: A Corpus-Based Contrastive Interlanguage Analysis

The present study is a contrastive interlanguage analysis of propositional idea density in the written language of native English speakers and Asian learners of English. The study adopted a quantitative method to analyse the ICNALE written essays v2.4 using CPIDR v5.1 software. The study aimed to identify the level of propositional idea density in the writing of English native speakers and Asian learners of English and to examine the effect of the type of English, the theme type, the proficiency level and nationality on propositional idea density. The study is one of the very few studies about propositional idea density in ESL and EFL contexts. Many statistical analyses were performed on CPIDR results using jamovi v2.3 software, and the results of the tests revealed that the propositional idea density in native speakers’ essays was higher than that in Asian learners’ essays. Moreover, the results showed that there was a statistically significant difference among all the participants based on the theme types of part-time jobs and smoking, among native speakers based on occupation type (students, teachers, others) and among Asian learners of English based on the type of English proficiency level and nationality. The findings of the study showed that propositional idea density is a psycholinguistic index of the amount of presupposed knowledge language users have on a specific topic. In other words, propositional idea density is a window to language users’ schemata. Additionally, the findings of the study can be considered an insightful contribution to contrastive interlanguage analysis.

Training a rural oral health workforce: Effects of rural background on dentist practice choice

AbstractPurposeThe Regional Initiatives in Dental Education (RIDE) program is an educational track of the University of Washington School of Dentistry that aims to produce leaders who practice in rural areas of the Pacific Northwest. This study assesses outcomes of the first 10 years of the RIDE program. The hypothesis tested is that rural background is the most important predictor of long‐term rural dental practice.MethodsThis descriptive study assessed existing data including graduates' location of practice, demographics, rurality of origin, parental occupation, and practice type over time. Subjects are all graduates of the RIDE program from 2012 to 2021 (N = 80), and range in age from 25 to 50 years. Statistical analyses were utilized to explore associations.ResultsWithin the study sample 78% of graduates practiced in a rural and/or underserved area, 32.5% of graduates pursued post‐graduate dental training, 40% participated in Medicaid, and 78% practiced in the Pacific Northwest at the time of analysis (March 2023). Statistical analysis demonstrated a strong association and medium to large effect sizes between both rural upbringing and training sites and established dental practice in a rural region.ConclusionsGraduates of the RIDE program practice in rural areas in greater proportion compared to the general population of practicing dentists. RIDE graduates from the study period tended to be male, and white, and practice in a health professional shortage area or rural site. The rurality of origin analysis was confounded by the substantial number of graduates from Spokane, Washington, an urban area surrounded by extensive rural territory.

Occupational and sex differences in active commuting among Canadian workers from 2006 to 2016.

Active commuting (AC) to and from work is associated with numerous health benefits, through increased physical activity. This study examined whether occupation types and part-time work, by sex, were associated with AC in a population-based sample of Canadian workers. Cross-sectional public use microdata files from the 2006 (n=363,048), 2011 (n=370,672), and 2016 (n=362,310) Census of Population were examined. Multinomial logistic regression models were used to estimate the odds of cycling, walking, and using public transit, relative to using a private motorized vehicle, by occupation and sex. Time trends in mode share were also analyzed. In 2016, commuting by private motorized vehicle and cycling were more common among males, while public transit and walking were more common among females. Occupations in art, culture, recreation, and sport were associated with the greatest odds of cycling (odds ratio [OR]=3.02, 99% confidence interval [CI]: 2.65 to 3.39), while those in trades, transportation, natural resources, and manufacturing had the lowest odds of cycling (OR=0.47, 99% CI: 0.44 to 0.51) and walking (OR=0.36, 99% CI: 0.33 to 0.38). Since 2006, relative declines of 1% and 8% in the proportion of workers commuting by driving and walking, respectively, were observed (absolute change of -1% each). Relative increases of 14% and 12% were observed for cycling and public transit, respectively (absolute changes of less than 1% and 1.5%, respectively). This study found that sex and occupation are important correlates of AC among Canadian workers. Further research aimed at understanding occupational barriers and facilitators may inform future AC interventions.