Unconventional Work Research Articles

A Bibliometric and Literature Review on Unconventional Work Arrangements: Moonlighting

Traditional job security is no longer guaranteed in today’s rapidly changing job market. The COVID-19 crisis has made this even more evident, leading many workers to look for additional jobs to meet their personal needs and secure a stable source of income. The COVID-19 crisis reshaped the job landscape, and unconventional work arrangements like moonlighting have gained popularity. This study focuses on ‘moonlighting’, where individuals take on extra jobs to secure their financial future. We conducted comprehensive research utilising both bibliometric and literature reviews. Our investigation involved analysing 177 relevant documents identified from the Scopus database spanning 45 years. Biblioshiny, an RStudio software, analyses and visualises connections between papers and research studies through network diagrams. The findings reveal ‘Jean Kimmel’ as the most productive and efficient author, and the United States stands at the forefront of moonlighting studies, with their research studies leading the way. Applied economics is the major source in the field of moonlighting. Our contribution to the area of moonlighting in India is new and scarcely researched and published. This concept in India is specifically of concern in the IT industry, where moonlighting is catching fire because of legality issues.

Unconventional Work, Conventional Problems: Gig Microtask Work, Inequality, and the Flexibility Mystique

ABSTRACT Gig work platforms often promise workers flexibility and freedom from formal constraints on their work schedules. Some scholars have questioned whether this “formal flexibility” actually helps people arrange gig work around non-work commitments, but few studies have examined this empirically. This paper examines how hours spent in microtask work – a form of gig work with high formal flexibility – influence work-to-life conflict (WLC) relative to conventional work hours, and how these relationships differ by workers’ gender and financial situation. Fixed-effects regressions using panel data from workers on Amazon’s Mechanical Turk platform (MTurk) suggest that microtask work hours are just as closely associated with WLC as conventional work hours. Moreover, microtask work disadvantages the same groups as conventional work (i.e. women and financially struggling workers). Only financially comfortable men seem immune from microtask hours’ association with WLC. This suggests that the benefits of gig work’s formal flexibility are often elusive. We argue that platforms like MTurk promote a flexibility mystique: the illusory promise that gig work empowers workers to set their own schedules and earn decent income without disrupting their personal/family lives. The gig economy’s expansion may thus do little to bring work-life balance to the masses or alleviate inequalities at the work-life nexus.

Effects of Unconventional Work and Shift Work on the Human Gut Microbiota and the Potential of Probiotics to Restore Dysbiosis.

The work environment is a factor that can significantly influence the composition and functionality of the gut microbiota of workers, in many cases leading to gut dysbiosis that will result in serious health problems. The aim of this paper was to provide a compilation of the different studies that have examined the influence of jobs with unconventional work schedules and environments on the gut microbiota of workers performing such work. As a possible solution, probiotic supplements, via modulation of the gut microbiota, can moderate the effects of sleep disturbance on the immune system, as well as restore the dysbiosis produced. Rotating shift work has been found to be associated with an increase in the risk of various metabolic diseases, such as obesity, metabolic syndrome, and type 2 diabetes. Sleep disturbance or lack of sleep due to night work is also associated with metabolic diseases. In addition, sleep disturbance induces a stress response, both physiologically and psychologically, and disrupts the healthy functioning of the gut microbiota, thus triggering an inflammatory state. Other workers, including military, healthcare, or metallurgy workers, as well as livestock farmers or long-travel seamen, work in environments and schedules that can significantly affect their gut microbiota.

Reduction of Greenhouse Gases impact in the EEE Project

The whole Extreme Energy Events (EEE) array is composed of 61 telescopes installed in Italian High Schools, built and operated by students and teachers, constantly supervised by researchers. The muon telescope of the EEE Project is made by 3 Multigap Resistive Plate Chambers (MRPC). The unconventional working sites are a unique test field for checking the robustness and the low-ageing features of the MRPC technology for particle tracking and timing purposes. The MRPCs are fluxed with a standard mixture (98% C2H2F4 - 2% SF6) of greenhouse gases (GHG) phasing out of production. The EEE Collaboration is currently studying alternative mixtures environmentally and economically sustainable. The EEE Collaboration actions to reduce the Global Warming Potential (GWP) in the MRPC array of the EEE experiment are progressing.

Generation of an anticoagulant aptamer that targets factor V/Va and disrupts the FVa-membrane interaction in normal and COVID-19 patient samples

Coagulation cofactors profoundly regulate hemostasis and are appealing targets for anticoagulants. However, targeting such proteins has been challenging because they lack an active site. To address this, we isolate an RNA aptamer termed T18.3 that binds to both factor V (FV) and FVa with nanomolar affinity and demonstrates clinically relevant anticoagulant activity in both plasma and whole blood. The aptamer also shows synergy with low molecular weight heparin and delivers potent anticoagulation in plasma collected from patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Moreover, the aptamer’s anticoagulant activity can be rapidly and efficiently reversed using protamine sulfate, which potentially allows fine-tuning of aptamer’s activity post-administration. We further show that the aptamer achieves its anticoagulant activity by abrogating FV/FVa interactions with phospholipid membranes. Our success in generating an anticoagulant aptamer targeting FV/Va demonstrates the feasibility of using cofactor-binding aptamers as therapeutic protein inhibitors and reveals an unconventional working mechanism of an aptamer by interrupting protein-membrane interactions.

Energy and exergy analysis of heat to salinity gradient power conversion in reverse electrodialysis heat engine

Environmental issues have attracted greater concerns, leading to more efforts being devoted to industrial waste heat and renewable energy utilization fields. The reverse electrodialysis heat engine is an emerging method to improve the efficiency of industrial processes by recovering waste heat to generate electricity. Besides, it can also be used to harvest low-grade heat in the renewable energy field, such as solar power, geothermal and ocean thermal energy. Its predominating advantage is to harvest low-grade heat with temperatures below 100 °C, which other power generation techniques can hardly utilize. However, the low efficiency of heat to salinity gradient power conversion and poor property of conventional solution has constrained its application. A cycle using unconventional working fluid LiBr solution is developed and experimentally validated to study the heat to salinity gradient power conversion. Influences of the condensation temperature, generation temperature, temperature of reverse electrodialysis cells, and charge concentration were investigated through energy and exergy analysis. The generation process is divided into two sub-stages during the analysis, namely the solution preheat stage and the solution separation stage. It is concluded that an increase in the energy consumption in the solution separation stage and a decrease in the energy consumption in the solution preheat stage can enhance both the energy and exergy efficiencies of the system. The maximum energy efficiency of 6.05% and exergy efficiency of 56.55% are obtained at respective conditions. Moreover, recovering 49.22% condensate heat for solution preheating would increase the energy efficiency by 173.74% at the basic working condition.

Design and testing of energy-efficient heat exchangers for Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids – A review

Heat transfer enhancement, pumping power and weight minimization in enhanced heat exchangers has long been achieved by deploying tubes with internal surface modifications like microgrooves, ribs, fins, knurls, and dimples with and without tube inserts. This article presents a very extensive review of experimental and computational studies on heat transfer enhancement, which covers convectional and unconventional working fluids under different fluid flow conditions. Compound augmentation with tube surface modifications and inserts has yielded enhancements in the overall heat transfer coefficient of over 116% in the fully developed turbulent flow regime. Exotic fluids like nano-coolants deployed in spiral grooved mircofin tubes yielded 196% enhancement in tube side heat transfer rate for concentrations as low as 0.5% by volume, while the thermal efficiency index measuring the overall enhancement in relation to the pumping power was 75%. However, reviews that address the combined effect of unconventional fluids, surface modifications and tube inserts on the overall thermo-hydraulic performance of annular heat exchangers seem to be limited. Further, nano-coolants aren’t frequently used in the process industry. The goal of this study is to document and evaluate the impact of cost-effective and energy-saving passive enhancement techniques such as tube surface modifications, tube inserts, and annular enhancement techniques on annular heat exchangers used in the process industries with Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids. This review should be useful to engineers, academics and medical professionals working with non-Newtonian fluids and enhanced heat exchangers.

Metaphorical Analysis of Discourse on Early Saudi Attempts to Include Women in Unconventional Work Environments

Objective - This paper examines empirically the discourse on social change as represented in gender-related posts on English blogs written by Saudi bloggers. Slightly more than a decade ago, Saudi women were allowed and encouraged by the government to work in unconventional work environments (outside the fields of education and health care); this stirred controversy across the country. Methodology/Technique – This analysis is based on an understanding of discourse as both shaping and being shaped by social and cognitive contexts. In so doing, it approaches the data from a socio-cognitive perspective with a focus on the mental models underlying the discursive representations at hand. The adopted methodology is based on metaphor analysis due to the inherently cognitive nature of metaphors. Consequently, an eclectic approach combining insights from conceptual metaphor theory and critical theory analysis is used. Finding – Data analysis reveals two main findings. First, change is constructed cognitively as challenging and demanding for both women aspiring to work in unconventional professions and their supporters on authoritative and non-authoritative levels. This, however, clashes with the second finding, as in these blogs women are metaphorically constructed in an objectifying and victimizing manner. Novelty – Such a mismatch calls for a careful examination of some gender constraining cognitive constructions as they are, surprisingly, constructed and reproduced even within discourse attempting to empower women. Type of Paper: Empirical. JEL Classification: M14, Q56 Keywords: Social Change; Critical Discourse Analysis; Women’s Empowerment; Metaphor Analysis Reference to this paper should be made as follows: Maghlouth, S.A. (2021). Metaphorical Analysis of Discourse on Early Saudi Attempts to Include Women in Unconventional Work Environments, GATR Global J. Bus. Soc. Sci. Review, 9(1): 01 – 09. https://doi.org/10.35609/gjbssr.2021.9.1(1)

En mémoire de Gordon Tullock, l’économiste non-conformiste

Gordon Tullock’s insights have revolutionized the analytical framework of economists and political scientists. Both independently and with coauthor James M. Buchanan and others, Tullock (1922-2014) made seminal contributions to the economic theory of majority voting, constitutions, rent seeking, fiscal federalism, bureaucracy, government action to redistribute income, demand revelation, bio-economics, monetary history, and in law and legal systems with focus on the economic analysis of pollution, crime, punishment, and litigation. Tullock applied his economic perspective of homo economicus to the common law versus the codified law and the economics of juries. His innovative use of the economic paradigm to areas considered outside standard economics, often led him to unexpected outcomes, which laid the groundwork for streams of research to be carried by others. Whether by neglect or purpose, Tullock did not explicitly articulate the connection of the various elements of his nonconventional economics into a general system. This paper explores some of Tullock’s unconventional work within the context of his contributions to the development of Public Choice and the broader Virginia school of political economy.

Effect of prebiotic and probiotic supplements to increase live weight of calves in the diet

Article Details: Received: 2020-11-04 | Accepted: 2020-11-27 | Available online: 2021-01-31 https://doi.org/10.15414/afz.2021.24.mi-prap.164-167 Probiotics and prebiotics are effective to modulate optimal conditions in gastrointestinal tract inhabited by diverse microbial population. Probiotics regulate and modulate gut microbial population thus reducing the risk of diarrhea. Positive effect on growth is confirmed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of probiotic ( Lactobacillus sporogenes ) and prebiotic ( Ascophyllum nodosum ) supplements on weight gain in calves. Forty new-born Holstein calves were randomised to control and experimental group. In the experimental group, Lactobacillus sporogenes and Ascophyllum nodosum were added first to colostrum and then to milk replacer, calves in the control group were fed with colostrum and milk replacer only. The weight gains of animals were found out during the whole experiment. Evidence of animal health and diarrhea was monitored. In the end of experiment, the body weight gains in experimental calves were by 14,4% higher compared to control but without statistical significance (P>0,05). Probiotic and prebiotic treatment tended to diminish diarrhea. The health benefits of monitored treatment were noticed in experimental group. Keywords: calf, dietary supplements, nutrition, health References Blum, J. W. (2006). Nutritional physiology of neonatal calves. Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition , 90(1-2), 1-11. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0396.2005.00614.x Cangiano, T. T. et al. (2020). Invited Review: Strategic use of microbial-based probiotics and prebiotics in dairy calf rearing. Applied Animal Science , 36(5), 630-651. DOI: https://doi.org/10.15232/aas.2020-02049 Frizzo, L. S. etbal. (2010). Lactic acid bacteria to improve growth performance in young calves fed milk replacer and spray-dried whey powder. Animal Feed Science and Technology , 157(3-4), 159-167. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2010.03.005 Gaggia, F. et al. (2010). Probiotics and prebiotics in animal feeding for safe food production. International Journal of Food Microbiology , 141(6), 15-28. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2010.02.031 Cho, Y. I. and Yoon, K. J. (2014). An overview of calf diarrhea - infectious etiology, diagnosis, and intervention. Journal of Veterinary Science, 15(1), 1-17. DOI: https:// doi:10.4142/jvs.2014.15.1.1 Morrell, E. L. et al. (2008). Retrospective study of bovine neonatal mortality: Cases reported from INTA Balcarce. Argentina Revista Argentina de Microbiologia , 40(3), 151-157. DOI: https://www.redalyc.org/pdf/2130/213016785003.pdf Niggemman, B. (2006). Does unconventional medicine work through conventional modes of action. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology , 118(3), 569-573. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2006.06.021 Raabis, S. et al. (2019). Effects and immune responses of probiotic treatment in ruminants. Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology , 208, 58-66. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetimm.2018.12.006 Rastall, R. and Maitin V. (2002). Prebiotics and synbiotics : towards the next generation. Current Opinion in Biotechnology , 5, 490-496. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0958-1669(02)00365-8 Renaud, D. L. et al. (2019). Evaluation of a multispecies probiotic as a supportive treatment for diarrhea in dairy calves: A randomized clinical trial. Journal of Dairy Science , 102(5), 4498-4505. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2018-15793 Sanei, M. et al. (2012). Effects of hormone or mineral–vitamin enriched colostrum on performance and weaning age of Holstein calves. Livestock Science , 149(1-2),190-194. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.livsci.2012.07.007 Soccol, C.R., et al. (2010). 'The Potential of Probiotics: A Review'. Food Technology and Biotechnology , 48(4), 413-434. DOI: https://hrcak.srce.hr/61713 Timmerman, H. M. et al. (2005). Health and growth of veal calves fed milk replacers with or without probiotics. Journal of Dairy Science , 88(6), 2154-2165. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(05)72891-5 Uyeno, Y. et al. (2015). Effect of Probiotics/Prebiotics on Cattle Health and Productivity. Microbes Environment . 30(2), 126-32. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1264/jsme2.ME14176 Veir, J. K. et al. (2007). Effect of supplementation with Enterococcus faecium (SF68) on immune functions in cats. Veterinary Therapeutics , 8(4) , 229-238. DOI: https://europepmc.org/article/med/18183541 Vrese, M. and Schvezenmeir, J. (2008). Probiotics, Prebiotics, and Symbiotics. Advances in Biochemical Engineering / Biotechnology , 111(1), 1-66. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/10_2008_097 Zhang, R. et al. (2016). Effect of oral administration of probiotics on growth performance, apparent nutrient digestibility and stress-related indicators in Holstein calves. Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition , 100(1), 33-38. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jpn.12338

Commentary: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) tracheostomies—The “how” but not the “why” or “when”

Commentary: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) tracheostomies—The “how” but not the “why” or “when”

Nähe und Distanz: Eine grundlegende Dichotomie in der österreichischen Literatur der Moderne ed. by Vahidin Preljević and Clemens Ruthner

Reviewed by: Nähe und Distanz: Eine grundlegende Dichotomie in der österreichischen Literatur der Moderne ed. by Vahidin Preljević and Clemens Ruthner Raymond L. Burt Vahidin Preljević and Clemens Ruthner, eds., Nähe und Distanz: Eine grundlegende Dichotomie in der österreichischen Literatur der Moderne. Würzburg: Königshausen & Neumann, 2020. 117 pp. Vahidin Preljević and Clemens Ruthner's Nähe und Distanz forms the second volume of the series Identifizierungen/Identifications: Poetics of the Self and the Other and is an expansion of the themes introduced in Preljević's monogram, Perzeptionsereignisse: Zur literarischen Wahrnehmungspoetik in Wien um 1900, which constituted volume 1 of the series. The eleven essays in this collection were the products of a 2012 conference in Sarajevo that took as its postulate [End Page 144] that the title dichotomy, Nähe und Distanz (and I will use the German to signify their status in this work as terminus technicus), serve as "grundlegendes, ästhetisches, wahrnehmungstheoretisches, sozialgeschichtliches und kulturelles Phänomen" (7) in the Austrian literature of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. To that end, this collection offers the reader insights on Hugo von Hofmannsthal, Richard Beer-Hofmann, Gustav Meyrink, Arthur Schnitzler, Ödön von Horvath, Anton Kuh, Robert Musil, and others. The first three essays focus on Hofmannsthal by showing the dynamics of the aesthetic Distanz and its function in Austrian modernism. Vahidin Preljević opens his essay with the assertion that only from aesthetic distance can the nearness of the experience of reality occur. He sees this interplay of Distanz and Nähe as particularly evident in the beginnings of Austrian modernism. Preljević deftly interprets a historical encounter between Stefan George and the young Hugo von Hofmannsthal as an illustration of two divergent views of Distanz. For George, aesthetics is absolutely separated from real life. Hofmannsthal, on the other hand, has an inner Distanz that paradoxically makes possible a Nähe to life. Expanding on this theme, Vikica Matić makes a well-supported case that Hofmannsthal, as a representative of Jung Wien, used aesthetic Distanz to restore a connection to the world by replacing a chaotic, ugly reality with an aesthetic reality (beauty), as illustrated by Hofmannsthal's Das Märchen der 672. Nacht. Matic shows that the Distanz is an expression of an identity crisis encompassed in the complex relationship between an aesthetic existence and a human one and ultimately leads to destruction. Daniela Strigl chooses another text she terms as a "Schlüsseltext der literarischen Moderne" and applies Distanz and Nähe as narrative perception techniques in her detailed interpretation of Hofmannsthal's Die Reitergeschichte. The emotionless Distanz of the narrator is sharply contrasted with the narrative zoom to the individual gaze, which leads to the "gefährliche Nähe." The next two essays only peripherally intersect with the theme of Distanz and Nähe, perhaps since the narratives examined offer no clear separation between reality and dream. Irma Duraković conducts an excellent study of Beer-Hofmann's Der Tod Georgs in which the transition between dream and reality can be perceived by neither the protagonist nor the readers. Nevertheless, her analysis of the symbols and patterns of the narrative, beginning with the window imagery, provides a framework for a deeper [End Page 145] understanding of this novel. Similarly, Naser Šečerović's essay on Gustav Meyrink's Der Golem uses the framework of the dream narrative to approach this literarily unconventional work. A change of direction occurs with Clemens Ruthner's essay "Umgangs-Formen," in which he formulates his central thesis on the problematics of literary representations of the foreigner. After a brief informative survey on the subject, Ruthner introduces and discusses four works by relatively unknown authors depicting Bosnian and Herzegovinian figures in shedding light on the colonial constructions of foreignness in the context of the Habsburg Empire. Distanz and Nähe in these essays have been associated with various conceptual pairings; aesthetic subjectivity/ugly objectivity, dream/reality, and familiar/foreign. Two essays on works by Schnitzler introduce two additional sets. Almir Bašović's treatment of Reigen as a dehumanized pattern of (corporal) distance-nearness-distance in each scene serves as evidence of determinism over free will. Wielding or rather welding...

Adaptation of the Delphi Technique for Electronic Application in the Food Industry

Researchers often depend on humans to share their opinions, perceptions, experiences, or expertise concerning particular matters, which is a daunting task. As the impact of the 4th Industrial Revolution (4IR) continues to change the way we do things, electronic data collection is becoming a more viable alternative considering consumers' increased competence with modern technology. An electronic application of the Delphi technique that originated as a face-to-face or 'pen-and-paper' research technique is hereby presented as an up-to-date methodology and data collection tool that potentially holds many advantages across diverse disciplines. In the very dynamic foods and hospitality industry, where employment entails long and unconventional working hours, it is particularly challenging to pin employees down to participate in traditional data collection procedures where they are expected to complete tasks at specific times. An electronic application of the Delphi technique offers employees the opportunity to make valuable contributions to research in their own time and at their own pace. This paper reports on a successful electronic application of a classic Delphi procedure, involving South African food industry specialists, reflecting on the local context, aiming to optimize their expertise to elicit a context-specific definition for Food Literacy with all the associated dimensions.

Do you mean what you say? Do you say what you mean? Empowering women at work

In recent years, Saudi women have been empowered on plenty of levels which were not easily available at the dawn of this century. In the last two decades, social change has been initiated, constructed and distributed discursively on both governmental and non-governmental circles; with the topic of women's inclusion in unconventional work environments provoking controversial positions between the heterogenous society of Saudi Arabia. The current paper offers a critical discourse analysis on how these diverse positions are reported metaphorically in blog posts written by bloggers presenting themselves as supporters of change and women empowerment. Such posts were written between 2009 and 2011; thus, documenting the very early support and opposition to this topic, which has also intensified drastically after King Salman -the current Saudi monarch- ascended to throne in 2015, following the death of the late King Abdullah. Keywords: social change, critical discourse analysis, women empowerment, Saudi Arabia

The Role of Pay and Sense of Community in the Turnover of Outdoor Adventure Education Field Staff

Outdoor adventure education (OAE) organizations continually struggle with voluntary turnover of OAE field staff. The unconventional work environment of this unique population creates challenges and difficulties that lead to turnover. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationships between turnover predictor variables and intent to turnover (IT) of OAE field staff. The five predictor variables chosen were (a) tenure, (b) career development opportunities, (c) sense of community, (d) compensation satisfaction, and (e) burnout. Results suggest that compensation satisfaction’s pay subscale and sense of community were significant negative predictors of IT. These findings provide evidence for turnover predictors unique to OAE field staff. Additionally, these findings can aid OAE administrators in prioritizing time and resources when combating employee turnover.Subscribe to JOREL

COVID-19 & the Residency Match: The Added Importance of Mentoring.

COVID-19 & the Residency Match: The Added Importance of Mentoring.

Diary of an aircraft carrier psychologist.

U.S. Navy Psychologists have distinctive jobs in service to our Armed Forces that occasionally take them out of traditional clinic settings and into operational environments. This article highlights the unique role of psychologists serving on aircraft carriers, living and working among the population that they serve onboard massive warships to bring mental health services to deploying warfighters. Despite unconventional work surroundings, clinical conundrums, and a sometimes isolating occupational role, the adventures and professional rewards are boundless in service of those who sacrifice for our nation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

Working conditions and risk exposure of employees whose occupations require driving on public roads – Factorial analysis and classification

IntroductionSeveral studies of the working conditions of drivers, and in particular on their pace of work, have enabled a better understanding of the risk factors for road accidents that occur during work. However, few studies are available on the risk exposure and working conditions of employees whose occupations involve driving. The purpose of this paper is to identify the different groups of employees occupationally exposed to road risk and to classify them according to working conditions. MethodologyA Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA) was implemented on the 41,727 individuals from the SUMER 2010 survey (Medical Monitoring of Occupational Risk Exposure: SUrveillance Médicale des Expositions aux Risques professionnels) and for 45 variables about working conditions. The analysis used 5 categories of weekly driving exposure as a supplementary variable (variable which is not used to perform the MCA): Non-exposure; Exposed <2 h; Exposed 2–10 hours; Exposed 10–20 hours; and Exposed >20 h. The results of the MCA were used to construct an ascending hierarchical classification. ResultsThe first factorial axis differentiates between conventional and unconventional work schedules. Axis 2 differentiates modalities corresponding to the working hours of the most recent working week. The third axis chiefly contrasts persons who have rules to follow with those who have none. An ascending hierarchical classification distinguishes 10 clusters of individuals according to working conditions. Four clusters of employees were excessively exposed to occupational driving. Clusters also have distinct demographic, occupational and psychosocial characteristics. ConclusionAnalysis of data from the SUMER survey confirms that employees exposed to road risk are particularly affected by atypical work time characteristics, but can be found in all activity sectors and in all types of job.

Effect of different working time on the prognosis of ischemic stroke patients undergoing intravenous thrombolysis

To investigate the effect of working time on the prognosis of patients with ischemic stroke undergoing intravenous thrombolysis. Clinical data of 3050 patients with ischemic stroke received intravenous thrombolysis from 71 hospitals in Zhejiang Province during June 2017 and September 2018 were retrospective analyzed. Whole day of Saturday and Sunday were defined as weekend; whole day of Monday to Friday were defined as weekdays; Monday to Friday 8:00-17:00 were defined as daytime of weekdays; Monday to Friday 17:01-07:59 on next day were defined as nights of weekdays; unconventional working time were defined as weekend and nights of weekdays. Good outcome was defined as mRS 0-2 at 3 months. Univariate analyses of baseline and prognostic variables in group of weekend and weekdays, nights of weekdays and daytime of weekdays, unconventional working time and daytime of weekdays were performed. Binary logistic regression was used to investigate whether weekend, nights of weekdays and unconventional working time were independent predicting factors of outcome after intravenous thrombolysis, respectively. There was no difference in 7-day mortality, 3-month mortality and good outcome at 3-month between weekend group and weekdays group, nights of weekdays group and daytime of weekdays group, unconventional working time group and daytime of weekdays group (all P>0.05). Binary logistic regression results showed that weekends, nights of weekdays and unconventional working time were not independent predicting factors for outcome after intravenous thrombolysis (all P>0.05). The working time has not affected the outcomes of patients with ischemic stroke undergoing intravenous thrombolysis in studied hospitals of Zhejiang province.

Performance of the Multigap Resistive Plate Chambers of the Extreme Energy Events Project

The muon telescopes of the Extreme Energy Events (EEE) Project [1] are made of three Multigap Resistive Plate Chambers (MRPC). The EEE array is composed, so far, of 59 telescopes and is organized in clusters and single telescope stations distributed all over the Italian territory. They are installed in High Schools with the aim to join research and teaching activities, by involving researchers, teachers and students in the construction, maintenance, data taking and data analysis. The unconventional working sites, mainly school buildings with non-controlled environmental parameters and heterogeneous maintenance conditions, are a unique test field for checking the robustness, the low-ageing features and the long-lasting performance of the MRPC technology for particle tracking and timing purposes. The measurements performed with the EEE array require excellent performance in terms of time and spatial resolution, efficiency, tracking capability and stability. The data from two recent coordinated data taking periods, named Run 2 and Run 3, have been used to measure these quantities and the results are described, together with a comparison with expectations and with the results from a beam test performed in 2006 at CERN.