Unfavourable Working Conditions Research Articles

Vulnerability profiles of workers and the relation with burnout symptoms: results from the Netherlands working conditions survey.

Unfavorable working conditions may place workers in a vulnerable position in the labour market, but studies on the clustering of these factors and their relation to burnout symptoms are lacking. This study aims to identify subgroups of workers in potentially vulnerable positions in the labour market and examine whether burnout symptoms differ across the established subgroups. This study utilizes cross-sectional data from 2019 of the Netherlands Working Conditions Survey (n = 55,283). Working conditions included employment contracts, working hours, multiple jobs, tenure, physical strain, autonomy, and workload. Burnout symptoms were measured with five items on a 7-point Likert scale. Latent Class Analysis was used to identify vulnerability subgroups based on working conditions and educational level. Wilcoxon rank-sum tests were used to examine whether burnout symptoms differed between the identified subgroups. Three out of nine subgroups (i.e., classes 4, 6, and 7) presented combinations of multiple unfavourable working conditions. The vulnerability of class 4, characterized by low educational level, physically demanding work, low autonomy, and a high workload, was underscored by a significantly higher burnout symptom score (M = 2.91;SD = 0.97) compared to all other subgroups. Subgroups 3 (M = 2.69;SD = 1.43) and 8 (M = 2.41;SD = 1.41), without striking unfavourable conditions, had the second and third highest scores on burnout symptoms. Determining vulnerability in the labour market is not straightforward as not all profiles that presented clusters of unfavourable working conditions scored high on burnout symptoms, and vice versa. Future research should investigate whether findings are similar to other mental health outcomes.

Ambulatory pediatricians: how to bridge the gaps in diagnosis and care coordination for neurodevelopmental disorders in France.

The organization of healthcare pathways for neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD) relies on different levels of expertise depending on the complexity of these disorders. NDDs affect between 8% and 15% of children. Historically, national recommendations and healthcare planning measures were initially devoted to autism spectrum disorders and were gradually extended to Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and specific learning and development disorders. Private doctors play an increasing role in these pathways at different levels of care due to difficulties in organization, particularly in the health and social sector. The aim of this work was to evaluate the contribution of second-line private doctors in the diagnosis and care of children affected by NDD. A first series of surveys in 2016 evaluated the level of commitment of primary care pediatricians; this online national survey was repeated in 2023 among 1,430 members of the French Association of Ambulatory Pediatrics (Association Française de Pédiatrie Ambulatoire: AFPA) to assess their training, current and future involvement, and activity in NDD care. Analysis was performed by the main author using Epi-Info software. The study identified in 2023 214 second-line private doctors (14% of all pediatricians in activity), of which 185 agreed to appear in a directory published the same year by the AFPA to facilitate referrals from other professionals. Sex ratio of responders is usual for paediatricians: 79.5%/20.5% (F/M), with a distribution among ages showing a slight increase of the age range between age 51-60 (30.5%). Our data indicate that in France in 2022, second-line private doctors made 48%-53% of NDD diagnoses, 24%-26.4% of follow-up consultations and declare to be accountable for 21% of initial prescriptions for Methylphenidate. Among these second-line doctors, 40% had completed a post-university degree on NDD, 74.3% had completed professional development training (PDT) and 85.2% had completed either or both types of training. Most doctors participating in the survey wanted to improve their level of practice, suggesting that in five years, the number of second-line private doctors will increase by 20% to 244 despite 24 planned retirements within the same period. This data probably underestimates the role of private doctors in NDD diagnosis, follow-up, and initial Methylphenidate prescriptions given the unfavourable working conditions (no financial compensation for long appointments, difficulty accessing paramedical and psychological assessments). Our data confirms that diagnosis and care coordination in the various presentations of NDD may rely on different types of practices and specializations: medical and social professionals, mental health professionals, but also a growing body of medical doctors involved in developmental and behavioural pediatrics. This data and reflection will be helpful for organizing healthcare in France or in other countries. Main study limitation relies in the self-declaration of MD's involvement in NDD and could not evaluate the activity of employed MD's from the social and medico social sector, nor be based on the national databases for prescription. It remains however the first attempt of characterization of medical activity at the national level in France for NDD.

Psychosocial working conditions as determinants of slips and lapses, and poor social interactions with patients among medical assistants in Germany: A cohort study.

We sought to examine the relationship of unfavorable psychosocial working conditions with slips and lapses and poor patient interaction as well as potential intermediate factors among medical assistants (MAs) in Germany based on prospective data. We used data from 408 MAs from a 4-year cohort study (follow-up: 2021). At baseline, psychosocial working conditions were assessed by the established effort-reward-imbalance questionnaire and a MA-specific questionnaire with 7 subscales. Frequency of slips and lapses (e.g., pertaining to measurements and documentation) and the quality of patient interactions (e.g., unfriendliness or impatience) due to work stress were assessed at follow-up with three items each (potential score ranges = 3-15). Potential intermediate factors at baseline included work engagement (i.e., vitality and dedication (UWES)), work satisfaction (COPSOQ), anxiety (GAD-2), depressiveness (PHQ-2), and self-reported health. We ran multivariable linear regression using z-standardized exposures to estimate unstandardized coefficients (B) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Potential intermediate factors were added separately to the regression models. Attenuation of the association between exposure and outcome toward the null value (B = 0) was interpreted as mediation. High reward and lack of resources were weakly associated with the frequency of slips and lapses (the Bs were -0.18 and 0.23, respectively; p<0.05), with little evidence of mediation. With the exception of low recognition, all unfavorable psychosocial working conditions predicted a higher frequency of poor interactions with patients (p-values<0.01). These associations were attenuated by work engagement, work satisfaction, and health outcomes. We found mostly non-significant associations between adverse psychosocial working conditions and the frequency of slips and lapses. However, unfavorable psychosocial working conditions among MAs predicted a higher frequency of poor interaction with patients due to stress.

Taking Сare of Family Members’ Health Provided by Women in Low-Resource Conditions

The article analyzes the practices of caring for the health of women from families with low socio-professional status. The study uses the analytical category of “care”, which is understood as a special type of household work aimed at maintaining and preserving one’s health and the health of family members. To analyze health practices, the concept of “health lifestyle”, developed in the sociology of medicine, is used. The empirical basis consists of 16 interviews conducted in St. Petersburg with women from families whose members do not have higher education and are employed in jobs with unfavorable working conditions (according to the informants). The study asked the question in what situations and how women belonging to this group take care of their health. Women with low socio-professional status, caring for loved ones, rarely seek medical help for themselves. Their attitude towards their own health can be described as instrumental. It was found that in the context of the experience of motherhood, the attitude towards health changes, it becomes more self-preserving, without losing its instrumentality, but in the interests of the child.

Conventional and occasional euphemisms in German economic journalism

This article examines the use of euphemisms in German journalistic texts on economic topics. Euphemisms include lexemes and expressions that soften the names of discordant designations of concepts. The consequences of the 2019-2020 pandemic and the Ukrainian conflict had a definite impact on the German economy and the standard of living of the German population. The rapid rise in prices and the energy crisis that has arisen in the country have led to financial problems reflected in the stratification of society into rich and poor, an increase in the number of protests due to unfavorable working conditions and even to forced closure of enterprises. Such economic difficulties are actively discussed in the German press. In order to switch the reader’s attention and smooth out the designation of acute problems, journalists use euphemized words and expressions in their articles. In a particular historical period, depending on political, economic or social changes, certain spheres of public life were subjected to productive euphemization. In this regard, it seems important to trace this process in diachrony, focusing on the economic problems of Germany in 2021-2023. The aim of the study is to identify euphemistically colored lexemes and expressions in German journalistic texts, as well as to identify groups of euphemisms and the reasons for their use. The research material included articles from the economic section of German electronic publications such as “Der Spiegel”, “Die Zeit”, “Süddeutsche Zeitung”, “Die Tageszeitung”, “Berliner Zeitung”, etc. The study revealed that such economic problems as poverty and wealth, mass protests, rising food and electricity prices, methods of limiting them, and the consequences of the energy crisis are being euphemized. The analysis made it possible to identify both conventional and occasional euphemisms, although it was found that the lexemes and expressions of the second group are noticeably prevalent in German journalism.

Perceptions of interpreters working for refugee clients of the psychological effects of their work

This study aims at presenting a picture of the perceptions of the interpreters working for refugees in legal and public healthcare settings in Türkiye with a focus on the psychological effects of their work. Taking this objective as a departure point, questionnaires and semi-structured interviews were conducted to investigate the causes of psychological challenges, reactions to these challenges, coping strategies, and negative and positive psychological changes that interpreters went through in the course of their work. Interviews were analyzed following a thematic analysis procedure, complemented with the analysis of the questionnaire results. The findings revealed that the interpreters came under a degree of psychological strain, including psychological stress, in the course of their work. The reasons included trauma-related stories of refugees, service providers’ lack of awareness of the interpreters’ work specifications, unfavorable working conditions, and racism against refugees in the workplace. The interpreters were also found to show certain reactions to psychological challenges, including feeling sad, crying, and sleep problems among others. Findings also revealed that the interpreters employed a few strategies to cope with these challenges such as socializing with friends, and that the interpreting work with refugees led to mostly positive psychological changes on the interpreters. The changes involved gaining self-confidence and feeling stronger than before. The findings, pinpointing the needs for support structures for interpreters working for refugees in Türkiye, will feed into the overall discussions on the psychological dimensions of interpreting for refugee clients.

Investigation of Hydrogen-Blended Natural Gas Pipelines in Utility Tunnel Leakage and Development of an Accident Ventilation Strategy for the Worst Leakage Conditions

The development of hydrogen-blended natural gas (HBNG) increases the risk of gas transportation and presents challenges for pipeline security in utility tunnels. The objective of this study is to investigate the diffusion properties of HBNG in utility tunnels and evaluate the effectiveness of various ventilation mechanisms. The numerical simulation software Fluent 2023 R1 is applied to simulate and analyze the leakage of small holes in a HBNG pipeline in the natural gas compartment. By examining the leaking behavior of HBNG through small holes in different circumstances, we aimed to identify the most unfavorable operational situation for leakage. Subsequently, we analyzed the ventilation strategy for sub-high-pressure pipes at various pressure levels in this unfavorable condition. This study’s findings demonstrate that blending hydrogen improves the gas diffusion capacity and increases the likelihood of explosion. The primary factors that influence the pattern of leakage are the size of the leaking holes and the pressure of the pipeline. The gas compartment experiences the most unfavorable working conditions for natural gas pipeline leaks when there are higher pressures, wider leak openings, higher hydrogen blending ratios (HBRs), and leaks in close proximity to an air inlet. When the HBR is 20%, the minimum accident ventilation rates for pressures of 0.4 MPa and 0.8 MPa are 15 air changes per hour and 21 air changes per hour, respectively. The maximum allowable wind speed for accident ventilation is 5 m/s, as regulated by China’s national standard, GB 50838-2015. This regulation makes it difficult to minimize the risk of leakage in a 1.6 MPa gas pipeline. It is recommended to install a safety interlock device to quickly shut off the pipeline in the event of a leak in order to facilitate the dispersion of the substance.

Mechanical, wear and corrosion behaviours of laser additive manufactured iron-based heterogeneous composite coatings for tillage tools

Steel is commonly used in engineering components, and it has a high tendency to wear and corrosion attacks when exposed to unfavourable working conditions. The use of chromium-vanadium-iron-rich carbide reinforced iron-based hard facings has become more important in improving the corrosion and wear resistance of such steel subjected to abrasive and impact conditions. In this study, the chromium-vanadium-iron carbide reinforced coatings were developed using in-situ by depositing FeCrV15+Cr powder through laser cladding on carbon steel. The influence of the reinforcement on the microstructure of the coating in relation to its laser processing condition and extra chromium addition was investigated. Furthermore, the effect of the coating's reinforcement on the hardness, microstructures, anti-corrosion, and anti-wear properties of the carbon steel used in tillage and mining operations was investigated. The result is a defect free deposits with a solid metallurgical attachment to the substrate and improved microhardness. FeCrV15 deposits had a wear-resistant (with a wear rate of 2.42 × 10−6 mm3/N/m) and anti-corrosion capability (with a corrosion rate of 0.001869 mm/yr) that were several folds higher than the steel substrate (with wear rate of 1.72 × 10−3 mm3/N/m and corrosion rate of 0.1168 mm/yr). The general grain refinement of the FeCrV15 deposits was richly enhanced in the iron base matrix. This resulted in outstanding wear and corrosion resistance attributed to the better production of VC–Cr3C2–Cr7C3 particles and better grain refinement of the microstructural formation.

Psychosocial working conditions and mental health among medical assistants in Germany: a scoping review

BackgroundMedical assistants (MA) constitute one of the largest professions in outpatient health care in Germany. The psychosocial working conditions of health care staff are generally believed to be challenging and to thereby increase the risk of poor mental health. A review of MA’s psychosocial working conditions and mental health is lacking, however. We aimed to systematically identify and summarize existing research on psychosocial working conditions and mental health of MA by addressing (1) Which methods, concepts, and instruments have been used to capture the psychosocial working conditions and mental health among MA in Germany? (2) What findings are available? and (3) What are the research gaps?MethodsWe systematically searched Medline, Scopus, CCMed and Google Scholar. Using the Population Concept Context (PCC)-framework, we applied the following eligibility criteria: (a) Language: English or German, (b) publication between 2002-2022, (c) original study, (d) study population: mainly MA (i.e., ≥ 50% of the study population), (e) concept: psychosocial working conditions and/or mental health, and (f) context: Germany. Two reviewers extracted data independently, results were compared for accuracy and completeness.ResultsEight hundred twenty-seven sources were identified. We included 30 publications (19 quantitative, 10 qualitative, and one mixed methods study). Quantitative studies consistently reported high job satisfaction among MA. Quantitative and mixed methods studies frequently reported aspects related to job control as favorable working conditions, and aspects related to job rewards as moderate to unfavorable. Qualitative studies reported low job control in specific work areas, high demands in terms of workload, time pressure and job intensity, and a desire for greater recognition. Social interactions seemed to be important resources for MA. Few studies (n = 8) captured mental health, these reported inconspicuous mean values but high prevalences of anxiety, burnout, depression, and stress among MA. Studies suggested poorer psychosocial working conditions and mental health among MA during the COVID-19 pandemic.ConclusionsQuantitative studies tend to suggest more favorable psychosocial working conditions among MA than qualitative studies. We suggest mixed methods to reconcile this alleged inconsistency. Future research should examine discrepancies between job satisfaction and unfavorable working conditions and if psychosocial working conditions and mental health remain changed after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Working conditions and mental health of migrants and refugees in Europe considering cultural origin– a systematic review

BackgroundMigrants and refugees/asylum seekers, as a large part of the European work force, are often confronted with unfavorable working conditions in the host country. Main aim of this systematic review was to compare the association of these working conditions with mental health between migrants and refugees/asylum seekers due to their diverse migration experiences and cultural origins, and between different European host countries.MethodsSystematic search for eligible primary studies was conducted in three electronic databases (PubMed/MEDLINE, PsycINFO and CINAHL) using quantitative study designs written in English, German, French, Italian, Polish, Spanish or Turkish and published from January 1, 2016 to October 27, 2022. Primary health outcomes were diagnosed psychiatric and psychological disorders, suicide and suicide attempts, psychiatric and psychological symptoms, and perceived distress. Secondary health outcomes were more general concepts of mental health such as well-being, life satisfaction and quality of life. Two reviewers independently completed screening, data extraction and the methodological quality assessment of primary studies using the Newcastle-Ottawa-Scale. Descriptive summary of primary studies on working conditions and their relationship with mental health were conducted, comparing migrants and refugees/asylum seekers, migrants and refugees/asylum seekers of different cultural backgrounds (collectivistic and individualistic) and migrants and refugees/asylum seekers living in different host countries.ResultsInclusion criteria were met by 19 primary studies. Voluntary migrants are more likely to experience overqualification in the host country than refugees. In all examined host countries, migrants and refugees suffer from unfavorable working conditions, with migrants from collectivistic countries being slightly at risk compared to migrants from individualistic countries. Most unfavorable working conditions are related to poor mental health, regardless of migrant status, cultural origin or host country.ConclusionsAlthough the results should be interpreted with caution due to the small number of studies, it is evident that to maintain both the mental health and labor force of migrants and refugees/asylum seekers, their working conditions in host countries should be controlled and improved. Special attention should be paid to specific subgroups such as migrants from collectivistic societies.Ethics and disseminationThis systematic review is excluded from ethical approval because it used previously approved published data from primary studies.Trial registration numberCRD42021244840.

Harnessing the characteristic of compound parabolic concentrators for directional concentration of emitted thermal radiation and solar shielding in building-integrated radiative cooling

Radiative sky cooling (RC) is a promising solution for meeting the growing cooling demands by passively dissipating waste heat into frigid outer space. However, current RC systems suffer from low cooling power density and limited installation flexibility, impeding their effective application as building cooling strategies. To overcome these challenges, a novel concentrated RC system coupled with a compound parabolic concentrator (CPC) is proposed and experimentally studied. The objective is to investigate the effectiveness of the CPC in enhancing the cooling capability of the RC system and the feasibility of achieving all-day RC in unfavorable working conditions when integrated with building roofs. During nighttime experiments in the humid Nottingham region, the CPC-RC system exhibited an average emitter temperature that was 5.83 °C lower than the ambient temperature, representing a 30 % and 13.6 % improvement in RC performance compared to the flat-RC system and trapezoidal-concentrated RC system, respectively. The Photopia optical software simulation indicates that when the modules are tilted to the north, the CPC functions as a solar shield, effectively limiting solar radiation reaching the emitter surface, which is advantageous for conducting daytime RC experiments. In the daytime experiment, the emitter temperature of the CPC-RC module in anti-sunward group was still 1.59 °C lower than the ambient temperature and 5.49 °C lower than that of flat-RC module. At night, the CPC-RC module of the three placement groups all showed the highest RC effect in the same group. The average emitter temperature of the CPC-RC module in the horizontal placement group is 0.6 °C lower than that of the flat RC module. This novel CPC-RC scheme presents a new energy-saving strategy for buildings and showcases its potential for achieving 24-hour RC when integrated into anti-sunward roofs.

Employee engagement among women in technical positions in the South Africa mining industry

The aims of this study were to investigate the factors that influence women's engagement in technical positions in the South African mining sector and to determine what could be done to promote their successful participation. A convergent parallel mixed-methods research design was used to ascertain the factors that facilitate, inhibit, and influence engagement. In the quantitative phase of the study, questionnaires were circulated to women employeees; and in the qualitative phase, semi-structured interviews were conducted with employer representatives, most of whom were human resource personnel. Confirmatory factor analysis showed that the three-factor structure (vigour, dedication, and absorption) of the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale fit the sample data reasonably well. Although there is room for improvement, respondents demonstrated acceptable levels of engagement in their work. On the other hand, the qualitative findings showed that employee engagement is impacted by unfavourable working conditions, work-life balance, and the mining industry's male-dominated work culture. The findings showed that employee engagement should be elevated to a core human resource function. To increase the participation of women in mining, human resource professionals are encouraged to collaborate with mine supervisors, managers, and employees to develop programmes that promote employees' absorption in and dedication to their work.

Systematic Literature Review on Tourism Village in Indonesia

Tourism villages, also known as "Desa Wisata" in Indonesia, are emerging as a form of tourism development that promotes local culture and heritage. These villages offer visitors a complete rural experience and contribute to the economic growth of rural areas. However, challenges such as low wages and unfavorable working conditions exist. This research assesses the readiness of local communities for tourism village development and evaluates its effectiveness. By applying bibliometric analysis, the study explores the trends and clusters in tourism village research. The findings provide insights for stakeholders to promote national development and address regional disparities in Indonesia.

Priority directions for preserving the health of underground coal mining workers

Introduction. An increase in life expectancy, a decrease in the mortality rate of the working-age population and an extension of working longevity are the most important components in the development of the human potential of the Russian Federation. We observe the most unfavorable situation with the achievement of the above-mentioned targets in coal mining.&#x0D; The study aims to substantiate the priority directions for preserving the health of workers engaged in underground coal mining in modern production conditions based on an assessment of occupational risks to prolong their working longevity.&#x0D; Materials and methods. The authors have carried out the analysis of official statistics data (state reports of Rospotrebnadzor and the annual report of Rosstat) for 2021–2022 on the state of working conditions and occupational morbidity in the coal industry. We have summarized the materials of Rosugleprof for 2006–2022 on occupational morbidity in coal industry organizations. We have presented the data of epidemiological studies in a cohort of coal miners on the example of the Rostov region.&#x0D; Results. The authors note the largest proportion of cases of occupational pathology among employees of mining enterprises — 40.3%. The most at risk are: sinkers (10.2% of all newly identified cases of occupational diseases in 2022), miners of the treatment face (6.5%), excavator drivers (4.5%). In the structure of occupational morbidity of miners, the leading place is occupied by radiculopathy — 27.0%; sensorineural hearing loss — 22.9%; vibration disease — 22.0%; respiratory diseases (occupational bronchitis, pneumoconiosis, COPD) — more than 15.5%. In a cohort of miners with an established diagnosis of occupational diseases, it was shown that the standardized relative risk (SRR) of death from diseases of the circulatory system was 1.55 times significantly higher compared with the control population.&#x0D; Mortality from malignant neoplasms in miners was 44% higher than mortality in the population (SRR=1.44). At the same time, the death rate from the subclass malignant neoplasms of the respiratory system was 2.02 (95% CI 1.85–2.20), and from malignant neoplasms of the bronchi and lungs 2.24 (95% CI 2.04–2.46). The risk of death from respiratory diseases in the cohort of miners was more than 2 times higher than the population indicator (SRR=2.18). A significantly higher frequency of deaths from this class of diseases indicates a causal relationship with dust loads. The prevalence of coronary heart disease (CHD) among coal mine workers is higher than among the unorganized population of large cities and other groups of industrial workers.&#x0D; Conclusion. Scientists have recorded the most unfavorable working conditions in underground coal mining, which is due to the technologies used and production conditions. The prevention of diseases among miners requires the creation of health groups and the improvement of medical examination methods. Development of an integrated information system for health monitoring and personalized preventive and rehabilitation measures. To solve this problem, it is necessary to study working conditions, scientifically substantiate preventive measures, harmonize special assessment of working conditions and develop criteria for severity and intensity of work, as well as improve the technology for assessing working conditions and personalized risk assessment.&#x0D; Ethics. The study did not require the conclusion of the Ethics committee.

THE INFLUENCE OF STRESS FACTORS ON THE HORMONAL PROFILE OF WOMEN OF REPRODUCTIVE AGE DURING HOSTILITIES

Modern Ukrainian female servicemen from the temporarily occupied territories and other regions of Ukraine in the conditions of martial law have serious risks for deterioration not only of their health, but also of future children, which is due to the negative effects of stress factors during the war. Among which there are unfavorable working conditions of military personnel (severe neuropsychic tension, violation of the diet and sleep, increased physical activity, hypothermia; inappropriate living conditions, life and activity of personnel, problems of obtaining gynecological care; ), as well as environmental conditions: chemical factors (substances that pollute water and air: gunpowder, accumulator gases, combustion products, heavy metals, engine maintenance products, aerosols, pesticides, anthropotoxins), physical factors (noise, vibration, extreme temperature regimes, height, radiation), environmental factors, etc. It is worth noting that at present one of the key factors of disruption of the functioning of the body is post-traumatic stress disorder. According to current data, about 30% of people affected by traumatic events will have PTSD and need help. As for the female population, during the life of PTSD is diagnosed in about 10% of adult women and 7% of girls. It is also known that in women, manifestations of PTSD are observed almost 1.5 times more often than in men. Particularly high level of prevalence of mental disorders is noted among internally displaced persons. In particular, in this cohort, PTSD develops and is diagnosed in 22% of men and 36% of women. Among the symptoms of PTSD, depression (in 16 and 25%, respectively) and anxiety (in 13 and 20%, respectively) are most common.

Mental Health Services Integration in Primary Health Care in Iran: A Policy Analysis.

Objective: The National Mental Health Services (N-MHSs) in Iran was integrated with Primary Health Care (PHC) in 1988. This study aimeds to analyze the policy of integrating N-MHSs in PHC, focusing on the analysis of the current situation, pathology, and the existing challenge. Method : This qualitative research was conducted in 2020 using a case study approach. This study used the policy triangle model to analyze the policy. The required data were collected via interviews, literature review, and document analysis. The interviews were conducted with 23 experts, stakeholders across the country who were selected through purposive sampling, and the data were analyzed using the content-analysis method. Results: The main goals of this policy were to raise mental health literacy among the people and eliminate its stigma in the society, while implementing the referral system for N-MHSs. Twenty weaknesses were extracted in eight areas, including negative views of mental health, weaknesses in human resource training, compensation for the service of psychologists, unfavorable working conditions of the workforce, inappropriate service delivery facilities, lack of meaningful communication between different levels of service delivery, poor inter-sectorial communication, and the challenging nature of mental health care. De-stigmatizing psychological disorders in the society and identifying hidden patients are some of the most significant achievements of this policy. Conclusion: Despite the successful implementation and significant achievements in integrating N-MHSs in PHC, the results of the present study indicate that there are many challenges in this field that require serious planning and attention from relevant authorities.

Nurses' intention to leave their jobs in relation to work environment factors in Polish hospitals: Cross-sectional study.

The lack of nursing staff is a current problem not only in Poland, but also in the world. The decision of nurses to leave the workplace, apart from the financial aspect, often results from unfavourable working conditions related to the work environment. The study was multicentre, cross-sectional. The study was conducted among a group of 1509 nurses employed in surgical and internal medicine wards in 21 hospitals in Poland. The key variables of the study were: the intention of the nurses to leave their jobs, the nurses' working environment, the level of satisfaction, the level of occupational burnout and the number of patients cared for on the last shift, the number of nurses on the last shift. The Practice Environment Scale of the Nursing Work Index (PES-NWI) and the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) questionnaire were used in the research. Almost half of the surveyed nurses (48.84%) declared their willingness to leave their current workplace. The statistical analysis showed that nurses declaring their willingness to quit their job in the hospital where they were employed were significantly younger (42.88 vs. 45.04, p = 0.000), had shorter total length of service overall (19.96 vs. 23.20), and also in the hospital where they were employed (15.86 vs. 18.50, p = 0.000). The increase in the number of patients by one was significantly associated with a 1% increase in the risk of leaving work (OR = 1.01, 95% CI 1.00-1.02). An increase in emotional exhaustion significantly increased the risk of leaving work by 2% (OR = 1.02, 95% CI 0.99-1.03). Younger age of nurses, greater workload resulting from more patients and occupational burnout - emotional exhaustion is correlated with the risk of leaving work in the hospital. A lower risk of leaving the job is associated with a higher level of job satisfaction in the hospital, salary and promotion opportunities. Med Pr Work Health Saf. 2023;74(5):377-87.

Illegal Migration to Europe and Nigeria’s Policy Response: Trends and Analysis

Illegal migration poses significant challenges, straining economies, and endangering lives. Nigeria grapples with these issues, with citizens seeking better prospects in Europe. Human trafficking, exploitation, and border control inefficiencies heighten risks. Nigeria's policy response involves diplomatic cooperation, awareness campaigns, and economic reforms to illegal migration, emphasizing regional collaboration for lasting solutions. This paper examines the nature of illegal migration of Nigerians to Europe and Nigeria’s policy response. The study adopted qualitative method of data collection. Findings of the study show that over 5.8 million Nigerian men, women, and children are migrants in Europe. Majority of Nigerians who left the country illegally used the Central Mediterranean Sea en route to reach Italy, Spain, and other European nations. Findings also revealed that thousands of Nigerian youths have left the country as a result of these socio-economic issues, including a lack of employment opportunities, low pay or wages, poverty, failing health care system, failing educational system, unfavourable working conditions, and a high cost of living. The study recommends among others, that Nigeria's policy response should prioritize addressing socioeconomic disparities, unemployment, and insecurity within the country to discourage citizens from seeking illegal migration as a solution. Secondly, Nigeria should enhance cooperation with European nations to combat illegal migration through intelligence sharing, joint law enforcement efforts, and support for repatriation programs.

Motor and bearing multi-fault diagnosis with sound quality metrics

The occurrence of multi-faults is more critical as compared to single faults, and it creates unfavourable working conditions. The number of contact-based sensors and their placement plays a crucial role in diagnosing the multi-faults. The use of non-contact-based acoustic sensors could be a cost-effective potential solution to this problem. In this work, two rotating components, a motor and a separate bearing of a system situated away from the motor, were considered for forming system-level multi-fault conditions. The acoustic signature of various multi-fault conditions was acquired at different rotational speeds. Thereafter, a moving window was employed on the acquired raw acoustic signals to extract statistical and sound quality features. A feature fusion approach was implemented on the extracted features, and a machine learning model was trained with optimised hyperparameters. A comparative study was performed to analyse the model's performance, which was trained with the extracted statistical, sound quality and fused features. It was found that the proposed feature fusion-based methodology was helpful for diagnosing multi-faults with acoustic signatures. The importance of psychoacoustical features on model performance was also observed. It mitigated the complexity of mounting the sensors and showed the potential usage of sound quality metrics for multi-fault diagnosis.

Evaluation of Biogas and Solar Energy Coupling on Phase-Change Energy-Storage Heating Systems: Optimization of Supply and Demand Coordination

Biogas heating plays a crucial role in the transition to clean energy and the mitigation of agricultural pollution. To address the issue of low biogas production during winter, the implementation of a multi-energy complementary system has become essential for ensuring heating stability. To guarantee the economy, stability, and energy-saving operation of the heating system, this study proposes coupling biogas and solar energy with a phase-change energy-storage heating system. The mathematical model of the heating system was developed, taking an office building in Xilin Hot, Inner Mongolia (43.96000° N, 116.03000° E) as a case study. Additionally, the Sparrow Search Algorithm (SSA) was employed to determine equipment selection and optimize the dynamic operation strategy, considering the minimum cost and the balance between the supply and demand of the building load. The operating economy was evaluated using metrics such as payback period, load ratio, and daily rate of return. The results demonstrate that the multi-energy complementary heating system, with a balanced supply and demand, yields significant economic benefits compared to the central heating system, with a payback period of 4.15 years and a daily return rate of 32.97% under the most unfavorable working conditions. Moreover, the development of a daily optimization strategy holds practical engineering significance, and the optimal scheduling of the multi-energy complementary system, with a balance of supply and demand, is realized.