Work In Urban Areas Research Articles

Gaming disorder and depression among chinese left-behind adolescents: Interactions of family, school, and personality factors

Gaming disorder and depression of Chinese adolescents have aroused widespread concern. Although there is a close relationship between gaming disorder and depression among ordinary adolescents, few studies have examined this relationship among Chinese left-behind adolescents (adolescents left in rural areas while parents work in urban areas for at least six months annually) from the perspective of environment-individual interactions. This study aimed to analyze whether family, school, and personality factors could interact in predicting left-behind adolescents’ gaming disorder and depression. A cross-sectional questionnaire study was conducted between June and December 2020 in four high schools in Central China. A total of 618 left-behind adolescents between 11 and 15 years of age completed the anonymous survey. The results found that gaming disorder acted as a mediator linking parental neglect to depression. Teacher-student relationships and trait self-control uniquely weakened the predictive effect of parental neglect on gaming disorder and the mediating effect of gaming disorder between parental neglect and depression. The three-way interaction of parental neglect, teacher-student relationships, and trait self-control also showed a significant effect on left-behind adolescents’ depression through gaming disorder. The protective role of teacher-student relationships on the mediation of gaming disorder was stronger for left-behind adolescents with lower trait self-control, and the protective role of trait self-control on the mediation of gaming disorder was stronger for left-behind adolescents with lower teacher-student relationships. The results promote a better understanding of how family, school, and personality interact to predict left-behind adolescents’ gaming disorder and depression. The findings can inform specific practical suggestions for preventing and intervening in gaming disorder and depression.

Evaluation of earth retaining wall and adjacent underground structure behavior using 3D-FEM analysis

Considering that excavation work in urban areas is often conducted close to the existing infrastructure, evaluating the impact of excavation on the surrounding area is crucial. Although step finite element method (FEM) analyses have been conducted to elucidate the behavior of the retaining wall and surrounding soil during excavation, evaluating the horizontal displacement of the retaining wall and the vertical displacement of the ground behind the retaining wall using linear elastic FEM analysis remains difficult. In this study, the behavior of the retaining wall and adjacent underground structure was evaluated by applying a three-dimensional elastoplastic step finite element method (FEM) analysis, in which the elastic modulus, considering the ground confining pressure and strain due to excavation, and the usefulness of setting the deformation coefficient were evaluated. The results indicated that the displacement behavior could be simulated using elastoplastic analysis, which sets the elastic modulus by considering the excavation effect for each region.

Impact of urbanization on people’s income and proposing new livelihood strategies for people in urban areas

This study was undertaken to examine the effects of urbanization on the income of people in Vietnam. The research utilized data from a survey of 597 people who were impacted by urbanization in Vietnam. Research methods included: (i) The T-test difference test method, which is a method used to examine the influence of urbanization on people’s income by comparing the income differential between persons in urban regions and those in rural ones; (ii) The least squares method was used to quantify the impact of various factors on the income of people in the study area. The study concludes that people with similar education and job positions earn higher incomes if they live and work in urban areas as opposed to rural ones (the beta coefficient of the variable Place_Edu is 0.806, and the beta coefficient of the variable Place_Posit is 3.309). According to the findings of this study, individuals residing in urban areas generally have higher incomes than those living in rural areas (the beta coefficient of the Place variable is 3.140). According to research findings, urbanization has both positive and negative impacts on people’s income in Vietnam.

Assessment and Grading of Accredited Social Health Activist Workers Based on Simulation, Awareness, and Writing Skills in Urban and Rural Karnataka: A Comparative Study

Abstract Introduction: Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) workers and their activities are regarded as a critical component linking the community and health-care facilities. They are the cornerstone of the Indian public health-care system responsible for spreading awareness and recommending preventive measures in the community. This study aims to assess the awareness, writing skills, and practical-based performance of the ASHA workers in urban and rural Karnataka. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among ASHA workers in rural and urban Mysore district. A multistage sampling technique was adopted for selecting the participants. The ASHA workers were asked to fill out a pretested semi-structured questionnaire. An unpaired t-test was used for inferential statistics. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The mean age of the workers in urban areas was 36.38 ± 5.877 years, while in rural, it was 41.53 ± 6.755 years. The overall average score for rural ASHA workers was more (70.49 ± 14.018) when compared to the urban ASHAs (65 ± 13.400). The average years of experience were 6.14 ± 1.44 years in urban and 10.5 ± 2.66 years in rural areas. The daily working hours ranged from 3 to 10 h in urban and 2 to 10 h among rural ASHA workers. Conclusion: The overall score of rural ASHA workers was higher when compared to urban ASHAs. Even though the grading and performance of the ASHA workers were good, their expertise in identifying and tackling life-threatening conditions remains inadequate. This can be improved with more vigilant and periodic training and monitoring along with periodic recruitment at regular intervals.

Unskilled Migration and Vertical Disintegration: Theory and Evidence from China

This paper studies how rural-urban migration in China affects the vertical disintegration of firms. We construct a theoretical model and find that the inflow of rural migrants increases the output of firms in urban areas. This leads to a higher degree of vertical disintegration of firms due to the decreasing returns to scale. We also find that the wage of skilled workers relative to that of unskilled workers in urban areas is increased with rural migrants as the vast majority of rural migrants are unskilled. Our empirical findings are consistent with our model predictions using China’s population census and manufacturing firm-level data in 2005.

Displacement Monitoring of Subway Tracks and Tunnels According to Adjacent Construction

In the Republic of Korea, large-scale deep excavation construction is being conducted adjacent to structures owing to overpopulation in urban areas. Securing the safety of earth-retaining and underground structures is crucial for adjacent excavation work in urban areas. Accordingly, an automated measurement system is used to monitor the behaviors of subway tunnels and track structures; however, the utilization of its results is extremely low. Existing techniques evaluate the safety of track and tunnel structures based on the measured maximum values. This study introduces an evaluation technique for improving behavior monitoring in subway tunnels and track structures. A substantial amount of long-term measurement data on subway tunnels and track deformation was quantitatively evaluated using the Gaussian probability density function. In addition, the results from the same location where the tunnel convergence meter (TL) and track bed settlement (RM) sensors were located were compared. The comparison results revealed a difference in the vertical displacement of the tunnel and track structure owing to adjacent excavation work. A technique to analyze the continuous behavior of the tunnel was presented by numerically analyzing the tunnel measurement results as input data. In addition, they emphasized the need for simultaneous monitoring of tracks and tunnels.

Machine Learning in Reverse Migration Classification

Reverse migration has become a more pressing issue in recent times, owing to a range of factors like economic downturns, political instability, natural disasters, and the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic, in particular, has highlighted the vulnerability of migrant workers in urban areas, leading many to return to their rural homes. As a result, reverse migration necessitates focused attention and planning by governments, policymakers, and communities to ensure favourable outcomes for all parties involved. This paper aims to provide a fundamental research framework from research that utilized a machine learning approach to classify reverse migration based on evidence from Selangor, Malaysia. The research methodology involves selecting features for reverse migration classification models and identifying optimal hyperparameters and experimental settings through auto model preliminary analysis. Furthermore, based on the findings of the auto model, the methodology was enhanced with a manual setting of machine learning. Three machine learning algorithms, namely Decision Tree, Random Forest, and Gradient Boosted Trees were used. The results of the auto model and the manual process that used different split ratios were compared. All the machine learning algorithms performed with a high accuracy of over 90% and were efficient in completing prediction tasks in under a minute across various settings. The best machine learning model with an accuracy of 97.6% is Gradient Boosted Trees with a split ratio of 60:40. The paper presents findings that could prove useful for governments, legal planners, investors, and the community in strategizing and surviving through an artificial intelligence prediction approach.

Contribuições da fisioterapia para a Atenção Primária à Saúde a partir da residência multiprofissional

Abstract Introduction Multiprofessional residency in health (MHS) is a professional training program focussed on Brazil’s Unified Health System that aims to reorient techno-assistance logics and significantly contributes to the insertion and consolidation of physical therapy into primary health care (PHC). Objective To understand the perceptions of health professionals and managers about the contributions of the MRH to the insertion of physical therapy into PHC. Methods This qualitative study was based on hermeneutics and was conducted in the municipality of Aracati, Ceará, Brazil, with 15 professionals making up a convenience sample. Eligible were PHC professionals with higher education working in urban areas. The data were collected from March to June 2023 through semistructured interviews with the researchers. The data analysis was based on reading the material, organizing it into themes, and interpreting these in depth. Results The first contact with physical therapy occurs in scenarios that range from individual and shared consultations to health programs at school, whose actions are optimized by PHC from the MHS. There are numerous physical therapy care strategies, especially actions focussed on biopsychosocial aspects. The involvement of physical therapists in health promotion is revealed by the inclusion of professionals in health promotion groups. Health education from a multiprofessional perspective enhances care through promotion and prevention. Conclusion The MHS strengthens the need for physical therapy in PHC and enhances primary care.

Study on Controlled Low-Strength Materials Using Ultra-Rapid-Hardening Cement and Stone Sludge for Backfill and Subbase Application in Road Excavation and Restoration Work

A significant amount of stone sludge is generated as a by-product during the production of crushed stone aggregate, and most of it is disposed of in landfill as waste. In order to recycle this stone sludge, this study evaluated a controlled low-strength material (CLSM) using ultra-rapid-hardening cement and stone sludge for application as backfill and subbase material for road excavation and restoration work. In addition, considering the limited construction time of excavation and restoration work in urban areas, backfill and subbase materials must simultaneously satisfy conditions of fluidity, workability, quick curing time, and certain levels of strength. Therefore, in this study, CLSM was manufactured according to various mixing ratios and flow, slump, and compressive strength tests with age were evaluated. Additionally, the change trend in the microstructure of the CLSM with age was analyzed. Through indoor experiments, the optimal mixing ratios for backfill and subbase CLSM were determined, and field applicability and performance of field samples were evaluated through small-scale field construction. It was concluded that CLSM, which contains a large amount of stone sludge, can be sufficiently applied as a backfill and subbase material for excavation and restoration work if appropriate admixtures are adjusted according to the weather conditions at sites.

Differences in commuting between employee and self-employed workers: The case of Latin America

Commuting time represents a shock to worker time allocations that ultimately affects wellbeing. This paper analyzes the commuting behavior of employee and self-employed workers in urban areas of eleven Latin American countries. Using data from the ECAF data, results show that employees spend about 8.2 more minutes commuting to work than their self-employed counterparts, net of observable characteristics, a difference of around 18.5% of the employees' commuting time. This difference is qualitatively robust across the eleven countries and is concentrated in commutes by public transit, but is not explained by differences in access to public transit services. This analysis is a first cross-country exploration of self-employed and employee workers' commuting time in Latin America. By analyzing differences in commuting time between these two groups of workers, our analysis may serve to guide future planning programs.

Labour code, location, and migration

AbstractThe introduction of the 2012 Labour Code is considered ‘groundbreaking’ in industrial relations in Vietnam. However, knowledge about the effects of this law is still minimal. This study provides the first evidence of the impacts of the law on worker outcomes, disaggregated by location and migration status. The Vietnam Labour Force Survey is used as the primary dataset. Both difference-in-differences and fixed-effect models are applied in the investigation. The estimated results show a relationship between the introduction of the law and the labour supply of contracted workers in urban areas, especially long-term migrant workers. Furthermore, income for these long-term migrant contract workers was affected significantly by the introduction of the law. A link between the law and health insurance participation was also found among non-migrant contracted workers in urban areas. We also perform estimations using a short panel sample and find notable results. The study likewise reveals disadvantages of rural workers compared to urban workers in terms of earnings, and of short-term migrants compared to other workers, in terms of labour supply.

Implementing Construction Noise Mitigation Management Framework to Achieve Quiet Building Demolition in Urban Environment of Hong Kong: A Case Study on Demolition of a Multi-storey Carpark Building

Hong Kong is a compact city. Construction noise impact from noisy construction activities such as building demolition work in urban areas, if not properly handled, could easily arouse concern from neighbouring residents. Tremendous efforts in planning and implementation of noise mitigation measures are usually required for developing infrastructure projects in Hong Kong. The Central Kowloon Route project was one of the mega projects to construct a 4.7 km long trunk road across urban districts in Hong Kong. Under this project, a Multi-storey Carpark Building, which was built atop an existing heavily trafficked flyover and situated in a densely populated area with less than 20 m away from the nearest high-rise residential building, was required to be demolished atop the existing flyover without interfering its operation or causing unacceptable noise impact to the nearby residents. This paper presents the successful implementation of the construction noise mitigation management framework of the Central Kowloon Route project to achieve quiet demolition of the Multi-storey Carpark Building, including the relevant Construction Noise Mitigation Measure Plan, Contract Specifications on adopting quieter measures and Community Engagement Plan. The paper also analyzes the actual noise performance of the quieter measures adopted and nearby public responses when the demolition of the carpark building is actively pursuing.

Contemporary urban employment patterns among Chinese peasant workers in the 2020s

ABSTRACT The urban employment dynamics of Chinese peasant workers have transformed in the 2020s, influenced by factors like COVID-19, demographic shifts, China’s economy, urbanization, and globalization. The data presented in this paper comes from China’s national and local authorities, official publications, and reports. The findings reveal a growing trend of these workers seeking jobs closer to their hometowns, causing hiring challenges in city manufacturing sectors. We also found that young workers struggle to secure employment in emerging tertiary industries due to skill gaps, while older workers confront employment barriers from policy restrictions and market biases. This study provides an analysis of the current employment situation for peasant workers in urban areas. It offers valuable insights for policymakers to create measures that foster stable and sustainable employment opportunities for this vulnerable demographic in China.

Off-platform Social Networks and Gig Work During the COVID-19 Pandemic in India

The COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted gig work in urban areas across India. In this article, we investigate the nature of responses from gig workers at a time of no or partial work. The platform studies literature has documented the role of on-platform networks in the accrual of value and creation of the gig work opportunities. Taking a cue from the economic sociology literature, specifically social reproduction theory, we examine the role of off-platform networks in enabling work during the pandemic in India. We draw on ethnographic fieldwork among ride-hailing and food-delivery app workers conducted in Kanpur and Kolkata between April 2020 and July 2021. Our findings show that during the pandemic, platform workers turned to four kinds of networks for monetary and non-monetary support: household members, dispersed kinship ties, neighbourhood networks and work-related ties. We argue that despite the individual strategies visible on the surface, these personal networks served as an essential infrastructure to sustain platform-based service work. We use social reproduction theory to understand how off-platform networks were vital for reproducing the gig worker as well as for the generation of value for platforms.

Formation of Rational Sets of Machines for Excavation Work in Urban Areas

The study is aimed at developing a tool for the formation of a rational set of machines for excavation work in urban areas. The instrument to be developed will affect the main project parameters, such as the project cost and term of implementation. An expert survey was launched among the leading specialists of the construction industry to make a set of significant parameters and identify the weighting ratio, since both are required to select the machines for rational sets designated for excavation work in urban environments. The equation of multiple regression was solved to determine the extent of significance by calculating Fisher’s ratio. This equation shows that significant parameters are inter-related and can be used in this method. A method for making a rational set of machines, designated for the performance of excavation work in urban environments, has the following stages: at the first stage, the choice of the necessary excavation work at the construction site is made; at the second stage, limitations, arising at the site, are introduced; at the third stage, the minimum number of major machines is determined; at the fourth stage, a rational set of machines is made step by step. If implemented, this study demonstrates the high economic efficiency of the proposed method of expanding excavation work in urban environments. The study shows that the use of a mathematical model will boost the project’s success, as it demonstrates the critical factors of risk at the initial stage of the life cycle of a construction project.

Readiness of Teachers of General Education Institutions to Perform Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

RELEVANCE The problem of sudden cardiac arrest and sudden death among the students of educational institutions is highly relevant for the Russian Federation. In order to plan interventions aimed at improving effectiveness of management and reducing mortality from cardiac arrest in educational institutions, a clear understanding of level of readiness and motivation of teachers to provide help to a cardiac arrest victim is necessary. AIM OF STUDY To evaluate willingness of teachers of general education institutions to provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in cases of cardiac arrest, and to investigate factors and relationships that determine readiness of teachers to give help. MATERIAL AND METHODS In February–March 2021, an online questionnaire survey of teaching staff of general education institutions was conducted in the Republic of Crimea. As part of the survey, respondents were asked to evaluate their willingness to attempt CPR on a loved one, a stranger or a pupil on a five-point Likert scale, and to indicate potential barriers for performing CPR. The survey was voluntary and anonymous. RESULTS The questionnaire was completed by 5,921 teachers. Of all respondents, 9.2% were males, 31.6% — aged over 50 years, 32.3% — work in urban areas. The proportion of teachers who expressed absolute willingness to perform CPR on a loved one, a stranger or a pupil was 63.6% (n=3,766), 34.8% (2,058) and 41.0% (2,427), respectively. At the same time, 13.6% (804), 31.0% (1,836) and 30.6% (1,809), respectively, indicated that they would probably not or definitely not attempt CPR. A high readiness to perform resuscitation (4–5 points) was confirmed to be associated with previous CPR training (p<0.001) and with higher level of CPR knowledge (p≤0.006). The main barriers to providing resuscitation were “lack of CPR knowledge and skills” (indicated by 31.4–36.3% of the respondents depending on the type of presumed cardiac arrest victim) and “fear of causing harm to a victim” (49.2–51.4%). CONCLUSION Considerable portion of teachers of general education institutions demonstrate low level of readiness to provide life-saving help in case of cardiac arrest. Lack of CPR knowledge and skills constitute the main barrier to attempting resuscitation. In order to improve survival from cardiac arrest in educational institutions, comprehensive organisational interventions are required, which should primarily focus on ensuring full coverage of teachers with high-quality training and retraining in resuscitation.

Does migrant workers' subjective social status affect their mental health? Job satisfaction as a longitudinal mediator.

Prior studies on migrant workers have explored the effect of their subjective social status and job satisfaction on their mental health, respectively or combined, as well as how their subjective social status affects their job satisfaction. Nonetheless, few have accounted straightforwardly and holistically for the mechanism of interaction between subjective social status, job satisfaction and mental health amongst migrant workers. Taking migrant workers in China as the object of study, we intended to probe the longitudinal links between their subjective social status, job satisfaction and mental health, in particular, their job satisfaction as a longitudinal mediator therein. Using the three-wave data from the 2014, 2016 and 2018 China Labour-force Dynamics Survey, we defined migrant workers as labourers aged 15 to 64 with agricultural hukou and engaged in non-agricultural work in urban areas. The final valid sample comprised 2,035 individuals. Latent growth models (LGMs) were applied to test the hypothesised relationships. The LGMs based on bootstrapping showed that amongst migrant workers the subjective social status, job satisfaction and mental health tended overall to grow linearly and that the job satisfaction longitudinally mediated between the subjective social status and mental health. The findings may enlighten policymaking to elevate migrant workers mentally and inform future studies on theoretical and practical fronts.

Gig Economy During Pandemic in East Java

The COVID-19 pandemic that hit Indonesia has harmed health, socially and economically. However, the pandemic has also indirectly become a catalyst for innovation, including in the employment sector including the Gig Economy. This study aims to describe the gig phenomenon in East Java, both in the form of gig workers and the gig economy during the new normal. Using data from the August 2021 National Labor Force Survey, this study then builds a model using binary logistic regression to determine the impact of the pandemic on workers' income or wages and working hours so that it is expected to be an analysis for the government to plan policies in the new normal. This study also builds a probability model using bayesian network analysis to determine the probability that gig workers will fall into the survival or by choice category. With the simulation image through the Bayesian model, the authorities can map out policies based on the variables used in the model. This research is empirical evidence that the gig economy is growing in East Java but raises problems related to gender discrimination and indications of wage differences between gig workers in the service sector and industry. The regression model that was built resulted in the conclusion that the working hours and wages of gig workers tend to be affected by the Pandemic. The handling can be started from the results of the Bayesian analysis, namely starting with female workers in urban areas because they have an excellent opportunity to be in the survival group of gig workers.

To ‘patch up’ or to ‘meet the needs’: navigating the politics and visions of ‘open school’ collaboration and equity work in urban areas in Sweden

ABSTRACT This paper explores how school community collaboration is given meaning by municipally employed coordinators whose task is to organise collaboration between schools and other actors in urban areas in Sweden. Inspired by Carol Bacchi’s theorisation of the constitutive aspect of discerning problems, it examines how coordinators give meaning to the problems and challenges to which the initiative is intended to respond. The focus is on how coordinators rationalised the initiative and how they navigated and created directions within collaboration as practice across different areas of responsibility, such as school, leisure, and safeguarding work. Building on observations of coordinator meetings, interviews, and policy texts, the analysis shows how different rationalities and tensions permeated the collaboration, which, on the one hand, can be understood as something that added value and, on the other, as reinforcing a reduced or broken welfare system, while an overall rationality concerned making efforts for children and young people here and now.

E-learning applications in training for repatriated workers in Vietnamese urban regions in the post-covid19 context

This study was designed to analyze the factors influencing the utilization of an E-Learning system in training repatriated workers in Vietnam's urban regions in the new context. According to research findings, professional qualifications and education have a significant influence on the income and employment of repatriated workers in urban regions. E-Learning systems are employed as an effective channel to transfer information and skills to workers in urban areas to fulfill the improvement of professional certifications and professional abilities of workers. The analysis results also show that several factors have a significant impact on the usage of the E-Learning online training system for employees in Vietnam's urban regions, including the factor representing the ease of use of the E-learning system, Easy access to E-Learning system scale has the highest influence score with coefficient 0.932, the factor Learners feel useful, the scale of saving time getting to the study location has an influence coefficient of 0.965, and the element reflecting the joy of learning, the scale of getting more highly rated experiences have the greatest influence with a coefficient of 0.942. Data for the study were obtained from 188 repatriated laborers in urban regions of Vietnam. The multivariate regression analysis method and factor analysis were utilized to analyze the data in the study with the help of SPSS 20.0 software.