Work Location Research Articles

Aggregated Transfer Accounts in Regional Macroanalysis

Building upon the author’s prior publications in the journal Voprosy Statistiki (Issues No.4 and No.11 of 2019, Issue No.5 of 2020, and Issue No.3 of 2021), this new article deals with the problems of macroanalysis methodology, with particular reference to aggregated National Transfer Accounts (NTA) as applied to various regions of the Russian Federation with a view to expand the analytical capabilities of statistics.The introductory section unveils the concept and general principle of constructing the system of aggregated transfer accounts for the readership, summarizing analytical capabilities of the accounts’ usage. It includes infographics for balancing joint estimates of Russia’s economic lifecycle performed by the HSE University for the economy as a whole and across various age cohorts. It also underpins the practicability of developing economic lifecycle account on a regional level.The main section focuses on the capabilities and limitations of the Russian databases in view of constructing the first account of the NTA system, namely an aggregated economic lifecycle account, based upon the international NTA methodology adapted to the Russian statistics. The paper suggests a methodological approach – encompassing calculation assumptions and employed statistical methods – to constructing regional consumption and labor income profiles. Early results of the empirical calculations, performed across all of Russia’s regions for the year of 2018, demonstrate a wide scattering of resulting economic lifecycle estimates (as a percentage of GRP) ranging from a sizeable surplus to a deficit comparable with the gross regional product, and even surpassing it in a number of cases, and thereby confirming the sharp contrasts between the regions in terms of quality of life. The concluding section of the article shows that the «financial appeal» of Russia’s regions, as measured by the resulting economic lifecycle account, resonates with the distribution of domestic labour migrants in terms of their work locations. Therefore, the author has verified the hypothesis that the criteria – which impact the resulting economic lifecycle of a certain region and the degree of interregional differences – lie within the geographical structure of production (i.e. key sectors of the region in question) and within the region-specific relationships with the central government.

Technical study for restoration of mural paintings through the transfer of a photographic image to the vault of a church

This study, which is part of the project for the restoration of the pictorial set that Antonio Palomino painted on the vault of the central nave of the Church of the Santos Juanes in the city of Valencia (Spain), describes the complete geometric study for the digital restitution of these paintings, after their partial destruction in a fire caused during the Spanish Civil War. Two analogic black and white photographs taken before the fire (1920), will be the key to the rehabilitation of these valuable paintings. 3D modelling with laser scanning systems of the vault provides the geometry with precision and a high level of detail of the surface on which the paintings were carried out, in addition to the structural elements that make up the architecture of the temple. The solution proposed approaches a new methodology for the digital reconstruction of the rectified image and its subsequent georeferencing, as well as the entire environment to determine the correct location of the artistic work. Today, digital or virtual restoration is considered a very useful technique for the restoration of old photographs, but it is also an excellent opportunity to develop possible solutions in restoration of paintings and frescoes. This paper describes the initial process of transferring the paintings of this Spanish artist, from a photographic image of the original frescoes (2D) to the irregular surface and volume (3D) of the current cover of this Valencian Royal Parish, through a restoration of the mural set.

Teknologi Augmented Reality untuk instalasi kelistrikan gedung

The electrical installation stage in the process of building construction have risks to work safety and the operation of the results if the work is not following the General Electrical Installation Requirements (PUIL). This study aims to apply the development of Augmented Reality (AR) technology to provide convenience in the process of working on the electrical installation. Development of AR-based applications by utilizing android-based mobile phone devices which are now commonly owned by the public. The research was conducted by analyzing the electrical installation system in accordance with PUIL standards and its application in an easy-to-understand format, then processing electrical component data as input for 3D objects. Furthermore, the technical data of the building is used to produce AR applications that can be applied to the location of electrical installation work. The application that was built was successfully implemented on an Android-based cellular phone device. The rear camera is used to detect markers as triggers for the emergence of 3D objects in the form of electrical networks and electrical installation components. There are also info features and 3D object animations, as well as video calls as an alternative option for assistance if there are problems during electrical installation work.

Racial And Ethnic Disparities In Pandemic-Era Unemployment Insurance Access: Implications For Health And Well-Being.

Research demonstrates that receiving unemployment insurance decreases mental health problems. But researchers have also found racial and ethnic disparities in unemployment insurance receipt resulting from differences in work history and location. We examined a population disproportionately affected by job loss and unemployment insurance exclusions, using a survey of service workers from a single city who were parents of young children and who overwhelmingly had eligible work histories. During the COVID-19 pandemic, workers not identifying as White non-Hispanic in our sample were more likely to get laid off than White workers. Among those who were laid off, these workers and White workers experienced similar increases in material and mental health difficulties and similar gains when they received unemployment insurance. However, these workers were less likely than White workers to receive unemployment insurance at all. These results indicate that unemployment insurance has unrealized potential to reduce material and health disparities. Policies should be implemented to make this coverage more effective and equitable through increased access.

Beyond Zoom Fatigue: Ritual and Resilience in Remote Meetings

COVID‐19 has precipitated a massive social experiment – the sudden shift of millions of knowledge workers from their traditional offices to homes or other remote work locations. This has inspired heated debates and new ways of imagining the future of work. This paper hopes to contribute to a better understanding of these changes by reporting on the results of several dozen in‐depth interviews with remote workers from a variety of geographies, industries and professions. We focus in particular on their experiences of remote meetings, with special attention to complaints workers have with their current implementation. As we learned, workers' complaints tended to be driven by social – rather than productivity or technical – concerns. We explore this social dimension in depth, propose a framework for thinking about meetings as rituals, and suggest how this emphasis might inform the design of technology to support remote collaboration.

Analyzing the impact of agile mindset adoption on software development teams productivity during COVID-19

PurposeThe objective of the study is to analyze the impact of the adoption of the Agile Mindset on the productivity of Agile software development teams in IT enterprises during COVID-19.Design/methodology/approachA web-based survey is performed with voluntary participants working with the Agile software development professionals with a specific focus on IT enterprises around Pune, India. For this the initial exploratory literature review was performed, to explore the team's behaviors and their response to the crises like the Covid-19 pandemic. Data is collected from the targeted population using the random sampling method. A questionnaire is designed with the help of a five-point Likert scale. All the respondents were analyzed based on their behaviors shown and how adopting to Agile mindset has impacted their productivity during the pandemic. Collected data would be then analyzed using the Smart PLS-SEM methodology.FindingsFindings of the study show that Agile software development teams adopting to Agile mindset are better at responding to crisis and quick to adapt to change as teams adopting the Agile mindset is likely to sustain or even improve their productivity during the crises like Covid-19 pandemic. Adapting to an Agile mindset is important for Agile software development teams during a crisis as a response to changes in the working as well as environmental conditions. This study also shows that by adopting an Agile mindset, development teams are better at responding to the crisis eventually improving productivity.Research limitations/implicationsResearch limitations for this study-scope of the study could be extended to the larger population across geographies to have improved insights Productivity Factors like- Efforts Efficiency, Backlog-management Index (BMI), and Weighted Average Productivity (VWP) for team members can be included. More behavioral factors for Agile Mindset can be considered.Practical implicationsAgile software development teams are characterized by collaboration and responsibility. Recent enforcement of pandemic precautionary measures has enforced Agile software development teams to work remotely and maintain social distancing while in the office. It was challenging for most of the working people to adjust to the new working conditions (Yang et al., 2021) However, in IT organizations, adopting the Agile mindset has ensured continuous software deliveries, took ownership, and quickly adapted to the volatile situations, ultimately resulting into the growth in the productivity unlike to that of other sectors of the economy.Social implicationsIn this study, we have analyzed the hypotheses with statistical significance in association with constructs that are in sync with the available literature. Adopting the Agile mindset values has positively impacted the team's behavior resulting in productivity improvement even in the distributed working locations in pandemic situations.Originality/valueThe study highlights that adopting to Agile mindset has positively impacted an Agile software development team's productivity during the Covid-19 pandemic. As environmental conditions during Covid-19 were uncertain and ambiguous and teams were working in distributed and disconnected ways, many researchers have believed that it would have affected the overall productivity. This was turned true for most of the sectors of the economy, however, Agile software development teams have shown positive trends in their productivity, as they have adopted the Agile mindset values and principles, during crises.

PEMASANGAN PIPA GAS BAKAR MENARA OBOR DI LEPAS PANTAI DENGAN ALAT ANGKAT NON CRANE

The aim of the study is to provide an overview of the installation of a torch tower fuel gas distribution pipe offshore non using crane. The problem faced in the implementation of the installation is the difficulty of installing the fuel gas distribution pipe because there is no conventional crane lifting equipment that can be used at a height of 175 meters, weighing 115 tons and in very limited work locations. The solution to overcome the problem is to divide the gas distribution pipe into several trunks and install it on the derick structure by lifting the pulley system (non crane). The results showed that the lifting method using a pulley was proven to be suitable and safe to use for installing a gas pipeline for torch towers offshore. The results of this study also recommend that work methods can be replicated by other work units that experience similar problems.

Work-from-home is here to stay: Call for flexibility in post-pandemic work policies

In early 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic forced employees in tech companies worldwide to abruptly transition from working in offices to working from their homes. During two years of predominantly working from home, employees and managers alike formed expectations about what post-pandemic working life should look like. Many companies are experimenting with new work policies that balance employee- and manager expectations regarding where, when and how work should be done in the future. In this article, we gather experiences of the new trend of remote working based on the synthesis of 22 company-internal surveys of employee preferences for WFH, and 26 post-pandemic work policies from 17 companies and their sites, covering 12 countries in total. Our results are threefold. First, through the new work policies, all companies formally give employees more flexibility regarding working time and location. Second, there is a great variation in how much flexibility the companies are willing to yield to the employees. The paper details the different formulations that companies adopted to document the extent of permitted WFH, exceptions, relocation permits and the authorisation procedures. Third, we document a change in the psychological contract between employees and managers, where the option of working from home is converted from an exclusive perk that managers could choose to give to the few, to a core privilege that all employees feel they are entitled to. Finally, there are indications that as the companies learn and solicit feedback regarding the efficiency of the chosen strategies, we will see further developments and changes in the work policies concerning how much flexibility to work whenever and from wherever they grant. Through these findings, the paper contributes to a growing literature about the new trends emerging from the pandemic in tech companies and spells out practical implications onwards.

The impact of plug-in behavior on the spatial–temporal flexibility of electric vehicle charging load

While electric vehicles (EVs) are expected to support decarbonizing transport, EVs can challenge the electricity system. Investigating the EV charging load and its flexibility, e.g., by shifting load, is therefore crucial to ensure a secure and sustainable energy system. We develop an agent-based model to investigate how different plug-in behaviors can affect (future) EV charging load profiles and their spatial–temporal flexibility. We contribute to extant literature by (1) revealing the effect of diverse plug-in behaviors on EV load profiles, particularly the flexibility potential resulting from different plug-in behaviors; (2) presenting the (future) charging load in different spatial structures, i.e. urban, rural, or suburban, and home, work, or public charging locations; and (3) demonstrating the effect of detailed driving profiles in high spatial and temporal resolution. We implement three future scenarios regarding EV and charging infrastructure diffusion and technology developments. We find that the impact of potential changes in plug-in behavior on EV charging load would be highest for urban areas and increases as charging infrastructure becomes more spatially diversified. Decision-makers in policy and industry can use these insights to evaluate the impact of EV charging on distribution grids and design incentives to leverage the flexibility potential of EVs.

Work-Family Conflict Affect Employee Performance During The Covid-19 In Jakarta

The pandemic has the consequence of increasing workers working from home or WFH. A WFH as a new working style creates problems for workers because they have to concentrate on separating work and family interests. Workers will focus more on work in the office so that distractions from family interests are minor.
 This study aims to determine the effect of work-family conflict during WFH during the COVID-19 pandemic in Jakarta. The quantitative methods were conducted by distributing questionnaires to married employees who have children, have or are currently experiencing WFH (work from home), and work locations in Jakarta. The technique of processing data using the SEM (Structural Equation Modeling) method using the Smart PLS 3.0 tool. The sample was 114 respondents with a significant level used of 5%.
 Work-Family conflict is divided into Work Interference, Family and Family Interference Work. The results of this study indicate that the influence of Work Interference Family and Family Interference Work negatively affects employee performance. A statistical test of all hypotheses supports it.
 WFH is an increasingly developing type of working during a pandemic, which has led to Work-Family conflicts, both in terms of work (WIF) and family (FIW) regarding their performance. From these results, it is interesting to investigate whether the same thing will happen if the type of work is work from the office (WFO).

Residential addiction treatment providers: Identifying the role of social context in worker health and turnover

Increased lethality and availability of addictive substances has strained US addiction treatment services, further exacerbating workforce shortages in these settings. The emotional and physical health toll of providing treatment may contribute to shortages. This community-initiated qualitative study aimed to identify conditions that affect provider health and turnover in residential addiction treatment from a Total Worker Health® perspective. Providers (direct service, supervisors, leaders) working in nonprofit residential treatment facilities in Massachusetts were recruited by role and geography to participate in interviews and focus groups. NVivo12 facilitated coding and analysis. 25% of transcripts were double coded to assess interrater reliability and coding consistency (mean Kappa = 0.82). Providers (N = 49) participated in 33 interviews and 4 focus groups. Many participants reported personal addiction histories. Analysis revealed how socio-contextual factors originating outside of residential facilities were dominant influences on “downstream” working conditions, worker health, staff turnover, and by extension, client care. Four primary socio-contextual themes surfaced:1) Changes in type and potency of substances and client need not reliably accompanied by shifts in treatment practices; 2) challenges balancing state requirements and state-provided resources; 3) influence of structural discrimination and addiction stigma on pay and professional advancement; and 4) geographic location of facilities shape work and quality of life. Results were used to develop a conceptual model for residential addiction treatment to illustrate pathways by which ecological factors interact to affect provider health and turnover. Findings indicate that protecting health and wellbeing of providers—many of whom are in addiction recovery themselves— is integral to improving addiction treatment. From this workforce's perspective, recent changes in socio-contextual factors have intensified already challenging working conditions (job demands, pay, advancement), negatively impacting worker health, turnover, and client care. Any interventions to improve treatment outcomes or working conditions in nonprofit addiction facilities must consider larger socio-contextual factors influencing these organizations.

Employer Perceptions and Implementation of Commute Alternatives Strategies

Employer-based trip reduction (EBTR) strategies are the transportation demand management elements of commute options programs that target commute travel. This article reports the results of two surveys conducted in the Atlanta metropolitan area of implementation of EBTR strategies and employer perceptions of associated costs and benefits. On average, less than a quarter of the employers surveyed utilized EBTR strategies. Survey results indicate that employers commonly perceive that EBTR strategies provide minimal benefits for the company, that employers believe their employees lack interest in such measures, and that upper management does not provide support. Employers regard the distance between work location and transit as a significant barrier to implementing EBTR programs, and onsite sale of transit passes is associated with cost, equity, and operational concerns. However, members of transportation management associations and Atlanta’s Clean Air Campaign report higher levels of implementation.

Evidence for Changes in Screen Use in the United States During Early Childhood Related to COVID-19 Pandemic Parent Stressors: Repeated Cross-Sectional Study.

The COVID-19 pandemic transformed the home lives of many families in the United States, especially those with young children. Understanding the relationship between child and parent screen time and family stressors exacerbated by the pandemic may help inform interventions that aim to support early child development. We aim to assess the changing relationship between family screen time and factors related to pandemic-induced remote work and childcare or school closures. In the spring of 2021 we administered a survey, similar to one administered in the spring of 2019, to a national sample of parents of young children (aged 6 to 60 months). Using iterative sampling with propensity scores, we recruited participants whose sociodemographic characteristics matched the 2019 survey. Participants were aged >18 years, proficient in English or Spanish, and residing in the United States. The main outcomes were changes in child screen time (eg, mobile phone, tablet, computer, and television) and parenting technoference, defined as perceived screen-related interference with parent-child interactions. Additional survey items reported pandemic-related job loss, and changes to work hours, work location, caregiving responsibilities, day care or school access, and family health and socioeconomic status. We enrolled 280 parents, from diverse backgrounds. Parents reported pandemic-related changes in child screen time (mean increase of 1.1, SD 0.9 hours), and greater parenting technoference (3.0 to 3.4 devices interfering per day; P=.01). Increased child screen time and parenting technoference were highest for parents experiencing job loss (mean change in child screen time 1.46, SD 1.03; mean parenting technoference score 3.89, SD 2.05), second highest for working parents who did not lose their job (mean change in child screen time 1.02, SD 0.83; mean parenting technoference score 3.37, SD 1.94), and lowest for nonworking parents (mean change in child screen time 0.68, SD 0.66; mean parenting technoference score 2.66, SD 1.70), with differences significant at P<.01. School closure and job loss were most associated with increased child screen time during the pandemic after controlling for other stressors and sociodemographic characteristics (d=0.52, P<.001; d=0.31, P=.01). Increased child screen time and school closure were most associated with increased parenting technoference (d=0.78, P<.001; d=0.30, P=.01). Work and school changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic were associated with increased technology interference in the lives of young children. This study adds to our understanding of the interaction between technology use at home and social factors that are necessary to support early childhood health and development. It also supports possible enhanced recommendations for primary care providers and childcare educators to guide parents in establishing home-based "screen time rules" not only for their children but also for themselves.

What can I do for you? Line managers’ behaviors to support return to work for workers with common mental disorders

Purpose Sustainable return to work remains challenging for workers returning after long-term sick leave due to common mental disorders (CMDs): stress, anxiety and depression. Line managers play a significant role in supporting returned workers. Therefore, the purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the supportive behaviors of line managers in supporting returned workers.Design/methodology/approach The authors conducted a longitudinal study with up to three semi-structured interviews with 20 line managers with experience managing returned workers. In these interviews, the authors asked questions about the supportive behaviors line managers enacted to support workers and the role of the context. The authors conducted reflexive thematic analysis.Findings The analyses revealed five key strategies, including managing workload, flexible working time arrangements, location of work, mental health check-ups and long-term support. The interviewed line managers reported their own lived experiences and that being aware of the limitations of their role, together with training and support from senior management and human resources (HR), enabled them to provide appropriate support.Practical implications The five strategies and the barriers and facilitators to implementing these may enable HR to develop policies and procedures to support line managers, including training of line managers.Originality/value This is the first study in the UK on line managers’ behaviors to support workers who have returned to work after a period of long-term sickness absence due to CMDs. The identification of such behaviors is paramount to developing organizational policies and practices. The question, however, remains whether employees see these behaviors as effective.

Glucose 6 Phosphate Dehydrogenase (G6PD) quantitation using biosensors at the point of first contact: a mixed method study in Cambodia

BackgroundQuantitative measurement of Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase (G6PD) enzyme activity is critical to decide on appropriate treatment and provision of radical cure regimens for vivax malaria. Biosensors are point-of-care semi-quantitative analysers that measure G6PD enzyme activity. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the operational aspects of biosensor deployment in the hands of village malaria workers (VMWs) in Cambodia over a year.MethodsFollowing initial orientation and training at Kravanh Referral Hospital, each VMW (n = 28) and laboratory technician (n = 5) was provided a biosensor (STANDARD SD Biosensor, Republic of Korea) with supplies for routine use. Over the next 12 months VMWs convened every month for refresher training, to collect supplies, and to recalibrate and test their biosensors. A quantitative self-administered questionnaire was used to assess the skills necessary to use the biosensor after the initial training. Subsequently, VMWs were visited at their location of work for field observation and evaluation using an observer-administered questionnaire. All quantitative questionnaire-based data were analysed descriptively. Semi-structured interviews (SSIs) were conducted among all participants to explore their experience and practicalities of using the biosensor in the field. SSIs were transcribed and translated into English and underwent thematic analysis.ResultsA total of 33 participants completed the training and subsequently used the biosensor in the community. Quantitative assessments demonstrated progressive improvement in skills using the biosensor. VMWs expressed confidence and enthusiasm to use biosensors in their routine work. Providing G6PD testing at the point of first contact avoids a multitude of barriers patients have to overcome when travelling to health centres for G6PD testing and radical cure. Deploying biosensors in routine work of VMWs was also considered an opportunity to expand and strengthen the role of VMWs as health care providers in the community. VMWs reported practical concerns related to the use of biosensor such as difficulty in using two pipettes, difficulty in extracting the code chip from the machine, and the narrow base of buffer tube.ConclusionsVMWs considered the biosensor a practical and beneficial tool in their routine work. Providing VMWs with biosensors can be considered when followed by appropriate training and regular supervision. Providing community management of vivax malaria at the point of first contact could be key for elimination.

Excess commuting, rail access and subjective wellbeing

While existing studies have largely focused on the impacts from transit-oriented development on commuting patterns, there is limited evidence on the effect of rail access on subjective wellbeing with explicit considerations about the presence of excess commuting. This study uses the Bayesian multilevel model to investigate the relationship between rail access, excess commuting and subjective wellbeing in Beijing metropolitan areas. We identify actual commuting times as reported by individuals and obtain optimized commuting times through the online map route information between work and residential locations of survey respondents. We find that excess commuting imposes significantly negative effects on life satisfaction of residents, conditional upon social, spatial and contextual characteristics. Better rail access generates positive complementary effects with excess commuting in benefiting life satisfaction of residents. Findings of this study suggest the importance of optimizing the transit-oriented development to mitigate social-spatial inequalities in urban quality of life concerns.

Effect of SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination on Severity and Outcome of COVID-19 among Health-care Workers of a Tertiary Care Hospital in India

Introduction: SARS-CoV-2 vaccines decrease the risk of infection. However, data on the utility of vaccines in decreasing the severity of COVID-19 need to be evaluated. This study was carried out with the primary objective to assess the severity and clinical outcome of COVID-19 infections among unvaccinated and vaccinated health-care workers (HCWs). Methods: This was a hospital-based retrospective cohort study including all HCWs who developed microbiologically confirmed COVID-19 over 6 months from January 31, 2021, to July 31, 2021 (during the second wave of COVID-19 in India). Data were recorded through a questionnaire which included demographic details, primary location of work, history of vaccination with dates, comorbidities, severity of COVID-19, and outcome. HCWs who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 before any dose of the COVID-19 vaccine were included in the “unvaccinated” group. Whereas HCWs who developed SARS-CoV-2 after a single or both doses of vaccine were included in the vaccinated group. The outcome and mortality among the vaccinated and unvaccinated groups were evaluated and compared. Results: The study included 500 HCWs who developed a microbiologically confirmed CVOID-19 infection. It was a predominantly middle-aged population with 247 unvaccinated and 253 vaccinated at the time of developing COVID-19. Only one-fourth of the population (26%) was working in the COVID-19 area and the source of COVID-19 to most was either a COVID-19 patient (39%) or a colleague (38%). Around 13% of the population had comorbidities with cardiovascular disease and diabetes being the most common. The majority of the patients were mild (71%) and most were treated at home in isolation (91%). Only 4% of the study population required intensive care. Among the vaccinated group, COVID-19 infection was predominantly mild and this difference was statistically significant as compared to the nonvaccinated. No difference was found in mortality among the two groups; however, the overall mortality was only 1%. Conclusions: SARS-CoV-2 vaccines reduce the severity of COVID-19 besides preventing infections and its spread. This can help in effective care of COVID-19 in home isolation without overburdening the health-care services. More studies including clinical parameters and microbiological components are required to understand the true extent of this protection of vaccines from severe forms of COVID-19.

SURAT PERINTAH KERJA KARYAWAN RIGLESS PADA PT. PRAKARSA PRAMANDITA BERBASIS WEB

The process of requesting a work order for rigless employees at PT. Pramandita's initiative is still being carried out manually. Previously, employees who were at the work location and had received orders for additional work had to go to the office first to request and administer the SPK (Work Order). In addition, the absence of a report recapitulation of making SPK causes leaders to experience difficulties because data is often lost. So the author feels the need to design a web-based application to facilitate the activity of requesting a work order and recapitulation of reports. The process of designing this Web-based application uses the Unified Modeling Language (UML) programming language, where the system design consists of a detailed design of output, input, and files that aim to support the application creation process. Keywords : Work order Application, PT. Prakarsa Pramandita .

Substantiating the optimization solutions for the mine working fastening system interaction with the enclosing rock mass

Purpose. Determination of the rational interaction modes between the fastening system and the extraction working enclosing mass in the zone of stope operations influence. Methods. An algorithm for searching for optimal solutions for the interaction modes between the fastening system and the coal-bearing mass has been substantiated. The deformation-strength characteristics of the fastening system elements have been agreed. The design parameters of the support elements have been optimized according to the criterion of their equal strength. According to the optimal parameters, a methodology for calculating the function that describes the rational deformation-strength characteristic of the fastening system, depending on the mining-geological conditions, has been developed and substantiated. Findings. Computational experiments have been conducted to determine the rock mass deformation-strength characteristic. Based on the normative documents, the sizes of the natural equilibrium arch have been calculated. The adequacy of methodical principles for minimizing the load on the fastening system has been proved. The patterns for the influence of geomechanical factors on the choice of optimal parameters of the fastening system deformation-strength characteristics have been determined. A methodology for calculating the rational parameters of the fastening system and its constituent elements has been obtained. Originality. Combined studies of minimizing the load on the fastening system have been conducted. The patterns for the influence of geomechanical factors on the choice of load-bearing capacity and the yielding property value of the fastening system have been determined. Regression equations have been obtained for calculating the fastening system optimal parameters with a geomechanical index of working conditions. This enables implementation of a unified strategy for resource-saving improvement in fastening systems. Practical implications. A methodology has been developed for obtaining the weakening mass deformation-strength characteristic, depending on the depth of mine working location, the texture of the rocks in the coal-overlaying formation and its strength properties. The applicability of the methodology for the implementation of a unified strategy of resource-saving improvement of the mine working fastening systems for the Western Donbas mines has been proved.

Importance of the Access, Equity, and Opportunity Competencies Among 4-H Professionals

The 4-H Professional Research, Knowledge and Competencies (PRKC) is a professional development framework that can be used to identify competency gaps and training needs of 4-H professionals. The PRKC consists of 6 competency domains, 1 being access, equity, and opportunity (AEO). A tailored design method was used to gather data and sort the respondents between rural and urban community type. 4-H Extension agents serving urban communities perceived 12 out of the 14 AEO domain components as more important than agents serving rural communities did. The 2 AEO domain components that were not significantly different in perceived importance were values, norms, and practices and active listening. An essential element of the 4-H experience must include creating an environment where children and youth feel safe, included, and that they belong. The differences among 4-H youth development professionals’ perceptions of the importance of the AEO domain components, based on their work location, warrants further review. Implications of this information could influence the competencies that Extension systems look for in hiring. Furthermore, educational workshops and trainings around AEO for existing youth workers may need to be evolved.