Scheduled Research Articles

Nest site selection and fidelity of European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis) population of Babat Valley (Gödöllő, Hungary)

BackgroundThe conservation of aquatic and semiaquatic turtles requires knowledge of the area and vegetation structure of habitat used for nesting, and nesting migration route. We aimed to survey the effects of habitat features to the nest site selection, nesting success, and test the possibility of nest site fidelity. Our study was carried out at 10 different nesting areas, with special emphasis on data from returning females in a pond system in Hungary between 2014 and 2017.ResultsMost nesting attempts were found in closed sand steppes, uncharacteristic dry and semi-dry grasslands habitat patches. The principal component analysis (PCA) showed that increased sandy soil cover, sunlight and slope were important variables in nest site choice. The increasing PCA first axis score significantly increased the chance of an emergence. The degradation of open steppe vegetation, occurrence of weeds, invasive and disturbance tolerant species have a negative effect on the selection of nest sites. We observed that 96.55% of nests were located within 20 m south of a pine forest at preferred nest site at pond 5, which provided the right incubation temperature through partial shading. The returning females nested significantly closer to the northern pine forest than the single clutch females. Most probably the returning females already has the necessary experience to select the right nesting site. The individually marked females did not choose new nesting areas during the monitored years which suggests nesting area fidelity, but we did not find nest site fidelity.ConclusionThe maintenance of mosaic habitat structure, slowing down the succession process at the nesting area should be basic priorities in European pond turtle conservation programs. We suggested a spatial and temporal scheduling of land management and agricultural work to the local farmers. If the actual nest site is in an agricultural area, all work should be avoided throughout the year. Agricultural machinery should avoid the migration routes of adult turtles and emerged hatchlings during the concerned period. Under strong predation pressure, predator control should be carried out, and use nest protection.

Analysis of Hand Hygiene Knowledge, Compliance, and Influencing Factors Among Psychiatric Healthcare Workers

Objective: To evaluate the knowledge, compliance, and influencing factors of hand hygiene among psychiatric healthcare workers. Methods: 68 healthcare workers who worked in the Department of Psychiatry between September 2023 and May 2024 were selected to assess their knowledge of hand hygiene and compliance by questionnaire as well as to analyze their influencing factors. Results: Knowledge of hand hygiene among healthcare workers was less than 90%, and doctors’ knowledge was lower than that of nurses (P < 0.05). The healthcare workers’ compliance with hand hygiene was lower than 80%, and the adherence of doctors was lower than that of nurses (P < 0.05). Analysis of influencing factors reveals that skepticism about the effectiveness of rapid disinfectants/hand washing, skin irritation from disinfectants/cleaning agents, and busy work schedules with time constraints are the main factors affecting healthcare workers’ compliance with hand hygiene, with P < 0.05 compared with the same group. Conclusion: Psychiatric healthcare workers’ knowledge of hand hygiene as well as compliance with it is low, and there are various factors affecting it, so targeted training is required to strengthen their hand hygiene implementation.

Efficient Scheduling of Energy-Constrained Tasks in Internet of Things Edge Computing Networks

We offer task scheduling algorithms that are economical in terms of energy consumption for edge computing networks that are supported by the Internet of Things (IoT). The challenges of spectrum utilization and energy-efficient work scheduling that lead to novel design are not addressed in this study, despite the fact that it provides encouraging results for task offloading. There is a possibility that the larger homogeneous fog computing architecture will include all homogeneous nodes, in addition to additional spectrum for node-to-node and device-to-device communications and work scheduling. We create a fog computing architecture that is efficient in terms of energy consumption for edge computing networks that are supported by the Internet of Things. By utilizing this approach, user-device nodes are able to collaborate while simultaneously reaping the benefits of diverse computing and network resources. In addition to this, we provide a solution to the problem of task scheduling that maximizes energy efficiency across all of the help nodes.

PHYSIOTHERAPISTS’ VIEWS ON PATIENT HANDLING, WORK-RELATED MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS, AND THE POTENTIAL ROLE OF TARGETED EXERCISE IN PREPARING FOR OCCUPATIONAL DEMANDS

Purpose and backgroundNearly 70% of UK physiotherapists experience work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs) during their career, with a significant proportion occurring in the back and being attributed to patient handling tasks. Evidence suggests that manual handling training alone is ineffective and interventions among nurses indicate that a tailored approach, including targeted exercise (TE), can reduce WRMSD rates. This study aimed to explore physiotherapists’ perspectives of WRMSDs, patient handling, and the role of TE in reducing WRMSDs among physiotherapists.Methods and ResultsKey informant interviews were conducted with 4 physiotherapy operational leads and 1 manual handling trainer from NHS Grampian. Interviews were transcribed and Framework Analysis was utilised to identify key themes, including challenges, barriers, and facilitators. Following this, two online focus groups were conducted with 7 qualified NHS physiotherapists across the UK. Views of manual handling training varied across specialities, with some finding it comprehensive and adaptable, and others finding it less applicable to patients in their speciality or community setting. Physiotherapist views on fitness for work varied, with some highlighting the necessity of TE to ensure workforce health whilst others considered exercise to be a personal matter. Facilitators to implementation identified by participants were having support from management and a strong justification for the exercise content. Varied work schedules and facilities were identified as barriers to implementation of a work-based TE intervention.ConclusionVarying perspectives on TE interventions and barriers to implementation were identified. This work will inform future research to develop TE interventions in consultation with key stakeholders.Conflicts of InterestNo conflicts of interestSource of FundingNHS Endowment Research Grant 22/001

Effects of short-term upper extremity exercise training in office workers during COVID-19 restrictions: A randomized controlled trial.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, physical inactivity and inactivity-related health problems have deepened in many individuals, including office workers. It is not yet known whether there are exercise programs through telerehabilitation that will provide rapid relief in a short time in office workers who apply part or full-time teleworking system. To comparatively investigate influences of short-term upper extremity exercise trainings (UEET) on pain, musculoskeletal discomforts (MSD), physical activity (PA), mood, and quality of life (QOL) in office workers during COVID-19 restrictions. Thirty office workers were divided into exercise (EG) (UEET and walking advice) and control (CG) (walking advice) groups. The UEET was applied for at least 20-40 minutes/day, 5-7 days/week for a one week between February 2022 and June 2022. Office workers' pain, MSD, PA level, mood and QOL were measured. Baseline characteristics of groups (EG: 37.8±7.04 years, CG: 41.6±7.97 years) were similar (p > 0.05). Following UEET, scores of office workers in EG on total step count, vigorous PA, moderate-intensity PA, walking, total PA, physical functioning, and body pain subscales of QOL significantly increased compared to scores of office workers in CG, while scores on neck, back and hip discomforts and anxiety and depression significantly decreased (p < 0.05). One-week UEET and walking advice can improve office workers' daily step counts, MSD, PA levels, mood, and QOL. Office workers who have a busy work schedule may do these UEET and walking exercises in break times to relieve perception of discomfort.

A matter of timing? A systematic review of work scheduling dynamics in work recovery research and applications

A matter of timing? A systematic review of work scheduling dynamics in work recovery research and applications

Sleep Inertia and Its Associates in Shift and Non-Shift Workers.

We investigated the difference in sleep inertia between shift workers (SWs) and non-shift workers (NSWs) and the effects of depressive symptoms, sleepiness, insomnia, and chronotype on sleep inertia in SWs and NSWs. Altogether, 4,561 SWs (2,142 men and 2,419 women, aged 36.99±9.84 years) and 2,093 NSWs (999 men and 1,094 women, aged 37.80±9.73 years) participated in the current study. All participants completed the Sleep Inertia Questionnaire (SIQ), Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CESD), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), and Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ) through an online survey. SWs reported higher SIQ scores than NSWs after controlling for CESD, ESS, ISI, or MEQ. The CESD, ESS, ISI, and MEQ predicted SIQ in both SWs and NSWs. The effects of CESD and MEQ on SIQ were stronger in SWs and NSWs, respectively. The indirect effects of CESD and MEQ on SIQ via ESS were significantly moderated by work schedules. SWs showed higher sleep inertia than NSWs. The effect of chronotypes on sleep inertia was more prominent in NSWs than in SWs. However, the effect of depressive symptoms on sleep inertia was more prominent in SWs than in NSWs. Moreover, the effect of depressive symptoms or chronotypes on sleep inertia was mediated by sleepiness, and such indirect effects were significantly different among the participants stratified by work schedules.

The Impact of Night Work on the Sleep and Health of Medical Staff-A Review of the Latest Scientific Reports.

Introduction: Employees working in shifts are exposed to many threats affecting their health, quality of life and safety at work. Those who perform their work only at night are particularly vulnerable. The purpose of the review is to identify risks to the health, quality of life and sleep of shift health workers. Method: A systematic review (SR) was used in the analysis. Electronic databases were searched. The search was limited to the latest studies published in the last five years: 2019-2023. Results: Finally, 36 articles were included in the review. Most authors have shown a link between sleep disturbance or its quality and shift work/night work. Moreover, a three-shift schedule was the most significant factor for poorer subjective sleep quality when compared to other work schedules. Furthermore, many authors have shown a link between shift/night work and health problems, which include cardiometabolic risk, glucose intolerance, breast cancer and immune vulnerability. Conclusions: The research results clearly show a significant impact of night work on the increased risk of sleep disorders and health disturbance. Healthcare workers should be aware of the risks associated with night work in order to take measures preventing sleep/health problems. Shift/night workers should have the opportunity to be screened for disorders linked with their work.

A Study on Working Capital Management

The study is an outcome of the topic “A STUDY ON WORKING CAPITAL MANAGEMENT”. The study focuses on the Working Capital Management. Working capital management means amount of capital that a business has available to meet day-to-day cash requirement of its operations. For a success of working of a business organisation management of working capital is essential as it has direct impact on profitability and liquidity. An attempt has been made in this project to study the working capital position. Ratio analysis, Components of gross working capital and schedule of change in working capital have been used to analysis the data. This study reveals that tend to be healthy and soundness of financial position is good. The ways in which ratio analysis can be assistance in long-range planning and helps to avoid difficulties of the company. It also helps to ascertain and give suggestions to improve the business transaction.

How Does Nonstandard Work Schedule Affect Turnover Intention?

How Does Nonstandard Work Schedule Affect Turnover Intention?

Сокращенная рабочая неделя: от вопросов внедрения до реальных экспериментов на примере зарубежных практик

The article reveals the main aspects of introducing a shortened work schedule into Russian labor practice. The relevance of the topic is currently confirmed not only by the demands of society, but also by the objective technological development of society. Employees of organizations around the world are waiting for changes in approaches to organizing working hours in accordance with the challenges of the time, which not only contribute to the transition to more flexible forms of employment, including remote work, but also to reducing working hours. Using the example of foreign practice of experiments with shortening working hours, the main options possible for using a shortened working week in the world and in Russia in particular are structured. Currently, the practice of switching to a four-day working week is being implemented with a reduction in the length of the working week, maintaining the number of working hours per week, as well as various options with maintaining or reducing wages. The problematic issues of the introduction of a shortened working week are highlighted, both on the part of employers, and on the part of the authorities and employees.

Work Challenges Among Hotel and Restaurant Management Staff

Understanding and addressing these challenges is essential for the employees and the industry. The study was conducted to determine the work challenges among hotel and restaurant management staff in Butuan City. The researchers employed a descriptive comparative approach for this study. Based on the findings, there is a moderate extent of work challenges among hotel and restaurant management staff in Butuan City. This means that the extent of challenges sometimes coincides with the respondents’ experience. In addition, there is no significant difference in the work challenges faced by the hotel and management staff in Butuan City. Moreover, the challenges faced by hotel and restaurant management staff in Butuan City. The data reveals that lack of recognition as the top challenge; poor communication and work schedules are also significant challenges. Furthermore, Herzberg's Two-Factor Theory supports the study's findings by highlighting the importance of addressing both hygiene factors and motivators. Since the findings show that the hotel and restaurants lack recognition, to address the challenge of lack of recognition, hotel and restaurant management should implement a structured employee recognition program. This program can include monthly or quarterly awards, shout-outs during meetings, or employee of the month acknowledgments.

Strategi Manajemen Budaya Akademik dalam Meningkatkan Absensi Mahasiswa di STITNU Al-Farabi Pangandaran

This research explores academic cultural practices in the campus environment and its impact on increasing student absenteeism at STIT NU Al-farabi Pangandaran. The method used is participatory descriptive qualitative with a phenomological approach. Data was obtained through complete participant observation and in-depth interviews with students and lecturers as well as analysis of related documents. .The results of the research show that many students at SIT NU Al-Farabi Pangandaran work part time, student involvement in campus organizations and personal problems are the main problems that influence the increase in absenteeism on campus, students who work part time often experience conflicts between schedules. work and study schedules. These findings underscore the need for appropriate intervention by improving academic culture so as to increase lecture attendance on campus, with a focus on flexible time management and improving academic discipline.

“Our program manager is a woman for the first time”: perceptions of health managers on what workplace policies and practices exist to advance women’s career progression in the health sector in Kenya

BackgroundExisting evidence suggests that organisation-level policies are important in enabling gender equality and equity in the workplace. However, there is little research exploring the knowledge of health sector employees on whether policies and practices to advance women’s career progression exist in their organisations. In this qualitative study, we explored the knowledge and perspectives of health managers on which of their organisations' workplace policies and practices contribute to the career advancement of women and their knowledge of how such policies and practices are implemented and monitored.MethodsWe employed a purposive sampling method to select the study participants. The study adopted qualitative approaches to gain nuanced insights from the 21 in-depth interviews and key informant interviews that we conducted with health managers working in public and private health sector organisations. We conducted a thematic analysis to extract emerging themes relevant to advancing women’s career progression in Kenya’s health sector.ResultsDuring the interviews, only a few managers cited the policies and practices that contribute to women’s career advancement. Policies and practices relating to promotion and flexible work schedules were mentioned most often by these managers as key to advancing women's career progression. For instance, flexible work schedules were thought to enable women to pursue further education which led to promotion. Some female managers felt that women were promoted to leadership positions only when running women-focused programs. There was little mention of capacity-building policies like training and mentorship. The health managers reported how policies and practices are implemented and monitored in general, however, they did not state how this is done for specific policies and practices. For the private sector, the health managers stated that implementation and monitoring of these policies and practices is conducted at the institutional level while for the public sector, this is done at the national or county level.ConclusionsWe call upon health-sector organisations in Kenya to offer continuous policy sensitisation sessions to their staff and be deliberate in having supportive policies and other pragmatic interventions beyond policies such as training and mentorship that can enable women’s career progression.

Impact of working from home on employee productivity in post COVID 19 era: The moderating role of organizational support

The purpose of the study is to review the impact of working from home on employee productivity in post COVID-19 era, the moderating role of organization support. The descriptive survey design is adapted for this research to explore the impact of COVID-19 on employee productivity while seeking further knowledge on organizational support in post COVID-19 era. The structure of this research is flexible, therefore the necessity to adopt the qualitative research approach. Data was obtained through a survey with a questionnaire. Sample size is approximately 203 consisting of employees from both the private and public sector organization in some part of Accra, basically Accra central. The study employed the use of the Cronbach Alpha to measure the reliability of the scale adopted. Thus, in the context of the study, the high Cronbach's Alpha values suggest that the survey items for measuring employee productivity, organizational support, and flexible work hours were well-designed and highly reliable. Therefore, the findings of the study are likely to be trustworthy and reproducible. This relationship implies that as opportunities for flexible work schedules increase, so does the level of productivity among employees. However, this study also emphasizes that employee productivity is not simply a matter of offering flexible work arrangements. The role of organizational support emerges as crucial, as shown by its substantial positive impact on employee productivity. In conclusion, this research offers compelling evidence that flexible working hours and organizational support are key ingredients in the recipe for enhanced employee productivity. The studies recommends further research is needed to uncover the intricacies of these relationships and to broaden our understanding of the dynamics of modern work environments.

Solving Construction Project Delays as SDGS: Evidence from Indonesia

Objectives: For the service provider, the contract will be terminated by the Government, and it will be noted that they cannot participate in project tenders in the coming year. This study analyzes Service Providers who need resource readiness to complete the Project Schedule to Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and foster innovation as SDGs Theoretical Framework: The theory used is project management by Kerzner (2013), cost management stages by expert Gunn (2017), and risk management to be effective by Santosa (2009). Methods: The method is descriptive qualitative. Data analysis by conducting interactive analysis, data reduction steps, data presentation, and drawing conclusions or verification. Results and Discussion: This study indicates that the project work schedule must be completed according to the mutually agreed agreement letter. The Regional Government must coordinate and communicate with service providers so that they can complete the project by the Agreement, especially on blocklist sanctions against service providers and the Implementation of statutory provisions on construction services, risk management, and project financing management. Conclusions: Applying the provisions of laws and regulations regarding Construction Services by implementing the terms of the agreement, apply risk management to the ad hoc project selection committee and the Public Works Department so that the risks of slow projects can be anticipated, and Implementing Funding and Time Management with resource planning with careful project cost estimation, cost budgeting, and cost control of changes to the project budget and Implement the project schedule according to the plan.

Acceptance of Gig Economy as a Source of Halal Income Among Muslim Graduates

In the current landscape, recent university graduates face challenges in securing sustainable income to cover daily expenses and establish future financial reserves. The gig economy, known for its flexibility and alignment with academic pursuits, has gained significance in addressing this need. The objectives of this study are two-folds, namely: (a) to assess the acceptance of the gig economy as a legitimate source of halal income among Muslim graduates in Kelantan, and (b) to determine the factors influencing their choice of gig-type jobs. Utilizing qualitative methods, the research employs purposive sampling, conducting semi-structured interviews with nine Muslim graduates from diverse academic backgrounds. Findings reveal that not all research participants have a right understanding of halal income although all of them accept the gig economy as a source of halal income. The findings also indicate that factors impacting their engagement in the gig economy include the need to earn a living, flexibility in their work schedules and acquisition of new skills. In conclusion, the study illuminates the intricate interplay of economic considerations, religious values, and vocational decisions. It can be implied from this study that valuable insights for policymakers, educators, and industry stakeholders supporting the aspirations of Muslim graduates elsewhere amid the evolving landscape of work. Future work should focus on a comprehensive investigation including multiple states can be undertaken to obtain a more elucidating perspective on this issue.

The Development of Daily Activities Schedule for Depressive Patients

The purpose of this test development was to check the effects of daily activities schedule of depressive patients. The hospitalized psychological patients mostly remained undisciplined and disturbed all the day. These patients should be engaged in different tasks on daily basis in which they can put their efforts to complete the tasks. In this way, these patients may improve their survival skills. 500 patients were asked to complete all the tasks mentioned in the worksheet on given time and day accordingly. Majority of the patients showed positive response to all tasks such as about 88% patients got higher score where they fulfilled their all tasks and 12% patients were appeared with lesser score than other patients. Although the patients with lower score were also had not very low scores. The study showed significant result for this work schedule. Psychological patient can manage their routine accordingly in an effective way.

Labor market pathways to job quality mobility in the service sector: Evidence from the “Great Resignation”

Since the mid-1970s, there has been a sharp rise in the prevalence of “bad jobs” in the U.S. labor market, characterized by stagnant wages, unstable work schedules, and limited fringe benefits. Scholarly, policy, and public debate persists, however, about whether these jobs can serve as steppingstones to intra-generational job quality mobility or are instead “poverty traps.” While scholarship increasingly recognizes the multi-dimensional nature of job quality, prior research on intra-generational job mobility overwhelmingly estimates only wage mobility and generally focuses on estimating the degree of mobility, to the exclusion of the contexts and mechanisms that foster such mobility. We draw on new panel data collected from 8600 hourly service sector workers between 2017 and 2022 to estimate short-run mobility into good jobs, defined as paying at least $15/hour, having a stable work schedule, and offering paid sick leave, employer-sponsored health insurance, and retirement benefits. Overall, we find that mobility into such “good jobs” is low. However, we show that the rate of transition into “good jobs” is strongly conditioned by local labor market conditions: during the “Great Resignation” and in low state-month unemployment periods, nearly twice the share of workers transitioned to “good jobs” as in less favorable contexts, particularly workers who changed sector as opposed to staying at the same firm or taking new jobs in the service sector. Notably, during periods of labor market tightness, workers who stayed at the same employer had similar rates of mobility into “good jobs” as those who changed employers within the sector.

Investigating the relationship between shift work schedule and blood and metabolic parameters: a 10-years retrospective cohort study

Shift work has become increasingly common in modern society. Shift work has been associated with a range of negative health outcomes. Therefore, this 10-years retrospective cohort study, aimed to investigate the relationship between shift work and blood and metabolic parameters. This retrospective cohort study was conducted in a metal parts manufacturing industry in 2023. In this study, 204 shift workers and 204 day workers were examined. All the studied blood and metabolic parameters were collected by reviewing the medical records of all participants during a 10-years period (2013–2022). Moreover, the amounts of physical, chemical, and ergonomics harmful agents in the work environment were investigated. All the collected data were analyzed using SPSS version 25.0. The values of Body Mass Index (BMI), Red Blood Cell Count (RBC), Platelets Count (PLT), Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone Level (TSH), Fasting Blood Sugar Level (FBS), Creatinine, Triglyceride (TG), Liver Enzymes level (SGOT and SGPT), and Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP) were higher among the shift work employees, and a significant difference was observed between the values of these parameters between the two groups. The results of logistic regression showed that the highest effect of shift work was observed on the parameters of FBS, TG, SGPT, TSH, Physical activity, BMI, Sleep duration, PLT, and Sleep quality with beta coefficient values of 0.49, 0.33, 0.29, 0.29, 0.20, 0.18, 0.14, 0.13 and, 0.11, respectively (p-value < 0.01). The present study contributes to a growing body of evidence that blood and metabolic factors are likely to be influenced by shift work. These findings have important implications for policy makers, highlighting the need for interventions to mitigate the negative health effects of shift work on workers.