Working Time Research Articles

Cost estimation of preventive dental hygiene care using Time-Driven Activity-Based Costing (TDABC)

Objectives: This study used Time-Driven Activity-Based Costing (TDABC) to measure the value of preventive dental hygiene care and offering a more practical and adaptable cost management method than compared to traditional cost accounting approaches.. Methods: A descriptive survey was conducted using 164 questionnaires collected from dental hygienists actively involved in preventive dental care. The cost data related to labor, materials, and overheads, were anlyzed using detailed classifications of procedures such as scaling, fluoride application, and sealant application. Results: The total allocated cost of 10,163,355 South Korean Won (KRW) was divided by the total working time of the dental clinic (23,520 min), providing a unit cost of 432 KRW/min. Among the three preventive dental care procedures, scaling had the highest total activity cost of 5,867,243 KRW. Conclusions: This study provides valuable evidence for the implementation of an appropriate fee system for preventive dental care performed by dental hygienists. Therefore, this study contributes to the establishment of a fair and rational reimbursement structure.

Differences in Pediatricians' Income by Sex Over Time.

Previous Pediatrician Life and Career Experience Study (PLACES) 2016 data revealed that female pediatricians reported earning ∼94% of what male pediatricians reported, after adjusting for factors that might impact income. Has this disparity persisted? Data from PLACES, a national longitudinal study, was used to examine pediatrician-reported income from 2017 to 2022. A regression analysis estimated the adjusted differences in female and male pediatricians' annual income for each survey year. Models included sex and other key personal and practice characteristics for which female and male pediatricians' careers might differ. A mixed effects regression for longitudinal analysis examined income across years for female and male pediatricians and if time-variant characteristics are associated with increased or decreased income. PLACES participation ranged from 83.6% in 2017% to 75.5% in 2022 (analytic n = 1251 in 2017 and 1077 in 2022). The unadjusted mean annual income in 2022 was $237 168, $220 374 for female pediatricians and $284 286 for male pediatricians. Adjusting for key characteristics, female pediatrician income was ∼93% of male pediatrician income, a gap of ∼$ 11 000 annually. Income increased across years (coefficient = 0.03, P < .001). The year-sex interaction was not significant, indicating that the female-male disparity did not change over time. Three time-variant characteristics associated with increased income over time included increased portion of continuous full-time work, work hours, and time in administrative work. A national longitudinal study revealed that female pediatricians reported earning ∼93% of what their male colleagues reported, with a consistent gap from 2017 to 2022.

Analysis of Intervention Effects of Prototyping Utilizing UI Stencils in Elementary School Students

This study examines the impact of using stencils in paper prototyping on work time, subjective burden, and idea generation among Japanese sixth-grade students, focusing on the role of personality traits, specifically openness. Two groups were involved: Group 1 used stencils after a lecture, and Group 2 worked freehand without prior instruction. Results showed no significant difference in work time; however, a reduction in subjective burden was noted in the stencil group. While no significant correlation was found between openness and the number of stencil icons used, children with higher openness scores engaged more intensively, suggesting that stencils influence the quality and depth of engagement. The findings highlight the importance of tailored educational approaches to enhance learning outcomes.

Perception of stress among healthcare workers in hospitals in Belgrade during COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic has affected healthcare institutions and workers, exposing them to unfamiliar and hazardous conditions, increased workloads, and changing directives. This has led to work-related stress, resulting in burnout, depression, anxiety disorders, and other health issues among healthcare workers. Methods This cross-sectional study utilized an anonymous questionnaire with closed-ended questions. To assess stress levels among healthcare workers, a Likert-type scale was used. Over 6.000 healthcare workers completed the questionnaire in 2022. The relationship between the dependent variable (perceived stress level) and predictors was modelled using generalized ordinal univariate and multivariate logistic regression. Results Almost a third (30.7%) of respondents felt a very high amount of tension, stress, or pressure while performing their jobs under the conditions of the COVID-19 epidemic, while 422 (6.8%) did not feel tension, stress, or pressure at all. In the multivariate logistic regression model, statistically significant predictors of higher levels of perceived stress in the conditions of the COVID-19 epidemic include female sex (OR = 0,80), older age (OR = 1.19), being in a managerial position (OR = 1.32), lower satisfaction with available work time (OR = 0.82), patient relations (OR = 0.81), financial compensation (OR = 0.83), and cooperation with colleagues (OR = 0.93). Conclusions Through the identification of potential stress predictors, valuable insights are gained to aid policymakers in the planning and enhancement of healthcare personnel’s work during pandemics, as well as in situations characterized by heightened stress levels. Key messages • These findings emphasize supporting healthcare workers during the pandemic. • Strategies for reducing stress should be directed towards healthcare professionals who experience higher stress levels.

Gendered trends in unpaid labour by educational level in Sweden 2004-2022

Abstract Background Unpaid labour has recently been recognised as an important yet neglected social determinant of health. Our aim was to investigate the gendered trends in unpaid labour/domestic work by educational level in prime working-age Swedish adults (30-49 years) from 2004-2022. Methods The study is based on a postal survey sent to a random general population sample of adults from central Sweden in 2004, 2008, 2012, 2017 and 2022. The 30-49-year age group included between 5,500 and 12,200 respondents depending on the survey year. Trends in hours spent in domestic work and in experiencing domestic work as burdensome by gender and educational level were estimated by age-standardised proportions with corresponding 95% confidence intervals. Results Women reported spending more time in domestic work than men throughout every survey period from 2004 to 2022. For example, in 2022, 31% of women spent more than 20 hours per week in domestic work compared to 20% of men. Over time, hours spent in domestic work decreased in women whereas no trend was observed in men. Among women, educational level appeared to make no difference to prevalence of high domestic work time whereas, among men, it was consistently greater among those with higher educational levels. In general, women experienced domestic work as burdensome to a higher degree than men did. Conclusions As gender differences in unpaid labour/domestic work persist in Sweden, more effort is needed to implement social policies to increase men’s participation in domestic work, especially among men with low and middle educational levels, which has the potential to reduce gendered health inequities. Key messages • Amongst Swedish adults aged 30-49 years, the gender gap in unpaid labour has declined during the last two decades, but this is only due to women reducing their domestic work time. • For men, prevalence of high domestic work time was consistently greater among those with higher educational levels, whereas no difference was observed among women.

Heavy Work Investment (HWI) and Its Effect on Employees’ Physical and Mental Health

Abstract Background Economic reality and centrality of work have led to employees investing much time and effort in work. However, The number of hours spent at work may not be the only explanation, and other characteristics, such as type of work, employees’ personality, economic status, motivations, etc., need to be considered. The Heavy Work Investment model (Snir &amp; Harpaz, 2012) considers these variables and classifies employees into four types of investors. This study examines the physical and mental health consequences of each HWI group. Methods Participants (N = 962) were workers who came to a medical center for annual medical screenings. About 70% were males, and the average age was 50.13 years (SD = 9.53). They divided into 5 groups: Typical full-time workers (N = 208, 29.2%), ‘Needy’ (N = 111, 15.6%), ‘Employer directed’ (N = 111, 15.6%), ‘Workaholic’ (N = 192, 26.9%) and ‘Work devoted’ (N = 91, 12.7%). The personal data was cross-referenced with the respondents’ health data. Differences for categorical variables were examined with Chi-square analyses. Results ‘Employer-directed’ employees, more than ‘work-devoted’ employees, perceived their health status as preventing them from performing mild activities. ‘Employer-directed’ and ‘needy’ employees, more than ‘work-devoted’ employees, perceived their health status as interfering with their social activities and their pain as interfering with their regular activities. ‘Workaholic’ employees suffered from more diseases than ‘work-devoted’ employees, and they were found to be 3.70 times more likely to be at a high risk of cardiovascular disease than typical full-time workers. Conclusions It is possible to anticipate types of health damage according to occupation type and develop occupation-adjusted health promotion programs. It is necessary to base labor laws on protecting employees’ health, particularly regarding time and workload’ outside of work’ in both hours (additional or flexible) and location (hybrid work). Key messages • Inspire organizations to be aware of potential injuries caused by HWI and promote the creation of intervention programs, potentially significantly improving employees’ health and well-being. • Evidence for the necessary laws that protect employees’ health, particularly regarding time and workload ‘outside of work’ in both hours (additional or flexible) and location (hybrid work).

Enhancing digital health competencies: insights from european human resources for health

Abstract Background Mixed-skills for digital health transformation are critical for human resources for health (HRH). This study aimed to inform the design of new training programmes that address soft, hard and digital health skills. Methods Using a mixed-methods design science approach, focus groups were conducted by invitation and with informed consent, online or in-person. A script was prepared with key questions for orientation and facilitation, addressing the topics of current situation, desired situation, desired skills, practical and organisational needs to implement continuous training in healthcare. The collected data were analysed using Nvivo. Results Focus groups (14) had 87 participants (Norway, Latvia, Belgium, Italy and Portugal): 26 healthcare professionals (nurses, midwives, nutritionists, pharmacists, assistants and doctors); 27 managers or directors of hospitals and care centres; 34 experts (digital health specialists, researchers, technical officers, members of professional societies and national authorities). Real needs were identified, with 2 direct sub-themes that were best related to each other (Pearson coefficient, p &amp;gt; 0.40 - cluster analysis): 1. ‘Current situation’: Cybersecurity (eg. privacy, law and ethics); Time (work time versus private time, p = 0.69); Type (informal versus formal training, p = 0.32); Programmes (graduation, continuing education and post-graduation levels). 2. ‘Desired situation: Desired skills (eg. digital - basic ICT, data analysis, soft - communication, emotional intelligence, and hard skills - medication administration, catheters, ECG, vital signs, telehealth - digital stethoscope); Learning design and objectives (eg. collective learning, simulations, location - peer-to-peer and hybrid); Emergency care and the link between primary and secondary levels of care were considered important. Conclusions These findings of convergence among HRH inform Program design process to support the training programs and course syllabus design. Key messages • The identified needs and priorities inform Program design further to support Digital Health Transformation training programs and course syllabus design. • Real needs points to Current and Desired situation, where HRH give important insights that need to be considered to engage people to perform training courses.

Longitudinal association between nonstandard work schedule and depressive symptoms

Abstract Background Nonstandard work schedules (NSWSs) have been linked to increased risk of depression, but the evidence is mostly from cross-sectional studies and data on the risk distribution across various groups is lacking. We examined the impact of different NSWSs on depressive symptoms and assessed effect modification by sex, ethnicity, and immigrant status. Methods We used five waves of longitudinal data from the Understanding Society, the UK Household Longitudinal Study, which were collected biennially from 2010/11 to 2018/19. The study sample comprised 11371 employed workers aged 16 to 58 years in 2010/11. Generalised estimating equation with logistic regression was used to assess crude and adjusted effects of NSWS types (work time arrangement, work hours, and weekend working) on depressive symptoms. Independent correlation was specified in all the models. Complete-case and multiple imputation analyses were performed. Results After adjusting for confounders, only weekend work was associated with depressive symptoms. Workers who worked most/all (OR 1.24; 95%CI 1.13 - 1.37) or some (OR 1.10; 95%CI 1.02 - 1.18) weekends had a higher risk of depressive symptoms than workers who did not work on weekends. Ethnicity modified the association between work hours and depressive symptoms, indicating a higher risk among White workers working &amp;gt; 40 hours/week (OR 1.10; 95%CI 1.02 - 1.20) and Asian workers working &amp;lt;35 hours/week (OR 1.72; 95%CI 1.32 - 2.25) compared to White workers working 35-40 hours/week. No effect modification by sex or immigrant status was observed. The results were the same as those obtained from the imputation model. Conclusions Weekend work, long work hours (for White workers), or working &amp;lt; 35 hours/week (for Asian workers) were associated with increased risk of depressive symptoms. These findings indicate the need to review the working conditions of workers exposed to NSWSs, especially those working on weekends and Asian workers who work part-time. Key messages • Weekend work schedule is associated with an increased risk of depressive symptoms among employed workers in the UK. • The effect of work hours on depressive symptoms varies by ethnicity.

Impact of Multiple Sclerosis on different life dimensions among working women in Sweden

Abstract Introduction Multiple sclerosis (MS), like many other chronic diseases, may impact the whole life situation. MS is more common among women than men, in addition, women tend to report worse health status. We aimed to explore the self-reported impact of MS on different dimensions of life such as work, family, leisure activities and, contact with friends and acquaintances. Methods All individuals 20-50 years of age listed in the Swedish MS Registry were invited to answer a survey in 2021. Responses from 2659 working women regarding impact of MS in different dimensions (1, not at all; 2-3, occasionally; 4-5, frequently; 6-7 to a high extend) were explored with descriptive statistics. Results Reported impact of MS varied across the different life dimensions. Working women reported that MS had a greater impact on their leisure activities (20.7% - responding to ‘to a high extent’), followed by contact with friends and acquaintances (15.8%), work (15.5%) and family (11.7%). This despite the fact that 77.1% had mild levels of disability. Further, the MS diagnosis was reported to have contributed to reduced working time (31.4%), refrained from changing job (28.8%), changed jobs (20.5%) or changed career track (20.4%). When questioned about positive life-changing experiences due to MS diagnosis, a majority of the women stated that it had contributed to learning how to adapt to things one cannot change (59.2%) and being grateful for everyday (51.7%). Conclusions An MS diagnosis can significantly impact various aspects of life. While work is notably affected, leisure activities also undergo substantial changes after MS diagnosis. However, acceptance, adaptability and finding meaning, among other, can be important parts of the journey. Key messages • At early stages of MS, the disease tend to affect leisure activities more than other dimensions of life. • Finding coping mechanisms to handle MS may contribute to compensate the impact of MS.

Sociodemographic differences in low back pain: which subgroups of workers are most vulnerable?

BackgroundLow back pain (LBP) is a common health problem in workers that contributes to work disability and reduces quality of life. However, studies examining vulnerable groups in relation to sociodemographic differences in LBP remain scarce. Therefore, the current study investigates which sociodemographic groups of workers are most affected by LBP.MethodsData from the 2018 BIBB/BAuA employment survey were used (N = 16252). Age, education, occupational group, income, working hours, atypical working time, relationship status, and having children were used as sociodemographic predictors. Gender-stratified logistic regression analyses and intersectional classification tree analyses were conducted.ResultsA higher prevalence of LBP was observed for women compared to men. Significant differences in LBP emerged for age, working hours, atypical working time, occupational group and education, with some gender differences in the importance of predictors: Age was a significant predictor mostly in men as compared to women, atypical working hours had a slightly greater effect in women, whereas differences in LBP according to the occupational group were more pronounced for men. Vulnerable groups were found to be women who work in occupations other than professionals or managers, work atypical hours and have an intermediate or low educational level as well as men who work as skilled agricultural workers, craft workers, machine operators, or elementary occupations and are between 35 and 64 years old.ConclusionsThus, workers with certain occupations and lower levels of education, middle-aged men and women with unfavourable working time characteristics are most affected by low back pain. These groups should be focused on to potentially increase healthy working life and prevent work disability.

The Effect Of Air Lead (Pb) And Individual Characteristics On Subjective Complaints Of Gas Station Operators

Lead (Pb) is an air pollutant present in particulate form, often known as metallic powder. Gas station operators are one of the groups at risk of exposure to lead from motor vehicle emissions, which is harmful to health because it can accumulate in the body. This study aims to analyse the effect of airborne lead (Pb) and individual characteristics on the subjective complaints of petrol station operators in Surabaya. This study is an analytical observational study with a cross-sectional approach with a sample size of 28 respondents. Data were collected through measurements, observations and interviews, which were then processed and analysed using chi-square test. The results showed that airborne Pb measurements at two points met the NAB based on Permenaker No. 5 of 2018, which is less than 0.05 mg/m3. Based on the chi-square test, it was found that the variables of working time and the habit of using PPE had an effect on subjective complaints with a p-value &lt;0.05. The variables airborne Pb, age and smoking habits had no effect on subjective complaints.

Current status of the working environment of brachytherapy in Japan: a nationwide survey-based analysis focusing on radiotherapy technologists and medical physicists.

Brachytherapy (BT), especially in high dose rate (HDR), has become increasingly complex owing to the use of image-guided techniques and the introduction of advanced applicators. Consequently, radiotherapy technologists and medical physicists (RTMPs) require substantial training to enhance their knowledge and technical skills in image-guided brachytherapy. However, the current status of the RTMP workload, individual abilities and quality control (QC) of BT units in Japan remains unclear. To address this issue, we conducted a questionnaire survey from June to August 2022 in all 837 radiation treatment facilities in Japan involving RTMPs. This survey focused on gynecological cancers treated with HDR-BT (GY-HDR) and permanent prostate implantation using low-dose-rate BT (PR-LDR). The responses revealed that the average working time in the overall process for HDR varied: 120min for intracavitary BT and 180min for intracavitary BT combined with interstitial BT. The QC implementation rate, in accordance with domestic guidelines, was 65% for GY-HDR and 44% for PR-LDR, which was lower than the 69% observed for external beam radiation therapy (EBRT). Additionally, the implementation rate during regular working hours was low. Even among RTMP working in facilities performing BT, the proportion of those able to perform QC for BT units was ~30% for GY-HDR and <20% for PR-LDR, significantly lower than the 80% achieved for EBRT. This study highlights the vulnerabilities of Japan's BT unit QC implementation structure. Addressing these issues requires appropriate training of the RTMP staff to safely perform BT tasks and improvements in practical education and training systems.

Comparison of the Burdens and Attitudes Between Standard and Web-Based Remote Programming for Deep Brain Stimulation in Parkinson Disease: Survey Study.

Remote programming enables physicians to adjust implantable pulse generators over the internet for patients with Parkinson disease who have undergone deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery. Despite these technological advances, the demand for and attitudes toward remote programming compared with standard programming among patients with Parkinson disease are still not well understood. This study aims to investigate the preferences and perceptions associated with these 2 programming methods among patients with Parkinson disease through a web-based survey. A web-based survey was administered to 463 patients with Parkinson disease who have undergone DBS surgery. The survey aimed to assess the burdens associated with postoperative programming and to compare patients' attitudes toward the 2 different programming methods. A total of 225 patients completed the survey, all of whom had undergone standard programming, while 132 patients had also experienced remote programming. Among those who received standard programming, 191 (85%) patients required the support of more than 1 caregiver, 129 (58%) patients experienced over 2 days of lost work time, 98 (42%) patients incurred expenses ranging from US $42 to US $146, and 14 (6%) patients spent over US $421. Of the 132 patients who had used remote programming, 81 (62%) patients indicated a preference for remote programming in the future. However, challenges with remote programming persisted, including difficulties in obtaining official prescriptions, a lack of medical insurance coverage, and limited medical resources. Postoperative programming of DBS imposes significant burdens on patients and their caregivers during standard programming sessions-burdens that could be mitigated through remote programming. While patient satisfaction with remote programming is high, it is imperative for clinicians to develop personalized programming strategies tailored to the needs of different patients.

Simulation Experiment Research on the Production of Large Box Girders

This paper introduces system simulation technology into large-scale beam field production and uses the simulation software Arena (14.0) to construct a simulation model of the beam field production system considering the randomness of the actual beam field production process operation time. The relationship between the production efficiency of the beam yard and the working time system was studied. In this paper, the improvement in beam-making efficiency in the existing beam field that is achieved by the commonly used reinforcement pre-binding method in the existing beam field is analyzed and calculated, and the improvements in the production efficiency in the ordinary beam field and the intelligent beam field are quantitatively calculated and compared. The results show that (1) when the working time system is increased from 8 h/d to 12 h/d, the average occupancy time of the traditional beam-making pedestal is shortened by 11.5 h when the working time is extended by 1 h per day; (2) with the extension of the working time system, the advantages of the pre-binding method of reinforcement gradually decrease; and (3) the application of intelligent technology not only improves the production efficiency of the beam yard but also makes the beam yard’s production more flexible and more resistant to risks.

Cybernic robot hand-arm that realizes cooperative work as a new hand-arm for people with a single upper-limb dysfunction

A robot hand-arm that can perform various tasks with the unaffected arm could ease the daily lives of patients with a single upper-limb dysfunction. A smooth interaction between robot and patient is desirable since their other arm functions normally. If the robot can move in response to the user’s intentions and cooperate with the unaffected arm, even without detailed operation, it can effectively assist with daily tasks. This study aims to propose and develop a cybernic robot hand-arm with the following features: 1) input of user intention via bioelectrical signals from the paralyzed arm, the unaffected arm’s motion, and voice; 2) autonomous control of support movements; 3) a control system that integrates voluntary and autonomous control by combining 1) and 2) to thus allow smooth work support in cooperation with the unaffected arm, reflecting intention as a part of the body; and 4) a learning function to provide work support across various tasks in daily use. We confirmed the feasibility and usefulness of the proposed system through a pilot study involving three patients. The system learned to support new tasks by working with the user through an operating function that does not require the involvement of the unaffected arm. The system divides the support actions into movement phases and learns the phase-shift conditions from the sensor information about the user’s intention. After learning, the system autonomously performs learned support actions through voluntary phase shifts based on input about the user’s intention via bioelectrical signals, the unaffected arm’s motion, and by voice, enabling smooth collaborative movement with the unaffected arm. Experiments with patients demonstrated that the system could learn and provide smooth work support in cooperation with the unaffected arm to successfully complete tasks they find difficult. Additionally, the questionnaire subjectively confirmed that cooperative work according to the user’s intention was achieved and that work time was within a feasible range for daily life. Furthermore, it was observed that participants who used bioelectrical signals from their paralyzed arm perceived the system as part of their body. We thus confirmed the feasibility and usefulness of various cooperative task supports using the proposed method.

Intelligent Verification Tool for Surgical Information of Ophthalmic Patients-A Study Based on Artificial Intelligence Technology.

With the development of day surgery, the characteristics of "short, frequent and fast" ophthalmic surgery are becoming more prominent. However, nurses are not efficient in verifying patients' surgical information, and problems such as patient privacy leakage are becoming more prominent. To improve the situation, we developed a new augmented reality (AR)-based tool for visual recognition and artificial intelligent (AI) interpretation of the pattern and location of patient surgical skin markings for the verification of the correct surgical site and procedure. The tool can also display a variety of other verbally requested patient information. The purpose of this proposal is to evaluate its feasibility of use by surgical nurses in a real clinical setting. We developed a tool with image recognition technologies to interpretation patient surgical skin markings and match the information obtained with the patients surgical records, thus, verify the patient's surgical information. Verification includes the proper surgical site and type of procedure to be performed. Nurses can interact with the device through its speech recognition capabilities and the device provides them with a variety of other requested patient information via a heads-up display. Three hundred patients in an outpatient ophthalmology clinic were divided into an AR intelligent verification experimental group and a manual verification control group. The accuracy of information verification, work time consumption, and economic cost data were compared between the 2 groups to evaluate the effectiveness of the AR Surgical Information Intelligent Verification Tool in clinical patient surgical information verification. There was no statistically difference in the correct rates of patient surgical information review between the experimental group (95.33%) and the control group (98.67%) (χ2 = 2.934, P = 0.087). The median time for information verification was 10.00 (10.00, 11.00) seconds in the experimental group and 21.00 (20.00, 24.00) seconds in the control group, a statistically difference (Z = 0.000, P < 0.001). The experimental group saved 11 seconds per patient per review compared with the control group. Considering 10,531 surgeries in 2023, printing 1 page of surgical information per 9 patients and requiring 4 copies, 4680 pages of printing paper could be saved. The AR Surgical Information Intelligent Verification Tool has advantages in assisting medical staff in patient surgical information verification, improving nursing efficiency, preventing surgical mark errors or nonstandardization, protecting patient privacy, and saving costs. It has certain research and application value in the scenario of patient surgical information verification in ophthalmic day ward.

Unplanned managerial work: crucial support for knowledge creation in manufacturing SMEs

Knowledge capability and innovation performance are essential drivers of organizational success, with managerial work playing a crucial role in fostering these factors. This paper examines planned and unplanned managerial work from a knowledge creation perspective, analyzing 21 short interviews and 21 days of shadowing seven leaders, alongside interactive analyses with management teams in four manufacturing SMEs. A four-step analysis of 2125 activities revealed four categories of managerial work, with unplanned activities accounting for 52% of work time, highlighting the complexity and ad-hoc nature of managerial work. Internally initiated unplanned managerial work was crucial for tacit knowledge conversion. If policymakers want to support lifelong learning initiatives and strengthen innovation capabilities in manufacturing SMEs, they need to encourage the unplanned aspect of managerial work, as it is crucial for knowledge creation, fostering the evolutionary aspect of organizational learning and enhancing innovation capabilities.

Combination of Implementation of Antiphase and Overcurrent Relays for Protection of 0.75 kW Three-Phase Induction Motor in Industry

Three-phase induction motors are the most widely used type of motor in industry. These motor operations are generally susceptible to unbalanced voltage disturbances. This interference is caused by the loss of one or two phases on the input side of the motor. This source voltage disturbance then causes an unbalanced current which flows to the coil, causing a phase shift, overheating the coil, and if left for a long time, it causes the motor to burn out. The research aims to design and implement a combination of antiphase relay (APR) and overcurrent relay (OCR) to prevent voltage drops due to failure of one or two phases and overcurrent to prevent overheating and fires in three-phase induction motor coils. Motor testing is carried out by adjusting the magnitude of the three-phase motor source voltage in three testing stages, i.e., tests A, B, and C, under no-fault conditions, 1-phase open and 2-phase open conditions respectively. The direct test results are then validated with ETAP simulations. In direct testing, A, B, and C can produce a current and relay working time of 6 A-31.04 s, 7.1 A-20.98 s, and 8.3 A-14.93, respectively. Meanwhile, testing using ETAP simulation can produce current and relay working times of 6A-31.366 s, 7A-20.599 s, and 8A-14.822 s respectively. The combination of an APR and an OCR can detect and interrupt voltage drops and overload currents in systems connected to 0.75 kW three-phase induction motors in the industry.

Flexible Path Planning for Multi-Agent Field Observation

This paper proposes a flexible path-planning method for conducting agricultural observation tasks using multiple autonomous guided vehicles. The observation task was formulated as the rural postman problem by graphing the agricultural field to be observed and assigning costs to mandatory and optional paths. The observation area was re-divided according to the progress of each robot’s work, and the latest path was planned to minimize the difference between the working time of individual robots, thereby reducing the overall working time. Simulations were conducted to verify the influence of the parameters used in the proposed method. The effect of workload adjustment on progress delay was verified, and the increase in overall working time owing to delay was reduced by an average of 32.9%. A performance comparison was conducted using Google OR-Tools, software specialized for combinatorial optimization. Superior solutions with shorter computation times were obtained using the proposed method.

Telemedicine and time management in primary care.

Information and communication technologies (ICTs) can enable workers to structure work in novel ways, allow for better time management, and increase work scheduling autonomy. Time management and work scheduling are important factors in the field of clinical practice in primary care. Time limits on consultation are a key constraint on the delivery of good care since the length of patient-physician consultation impacts its quality. This research aimed to examine the experiences of primary care physicians (PCPs) when using telemedicine technologies (TTs), a type of ICT, in their communication with patients. During 2023 in-depth interviews were conducted with 20 Israeli PCPs: family physicians and pediatricians. Perception and management of time emerged as a focal subject in the interviews. The PCPs interviewed described several effects of TTs on time management in primary care. They portrayed TTs as saving time for patients and having a mixed effect on the healthcare organization: both saving and wasting their work time. TTs were described as impacting their time management in the context of work-life balance, allowing them to manage their time during and between appointments. For PCPs, TTs can be beneficial for managing time in the clinic, which can contribute to better healthcare. This article, concerning TTs as a type of ICT, contributes to the existing literature which suggests that ICTs can allow for better time management and increase work scheduling autonomy. It also presents several recommendations for better implementation of TTs in healthcare organizations.