Influence of Intelligent Boom Control in Forwarders on Performance of Operators

This paper deals with the influence of an Intelligent Boom Control (IBC) in forwarders on the work of operators. The work with the IBC and standard system of crane control was measured by the use of a John Deere harvester and forwarder simulator. Two individuals without any practical training and two individuals with experience in the control of the crane took the measurements. The monitoring included eight different performance indicators. The use of the IBC system allowed the untrained operators to increase their work output by 27. With the use of the IBC system, these individuals also showed 53% fewer direct damages to the machine. However, our findings show that the length of experience influenced the performance of the operators out of all the monitored indicators. Notwithstanding that fact, the use of the IBC system has a direct positive influence on the economy of the machine operation.

TP9.1.5Optimizing Patient Outcomes and Improving Organization Efficiency through Enhanced Management of Low Back Ache and Sciatica

Aim This study was undertaken to tackle the rising incidence of Low Back Ache and Sciatica in a primary care government setup, which had contributed to a disabled and diminished workforce. The aim being improving patient outcomes by implementing changes in the current management protocol (measured against the standard NICE guidelines by an initial clinical audit) Method Two Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles were implemented post an initial clinical audit among 59 patients of the institution. Data was collected using self-made questionnaires and then analyzed. Re-audits were done to measure the outcome against a set standard. Results 20-30% (n = 12-18) of patients were aware of their risk category, understood various treatment modalities and use of orthotics in the initial clinical audit. 56% (n = 33), 73% (n = 43), 88% (n = 51) of the patients were absent from work or had diminished work output, were offered imaging and were put on medication respectively. 10% of the patients were offered psychological counselling. Post implementation of changes from the first PDSA cycle, the set target of 90% was achieved in most of the categories. Further, 24% (n = 14) of patients reported that they were still apprehensive about their condition. A second PDSA cycle was undertaken and post implementation of changes, the set standard of 10% or less patients being apprehensive was noted. Conclusions Increased awareness among patients through means of regular educational sessions, psychological counselling, updated management protocols have led to healthier patients, less absence from duty and improved work output thereby increasing the organizational efficiency as a whole.

Gastrointestinal Assessment and Therapeutic Intervention for the Management of Exercise-Associated Gastrointestinal Symptoms: A Case Series Translational and Professional Practice Approach

This translational research case series describes the implementation of a gastrointestinal assessment protocol during exercise (GastroAxEx) to inform individualised therapeutic intervention of endurance athletes affected by exercise-induced gastrointestinal syndrome (EIGS) and associated gastrointestinal symptoms (GIS). A four-phase approach was applied. Phase 1: Clinical assessment and exploring background history of exercise-associated gastrointestinal symptoms. Phase 2: Individual tailored GastroAxEx laboratory simulation designed to mirror exercise stress, highlighted in phase 1, that promotes EIGS and GIS during exercise. Phase 3: Individually programmed therapeutic intervention, based on the outcomes of Phase 2. Phase 4: Monitoring and readjustment of intervention based on outcomes from field testing under training and race conditions. Nine endurance athletes presenting with EIGS, and two control athletes not presenting with EIGS, completed Phase 2. Two athletes experienced significant thermoregulatory strain (peak core temperature attained > 40°C) during the GastroAxEx. Plasma cortisol increased substantially pre- to post-exercise in n = 6/7 (Δ > 500 nmol/L). Plasma I-FABP concentration increased substantially pre- to post-exercise in n = 2/8 (Δ > 1,000 pg/ml). No substantial change was observed in pre- to post-exercise for systemic endotoxin and inflammatory profiles in all athletes. Breath H2 responses showed that orocecal transit time (OCTT) was delayed in n = 5/9 (90–150 min post-exercise) athletes, with the remaining athletes (n = 4/9) showing no H2 turning point by 180 min post-exercise. Severe GIS during exercise was experienced in n = 5/9 athletes, of which n = 2/9 had to dramatically reduce work output or cease exercise. Based on each athlete’s identified proposed causal factors of EIGS and GIS during exercise (i.e., n = 9/9 neuroendocrine-gastrointestinal pathway of EIGS), an individualised gastrointestinal therapeutic intervention was programmed and advised, adjusted from a standard EIGS prevention and management template that included established strategies with evidence of attenuating EIGS primary causal pathways, exacerbation factors, and GIS during exercise. All participants reported qualitative data on their progress, which included their previously presenting GIS during exercise, such as nausea and vomiting, either being eliminated or diminished resulting in work output improving (i.e., completing competition and/or not slowing down during training or competition as a result of GIS during exercise). These outcomes suggest GIS during exercise in endurance athletes are predominantly related to gastrointestinal functional and feeding tolerance issues, and not necessarily gastrointestinal integrity and/or systemic issues. GastroAxEx allows for informed identification of potential causal pathway(s) and exacerbation factor(s) of EIGS and GIS during exercise at an individual level, providing a valuable informed individualised therapeutic intervention approach.

Teacher Applicants' Self-Efficacy and English Proficiency

Self-efficacy is a belief in one capability in accomplishing a particular task. Most of the related studies concluded that having a high self-efficacy has something to do with high performance at work. It has something to do with an individuals' work output/ production; however, some other literature revealed that it does not have something to do with an individual's performance. On the other side, the English language is the required medium of instruction yet the most feared. This study investigated the self-efficacy towards the English Proficiency Test of the teacher applicants from the Division of Romblon. Findings showed that respondents have Low Self- efficacy status towards English Proficiency Test. It concluded that proficient respondents have a Very Low Self-efficacy among the levels of English Proficiency compared to other levels that reached the Low level. Further, the overall English Proficiency of teacher applicants was at the Beginners level.

A Compendium of Methods for Determining the Exergy Balance Terms Applied to Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engines

Exergy analysis of the reciprocating internal combustion (IC) engines is studied by estimating various input and output energy transfer parameters concerning a dead state reference. Exergy terms such as fuel input, work output, cooling, and exhaust gas are measured and are set into the exergy balance equation to determine the amount of loss or destruction. Exergy destructions are found in many forms such as combustion (entropy generation), cylinder wall, friction, mixing, blow-by, and others. These exergy terms have been estimated by considering various factors such as engine type, fuel type, environmental condition, and others. In this article, the different methods employed in estimating these exergy terms have been reviewed. It attempts to make a compendium of these evaluation methods and segregates them under individual exergy terms with necessary descriptions. The fuel input measurement is mostly based on Gibb's free energy and the lower heating value, whereas its higher heating value is used during the fuel exergy calculation on a molar basis. The work output of the engines is estimated either from the crankshaft or by analyzing the cylinder pressure and volume. The exergy transfer with cooling medium and exhaust gas depends on the temperature of gas. The maximum achievable engine performance is quantified by estimating the exergy efficiency. This piece of study will not only provide a plenty of information on exergy evaluation methods of IC engines but will also allow the future researchers to adopt the appropriate one.

Comparison of COVID-19 Pandemic-Related Stress among Frontline Medical Personnel in Daegu City, Korea

Background and Objectives: Frontline medical staff usually experience high levels of stress, which could greatly impact their work output. We conducted a survey to investigate the level of stress and its association with job types, work departments, and medical centers among COVID-19 pandemic frontline medical personnel. Materials and Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey using a self-administered questionnaire among 307 frontline medical staff who cared for COVID-19 patients in Daegu city. We used a 33-item questionnaire to assess respondents’ general characteristics, job stress, personal effects associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, and their stress level. A general health questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12) was included in our questionnaire. Results: Majority (74.3%) of the respondents were in the stress group. The mean GHQ-12 score was 14.31 ± 4.96. More females (67.4%, p < 0.05) and nurses (73.3%, p = 0.001) were in the stress group compared to males and doctors. Medical staff in the general ward considered the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic situation higher. Nurses perceived work changes (p < 0.05), work burden (p < 0.05), and personal impact (p < 0.05) more serious than doctors. Medical staff in Level 3 emergency department (ED) perceived a lack of real-time information (p = 0.012), a lack of resources, and negative personal impacts associated with the pandemic as more serious than staff in Level 1 and Level 2 EDs. Medical staff in the intensive care unit perceived work changes (p < 0.05), work burden (p < 0.05), and lack of personal protective equipment (p = 0.002) as more serious than staff in the ED and general ward. Conclusion: Providing real-time information and resources for reducing work burden and negative personal impact is central to maximizing the work output of the COVID-19 pandemic frontline medical staff. Supporting their mental health through regular programs and intervention is also imperative.

Efficiency at maximum power of quantum-mechanical Carnot engine enhanced by energy quantization

In an adiabatic process, the change in energies of select states may be inhomogenously scaled due to energy quantization. To illustrate this, we introduce a [Formula: see text] barrier turning up (turning down) in an adiabatic expansion (compression). We consider a quantum-mechanical Carnot engine employing a single particle confined in an infinite potential, assuming only the lowest two energy levels to be occupied. This cyclic engine model consists of two isoenergetic strokes where the system is alternatively coupled to two energy baths, and two adiabatic processes where the potential is adiabatically deformed with turning up or down a [Formula: see text] barrier. Having obtained the work output and efficiency, we analyze the efficiency at maximum power under the assumption that the potential moves at a very slow speed. We show that the efficiency at maximum power can be enhanced by energy quantization.

Socio Economic Impact of Assembly Line Balancing in Garment Manufacturing with the Help of Work Aids

The experimental efficacy of a work station that is ergonomically designed owes its overall reliance on production engineering, especially considering assembly line balancing besides the sustained work output of the assembly line and its snags caused in the production process have been acknowledged since long. The manifestation of these irregularities and consequent inadequacies on persistent shoulder – neck exposure have been studied for this paper with the help of work aids. A conducive workplace based on better ergonomic work station design, influences stress decreased due to the undue strain of repeated actions in an assembly line situation. This makes for resultant assembly line need to get balanced and subsequent to the production most irregularities decrease. It also results in the perpetuation of idle time across the assembly line outputs as compared to when no work aids have been introduced. Focus The researcher contribution of this paper is the experimentation conducted on a work table designed for the finishing line segment of the garment manufacturing assembly line. The folding table, as it has been called has flexibility of adjustment of work angle and some advantages over the conventional fixed surface tables. Method Designing aspect apart this Table has been experimented with for usage and stability in the garment manufacturing assembling at three different units. The pilot results have been examined in the light of work done by earlier scholars. Scope The musculoskeletal strain experienced by workers in the garment manufacturing units impacts directly on their work output resulting long term physical and socio-economic implications that tend to effect work output efficiency in the long run. Results and Findings Decreased stress levels show indications of positive usage of this work aid. However, testing is still going on to confirm the preliminary results

ANALISIS BEBAN KERJA OPERATOR DI BAGIAN PRODUKSI DENGAN METODE CARDIOVASCULAR LOAD (CVL) DAN BOURDON WIERSMA UNTUK MENGURANGI KELELAHAN DI CV. XYZ

The workforce of plastic crushing and product printing at CV. XYZ experiences fatigue most quickly, so when working often makes mistakes and lacks concentration at work which causes a decrease in work output. The workload on the operator of the plastic crushing section has oxygen consumption of 0.953 liters / minute categorized by Weight, with a Cardiovascular Load percentage of 30.54% categorized as required for improvement based on the results of Bourdon Wiersma 10.4 seconds speed level category Good Enough, accuracy level 12.7 Doubtful category, a constant level of 5.7 seconds Fair category. The operator of the product printing section has an oxygen consumption of 1,083 liters / minute categorized by Weight, with a percentage of Cardiovascular Load of 35.71% categorized as needed an improvement based on the results of the Bourdon Wiersma speed level of 10.9 seconds the category Good Enough, the level of accuracy 17.6 Doubts category - Doubt, a constant level of 7.01 seconds in the Doubt-free category. Improvements that can be made to plastic crushing and product printing operators are adding rest periods, rolling workers' systems, improving workplace conditions to be more ergonomic, and managing work shifts.. Keywords: Oxygen Consumption, Accuracy, Speed, Constant.

Individual Differences at Work

There is a great deal of research on whether personality, ability, and motivation correlate with behavior in the workplace. This is of great importance to all managers who know the benefits of able, engaged, and motivated staff compared to staff who are alienated and disenchanted. The research is an area of applied psychology that is at the interface of work, personality, and social psychology. Predominantly, the research aims to identify measurable characteristics (i.e., personality traits) of an individual that are systematically related to work output and to explain the mechanism and process involved. Research on the relationship among personality and organizational level, promotion level, and salary, all of which are related, is difficult because in order to validate the findings, it is important to get representative and comprehensive measures of work output, which few organizations can provide. The results suggest that personality plays an important part in all the outcomes and that three traits are consistently implicated. The higher people score on trait Conscientiousness and Extraversion and the lower they score on trait Neuroticism, the better they do at work. Similarly, intelligence plays an important role, particularly in more complex jobs. Recent literature has looked at management derailment and failure, with the idea that studying failure can illuminate success, as well as prevent a number of systematic selection errors. This approach is based on “dark-side” traits and the paradoxical finding that some subclinical personality disorders correlate with management success.