Designing an Intelligent System to Detect Stress Levels During Driving

In addition to the devastating effects of anxiety and stress on the development and exacerbation of the cardiovascular disease, lack of stress control increases drivers' risk of accidents. This paper aims to identify the stress of drivers in various driving situations to warn the driver to control the tense conditions during driving. In order to detect stress while driving, we used the heart signals in the Physionet database. To analyze the conditions of the electrocardiogram (ECG) under various driving situations, linear and non-linear features were used. The characteristics of the RRIs are the only able to identify driver stress in different driving modes relative to rest periods, while the return mapping features, in addition to identifying driver stress while resting, have the ability to identify stress between different driving positions also brought. The results showed that driver's stress level during driving in city 1 and highway 1 with a P-value of 0.028 and also in city 3 and highway 2 with a P-value of 0.041 can be distinguished. The accuracy obtained from the proposed detection method is 98±2% for 100 iterations. The result indicated an efficiency of our proposed method and enhanced the reliability.

Where Truck Drivers Stop – Application of Vehicle Tracking Data for the Identification of Rest Locations and Driving Patterns

Road transport plays an essential role in freight transport throughout Europe, therefore, conditions that may hinder seamless operations in this sector require thorough consideration for evidence-based action. Critical amongst these key conditions is how, when, and where truck drivers stop, as a common set of rules strictly regulates their driving times and rest periods, which causes mandatory interruptions in the supply chains. However, approximating reliable estimations of freight traffic flows and road infrastructure usage constitutes a considerable challenge for researchers. This paper presents a robust data processing approach to designate rest area stops and to calculate the pertaining driving and rest times. Drawing on the abundance of navigation information provided by private fleet toll registration services, a comprehensive spatial-temporal truck stop database on all major rest areas along the toll road network in Hungary has been compiled. Based on the assessment and comparison of driving and rest times, driving and parking times have been analysed, including micro-scale analysis of particular rest areas. Both the methods applied and the results achieved can be of strategic interest to better understand truck driving patterns, as well as to develop targeted and cost-effective measures to streamline freight transport operations in other contexts.

Driving Duration Difference in Road Freight Transport Between Vehicles Up to and Over 3.5 Tonnes

Working conditions for drivers in the European Union and Slovakia are governed by European and National regulations. Regulations lay down rules on driving times, breaks and rest periods for drivers of lorries and buses to improve working conditions and road safety. There is no doubt that with increasing freight performance, the number of carriers and vehicles in the field of road freight transport is also increasing. Therefore, in connection with the current EU legislation, which aims to increase road safety, attention is paid to adopting regulations for all road haulage operators and carriers. The purpose of this paper is to show difference between road freight transport performed by vehicles up to 3,5 tonnes and vehicles transporting goods where the maximum permissible mass of the vehicle, including any trailer, or semi-trailer, exceeds 3,5 tonnes.

Analisis Sistem Kerja untuk Meningkatkan Produktivitas Pegawai Negeri Sipil dengan Pendekatan Macroergonomic Analysis and Design

The productivity of a job is influenced by many things, one of which is the work system. To get optimal productivity, it is necessary to design a good work system. A good work system at least provides security and comfort to workers when carrying out their work. Thus, workers can do work more actively and achieve the targets that have been set previously. This research is applied in the Community and Village Empowerment Service (DPMD) especially in the general and staffing sub-sections. The purpose of this study is to identify the work system applied to the DPMD, and evaluate the work system in order to get better conditions to increase productivity. The method of data analysis is using macroergonomy approach namely MEAD which is used in analyzing and evaluating work systems with structured and systematic steps. From the results obtained, it is known that the work system implemented by the DPMD has been running effectively and efficiently in accordance with the established vision and mission. While the factors that affect productivity are the physical environment, work equipment, working conditions, and organizational systems. From the calculation of % HR Reserve and Cardiovascular Load (% CVL) the value is 56.34% while the rest time is -0.083. From these results, it is known that the rest time given is sufficient and there is no need for additional rest periods.

Fatigue in asphalt mixtures – a summary to understand the complexity of its mathematical modeling

Based on the reviewed literature in relation to the phenomenon of fatigue in asphalt mixtures, the foregoing paper depicts and describes in summary, the main variables that impact in the generation of said phenomenon in asphalt pavements. This has the purpose of showing its complexity to mathematically model it. As a general conclusion obtained in the study, it was found that the calibration difficulty of the models is mainly since the mathematical equations must be in capacity of considering that fatigue resistance of asphalt mixtures depends on load mode (stress-controlled or strain- controlled), the type of load (haversine or sinusoidal) and the rest periods to which laboratory samples are subjected. Additionally, both in situ, as within the laboratory, this varies with stiffness, volumetric composition (type and content of asphalt and aggregate), the geometry of samples, with effects associated to mix durability and environmental conditions, with the type of test, border conditions and support layers (base, subbase, subgrade). If these physical parameters are not considered, the mathematical equations lose reliability.

Effects of Different Rest Period Durations Prior to Blood Pressure Measurement: The Best Rest Trial

A rest period of 3 to 5 minutes before blood pressure (BP) measurement is recommended in hypertension guidelines but can be challenging to implement. We conducted a randomized trial to determine the effects of resting for <5 minutes on BP. In a cross-over design, 113 participants (mean age 55 years, 36% male, 75% Black) had 4 sets of triplicate BP measurements with the order of rest for the first 3 sets (0 minutes, 2 minutes, 5 minutes 1 ) randomized. The fourth set was always a second 5-minute rest period (5 minutes 2 ), from which we calculated the difference between 5 minutes 1 and 5 minutes 2 (5 minutes 1 −5 minutes 2 ), a measure of intrinsic BP variability. To determine if there was no difference between BPs obtained after resting 0 minutes or 2 minutes versus 5 minutes 1 , we tested whether 5 minutes 1 −0 minutes or 5 minutes 1 −2 minutes was within a prespecified noninferiority margin of ±2 mm Hg compared with 5 minutes 1 −5 minutes 2 . Overall, mean BP was similar across 5 minutes 1 (128/75), 5 minutes 2 (127/76), 2 minutes (127/74), and 0 minutes (127/74). Compared with the average absolute 5 minutes 1 −5 minutes 2 difference (5.3/3.0 mm Hg), the absolute systolic BP difference of differences did not cross our noninferiority margin for 0 minutes rest (0.2 [95% CI, 0.8–1.2]) but did for 2 minutes rest (−1.7 [−2.8 to −0.6]). Among those with systolic BP <140, the absolute difference of differences for both 0 and 2 minutes did not cross the ±2 mm Hg margin; however, those with systolic BP ≥140 had differences that did exceed this threshold. Our findings suggest that shorter rest periods may be a reasonable alternative to 5 minutes for most individuals. Implementation could substantially improve the efficiency of hypertension screening programs. REGISTRATION: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov ; Unique identifier: NCT04031768.

Pilot Sleep Behavior across Time during Ultra-Long-Range Flights

Fatigue risk to the pilot has been a deterrent for conducting direct flights longer than 12 h under normal conditions, but such flights were a necessity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Twenty (N = 20) pilots flying across five humanitarian missions between Brazil and China wore a sleep-tracking device (the Zulu watch), which has been validated for the estimation of sleep timing (sleep onset and offset), duration, efficiency, and sleep score (wake, interrupted, light, or deep Sleep) throughout the mission period. Pilots also reported sleep timing, duration, and subjective quality of their in-flight rest periods using a sleep diary. To our knowledge, this is the first report of commercial pilot sleep behavior during ultra-long-range operations under COVID-19 pandemic conditions. Moreover, these analyses provide an estimate of sleep score during in-flight sleep, which has not been reported previously in the literature.

Estudio descriptivo sobre libranza de guardias de Médicos Residentes de Madrid: Efecto de la huelga de 2020 en el cumplimiento de los descansos obligatorios

Antecedentes: Este estudio tiene como objetivo describir el grado de cumplimiento de los descansos obligatorios tras las jornadas de trabajo de 24 horas (guardias) en el colectivo de médicos residentes en la Comunidad de Madrid y el efecto que la huelga de residentes de 2020 ha tenido en el cumplimiento de dichos descansos. Métodos: Se ha diseñado un estudio descriptivo observacional transversal a través de una encuesta online anónima adaptada de la bibliografía existente. Resultados: Antes de la huelga de residentes el 27,2% de los encuestados no realizaban los descansos obligatorios después de las guardias. El descanso semanal obligatorio de al menos 36 horas no se respetaba hasta en el 87% de los casos. Después de la huelga de residentes, estos porcentajes se han reducido a un 19,8% y un 34,5% respectivamente, con significación estadística comparándose con los porcentajes previos (p<0,05). La media de guardias realizadas en la muestra era de 5 al mes, lo que supera el máximo legal de horas semanales. Conclusiones: Se constata la vulneración de los derechos laborales de los residentes en un importante porcentaje de los residentes en lo relativo a los descansos obligatorios post-guardia y descansos semanales. La huelga de residentes ha reducido la incidencia del fenómeno, pero sigue siendo un problema relevante para la salud de los residentes y la seguridad del paciente. Background: This study aims at describing the absence of mandatory rest periods after a 24h on call shift in resident physicians in the region of Madrid. It also tries to elucidate the effect which the 2020 resident physician’s strike has had in this phenomenon. Materials and methods: A descriptive observational cross-sectional study has been carried out through an anonymous survey adapted from the available literature. Results: Before the resident’s strike up to 27,2% of the residents surveyed could not enjoy mandatory resting periods after a 24 hour on-call shift. The mandatory weekly rest of at least 36 hours was not done in up to 87% of the cases. After the residents' strike, these figures have been reduced to 19.8% and 34.5% respectively, with statistical significance comparing with previous percentages (p <0.05). The average number of 24 hours on call shifts residents had to work per month was 5, which exceeds the maximum weekly hours allowed by law. Conclusions: The findings reveal a violation of resident physician labor rights in relation to the mandatory days-off after 24-hour on call shifts and weekly breaks. The resident physician’s strike has reduced the incidence of the phenomenon, but it remains a relevant threat to resident physician’s health and patient safety.

The Relationship between Shift Work and Occupational Fatigue on Nurses Working on the Pediatrics and Internal Wards of Muhammadiyah Palembang Hospital

Shift work is a method of allocating work time to different workgroups. Fatigue is defined as an abnormal sensation of tiredness, sluggishness, or a lack of desire to engage in activities, which results in stress, depression, or other negative emotions. In order to satisfy patients within 24 hours, hospitals must organize nurses by shift. The goal of this study at Muhammadiyah Palembang Hospital was to see if there was a link between shift work and fatigue in pediatric and internal ward nurses. This cross-sectional and analytic study entailed 26 respondents from the total sampling method used. In this study, those who worked shifts included those who worked in the morning (12 respondents (46.2 %), evening (8 respondents (30.8%), and night (6 respondents (23.1 %). Fatigue has been linked to 38% of RSMP's overworked pediatric ward nurses and interna, with a p-value of 0.029. The hospital should provide rest periods for nurses, especially those who work the last shift because they must adapt during the night.

Analytical Framework for Evaluating Potential Truck Parking Locations

As the number of trucks on the road continues to increase, mandatory rest periods combined with a decreasing number of parking spaces and amenities geared towards truck drivers have created a paradoxical yet often overlooked issue of truck parking shortage. Especially within the urbanized landscape of New Jersey, truck stops are rarely considered as the highest and best use form of development and those that exist are often expensive to operate. Most of the existing research on this issue has focused on parking demand modeling or applications of the intelligent transportation system technology to improve the use of existing truck stops. Nonetheless, limited previous research has focused on expanding truck parking capacity. This study develops a methodological framework for evaluating some of the important social, economic, and environmental factors when planning the development of a new truck parking facility. With an example application to the State of New Jersey, this study presents a step-by-step analytical process to help prioritize potential truck parking locations.