Covid-19 pandemic-related changes in teleworking, emotional exhaustion, and occupational burnout ::a cross-sectional analysis of a cohort study

Background : The COVID-19 pandemic prompted significant shifts to teleworking, raising questions about potential impacts on employee wellbeing. This study examined the association between self-reported changes to teleworking frequency (relative to before the pandemic) and two indicators of occupational burnout: emotional exhaustion and professionally diagnosed burnout. Methods : Data were derived from two samples from a digital cohort study based in Geneva, Switzerland: one population-based, and one from a sample of workers who were likely mobilized in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Emotional exhaustion was measured using the Maslach Burnout Inventory (EE-MBI), while self-reported diagnosed burnout was assessed by asking participants if they had received a professional diagnosis of occupational burnout within the previous 12 months. Participants were categorized based on self-reported telework frequency changes: “no change,” “increase,” “decrease,” “never telework,” and “not possible to telework.” Adjusted regression models for each of the study samples were used to estimate associations between telework changes and burnout outcomes, accounting for sociodemographic, household, and work-related factors. Results : In the population-based sample of salaried employees (n = 1,332), the median EE-MBI score was 14 (interquartile range: 6–24), and 7.3% reported diagnosed burnout. Compared to those reporting no change in telework frequency (19% of the sample), those reporting a decrease (4%) and those reporting that teleworking was not possible (28.7%) had significantly higher emotional exhaustion scores (adjusted beta (aβ) 5.26 [95% confidence interval: 1.47, 9.04] and aβ 3.51 [0.44, 6.59], respectively) and additionally reported higher odds of diagnosed burnout (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 10.59 [3.24, 34.57] and aOR 3.42 [1.22, 9.65], respectively). “Increased” (28.9%) and “never” (19.4%) telework statuses were not significantly associated with burnout outcomes. These trends were mirrored in the “mobilized-workers” sample, with the exception that those reporting that teleworking was not possible did not report significantly higher odds of diagnosed burnout compared to those reporting no change in telework frequency. Conclusions : Decreased teleworking frequency and not having the possibility of telework were associated with higher emotional exhaustion and diagnosed burnout. As organizations reconsider their telework policies in a post-pandemic era, they should consider the impact of such organizational changes on employee wellbeing

Hospitality vibes ::the positive energy when people interact with like-minded people

Societal changes, talent shortages, and technology have created a perfect storm. How can the hospitality industry exit the perfect storm? The hospitality industry can transform itself into the Hospitality Vibes industry and rise from the storm more vigorously than ever. The Hospitality Vibes industry can become part of the social fabric where employees and guests find meaningful connections and recharge energy through joyful interactions. This book builds the roadmap to the Hospitality Vibes industry, where employees and guests have an equal status in the relationship and where employees find meaning and eudaimonia in their work. Please join us on this transformative journey

Graph-based electroencephalography analysis in tinnitus therapy

Tinnitus is the perception of sounds like ringing or buzzing in the ears without any external source, varying in intensity and potentially becoming chronic. This study aims to enhance the understanding and treatment of tinnitus by analyzing a dataset related to tinnitus therapy, focusing on electroencephalography (EEG) signals from patients undergoing treatment. The objectives of the study include applying various preprocessing techniques to ensure data quality, such as noise elimination and standardization of sampling rates, and extracting essential features from EEG signals, including power spectral density and statistical measures. The novelty of this research lies in its innovative approach to representing different channels of EEG signals as new graph network representations without losing any information. This transformation allows for the use of Graph Neural Networks (GNNs), specifically Graph Convolutional Networks (GCNs) combined with Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks, to model intricate relationships and temporal dependencies within the EEG data. This method enables a comprehensive analysis of the complex interactions between EEG channels. The study reports an impressive accuracy rate of 99.41%, demonstrating the potential of this novel approach. By integrating graph representation and deep learning, this research introduces a new methodology for analyzing tinnitus therapy data, aiming to contribute to more effective treatment strategies for tinnitus sufferers

Site selection according to life cycles in agglomeration areas ::a dynamic and interdisciplinary location analysis of the four-country-region lake Constance-Alpine Rhine Valley

This chapter summarizes the main findings of one of the first empirical studies that outline the differences and similarities arising in polycentric border-crossing agglomerations in a knowledge-based economy. In our study, we examine the multi-country border-crossing polycentric agglomeration in the Lake Constance-Alpine Rhine Valley region, comprised of Liechtenstein and parts of Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. We specifically try to identify factors influencing the residential choice within a polycentric border-crossing agglomeration in a knowledge-based economy. Although the results and outcomes are limited to the case study region, the implications could be tested in other polycentric border-crossing agglomerations characterized by knowledge-based economies across the globe. Our results reveal that the most important factors for residential choice are proximity to family and friends, safety, career opportunities, and a high standard of living

Une journée dans la vie de l'infirmière "handicap"

À Genève, les patients en situation de handicap mental bénéficient de la présence d’une infirmière référente dotée d'un riche éventail de compétences. Elle assume un rôle essentiel dans le traitement des personnes concernées et la défense de leurs droits

Data resource profile ::the disability statistics questionnaire review database (DS-QR Database) : a database of population censuses and household surveys with internationally comparable disability questions

Introduction : The 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) aspire to leave no one behind and call for the inclusion of persons with disabilities in all spheres of life. To monitor this goal of inclusion, CRPD's Article 31 requires state parties to collect data about the situation of persons with disabilities. The Disability Statistics -- Questionnaire Review Database (DS-QR Database) reports on whether population and housing censuses and household surveys include internationally recommended disability questions for adults ages 15 and older. Methods : The Disability Data Initiative (DDI), an international consortium of researchers, regularly retrieves and analyses a list of surveys and censuses from international catalogs, libraries and websites of national statistics offices. Questionnaires are reviewed to identify if they include internationally recommended questions on functional difficulties (e.g. difficulty seeing), more specifically (i) the Washington Group Short Set (WG-SS) or (ii) questions that meet at least the United Nations 2017 guidelines for disability measurement in censuses (other functional difficulty questions thereafter). Results : The DS-QR Database includes the review results for the questionnaires of 3027 population censuses and surveys from 199 countries and territories collected from 2009 to 2023. The review has information on whether each dataset has the WG-SS or other functional difficulty questions and overall results per country, region, type of dataset and over time. Conclusion : By identifying countries that collect internationally comparable disability data, the DS-QR Database can help researchers, policymakers and advocates determine whether countries fulfill their obligations as per CRPD Article 31. It can also assist in identifying which datasets use functional difficulty questions and can be used to research and monitor disability rights over time and across countries. The DS-QR Database is in a Supplementary file and will be accessible on a website upon publication of this article

Reconstruction of the lightning return-stroke current from the radiated magnetic field

This paper presents a new method to solve the inverse problem of reconstructing the lightning return-stroke current from measurements of the radiated magnetic field. Although the lightning channel is still assumed to be straight, vertical and at a known distance from the sensors measuring the fields, no model or channel-base measurement of the current is required, so that, unlike previous approaches to this kind of inverse problem, several assumptions on the current propagation along the channel can be dropped. The method is formulated in the frequency domain and is based on a double Fourier series representation of the unknown current as a function of two variables, i.e., the vertical coordinate and the frequency. The theoretical investigation results in an inversion algorithm, which is tested against simulated data in order to obtain some examples of current reconstruction

Smart cooperatives::adapting smart grid concepts to agricultural cooperatives

This paper introduces a novel approach to creating cooperation-optimized farming groups called Smart Cooperatives. These groups leverage advancements in smart agricultural technologies to address critical challenges in the agricultural sector, including water scarcity, market access limitations, and the adverse impacts of climate change and geopolitical tensions. Through a detailed analysis of current farming practices and organizational methods, Smart Cooperatives are proposed as a transformative model that combines the principles of smart grids from the electrical sector with the unique needs of agriculture. This model aims to foster enhanced collaboration among farmers, equitable resource distribution, and stronger market presence by utilizing data-driven methodologies for grouping farmers based on both intrinsic and extrinsic characteristics. By examining potential counterarguments and challenges, the paper highlights the importance of accessibility, adaptability, and scalability in implementing Smart Cooperatives. Concluding with a call for further research and a pilot questionnaire aimed at refining the model and understanding farmer needs, this study presents Smart Cooperatives as a promising avenue towards sustainable, resilient, and cooperative farming futures, potentially reshaping the agricultural landscape in the face of global uncertainties