The social and health implications of digital work intensification. Associations between exposure to information and communication technologies, health and work ability in different socio-economic strata

Purpose: Older employees are often thought to be vulnerable to negative effects of information and communication technology (ICT). Our study aims to examine associations between work-related ICT exposure (i.e. ICT use or digital work intensification), physical health, mental health and work ability (WA). We examine whether these associations are modified by socio-economic position (SEP). Methods: We analysed cross-sectional data from 3180 participants (born in 1959 and 1965) in wave 3 of the representative German lidA cohort study. We performed hierarchical multiple regression to assess the distinct associations of ICT use and digital work intensification with mental and physical health and WA. We stratified analyses by SEP and controlled for age, sex, and digital affinity. Results: 92% of participants reported ICT use at work. Almost 20% reported high levels of digital work intensification, while a similar proportion did not experience digital work intensification. In bivariate analyses, ICT use by itself was not significantly associated with mental health or WA in the total sample or when stratified. Digital work intensification displayed negative associations with mental health and WA. In hierarchical multiple regressions, digital work intensification showed consistently negative associations with mental health and work ability of similar strength across SEP. Conclusion: Our results suggest that ICT use, per se, does not negatively impact older workers. Digital work intensification may be associated with worse mental health and work ability. Research on health and social implications of work-related ICT should differentiate patterns of ICT exposure and assess modifications by SEP to better gauge the ambiguous effects of ICT

Agricultural sector, rural environment and biodiversity in the Central and Eastern European EU member states

During the second half of the 20th century, agriculture and the rural environment diverged in Westernand Central and Eastern European countries (CEEC). CEE countries itself are heterogeneous in therespect of land use intensity and history. In the current review we focus on the comparison of theagricultural sector and threats on biodiversities of EU new-member countries from Central andEastern Europe and the old EU(15) member states. The clustering of countries revealed groupsdistinguished according to the level of their economic productivity, discriminating mostly amongeastern and western European countries. CEE countries sub-divided according to geographic region,including also some old members of the EU. Within the western cluster, two large sub-clustersbecame evident according to economy affected by altitudinal and climatic differences. Partly becausethere are still areas where the intensity of land use remained low, the biological diversity in manyregions of Central and Eastern Europe has remained high. However, loss of extensively used habitats,the restoration on intensive agriculture, reforestation with exotic species and urbanization are majorthreats to nature in CEE countries. The estimated variability among CEE countries is caused bydifferent historical and cultural backgrounds of those countries. Due to the complexity andgeographical diversity of driving forces, there remains much uncertainty in the possible impacts ofparticular factors on land use. This complexity and diversity have to be considered when planningeconomic as well as ecological means for developing the agricultural sector and conservingbiodiversity in the future of CEE countries

Monitoring de la problématique du cannabis en Suisse : étude sentinelle : 2004-2006 = Monitoring der Cannabisproblematik in der Schweiz : Sentinella Studie 2004-2006 = Monitoraggio della problematica della canapa in Svizzera : studio sentinella 2004-2006

Le monitoring de la problématique du cannabis en Suisse constitue un ensemble de travaux qui permettent le suivi de la situation au niveau national et qui sont mis en oeuvre par un consortium d'institutions de recherche. Ce monitoring comprend l'étude présentée dans ce rapport, l'étude sentinelle. Celle-ci s'intéresse à l'évolution de la situation en matière de cannabis ainsi qu'à la gestion de cette situation au niveau local. Il s'agit de répondre aux questions suivantes : - quelle est la situation en matière de consommation de cannabis et de marché et quelle est son évolution ? - quels sont les principaux problèmes rencontrés sur le terrain ? - quelles sont les mesures et interventions qui ont été développées dans ce domaine ? Pour y répondre, on a choisi de suivre la situation dans quatre cantons suisses dits "sentinelle" (St-Gall, Tessin, Vaud, Zurich). Les critères de choix de ces cantons font appel à leur taille, au rapport ville/campagne et à la présence de frontière avec des états voisins, à la langue, au type de politique drogue pratiqué. Dans chaque canton on a constitué des panels d'experts formés par des professionnels de terrain dans trois domaines différents (santé et social, école, police et justice). Leurs observations ainsi que les données cantonales disponibles sont récoltées et discutées annuellement lors d'un workshop et analysées sur plusieurs années. Le présent rapport fait état des résultats des deux premières années de suivi (2005, 2006). [P.5]]]> Marijuana Smoking/epidemiology ; Marijuana Smoking/prevention &amp; control ; Sentinel Surveillance ; Switzerland ; Sankt Gallen ; Ticino ; Vaud ; Zürich https://serval.unil.ch/resource/serval:BIB_ACF091B7CA3F.P001/REF.pdf http://nbn-resolving.org/urn/resolver.pl?urn=urn:nbn:ch:serval-BIB_ACF091B7CA3F6 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/urn/urn:nbn:ch:serval-BIB_ACF091B7CA3F6 info:eu-repo/semantics/submittedVersion info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess Copying allowed only for non-profit organizations https://serval.unil.ch/disclaimer application/pdf oai:serval.unil.ch:BIB_ACF117E9166C 2022-05-07T01:24:54Z <oai_dc:dc xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:xs="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns:oai_dc="http://www.openarchives.org/OAI/2.0/oai_dc/" xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.openarchives.org/OAI/2.0/oai_dc/ http://www.openarchives.org/OAI/2.0/oai_dc.xsd"> https://serval.unil.ch/notice/serval:BIB_ACF117E9166C Qu'est-ce que le harcèlement moral sur le lieu de travail ? urn:isbn:9242590525 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/isbn/9242590525 http://whqlibdoc.who.int/pwh/2004/9242590525.pdf Grazia Cassitto, Maria Fattorini, Emanuela Gilioli, Renato Rengo, Chiara Gonik, Viviane Fingerhut Marylin, A. Kortum-Margot, Evelyn info:eu-repo/semantics/book book 2004 Stress, Psychological ; Violence ; Aggression ; Workplace fre oai:serval.unil.ch:BIB_ACF131A8BE69 2022-05-07T01:24:54Z <oai_dc:dc xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:xs="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns:oai_dc="http://www.openarchives.org/OAI/2.0/oai_dc/" xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.openarchives.org/OAI/2.0/oai_dc/ http://www.openarchives.org/OAI/2.0/oai_dc.xsd"> https://serval.unil.ch/notice/serval:BIB_ACF131A8BE69 Multichannel sequence analysis applied to social science data info:doi:10.1111/j.1467-9531.2010.01227.x info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/doi/10.1111/j.1467-9531.2010.01227.x Gauthier, J.-A. Widmer, E.D. Bucher, P. Notredame, C. info:eu-repo/semantics/article article 2010 Sociological methodology, vol. 40, no. 1, pp. 1-38 eng oai:serval.unil.ch:BIB_ACF1599A801A 2022-05-07T01:24:54Z <oai_dc:dc xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:xs="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns:oai_dc="http://www.openarchives.org/OAI/2.0/oai_dc/" xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.openarchives.org/OAI/2.0/oai_dc/ http://www.openarchives.org/OAI/2.0/oai_dc.xsd"> https://serval.unil.ch/notice/serval:BIB_ACF1599A801A Thermal energetics and torpor in the common pipistrelle bat, Pipistrellus pipistrellus (Vespertilionidae: Mammalia). info:doi:10.1016/j.cbpa.2011.06.018 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/doi/10.1016/j.cbpa.2011.06.018 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pmid/21736950 Genoud, M. Christe, P. info:eu-repo/semantics/article article 2011 Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology. Part A, Molecular and Integrative Physiology, vol. 160, no. 2, pp. 252-259 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1531-4332 urn:issn:1095-6433 <![CDATA[Rate of metabolism and body temperature were studied between -6°C and 38°C in the common pipistrelle bat Pipistrellus pipistrellus (Vespertilionidae), a European species lying close to the lower end of the mammalian size range (body mass 4.9±0.8g, N=28). Individuals maintained only occasionally a normothermic body temperature averaging 35.4±1.1°C (N=4) and often showed torpor during metabolic runs. The thermoneutral zone was found above 33°C, and basal rate of metabolism averaged 7.6±0.8mL O(2)h(-1) (N=28), which is 69% of the value predicted on the basis of body mass. Minimal wet thermal conductance was 161% of the expected value. During torpor, the rate of metabolism was related exponentially to body temperature with a Q(10) value of 2.57. Torpid bats showed intermittent ventilation, with the frequency of ventilatory cycles increasing exponentially with body temperature. Basal rate of metabolism (BMR) varied significantly with season and body temperature, but not with body mass. It was lower before the hibernation period than during the summer. The patterns observed are generally consistent with those exhibited by other vespertilionids of temperate regions. However, divergences occur with previous measurements on European pipistrelles, and the causes of the seasonal variation in BMR, which has only rarely been searched for among vespertilionids, remain to be examined

Hedgerows increase the diversity and modify the composition of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in Mediterranean agricultural landscapes

Sustainable agriculture is essential to address global challenges such as climate change and biodiversity loss. Hedgerows enhance aboveground biodiversity and provide ecosystem services, but little is known about their impact on soil biota. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are one of the key components of belowground biodiversity. We compared the diversity and composition of AM fungal communities at four farmland sites located in Central Spain, where 132 soil samples in total were collected to assess soil physical and chemical properties and the AM fungal communities. We compared the richness (number of AM fungal taxa), taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversity, and structure of the AM fungal communities across three farmland habitat types, namely hedgerows, woody crops (olive groves and vineyard), and herbaceous crops (barley, sunfower, and wheat). Our results showed positive efects of hedgerows on most diversity metrics. Almost 60% of the AM fungal taxa were shared among the three farmland habitat types. Hedgerows increased AM fungal taxonomic richness (31%) and alpha diversity (25%), and especially so compared to herbaceous crops (45% and 28%, respectively). Hedgerows harbored elevated proportions of AM fungi with non-ruderal life-history strategies. AM fungal communities were more similar between hedgerows and woody crops than between hedgerows and adjacent herbaceous crops, possibly because of diferences in tillage and fertilization. Unexpectedly, hedgerows reduced phylogenetic diversity, which might be related to more selective associations of AM fungi with woody plants than with herbaceous crops. Overall, the results suggest that planting hedgerows contributes to maintain belowground diversity. Thus, European farmers should plant more hedgerows to attain the goals of the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030.Ministerio de Educación y Formación ProfesionalComunidad de Madrid, REMEDINALUniversidad de AlcaláFondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional-FEDEREstonian Research Counci

Blood parameters in pediatric myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disorders

Background and objectives Patients with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disorders (MOGAD) clinically present e.g. with acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM), optic neuritis (ON), transverse myelitis (TM) or aquaporin-4-IgG (AQP4-IgG) negative neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD)-like phenotypes. We aimed to analyze and compare blood parameters in children with MOGAD, AQP4-IgG-positive NMOSD (hence NMOSD), multiple sclerosis (MS) and healthy controls (HC). Methods We evaluated differences in complete blood counts (CBC), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) between these four groups and within the groups between clinical attack, during acute treatment and in remission. Results Our cohort consisted of 174 children and adolescents with a total of 550 timepoints: 66 patients had MOGAD (202 timepoints), 11 NMOSD (76 timepoints), 58 MS (219 timepoints) and 39 were HC (53 timepoints). At clinical attack, leukocyte counts were elevated in MOGAD compared to remission (p < 0.001) and compared to all other groups (p < 0.001). NLR was high in MOGAD and NMOSD, and PLR was high in NMOSD, however, after correction for multiple testing these findings did not remain significant. While glucocorticoids caused an increase of leukocyte counts and NLR in NMOSD and MS, these values remained stable during acute treatment in MOGAD. In remission, NLR normalized in MOGAD, while it stayed high in NMOSD. PLR increased in NMOSD and was significantly higher compared to all other groups. Discussion Some blood parameters, mainly leukocyte and differential counts, might help clinicians to evaluate disease activity, differentiate relapses from pseudo-relapses and even distinguish between different disease entities

Machine learning algorithms to predict breast cancer recurrence using structured and unstructured sources from electronic health records

Recurrence is a critical aspect of breast cancer (BC) that is inexorably tied to mortality. Reuse of healthcare data through Machine Learning (ML) algorithms offers great opportunities to improve the stratification of patients at risk of cancer recurrence. We hypothesized that combining features from structured and unstructured sources would provide better prediction results for 5-year cancer recurrence than either source alone. We collected and preprocessed clinical data from a cohort of BC patients, resulting in 823 valid subjects for analysis. We derived three sets of features: structured information, features from free text, and a combination of both. We evaluated the performance of five ML algorithms to predict 5-year cancer recurrence and selected the best-performing to test our hypothesis. The XGB (eXtreme Gradient Boosting) model yielded the best performance among the five evaluated algorithms, with precision = 0.900, recall = 0.907, F1-score = 0.897, and area under the receiver operating characteristic AUROC = 0.807. The best prediction results were achieved with the structured dataset, followed by the unstructured dataset, while the combined dataset achieved the poorest performance. ML algorithms for BC recurrence prediction are valuable tools to improve patient risk stratification, help with post-cancer monitoring, and plan more effective follow-up. Structured data provides the best results when fed to ML algorithms. However, an approach based on natural language processing offers comparable results while potentially requiring less mapping effort.European Union | Ref. 875406Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER)Xunta de Galici

Structure and function of the soil microbiome underlying N2O emissions from global wetlands

Wetland soils are the greatest source of nitrous oxide (N2O), a critical greenhouse gas and ozone depleter released by microbes. Yet, microbial players and processes underlying the N2O emissions from wetland soils are poorly understood. Using in situ N2O measurements and by determining the structure and potential functional of microbial communities in 645 wetland soil samples globally, we examined the potential role of archaea, bacteria, and fungi in nitrogen (N) cycling and N2O emissions. We show that N2O emissions are higher in drained and warm wetland soils, and are correlated with functional diversity of microbes. We further provide evidence that despite their much lower abundance compared to bacteria, nitrifying archaeal abundance is a key factor explaining N2O emissions from wetland soils globally. Our data suggest that ongoing global warming and intensifying environmental change may boost archaeal nitrifiers, collectively transforming wetland soils to a greater source of N2O.The wetland soil microbiome has a major impact on greenhouse gas emissions. Here the authors characterize how a group of archaea contribute to N2O emissions and find that climate and land use changes could promote these organisms