Search Results (96)

Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) is a collaborative roleplaying game that is associated with social and emotional benefits for young adults (YAs). Research has not addressed how YAs’ understanding of identity and mental health is explored through D&D. This research explored the impact that playing D&D has on YAs’ understanding of their identity and how this relates to their mental health. Eleven YAs (aged 18–25) were interviewed about their experiences of playing D&D. Their interviews were analysed using Reflexive Thematic Analysis. Four main themes were identified: D&D as a safer space; D&D for coping; D&D for exploration; and D&D for growth. The findings demonstrate that YAs use D&D to navigate experiences such as social and emotional difficulties and their evolving sense of self. D&D helped YAs to manage their current circumstances as well as to look to the future. These findings highlight the positive impact D&D has on identity exploration and mental health for YAs. Playing D&D was perceived by participants as improving their wellbeing, relationships, and occupations at a critical time developmentally when they are developing their sense of self. Consideration of how D&D may be incorporated into existing intervention approaches is discussed, including implications for further research. Full article

Background/Objectives: General practitioners (GPs) face critical workforce shortages and high turnover globally. While external factors are known to influence turnover intention (TI), the role of individual psychological traits is less well understood. This study examines the association between Type D personality (TDP) and TI among GPs and the co-occurring statistical associations of perceived occupational stress (POS) and job satisfaction (JS). Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from September to October 2024 among 383 GPs in Longhua District, Shenzhen, China. Participants completed a structured questionnaire assessing socio-demographic characteristics, TDP, POS, JS, and TI. After controlling potential confounders, correlation and regression analyses were performed to assess associations between TDP, POS, JS, and TI. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was conducted to examine the specific indirect associative components within the covariance between TDP and TI. Results: After adjusting for confounding factors, TDP was significantly positively associated with TI (B = 0.71) and POS (B = 0.30), and significantly negatively associated with JS (B = −0.24). In the hypothesized structural model, the proportions of total standardized covariance attributable to the indirect associative paths involving POS alone, JS alone, and the serial combination of POS and JS were 17.28%, 9.90%, and 3.50%, respectively, summing to 30.68% of the model-implied association. Conclusions: GPs with TDP reported a higher level of turnover intention, and this association was statistically accompanied by elevated occupational stress and diminished job satisfaction. Healthcare managers may consider implementing targeted interventions aimed at reducing stress and enhancing satisfaction, particularly among GPs with TDP, although the effectiveness of such strategies requires confirmation in future longitudinal or intervention studies. Full article

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is driven by autoreactive CD4⁺ T-cell responses to pancreatic beta cell antigens presented by disease-associated human leucocyte antigen (HLA) class II molecules. However, the molecular mechanisms by which subtle antigenic modifications promote pathogenic immunity remain incompletely defined. Recent immunopeptidomic studies have identified a cysteine-to-serine substitution at position 19 of the insulin B chain, referred to as InsC19S, as a microenvironment-driven neoepitope that can be presented by HLA class II molecules, including HLA-DQ8, and is recognized by diabetogenic CD4⁺ T cells. In this study we explore potential structural and thermodynamic mechanisms that may contribute to the enhanced immunogenicity associated with this single-amino-acid modification. Using molecular dynamics simulations combined with coarse-grained free-energy-perturbation analyses, we compared HLA DQ8 complexes bound to wild-type (WT) insulin and InsC19S peptides. The InsC19S variant is predicted in simulations to exhibit enhanced binding stability, characterized by increased hydrogen bond occupancy, reduced peptide conformational mobility, and a more favorable binding free energy. In addition, the modified peptide is predicted to induce peptide-dependent conformational adjustments within the HLA-DQ8 peptide-binding groove, resulting in expansion of the conformational landscape and stabilization of distinct low-energy states that are not accessed by the WT complex. Principal component analysis and free-energy landscape mapping suggest that this mutation may promote altered collective motions within HLA DQ8 that are consistent with enhanced peptide major histocompatibility complex (MHC) persistence and optimized antigen presentation geometry. Together, these computational observations suggest a structural framework that may help explain the preferential presentation and pathogenic recognition of InsC19S reported in experimental studies. These findings provide a molecular-level framework that may help link microenvironment-driven insulin neoepitope formation to altered peptide–MHC stability and conformational dynamics in HLA-DQ8. Full article

Background: Burnout is a relevant occupational health concern in Emergency Medical Services (EMSs), with potential implications for workforce well-being, occupational health, and the sustainability of prehospital care. Although burnout has been widely studied among healthcare professionals, evidence concerning Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) students remains limited. This exploratory study aimed to estimate high burnout prevalence among EMT students and practising EMT professionals in Madrid, Spain, describe burnout dimensions in both groups, and examine sociodemographic correlates of high burnout status. Methods: A cross-sectional comparative study was conducted between March and June 2024 using a convenience sample of 85 participants: 43 EMT students and 42 practising EMT professionals. Burnout was assessed using validated Spanish versions of the Maslach Burnout Inventory: the MBI-SS for students and the MBI-HSS for professionals. Because these instruments are population-specific and rely on different norms and thresholds, between-group comparisons of raw scores were interpreted as exploratory. Descriptive analyses, between-group comparisons with effect sizes, correlation analyses, and an exploratory binary logistic regression model were performed. Results: High burnout was identified in 22 EMT students (51.2%) and 23 practising EMT professionals (54.8%), with no statistically significant between-group difference detected (p = 0.73; Cramer’s V = 0.04). Between-group comparisons of burnout dimensions showed small effect sizes for Emotional Exhaustion (Cohen’s d = 0.17), Depersonalisation (Cohen’s d = 0.24), and Personal Accomplishment (Cohen’s d = −0.26). Age was positively associated with Emotional Exhaustion (r = 0.29, p = 0.008) and Depersonalisation (r = 0.24, p = 0.028), and negatively associated with Personal Accomplishment (r = −0.26, p = 0.019). In the exploratory adjusted logistic regression model, age was associated with high burnout status (OR = 1.05; 95% CI 1.01–1.10; p = 0.017), whereas group and sex were not significant correlates. Conclusions: High burnout levels were observed in both EMT students and practising EMT professionals in this regional exploratory sample. However, the findings should be interpreted cautiously due to the cross-sectional design, convenience sampling, modest sample size, limited statistical power, and use of population-specific burnout instruments. These results suggest that burnout-related distress may be relevant across the EMT training-to-practice pathway and support the need for larger longitudinal and multicentre studies incorporating occupational, educational, and organisational variables. Full article

Background: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are prevalent among orthopaedic surgeons as a result of prolonged exposure to non-neutral postures and forceful manual tasks during surgery. Although working height is a key determinant of trunk and upper-limb posture, the systematic evaluation of ergonomic working-height recommendations in orthopaedic surgery remains limited. Methods: A simulated left total knee arthroplasty (TKA) was divided into twelve critical surgical steps and analysed across four commonly used surgeon positions (A–D). Two conditions were compared: uncorrected working height (N) and working height corrected according to Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) recommendations (C). Joint angles were measured from standardized photographs using Kinovea software, and postural load was quantified with the Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) method. Two trained evaluators conducted three independent assessments, yielding 288 REBA scores. Results: Mean REBA scores decreased across all surgeon positions following ergonomic correction, with statistically significant reductions observed in positions A, B, and D. When pooled across all position–step combinations (n = 48), the mean reduction was 0.92 REBA points (95% CI 0.50–1.33; p < 0.001). Notably, 27 of the 48 position–step comparisons exceeded the minimal detectable change threshold. The largest reductions occurred during force-intensive surgical steps, including bone cutting, drilling, and implant impaction. Conclusions: Adjusting working height in accordance with CCOHS ergonomic recommendations reduces surgeons’ postural load during TKA. These findings support the integration of evidence-based ergonomic adjustments into routine orthopaedic surgical practice. Full article

(1) Background: Working in emergency departments (EDs) affects healthcare professionals’ mental health and impacts their ability to provide safe, high-quality care. Emotional competence (EC) is recognized as a protective factor in occupational settings. The “BEmotions” intervention aimed to promote nurses’ EC and satisfaction with their work group in an ED in Portugal. (2) Methods: A quasi-experimental pilot study using a single-group pretest–posttest design was conducted. The BEmotions intervention was based on Veiga Branco’s construct of EC, which includes five dimensions: self-awareness, emotion management, self-motivation, empathy, and emotional regulation in groups. It consisted of five weekly sessions, each lasting 90 min. The instruments used were: (a) A self-developed sociodemographic questionnaire; (b) EVCE-r33—Veiga’s Reduced EC Scale; and (c) the Work Group Satisfaction Scale (ESAG). (3) Results: The study sample comprised 10 nurses, of whom 80% were female, with a mean age of 45.3 years (SD = 7.07). This pilot study suggests positive results regarding overall EC (p < 0.05; d = 0.81) and Job Satisfaction (JS) (p < 0.01; d = 1.22) among emergency department nurses. (4) Conclusions: the ‘BEmotions’ intervention suggests promising preliminary directions for replication in other contexts and for promoting mental health in the workplace; however, its methodological limitations highlight the need for further research. Full article

Semantic point cloud maps play a pivotal role in smart agriculture. They provide not only core three-dimensional data for orchard management but also empower robots with environmental perception, enabling safer and more efficient navigation and planning. However, traditional point cloud maps primarily model surrounding obstacles from a geometric perspective, failing to capture distinctions and characteristics between individual obstacles. In contrast, semantic maps encompass semantic information and even topological relationships among objects in the environment. Furthermore, existing semantic map construction methods are predominantly vision-based, making them ill-suited to handle rapid lighting changes in agricultural settings that can cause positioning failures. Therefore, this paper proposes a positioning and semantic map reconstruction method tailored for orchards. It integrates visual, LiDAR, and inertial sensors to obtain high-precision pose and point cloud maps. By combining open-vocabulary detection and semantic segmentation models, it projects two-dimensional detected semantic information onto the three-dimensional point cloud, ultimately generating a point cloud map enriched with semantic information. The resulting 2D occupancy grid map is utilized for robotic motion planning. Experimental results demonstrate that on a custom dataset, the proposed method achieves 74.33% mIoU for semantic segmentation accuracy, 12.4% relative error for fruit recall rate, and 0.038803 m mean translation error for localization. The deployed semantic segmentation network Fast-SAM achieves a processing speed of 13.36 ms per frame. These results demonstrate that the proposed method combines high accuracy with real-time performance in semantic map reconstruction. This exploratory work provides theoretical and technical references for future research on more precise localization and more complete semantic mapping, offering broad application prospects and providing key technological support for intelligent agriculture. Full article

This article presents an ontology-driven Digital Twin (DT) for hotel front-desk operations that fuses two real-time data streams: (i) physiological and activity signals from wrist-worn wearables assigned to staff, and (ii) 3D people-positioning and occupancy events captured by reception-area cameras using a proprietary implementation of Optical Camera Communication (OCC). Building on a previously proposed front-desk ontology, the semantic model is extended with positional events, zone semantics, and wearable-derived workload indices to estimate queue state, staff workload, and service demand in real time. A vendor-agnostic, property-based REST API specifies the DT interface in terms of observable properties, including authentication and authorization, idempotent ingestion, timestamp conventions, version negotiation, integrity protection for signed webhooks, rate limiting and backoff, pagination and filtering, and privacy-preserving identifiers, enabling any compliant backend to implement the specification. The proposed layered architecture connects ingestion, spatial reasoning, and decision services to dashboards and key performance indicators (KPIs). This article details the positioning pipeline (calibration, normalized 3D coordinates, zone mapping, and confidence handling), the wearable workload pipeline, and an evaluation protocol covering localization error, zone classification, queue-length estimation, and workload accuracy. The results indicate that a spatially aware, ontology-based DT can support more balanced staff allocation and improved guest experience while remaining technology-agnostic and privacy-conscious. Full article

Background/Objectives: Shift-working healthcare professionals are exposed to high psychophysiological demands associated with occupational stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. Salivary chromogranin A (sCgA) and secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) are non-invasive biomarkers reflecting sympathetic nervous system activation and mucosal immune function, respectively, and are increasingly used to assess biological stress responses. This study examined changes in these biomarkers and their associations with anxiety and depression. Methods: This cross-sectional comparative observational study was conducted among healthcare professionals working 12-h shifts (n = 95) and non-shift-working controls (n = 95) and included a within-shift pre-post assessment, with saliva samples collected before and after the work shift. Salivary biomarkers were determined using ELISA methods. Anxiety and depression were assessed using the State–Trait Anxiety Inventory and the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale. Data were analyzed with t-tests, correlation, and multiple linear regression. Statistical analyses included between- and within-group comparisons, correlation analyses, and multiple linear regression models to examine independent associations between salivary biomarkers and psychological outcomes. Results: After a 12-h shift, healthcare professionals showed increased sCgA (3.82 ± 0.95 vs. 4.68 ± 1.02 ng/mL; p < 0.001) and decreased sIgA (165.3 ± 32.4 vs. 142.6 ± 29.8 mg/dL; p < 0.001). Psychological scores were higher in healthcare professionals than in controls (p < 0.001). Salivary sCgA correlated positively with anxiety and depression (r = 0.41 to 0.45), while sIgA correlated negatively (r = −0.29 to −0.36). Regression analysis confirmed occupational group (healthcare professionals vs. controls) as the strongest predictor, with independent contributions of sCgA and sIgA to psychological scores. Conclusions: A 12-h work shift in healthcare professionals leads to increased salivary chromogranin A, indicating sympathetic activation, and decreased secretory IgA, reflecting reduced mucosal immune activity. The combined assessment of sCgA and sIgA provides a sensitive and non-invasive approach for monitoring occupational stress and identifying early risks of anxiety and depressive symptoms among shift-working healthcare professionals. Full article

This paper reviews, analyses, and suggests practical mitigation techniques at source for reducing vibration-induced annoyance to occupants in building structures that are built on top of significant railway infrastructure. The dynamic characteristics of vibration caused by wheel-rail interaction at metro train depots are different from those on main-lines and conventional studies. Ground-borne vibration in a building directly above a double-deck railway depot was investigated, focusing on vibration attenuation through rail track design, which is more effective and economic compared to treatments at receivers or along prorogation paths. A 2.5-Dimensional finite element model was established to simulate vibration transmission using different combinations of track-forms. Source contribution under different train running conditions has been evaluated by computing vibration levels along the main transmission path. Vibration levels at representative positions in the building rooms have been predicted using the numerical model and have been compared against site measurements at the corresponding locations after the completion of the construction of the depot and buildings. It was found that the 2.5D FE model enables a reasonable prediction of ground-borne vibration from the metro depot, and that by appropriate design of the track-form, a good level of vibration attenuation can be achieved in an economical way. Full article

Interior space quality in certified office buildings is key in supporting the health and well-being of occupants. Daylight, which regulates the human circadian rhythm and affects physiological processes and productivity, is crucial. This study’s objective was to determine how a building’s architecture and selected elements of its interior such as partitions and finishing material parameters affect sunlight distribution in workspaces and its biological effectiveness, as measured using Equivalent Melanopic Lux (EML). The environment’s impact on the non-visual potential of a space was also assessed (in relation to the M/P ratio). To achieve these objectives, we used a 3D model of an office building floor to simulate natural lighting in various configurations, for a cool temperate climate using Solemma’s ALFA 2025 software. This research was conducted using simulations only, with no in situ measurements. The study assessed melanopic light intensity for specific zones and workstation groups. The impact of ceiling colors and the five colors given to partitions of different heights located between desks was also determined. The study evaluated the relationship between photopic and melanopic intensity and found that, as the height of the partitions increased, especially with cloudy skies, the importance of these planes’ colors increased. Blues had a positive effect on the space’s non-visual potential, while oranges showed significant decreases in EML relative to lux, by up to 25%. This research underscores the importance of light’s non-visual impact and the consideration of these aspects at every design stage, especially interior design, to provide a comfortable work environment and its long-term benefits. We also proposed natural light exposition optimization strategies that can support proper circadian rhythm. Full article

Pathogenic fungus Blumeria graminisforma specialistritici (B.g. tritici) is the causal agent of the devastating wheat powdery mildew disease. Identifying the key regulators governing wheat susceptibility to the B.g. tritici pathogen is essential for developing wheat varieties with improved powdery mildew resistance. In this study, we demonstrated that the wheat chromatin remodeler TaSWI3D positively regulates wheat susceptibility to B.g. tritici. Overexpression of TaSWI3D gene attenuates wheat resistance against B.g. tritici, while silencing of TaSWI3D gene potentiates wheat powdery mildew resistance. TaSWI3D protein was found to be enriched at the promoter regions of the TaSARD1 gene encoding the salicylic acid (SA) biosynthesis activator, and silencing of TaSWI3D resulted in decreased nucleosome occupancy at the TaSARD1 promoter regions. Activated TaSARD1 transcription and increased SA accumulation were observed in the TaSWI3D-silenced wheat plants. Silencing of TaSARD1 and the SA biosynthesis gene TaICS1 resulted in attenuated SA biosynthesis and decreased powdery mildew resistance in the TaSWI3D-silenced wheat plants. These findings support that the chromatin remodeler TaSWI3D maintains epigenetic suppression of the SA biosynthesis activator gene TaSARD1 and negatively regulates SA biosynthesis, thereby positively contributing to wheat powdery mildew susceptibility. Full article

The built environment contributes approximately 25% of the UK’s total greenhouse gas emissions, positioning it as a critical sector in the national net-zero strategy. This review investigates the enabling role of the domestic smart metering infrastructure combined with other IoT systems in accelerating the decarbonisation of residential buildings. Drawing from experience gained from governmental and commercially funded R&D projects, the article demonstrates how smart metering data can be leveraged to assess building energy performance, underpin cost-effective carbon reduction solutions, and enable energy flexibility services for maintaining grid stability. Unlike controlled laboratory studies, this review article focuses on real-world applications where data from publicly available infrastructure is accessed and utilised, enhancing scalability and policy relevance. The integration of smart meter data with complementary IoT data—such as indoor temperature, weather conditions, and occupancy—substantially improves built environment digital energy analytics. This capability was previously unattainable due to the absence of a nationwide digital energy infrastructure. The insights presented in this work highlight the untapped potential of the UK’s multibillion-pound investment in smart metering, offering a scalable pathway for low-carbon innovation for the built environment, thus supporting the broader transition to a net-zero future. Full article

The paper focuses on exploring ways to achieve sustainability in the manufacturing process through targeted optimization and ergonomic improvements of the work environment. The introductory section emphasizes the importance of sustainability from the perspectives of worker well-being, occupational safety, and efficient resource utilization. The paper presents a digital approach to workstation design with an emphasis on sustainability, which includes the creation of a 3D model of the assembly station using SolidWorks (v.2017) and Jack software (v.8.3), where the work movements of a virtual mannequin with realistic parameters are simulated. The analytical section is dedicated to evaluating workstation ergonomics using the RULA (Rapid Upper Limb Assessment), SSP (Static Strength Prediction), OWAS (Ovako Working Posture Analysis), and Lower Back Analysis methods, with the aim of identifying operations that reduce the sustainability of the work process due to excessive physical strain. Badly designed operations have a negative impact on sustainability in the meaning of physical workload strain (social dimension), low effectivity and quality (economic dimension), and higher resource (material, energy, transport, etc.) usage (environmental dimension). All these dimensions can be measured and expressed by number, but this paper focuses on workload only. Based on the results, specific measures were proposed with a focus on sustainability—raising the working height of pallets, optimizing the positioning of tools, and adjusting work movements. Repeated analyses after the implementation of these changes confirmed not only a reduction in physical strain and increased safety but also the enhancement of the sustainability of the working environment and processes. The results of the article clearly demonstrate that digital simulation and ergonomic design, oriented toward sustainability, are of crucial importance for the long-term efficiency and sustainable development of manufacturing organizations. The novelty of the work is in contribution to empirical validation on the role of digital twins, virtual ergonomics, and human factors in Industry 5.0 contexts, where the synergy between technological efficiency and human-centric sustainability is increasingly emphasized. The proposed approach represents a practical model for further initiatives aimed at improving the sustainability of assembly workstations. Full article

Background: Practical field experiences (PFEs) in teacher education aim to foster pre-service teachers’ career-oriented reflection processes. Although aspects of occupational well-being are thought to shape reflection, empirical evidence remains limited. This study investigated how different facets of occupational well-being—including positive and negative affect as well as job satisfaction—predict distinct dimensions of pre-service teachers’ career-oriented reflections during a four-week PFE. Methods: Using a quantitative pre-post design, we analyzed data from 242 German bachelor’s degree students. Occupational well-being was assessed using the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) and a job satisfaction scale; reflection processes were measured via five subscales capturing information, exploration, critical reflection, career guidance, and development. Results: Findings indicate a significant increase in positive affect (d = 0.75), a slight decrease in negative affect (d = 0.15), and stable job satisfaction. Regression analyses reveal that baseline positive affect and job satisfaction enhanced career guidance and exploration, whereas negative affect promoted critical reflection. Increases in positive affect and job satisfaction further strengthened career guidance and development. Conclusion: Aspects of occupational well-being can substantially shape career-oriented reflection processes. These findings highlight the importance of explicitly considering pre-service teachers’ emotional experiences in the design of field experiences and reflection opportunities within teacher education. Full article