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This article describes the methods used to build a large-scale database of more than 250,000 electronic fetal monitoring (EFM) records linked to a comprehensive set of clinical information about the infant, the mother, the pregnancy, labor, and outcome. The database can be used to investigate how birth outcome is related to clinical and EFM features. The main steps involved in building the database were: (1) Acquiring the raw EFM recording and clinical records for each birth. (2) Assigning each birth to an objectively defined outcome class that included normal, acidosis, and hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. (3) Removing all personal health information from the EFM recordings and clinical records. (4) Preprocessing the deidentified EFM records to eliminate duplicates, reformat the signals, combine signals from different sensors, and bridge gaps to generate signals in a format that can be readily analyzed. (5) Post-processing the repaired EFM recordings to extract key features of the fetal heart rate, uterine activity, and their relations. (6) Populating a database that links the clinical information, EFM records, and EFM features to support easy querying and retrieval. •A multi-step process is required to build a comprehensive database linking electronic temporal fetal monitoring signals to a comprehensive set of clinical information about the infant, the mother, the pregnancy, labor, and outcome.•The current database documents more than 250,000 births including almost 4,000 acidosis and 400 HIE cases. This represents more than 80% of the births that occurred in 15 Northern California Kaiser Permanente Hospitals between 2011-2019. This is a valuable resource for studying the factors predictive of outcome.•The signal processing code and schemas for the database are freely available. The database will not be permitted to leave Kaiser firewalls, but a process is in place to allow interested investigators to access it.

Online sports betting platforms offer an infinite number of live matches, of all kinds of sports, categories, and places in the world, allowing recurring and simultaneous bets on the matches. To supply this market with data, specialized companies produce fast, detailed and reliable live databases. Data scouts are professionals trained to generate data feeds from stadiums with specific mobile applications. We carried out an ethnography with a group of data scouts in Brazil, in dialogue with social studies on online sports betting and digital work in platform capitalism. Compared to other platform workers, data scouts are considered privileged due to their high remuneration (payments in euros) and valued affective space (sports, especially soccer). Without competitive tensions, we find cooperative dynamics between them. Data scouts are fundamental pieces in chains of expanded extractivism with better conditions than other workers in platform capitalism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Workers tasked with specific responsibilities around patient and public involvement (PPI) are now routinely part of the organizational landscape for applied health research in the United Kingdom. Even as the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) has had a pioneering role in developing a robust PPI infrastructure for publicly funded health research in the United Kingdom, considerable barriers remain to embedding substantive and sustainable public input in the design and delivery of research. Notably, researchers and clinicians report a tension between funders' orientation towards deliverables and the resources and labour required to embed public involvement in research. These and other tensions require further investigation. Methods: This was a qualitative study with participatory elements. Using purposive and snowball sampling and attending to regional and institutional diversity, we conducted 21 semi-structured interviews with individuals holding NIHR-funded formal PPI roles across England. Interviews were analysed through reflexive thematic analysis with coding and framing presented and adjusted through two workshops with study participants. Results: We generated five overarching themes which signal a growing tension between expectations put on staff in PPI roles and the structural limitations of these roles: (i) the instability of support; (ii) the production of invisible labour; (iii) PPI work as more than a job; (iv) accountability without control; and (v) delivering change without changing. Conclusions: The NIHR PPI workforce has enabled considerable progress in embedding patient and public input in research activities. However, the role has led not to a resolution of the tension between performance management priorities and the labour of PPI, but rather to its displacement and – potentially – its intensification. We suggest that the expectation to "deliver" PPI hinges on a paradoxical demand to deliver a transformational intervention that is fundamentally divorced from any labour of transformation. We conclude that ongoing efforts to transform health research ecologies so as to better respond to the needs of patients will need to grapple with the force and consequences of this paradoxical demand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By the end of the nineteenth century, the view of labour as control of the environment for human benefit was being re-evaluated. In the United States, the conservation movement of the Progressive era (1890–1920) brought new attention to the problem of the 'wise use' of resources. Progressive social movements also developed a concern with holistic health and social conditions in rapidly industrialising cities. This paper argues that the formation of the new allied health science of occupational therapy in the early 20th century can be understood as a response to the health and conservation implications of changing relations between labour and resources. An analysis of published sources on the aims of occupational therapy in the Progressive era concluded that the early stage of the profession was structured by dominant Western narratives about humans and nature. Those narratives included the trope of redemption or transformation through labour and the importance of conservation as a response to the squandering of resources, both natural and human. I argue that the early development of occupational therapy was significantly influenced by environmentalist discourse as a therapeutic response to industrialisation and emerging Anthropocene awareness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study explored whether assessing flexibility levels in clinical settings might predict the odds of oxytocin administration and caesarean section to stimulate labour. Methods: Pregnant women from the GESTAFIT Project (n = 157), participated in this longitudinal study. Maternal upper-body flexibility was assessed at 16 gestational weeks (g.w.) through the Back-scratch test. Clinical data, including oxytocin administration and type of birth, were registered from obstetric medical records. Results: Pregnant women who required oxytocin administration or had caesarean sections showed lower flexibility scores (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively). The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that the Back-scratch test was able to detect the need for oxytocin administration ((area under the curve [AUC] = 0.672 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.682 (95% CI: 0.59–0.78, p = 0.001)). The AUC to establish the ability of flexibility to discriminate between vaginal and caesarean section births was 0.672 (95% CI: 0.60–0.77, p = 0.002). A Back-scratch test worse than 4 centimetres was associated with a ~5 times greater increased odds ratio of requiring exogenous oxytocin administration (95% CI: 2.0–11.6, p = 0.001) and a ~4 times greater increased odds ratio of having a caesarean section (95% CI: 1.7–10.2, p = 0.002). Conclusions: These findings suggest that lower flexibility levels at the 16th g.w. discriminates between pregnant women who will require oxytocin and those who will not, and those with a greater risk of a caesarean section than those with a vaginal birth. Pregnant women below the proposed Back-scratch test cut-offs at 16th g.w. might specifically benefit from physical therapies that include flexibility training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction - Preterm labour refers to the initiation of labour prior to 37 weeks and after 28 weeks of gestation, characterised by consistent uterine contractions that result in gradual cervical modifications. Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the several causes of preterm labour. The aim of this study is to evaluate first trimester urinary tract infection and risk of preterm labour pain. Material and methods- The present cross-sectional hospital based study was conducted at department of obstetrics and gynecology among 100 women with preterm labour pain during the study period of one year. Midstream urine samples were collected from all and culture test was performed. Results were analyzed using SPSS version 25.0 Results- Maximum patients were in the age group of 25 to 29 years (50%). 92% of them live in rural area. 70% of patients had normal urine examination and 30% were suffering from UTI. 3% of women had pyleonephritis and 97% had no complications. Organisms isolated from urine culture and sensitivity were : E.coli (68%), cogaulase negative staph (11%), S.aureus (10%), Klebsiella (6%) and GBS (5%). Conclusion – Untreated urinary tract infection (UTI) can be linked to obstetric problems and lead to preterm birth. The predominant bacterial illness that occurs during pregnancy is urinary tract infections (UTIs). It is recommended that all women undergo screening for urinary tract infections (UTIs) during their initial antenatal appointment. Upon diagnosis, it is crucial to rapidly administer an appropriate antibiotic that is both effective and safe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Outer space is often described as a frontier – an unsettled, mysterious or wild place that should be explored and eventually inhabited. The metaphor evokes a pioneer spirit and a sense of freedom, but it is also bound up with violent histories of settler colonialism and social injustice. Although the frontier narrative remains prevalent in political, commercial and media discourses in the United States and elsewhere, we know little about whether the public understands space exploration in this way. We also lack studies about how those working to popularise space exploration and make it comprehensible to a global audience understand and apply the frontier narrative. A long-term ethnographic study of their work shows that their understandings of the space frontier are refracted through everyday forms of sociality and experience that they cultivate near Boca Chica in South Texas, where SpaceX builds and tests Starship prototypes. The labour of imagination performed by SpaceX fans and space creators upends the problematic myth of the frontier and points towards alternative ways of understanding space exploration. • We lack studies that analyse whether the public really understands space as a frontier. • Their labour of imagination rather than the frontier narrative binds space creators. • The work of SpaceX fans points to alternative ways of imagining space exploration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By the end of the nineteenth century, the view of labour as control of the environment for human benefit was being re-evaluated. In the United States, the conservation movement of the Progressive era (1890–1920) brought new attention to the problem of the ‘wise use’ of resources. Progressive social movements also developed a concern with holistic health and social conditions in rapidly industrialising cities. This paper argues that the formation of the new allied health science of occupational therapy in the early 20th century can be understood as a response to the health and conservation implications of changing relations between labour and resources. An analysis of published sources on the aims of occupational therapy in the Progressive era concluded that the early stage of the profession was structured by dominant Western narratives about humans and nature. Those narratives included the trope of redemption or transformation through labour and the importance of conservation as a response to the squandering of resources, both natural and human. I argue that the early development of occupational therapy was significantly influenced by environmentalist discourse as a therapeutic response to industrialisation and emerging Anthropocene awareness.

Abstract Background Workers tasked with specific responsibilities around patient and public involvement (PPI) are now routinely part of the organizational landscape for applied health research in the United Kingdom. Even as the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) has had a pioneering role in developing a robust PPI infrastructure for publicly funded health research in the United Kingdom, considerable barriers remain to embedding substantive and sustainable public input in the design and delivery of research. Notably, researchers and clinicians report a tension between funders’ orientation towards deliverables and the resources and labour required to embed public involvement in research. These and other tensions require further investigation. Methods This was a qualitative study with participatory elements. Using purposive and snowball sampling and attending to regional and institutional diversity, we conducted 21 semi-structured interviews with individuals holding NIHR-funded formal PPI roles across England. Interviews were analysed through reflexive thematic analysis with coding and framing presented and adjusted through two workshops with study participants. Results We generated five overarching themes which signal a growing tension between expectations put on staff in PPI roles and the structural limitations of these roles: (i) the instability of support; (ii) the production of invisible labour; (iii) PPI work as more than a job; (iv) accountability without control; and (v) delivering change without changing. Conclusions The NIHR PPI workforce has enabled considerable progress in embedding patient and public input in research activities. However, the role has led not to a resolution of the tension between performance management priorities and the labour of PPI, but rather to its displacement and – potentially – its intensification. We suggest that the expectation to “deliver” PPI hinges on a paradoxical demand to deliver a transformational intervention that is fundamentally divorced from any labour of transformation. We conclude that ongoing efforts to transform health research ecologies so as to better respond to the needs of patients will need to grapple with the force and consequences of this paradoxical demand.

Review of book Lynch, K. 2022. Care and Capitalism.

The study explores the lived experiences of women migrant returnees in Nigeria. It aims to highlight the motivation and push factors for migration, understand the challenges and lived experiences of migrant women, and appraise their integration and sense of belonging. Through referrals and purposive sampling, a total of 20 migrant women were recruited and interviewed. The inclusion criteria include those who have lived and worked in the diaspora for a minimum of 5 years and 2 years as a returnee in Nigeria, respectively. The exclusion criteria involve women who migrated with families and those considered professionals. Themes were identified with the NVivo (v.12) qualitative software and the Content Qualitative Analytical tool employed to interpret these themes. The need for migration for many women includes access to improved economic life, infrastructure, and amenities, means of sustaining families in the home country, and improved social and political security. The lived experience of women migrants in the diaspora includes sexual harassment, rape, forced and inhumane labour practices, low wages, isolation and depression, and xenophobia. For many returnees, the challenge includes unemployment, integration, family support, inflation, and financial insolvency. The quest for integration and belonging is limited for many returnees. The paper argues for more robust migration policies and a well-established policy of integration for migrant returnees. The study recommends a more monitoring effort of the activities of the Nigerian border. This recommendation becomes crucial with the porous borders in Nigeria through which people, including women, migrate to other countries illegally and undocumented.

In Romania, one of the countries with the largest Roma community in Europe, the gap between the majority population and the Roma minority continues to be wide. The paper explores whether there is a sustainability of traditional Roma occupations and crafts or whether we are witnessing a continuous occupational dynamic. The objective of the research is to identify the patterns of traditional and non-traditional economic activities practised in Roma communities in two cities: Timişoara and Cluj-Napoca. The research hypothesis investigates whether there is a wide range of economic activities in analyzed Roma communities, where traditional activities tend to have a negligible share and dynamics compared to non-traditional ones. Also, we analyze whether traditional activities remain relevant in Roma communities and whether they represent a significant occupational resource in the case of external migration. The following statistical hypotheses are presented: there are significant differences between members of Roma communities in Timisoara and Cluj-Napoca. These are observed in the choice of practising non-traditional-traditional economic activities in the country. There are significant differences between members of Roma communities in Timisoara and Cluj-Napoca in the practice of traditional versus non-traditional occupations according to ethnic subgroup membership.

Abstract Background Neonatal hypoglycaemia is the most common metabolic disorder in infants, and may be influenced by maternal glycaemic control. This systematic review evaluated the effect of intrapartum maternal glycaemic control on neonatal hypoglycaemia. Methods We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs), quasi-RCTs, non-randomised studies of interventions, and cohort or case-control studies that examined interventions affecting intrapartum maternal glycaemic control compared to no or less stringent control. We searched four databases and three trial registries to November 2023. Quality assessments used Cochrane Risk of Bias 1 or the Effective Public Health Practice Project Quality Assessment Tool. Certainty of evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE). Meta-analysis was performed using random-effects models analysed separately for women with or without diabetes. The review was registered prospectively on PROSPERO (CRD42022364876). Results We included 46 studies of women with diabetes and five studies of women without diabetes: one RCT, 32 cohort and 18 case-control studies (11,273 participants). For women with diabetes, the RCT showed little to no difference in the incidence of neonatal hypoglycaemia between tight versus less tight intrapartum glycaemic control groups (76 infants, RR 1.00 (0.45, 2.24), p = 1.00, low certainty evidence). However, 11 cohort studies showed tight intrapartum glycaemic control may reduce neonatal hypoglycaemia (6,152 infants, OR 0.44 (0.31, 0.63), p

Remifentanil is an ultra-short-acting synthetic opioid-class analgesic which might be increasingly used “off-label” as pain management during labour. Side effects in parturients during labour, and in the infant at birth are of particular concern, especially respiratory depression which is concentration-dependent, and can occur at levels as low as 3–5 ng mL–1. The safety of such use, particularly in newborns due to remifentanil placental transfer, has not been fully demonstrated yet, partly due to the lack of a suitable non-invasive analytical method. The aim of our work was to develop a sensitive method to monitor the levels of remifentanil in neonates by a non-invasive sampling of umbi lical cord blood to support efficacy and safety trials. The presented LC-MS method is sensitive enough to reliably quantify remifentanil in just 20 µL of blood at only 0.3 ng mL–1. The dried blood spot sample preparation included solvent extraction with subsequent solid-phase extraction. The method was validated in terms of accuracy, precision, recovery, matrix effect, and stability, and was successfully applied to a small pilot study. The estimated arterial blood concentrations at the time of delivery ranged from 0.2 to 0.3, and up to 0.9 ng mL–1 in neonatal, and maternal samples, respectively.

This article continues a longitudinal national study of journalism employment in Australia and contributes to new understandings of journalism employment in Australia and Aotearoa/New Zealand. Results suggest a shift in the organisational landscape of the media in Australia, with an expansion of large organisations at the 'top,' and a considerable loss of small micro-ventures (largely based online) at the 'bottom.' Implications include stronger centralised editorial control at the corporate level, urbanisation and homogenisation of media producers and product, and reduced opportunities for creative entry-level roles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article gives an in-depth understanding of the commitment to corporate social responsibility (CSR) on labour under the new generation of free trade agreements (FTAs) of the European Union (EU), and especially, the EU – Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA). Following that, via the EU’s foreign and trade policies, this research clarifies the history as well as the evolution of the CSR commitments in the EU’s new generation FTAs. On that basis, this article also delves into the nature of CSR commitments related to labour in the EVFTA. Last but not least, the article reviews the current legislation of the EU and its member states as partners and suggests different policy implications that Vietnam and other developing nations might adopt to execute their CSR commitments in the context of global sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to analyse the variables related to knowledge (Talent Management and Training) as a source of human capital in the companies listed in the ranking of the most attractive organisations within the Spanish labour market, published annually by the journal Actualidad Económica (period 2016–2022). We seek to determine the socio-economic variables impacting this assessment, while also exploring the sustainability of the companies in the ranking. Ten hypotheses are thus examined by descriptive statistics, ANOVA, and multiple linear regression models. The results show a significant relationship between permanence, nationality, professional–scientific–technical sector, size, stock market listing, and both variables representative of knowledge in the ranked companies. Focusing on Talent Management, it is noted that permanence in the ranking (>4 years), Anglo-Saxon nationality, being active in the professional, scientific, and technical sector, and being listed on the stock market all play a part. However, Training differs in that size is a factor that positively influences valuation, whereas the international area is irrelevant. Our findings are a key contribution, as there are no previous applied studies that correlate knowledge in the business environment, the valuation of organisations from the employee's perspective, and several socio-economic variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to assess the labour and capital productivity of Gum Arabic Producers Associations (GAPAs) based on the performance of GAPAs in North and West Kordofan States, where 14 GAPAs were selected for a case study. More specifically, the study aimed to: i) estimate the productivity of gum gardens per hour worked (hrs/ha/yr) and per dollar invested ($/ha/yr), as well as their capital productivity ($/$), and ii) analyze the relationship between productivity and gum arabic revenue and gum production. To achieve these specific objectives, the following questions were highlighted: i) What is the productivity of gum gardens and how can it be estimated? ii) How can productivity influence gum arabic revenue and gum production? Primary and secondary quantitative and qualitative data were collected to answer these questions. The primary data were collected using face-to-face interviews with a random sample of 338 household heads, group discussions, and 38 interviews with key informants. Data analysis relied on mathematical equations for labour and capital productivity, and regression analyses of the relationship between productivity and gum revenue were employed. The results revealed that capital productivity is low in Alkhowi (9.3) compared to Shiekan (18.5) and Umrawaba (24.1) Localities. Labour productivity per hour worked and labour productivity per dollar were low in Shiekan compared to the other localities. The regression findings show that labour productivity per working hour and per dollar significantly influenced gum revenue. The main conclusion is that labour and capital productivity play an essential role in assessing the performance of GAPAs and are influenced by many factors. The study recommends that government and NGOs provide production inputs and ease marketing services to enhance capital and labour productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Neonatal hypoglycaemia is the most common metabolic disorder in infants, and may be influenced by maternal glycaemic control. This systematic review evaluated the effect of intrapartum maternal glycaemic control on neonatal hypoglycaemia. Methods: We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs), quasi-RCTs, non-randomised studies of interventions, and cohort or case-control studies that examined interventions affecting intrapartum maternal glycaemic control compared to no or less stringent control. We searched four databases and three trial registries to November 2023. Quality assessments used Cochrane Risk of Bias 1 or the Effective Public Health Practice Project Quality Assessment Tool. Certainty of evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE). Meta-analysis was performed using random-effects models analysed separately for women with or without diabetes. The review was registered prospectively on PROSPERO (CRD42022364876). Results: We included 46 studies of women with diabetes and five studies of women without diabetes: one RCT, 32 cohort and 18 case-control studies (11,273 participants). For women with diabetes, the RCT showed little to no difference in the incidence of neonatal hypoglycaemia between tight versus less tight intrapartum glycaemic control groups (76 infants, RR 1.00 (0.45, 2.24), p = 1.00, low certainty evidence). However, 11 cohort studies showed tight intrapartum glycaemic control may reduce neonatal hypoglycaemia (6,152 infants, OR 0.44 (0.31, 0.63), p < 0.00001, I2 = 58%, very low certainty evidence). For women without diabetes, there was insufficient evidence to determine the effect of tight intrapartum glycaemic control on neonatal hypoglycaemia. Conclusions: Very uncertain evidence suggests that tight intrapartum glycaemic control may reduce neonatal hypoglycaemia in infants of women with diabetes. High-quality RCTs are required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transition to parenthood exacerbates gender inequality in couples' division of paid work. While this is widely documented for general populations, in particular, potential underlying mechanisms of this phenomenon remain un(der)explored for couples with different migration backgrounds. Hence, this paper examines how women's pre-birth relative wage potential affects the gender division of paid work after the transition to parenthood in Belgium among native, Southern-European and non-European origin couples. Our results show that, among all couples, the division of paid work is more gender-equal after childbirth when women's wage potential is higher than or similar to that of their male partner. However, there is substantial variation by couples' migration background and relative wage potential in partners' gender division of paid work and the extent to which it changes after parenthood. These findings suggest that both normative and institutional factors moderate the impact of partners' relative resources on couples' division of paid work after parenthood, particularly among non-European origin couples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper discusses the problems of providing clergy with land for farming. It was revealed that the sources of replenishment of land allotments used by the clergy differed markedly depending on the specifics of individual parishes. There is detailed information about the church land received by the clergy from parishioners immediately after taking office (ordination). Another source of land replenishment was the own work of priests and clergy in clearing land from the forest and draining swamps. State measures aimed at improving the financial situation of the clergy and endowing clerics with land sufficient to maintain a stable economy have not been successful for a number of reasons. The Church authority believed that work on arable land brings clergy and laity closer together, contributing to mutual understanding. Among rural pastors, the conviction gradually grew that the basis of a priest’s income should be a government salary.

Introduction Pregnancy and childbirth have historically been considered, both in collective imagination and cultural transmission, as situations that threaten maternal and fetal survival. Purpose This study aims to understand the experiences of women who underwent Caesarean sections at Isiro General Reference Hospital, in relation to their pregnancies and labour, in order to inform precautions for future cases. Methods This is a qualitative study with a phenomenological approach. The population consists of women who underwent Caesarean sections in the gynecology-obstetrics department of Isiro General Reference Hospital. Data were collected through individual, semi-structured face-to-face interviews. Results For most women in the town of Isiro, pregnancy and childbirth are perceived as difficult and painful experiences. They reported discomfort and embarrassment, describing a variety of symptoms that were often mild: various pains, eating and digestion disorders, headaches, shortness of breath, dizziness, etc. In addition, the expectant mothers often felt vulnerable. Conclusion The conception of a child triggers a significant emotional upheaval in women, with psychological and physiological changes, particularly hormonal. These should not obscure the psychological challenges involved. Pregnancy and childbirth represent a period of identity crisis and psychological maturation for the woman transitioning into motherhood.

This paper reports the experience of the symposium “Mobbing and health”, held at the First Ibero American Conference on Workplace and Institutional Mobbing. Based on original research, the authors agreed that mobbing is harmful to physical and mental health, to social life and the relationship with the partner. Symptoms range from sleeping problems, food habits, mood, psychoactive substance use, anxiety, depression, fatigue and deterioration of sexual life, to headaches, hypertension, fibromyalgia and suicide, in extreme cases. The authors also agreed that family support, social support at work and psychotherapeutic intervention are key ways to help the victims. Harassment is recognized as a serious public health problem particularly, though not exclusively, in economically disadvantaged countries. This refers to the fact that mobbing, like other forms of violence, is one of the great evils resulting from the economic crisis that increased social inequality. The authors also said that phenomena such as mobbing should be made clear to the general society in seeking solutions. Thus it is important to target appropriate forums and opportunities to influence public policies and to encourage politicians to legislate and regulate comprehensive health protection of workers. Key words: mobbing, health, workplaces

This essay deals with a frequently discussed theme: the organization of work and the health of people who work, revealing that as ways to organize work have been modified in today’s workplace, work has intensified and the forms of exploitation of the working class have multiplied. Various studies in this field allow us to understand the conditions of work and organizational density, including work itself and the use of time by the capitalist establishment as well as emergent risks that workers are exposed to in their daily work lives and the demands that they are subjected to during their exhaustive work days. KEY WORDS organization of work, workplace bullying, flexibilization of labor

Abstract: This article analyses the abolition of slavery and the transition to free labour in late nineteenth-century Puerto Rico, seeking to understand the terms and timing of Puerto Rican abolition and the nature of society in its wake. Especially important in Puerto Rico, it argues, was the intertwined nature of slavery and other forms of forced labour as well as the predominance of foreign merchants and planters in the island's economy, which created multi-class alliances between working-class Puerto Ricans and creole elites. These class dynamics interacted with events in the metropole to influence the terms of labour on the island.

Industry is the substratum of material production and the economy as a whole. Numerous discussions about the need for new industrialisation make us turn again to the analysis of the state of industrial potential and results of industrial development in Russia. The study aims to explain the performance of the Russian industry in terms of the most relevant and aggregated indicators characterising its functioning, and to formulate its long-term development tasks. The methodological basis of the study is the theory of industrial development. Methods of planning and industrial analysis are used. The evidence is the data for 2012–2022 retrieved from the Federal State Statistics Service of the Russian Federation and the Unified Interdepartmental Statistical Information System. The research concludes about the ‘contracted’ development of the Russian industry. The growth rate of the gross value added is more significantly impacted by the dynamics of fixed capital rather than that of labour. Yet the labour contributed greatly to the creation of the new value, which indicates the predominance of labour-intensive technologies, or obsolete capital-intensive technologies. The study empirically confirms that some periods saw a ‘paradox of rapid industrialisation’, that is, a substantially lower rate of economic growth against a higher growth of industry and modernisation of its fixed assets. The general conclusion is that when conducting industrial policy, it is necessary to influence the state of the labour and capital factors in the manufacturing sectors. The industrialisation of the Russian economy needs to be oriented towards the technological substitution through the creation of new fixed assets; in addition, the losses of greatly reduced labour potential should be compensated. A promising avenue is the organisation of analytical planning for the state-owned industry and indicative planning for private industries along with the adoption of a law on the state sector.

The global economic downturn due to the pandemic has resulted in shrinking the digital market in big economies such as the US and China. After the pandemic, many of the major tech and internet-based companies had to take action to reverse their the declining balance sheets and look for ways to financially rebound. Illustrated in this paper is how these digital giants in China could further advance their economy by minimising their paid manpower by working with/under the education system and inventing new temporary intern positions as semi-(im)material labour to expand their workforce. Based on our ethnographic work and interviews with interns, we elucidate the case of a Chinese tech intern, which exemplifies what we refer to as involution. Involution is a process by which the new generation is induced to accept a much more precarious economy as a result of nominal pay, yet is able to nevertheless survive, meet their daily needs and dwell in big cities, rather than engaging a radical change or revolution.

Abstract Background Mental health is a growing concern worldwide. It is not well understood whether international labour migrants from Nepal who return to Nepal are at higher risk of developing mental health problems. The purpose of our study was to determine the prevalence of and examine the associated factors for depressive symptoms among returnee migrants and non-migrant working male adults in Nepal. Methods A cross-sectional survey of a probability-based sample of 725 participants was conducted in February 2020. The sample was comprised of two groups based on migration status: returning migrants and non-migrants. The 21-item Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-21) questionnaire was used to assess depressive symptoms. Logistic regression was applied to investigate factors associated with symptoms of depression. Results The overall prevalence of depressive symptoms was 10.1%. However, the prevalence of depressive symptoms was lower (7%) among returnee migrants compared to non-migrants (13.7%). Men in the lower income group had a higher chance of having depressive (AOR = 5.88, 95% CI: 2.17–15.96) than those in the higher income group. Similarly, Buddhists and Christians were more likely to be depressed (AOR = 2.20, 95% CI: 1.03–4.68) than Hindus. Participants with more than two children had a higher chance of having of depressive symptoms (AOR = 4.80, 95% CI: 1.15–20.05) compared with those without children. Unmarried men were more likely to be depressed (AOR = 4.07, 95%, CI:1.11–14.92) than those who were married. Conclusion The working Nepali adult male population in Nepal, including returning migrants, is at risk of depressive symptoms, but this association was lower in those in the higher income group, returnee migrants, those who were married, Hindus and those with no children. Our results highlight the need to monitor and develop national policies to ensure the mental health of the Nepali male adult population, including returnee migrants.

Abstract Objective This systematic review and meta-analysis investigated whether the use of azithromycin during labour or caesarean section reduces the incidence of sepsis and infection among mothers and newborns. Data sources We independently searched the PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library and EMBASE databases for relevant studies published before February, 2024. Methods We included RCTs that evaluated the effect of prenatal oral or intravenous azithromycin or placebo on intrapartum or postpartum infection incidence. We included studies evaluating women who had vaginal births as well as caesarean sections. Studies reporting maternal and neonatal infections were included in the current analysis. Review Manager 5.4 was used to analyse 6 randomized clinical trials involving 44,448 mothers and 44,820 newborns. The risk of bias of each included study was assessed using the criteria outlined in the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions.Primary outcomes included the incidence of maternal sepsis and all-cause mortality and neonatal sepsis and all-cause mortality; secondary outcomes included maternal (endometritis, wound and surgical site infections, chorioamnionitis, and urinary tract infections) and neonatal outcomes (infections of the eyes, ears and skin). A random-effects model was used to test for overall effects and heterogeneity. Results The pooled odds ratios (ORs) were as follows: 0.65 for maternal sepsis (95% CI, 0.55–0.77; I 2 , 0%; P

Respectful Maternity Care (RMC) is a fundamental right of every childbearing woman. It is aimed at lessening disparities in medical care and assists in achieving an optimal outcome for both mothers and newborns. However, studies have shown that Disrespect and Abuse (D&A) are extremely widespread in low socio-economic countries and that care quality has been neglected at all levels. To minimise disrespectful Maternity Care, we must create situation-specific, proof-based interventions as well as strategies and plans of action. RMC needs a lot more than the ending of misconduct. Care should be provided to all women in a way that safeguards their respect, privacy, and confidentiality. They should not be ill-treated and constant support should be provided at the time of labour and childbirth. Respectful treatment should not be dependent on the social status of the mother. The implementation of RMC through the labour and delivery process is a complicated procedure that demands that healthcare providers possess both interpersonal and scientific abilities. In this regard, it is crucial to recognise the probable hurdles and execute efficient approaches for implementing RMC into action. The present review aimed to further focus the discussion around the creation of RMC policies for various healthcare settings. The authors emphasise the value of RMC and highlight that poor treatment and disrespectful care are issues that are essential to be addressed across all research fields, including community health, quality assurance, administration, and human rights.

Background: Assessing women's perceptions of the care they receive is crucial for evaluating the quality of maternity care. Women's perceptions are influenced by the care received during pregnancy, labour and birth, and the postpartum period, each of which with unique conditions, expectations, and requirements. In England, three Experience of Maternity Care (EMC) scales – Pregnancy, Labour and Birth, and Postnatal – have been developed to assess women's experiences from pregnancy through the postpartum period. This study aimed to validate these scales within the Iranian context. Methods: A methodological cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2022 to August 2023 at selected health centers in Tabriz, Iran. A panel of 16 experts assessed the qualitative and quantitative content validity of the scales and 10 women assessed the face validity. A total of 540 eligible women, 1–6 months postpartum, participated in the study, with data from 216 women being used for exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and 324 women for confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and other analyses. The Childbirth Experience Questionnaire-2 was employed to assess the convergent validity of the Labour and Birth Scale, whereas women's age was used to assess the divergent validity of the scales. Test-retest reliability and internal consistency were also examined. Results: All items obtained an impact score above 1.5, with Content Validity Ratio and Content Validity Index exceeding 0.8. EFA demonstrated an excellent fit with the data (all Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin measures > 0.80, and all Bartlett's p < 0.001). The Pregnancy Scale exhibited a five-factor structure, the Labour and Birth Scale a two-factor structure, and the Postnatal Scale a three-factor structure, explaining 66%, 57%, and 62% of the cumulative variance, respectively, for each scale. CFA indicated an acceptable fit with RMSEA ≤ 0.08, CFI ≥ 0.92, and NNFI ≥ 0.90. A significant correlation was observed between the Labour and Birth scale and the Childbirth Experience Questionnaire-2 (r = 0.82, P < 0.001). No significant correlation was found between the scales and women's age. All three scales demonstrated good internal consistency (all Cronbach's alpha values > 0.9) and test-retest reliability (all interclass correlation coefficient values > 0.8). Conclusions: The Persian versions of all three EMC scales exhibit robust psychometric properties for evaluating maternity care experiences among urban Iranian women. These scales can be utilized to assess the quality of current care, investigate the impact of different care models in various studies, and contribute to maternal health promotion programs and policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

What is the effect of a protocol targeted at the various stages of labour – with a peanut ball, positioning and pelvic mobility – on the duration of labour, pain severity, fatigue, maternal outcomes, neonatal outcomes and satisfaction in parturients without analgesia? A randomised trial with concealed allocation, blinding of assessors and intention-to-treat analysis. One hundred women in active labour. The experimental group received the protocol targeted at the various stages of labour, with a peanut ball, positioning and pelvic mobility, whilst the control group received usual care. The primary outcomes were the duration of labour and pain severity. The secondary outcomes were maternal fatigue, mode of delivery, risk of perineal laceration, severity of perineal laceration, use of synthetic oxytocin, satisfaction with delivery, Apgar scores, admission of the neonate to an intensive care unit and resuscitation of the neonate in the delivery room. In the active phase of labour, the numerical rating scale and maternal perception of childbirth fatigue questionnaire were applied; they were taken again when the parturient had 8 to 10 cm of dilation. The numerical rating scale was also applied postpartum to evaluate satisfaction with childbirth. The use of the protocol with a peanut ball reduced the duration of active and expulsive phases and the total duration of labour, with mean differences of 82 minutes (95% CI 41 to 125), 8 minutes (95% CI 0 to 18) and 89 minutes (95% CI 45 to 132), respectively. Maternal satisfaction was better in the experimental group: mean between-group difference on the 10-point scale was 1.1 (95% CI 0.4 to 1.8). The effects on the other outcomes were either similar between groups or unclear. A protocol with a peanut ball, positioning and pelvic mobility reduced the duration of labour and improved maternal satisfaction with childbirth. RBR-74wcnjc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: Mental health is a growing concern worldwide. It is not well understood whether international labour migrants from Nepal who return to Nepal are at higher risk of developing mental health problems. The purpose of our study was to determine the prevalence of and examine the associated factors for depressive symptoms among returnee migrants and non-migrant working male adults in Nepal. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of a probability-based sample of 725 participants was conducted in February 2020. The sample was comprised of two groups based on migration status: returning migrants and non-migrants. The 21-item Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-21) questionnaire was used to assess depressive symptoms. Logistic regression was applied to investigate factors associated with symptoms of depression. Results: The overall prevalence of depressive symptoms was 10.1%. However, the prevalence of depressive symptoms was lower (7%) among returnee migrants compared to non-migrants (13.7%). Men in the lower income group had a higher chance of having depressive (AOR = 5.88, 95% CI: 2.17–15.96) than those in the higher income group. Similarly, Buddhists and Christians were more likely to be depressed (AOR = 2.20, 95% CI: 1.03–4.68) than Hindus. Participants with more than two children had a higher chance of having of depressive symptoms (AOR = 4.80, 95% CI: 1.15–20.05) compared with those without children. Unmarried men were more likely to be depressed (AOR = 4.07, 95%, CI:1.11–14.92) than those who were married. Conclusion: The working Nepali adult male population in Nepal, including returning migrants, is at risk of depressive symptoms, but this association was lower in those in the higher income group, returnee migrants, those who were married, Hindus and those with no children. Our results highlight the need to monitor and develop national policies to ensure the mental health of the Nepali male adult population, including returnee migrants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis investigated whether the use of azithromycin during labour or caesarean section reduces the incidence of sepsis and infection among mothers and newborns. Data sources: We independently searched the PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library and EMBASE databases for relevant studies published before February, 2024. Methods: We included RCTs that evaluated the effect of prenatal oral or intravenous azithromycin or placebo on intrapartum or postpartum infection incidence. We included studies evaluating women who had vaginal births as well as caesarean sections. Studies reporting maternal and neonatal infections were included in the current analysis. Review Manager 5.4 was used to analyse 6 randomized clinical trials involving 44,448 mothers and 44,820 newborns. The risk of bias of each included study was assessed using the criteria outlined in the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions.Primary outcomes included the incidence of maternal sepsis and all-cause mortality and neonatal sepsis and all-cause mortality; secondary outcomes included maternal (endometritis, wound and surgical site infections, chorioamnionitis, and urinary tract infections) and neonatal outcomes (infections of the eyes, ears and skin). A random-effects model was used to test for overall effects and heterogeneity. Results: The pooled odds ratios (ORs) were as follows: 0.65 for maternal sepsis (95% CI, 0.55–0.77; I2, 0%; P <.00001); 0.62 for endometritis (95% CI, 0.52–0.74; I2, 2%; P <.00001); and 0.43 for maternal wound or surgical site infection (95% CI, 0.24–0.78; P <.005); however, there was great heterogeneity among the studies (I2, 75%). The pooled OR for pyelonephritis and urinary tract infections was 0.3 (95% CI, 0.17–0.52; I2, 0%; P <.0001), and that for neonatal skin infections was 0.48 (95% CI, 0.35–0.65; I2, 0%, P <.00001). There was no significant difference in maternal all-cause mortality or incidence of chorioamnionitis between the two groups. No significant differences were observed in the incidence of neonatal sepsis or suspected sepsis, all-cause mortality, or infections of the eyes or ears. Conclusion: In this meta-analysis, azithromycin use during labour reduced the incidence of maternal sepsis, endometritis, incisional infections and urinary tract infections but did not reduce the incidence of neonatal-associated infections, except for neonatal skin infections. These findings indicate that azithromycin may be potentially beneficial for maternal postpartum infections, but its effect on neonatal prognosis remains unclear. Azithromycin should be used antenatally only if the clinical indication is clear and the potential benefits outweigh the harms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bilal's story traces the journey of migrant youths who abandon European reception projects while remaining undocumented. Based on extensive ethnographic fieldwork and inquiry into Bilal's lived experience, evidence is presented on how the Italian reception system fails to address the migrants' needs and vulnerabilities. Labour is a central element in the life stories of migrant youths, although access to the labour market is constrained by laws on protection of minors and asylum bureaucracies. This fact collides with the youths' aspirations, in which mobility and economic independence are seen as fundamental elements of 'adulthood'. Against this backdrop, steps should be made in both legal and humanitarian approaches to youth migration to promote a regular and dignifying access to labour as a possible form of emancipation and citizenship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although counterintuitive for many academics and lay people alike, the Canadian environmental movement has long included significant engagement from organized labour. More surprising, perhaps, the most dedicated labour environmentalists came from unions representing workers in the auto, steel, mining, chemical, and oil industries. This was certainly the case in Alberta during the 1970s. There, the Oil, Chemical and Atomic Workers (ocaw) used their outsized influence within the Alberta Federation of Labour (afl) to conjoin growing concern about occupational health and safety with developing awareness about air and water pollution beyond the workplace. Drawing on fonds at the University of Calgary Glenbow Archives, Provincial Archives of Alberta, and Library and Archives Canada, this article chronicles and assesses efforts by ocaw officials within the afl to introduce and sustain a labour environmentalist agenda. It also makes an argument for historians interested in the origins and evolution of the Canadian environmental movement to pay closer attention to organized labour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Efficient care by labour monitoring tools manages labour, identifies the abnormalities and avoids the fatalities. Various studies are being undertaken by the researchers to understand the limited use of these therapeutic tools. The present study aimed to develop a novel labour monitoring instrument after understanding the barriers and enablers of the currently used tools and using it in the health setting for improving clinical outcomes. Materials and Methods: Methodological research design was adopted to develop the novel tool. Item pool was generated by literature review, focus group discussions and retrospective observations of the partographs. Developed tool was evaluated by various experts by undergoing three rounds and was found to be reliable in terms of stability and equivalency. After undergoing pilot runs by researcher and nurses, tool was found to be feasible and understandable. The developed novel labour monitoring tool was used on 200 intranatal women. Results: Focus group discussions revealed various barriers in the current labour tools, such as lack of clarity, complexity, staff shortage, workload etc. Retrospective observation of filled partographs revealed the incomplete recording of the components of the partograph. The prepared first draft underwent rigorous review by the experts. The prepared novel tool, after being used on 200 intranatal women resulted in 90% of normal vaginal deliveries. Duration of 1st stage of labour was around 5 hours. Conclusion: A novel labour monitoring tool was developed after methodological approach resulting in adequate monitoring and improved labour outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Respectful Maternity Care (RMC) is a fundamental right of every childbearing woman. It is aimed at lessening disparities in medical care and assists in achieving an optimal outcome for both mothers and newborns. However, studies have shown that Disrespect and Abuse (D&A) are extremely widespread in low socio-economic countries and that care quality has been neglected at all levels. To minimise disrespectful Maternity Care, we must create situation-specific, proof-based interventions as well as strategies and plans of action. RMC needs a lot more than the ending of misconduct. Care should be provided to all women in a way that safeguards their respect, privacy, and confidentiality. They should not be ill-treated and constant support should be provided at the time of labour and childbirth. Respectful treatment should not be dependent on the social status of the mother. The implementation of RMC through the labour and delivery process is a complicated procedure that demands that healthcare providers possess both interpersonal and scientific abilities. In this regard, it is crucial to recognise the probable hurdles and execute efficient approaches for implementing RMC into action. The present review aimed to further focus the discussion around the creation of RMC policies for various healthcare settings. The authors emphasise the value of RMC and highlight that poor treatment and disrespectful care are issues that are essential to be addressed across all research fields, including community health, quality assurance, administration, and human rights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article continues a longitudinal national study of journalism employment in Australia and contributes to new understandings of journalism employment in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. Results suggest a shift in the organisational landscape of the media in Australia, with an expansion of large organisations at the ‘top,’ and a considerable loss of small micro-ventures (largely based online) at the ‘bottom.’ Implications include stronger centralised editorial control at the corporate level, urbanisation and homogenisation of media producers and product, and reduced opportunities for creative entry-level roles.

Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) of HIV infection is a significant health problem facing most low and middle-income countries. Also known as Vertical Transmission, PMTCT refers to the interventions put in place to prevent the transmission of HIV from a mother living with HIV to her infant either during pregnancy, labor, delivery, or breastfeeding. In the absence of intervention, the rate of transmission of HIV from a mother living with HIV to her child during pregnancy, labor, delivery, or breastfeeding ranges from 15% to 45% (1). Approximately 1/3 of HIV-exposed babies will acquire HIV infection in the absence of preventive measures

The present research has been conducted to study the causal relation among GDP, electricity utilization, exports, real capital and labor force for Pakistan. Time dependent data for the mentioned parameters have been used for the time period of 1980 to 2022. Inter-relations among the above-mentioned variables have been studied in this work by the method of cointegration using bounds test. The results illustrate that there is an existence of long run relation among the parameters where GDP has been taken into consideration as the dependent variable. Granger causation analysis has also been performed for the variables. Results show that Granger causality between GDP and electricity utilization runs in both directions. Moreover, the study discloses that Electricity utilization granger cause exports and per capita real capital. Exports granger cause per capita real capital. Per capita real capital granger cause GDP. Labor force granger cause GDP and exports. The long run relation equation of GDP, Electricity utilization, exports, real capital and labor force has also been examined for parameter stability. The parameters are found to be stable with the significance level of 5%. The research also suggests some significant strategy recommendations.