The Association of Relational Spirituality in an EcoMeditation Course with Flow, Transcendent States, and Professional Productivity.

Background: Relational spirituality-a sense of oneness with, or personal connection to, a higher power or greater consciousness-has been associated with positive health outcomes in prior research. An evidence-based meditation method called EcoMeditation produces significant improvements in psychological health as well as physiological function. Objectives: This study places EcoMeditation in the context of relational spirituality to evaluate changes in psychological symptoms and professional productivity associated with transcendent states of consciousness, including those characterized as "flow" and "nonduality." Methods: Participants (n = 41) were drawn from a convenience sample taking a 21-day online course in which they practiced EcoMeditation along with exercises designed to cultivate personal and relational spirituality. They were assessed pre, post, and at six-month follow-up. Results: Significant reductions in anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were found post-test. These were accompanied by significant increases in happiness, flow, transcendent experiences, and professional-personal productivity. Follow-up indicated that gains in happiness, transcendent experiences, nonduality, and professional-personal productivity were maintained over time. Conclusions: In addition to the improvements in psychological symptoms identified in previous studies, EcoMeditation in the context of relational spirituality was associated with increases in nondual and transcendent states, as well as greater productivity. Although activities such as meditation are usually associated with elevated consciousness in altered states, they may also produce enhanced productivity and performance in everyday life.

Unveiling productivity: The interplay of cognitive arousal and expressive typing in remote work.

Cognitive Arousal, frequently elicited by environmental stressors that exceed personal coping resources, manifests in measurable physiological markers, notably in galvanic skin responses. This effect is prominent in cognitive tasks such as composition, where fluctuations in these biomarkers correlate with individual expressiveness. It is crucial to understand the nexus between cognitive arousal and expressiveness. However, there has not been a concrete study that investigates this inter-relation concurrently. Addressing this, we introduce an innovative methodology for simultaneous monitoring of these elements. Our strategy employs Bayesian analysis in a multi-state filtering format to dissect psychomotor performance (captured through typing speed), galvanic skin response or skin conductance (SC), and heart rate variability (HRV). This integrative analysis facilitates the quantification of expressive behavior and arousal states. At the core, we deploy a state-space model connecting one latent psychological arousal condition to neural activities impacting sweating (inferred through SC responses) and another latent state to expressive behavior during typing. These states are concurrently evaluated with model parameters using an expectation-maximization algorithms approach. Assessments using both computer-simulated data and experimental data substantiate the validity of our approach. Outcomes display distinguishable latent state patterns in expressive typing and arousal across different computer software used in office management, offering profound implications for Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and productivity analysis. This research marks a significant advancement in decoding human productivity dynamics, with extensive repercussions for optimizing performance in telecommuting scenarios.

The effects of an 8-week selective corrective exercises program on the worker's productivity with the upper crossed syndrome - a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of a corrective exercise program on workers' productivity with Upper Crossed Syndrome (UCS). METHODS: We used Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) with parallel groups, double-blind, randomized. The participants were workers recruited at a company of Markazi Province that 23 persons in test group and 25 in control group participated. Before and after the intervention, work productivity and activity impairment was measured by the WPAI-GH questionnaire. In addition, angles of FH and RS were measured by Goniometer, and kyphosis angle was measured by a flexible ruler. The exercise program consisted of stretching, strengthening, and stabilization exercises, conducted three times a week for eight weeks. The primary outcome was work productivity and activity impairment, and the secondary outcomes were FH, RS, and KY. All primary and secondary outcomes were measured before the interventions, one week after intervention. RESULTS: Results revealed significant differences for KY (MD = 3.84, 95% CI: 0.75,6.94, p = 0.017), RS (MD = -1.83, 95% CI: -2.88, -0.88, p = 0.001), and FH (MD = 3.01, 95% CI: 1.98,4.04, p = 0.001) before and after the intervention. In addition, within-group differences showed a significant difference in work time missed (MD = -2.60, CI: -4.84, -0.37, p = 0.003**), and overall work productivity loss (MD = -2.02, CI: -3.78, -0.26, p = 0.013**) in exercise group. However, there were no significant effects on impairment at work and activity. CONCLUSIONS: Since significant differences were detected in a selective exercise program on productivity, a continuous exercise program for more than 8-week could be effective in managing productivity and increasing practical working hours.

Traditional versus dynamic sitting: Lumbar spine kinematics and pain during computer work and activity guided tasks.

Dynamic sitting may mitigate low back pain during prolonged seated work. The current study compared pelvis and lumbar spine kinematics, pain, and work productivity, in traditional and dynamic sitting. Sixteen participants completed three 20-min blocks of computer work and activity guided tasks in a traditional office chair or backless and multiaxial rotating seat pan while kinematics were measured from accelerometers on the low back. Pain ratings were recorded on a visual analogue scale every 10 min. Similar pelvis and lumbar kinematics emerged when performing computer work in traditional and dynamic sitting. Pelvis and lumbar sagittal and frontal plane shifts and fidgets were largest for dynamic sitting in the activity guided tasks. Buttocks pain was higher in dynamic sitting, but low back pain and work productivity were unaffected. Dynamic sitting increased spine movement during activity guided tasks, without negatively impacting lumbar kinematics, low back pain, or productivity during seated computer work.

Quantitative and qualitative workload assessment in steep terrain forest operations: fostering a safer work environment through yarder automation.

Many forestry roles have changed from being manual tasks with a high physical workload to being a machine operator task with a high mental workload. Automation can support a decrease in mental fatigue by removing tasks that are repetitive and monotonous for the operators. Cable yarding presents an ideal opportunity for early adoption of automation technology; specifically the carriage movement along a defined corridor. A Valentini V-850 cable yarder was used in an Italian harvesting setting, in order to gauge the ergonomic benefit of carriage control automation. The study showed that automating yarder carriage movements improved the ergonomic situation of the workers directly involved in the related primary tasks. However, the caveat is that improving one work task may negatively affect the other work tasks, and therefore introducing automation to a worksite must be done after considering all impacts on the whole system. Practitioner summary: Automation decreased the winch operator's mental workload while improving overall productivity. At the same time, the mental and physiological workload of the operator tasked with bucking were slightly increased. Ideally, winch automation should be coupled with bucking mechanisation to balance the intervention and boost both operator well-being and productivity.

A comparison of absolute, ratio standard and allometric approaches for bench press performance assessment in men over 60 / Comparação das abordagens absoluta, razão padrão e alométrica para a performance no supino em homens acima de 60 anos

ABSTRACT Body mass is known to affect muscle strength and the outcome of some functional tests, so that heavier and taller people will be stronger than lighter and smaller ones. Ratio standard (RS) has been widely used to remove the body mass effect, despite long date criticism due to its inadequacy. Allometry (ALLO), in turn, has been applied as an efficient method for normalizing muscular strength. As the bench press (BP) is a well-recognized strength and conditioning exercise for older adults, the aim of the present study was to verify the influence of body mass on the performance assessment of a group of older men in the BP, by comparing the absolute, RS and ALLO approaches. Sixteen healthy old men (65.5±5.13 years old; 75.42±9.78Kg; 1.73±5.98m; 25.11±2.71 kg/m2; 24.76±4.10 %fat) volunteered to participate in the study. Maximum dynamic load was verified by individual one-repetition maximum (1-RM) tests. Comparisons of means revealed that significant 1-RM difference between lighter (54.9±8.85Kg) and heavier (66.2±8.86Kg) participants was identified only in absolute approach (p<0.05; ES=0.57). RS failed in completely remove the body mass effect, allowing correlation between normalized muscular strength and BM (r=0.23), in contraire of ALLO (r=0.03 and 0.06). Kendall's concordance coefficient revealed an absolute lack of agreement between approaches when compared their respective ordinal classifications (kw=0.003; p>0.05). In line with previous research, ALLO has shown to be the only suitable method to remove adequately the body mass effect and to provide appropriated performance scores for the older men evaluated in this study.

RESUMO Sabe-se que a massa corporal afeta a força muscular e o resultado de alguns testes funcionais, de modo que pessoas mais pesadas e altas serão mais fortes que as mais leves e menores. A razão-padrão (RP) tem sido largamente utilizada para remover o efeito da massa corporal, apesar de críticas conhecidas há muito tempo devido sua inadequação. Alometria (ALO), do contrário, tem sido aplicada como um método eficiente para normalizar a força muscular. Como o supino é um exercício de força e condicionamento bem reconhecido para idosos, o objetivo deste estudo foi verificar a influência da massa corporal sobre a avaliação do desempenho de um grupo de idosos no supino, comparando as abordagens absoluta (AB), RP e ALO. Dezesseis idosos saudáveis (65,5±5,13 anos de idade; 75,42±9,78Kg; 1,73±5,98m; 25,11±2,71 kg/m2; 24,76±4,10 %gordura) se voluntariaram para participar no estudo. A máxima carga dinâmica foi verificada pelos testes de 1 repetição máxima (1RM). Na comparação das médias, a diferença significante do 1RM entre os participantes leves (54,9±8,85Kg) e pesados (66,2±8,86Kg) foi identificada apenas na abordagem ABS (p<0,05; ES=0,57). A RP falhou em remover completamente o efeito da massa corporal, permitindo correlação entre a força muscular e a massa corporal normalizadas (r=0,23), ao contrário da ALO (r=0,23 e 0,06). O coeficiente de Kendall revelou ausência de concordância entre as abordagens quando comparadas as suas respectivas classificações ordinais (kw=0,003; p>0,05). Em linha com pesquisas anteriores, ALO tem se mostrado como o único método viável para remover adequadamente o efeito da MC e para oferecer escores de desempenho mais apropriados para homens idosos, como os avaliados por este estudo.

A clinical trial to evaluate the dayzz smartphone app on employee sleep, health, and productivity at a large US employer.

Sleep deficiency is a hidden cost of our 24-7 society, with 70% of adults in the US admitting that they routinely obtain insufficient sleep. Further, it is estimated that 50-70 million adults in the US have a sleep disorder. Undiagnosed and untreated sleep disorders are associated with diminished health for the individual and increased costs for the employer. Research has shown that adverse impacts on employees and employers can be mitigated through sleep health education and sleep disorder screening and treatment programs. Smartphone applications (app) are increasingly commonplace and represent promising, scalable modalities for such programs. The dayzz app is a personalized sleep training program that incorporates assessment of sleep disorders and offers a personalized comprehensive sleep improvement solution. Using a sample of day workers affiliated with a large institution of higher education, we will conduct a single-site, parallel-group, randomized, waitlist control trial. Participants will be randomly assigned to either use the dayzz app throughout the study or receive the dayzz app at the end of the study. We will collect data on feasibility and acceptability of the dayzz app; employee sleep, including sleep behavioral changes, sleep duration, regularity, and quality; employee presenteeism, absenteeism, and performance; employee mood; adverse and safety outcomes; and healthcare utilization on a monthly basis throughout the study, as well as collect more granular daily data from the employee during pre-specified intervals. Our results will illuminate whether a personalized smartphone app is a viable approach for improving employee sleep, health, and productivity. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04224285.

Learning from work-from-home issues during the COVID-19 pandemic: Balance speaks louder than words.

During the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, many employees have switched to working from home. Despite the findings of previous research that working from home can improve productivity, the scale, nature, and purpose of those studies are not the same as in the current situation with the COVID-19 pandemic. We studied the effects that three stress relievers of the work-from-home environment-company support, supervisor's trust in the subordinate, and work-life balance-had on employees' psychological well-being (stress and happiness), which in turn influenced productivity and engagement in non-work-related activities during working hours. In order to collect honest responses on sensitive questions or negative forms of behavior including stress and non-work-related activities, we adopted the randomized response technique in the survey design to minimize response bias. We collected a total of 500 valid responses and analyzed the results with structural equation modelling. We found that among the three stress relievers, work-life balance was the only significant construct that affected psychological well-being. Stress when working from home promoted non-work-related activities during working hours, whereas happiness improved productivity. Interestingly, non-work-related activities had no significant effect on productivity. The research findings provide evidence that management's maintenance of a healthy work-life balance for colleagues when they are working from home is important for supporting their psychosocial well-being and in turn upholding their work productivity.

An analysis of temporal numerical superiority in the pan-american junior men's water polo matches / Análise da superioridade numérica temporal no pan-americano júnior de polo aquático masculino

ABSTRACT This study compared the frequency, number of goals and attack efficiency in temporal numerical superiority among winning and losing teams and among balanced and unbalanced matches in a junior men's water polo competition. Another analysed relationship was that between a balanced or unbalanced final score and the efficiency at scoring goals in numerical superiority in the winning teams' games. A total of 56 matches from the Pan-American Junior Men's Water Polo championship was analysed. The teams were categorised as losers or winners and the match results were classified as balanced or unbalanced. The chi-squared and Mann-Whitney tests were used for statistical treatment. There is no significant difference in the occurrence of numerical superiority between winners and losers (p = 0.25) despite the winners scoring more goals (p = 0.002) and being more efficient (p < 0.001). There is no significant difference in the occurrence of numerical superiority (p = 0.81) and goals (p = 0.03) in balanced and unbalanced matches. However, there tends to be a higher shot efficiency (p = 0.01) in unbalanced matches. A significant relationship exists (p = 0.04) between the winning teams' efficiency at scoring goals in a situation of numerical superiority and an unbalanced score.

RESUMO Esse estudo teve por objetivo comparar a frequência, a quantidade de gols e a eficiência do ataque em superioridade numérica temporal entre equipes vencedoras e perdedoras e entre partidas equilibradas e desequilibradas em competição júnior de polo aquático masculino. Também foi testada a relação entre a ocorrência do placar equilibrado ou desequilibrado com a eficiência em realizar gols em superioridade numérica nos jogos das equipes vencedoras. Foram analisadas 56 partidas do Campeonato Pan Americano Júnior de Polo Aquático Masculino. As equipes foram classificadas como perdedoras ou vencedoras e o resultado da partida como equilibrado ou desequilibrado. Teste Mann-Whitney e o qui-quadrado foram utilizados. Não há diferença significativa na ocorrência de superioridade numérica entre vencedores e perdedores (p = 0,25) apesar dos vencedores fazerem mais gols (p = 0,002) e serem mais eficientes (p < 0,001). Não há diferença significativa na ocorrência de superioridade numérica (p = 0,81) e de gols (p = 0,03) nas partidas equilibradas e desequilibradas. Entretanto, nas partidas desequilibradas encontrou-se maior eficiência no arremesso (p = 0,01). Foi encontrado relação significativa (p = 0,04) entre a eficácia das equipes vencedoras em realizar gol em superioridade numérica com o placar desequilibrado.

Running performance of non-professional female runners from different Brazilian states: the role of environmental characteristics

Abstract Aims: (i) to compare the running performance of non-professional female runners from different Brazilian states; (ii) to estimate the relationship between environmental state-related variables and running performance; and (iii) to analyze the mediation role of training commitment in the relationship between the environment and running performance. Methods: A total of 418 non-professional female runners were sampled from the five Brazilian regions. An online questionnaire was used for data collection and included self-reported information about age, body weight, body height, place of residence, training volume, and running pace. Environmental characteristics were based on the Census 2010 and included percentages of public illumination, asphalt, sidewalks, and green areas for state capital cities. Linear regression, Pearson correlation, and mediation analysis were performed using SPSS 26, at a 95% confidence interval. Results: The fastest women were from the Rio Grande do Sul. Significant differences were observed between Rio Grande do Sul and Rio Grande do Norte (β= 45.79; 95%CI = 16.86 − 74.73), Distrito Federal (β = 34.55; 95%CI = 1.87−67.24), and Sergipe (β = 35.34; 95%CI = 14.09−56.60). A negative relationship was observed between running pace with green areas (r = −0.206; 95%CI = −0.305 − −0.110) and training volume (r = −0.343; 95%CI = −0.427−0.167). Training volume explained 23% of the relationship between the percentage of green areas and running performance. Conclusion: The fastest runners were from the Rio Grande do Sul. Higher percentages of green areas can favor performance, which is partly mediated by increased training volume.

Improvements in quality of life and work productivity with up to 6 months of fremanezumab treatment in patients with episodic and chronic migraine and documented inadequate response to 2 to 4 classes of migraine-preventive medications in the phase 3b FOCUS study.

BACKGROUND: Migraine is associated with depression as well as negative impact on quality of life and work productivity. Fremanezumab, a fully humanized monoclonal antibody (IgG2Δa), selectively targets the calcitonin gene-related peptide and has proven efficacy for the preventive treatment of migraine. OBJECTIVE: In this open-label extension (OLE) of the phase 3b FOCUS study, we assessed patient-reported outcomes (PROs) over time. METHODS: Patients with episodic migraine (EM) and chronic migraine (CM) completing the 12-week, double-blind (DB) period of the FOCUS trial entered the 12-week OLE and received three monthly doses of fremanezumab (225 mg). PROs included the Migraine-Specific Quality of Life (MSQoL) questionnaire (role function-restrictive [RFR], role function-preventive [RFP], and emotional function [EF] domains), EuroQol-5-Dimension-5-Level (EQ-5D-5L) questionnaire, Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC) assessment, Work Productivity and Activity Impairment (WPAI) questionnaire, and 9-Item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). RESULTS: A total of 838 patients were randomized in the DB period, 807 entered the OLE at 3 months, and 772 were still enrolled at 6 months. At 6 months, patients in the quarterly fremanezumab, monthly fremanezumab, and placebo DB randomization groups, respectively, reported improvements in RFR (mean [standard deviation] change from baseline: 24.6 [21.9]; 22.9 [21.3]; 20.8 [26.5]), RFP (19.6 [20.0]; 18.3 [19.7]; 16.0 [19.9]), and EF (22.5 [24.2]; 19.1 [23.6]; 17.2 [24.7]) domains of the MSQoL questionnaire, the EQ-5D-5L questionnaire (8.0 [19.6]; 7.3 [21.1]; 6.6 [21.0]), all four domains of the WPAI questionnaire, and the PHQ-9 (-2.4 [5.3]; -1.6 [5.5]; -2.0 [4.9]); 77.1% (209/271), 75.4% (205/272), and 68.8% (181/263) of patients were identified as PGIC responders. CONCLUSION: Among patients with EM or CM and prior inadequate response to multiple migraine-preventive medication classes, progressive improvements in MSQoL, depression, and work productivity were achieved during 6 months of fremanezumab treatment.

Drivers of productivity: Being physically active increases yet sedentary bouts and lack of sleep decrease work ability.

Physical behavior (ie, physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep) is a crucial lifestyle factor for preventing and managing diseases across the lifespan. However, less is known about potential work-related psychological and cognitive outcomes such as productivity. The present study examined within-person associations between physical behavior and self-perceived work ability. To investigate the degree to which physical behavior parameters influence self-perceived work ability in everyday life, we conducted an Ambulatory Assessment study in 103 university students over 5 days. Physical behavior was assessed continuously via a multi-sensor system. Self-perceived work ability was assessed repeatedly up to six times per day on smartphones. We employed multilevel modeling to analyze the within-person effects of physical behavior on self-perceived work ability. Physical activity intensity (MET) (ß = 0.15 ± 0.06, t = 2.59, p = 0.012) and sit-to-stand transitions (ß = 0.07 ± 0.03, t = 2.44, p = 0.015) were positively associated with self-perceived work ability. Sedentary bouts (≥20 min) (ß = -0.21 ± 0.08, t = -2.74, p = 0.006) and deviation from a recommended sleep duration (ie, 8 h) (ß = -0.1 ± 0.04, t = -2.38, p = 0.018) were negatively associated with self-perceived work ability. Exploratory analyses supported the robustness of our findings by comparing various time frames. Total sedentary time and sleep quality were not associated with self-perceived work ability. Regular sleep durations, breaking up sedentary time through sit-to-stand transitions, and higher intensities of physical activity may be important for the regulation of self-perceived work ability in university students' daily lives.

Sleep Dysfunction is an Independent Predictor of Productivity Losses in Patients with Chronic Rhinosinusitis.

BACKGROUND: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is known to have a significant impact on economic productivity. Sleep dysfunction is associated with staggering productivity losses and is highly prevalent in patients with CRS. The effect of sleep dysfunction on productivity in CRS has not been elucidated. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between sleep dysfunction and lost productivity in patients with CRS. METHODS: Eighty-two adult patients with CRS were prospectively enrolled into a cross-sectional cohort study. Patients with obstructive sleep apnea were excluded. Sleep quality was measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Presenteeism (reduced work efficiency), absenteeism (missed work days), and lost work, household, and overall productivity were analyzed. The primary aim was assessing the correlation between PSQI and productivity. Regression analyses were performed to account for disease severity, pain, and depression. RESULTS: Sleep dysfunction is significantly correlated with overall lost productivity (R2 = 0.397, P < .05). Presenteeism is the most strongly affected by sleep dysfunction (R2 = -0.441, P < .001). Higher PSQI scores were significantly associated with productivity losses, whereas lower scores were not. Sleep remained an independent predictor of productivity when regression analysis accounted for disease severity, depression, and pain. CONCLUSION: Sleep dysfunction has a significant association with lost productivity in patients with CRS, particularly with worsening PSQI scores. More clearly defining those components of CRS that most impact a patient's daily function will allow clinicians to more optimally manage and counsel patients with CRS.

Impact of chronic constipation on health-related quality of life and work productivity in Japan.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The impact of chronic constipation on health-related quality of life (HRQoL), work productivity, and healthcare resource use in Japan is not well understood. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the humanistic burden of respondents with chronic constipation to respondents without chronic constipation and to respondents with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), respectively. METHODS: This cross-sectional study collected demographic and general health data and HRQoL data as measured by the Short Form 12-Item (Version 2) Health Survey and EuroQol 5-dimension health surveys. Health impacts on employment-related activities and indirect costs were measured using the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment questionnaire. Propensity score matching was used to identify a control group without chronic constipation. Multivariate generalized linear models were used to identify potential factors that may impact the outcomes of respondents. RESULTS: A total of 30 001 individuals responded to the Japan National Health and Wellness Survey 2017, whereof 3373 (11.2%) reported having chronic constipation; 963 were physician diagnosed. Compared with matched controls, patients with physician-diagnosed chronic constipation had lower mean HRQoL scores and higher mean absenteeism, presenteeism, total Work Productivity and Activity Impairment, and indirect costs. Physician-diagnosed chronic constipation was associated with a higher health burden than T2DM, IBS, and GERD. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic constipation is associated with a considerable health burden, which is higher compared with T2DM, IBS, and GERD. These results suggest an urgent need for effective treatment of Japanese patients with chronic constipation to improve their quality of life.

The Beginning of the End.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between gender, research productivity, academic rank, and departmental leadership positions of pathology faculty in North America. METHODS: The online information presented for the faculty members in all American- and Canadian-accredited pathology residency programs' official websites and Elsevier's SCOPUS were queried to assess research productivity, academic ranks, and leadership positions. RESULTS: Among 5,228 academic pathologists included in our study, there were 3,122 (59.7%) males and 2,106 (40.3%) females. Male faculty held higher academic ranks (being professor) and leadership positions (chair/program director) (P < .0001). Males were more likely to hold combined MD-PhD degrees (P < .0001) than females. The median h-index for the male faculty was 17 vs 9 for the female faculty (P = .023). CONCLUSIONS: Gender has a significant influence on leadership positions, academic ranks, and research productivity among pathology faculty members in North America.

Productivity loss associated with functional disability in a contemporary small-scale subsistence population.

In comparative cross-species perspective, humans experience unique physical impairments with potentially large consequences. Quantifying the burden of impairment in subsistence populations is critical for understanding selection pressures underlying strategies that minimize risk of production deficits. We examine among forager-horticulturalists whether compromised bone strength (indicated by fracture and lower bone mineral density, BMD) is associated with subsistence task cessation. We also estimate the magnitude of productivity losses associated with compromised bone strength. Fracture is associated with cessation of hunting, tree chopping, and walking long distances, but not tool manufacture. Age-specific productivity losses from hunting cessation associated with fracture and lower BMD are substantial: ~397 lost kcals/day, with expected future losses of up to 1.9 million kcals (22% of expected production). Productivity loss is thus substantial for high strength and endurance tasks. Determining the extent to which impairment obstructs productivity in contemporary subsistence populations improves our ability to infer past consequences of impairment.

Spectral content (colour) of noise exposure affects work efficiency.

INTRODUCTION: As part of an effort to enhance the efficiency of workers, experiments relating to three types of noise exposure were conducted. Previous studies have proved that pink noise can cause a brain wave to reach a lower potential. In this study, we utilized physical methods, in cognitive experiments, to understand the impacts that three colour noises have on working efficiency. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: All 22 participants were exposed to a sound environment of quiet, red, pink and white noises respectively. After a laboratory experiment, details of psychomotor speed, continuous performance, executive function and working memory were recorded. RESULTS: Red, pink and white noises were significantly positive in comparison with the quiet environment of the psychomotor speed test. As for the continuous performance test, pink noise gave the only significantly positive result. Red, pink and white noise resulted in a better executive function test. Red and pink noise showed significantly positive improvement, while white noise was significantly positive in comparison with the quiet environment of the working memory test. In addition, the results from the comfort questionnaires showed that red and pink noise increase the possibility of better judgment, implementation, and overall environment. CONCLUSION: At present time, it is considered that noise has negative effects on hearing and health. However, experimental results show that certain noise can enhance environmental comfort. It is feasible, in the future, to use knowledge of colour noises to improve productivity in a workplace with a healthy environment.

Impact of migraine on workplace productivity and monetary loss: a study of employees in banking sector in Malaysia.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Productivity and monetary loss due to migraine in the workplace may be substantial. This study aimed to determine the impact of migraine on productivity and monetary lost among employees in the banking sectors, in a multiethnic middle income country. METHODS: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among employees in two multinational banks in Malaysia between April and July 2019. Screening for migraine was conducted using the self-administered ID-Migraine™ questionnaire. Migraine-related disability (MIDAS) and headache frequency were recorded. Impact of migraine on work productivity and activities were evaluated using the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment (WPAI) questionnaire. RESULTS: Of the 1268 employees who submitted complete responses, 47.2% (n = 598) were screened positive for migraine. Strikingly, the mean percent productivity loss at work (presenteeism) was almost 20-fold higher than the mean percent work time missed due to migraine (absenteeism) (39.1% versus 1.9%). The mean percent productivity loss in regular activity (activity impairment) and overall work productivity loss (work impairment) was 38.4% and 39.9%, respectively. It was also found that the costs related to presenteeism (MYR 5392.6) (US$1296) was 3.5-fold higher than absenteeism (MYR1,548.3) (US$370). Highest monetary loss related to presenteeism was reported in migraineurs with frequency of headache of above 3 days (MYR 25,691.2) (US$6176), whereas highest monetary loss related to absenteeism was reported in migraineurs with MIDAS grade IV (MYR 12,369.1) (US$2973). Only 30% of migraineurs of MIDAS grade IV reported taking prescribed medication. Notably, a vast majority (96%) of migraineurs who had three or lower episodes of migraine per month did not seek treatment. CONCLUSION: The significant impact of migraine on work productivity and regular activity, appears to lead to substantial monetary loss attributed to not only absenteeism, but more importantly to presenteeism. This study also highlights the unmet needs in migraine management among employees in the banking sector.

Nutrition, Adult Cognitive Skills, and Productivity: Results and Influence of the INCAP Longitudinal Study.

This article summarizes research based on the INCAP Longitudinal Study that demonstrates the positive effects of the atole intervention on prime-age adult cognitive skills and productivities. The findings are interpreted in the context of a life-cycle stages model in which various factors and investments at each stage of life influence outcomes not only in that stage but in subsequent ones. The results point to the likely importance of improvements in adult cognitive skills due to better early-life nutrition on adult male labor market outcomes as well as on women's "home productivity" in terms of anthropometrics for the next generation. Possible mechanisms are also explored, including the impacts of early-life exposure to atole on children's height when starting school, on grades of schooling attainment, and on the extent of experience with higher-skilled jobs, as well as the impacts of improved cognitive skills on wages. Not only are investments in early-life nutrition important for immediate welfare but also they have significant productivity payoffs in adulthood.