The association between workload and quality of work life of nurses taking care of patients with COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 epidemic has brought significant changes and complexities to nurses' working conditions. Given the crucial role of health workers, particularly nurses, in providing healthcare services, it is essential to determine the nurses' workload, and its association with the quality of work life (QWL) during COVID-19 epidemic, and to explain the factors predicting their QWL. METHODS: A total of 250 nurses, who provided care for patients with COVID-19 in Imam Hossein Hospital of Shahrud, and met the inclusion criteria, were considered the samples in the present cross-sectional study in 2021-2022. Data were collected using the demographic questionnaire, NASA Task Load Index (TLX), and Walton's QWL questionnaire, which were analyzed using SPSS26 and based on descriptive and inferential statistical tests. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered significant for all cases. RESULTS: The nurses' mean scores of workload and QWL were 71.43 ± 14.15 and 88.26 ± 19.5, respectively. Pearson's correlation test indicated a significant inverse relationship between workload and QWL (r=-0.308, p < 0.001). The subscales with the highest perceived workload scores were physical demand and mental demand (14.82 ± 8.27; 14.36 ± 7.43), respectively, and the subscale with the lowest workload was overall performance (6.63 ± 6.31). The subscales with the highest scores for QWL were safety and health in working conditions and opportunity to use and develop human capabilities (15.46 ± 4.11; 14.52 ± 3.84), respectively. The subscales with the lowest scores were adequate and fair compensation, work and total living space (7.46 ± 2.38; 6.52 ± 2.47), respectively. The number of children (ß = 4.61, p = 0.004), work experience (ß= -0.54, p = 0.019), effort (ß = 0.37, p = 0.033) and total workload (ß= -0.44, p = 0.000) explained 13% of the variance of nurses' QWL. CONCLUSIONS: The study's findings showed that a higher workload score is associated with nurses' lower perception of QWL. In order to improve the QWL of nurses, reducing the physical and mental demands of their workload and strengthening overall performance is necessary. Additionally, when promoting QWL, adequate and fair compensation and the work and living space should be considered. The researchers suggest that hospital managers should make more significant efforts to develop and promote the QWL of nurses. To achieve this goal, organizations can pay attention to other influential factors, primarily by increasing organizational support.

Birth weight and stillbirth genetic parameter estimation in a river buffalo simulated population.

Stillbirth (SB) is a threshold character that has been detected as the most important factor affecting the future reproductive life of an animal. In buffaloes, stillbirth accounts for approximately 42% of all reproductive disorders being considered as the main reproductive disorder in buffalo calves. The present study aimed to estimate the heritability values and to determine the genetic and phenotypic correlation between stillbirth rate and birth weight (BW) using a Bayesian approach via Gibbs sampling method in a river buffalo population. A stochastic simulation was used to create a population in which random mating was used for 15 discrete generations. A bivariate animal model including maternal effects was used. Maternal effects were significant (p < .05) for both BW and SB. The results showed that when the SB rate increased from 1% to 50%, the estimated direct heritability of SB increased. Yet, by increasing the SB rate from 50% to 99%, a decrease of the SB estimated direct heritability was observed. The genetic correlation between BW and SB was decreased by increasing the level of occurrence of SB in the population from 1% to 99%. The root mean square error (RMSE) of heritability was increased from 40% to 70% level of occurrence of SB. Based on findings, it can be concluded that to reduce stillbirth rate in the population, it is possible to use genetic improvement program and birth weight could be one of the main components of a selection goal.

Following the Trace of HVS II Mitochondrial Region Within the Nine Iranian Ethnic Groups Based on Genetic Population Analysis.

The Iranian gene pool is seen as an important human genetic resource for investigating the region connecting Mesopotamia and the Iranian plateau. The main objective of this study was to explore gene flow in nine Iranian ethnic/subpopulation groups (402 samples) by examining mtDNA HVS2 sequence variations. This then allowed us to detect mtDNA HVS2 sequence mutations in two independent thalassemia and cystic fibrosis patient sample groups. The patient groups did not explicitly belong to any of the aforementioned nine subpopulations. Across all subpopulations, the haplogroups B4a1c3a, H2a2a1, N10b, H2a2a2, and J1 were seen to be predominant. High haplogroup diversities along with admixture of the exotic groups were observed in this study. The Arab subpopulation was shown to be independent from the others. It was revealed that there is a far distant relationship between Arab and Azeri groups. The thalassemia patient group, represented an almost random sample of most Iranian ethnic groups, and revealed few significant differences (P < 0.05) in their HVS2 sequence. It turned out that the IVS II-I (G → A) mutation in the thalassemia ß-globin gene was highly significant. Since the thalassemia patients in the present study represent many unique haplotypes, we can begin to comprehend the importance of mtDNA with this disease and the necessity for more studies in this context.

Bayesian estimate of genetic parameters for growth traits in Lori Bakhtiari sheep.

The information of birth (10,017 records), weaning (9439 records), 6 months (7669 records), 9 months (4536 records), and yearling weights (417 records) collected from 1989 to 2016 by the Lori Bakhtiari (Sholi) sheep breeding station located in Shahrekord were used to estimate the genotypic and phenotypic parameters of growth traits of Lori Bakhtiari sheep. The components of variance and genetic parameters were estimated by the Bayesian statistical method based on the Gibbs sampling technique due to the high accuracy of this method. Factors including birth year, lamb sex, birth type, and maternal age at lambing have significant effects on all of these traits (P < 0.01) and were considered fixed effects in the statistical model for estimation of genetic parameters. Lamb weight at weaning was used as a covariate in the model. Based on the models with the lowest Akaike information criterion, direct heritability for birth, weaning, 6-month, 9-month, and yearling weights were 0.36, 0.18, 0.21, 0.27, and 0.32, respectively. The moderate heritability obtained for the studied traits pointed up the effectiveness of selection in genetic improvement, but the environmental conditions should be improved for better performance of weight traits.

Economic values and selection indices for production and reproduction traits of Iranian buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis).

Iranian buffalo plays a critical role in supplying a portion of the income and the necessities of the rural population. The first step to design a breeding program is difinition of breeding goal (BG), a linear combination of breeding values for various traits and their economic values (EV). The current study was aimed at determining EVs for important traits of Iranian buffaloes, namely milk yield (MY), milk fat (MF), age at the first calving (AFC), and calving interval (CI), as well as at estimating the genetic response of applying various types of selection indices. Economic and management data of 50 buffalo herds from various main regions of buffalo rearing in Iran were collected. The EVs were estimated using a simple profit function. Five selection indices were constructed by combining information on various traits. The EVs for BG traits of MY, MF, AFC, and CI were 0.18, 4.66, - 0.36, and - 1.87 US$, respectively. The highest predicted genetic gain in BG was 16.95 and came from applying the selection index that included all traits. The smallest genetic gain (4.93) was predicted for the index with only AFC included. Predicted genetic gain from an index that included production traits and AFC as a reproduction trait (16.9) was higher than that from the index with only production traits (16.15). Results showed that inclusion of reproductive traits in the selection index had a positive effect on genetic gain for breeding goal.

A review on breeding and genetic strategies in Iranian buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis).

The aim of current study was to review breeding progress and update information on genetic strategies in Iranian buffaloes. Iranian buffalo is one of the vital domestic animals throughout north, north-west, south and south-west of Iran with measurable characteristics both in milk and meat production. The species plays an important role in rural economy of the country due to its unique characteristics such as resistance to diseases and parasites, having long productive lifespan and showing higher capability of consuming low-quality forage. In Iran, total production of milk and meat devoted to buffaloes are 293,000 and 24,700 tons, respectively. Selection activities and milk yield recording are carrying out by the central government through the Animal Breeding Centre of Iran. The main breeding activities of Iranian buffaloes included the estimation of genetic parameters and genetic trends for performance traits using different models and methods, estimation of economic values and selection criteria and analysis of population structure. Incorporating different aspects of dairy buffalo management together with improved housing, nutrition, breeding and milking, is known to produce significant improvements in buffalo production. Therefore, identifying genetic potential of Iranian buffaloes, selection of superior breeds, improving nutritional management and reproduction and developing the education and increasing the skills of practical breeders can be useful in order to enhance the performance and profitability of Iranian buffaloes.