Leader ethical voice and subordinate job performance: the chain mediating role of subordinate identification with leader and leader-member exchange.

Introduction: Ethical voice is a valuable ethical behavior that enables organizations to promptly recognize and rectify unethical issues and practices, thus preventing severe dilemmas and crises. Despite its importance, the extant literature has yet to fully explore the impact of a leader's ethical voice on subordinate outcomes. This study bridges this gap by integrating social identity theory and social exchange theory to scrutinize the process by which a leader's ethical voice affects subordinate task performance. Methods: We employ a serial mediation model to explore the mechanisms by which a leader's ethical voice enhances subordinates' task performance. Our theoretical framework is empirically validated using a dataset that includes 449 subordinate-leader pairings from Chinese enterprises. Results: The survey results demonstrate that a leader's ethical voice has a significant positive impact on subordinate task performance. Subordinate identification with leader and leader-member exchange not only individually mediate the effects of a leader's ethical voice on subordinate task behavior but also jointly serve as a chain-mediated mechanism in the influence of a leader's ethical voice on subordinate task behavior. Discussion: These findings illuminate the substantial effects that ethical leadership behaviors exert on employee performance and offer fresh perspectives on the intricate dynamics that govern this influence.

Catalysts of digital excellence: Unraveling the threads of connectivity, embedment, and visibility in enterprise social media for enhanced task and innovative performances.

In an era characterized by rapid digital transformation, this research delves into the intricate dynamics of enterprise social media (ESM) ubiquitous connectivity, drawing on the influential framework of social cognitive theory (SCT), we unravel the complex relationships among compatibility, presenteeism, ESM-enabled embeddedness, and the visibility of digital interactions, shedding light on how these factors collectively shape task performance and innovative contributions in the contemporary hybrid work landscape. By incorporating SCT into our research model, we not only enhance the theoretical underpinning but also respond to the imperative of understanding how individual cognition and observational learning impact behaviors in digital work environments. Data is collected from 467 participants from China. Results indicated that ESM-enabled embeddedness mediates the connection between presenteeism and both digital-enabled task performance, digital-enabled innovative performance. Findings conformed that ESM-enabled embeddedness mediates the connection between compatibility and both digital-enabled task performance, digital-enabled innovative performance. ESM visibility strengthens the connection between ubiquitous connectivity (presenteeism, compatibility) and ESM-enabled embeddedness. In addition, results also indicated that ESM visibility moderates the mediation effect of ESM-enabled embeddedness between the dimensions of ESM ubiquitous connectivity (presenteeism) and both digital-enabled task performance, digital-enabled innovative performance. In contrast, ESM visibility did not moderates the mediation effect of ESM-enabled embeddedness between the dimensions of ESM ubiquitous connectivity (compatibility) and both digital-enabled task performance, digital-enabled innovative performance. This study not only contributes depth to ESM literature but also lays the groundwork for future research endeavors, encouraging exploration of diverse contexts and additional moderating factors to comprehensively grasp the intricate dynamics within modern digital workspaces.

Development of an evidence-based swimming representative military task to assess swimming competency in the British Army.

BACKGROUND: There is a requirement for British Army personnel to operate in/around water. Assessing role-related swimming/water competence will support personnel to conduct their job-roles safely and effectively. OBJECTIVE: To undertake a Job-Task Analysis (JTA) of British Army personnel when working in/around water and use this information to develop a Swimming Representative Military Task (RMT) to assess swimming/water competence. METHODS: Workshops, surveys, and observations were used to conduct a JTA, which identified and described job-tasks conducted by British Army personnel in/around water. Ergonomic analysis of these job-tasks identified seven water-based physical actions, which were considered fundamental for all personnel to be competent in performing. These seven actions guided design of a Swimming RMT, which was subsequently conducted twice by 103 serving personnel (89 men, 11 women) and once by 65 recruits (49 men, 16 women). RESULTS: The RMT comprised of entering the water in combat fatigues and webbing, removing webbing, swimming 50 m, and staying afloat for up to 10 minutes. During RMT trials, in trial 1, 85% of serving personnel and 74% of recruits successfully completed the RMT, which increased to 93% in serving personnel for trial 2. Across trials 1 and 2, all three timed RMT elements showed moderate-high correlational reliability (ICC range: 0.462-0.791). On average, serving personnel were quicker to complete the 50 m swim phase compared to recruits (91±24 s vs. 100±26 s; U = 2575.0, rb = -0.192, p = 0.039). CONCLUSIONS: The JTA-informed Swimming RMT provides an assessment of the minimum role-related swimming/water competence standard for British Army personnel.

Evaluation of Lower Limb Asymmetry Index Based on the 30-Second Skater Squat Functional Test in Young Men.

Introduction: Physical performance tests (PPTs) are used for the pre-season evaluation of athletes and to monitor and control the rehabilitation process. PPTs include single-leg jumps, single-leg squats, and balance tests. One of the physical fitness tests is the skater squat test. The 30 s skater squat functional test (SSFT) is used as one of the tests to assess fitness and symmetry in the lower limbs. The present study aimed to calculate and compare the asymmetry index using the 30 s skater squat functional test, the single-leg distance jump test, and the isometric measurement of knee joint extensor strength. Materials and Methods: The study examined 25 men aged 23 ± 3.17 years. The study used the 30 s SSFT, the single-leg long jump test (SLLJT), and an isometric dynamometer test to measure peak moment of force values for extensors of the knee using the JBA Zbigniew Staniak® measuring station ("JBA" Zb. Staniak, Poland). The statistical analysis of functional test results and iso-metric dynamometry results was based on correlation analysis. Results: There was a moderate correlation between 30 s SSFT and SLLJT (r = 0.540), and between SLLJT and measurements of peak moment of force of the knee joint extensors (r = 0.533). Conclusions: The asymmetry index calculated based on functional tests and peak moment of force of the knee extensors in a group of young men should not be used interchangeably. The asymmetry index calculated from the 30 s skater squat functional test detects greater differences in knee extensor strength than the ASI index calculated from the single-leg long jump test in a group of young male athletes. The practical significance of this study was that its results could play an important role in the training process and monitoring the return to sports after a possible injury.

Improving access to cancer care among rural populations in India: Development of a validated tool for health system capacity assessment.

BACKGROUND: Cancer burden in India is rapidly growing, with oral, breast, and uterine cervix being the three most commonly affected sites. It has a catastrophic epidemiological and financial impact on rural communities, the vast majority of whom are socio-economically disadvantaged. Strengthening the health system is necessary to address challenges in the access and provision of cancer services, thus improving outcomes among vulnerable populations. OBJECTIVE: To develop, test, and validate a health system capacity assessment (HSCA) tool that evaluates the capacity and readiness for cancer services provision in rural India. METHODS: A multi-method process was pursued to develop a cancer-specific HSCA tool. Firstly, item generation entailed both a nominal group technique (to identify the health system dimensions to capture) and a rapid review of published and gray literature (to generate items within each of the selected dimensions). Secondly, tool development included the pre-testing of questionnaires through healthcare facility visits, and item reduction through a series of in-depth interviews (IDIs) with key local stakeholders. Thirdly, tool validation was performed through expert consensus. RESULTS: A three-step HSCA multi-method tool was developed comprising: (a) desk review template, investigating policies and protocols at the state level, (b) facility assessment protocol and checklist, catering to the Indian public healthcare system, and (c) IDI topic guide, targeting policymakers, healthcare workforce, and other relevant stakeholders. CONCLUSIONS: The resulting HSCA tool assesses health system capacity, thus contributing to the planning and implementation of context-appropriate, sustainable, equity-focused, and integrated early detection interventions for cancer control, especially toward vulnerable populations in rural India and other low-resource settings.

Characteristics and Activities of Nurses in Expanded Roles Employed in Swiss Nursing Homes: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: As the number of nursing home residents with multiple healthcare needs grows, the demand for nursing expertise increases. The implementation of new care models involving nurses with expanded roles is crucial for ensuring quality care in nursing homes. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the characteristics and activities of nurses employed in nursing homes in expanded roles and the factors associated with variation in the activities performed. METHODS: This multicentre cross-sectional survey in Switzerland collected data from a convenience sample of 118 nursing homes between September 2018 and October 2019. From a subsample of 62 nursing homes, we analysed the characteristics and activities of 104 nurses in expanded roles. Associations between the activities performed and the educational background of the nurses in expanded roles, their direct supervisors' positions and the presence of physicians in the nursing homes were examined. RESULTS: Most Registered Nurses in expanded roles were diploma educated (48%), with fewer having a bachelor's (35%) or master's degree (17%). Overall, direct clinical practice and guidance and coaching activities were conducted monthly to weekly; consultation, evidence-based practice, collaboration and ethical decision-making activities were conducted monthly. We saw variations where a higher educational background was associated with more frequent evidence-based practice activities (z = 3.47, p < 0.001), and if direct supervisors were ward managers, nurses in expanded roles worked more frequently below their scope of practice (z = 4.10, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: This is the first study to use Hamric's integrative Advanced Practice Nursing model to examine the activities of nurses in expanded roles in nursing homes. We found considerable variation in their activities, where nursing homes seem to adapt their roles to their educational background and the local context. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Our findings show the importance of clarifying role expectations for Registered Nurses in expanded roles, allowing them to practice at the top of the licence to meet residents' complex healthcare needs.

Influence of transformational leadership on innovative work behavior and task performance of individuals: The mediating role of knowledge sharing.

This research tries to investigate the dynamic link between higher education institution (HEIs) transformational leaders (TFL) and follower's outcome innovative work behavior (IWB) and Task Performance) through Knowledge sharing (KNS) in Pakistan. Using quantitative design an adopted construct was used to obtain response from HEIs leaders and employees behavior. The obtained information was analyzed through structural equation modeling (SEM) technique via Smart PLS. Results depict that direct link between University Transformational leadership and employees Innovative work behavior as well as Task Performance. The results further postulate that KNS mediate the relationship between Transformational leadership and employees TSP in the context of HEIs. Surprisingly, KNS could not evident to become a mediating variable to strengthen the relationship between transformational Leadership and employees IWB in the HEIs sector of Pakistan. In addition to enhancing the theoretical comprehension of higher education leadership, the outcomes of this article provide that promoting knowledge sharing culture is valuable asset for both existing and future HEIs leaders in order to promote the culture of innovation and creativity. Although recent studies investigate the role of KNS as a mediator, however the current study use KNS as contemporaneous intervening variable for IWB and Task Performance for the first time. The study also confirms theoretical underpinning of social exchange mechanism in strengthening the relationship between leader member's continuum.

Assessing the Relationship Between Digital Trail Making Test Performance and IT Task Performance: Empirical Study.

BACKGROUND: Cognitive functional ability affects the accessibility of IT and is thus something that should be controlled for in user experience (UX) research. However, many cognitive function assessment batteries are long and complex, making them impractical for use in conventional experimental time frames. Therefore, there is a need for a short and reliable cognitive assessment that has discriminant validity for cognitive functions needed for general IT tasks. One potential candidate is the Trail Making Test (TMT). OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the usefulness of a digital TMT as a cognitive profiling tool in IT-related UX research by assessing its predictive validity on general IT task performance and exploring its discriminant validity according to discrete cognitive functions required to perform the IT task. METHODS: A digital TMT (parts A and B) named Axon was administered to 27 healthy participants, followed by administration of 5 IT tasks in the form of CAPTCHAs (Completely Automated Public Turing tests to Tell Computers and Humans Apart). The discrete cognitive functions required to perform each CAPTCHA were rated by trained evaluators. To further explain and cross-validate our results, the original TMT and 2 psychological assessments of visuomotor and short-term memory function were administered. RESULTS: Axon A and B were administrable in less than 5 minutes, and overall performance was significantly predictive of general IT task performance (F5,19=6.352; P=.001; Λ=0.374). This result was driven by performance on Axon B (F5,19=3.382; P=.02; Λ=0.529), particularly for IT tasks involving the combination of executive processing with visual object and pattern recognition. Furthermore, Axon was cross-validated with the original TMT (Pcorr=.001 and Pcorr=.017 for A and B, respectively) and visuomotor and short-term memory tasks. CONCLUSIONS: The results demonstrate that variance in IT task performance among an age-homogenous neurotypical population can be related to intersubject variance in cognitive function as assessed by Axon. Although Axon's predictive validity seemed stronger for tasks involving the combination of executive function with visual object and pattern recognition, these cognitive functions are arguably relevant to the majority of IT interfaces. Considering its short administration time and remote implementability, the Axon digital TMT demonstrates the potential to be a useful cognitive profiling tool for IT-based UX research.

Brain connectivity dynamics during listening to music and potential impact on task performance.

To analyze brain connectivity dynamics during listening to music and estimate the potential impact on task performance. Fifteen participants (13 males and 2 females) participated in this study based on their interest in Indian classical music. Measurements of the influence of Indian music on task performance were obtained by assessing brain activation using EEG signals. Brain connectivity analysis was performed to visualize the connections between brain regions under various experimental conditions. Visual Go/No Go Stimuli was used to evaluate visual spatial attention during operation by evaluating misses, committed errors, and reaction times. In Task 1 (listening to music only), it was reported that there was a change in the positions of the electrodes (F3, F7) located in the left frontal lobe. The energy of the relative beta component was significantly higher only at F7 during task 1 (p = 0.005). Event-related desynchronization alpha and theta synchronization were significant (p = 0.005) at all electrode sites in the bilateral frontal lobes (F3, F4, F7 and F8) while listening to music and performing tasks (task 2). When the task without music (task 3) was performed, the energy of the relative alpha component was significantly higher at the Fp2 electrode position (p = 0.005). It is noteworthy that the energy of the theta component was significantly lower at the location of the Fp2 electrode (p = 0.005). The frontal asymmetry index score measures were significantly high at F4/F3 and F8/F7 during task 1. The connectivity map of theta synchronization showed a robust association between Fp2 and F8 which was in turn connected to P4 and O2 during Task 2. Results indicated an increased omission and commission errors during Task 3.

Calling and job involvement: the role of prosocial motivation in the performance of mission-driven organization.

Previous studies suggested that individuals with prosocial motivation have better job performance in mission-driven organizations. However, the mediating mechanisms underlying this link remain unclear. On the basis of person-environment theory, this research proposed that work as a calling and job involvement are two important mediators between employees' prosocial motivation and their job performance in mission-driven organizations. Through a multi-wave and muti-source approach, 420 independent subordinate-immediate supervisor dyads from 173 divisions or stations of the police department in Taiwan were obtained. Our results illustrated that the prosocial motivation-job performance relationship is sequentially mediated by work as a calling and job involvement. We further discuss implications for future research and practices in light of these findings.

Ladder Use Ability, Behavior and Exposure by Age and Gender.

This study aimed to quantify and compare ladder use ability and behavior in younger and older men and women from three ladder use behavior experiments. The experimental tasks comprised (1) changing a lightbulb on a household stepladder under two cognitive demands (single and dual task), (2) clearing a simulated roof gutter on a straight ladder and (3) querying ladder choice in different exigency scenarios. Ladder use ability and behavior data were captured from recorded time, performance, motion capture and user choice data. In addition, this study surveyed ladder use frequency and habitual behaviors. The experimental findings indicate that older adults require more time to complete ladder tasks; younger adults display riskier ladder use behaviors; men and women display similar ladder use ability; and men are more willing to climb riskier ladders. The survey found older adults to report more frequent ladder use than younger adults, and men use straight ladders more frequently than women. These results suggest that the reported higher ladder fall rates experienced by older adults and men are linked to increased ladder use exposure and riskier ladder choice. This knowledge can help guide population-specific interventions to reduce ladder falls in both young and older people.

Don’t Curb Your Enthusiasm. The Role of Work Engagement in Predicting Job Performance / [No reprimas tu entusiasmo. El papel del compromiso laboral en la predicción del desempeño]

Substantial evidence supports the idea that engaged workers reach high performance levels. Nevertheless, most research does not take into account that job performance is multidimensional. The current study aimed to investigate the relationship between work engagement and performance (task performance, contextual performance, counterproductive work behaviors, and adaptive performance) and determine whether work engagement provides incremental validity over the Big Five personality traits in the prediction of performance. A questionaire with the variables of interest was filled in by 365 workers. Regression analyses revealed that work engagement plays a role in all dimensions of job performance. Results also revealed the differential functioning of work engagement dimensions, with vigor as the main predictor of task performance and the second predictor of adaptive performance, even when considering personality. High absorption decreases task performance but increases contextual performance, while dedication mediates between personality (i.e., agreeableness and extraversion) and CWB.(AU)

Existe una evidencia sólida sobre el hecho de que los trabajadores comprometidos alcanzan altos niveles de desempeño. Sin embargo, la mayoría de las investigaciones no tienen en cuenta que el desempeño laboral es multidimensional. El presente estudio tiene como objetivos investigar la relación entre el compromiso laboral y el desempeño (de tarea, contextual, conductas contraproductivas y adaptativo) y determinar si el compromiso laboral aumenta la validez predictiva de los cinco grandes rasgos de personalidad en la predicción del desempeño. Se administró un cuestionario con las variables de interés a 365 trabajadores. Los análisis de regresión muestran que el compromiso laboral juega un papel en la predicción de todas las dimensiones del desempeño laboral. Los resultados también revelaron el funcionamiento diferencial de las dimensiones del compromiso laboral, siendo el vigor el principal predictor del desempeño de tarea y el segundo predictor del desempeño adaptativo, incluso cuando se controlan los rasgos de personalidad. Una gran absorción disminuye el desempeño de tarea, pero aumenta el contextual, mientras que la dedicación actúa como variable mediadora entre la personalidad (amabilidad y extraversión) y las conductas contraproductivas.(AU)

The factors affecting the performance of the tunnel wall drilling task and their priority.

Clarifying the relationship between the man-machine environment and its impact on the tunnel wall drilling task performance (TWDTP) is crucial for enhancing the task performance. Based on a questionnaire survey, indicators of the man-machine environment that affect the TWDTP were proposed in this study, and exploratory factor analysis and a structural equation model were employed to examine the potential factors influencing the task performance and their degrees of influence. By comparing the discrepancy between the perceived performance and importance, the satisfaction of potential factors was evaluated, and the priority order for optimizing these factors was determined by considering the degree of influence and dissatisfaction. The results of survey data analysis based on actual tunnel drilling operation scenarios indicated that tools had the greatest impact on the TWDTP, followed by the quality of the physical environment, while human factors had the least influence on the task performance. Convenient functional maintenance is the key to improving the TWDTP, along with enhancing the quality of the working environment. Once these main aspects are optimized, it is important to consider additional factors such as availability of spare tools, efficient personnel organization, man-tool matching, and safety and health assurance. This research approach provides significant guidance in understanding the relationships between the man-machine environmental factors affecting the performance of complex engineering tasks and identifying key influencing factors, thus providing essential insights for optimizing the TWDTP.

Determining Cognitive Workload Using Physiological Measurements: Pupillometry and Heart-Rate Variability.

The adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies in manufacturing systems has accelerated in recent years, with a shift towards understanding operators' well-being and resilience within the context of creating a human-centric manufacturing environment. In addition to measuring physical workload, monitoring operators' cognitive workload is becoming a key element in maintaining a healthy and high-performing working environment in future digitalized manufacturing systems. The current approaches to the measurement of cognitive workload may be inadequate when human operators are faced with a series of new digitalized technologies, where their impact on operators' mental workload and performance needs to be better understood. Therefore, a new method for measuring and determining the cognitive workload is required. Here, we propose a new method for determining cognitive-workload indices in a human-centric environment. The approach provides a method to define and verify the relationships between the factors of task complexity, cognitive workload, operators' level of expertise, and indirectly, the operator performance level in a highly digitalized manufacturing environment. Our strategy is tested in a series of experiments where operators perform assembly tasks on a Wankel Engine block. The physiological signals from heart-rate variability and pupillometry bio-markers of 17 operators were captured and analysed using eye-tracking and electrocardiogram sensors. The experimental results demonstrate statistically significant differences in both cardiac and pupillometry-based cognitive load indices across the four task complexity levels (rest, low, medium, and high). Notably, these developed indices also provide better indications of cognitive load responding to changes in complexity compared to other measures. Additionally, while experts appear to exhibit lower cognitive loads across all complexity levels, further analysis is required to confirm statistically significant differences. In conclusion, the results from both measurement sensors are found to be compatible and in support of the proposed new approach. Our strategy should be useful for designing and optimizing workplace environments based on the cognitive load experienced by operators.

Lower-body muscular power predicts performance on urban combat simulation.

BACKGROUND: Military operations in urban environments requires faster movements and therefore may place greater demands on soldier strength and anaerobic ability. OBJECTIVE: The aim was to study how physical fitness and body composition are associated with occupational test for urban combat soldiers before and after a 5-day military field exercise (MFE). METHODS: Twenty-six conscripts (age = 20±1 yrs.) volunteered, of which thirteen completed the study. Occupational performance was determined by using the newly developed Urban Combat Simulation test (UCS); which included 50-m sprinting, moving a truck tire (56 kg) 2 meters with a sledgehammer, a 12-m kettlebell carry (2×20 kg) up the stairs with a 3-m ascent, 4-time sandbag lifts (20 kg) with obstacle crossing, and a 20-m mannequin (85 kg) drag. Aerobic and muscle fitness, as well as anaerobic capacity were measured, and, body composition was assessed with multifrequency bioimpedance analysis. RESULTS: The UCS performance correlated significantly with standing long jump performance, as well as lower and upper body maximal strength before (r = -0.56 to -0.66) and after (r = -0.59 to -0.68) MFE, and, with body mass and FFM before (r = -0.81 to -0.83) and after (r = -0.86 to -0.91) MFE. In the regression analyses, fat free mass (R2 = 0.50, p = 0.01) and counter movement jump in combat load (R2 = 0.46, p = 0.009) most strongly explained the UCS performance. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that muscle mass and lower body explosive force production together with maximal strength are key fitness components related to typical urban combat soldiers' military tasks. Physical training developing these components are recommended.

A mechanism underlying improved dual-task performance after practice: Reviewing evidence for the memory hypothesis.

Extensive practice can significantly reduce dual-task costs (i.e., impaired performance under dual-task conditions compared with single-task conditions) and, thus, improve dual-task performance. Among others, these practice effects are attributed to an optimization of executive function skills that are necessary for coordinating tasks that overlap in time. In detail, this optimization of dual-task coordination skills is associated with the efficient instantiation of component task information in working memory at the onset of a dual-task trial. In the present paper, we review empirical findings on three critical predictions of this memory hypothesis. These predictions concern (1) the preconditions for the acquisition and transfer of coordination skills due to practice, (2) the role of task complexity and difficulty, and (3) the impact of age-related decline in working memory capacity on dual-task optimization.

More Is Not Always Better: Impacts of AI-Generated Confidence and Explanations in Human-Automation Interaction.

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to enhance transparency in autonomous systems by automatically generating and visualizing confidence and explanations and assessing their impacts on performance, trust, preference, and eye-tracking behaviors in human-automation interaction. BACKGROUND: System transparency is vital to maintaining appropriate levels of trust and mission success. Previous studies presented mixed results regarding the impact of displaying likelihood information and explanations, and often relied on hand-created information, limiting scalability and failing to address real-world dynamics. METHOD: We conducted a dual-task experiment involving 42 university students who operated a simulated surveillance testbed with assistance from intelligent detectors. The study used a 2 (confidence visualization: yes vs. no) × 3 (visual explanations: none, bounding boxes, bounding boxes and keypoints) mixed design. Task performance, human trust, preference for intelligent detectors, and eye-tracking behaviors were evaluated. RESULTS: Visual explanations using bounding boxes and keypoints improved detection task performance when confidence was not displayed. Meanwhile, visual explanations enhanced trust and preference for the intelligent detector, regardless of the explanation type. Confidence visualization did not influence human trust in and preference for the intelligent detector. Moreover, both visual information slowed saccade velocities. CONCLUSION: The study demonstrated that visual explanations could improve performance, trust, and preference in human-automation interaction without confidence visualization partially by changing the search strategies. However, excessive information might cause adverse effects. APPLICATION: These findings provide guidance for the design of transparent automation, emphasizing the importance of context-appropriate and user-centered explanations to foster effective human-machine collaboration.

The Effectiveness of Goal-Oriented Dual Task Proprioceptive Training in Subacute Stroke: A Retrospective Observational Study.

OBJECTIVE: To show the effectiveness of goal-oriented proprioceptive training in subacute stroke for balance, autonomy, and fall risk. METHODS: Out a total of 35 patients, consistent in age (75.31±8.65 years), type of stroke (ischemic, 3 to 11 weeks before), and motor impairment, 18 patients underwent solely proprioceptive rehabilitation, the other 17 dual task exercises. The study assessed autonomy using Barthel Index, fall risk with Timed Up and Go Test (TUG), balance through Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and Tinetti test. RESULTS: After two months, significant improvements were recorded in Barthel Index, BBS (p<0.0001), Tinetti test (p<0.0001 in dual task group, p=0.0029 in single task group), and TUG (p=0.0052 in dual task group, p=0.0020 in single task group) in both groups. Comparing the two groups, dual task group showed a significant difference in Tinetti balance assessment (p=0.0052), between the total score of Tinetti test and TUG in single (p=0.0271), and dual task (p=0.0235). Likewise, Tinetti gait test was significantly related to TUG in single (p=0.0536), and dual task (p=0.0466), while Tinetti balance test to Barthel Index (p=0.0394), BBS (p<0.0001), and TUG in single (p=0.0219), and dual task (p=0.0196). Lastly, there is a positive correlation of the use of aids with BBS (p=0.0074), and total score of Tinetti test (p=0.0160). CONCLUSION: In subacute stroke, goal-oriented proprioceptive training improved balance, but only partially autonomy. Furthermore, the use of aids after dual-task exercises improved recovery of balance, but did not reduced falls.

Quantifying resource sharing in working memory.

Several models of working memory (WM), the cognitive system devoted to the temporary maintenance of a small amount of information in view of its treatment, assume that these two functions of storage and processing share a common and limited resource. However, the predictions issued from these models concerning this resource-sharing remain usually qualitative, and at which precise extent these functions are affected by their concurrent implementation remains undecided. The aim of the present study was to quantify this resource sharing by expressing storage and processing performance during a complex span task in terms of the proportion of the highest level of performance each participant was able to reach (i.e., their span) in each component when performed in isolation. Two experiments demonstrated that, despite substantial dual-task decrements, participants managed to preserve half or more of their best performance in both components, testifying for a remarkable robustness of the human cognitive system. The implications of these results for the main WM models are discussed.

Effectiveness of mHealth interventions to promote physical activity and reduce sedentary behaviours on work-related productivity and performance: a systematic review protocol.

INTRODUCTION: Technologies such as health and fitness applications (apps) and wearable activity trackers have recently gained popularity and may play a key role in promoting physical activity and reducing sedentary behaviours. Although several systematic reviews have investigated their efficacy in physical activity and sedentary behaviours, few studies have focused on their impact on work-related outcomes among workers. Here, to explore the effects of mHealth interventions designed to encourage physical activity and decrease sedentary behaviours on work-related outcomes, including absenteeism, presenteeism, productivity, work performance and workability among workers, we will conduct a systematic review based on recent articles and an extensive literature search. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The literature search will be performed using PubMed, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library and the Japan Medical Abstracts Society from inception to 23 September 2023. We will select studies that (1) investigated the impact of mHealth interventions to promote physical activity and reduce sedentary behaviours on work-related outcomes such as absenteeism, presenteeism, productivity, work performance and workability; (2) were designed as a randomised controlled trial (RCT) or non-randomised study of interventions (NRSI); (3) were conducted among workers and (4) were published as full-text original articles in Japanese or English. We will assess the review quality with the AMSTAR 2 tool. The risk of bias will be assessed with the RoB tool 2.0 and ROBINS-I. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval is unnecessary as the study will rely solely on previously published articles. The research results will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed scientific journal. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: The study protocol has been registered with the UMIN Clinical Trials Registry (ID=UMIN000052290).