ABSTRACT
Improving conditions and quality of life depends, among others, on the environment. People spend most of their time in a day inside buildings to work, sleep, eat, rest, and do sports and other activities. The article refers to a case study based on research on indoor environment within a furniture factory;the research is achieved via instruments for collecting diverse indoor parameters, such as temperature, CO2, PM (particulate matter) concentrations, noise, and humidity levels. All data recorded are needed to evaluate the conditions of the indoor climate in which the workers are activating. The measuring methods are shortly introduced and the IAQ (indoor air quality) index is expressed. The personnel activating in this factory is working intensely, standing up, and having to wear a mask considering the Covid-19 context. Thus, it is important to depict each aspect that might trigger a concern if IAQ limits are over passed, not mentioning the synergetic context of the diverse effects. Through revealing the IAQ, and the comfort/discomfort level PMV/PPD (predicted mean vote and predicted percentage dissatisfied) employees and company management can benefit from this awareness and enhance the behaviour in such a way that one might improve the indoor condition. The rapid and irreversible climate changes, mostly due to increasing pollution level and exhaust of greenhouse gases should push humanity to make more studies of this kind and, accordingly, realize the need of improvement and development of new solutions whereby one can sustain the indoor environment as proper as possible, in addition to the outdoor climate. © Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd.
ABSTRACT
Recently we have developed a public-private partnership initiative call: UrbanLink15' which aims to identify healthier lifestyles and sustainable facilities that support residents of economic, social, and environmental impact;The initiative focuses both on promoting hybrid work developed as a relationship between organizational workspaces, living spaces, and co-working spaces in the neighborhood, and the (re)connection with sustainable mobility solutions of the concept of '15 minute city'. The article presents the research results (a survey, two focus groups and solutions of application projects) achieved with the support of researchers, practitioners, and students from different specialties such as architecture, engineering, management, applied science organized in two main topics: (1) work relationships, living spaces within the framework of "15-minute city";(2) alternative mobility through green-blue corridors and gardens. The discussion of the research results refers to the metropolitan area of Timisoara, Romania.
ABSTRACT
Objective: COVID-19 pandemic was associated with increased risk of hypovitaminosis D due to lockdown regulations and limited outdoor activities, while young adult patients with autoimmune conditions may associated decreased values of 25-hydroxyvitamin D due to copresence of celiac disease, glucocorticoid exposure, malabsorption, overtreatment of autoimmune hypothyroidism, etc. (1-5).We aim to introduce a female case known with autoimmune conditions who was admitted for vitaminD deficiency related symptoms during pandemic. Case report: A 41-year-old, nonsmoker female is admitted for nonspecific muscle cramps, and joints pain, asthenia which is persistent for the last several months in addition to chronic low back pain (which required chronic use of nonsteroid anti-inflammatory medication). Her personal medical background reveals a diagnosis of HLA-B27-positive ankylosing spondylitis that was established seven years before current admission. She is also known with autoimmune thyroiditis with negative antibodies, a diagnostic that was based on suggestive ultrasound features with highly hypoechoic pattern of relative small thyroid gland (and normal thyroid function). She is also confirmed with thrombophilia. She has a negative personal history of confirmed COVID-19 infection and she followed the lockdown restrictions for several weeks. The family medical history is irrelevant. On admission, clinical examination of the thyroid is within normal limits on amenstruated normal weighted female. Biochemistry data points out normal total calcium of 9.45 mg/dL (normal: 8.4-10.3 mg/dL). Endocrine panel shows TSH=1.28 μUI/mL (normal: 0.5-4.5 μUI/mL), free levothyroxine=11.65 pmol/L (normal: 9-19 pmol/L), anti-thyroperoxidase antibodies=10.88 UI/mL (normal: 0-35), anti-thyroglobulin antibodies=10 UI/mL (normal: 0-115 UI/mL). 25-hydroxyvitamin D=10 ng/mL (normal >30 ng/mL) with increased PTH levels and negative antibodies for celiac disease. Supplementation with daily 2000 UI of vitamin D for 12 weeks followed by daily 1000 UI was recommended. Conclusion: The association thrombophilia-hypovitaminosis D has been reported in some patients, but it is rather incidental. Chronic use of antiinflammatory medication may cause malabsorption, and also the potential of a second autoimmune disease at intestinal level may cause this deficiency, but the current pandemic reality has become a new cause of it.
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Introduction: For most people, Covid-19 pandemic was a challenge regarding work. It "accelerated” the transition to online activities in many fields, where teleworking and telestudy concepts were applied, based on nowadays information technology. The aim of this work is to elaborate a guideline for teleworking and telestudy in Romania. Material and methods: A multidisciplinary team of ergonomists, architects, different health care specialists was involved. They studied and systematized the legal framework of working from home, the common and emerging risk factors identified in computing activities, their effects on health and prophylactic recommendations. Results: The guideline is structured in three parts: the first is dedicated to ergonomics principles in office work, the second describes solutions for organizing home space for work using the green concept and the third approaches occupational risks, their health effects and some medical advice. The multidisciplinary approach concerning the prophylactic recommendations to teleworking is the key to maintain wellbeing and health. To prolonged sitting posture, visual and neuropsychological overload, there are added the emerging risks in the context of teleworking: lack of direct relationship, home office organization, confusion between working and personal time, internet quality, increase of sedentary lifestyle and implicitly the risk of cardiovascular, metabolic and musculoskeletal diseases. Conclusions: The elaboration of a teleworking and telestudy ergonomic guideline will be useful to employees and employers, students and organizations, in order to maintain one’s health
ABSTRACT
Introduction: The Covid-19 pandemic shifted ergonomists’ focus from work optimization to health-related interventions. For over a year, safety measures were primarily linked to limitation of infection with the new coronavirus. The paper aims to propose a framework for conception and evaluation of ergonomic interventions and to present major challenges faced in implementation of the framework during the pandemic. Material and Methods: The proposed framework comprises comprehensive methodology for assessment of physical environment parameters and ergonomic risks, and proposal of solutions. Methods used are RNUR, software solution based on REBA and OWAS and proposed methodology for physical environment assessment based on ISO standards and Romanian standards for determination of noise, dust, lighting and microclimate. Analysis of key challenges faced during implementation and potential causes are also presented in a dedicated section. Results: The framework was applied for development of ergonomic interventions in two companies. The most prominent risks identified were noise, uncomfortable postures, standing, manual load handling (lifting, pushing, dragging, carrying), torso twisting/bending. Conclusions: The Covid-19 pandemic negatively impacted the success of implementing participatory ergonomics principles, imposing the need to re-adjust strategy and find creative solutions for ensuring success of the interventions. However, the interventions were successfully finalized, the remaining objective being long-term evaluation of the intervention.
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The purpose of this study is to identify how satisfied users of the Google Classroom platform are, how effective it is to use it in the school learning process, and whether it can be used even after the restrictions imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic. Efficiency is treated from the point of view of the recipient of the message, the content, the means of communication, the format, and the time or duration of transmission of the messages or content. The study aims to provide information to be used in the implementation of the platform for online or hybrid learning.