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1 – 10 of over 125000This chapter explores occupational stress in research managers and administrators (RMAs). Data gathered from RMAs in the USA, Great Britain, Europe, Australasia, and Canada…
Abstract
This chapter explores occupational stress in research managers and administrators (RMAs). Data gathered from RMAs in the USA, Great Britain, Europe, Australasia, and Canada through the Research Administrator Stress Perception Survey (RASPerS) are used to examine factors that are known stressors or outcomes from occupational stress. The purpose of RASPerS is to measure and raise awareness about occupational stress and its impact on health behaviour in RMAs. Using descriptive statistics, factors associated with occupational stress including increasing demands, hours worked, anxiety due to competing demands between work and home, and reported self-neglect due to occupational stress are examined. We also explore what RMAs report as being the top motivating factors for remaining in the profession despite high levels of stress.
Awareness of the impact of occupational stress can aid RMAs in maintaining a healthier lifestyle and assist RMA leaders in building work environments that foster employee retention.
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Yuxuan Wu, Wenyuan Xu, Tianlai Yu and Yifan Wang
Polyurethane concrete (PUC), as a new type of steel bridge deck paving material, the bond-slip pattern at the interface with the steel plate is not yet clear. In this study, the…
Abstract
Purpose
Polyurethane concrete (PUC), as a new type of steel bridge deck paving material, the bond-slip pattern at the interface with the steel plate is not yet clear. In this study, the mechanical properties of the PUC and steel plate interface under the coupled action of temperature, normal force and tangential force were explored through shear tests and numerical simulations. An analytical model for bond-slip at the PUC/steel plate interface and a predictive model for the shear strength of the PUC/steel plate interface were developed.
Design/methodology/approach
The new shear test device designed in this paper overcomes the defect that the traditional oblique shear test cannot test the interface shear performance under the condition of fixed normal force. The universal testing machine (UTM) test machine was used to adjust the test temperature conditions. Combined with the results of the bond-slip test, the finite element simulation of the interface is completed by using the COHENSIVE unit to analyze the local stress distribution characteristics of the interface. The use of variance-based uncertainty analysis guaranteed the validity of the simulation.
Findings
The shear strength (τf) at the PUC-plate interface was negatively correlated with temperature while it was positively correlated with normal stress. The effect of temperature on the shear properties was more significant than that of normal stress. The slip corresponding to the maximum shear (D1) positively correlates with both temperature and normal stress. The interfacial shear ductility improves with increasing temperature.
Originality/value
Based on the PUC bond-slip measured curves, the relationship between bond stress and slip at different stages was analyzed, and the bond-slip analytical model at different stages was established; the model was defined by key parameters such as elastic ultimate shear stress τ0, peak stress τf and interface fracture energy Gf.
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Comfort foods consumption and linkages to stress coping strategies have received little attention in the business research on food products and services. This paper aims to…
Abstract
Purpose
Comfort foods consumption and linkages to stress coping strategies have received little attention in the business research on food products and services. This paper aims to explore comfort foods consumption among older Americans and how stress-coping strategies are related to their consumption frequency and variety of comfort foods.
Design/methodology/approach
Older Americans aged 50–99 years (N = 1,428) in the Health and Retirement Study were surveyed on their frequency and variety of comfort foods consumption and their consumption coping strategies. Data were analyzed and regression models were estimated.
Findings
Demographically, baby boomer, male, and non-Hispanic whites reported higher frequency and variety of comfort foods consumption. Comfort foods consumption in frequency and variety was significantly higher (lower) when “eat more” (“use alcohol”) was the endorsed coping strategy.
Originality/value
Research findings furthered research on the consumption of comfort foods among older American adults and added new insights into their coping behavior, both of which may help businesses be more targeted in serving comfort foods to the mature market and the public sector to tailor their services to older adults.
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Huong Le, Joohan Lee, Neena Gopalan and Beatrice Van der Heijden
Drawing on the conservation of resources theory, this study examines how proactive skill development (PSD) influences job performance and mediating and moderating mechanisms…
Abstract
Purpose
Drawing on the conservation of resources theory, this study examines how proactive skill development (PSD) influences job performance and mediating and moderating mechanisms underlying the above relationship.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected from a sample of 261 full-time workers in three waves, spaced by a six-week interval (Time 1, N = 360; Time 2, N = 320; Time 3, N = 261).
Findings
The results confirmed that career stress mediated the relationship between PSD and job performance. Additionally, high career decidedness strengthened this negative relationship between stress and performance. Furthermore, career decidedness significantly moderated the indirect PSD–performance relationship via career stress, accentuating the indirect effect when decidedness is higher.
Originality/value
This study sheds light on the important role of proactive skills development in influencing job performance and what factors can affect this relationship. It offers practical implications by highlighting how targeted training can boost employees' proactivity and performance.
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Ehab Samir Mohamed Mohamed Soliman
In the present study, a steel lifting lug is replaced with a composite (carbon fiber-reinforced epoxy [CFRP]) lifting lug made of a carbon/epoxy composite. The purpose of this…
Abstract
Purpose
In the present study, a steel lifting lug is replaced with a composite (carbon fiber-reinforced epoxy [CFRP]) lifting lug made of a carbon/epoxy composite. The purpose of this paper was to obtain a composite lifting lug with a higher level of strength that is capable of carrying loads without failure.
Design/methodology/approach
The vibration and static behaviors of steel and composite lifting lugs have been investigated using finite element analysis (FEA), ANSYS software. The main consideration in the design of the composite (CFRP) lifting lug was that the displacement of both steel and composite lugs was the same under the same load. Hence, by using the FEA displacement result of the steel lifting lug, the thickness of the composite lifting lug is determined using FEA.
Findings
Compared to the steel lifting lug, the composite (CFRP) lifting lug has much lower stresses and much higher natural frequencies. Static behavior was experienced by the composite lifting lug, showing a reduction in von Mises stress, third principal stress and XZ shear stress, respectively, by 48.4%, 34.6% and 89.8%, respectively, when compared with the steel lifting lug. A higher natural frequency of mode shape swaying in X (258.976√1,000 Hz) was experienced by the composite lifting lug when compared to the steel lifting lug (195.935√1,000 Hz). The safe strength of the design composite lifting lug has been proven by FEA results, which showed that the composite (CFRP) lifting lug has a higher factor of safety in all developed stresses than the steel lifting lug. According to von Mises stress, the factor of safety of the composite lifting lug is increased by 76% when compared to the steel lifting lug. The von Mises stress at the edge of the hole in the composite lifting lug is reduced from 23.763 MPa to 20.775 MPa when compared to the steel lifting lug.
Originality/value
This work presents the designed composite (CFRP) lifting lug, which will be able to carry loads with more safety than a steel one.
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Yufeng Guo, Chuang Zhang, Lei Qi, Haixu Yu, Suzhen Liu and Liang Jin
The purpose of this study is to develop an electromagnetic loading method for online measurement of the acoustoelastic coefficients and bus bar plane stress.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to develop an electromagnetic loading method for online measurement of the acoustoelastic coefficients and bus bar plane stress.
Design/methodology/approach
A method based on the combination of electromagnetic loading and the acoustoelastic effect is proposed to realize online measurement of acoustoelastic coefficients and plane stress. Electromagnetic loading is performed on the bus bar specimen, and the acoustoelastic coefficients and the bus bar plane stress are obtained by the ultrasonic method. An electromagnetic loading experimental platform is designed to provide electromagnetic force to the metal plate, including an electromagnetic loading module, an ultrasonic testing module and a stress simulation module.
Findings
The feasibility of the proposed electromagnetic loading method is proved by verification experiments. The acoustoelastic coefficients and plane stress measured using the electromagnetic loading method are more accurate than those measured using the traditional method.
Originality/value
The proposed electromagnetic loading method provides a new study perspective and enables more accurate measurement of the acoustoelastic coefficients and plane stress. The study provides an important basis for evaluating the operation status of electrical equipment.
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Chun Qiang Jia, Aofei Wang, Ling Yu and Li Zong
The rock drill’s drill tail experiences high-frequency fretting simultaneously in the rotational and axial directions. Due to the complex working characteristics and the low…
Abstract
Purpose
The rock drill’s drill tail experiences high-frequency fretting simultaneously in the rotational and axial directions. Due to the complex working characteristics and the low viscosity of the water medium, the pure water seal is susceptible to damage and failure. The purpose of this paper is to enhance the water seal’s performance.
Design/methodology/approach
The Y-shaped seal ring is modeled and simulated using orthogonal testing. Through analysis of the impact of various seal section parameters on sealing performance, the maximum contact stress and maximum Von Mises stress are selected as indicators of sealing effectiveness.
Findings
The maximum contact stress is proportional to lip thickness and chamfer length but inversely proportional to lip length. Meanwhile, the maximum Von Mises stress is directly influenced by lip depth and the included angle of the lip and drill tail but is inversely proportional to the lip thickness. The enhanced Y-shaped water seal sees reductions of 15% and 45% in maximum contact stress and maximum Von Mises stress, respectively.
Originality/value
This paper used analytical method and model that is helpful for design of the water seal’s structure in complex working characteristics and the low viscosity of the water medium.
Peer review
The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-11-2023-0366/
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Vítor Costa, Samuel Monteiro, Ana Isabel Cunha, Henrique Pereira and Graça Esgalhado
The purpose of this study is to systematically review the recent empirical literature on job stress and burnout among prison staff with a focus on predictors, outcomes of stress…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to systematically review the recent empirical literature on job stress and burnout among prison staff with a focus on predictors, outcomes of stress and burnout and the mediating role that stress and burnout can play between its predictors and outcomes.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors followed systematic literature review (SLR) protocols for the social sciences, and searches were done on two large research databases: SCOPUS and Web of Science. Articles included in the study were from January 2015 to March 2020. After the screening and eligibility processes, 48 articles met the inclusion/exclusion criteria, and 33 articles were included in the full-text qualitative analysis.
Findings
Characteristics of the samples, main authors and journals and measures used to assess stress and burnout are presented, showing that most research was done in the USA, with cross-sectional studies using similar measures of stress and burnout. Results from the qualitative analysis were organised around the main research questions. Most studies explored the antecedents of stress and burnout in the context of the job demands – resources model. Common predictors that consistently increase stress and burnout among different samples include perceived dangerousness of the job and work–family conflict. Participation in decision-making and social support consistently decrease job stress.
Originality/value
This paper presents a SLR on stress and burnout among prison officers in a pre-COVID-19 pandemic era, providing an important picture of the published scientific research on the topic as well as implications for theory and practice.
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Shengfu Xue, Zhengping He, Bingzhi Chen and Jianxin Xu
This study investigates the fitting techniques for notch fatigue curves, seeking a more reliable method to predict the lifespan of welded structures.
Abstract
Purpose
This study investigates the fitting techniques for notch fatigue curves, seeking a more reliable method to predict the lifespan of welded structures.
Design/methodology/approach
Building on the fatigue test results of butt and cruciform joints, this research delves into the selection of fitting methods for the notch fatigue curve of welded joints. Both empirical formula and finite element methods (FEMs) were employed to assess the notch stress concentration factor at the toe and root of the two types of welded joints. Considering the mean stress correction and weld misalignment coefficients, the notch fatigue life curves were established using both direct and indirect methods.
Findings
An engineering example was employed to discern the differences between the direct and indirect approaches. The findings highlight the enhanced reliability of the indirect method for fitting the fatigue life curve.
Originality/value
While the notch stress approach is extensively adopted due to its accurate prediction of component fatigue life, most scholars have overlooked the importance of its curve fitting methods. Existing literature scantily addresses the establishment of these curves. This paper offers a focused examination of fatigue curve fitting techniques, delivering valuable perspectives on method selection.
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Dephanie Cheok Ieng Chiang, Maxwell Fordjour Antwi-Afari, Shahnawaz Anwer, Saeed Reza Mohandes and Xiao Li
Given the growing concern about employees' well-being, numerous researchers have investigated the causes and effects of occupational stress. However, a review study on identifying…
Abstract
Purpose
Given the growing concern about employees' well-being, numerous researchers have investigated the causes and effects of occupational stress. However, a review study on identifying existing research topics and gaps is still deficient in the extant literature. To fill this gap, this review study aims to present a bibliometric and science mapping approach to review the state-of-the-art journal articles published on occupational stress in the construction industry.
Design/methodology/approach
A three-fold comprehensive review approach consisting of bibliometric review, scientometric analysis and in-depth qualitative discussion was employed to review 80 journal articles in Scopus.
Findings
Through qualitative discussions, mainstream research topics were summarized, research gaps were identified and future research directions were proposed as follows: versatile stressors and stress model; an extended subgroup of factors in safety behavior; adaptation of multiple biosensors and bio-feedbacks; evaluation and comparison of organizational stress interventions; and incorporation of artificial intelligence and smart technologies into occupational stress management in construction.
Originality/value
The findings of this review study present a well-rounded framework to identify the research gaps in this field to advance research in the academic community and enhance employees' well-being in construction.
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