The Impact of the Pandemic on the Maintaining Happiness at Work

During the pandemic, it became especially difficult for companies to maintain employee engagement and motivation. They are cut off from the normal environment and work team, no longer have social relationships with colleagues, which leads to a natural decrease in emotional connection with the company, a sense of belonging and loyalty. In today's environment, the challenge is to manage, attract and retain talent, further compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic. During the period of working from home, as a result of the experience gained in the new reality, employees have other requirements that the company must meet. The transition to remote work in early 2020 has forced employees to develop new skills and become more familiar with technologies, manage tasks and solve problems online. It is true that some did more remote work, some less and some did not like it at all, but the fact is that it showed them new opportunities, and companies were challenged - how to maintain and increase the employee happiness index during the pandemic and post-pandemic period. The purpose of the article is to demonstrate the impact of the pandemic on maintaining a happiness index at work and to assess employees' attitudes towards remote work in general. How did the changes in work regime and environment during the pandemic affect employees and their job satisfaction? - In order to identify these factors, a study was conducted in Georgia, in which 200 employees participated and the results of which are given in this article.

The Impact of the Pandemic on the Maintaining Happiness at Work

During the pandemic, it became especially difficult for companies to maintain employee engagement and motivation. They are cut off from the normal environment and work team, no longer have social relationships with colleagues, which leads to a natural decrease in emotional connection with the company, a sense of belonging and loyalty. In today's environment, the challenge is to manage, attract and retain talent, further compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic. During the period of working from home, as a result of the experience gained in the new reality, employees have other requirements that the company must meet. The transition to remote work in early 2020 has forced employees to develop new skills and become more familiar with technologies, manage tasks and solve problems online. It is true that some did more remote work, some less and some did not like it at all, but the fact is that it showed them new opportunities, and companies were challenged - how to maintain and increase the employee happiness index during the pandemic and post-pandemic period. The purpose of the article is to demonstrate the impact of the pandemic on maintaining a happiness index at work and to assess employees' attitudes towards remote work in general. How did the changes in work regime and environment during the pandemic affect employees and their job satisfaction? - In order to identify these factors, a study was conducted in Georgia, in which 200 employees participated and the results of which are given in this article.

Natural reduction of Ukraine’s population: Regional dimensions of the national threat

A significant decline in Ukraine’s population is mainly due to its natural decrease, which began in the 1970s and 1980s in the rural areas and had been determined by the objective trends in demographic transition, the inertia effect of the demographic losses in the past and the social policy of the political regime at that time. Likewise, the social and economic crisis of the 1990s deepened the depopulation processes. In the present research, correlation analysis demonstrated a relationship between the current dimensions of natural population decline and a number of socio-demographic factors (proportion of the rural population, mean age of the population, divorce rate and the mean age at first marriage). In recent years, the effects of the demographic crisis have been particularly acute in North-eastern and Central Ukraine, due to the deepening disproportions in the age and sex structures of the population. However, in the capital of Ukraine, Kyiv, and in some western regions, the natural decrease in population is less acute because of more balanced social and demographic indicators. Although religious and ethnic factors contribute to some extent to greater natural population growth, especially in the western and south-western regions, their impact on the processes of population reproduction in Ukraine is generally not significant. To sum up, in order to stop natural population decline in Ukraine, it is important to ensure more favourable conditions for demographic development in the economic, social, informational and cultural spheres of society. Furthermore, in areas of acute demographic crisis, it is important to raise the issue of rural reconstruction involving a variety of organisational and economic mechanisms.

Impact of Andropause on Multiple Sclerosis

Andropause results from the natural decrease in testosterone levels that occurs with age. In contrast to menopause, which is a universal, well-characterized process associated with absolute gonadal failure, andropause ensues after gradual decline of both hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis activity, as well as of testicular function, a process which usually develops over a period of many years. Increasing evidence on greater risk of Multiple sclerosis (MS) associated with lower testosterone levels is being reported. Likewise, epidemiological studies have shown a later age of onset of MS in men, relative to women, which could perhaps respond to the decline in protective testosterone levels. In this review, we will discuss the role of androgens in the development and function of the innate and adaptive immune response, as well as in neuroprotective mechanisms relevant to MS. Testosterone effects observed in different animal models and in epidemiological studies in humans will be discussed, as well as their correlation with physical disability and cognitive function levels. Finally, published and ongoing clinical trials exploring the role of androgens, particularly at key stages of sexual maturation, will be reviewed.

Volatile Resistive Switching Characteristics of Pt/HfO2/TaOx/TiN Short-Term Memory Device

In this work, we study the threshold switching and short-term memory plasticity of a Pt/HfO2/TaOx/TiN resistive memory device for a neuromorphic system. First, we verify the thickness and elemental characterization of the device stack through transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and an energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) line scan. Volatile resistive switching with low compliance current is observed under the DC sweep in a positive bias. Uniform cell-to-cell and cycle-to-cycle DC I-V curves are achieved by means of a repetitive sweep. The mechanism of volatile switching is explained by the temporal generation of traps. Next, we initiate the accumulation of the conductance and a natural decrease in the current by controlling the interval time of the pulses. Finally, we conduct a neuromorphic simulation to calculate the pattern recognition accuracy. These results can be applicable to short-term memory applications such as temporal learning in a neuromorphic system.

Maternal Age and Maternal Environment Affect Egg Composition, Yolk Testosterone, Offspring Growth and Behaviour in Laying Hens

Maternal effects have been reported to alter offspring phenotype in laying hens. In this study, we investigated the effects of maternal environment and maternal age on egg traits and offspring development and behaviour. For this, we ran two experiments. First (E1), commercial hybrid hens were reared either in aviary or barren brooding cages, then housed in aviary, conventional cages or furnished (enriched) cages, thus forming different maternal housing treatments. Hens from each treatment were inseminated at three ages, and measures of egg composition, yolk testosterone concentration and offspring’s development, anxiety and fearfulness were assessed. In experiment 2 (E2), maternal age effects on offspring's growth and behaviour were further investigated using fertile eggs from commercial breeder flocks at three ages. Results from E1 showed that maternal age affected the majority of measures including egg composition, yolk testosterone, offspring growth, anxiety and fearfulness. Maternal rearing and housing affected fewer measures but included egg characteristics, offspring weight and behaviour. Effects of maternal age were not replicated in E2, possibly due to higher tolerance to maternal effects in commercial breeders. Overall, our research confirms that maternal environment and maternal age affect the offspring of laying hens in a variety of ways. These effects may be mediated by the natural decrease in egg yolk testosterone concentration over time.

Formation Features of the Natural and Post-Vaccination Anti-Diphtheria Antitoxic Immunity

Relevance. Against the background of epidemiological well-being for diphtheria infection, the formation of the optimal structure of the population post-vaccination antitoxic immunity remains an urgent problem. Aims. The review is devoted to anti-toxic antidiphtheria immunity and the possibility to form the optimal structure of post-vaccination anti-toxic population immunity using the small booster doses of anatoxin. Results. Special attention is paid to the formation of antitoxic population immunity in a natural way during the pre-vaccination period. It is proposed to pay attention to the immunosuppressive characteristics of anatoxin and the immune response to booster its small doses. Natural decrease in the concentration indicators of post-vaccination antitoxic IgG in the blood of adults has been demonstrated. A mathematical analysis of determining the structure of post-vaccination population immunity in all age groups of the population is proposed. Conclusions. The small booster personalized doses of anatoxin in adolescents and adults will contribute to the creation of optimal population anti-diphtheria protection of these age groups of the population.

Puberphonia: From classic to modern approach

Voice is a significant component of communication that allows us to express information and emotions, so it is the foundation of verbal communication. Maturation of the body involves dilation of the larynx and lower positioning of the larynx in the neck, resulting in multiple changes in voice quality. The rapid changes in the human larynx during puberty are more evident in males. Such changes can result in voice mutation - puberphonia. Puberphonia, also called mutational dysphonia or mutational falsetto, is the failure of a natural decrease in fundamental frequency or pitch. We can also defined puberphonia as persistent adolescent voice even after puberty in the absence of organic cause. This functional voice disorder can have multiple consequences on the personality and quality of life of an individual that often encounters problems that include psychological, emotional, social, and professional difficulties. This article aims to review the relevant and accessible literature on puberphonia in a comprehensive concise manner, highlighting the etiology, prevalence, clinical manifestation, consequences on quality of life, as well as evolution of the approach and attitude to its treatment.

Demographic Component of Assessment of the Population Standard and Quality Of Life in the Concept of Human Development

The essence of the economic category “quality of life” and “standard of living” is determined. The system of living standards recommended by the UN, the national matrix of quality of life indicators, the main international systems for assessing the population quality of life, the objective and subjective approach to its assessment are considered. The purpose of the study is to systematize indicators of the standard and quality of life of the population, the study of the demographic component of their assessment in the context of human development. It was found that today there is no single definition of “quality of life” (scientists supplement it based on the main purpose of their own research) and a single approach to its evaluation. It is determined that among the various methods and approaches to assessing the use of demographic indicators is quite limited. The characteristic of the basic demographic indicators which can be applied in research both standard and quality of life of the population is given. The main demographic indicators of measuring the quality of life of the population in Ukraine and in Mykolayiv region are determined and analyzed. Keywords: quality of life, standard of living; indicators; demographic characteristics; subjective assessments; objective assessments; natural decrease; life expectancy; birth rate; mortality.