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Working through time - the history and future of working hours
Get PDFMagistrsko delo obravnava 6-urni delovnik kot alternativno obliko organizacije dela, ki lahko predstavlja odgovor na družbene, zdravstvene in ekonomske izzive sodobnega časa. V teoretičnem delu je analiziran zgodovinski razvoj delovnega časa od industrijske revolucije do danes, z upoštevanjem ekonomskih, političnih in tehnoloških dejavnikov, ki so oblikovali trajanje in dojemanje dela. Izpostavljena je povezava med delovnim časom ter produktivnostjo, zdravjem in ravnovesjem med delom in zasebnim življenjem. Posebna pozornost je namenjena sodobnim eksperimentom s 6-urnim delovnikom, zlasti v skandinavskih državah, kjer so raziskave pokazale potencialne koristi, pa tudi organizacijske izzive.
Empirični del temelji na dveh polstrukturiranih intervjujih z zaposlenima v slovenskem podjetju, ki deluje po načelih šesturnega delovnika. Ugotovitve kažejo, da krajši delovni čas pozitivno vpliva na zaznavanje utrujenosti, kakovost prostega časa in občutek čustvene stabilnosti. Stres se je zmanjšal predvsem pri manj odgovornih delovnih mestih, medtem ko so razlike v produktivnosti zaznane predvsem na ravni količine, ne kakovosti opravljenega dela. Delodajalci v obravnavanem primeru 6-urni delovnik podpirajo. Delo predstavlja prispevek k razumevanju vpliva krajšega delovnega časa na posameznika v kontekstu sodobnega kapitalističnega delovnega okolja.The master\u27s thesis deals with a six-hour workday as an alternative form of work organisation that can represent an answer to the social, health and economic challenges of modern times. The theoretical part analyses the historical development of working hours from the industrial revolution to the present day, taking into account the economic, political and technological factors that have shaped the duration and perception of work. The connections between working hours and productivity, health and work-life balance are highlighted. Special attention is paid to modern experiments with a six-hour workday, especially in Scandinavian countries, where research has shown potential benefits, as well as organisational challenges.
The empirical part is based on two semi-structured interviews with two employees in a Slovenian company that operates according to the principles of a six-hour workday. The findings show that shorter working hours positively affect the perception of fatigue, the quality of free time and the feeling of emotional stability. Stress has been reduced in mainly less responsible jobs, while differences in productivity are perceived mainly at the level of quantity, not quality of the work done. Employers in this case under consideration support the six-hour workday. This work represents a contribution to the understanding of the impact of shorter working hours on an individual in the context of a modern capitalist work environment
Developing empathy in students with special needs through selected literary activities
Get PDFV magistrskem delu smo raziskovali, kako lahko z literarnimi dejavnostmi spodbujamo razvoj empatije pri učencih s posebnimi potrebami. Empatija je ključna za vzpostavljanje toplih, spoštljivih odnosov in pomembno prispeva k uspešnejšemu vključevanju otrok v družbo. Poseben poudarek smo namenili umetnostnim besedilom, saj otrokom omogočajo varen prostor za razmislek o čustvih, drugačnosti in odnosih med ljudmi. V empiričnem delu smo izvedli pet delavnic, ki so temeljile na čustveno bogatih zgodbah in so bile prilagojene učencem v programu z nižjim izobrazbenim standardom. Dejavnosti so vključevale branje, pogovor, risanje, gibanje in druge oblike izražanja. Rezultati so pokazali, da otroci ob ustrezni podpori razvijajo empatijo, še posebej kadar se jim ponudi priložnost za aktivno, čustveno obarvano učenje. Največji učinek so imeli tisti elementi, ki so vključevali več načinov izražanja in potekali v varnem, spodbudnem okolju. Delo tako opozarja na pomen premišljene izbire literature in ustreznega didaktičnega pristopa pri delu z otroki s posebnimi potrebami.In this master’s thesis, we explored how literary activities can support the development of empathy in students with special needs. Empathy plays a key role in building warm, respectful relationships and contributes significantly to the successful inclusion of children in society. Special emphasis was placed on literary texts, as they offer children a safe space to reflect on emotions, otherness, and interpersonal relationships. The empirical part consisted of five workshops based on emotionally rich stories, adapted to students in the lower educational standard program. The activities included reading, discussion, drawing, movement, and other forms of expression. The results showed that, with appropriate support, children are capable of developing empathy, especially when given opportunities for active and emotionally engaging learning. The most effective elements were those that involved multimodal expression and took place in a safe and encouraging environment. The thesis highlights the importance of carefully selected literature and thoughtful didactic approaches in working with children with special needs
Networked nonlinear model predictive controller design
Get PDFV magistrskem delu je predstavljena regulacija temperatur dveh medsebojno vplivajočih se grelcev z nelinearnim modelno prediktivnim regulatorjem, ki je deloval v omrežnem načinu. Izvajal se je na osebnem računalniku in komuniciral z mikrokrmilnikom preko UDP protokola. Modelno prediktivni regulator uporablja dinamični model in rešuje optimizacijski problem vsako sekundo za predikcijo temperatur v prihodnosti. Zato sem potreboval natančen model sistema, ki sem ga določil na podlagi zakona o ohranitvi energije in izboljšal z optimizacijo neznanih parametrov.The master\u27s thesis presents the temperature control of two mutually interacting heaters using a nonlinear model predictive controller, operated in a network-based setup on a personal computer and communicated with a microcontroller via the UDP protocol. A model predictive controller uses a dynamic model and solves an optimization problem every second to predict future temperatures. Therefore, an accurate system model was required, which was determined based on the energy balance equations and refined through parameter optimization. The accurate mathematical description of the real system was essential for precisely operating dual-channel temperature control
Summary dismissal in the light of recent case law
Get PDFIzredna odpoved pogodbe o zaposlitvi je najstrožja delovnopravna sankcija in skrajni ukrep po katerem lahko delodajalec poseže v primeru najhujših delavčevih kršitev in drugih razlogov, ki utemeljujejo takojšnje prenehanje delovnega razmerja. ZDR-1 predvideva osem razlogov za izredno odpoved delodajalca. Gre za kršitve obveznosti iz delovnega razmerja oziroma situacije, za katere je že sam zakonodajalec predvidel, da upravičujejo podajo sankcije v obliki izredne odpovedi pogodbe o zaposlitvi. Za zakonitost izredne odpovedi pa se poleg tega, da je izpolnjen kateri izmed osmih odpovednih razlogov zahteva tudi, da so izpolnjeni ostali pogoji za njeno zakonitost, predvsem, da je delavcu omogočen zagovor, da obstajajo okoliščine, ki utemeljujejo takojšnje prenehanje delovnega razmerja brez odpovednega roka, da je odpoved podana v zakonsko predvidenih rokih in tudi ustrezno obrazložena. Zakonodajalec v zakonu ni predvidel vseh situacij in razlag pravnih vprašanj, ki se ob uporabi instituta izredne odpovedi pojavljajo v praksi. Prav sodna praksa je tista, ki pripomore k razlagi posameznih izrednih odpovednih razlogov ter ostalih pravnih vprašanj povezanih z izredno odpovedjo delodajalca ter prikazuje kako se ti uporabljajo in razlagajo v praksi. Vrhovno sodišče Republike Slovenije in Višje delovno in socialno sodišče tudi v novejših sodnih odločbah obravnavata pravna vprašanja povezana z izredno odpovedjo ter pripomoreta k razlagi pravnih institutov ter pravnih vprašanj povezanih z izredno odpovedjo, s čimer dopolnjujeta obstoječo sodno prakso.
V skladu z načelom stopnjevitosti sankcij v delovnem pravu izredna odpoved pogodbe o zaposlitvi kot najstrožja sankcija pride v poštev zgolj v primeru najhujših kršitev. Ob tem se pojavlja vprašanje, kdaj gre za hujšo kršitev delovnih obveznosti, ki upravičuje podajo izredne odpovedi brez odpovednega roka in kdaj gre za kršitev, ki upravičuje podajo katere od milejših sankcij na primer redne odpovedi iz krivdnega razloga z odpovednim rokom. Tako v primeru pojma hujše kršitve kot pojma krivdnega razloga gre za pravni standard, ki ga zapolnjuje sodna praksa. Iz novejše sodne prakse ne izhaja točna ločnica v katerih primerih pride v poštev prva in kdaj druga, saj postavlja zgolj nekatere smernice kdaj gre za hujšo kršitev delovnih obveznosti in kdaj ne. Presoja ali gre za hujšo kršitev je namreč v vsakem primeru odvisna od okoliščin konkretnega primera.Summary dismissal is the most severe sanction in employment law and a measure of last resort that the employer may take in in response to the most serious breaches by the employee and other reasons that justify the immediate termination of the employment. ZDR-1 provides eight statutory grounds for summary dismissal. These are reffering to the most serious breaches of the employment contract and other specific situations in which the legislator has determined that they warrant the most severe employment law sanction in the form of summary dismissal. For summary dismissal to be legal, not only must one of eight statutory grounds be present, but also other requirements must be met. In particular, there must be circumstances that justify the immediate termination of employment without notice, the dismissal must be issued within prescribed deadlines, it must be properly reasoned and employee must be given the opportunity to explain their behavior. The legislator has not specifically regulated all possible situations, nor has it provided interpretation of some legal issues arising in the context of summary dismissal. In this regard, case law plays a crucial role in interpreting and explaining specific statutory ground for summary dismissal, as well as related legal questions, demonstrating how these provisions are applied and understood in practice. The Supreme Court of the Republic of Slovenia and Higher labour and social court have addressed legal issues related to summary dismissal in their recent decisions, thereby contributing to the interpretation of legal concepts and complementing existing case law.
In accordance with the principle of proportionality of sanctions in employment law, summary dismissal as the most severe sanction may only be used in cases of most serious violations. This raises a question of when violation constitutes gross misconduct justifying summary dismissal without notice period, and when a violation amounts merely to misconduct, which would justify ordinary dismissal with notice period. Both concepts - gross misconduct and misconduct – represent legal standards and are explained through case law. Recent case law does not draw a precise distinction between the two. It rather sets some guidelines how to distinguish which violations represent gross misconduct and which do not. The assessment of whether a particular breach constitutes gross misconduct justifying summary dismissal depends on the circumstances of each individual case
Effective pain assessment in patients with hip fracture after surgery
Get PDFZlomi kolka so pogosti predvsem pri starejših osebah in pogosto povzročijo hude pooperativne bolečine, ki vplivajo na okrevanje in kakovost življenja. Ključno je natančno ocenjevanje bolečine za pravočasno in ustrezno terapevtsko ukrepanje. Izveden je bil pregled znanstvene literature s pomočjo strukturiranega iskalnega niza v bazah PubMed, CINAHL in Web of Science. Uporabljeni so bili kriteriji po pristopu PIO. V končno analizo je bilo vključenih šest raziskav. Pri vrednotenju kakovosti dokazov smo uporabili hierarhijo dokazov. Najpogosteje uporabljena je bila vizualna analogna lestvica (VAS), ki je bila ocenjena kot zanesljiva. Uporabljeni sta bili tudi lestvici DI-PASS (klinična lestvica za ocenjevanje akutne bolečine pri pacientih v bolnišničnem okolju) in Q-DIO-Pain (orodje za ocenjevanje kakovosti dokumentacije bolečine v klinični praksi), ki omogočata večdimenzionalno ocenjevanje bolečine. Pri pacientih z demenco se uporablja lestvica PAINAD. Rezultati potrjujejo, da je VAS preprosta, učinkovita in klinično uporabna. Za kompleksnejše primere so priporočljive obsežnejše lestvice. Ključno vlogo imata tudi usposobljenost zdravstvenih delavcev in uvedba standardiziranih protokolov. Učinkovito ocenjevanje bolečine prispeva k boljšim izidom zdravljenja in hitrejši rehabilitaciji.Hip fractures are common, especially among the elderly, and are often associated with severe postoperative pain that affects recovery and quality of life. Accurate pain assessment is essential for timely and appropriate therapeutic intervention. A literature review was conducted using a structured search strategy in the PubMed, CINAHL, and Web of Science databases. The PIO framework was applied. Six studies were included in the final analysis. The strength of evidence was evaluated using a hierarchical classification. The most frequently used and reliable tool was the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Other tools included the DI-PASS (a clinical scale for assessing acute pain in patients in a hospital setting) and Q-DIO-Pain (a tool for assessing the quality of pain documentation in clinical practice), which enable more comprehensive pain assessment. For patients with dementia, the PAINAD scale was applied. The findings confirm that VAS is a simple, effective, and clinically applicable tool. For more complex cases, multidimensional scales are recommended. The competency of healthcare professionals and the implementation of standardized protocols play a key role. Effective pain assessment contributes to improved treatment outcomes and faster rehabilitation
Empirical comparison of scientific publications with semantic vectors
Get PDFV magistrski nalogi obravnavamo možnost uporabe semantičnih vektorskih reprezentacij kot orodja za primerjavo vsebine znanstvenih objav in spremljanje sprememb v raziskovalnih tematikah skozi čas. Menimo, da lahko z vektorizacijo povzetkov in merami kvantitativne razdalje zanesljivo sledimo podobnostim in razlikam v znanstveni produkciji. Posebej smo vključili tudi obdobje COVID-19, saj smo predvidevali, da bodo takratne vsebinske spremembe dober preizkus učinkovitosti metode.
V raziskavi smo iz baze Scopus pridobili objave izbranih znanstvenih revij za obdobje 2017–2022, povzetke pretvorili v vektorje s prednaučenim SBERT modelom “all-MiniLM-L6-v2” ter zgradili predstavitve revij po letih. Za merjenje razdalj med vektorji smo uporabili kosinusno razdaljo, hipoteze pa preverili z Wilcoxonovim testom ter podprli rezultate z vizualizacijami in modeliranjem tematik z BERTopic.
Rezultati potrjujejo, da obstajajo izrazite razlike med revijami, saj se vektorski centri različnih revij v prostoru jasno ločijo, medtem ko so objave znotraj posamezne revije bolj povezane. Prav tako smo zaznali tematske premike med zaporednimi leti iste revije, kar kaže na postopno, a zaznavno evolucijo raziskovalnih vsebin. Analiza obdobja pred in po letu 2020 je pokazala večje spremembe, vendar teh razlik ni mogoče neposredno pripisati COVID-19. Raziskava tako potrjuje, da je semantična vektorizacija skupaj s kosinusno razdaljo učinkovito orodje za empirično primerjavo vsebine znanstvenih objav.This master’s thesis explores the use of semantic vector representations to compare scientific publications and track shifts in research topics over time. We argue that vectorizing abstracts and applying quantitative distance measures can reliably capture similarities and differences in scientific production. The COVID-19 period was included as a potential test case for the method’s effectiveness.
Publications from selected journals indexed in Scopus between 2017 and 2022 were collected. Abstracts were transformed into vectors using the pre-trained SBERT model “all-MiniLM-L6-v2”, and yearly journal representations were constructed. Cosine distance was applied to measure differences between vectors, while hypotheses were tested with the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Results were further supported with visualizations and topic modeling using BERTopic.
The findings confirm clear distinctions between journals, as vector centers of different journals are clearly separated, while publications within the same journal cluster more closely. Thematic shifts were also observed across consecutive years of the same journal, reflecting gradual but noticeable evolution of content. Analysis of the period before and after 2020 showed larger changes, though not directly attributable to COVID-19. Overall, the study demonstrates that semantic vectorization with cosine distance is an effective tool for empirical comparison of scientific publications
Police service dog from selection procedure to operational use
Get PDFV diplomskem delu smo raziskovali pot policijskega psa od izbirnega postopka do operativne uporabe. Prikazana je zgodovina policijskih psov in številni načini, kako se psi uporabljajo v kontekstu policijske službe. Predstavljene so tudi pasme policijskih psov, s poudarkom na belgijskem ovčarju, nemškem ovčarju, rotvajlerju in nizozemskem ovčarju. V okviru naloge je bila izvedena tudi empirična raziskava – tako intervjuji strokovnjakov, kot anketni vprašalnik vodnikov. Iz pogovorov z intervjuvancema je razviden celovit vpogled v sistem pridobivanja, šolanja in uporabe službenih psov v slovenski policiji ter izzive, s katerimi se pri tem soočajo. Sistem je dobro organiziran in premišljeno voden, vendar se v praksi pojavljajo dileme, predvsem glede vzreje, zdravstvenih tveganj in zagotavljanja optimalnih pogojev za vzgojo kakovostnih službenih psov. Pri nabavi psov se uporablja nakup ali donacija, pri čemer je ključna kakovost psa, ne glede na izvor. Vedenjske lastnosti se ocenjujejo že pri mladičih, zdravstveno stanje pa se spremlja predvsem preko rodovnika in osnovnih veterinarskih pregledov. Med glavnimi tveganji so bolezni, poškodbe ter pomanjkanje zgodnje socializacije. Šolanje psov temelji na zgodnji vzpostavitvi odnosa z vodnikom, kar se je izkazalo za učinkovitejše od preteklih metod. Proces vključuje redne ocene in prilagoditve glede na pasmo ter naloge, ki jih bo pes opravljal. V razpravi o lastni vzreji v primerjavi z zunanjo oskrbo se kažejo različna mnenja: vodniki so bolj naklonjeni zunanji vzreji, strokovnjaki pa poudarjajo prednosti lastne vzreje zaradi boljšega nadzora in možnosti zgodnje socializacije. Sklepno ugotavljamo, da za uspešnost službenega psa ni odločilen njegov izvor, temveč kombinacija genetske kakovosti, ustreznih pogojev v zgodnjem razvoju, načrtovanega šolanja in močne vezi z vodnikom. Pomembnejša od vira psa sta njegova vedenjska in zdravstvena ustreznost ter uspešno sodelovanje z vodnikom.In this thesis, we explored the journey of a police dog from the selection process to operational deployment. The history of police dogs is presented, along with the various ways in which dogs are used in the context of police work. The thesis also introduces the main police dog breeds, with a focus on the Belgian Malinois, German Shepherd, Rottweiler, and Dutch Shepherd.An empirical study was conducted as part of the research, including expert interviews and a questionnaire for dog handlers. The interviews provided an in-depth insight into the system of acquiring, training, and utilizing service dogs within the Slovenian police, as well as the challenges encountered in this process. While the system is well-organized and carefully managed, certain dilemmas arise in practice, particularly regarding breeding, health risks, and ensuring optimal conditions for raising high-quality service dogs. Dogs can be acquired either through purchase or donation, with the dog’s quality being the primary criterion, regardless of origin. Behavioral traits are assessed at a young age, while health is mainly monitored through pedigree analysis and basic veterinary checks. The main risks include illnesses, injuries, and a lack of early socialization. Training is based on early bonding between the dog and its handler, which has proven more effective than previous methods where instructors conducted most of the training. The process includes regular evaluations and adjustments according to the breed and the specific tasks the dog will perform. The debate on in-house breeding versus sourcing from external breeders reveals differing opinions: handlers tend to favor external breeding, while experts highlight the advantages of in-house breeding, such as greater control and the opportunity for early socialization. In conclusion, the success of a service dog is not determined by its origin but rather by a combination of genetic quality, appropriate early development conditions, well-planned training, and a strong bond with the handler. More important than the source of the dog are its behavioral and health suitability and its ability to work effectively with the handler.
The effectiveness of artificial intelligence-based chatbots in the field of mental health
Get PDFUvod: Klepetalni roboti, ki temeljijo na umetni inteligenci, s svojo obdelavo naravnega jezika predstavljajo potencialno koristno orodje za podporo osebam s težavami na področju mentalnega zdravja. Cilj tega pregleda je bil oceniti učinkovitost uporabe klepetalnih robotov na področju mentalnega zdravja.
Metode: Iskanje je potekalo v štirih mednarodnih podatkovnih bazah (CINAHL Ultimate, Medline, PubMed in Web of Science) z ustreznim iskalnim nizom. Pridobljeni članki so bili nato ustrezno analizirani in sintetizirani. Kritična presoja zbranih dokazov je potekala po hierarhiji dokazov. Kritična ocena člankov je izvedena s pomočjo ocenjevalnega orodja JBI.
Rezultati: Od 492 zadetkov je 13 člankov izpolnjevalo vse pogoje, od katerih smo v končno analizo vključili tri sistematične preglede RCT in 10 študij RCT. Ugotovljeno je bilo, da so se intervencije s klepetalnimi roboti izkazale za učinkovite pri izboljšanju mentalnega zdravja. Učinkovitost klepetalnih robotov je bila v največji meri zaznana pri zmanjševanju simptomov depresije, anksioznosti in stresa, posledično z izboljšanjem simptomov drugih motenj mentalnega zdravja.
Razprava in zaključek: Klepetalni roboti so se izkazali za učinkovite pri zmanjševanju simptomov motenj mentalnega zdravja. Za dodatno potrditev teh rezultatov bo treba opraviti še več raziskav o uporabi klepetalnih robotov na področju mentalnega zdravja in njihovem prihodnjem vključevanju v prakso.Introduction: AI-based chatbots, using natural language processing, represent potentially valuable tools for supporting individuals with mental health problems. The aim of this review was to evaluate the effectiveness of chatbot interventions in the field of mental health.
Methods: A search was conducted in four international databases (CINAHL Ultimate, Medline, PubMed, and Web of Science) using a relevant search strategy. The retreived articles were then analyzed and synthesized accordingly. A critical apraisal of the collected evidence was carried out according to the hierarchy of evidence. The JBI critical appraisal tool was used to assess the quality of the studies.
Results: The search yielded 492 articles, of which only 13 met all inclusion criteria. These included three systematic reviews of RCTs and 10 individual RCTs that were incorporated into the final analysis. The findings indicated that chatbots interventions were effective in improving mental health. The effectiveness was most evident in reducing symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress, which also contributed to alleviating symptoms of other mental health disorders.
Discussion and conclusion: Chatbots have proven effective in reducing symptoms of mental health disorders. However, further research is needed to confirm these results and to explore the future integration of chatbots into mental health practice
Liposomes: recent progress on nanoparticles production and their usage in medicine
Get PDFSince the discovery of the first nanoparticles, scientists have developed controlled-release drugs, in which nanoparticles play a crucial role as drug carriers. Nanoparticles enable targeted and controlled release, but also face some challenges in their application, production and storage in vivo. The most used nanoparticles for drug encapsulation are liposomes. Liposomes consist of a lipid bilayer membrane that separates the inner hydrophilic/aqueous core from the surrounding environment. In the process known as encapsulation, an active ingredient is added that is either hydrophobic or hydrophilic. Their production is a challenge. Therefore, various production methods have been developed (thin film hydration, reverse phase evaporation, microfluidic methods, etc.) to achieve high encapsulation efficiency, stability and improved drug delivery in vivo. In medical treatment, liposomes are already used as carriers for analgesics, drugs to prevent and treat a variety of diseases (fungal, bacterial, and viral infections) and chemotherapeutics to treat various types of cancer (docetaxel, paclitaxel, doxorubicin, etc.). This article gives an insight into the methods of liposome production, ranging from conventional to more modern techniques with their advantages and disadvantages of the encapsulated substances and their use in medicine
Parametrization and numerical analysis of a truck auxiliary chassis
Get PDFNamen magistrskega dela je zasnova parametričnega 3D-modela, s pomočjo katerega bi podjetje poenostavilo konstrukcijski postopek za določanje pomožne šasije tovornega vozila. V nadaljnjem koraku bi ta model lahko uporabilo tudi za numerični preračun po metodi končnih elementov. Magistrsko delo obsega pregled obravnavane tematike oziroma industrije tovornih vozil, predstavitev parametričnega modela ter predstavitev numeričnega modela. Končni rezultat dela je torej parametričen 3D-model, ki konstrukterju poenostavi delo in zmanjša čas, potreben za izdelavo modela, kakor tudi numerični model, ki omogoča podoben vpogled v trdnostne lastnosti šasije.Purpose of this work is to design a parametric 3D model that enables company to simplify the engineering process for determining the truck auxiliary frame. In a further step, this model could also be applied for numerical calculations using finite element analysis. This thesis includes an overview of the addressed topic of commercial vehicle industry, a presentation of the parametric model and a presentation of the numerical model. The outcome of the work is thus twofold: a parametric 3D model that simplifies the engineer’s work and reduces the time required to create the model, and a numerical model that enables reliable assessment of the chassis structural characteristics