bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Use of Gravel Loss Prediction Models in the Design and Management of Unsealed Road Pavements
Authors: van Wijk Ian , Williams David J , Serati Mehdi
Published: September 2019

Many countries have large unsealed road networks which are essential for business efficiency, social connectedness, and community safety. These roads are maintained at considerable cost mainly through blading and re-gravelling. The latter is a major component of the maintenance and is determined by gravel loss. Gravel loss prediction models can be used to assess the effect of different wearing courses, which provides useful input into the design and management of unsealed roads. This paper reviews the origins, input parameters, and output of four available gravel loss prediction models, namely, the Transport and Road Research, HDM-4, Australian, and South African models. It was found that the predictive accuracy of the models is in general low and they predict very different gravel loss results. There is also a lack of integration between the design and maintenance, leading to the wearing course properties recommended for design not being directly linked to gravel loss. These findings led to further analysis of the models and the development of re-gravelling frequencies based on traffic, climate (annual rainfall), and material property (plastic factor), which can be used in the selection of the appropriate wearing course material and in the determination of re-gravelling budgets. This presents a simplified approach to the use of existing gravel loss prediction models in the design and management of unsealed roads which mitigates some of the shortcomings in the use of uncalibrated models.
Impact of CO2 Emissions on Low Volume Road Maintenance Policy: Case Study of Serbia
Authors: Ćirilović Stanković Jelena , Mladenović Goran , Queiroz Cesar
Published: September 2019

About 20% of the Serbian national road network has sections with low volume traffic. These sections are maintained in relatively poor condition since the maintenance budget is typically allocated to the road sections with most traffic. This paper aims to define the appropriate maintenance policy for keeping these sections in “optimal” condition. The traditional approach has been to consider as optimal the condition leading to the minimum sum of road agency costs and road user costs. However, currently there is an emphasis on including environmental cost (greenhouse gas emissions, in particular) into pavement management systems. This extends the concept of optimum by defining it as the maintenance policy leading to the minimum sum of (a) road agency costs, (b) road user costs, and (c) the cost to society of CO2 emissions. Three potential influencing factors are further analyzed: traffic loading, pavement structural number, and the initial condition of the road section. The World Bank’s Road Network Evaluation Tools (RONET) model was used to analyze the Serbian low volume road network and develop the optimal maintenance policy. The results show that the cost of CO2 emissions plays an important role in calculating the optimal policy, but unlike the high volume parts of the road network, in the case of low volume roads, a substantial part of total emissions is related to the production and placement of new pavement layers, rather than from vehicle emissions.
Accuracy of Statewide Pavement Surface Evaluations and Ratings Performed by Local Agencies
Authors: Montgomery Sharlan R. , Haddock John E.
Published: September 2019

The passage of state legislation has promoted and encouraged the development of pavement management plans at the local level. A widespread response to such legislation in some states has been the assessment of pavement condition using the pavement surface evaluation and rating (PASER) method. The specific objectives of this research were to: 1) assess the accuracy of statewide local agency PASER raters; 2) identify PASER values that are difficult to rate; and 3) propose a standard tolerance to be used in statewide quality control evaluations. Statewide PASER condition data collected by local agencies in Indiana were statistically subsampled and rated by PASER-certified Indiana Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) personnel. The local agency ratings were then compared with the LTAP ratings using four agreement tolerances: 1) complete agreement; 2) within-1-rating agreement; 3) within-2-ratings agreement; and 4) “good/fair/poor” category agreement. Local agencies tended to overrate the middle-to-low PASER values (1–6) and slightly under-rate the upper PASER values (7–10). This means that budget needs based on data collected by local agencies are likely underestimated. Pavements in poor condition (PASER 1–4), particularly PASER 4, were assigned the correct “good/fair/poor” category the least often. Since the “good/fair/poor” category agreement was the most rigorous tolerance after complete agreement and has the potential to capture significant funding differences appropriate to each category, it is recommended for use as a statewide quality control standard.
Framework for Monitoring of Road Agency Performance in Rural Road Asset Management
Authors: Bopoto Charles , Geddes Robert , Pinard Michael
Published: September 2019

The Research for Community Access Partnership (ReCAP) is providing technical assistance and capacity building initiatives to foster sustainable improvements in asset management performance in selected rural road agencies in Sub-Saharan Africa. Central to the research methodology is the development of a specification to enable road agencies to assess their performance in asset management as a basis for self-improvement. The specification is based on the development of an objectively determinable “road sector sustainability index” which measures the extent to which six building blocks considered essential for achieving effective road asset preservation are satisfied in practice. Periodic measurements of the condition of the project road networks, coupled with the collection of socioeconomic data, are being used to monitor the trend in road asset value, and to assess the effectiveness of, and improvements in, asset management as well as the impact of road condition on the wellbeing of rural communities. This paper outlines methodologies and tools that have been developed and piloted in four Sub-Saharan African countries to assess and monitor performance in rural road asset management and to achieve improvements over time. It summarizes progress achieved in the first 3 years since the project’s inception. The initial findings of the research indicate that severe institutional, funding, and technical shortcomings exist in the participating countries that preclude sustainable road asset preservation. However, following implementation of the methods summarized here, there is now an increased awareness of the importance of adopting a holistic approach to road asset management using simple and sustainable methods.
Long-Term Study on the Cost-Effectiveness of Dust Control and Untreated Aggregate-Surfaced Resource Roads
Authors: Légère Glen , Bradley Allan
Published: September 2019

A long-term study of treated and untreated aggregate resource roads in Canada was conducted. The objective was to investigate the cost-effectiveness of annual dust control treatments where the hypothesis is that annual applications may prolong aggregate life. Seven sections along two road segments with different traffic levels were studied over five years. A survey of road users revealed that 88% agreed that the treated sections were safer because of the increase in visibility and quicker dust settlement times. Evaluation of surface aggregate indicated some aggregate wear but there were no significant differences between treated and untreated sections. The source and quality of crushed aggregate has an impact on road performance. The condition of the running surface did not indicate any major performance differences between the treated and untreated sections. Regardless of treatment, age, or aggregate sources, a general downward trend in Unsurfaced Road Condition Index was observed, indicating wearing course degradation over time. The study revealed a strong correlation between traffic volume and maintenance intensity. Moderately higher travel speeds were measured on the treated versus untreated sections. When the cost of treatment and maintenance was compared with historical costs, the dust control scenario was more expensive. However, when log hauling cost savings from increased travel speeds were introduced, the dust control was approximately cost neutral in low traffic scenarios and moderately better for high traffic. If non-quantifiable benefits, such as increased safety, were to be considered, application of dust control treatment is recommended.
Connectivity, Accessibility, and Mobility Relationships in the Context of Low-Volume Road Networks
Authors: Labi Samuel , Faiz Asif , Saeed Tariq Usman , Alabi Bortiorkor Nii Tsui , Woldemariam Wubeshet
Published: September 2019

The concepts of connectivity, accessibility, and mobility (CAM) are key measures of transport network performance that have been discussed extensively in the literature. However, there has been little work that discussed the relationships among these concepts. A clear discourse on these concepts and their interrelationships can help agencies carry out more objective evaluations of projects that seek to improve at least one of these measures of transportation performance. This paper presents three alternative perspectives (models) of the CAM relationship: the nested, snowman, and three-way overlapping models. The paper also presents, for project appraisal purposes, two alternative ways of classifying the three CAM concepts. The first is based on the three concepts in their basic forms; the second considers some variation of these concepts in addition to aspects of the network topology, operational performance, road condition, and socioeconomic characteristics of the project’s area of influence. The conceptual framework outlined in this paper contributes towards a holistic approach to the appraisal of low-volume road projects, programs, or existing networks based on their impact on overall CAM.
Accuracy Assessment of Satellite-Based Freeze-Thaw Retrievals on Low-Volume Roads in the United States
Authors: Kraatz Simon , Miller Heather J. , Jacobs Jennifer M. , Dave Eshan V. , Sias Jo
Published: September 2019

Accurate identification of soil freeze or thaw (FT) is important for road management, because it greatly affects a road’s load bearing capacity. Despite low-volume roads (LVR) being more susceptible to damage because of FT transitions compared with high-volume roadways, relatively few LVRs are monitored via temperature data probes (TDP). Frequent and global spaceborne retrievals of soil FT states may be valuable to fill this observational gap. NASA’s Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) instrument provides FT retrievals up to twice a day, approximately corresponding to the top 0–10 cm of soils. This study compares SMAP FT data to TDP data at LVRs located in the contiguous United States (CONUS) and Alaska using hourly data obtained from the Meteorological Assimilation Data Ingest System for the 2016, 2017, and 2018 winters. Overall, SMAP FT retrievals show promise in distinguishing between cold and warm roads. For all cases, the median road temperatures corresponding to SMAP frozen and thawed retrievals were clearly below or above 0°C, respectively. SMAP 6:00 p.m. observations perform better than the 6:00 a.m. observations with overall accuracies of 76% in CONUS and 81% Alaska. However, SMAP’s accuracy for frozen conditions is below 50% in CONUS indicating that SMAP has a warm bias compared with the TDP sites. These preliminary results suggest that the SMAP FT states have potential value for road management.
Assessment of the Potential for Salt Damage to Asphalt Surfacings when Chloride-Treated Unpaved Roads Are Upgraded to a Sealed Standard
Authors: Jones David
Published: September 2019

Experience gained during research into chemical dust control/fines preservation has indicated that the reduced maintenance on, and reduced gravel loss from, treated roads justifies the use of these chemical treatments as a cost-effective road maintenance and management strategy. Treatments also serve as a means of preserving layer thickness and integrity in stage construction if upgrading the road to a paved standard is planned. However, the potential for damage to primed bases and bituminous surfacings placed on chloride-treated layers as a result of salt crystallization underneath the surface during hot, dry conditions in arid and semi-arid climates has to be considered. A laboratory test method was therefore developed to gauge the potential for this type of damage. Calcium chloride, a commonly used dust palliative, was used in the experiment. The test, which simulated a worst-case scenario, followed by two field experiments that were evaluated for 36 months, indicated that salt damage to base materials, whether primed or unprimed, and to bituminous surface treatments or thin asphalt concrete layers is unlikely to occur on roads previously treated with calcium chloride. Care should be taken in the choice of surfacing if the electrical conductivity of the top 25 mm of treated material on the road exceeds 0.15 S/m prior to priming the base and placing the surfacing. This limit can be relaxed if laboratory testing, as described in this paper, indicates that salt damage is unlikely.
Applying Pavement Preservation Principles in Unpaved Road Management with Specific Reference to Fines Preservation and Dust Control
Authors: Jones David
Published: September 2019

Unacceptable levels of dust are generated on unsealed road networks in most countries. The loss of fines associated with road dust contributes to increased gravel loss and the need for more frequent grader maintenance. By controlling this dust, the rate of gravel loss and maintenance expenditure can be significantly reduced. Research into the performance and benefits of using chemical treatments as part of unsealed road management programs led to the development of multiplier factors that can be used with gravel-loss and blading-frequency prediction models in unsealed road pavement management systems to determine where these treatments can be used cost-effectively. The factors were first validated in a 2-year pilot study before being implemented in a road agency’s computerized road management system. Output from the system indicated that chemical treatments could be cost-effectively used on at least 20% of the agency’s road network, with considerable savings accruing to both the agency and the road user. Subsequent analyses of county road projects in the U.S.A., where chemical treatment programs had been in effect for several years, verified that considerable savings resulted from reduced rates of gravel loss and longer intervals between required grader maintenance. Based on this experience, it is clear that chemical treatments, as part of longer-term unpaved road management programs, can be considered preservation treatments, with additional benefits of dust control leading to safer driving conditions, reduced vehicle operating costs, and improved health and quality of life for people living and working adjacent to the treated road.
Rural Track Paths on Low-Volume Roads in Austria
Authors: Haslehner Wolfgang
Published: September 2019

The rural road network in Austria consists of all roads that are neither federal nor provincial roads and serve the purpose of enabling access to the rural area. This low-volume road network includes all municipal roads, farm roads, and forest roads. The total length of these roads amounts to approximately 160,000 km or 80% of the total Austrian road network. The responsibility for construction and maintenance of this rural road network in Austria is split between private persons and public authorities. Within these special circumstances a new technical design guideline for rural track paths has been elaborated in Austria. During this elaboration the experiences and know-how from Germany and Switzerland have been analyzed and taken into consideration. The main part of the paper deals with this new design guideline and shows an innovative way to handle activities in construction and maintenance of low-volume roads realized as single-lane rural track paths. These track paths consist of two load-carrying tracks constructed of asphalt, concrete, surface treatment, or block pavers. The obvious advantages of this tracked paving approach are to reduce the impact of impervious surface types and the impact on the environment. What makes this guideline unique is the fact that it is the first of its kind in Austria to encompass all aspects of planning, design, practical construction, and implementation of rural track paths on low-volume roads.
Role of Preventive Treatments in Low-Volume Road Maintenance Program: Full-Scale Case Study
Authors: Jalali Farhang , Vargas-Nordcbeck Adriana , Nakhaei Mostafa
Published: September 2019

The lack of information on reliable life-extending benefit for pavement preservation treatments led the National Center for Asphalt Technology (NCAT) to conduct a preservation study applying preservation treatments on a low-volume county road in Auburn, Alabama, which began in 2012. The primary objective of the study is to develop performance models for preservation treatments to be used in pavement management systems. Performance measures including rutting, cracking, and roughness are collected on a regular basis to the present date. Among all the collected measures, only cracking shows an upward trend and therefore was used in this study as the performance index for the analysis. The present study aims to implement a semi-parametric survival analysis technique to assess the effectiveness of treatments used, and to investigate associated risk factors. The study confirms that preservation strategies significantly decrease the risk of failure when compared with a “do-nothing” scenario. It was found that initial condition, treatment family, recycled material usage, and crack sealing application have a significant impact on future deterioration. It is also concluded that survival analysis techniques are useful tools in aiding decision makers in the selection of proper treatment choices.
Mechanistic Analyses of Geosynthetic Reinforced Aggregate Road Test Sections
Authors: Tingle Jeb S.
Published: September 2019

Large-scale laboratory box tests and a full-scale traffic test were performed by the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center to evaluate the performance of geosynthetic reinforced aggregate road sections constructed with marginal base materials over a typical subgrade. The large-scale laboratory testing and full-scale test section included eight different instrumented aggregate road sections including three different aggregate base materials and two different geosynthetics. Mechanistic analyses of each pavement section were conducted using linear elastic, nonlinear elastic, and nonlinear anisotropic models to predict the critical pavement response parameters. The analyses show that mechanistic tools can be effectively used to estimate the critical pavement response parameters for unpaved roads.
Development and Application of a Sustainable Management System for Unpaved Rural Road Networks
Authors: Chamorro Alondra , Tighe Susan
Published: September 2019

For the sustainable management of rural roads, social, institutional, technical, economic and environmental aspects should be considered under a long-term perspective. The current practice in developing countries is that only some of these key sustainable aspects are considered in the management process. In addition, rural roads maintenance management is commonly performed under a short-term basis, not considering the life-cycle costs and benefits in the economic analysis and project prioritization. This paper presents the development of a sustainable management system for rural road networks and its application in developing countries. The approach considers the development of a sustainable framework, application of a network-level condition evaluation methodology, condition performance models for gravel and earth roads, cost-effective maintenance standards, a long-term prioritization procedure that accounts for sustainable aspects, and a computer tool that integrates the system components. The management system has been applied and validated in two unpaved rural road networks in developing countries, located in Chile and Paraguay. Sensitivity analysis was carried out to assess the impacts of input parameters in the performance of developed system. As a result of the research an adaptable and adoptable sustainable management system for rural networks has been developed to assist local road agencies in developing countries.
Female Honor Killing: The Role of Low Socio-Economic Status and Rapid Modernization
Authors: Dayan Hava
Published: September 2019

Female honor killing is a particular form of femicide, where the killing of a woman is perpetrated by a member or members of her family who do not approve of her social behavior in general and her sexual behavior in particular. The study of female honor killing tends to focus on a cultural examination of honor cultures yet lacks exploration of possible social factors that may influence such gendered killing. Possible links between female honor killing incidence and various social factors, among them poverty, low social status, and rapid modernization, were recently postulated, however empirical validation of these hypotheses has yet to be thoroughly explored. This article offers empirical observations of an explorative nature of social factors that may play a role in the frequency of female honor killing. The research’s methodological design distinguishes between the various Arab subgroups in Israel along their correlated ingrained social characteristics and offers a comparative empirical analysis obtained from nation-based data on female honor killings among the various Arab subgroups (excluding the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem) during a 6-year period (2010-2015). The research is based on a secondary analysis of data extrapolated from media surveillance. A total of 58 eligible cases were found and comprised the research sample. Frequency analysis of femicide events and victims was performed for each Arab subgroup. Despite the small number of cases and the research’s explorative and tentative nature, it provides preliminary empirical indications of possible links between female honor killing frequency and social factors such as low economic status and rapid modernization. The article’s novel empirical indications may be of great relevance to societies currently facing the challenge of assimilating a growing number of Arab and Muslim social groups.
Exploring the gap between employers’ needs and undergraduate business curricula: A survey of alumni regarding core business curricula
Authors: Garner Benjamin R. , Gove Michael , Ayala Cesar , Mady Ashraf
Published: September 2019

This study examines alumni perceptions of the core curricula at the University of North Georgia’s College of Business to assess the gap between the skills employers need in new graduates and what the curricula offer. The research was conducted as part of the continuous improvement process for AACSB accreditation. The findings reveal that soft skills such as communication and problem-solving were highly rated as being useful, whereas the alumni rated calculus and international business skills as less important for daily job requirements. The study provides relevant information for colleges of business as they look to update their core curricula for business majors.
Parametric study on the tool inclination angle for side milling thin-walled workpiece edges based on finite element simulation
Authors: Liu Gongyu , Dang Jiaqiang , Li Chao , Chen Ming
Published: September 2019

Side milling thin-walled workpiece edges is an indispensible procedure in the continuous process chains for the high-efficiency machining of thin-walled functional parts, for example, the small- and medium-sized compressor blades. In these operation cases, the workpiece vibration is easy to occur due to the poor stiffness of the thin-walled structures, causing defects to the machined surface finish and even the dimensional accuracy of the thin-walled workpiece edges. To this problem, this study proposes the tool inclination method based on the adaption of the cutting force component in the lowest stiffness direction of the thin-walled workpiece, and it aims, first, to guarantee the machined surface finish which is mostly dominated by the workpiece vibrations mainly induced by the relatively high cutting forces and, second, to guarantee the high machining efficiency. The parametric study on the tool inclination angle for side milling the thin-walled workpiece edges was conducted by using the finite element simulations. First, the finite element models were elaborated and validated by the experimental results in terms of the cutting forces. Then, based on a series of finite element simulations, the effects of the tool inclination angle on the cutting forces adaption and its corresponding mechanism, that is, the chip formation variation, were investigated. Simulation results under the given conditions showed that the optimal tool inclination angle for the minimum absolute value of Fn was 26°. At last, the prediction feasibility for the best machined surface finish when side milling the low-stiffness thin-walled workpiece edges at the optimal tool inclination angle was well validated by the experimental results. The proposed tool inclination method with the solid end mill based on the finite element model to improve the machined surface finish is meaningful and feasible for the high-efficiency manufacturing processes of thin-walled workpieces.
Distractor Ignoring: Strategies, Learning, and Passive Filtering
Authors: Geng Joy J. , Won Bo-Yeong , Carlisle Nancy B.
Published: September 2019

Our sensory environments contain more information than we can process, and successful behaviors require the ability to separate task-relevant information from task-irrelevant information. Much research on attention has focused on the mechanisms that result in selection of desired information, but much less is known about how distracting information is ignored. Here, we describe evidence that strategic, learned, and passive information can all contribute to better distractor ignoring. The evidence suggests that there are multiple ways in which distractor ignoring is supported, and these ways may be different from those of target selection. Future work will need to identify the mechanisms by which each source of information adjusts attentional priority such that irrelevant information is better ignored.
National Health Policies in Practice: An Explorative Analysis for India
Authors: Kaur Harleen , Rathi Suresh Kumar
Published: September 2019

The health ministry of India has released three National Health Policies (NHPs) since independence. These are guiding documents for the government for their health-related expenditure. Till 2017, India allocated central resources through five-year plans (FYPs) formed by the Planning Commission. Thereafter, the newly formed National Institution of Transforming India or the National Institute for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog released its first 3-year action agenda for different sectors. We study the translation of these policies in practice, by comparing policy recommendations with the FYPs. This article also compares the recommendation of the NHP, 2017 with the first 3-year agenda of the NITI Aayog. This explorative analysis also studies the cohesion between the three policies. Hence, it helps to identify five key issues in translating these policies to practise for and provides suggestions. Our study indicates that the NHPs in India need to be released frequently while incorporating tools of accountability, need to generate evidence on which policy decisions can be made, need to be inter-sectoral, but coordinated within different agencies of the government and need to have cohesion with budgetary allocations for allowing a better analysis.
Artificial Intelligence: A Strategic Disruption in Public Relations
Authors: Panda Geetanjali , Upadhyay Ashwani Kumar , Khandelwal Komal
Published: September 2019

This article discusses the concept, benefits, application, impact and role of artificial intelligence (AI) in public relations (PR) industry. It examines the application of AI-based systems and their role as strategic disruption in the PR industry. This article is based on qualitative semi-structured interviews of 31 PR professionals and is grounded in the insights from the review of relevant research papers, articles, and case studies. It highlights the developments in research and practice related to AI application in the PR industry. AI-powered systems can scan social media and are smart, intelligent and experts in handling queries. These AI-enabled systems can post responses on social media in real time for the client and manage the crisis. With AI, PR professionals can save time spent on mundane activities like creating media lists, scheduling meetings and sending follow-up emails. Mass personalization and customization using AI are improving the effectiveness of PR activities. It is too early to say whether AI will act as strategic disruption in the PR industry. Based on the insights and discussion in this article, the PR professionals and researchers can make decisions on whether to invest in AI tools and solutions.
Multilevel Factors Associated With Pregnancy-Related Health Behaviors in Indonesia: Evidence From the 2007, 2012, and 2017 Indonesian Demographic Health Surveys
Authors: Hardhantyo Muhammad , Chuang Ying-Chih
Published: September 2019

Indonesia has one of the highest maternal mortality rates among Southeast Asia countries. Mothers’ pregnancy-related behaviors were proven to be the major determinants of maternal mortality. This study attempted to measure individual- and community-level factors that contribute to pregnancy-related health behaviors among Indonesian women. This study used representative nationwide survey samples among women aged 15 to 49 years from the Indonesian Demographic Health Survey in the years 2007 (N = 15 314), 2012 (N = 15 197), and 2017 (N = 15 300). Generalized linear mixed models were constructed to simultaneously analyze relationships of pregnancy-related health behaviors with other individual- and community-level explanatory factors. We found that women’s educational level, household wealth index, insurance status, access to health facilities, geographic location, general health condition, pregnancy intentions, and community-level socioeconomic status were significantly associated with different outcome behaviors. The findings of this study suggest that future policies should focus on both individual- and community-level factors to improve women’s pregnancy-related behaviors.
Evaluation of Congenital Maxillary Growth Using Computed Tomography in Patients With Bilateral Cleft Lip and Palate
Authors: Kobayashi Shinji , Yasumura Kazunori , Hirakawa Takashi , Fukawa Toshihiko , Maegawa Jiro
Published: September 2019

Objective:

To analyze congenital lateral maxillary growth for patients with bilateral cleft lip and palate (BCLP).

Design:

A retrospective study.

Setting:

Kanagawa Children’s Medical Center.

Materials:

Images from computed tomography (CT) of patients with BCLP and control patients that were previously used for treatment.

Main Outcome Measures:

The following landmarks were used: A, the posterior most point of the piriform aperture; B, the superior most point of the acoustic meatus; C, the point at which line A-B intersects the line drawn perpendicular from line A-B to the maxillary tuberosity; and D, the apical most point of the nasal bone. The following distances were then measured using these landmarks: (1) A-B distance; (2) A-C distance; (3) A-C/A-B; (4) the angle between lines A-B and A-D (∠BAD); and (5) B-D distance.

Result:

Mean A-B and A-C distances and A-C/A-B were significantly smaller in the BCLP group than in the control group ( P < .01 each). Mean ∠BAD was significantly larger in the BCLP group than in the control group ( P < .01). Mean B-D distance did not differ significantly between groups.

Conclusions:

Our results indicated that the lateral maxillary segments of patients with BCLP were more posterior than those of the control group, and segment length was shorter compared to the control group on 3D-CT analysis. The lateral maxillary segments of patients with BCLP were basically suggested to originally be underdeveloped.
Health Risks and Outcomes of Homelessness in School-Age Children and Youth: A Scoping Review of the Literature
Authors: Gultekin Laura E. , Brush Barbara L. , Ginier Emily , Cordom Alexandra , Dowdell Elizabeth B.
Published: September 2019

Despite reports that over 1.3 million school-age children (ages 5–18) were homeless in 2019, little is known about the effects of homelessness on their overall health and well-being. To better understand where gaps exist, a scoping review of the literature was conducted to identify studies of the physical, mental, and behavioral health risks and outcomes of school-age children experiencing homelessness or housing instability. Following the Joanna Briggs Institute framework and Preferred Reporting Items (PRISMA) guidelines, seven electronic databases were searched using key words: homelessness, children, health, and well-being. Of the 4,372 records, 23 articles met inclusion criteria. Most examined mental health and high-risk activities or behavioral risks related to school achievement. Few studies tracked the long-term health outcomes of homeless school-age children. Findings have implications for school nurses who have contact with children experiencing homelessness and are in position to intervene to prevent negative health sequelae in this vulnerable population.
Distribution characteristics and source analysis of metal elements in indoor PM2.5 in high-rise buildings during heating season in Northeast China
Authors: Bai Li , He Zijian , Chen Wanyue , Wang Yujie
Published: September 2019

This study aims to investigate whether sources of metal elements in fine particulate matter and their distribution in high-rise buildings vary with floor levels. Inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) was used to determine the contents of 11 common heavy metals in PM2.5 samples collected from different floors of a high-rise residential building in Northeast China during the heating season. The sources of metal elements in PM2.5 samples on different floors were analysed by the enrichment factor method and the principal component analysis method. The concentration of metal elements is higher in lower floors (<7th floor) and lower in higher floors (>7th floor). The enrichment factor method shows that the enrichment factors of As, Cd, Cu and Pb may be seriously affected by human sources, while the enrichment factors of the other seven metals are less than 10, indicating that their sources may be natural sources. The principal component analysis shows that the main sources of indoor metal elements in high-rise residential buildings are divided into four main components, including coal combustion (31.44%), automobile emissions and transportation (21.60%), soil dust, particulate matter discharged from agricultural production and atmospheric dust (13.43%), metallurgical, chemical and ore mining (12.61%).
Intensive mothering in hard times: Foucauldian ethical self-formation and cruel optimism
Authors: Cappellini Benedetta , Harman Vicki , Marilli Alessandra , Parsons Elizabeth
Published: September 2019

Discourses of intensive mothering now seem to dominate European and American parenting cultures. This is a problem for those mothers who do not currently possess the resources to match up. In a study of Italian and British mothers who are experiencing low or reduced incomes, we observe the ways in which they internalize intensive mothering discourses through a process of ethical self-formation. This mode of self-formation involves detailed self-surveillance and self-discipline and abnegation of their own needs in place of other individual family members, and the family as a whole. We find a series of contradictory emotional effects which generate both pride and self-worth but also stress and anxiety. We advance the theory that mothers operate within an optimistic affective regime to make sense of these contradictory effects and retain a sense of agency and control over their lives and those of their families. However, drawing on Berlant’s concept of cruel optimism, we argue that such affective regimes may be very pernicious in their effects, only serving to hold mothers in a relation that is ultimately impassable and often unfulfilling.
Clinical Supervision in Child Protection Practice: A Review of the Literature
Authors: Karpetis George
Published: September 2019

Aiming to identify the mechanisms generating positive clinical supervision outcomes in child protection, this narrative review provides an in-depth analysis of the theories underpinning clinical supervision in the latest child protection literature. The conceptual analysis of 28 peer-reviewed journal articles highlighted the presence of the psychodynamic, managerialist, critical, behavioral, systemic, humanistic, and eclectic theoretical perspectives. Implicit theoretical eclecticism permeated most of the publications examined. This eclecticism resulted in confusing child protection practices as different theories require different practice techniques and result in different practice outcomes. The study found that half of the publications exclusively adopted the critical and managerialist theoretical perspectives that undervalue the impact of internal factors in the behaviors of families and practitioners. Despite the fact that all the publications acknowledged the centrality of emotions in supervision, only the psychodynamic theoretical perspective elaborated on the precise process through which emotions are conceptualized in clinical supervision. Because most of the publications neither identified the operationalization process nor evaluated any clinical supervision outcomes, questions arise about the theoretical robustness and essentially the effectiveness of child protection practice itself. Therefore, a need emerges for case studies to explore the process through which theory-bound clinical supervision practices generate effective child protection outcomes.
Prognostic Value of mRNA Expression of MAP4K Family in Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Authors: Bai Zhenjie , Yao Qingmei , Sun Zhongyi , Xu Fang , Zhou Jicheng
Published: September 2019

Background:

Despite diverse functions in diseases, the prognostic potential of the family of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase kinase genes in acute myeloid leukemia remains unknown.

Methods:

The messenger RNA expression of the MAP4K family members in 151 patients with acute myeloid leukemia was extracted from the OncoLnc database. Data for gender, age, cytogenetic, leukocyte count, CD34, FAB classification, RUNX1, and TP53 were provided by the University of California–Santa Cruz Xena platform. Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox regression model provided an estimate of the hazard ratio with 95% confidence intervals for overall survival.

Results:

Analysis demonstrated favorable overall survival in patients with acute myeloid leukemia attributing to high expression of MAP4K3, MAP4K4, and MAP4K5 and low expression of MAP4K1 (adjusted P = .005, P = .022, P = .002, and P = .024; adjusted hazard ratio = 0.490, 95% confidence interval = 0.297-0.809, hazard ratio = 0.598, 95% confidence interval = 0.385-0.928, hazard ratio = 0.490, 95% confidence interval = 0.310-0.776, and hazard ratio = 0.615, 95% confidence interval = 0.403-0.938, respectively). Combining the high-expressing MAP4K3, MAP4K4, and MAP4K5 with the low-expressing MAP4K1 in a joint effect analysis predicted a favorable prognosis of overall survival in acute myeloid leukemia.

Conclusion:

High expression of MAP4K3, MAP4K4, and MAP4K5 combined with low expression of MAP4K1 can serve as a sensitive tool to predict favorable overall survival in patients with acute myeloid leukemia.
The Issue of “Context”: Data, Culture, and Commercial Context in Social Media Ethics
Authors: Özkula Suay Melisa
Published: September 2019

One of the central concerns in research ethics in recent years has been the vast amount of data available from social media platforms and the related concerns around what establishes an ethical use of data. Toward addressing these challenges, researchers have therefore called for the consideration of “context” in Internet research. However, context remains a fuzzy concept and little guidance exists on its different dimensions. In response to this issue, this article uses worked examples from three data sets to discuss three different dimensions of “context”: data context, cultural context, and commercial context. The article problematizes these dimensions and offers suggestions toward creating ethical sensibility to these by drawing on two data sets from 2017: (a) climate change imagery scraped from five social platforms and (b) digital-ethnographic work at the climate summit COP23.
The evolving roles of Operating Department Practitioners in contemporary healthcare: A service evaluation
Authors: Lowes Rebecca , Duxbury Angela , Garth Andrew
Published: September 2019

A mixed method study was undertaken to capture quantitative and qualitative data in relation to the contemporary roles and skills of Operating Department Practitioners. The data provide evidence that Operating Department Practitioners take opportunities to widen their knowledge skills and practice, with over 37% of the sample completing a mentorship qualification and 14% having completed or studying towards a postgraduate or Master’s Degree. The study provides evidence of the development in the roles of the Operating Department Practitioner and suggests that Operating Department Practitioners offer an eclectic mix of skills which are delivered in a variety of clinical settings. It is recognised that Operating Department Practitioners have the potential to further improve patient safety and service delivery in roles other than those historically associated with the profession.
A novel method to teach and assess the sterility of donning sterile gloves
Authors: Lloyd R , Ruiz-Herrero A
Published: September 2019

Sterility is of utmost importance during surgery, particularly orthopaedic surgery. The literature suggests sterility, when compromised, is frequently contaminated at the point of donning sterile gowns and gloves. We describe a novel method to assess the compliance of sterility whilst applying surgical gloves using an ultraviolet lightbox and an ultraviolet-sensitive ‘Germ paint’. We carried out an audit of ‘sterility’ using this method with our surgical trainees. A subsequent educational programme described methods of glove-donning. Repeat assessment yielded significantly improved results. Educating staff using this method may improve sterility in theatre. We believe this is a novel method to teach and assess sterility during glove-donning. The equipment is readily accessible within each NHS hospital. Medical and theatre staff should use this as part of training and departmental induction programmes.
Knowledge Hiding Behaviors and Team Creativity: The Contingent Role of Perceived Mastery Motivational Climate
Authors: Bari Muhammad Waseem , Abrar Muhammad , Shaheen Sadia , Bashir Mohsin , Fanchen Meng
Published: September 2019

The present study explains how different factors of knowledge hiding (e.g., evasive, playing dumb, and rationalized) influence on team creativity. Drawn on social exchange theory, the present study theorizes that factors of knowledge hiding have a negative relationship with team creativity, and absorptive capacity mediates this relationship. In addition, the perceived mastery motivational climate (PMMC) as a moderator attenuates the negative relationship between factors of knowledge hiding and team creativity. Study 1, an investigation (through the experience sampling method) from 41 participants of social media, confirms the existence of knowledge hiding practices in Pakistan. Study 2 applied a partial least squares, structural equation modeling approach on randomly selected time lag data of 282 respondents from state-owned universities of Pakistan. Results show that evasive hiding and playing dumb have a significant negative relationship with team creativity; however, rationalized hiding does not affect significantly on team creativity. The absorptive capacity also does not mediate the relationship between factors of knowledge hiding and team creativity. The PMMC attenuates the negative influence of evasive hiding and playing dumb on team creativity; however, the PMMC does not moderate the influence of rationalized hiding on team creativity. The implications and future research directions are discussed in the last section of this study.
Components Affecting Intention to Use Online Dating Apps in India: A Study Conducted on Smartphone Users
Authors: Chakraborty Debarun
Published: September 2019

Online dating apps have a potential market throughout the world. India is also trying to capture this particular market through various apps like Tinder, Woo, TrulyMadly and so on. The different literatures have been analysed from various sources to find out the factors influencing the use online dating apps. This particular study has identified few key elements, which is motivating the online dating app users in India. A total of 296 samples have been selected from college goers and young professionals with the help of structured questionnaire. Simple random sampling has been used to conduct the study, and from all the metro cities, the responses have been collected. The multiple regression analysis has been used to find out the impact of factors towards utilising dating apps. Playfulness is the most impactful factor when compared to others. The study has also found that trust does not have any impact towards utilising dating apps. The study also implies that consumers mainly enjoy the dating apps, and they have very less trustworthiness towards these apps. The study is unique in nature as very few studies till date have been conducted in India.
Patient-related Workload Prediction in the Emergency Department: A Big Data Approach
Authors: Wang Xiaomei , Blumenthal H. Joseph , Hoffman Daniel , Benda Natalie , Kim Tracy , Perry Shawna , Franklin Ella S. , Roth Emilie M. , Hettinger A. Zachary , Bisantz Ann M.
Published: September 2019

This research is a first stage in developing a method for modeling the clinician workload associated with an emergency medicine patient in order to display workload for purposes of managing clinician workload and emergency department (ED) flow. We proposed a multi-stage approach of predicting patient-related drivers of clinician’s workload in the emergency department. We trained the model from one month of electronic health record data (EHR) records of an ED. The model predicts the amount of work that individual patients contribute to the workload of clinicians. It can potentially help to manage clinician workload by supporting the decision of assigning new patients.