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21 – 30 of 33Geming Zhang, Lin Yang and Wenxiang Jiang
The purpose of this study is to introduce the top-level design ideas and the overall architecture of earthquake early-warning system for high speed railways in China, which is…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to introduce the top-level design ideas and the overall architecture of earthquake early-warning system for high speed railways in China, which is based on P-wave earthquake early-warning and multiple ways of rapid treatment.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper describes the key technologies that are involved in the development of the system, such as P-wave identification and earthquake early-warning, multi-source seismic information fusion and earthquake emergency treatment technologies. The paper also presents the test results of the system, which show that it has complete functions and its major performance indicators meet the design requirements.
Findings
The study demonstrates that the high speed railways earthquake early-warning system serves as an important technical tool for high speed railways to cope with the threat of earthquake to the operation safety. The key technical indicators of the system have excellent performance: The first report time of the P-wave is less than three seconds. From the first arrival of P-wave to the beginning of train braking, the total delay of onboard emergency treatment is 3.63 seconds under 95% probability. The average total delay for power failures triggered by substations is 3.3 seconds.
Originality/value
The paper provides a valuable reference for the research and development of earthquake early-warning system for high speed railways in other countries and regions. It also contributes to the earthquake prevention and disaster reduction efforts.
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Graziella Pagliarulo McCarron and Aoi Yamanaka
Strengths-based coaching has emerged in past decades as an asset-based approach that can help individuals identify, harness, and leverage their strengths to achieve professional…
Abstract
Strengths-based coaching has emerged in past decades as an asset-based approach that can help individuals identify, harness, and leverage their strengths to achieve professional and personal goals. This paper shares the design and outcomes of a year-long strengths-based coaching program to support leadership development within the context of one university’s women’s leadership initiative.
Program outcomes and changes in participants’ perceived confidence in identifying and applying their strengths in different contexts were evaluated through an online survey using a Likert-based REDCap survey tool after participation in the program. Findings strongly suggest that most participants lacked the self-confidence and/or self-awareness to recognize their own strengths in a granular way prior to the program. Themes that emerged in the survey findings point to the following program outcomes: participants gained an increased ability to identify and value one’s own leadership strengths, an increased ability to recognize and value the strengths of others, and a supportive community of women leaders to share experiences and reflect on the application of their strengths as part of their leadership journey.
Further studies are needed to understand and measure how a program such as this can impact one’s leader identity, self-awareness, and self-confidence. Given the critical need for women’s leadership opportunities, this program shows promise as a means to strengthen women’s leadership across career stages and disciplines.
This semi‐annotated bibliography (with a focus on feminist activist work) is a project I continually revise. Therefore, please view it as incomplete. If you have any additions…
Abstract
This semi‐annotated bibliography (with a focus on feminist activist work) is a project I continually revise. Therefore, please view it as incomplete. If you have any additions, please write to me at: General College, 280 Appleby Hall, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455. I've put an asterisk next to materials I've found most useful and have separated the bibliography into two sections: regular or irregular periodicals that focus on the Israeli/Palestinian conflict and books that address the conflict.
An aerothermodynamic design code for axisymmetric projectiles has been developed using a viscous‐inviscid interaction scheme. Separate solution procedures for the inviscid and the…
Abstract
An aerothermodynamic design code for axisymmetric projectiles has been developed using a viscous‐inviscid interaction scheme. Separate solution procedures for the inviscid and the viscous (boundary layer) fluid dynamic equations are coupled by an iterative solution procedure. Non‐equilibrium, equilibrium and perfect gas boundary layer equations are included. The non‐equilibrium gas boundary layer equations assume a binary mixture (two species; atoms and molecules) of chemically reacting perfect gases. Conservation equations for each species include finite reaction rates applicable to high temperature air. The equilibrium gas boundary layer equations assume infinite rate reactions, while the perfect gas equations assume no chemical reactions. Projectile near‐wall and surface flow profiles (velocity, pressure, density, temperature and heat transfer) representing converged solutions to both the inviscid and viscous equations can be obtained in less than two minutes on minicomputers. A technique for computing local reverse flow regions is included. Computations for yawed projectiles are accomplished using a coordinate system transformation technique that is valid for small angle‐of‐attack. Computed surface pressure, heat transfer rates and aerodynamic forces and moments for 1.25 &le Mach No. &le 10.5 are compared to wind tunnel and free flight measurements on flat plate, blunt‐cone, and projectile geometries such as a cone‐cylinder‐flare.
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Lisa Chauveron and Daniel Perkins
Empirically‐based programmes are the cornerstone of the prevention science field. Beyond curriculum content and design, several aspects of school‐based prevention and intervention…
Abstract
Empirically‐based programmes are the cornerstone of the prevention science field. Beyond curriculum content and design, several aspects of school‐based prevention and intervention programmes have been found to contribute to their effectiveness, including implementer training, programme fidelity and principal [head teacher] support. The current investigation examined whether the degree of heterogeneity among classroom members (ie. students' racial or ethnic backgrounds, students' neighbourhood socio‐economic status (SES), students' neighbourhood education level and students' neighbourhood immigrant status) influences the effectiveness of the Promoting Alternative Thinking Strategies (PATHS) social and emotional learning programme. The analyses found a relationship between the degree of classroom heterogeneity and students' pre‐test scores on social and emotional variables. Moreover, gender differences were evident on pre‐test scores, reflecting differential baselines. The findings for analysis on classroom heterogeneity as a moderator of the programme's effectiveness in improving students' social and emotional competence were mixed. Future research and policy implications are discussed related to advancing the field and ensuring culturally relevant evidence‐based programming.
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Hesham Metwalli Mousli, Iman El Sayed, Adel Zaki and Sherif Abdelmonem
This study intends to improve the quality of venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis practices including proper VTE risk assessment and the appropriate prophylaxis measures for…
Abstract
Purpose
This study intends to improve the quality of venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis practices including proper VTE risk assessment and the appropriate prophylaxis measures for surgical urology patients.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors applied the Six-Sigma define, measure, analyze, improve and control (DMAIC) improvement methodology in a pre–post interventional study that involved all adult patients above 18 years old indicated and scheduled for urology surgical interventions including endoscopic urological surgeries in a urology specialized 60-bed hospital. The pre-intervention sample included all patients meeting the inclusion criteria over a period of six months. Post-intervention sample included all patients meeting the inclusion criteria over a period of six months. The improvement areas included both the VTE risk assessment as well as the VTE prophylaxis prescription.
Findings
DMAIC methodology has achieved a substantial sustained improvement in surgical urology VTE prophylaxis practices with an average of 70% on both levels; VTE risk assessment practices and VTE prophylaxis prescribing practices were statistically significant. The post-intervention results also showed a statistically controlled process with no special cause variations. Based on the study results, the Six-Sigma DMAIC methodology can be considered of high value when applied in healthcare clinical practice improvement projects.
Research limitations/implications
The project study includes some pitfalls that can be addressed as follows: 1. The lack of VTE rate incidence tracking. This limitation can be partly refuted when the authors conduct a literature review and explore that the VTE prophylaxis effectiveness had been proven with sufficient evidence to an extent that pushed several scientific societies to develop their own guidelines to support VTE prophylaxis. (Algattas et al., 2018). 2. Another limitation of this study can be that it handled only surgical patients and more specifically surgical urology patients. Of course, VTE prophylaxis is a crucial life-threatening problem not only for the surgical admitted patients but also for all the medical admitted patients either in hospital wards or ICUs. However, the prediction that surgical patients especially surgical urology patients are more prone to VTE development risk as they have -in several cases-two or three main additive risk factors which are age, procedure duration and malignancy in elderly men. (Tikkinen et al., 2014). So, the authors consider the study project to be a prototype that hopefully can be utilized for future study projects that will manage both other surgical specialty patients and medical patients on the national level and can track accurately and effectively report the VTE incidence rates.
Practical implications
Several recommendations can be extracted from the research project that is summarized in the following points: Paying focused attention to continuous healthcare quality improvement initiatives and projects as a main approach for healthcare improvement especially for the public health-related problems. This might be achieved through periodic region-specific or specialty-specific focus groups from which public health problems could be addressed and prioritized to be considered as a part of country healthcare campaigns regarding cost-utility and feasibility studies. The adoption of a system thinking approach in dealing with the improvement strategies; all efforts and resources are to be employed to achieve a common objective. This includes the generation of a national-wide electronic health information system that can aid in healthcare resource allocation and direct the healthcare efforts towards the most important, high-priority public health problems. Electronic national-wide health record is really an effort, and resources consuming activity, but actually, it's worth exerting efforts, and its valuable outcomes may be seen several years later. 3. Development of unified national specialized VTE prophylaxis pathways to standardize the patient-specific VTE prophylaxis plans. Standardization of healthcare pathways enables healthcare professionals to follow an evidence-based practice which will be reflected on the improvement of healthcare quality level, cost-effectiveness enhancement, and timely patient care on all levels especially in high critical areas like ER and ICU. 4. Incorporation of VTE prophylaxis costs in the universal health insurance diagnosis-related group (DRG) insurance packages and service pricing. Universal health insurance is a nationwide strategy that is aiming to cover all Egypt residents by the year 2030. Universal health insurance is being following the DRG reimbursement policy that is thought to control all the healthcare-associated costs so, the VTE prophylaxis costs shall be added as the main cost item to encourage all healthcare facilities to follow an evidence-based VTE prophylaxis pathway taking into consideration the high-risk patient categories who will definitely represent a high-cost burden on the long run if they suffer a VTE event.
Originality/value
DMAIC improvement methodology applications in healthcare are still relatively limited, especially on the clinical level. The study can be considered one of a kind in Egypt dealing with a comprehensive DMAIC methodology application on the clinical level.
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Stefanie Salazar, Michel Boivin, Frank Vitaro, Stéphane Cantin, Nadine Forget-Dubois, Mara Brendgen, Ginette Dionne and Richard Tremblay
The purpose of this study was to test a new approach to deviancy training, that is, the shaping and reinforcing of disruptive behaviors in social interaction, which considers not…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study was to test a new approach to deviancy training, that is, the shaping and reinforcing of disruptive behaviors in social interaction, which considers not only reinforcement, but also the modeling processes involved, as well as children's roles as either providers or receivers of the training.
Design/methodology/approach
Using teacher reports and observations from a semi-naturalistic experimental setting with young children, the authors examined the prevalence of provided and received modeling and positive reinforcement, as well as the concurrent contribution of behavior problems on these processes in friendship dyads using a convenience sample of six-year-old twins (N=783; 386 boys). Frequency analyses and linear and logistic regressions were conducted.
Findings
Results indicated that modeling and positive reinforcement – provided and received – were prevalent in this low-risk sample, that behavior problems were associated mainly with provided dimensions, and that deviancy training processes were also displayed between disruptive and non-disruptive children.
Practical implications
Findings are relevant to peer-oriented programs designed to prevent antisocial behaviors. Prevention should target these mixed friendships where deviant behavior likely begins.
Originality/value
This study provides preliminary support for a new measure of deviancy training, underscores the importance of the roles taken by children, and shows that deviancy training takes place between disruptive and non-disruptive young children.
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The purpose of this paper is to explore the differences in preferred supplier choice criteria between food purchasing agents who focus on supplier security and those that do not…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore the differences in preferred supplier choice criteria between food purchasing agents who focus on supplier security and those that do not. Specifically, this research determines the relationship between purchasing agents’ supplier security preferences and their preferences for product quality, delivery reliability, price, and supplier location. The influence of international sourcing on demand for increased supplier security is also explored.
Design/methodology/approach
Choice-based conjoint analysis with hierarchical Bayes (HB) estimation and t-tests are used to assess and compare the utility food purchasing managers derive from different supplier attributes.
Findings
Purchasing managers that place a higher priority on security when choosing suppliers were willing to pay suppliers a higher price and receive lower levels of delivery reliability in return for higher security but placed less emphasis on suppliers’ product quality. Firms that source internationally do not have a significantly greater preference for advanced supplier security. However, purchasing managers that value supplier security were more likely to source internationally, potentially indicating that security allows for global sourcing by mitigating the increased vulnerability inherent to sourcing abroad.
Research limitations/implications
This research was limited by its focus on the food industry and a relatively small sample size.
Practical implications
This work illustrated that food purchasing managers can be segmented by the emphasis they place on security. Food industry managers will find results useful in formulating their future service offerings with respect to security and other supplier choice criteria.
Originality/value
This is one of few works investigating security as a supplier choice criterion and utilizing HB estimation of choice-based conjoint data.
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Halil Ibrahim Cinarbas and Aysegul Daloglu
This case study aims to enrich research on language teacher identity and cognition by detailing the experiences of English language teachers instructing students with visual…
Abstract
Purpose
This case study aims to enrich research on language teacher identity and cognition by detailing the experiences of English language teachers instructing students with visual impairments in Türkiye, exploring the (re)formation of their identity and cognition within this context.
Design/methodology/approach
This study uses a qualitative approach, combining interviews, observations, field notes and legal document analysis. Hiver and Al-Hoorie's (2016) Complexity Theory guides data collection and analysis, supported by MAXQDA software.
Findings
The findings highlight the influences of personal, social, cultural and educational factors on language teacher identity and cognition, with a focus on interactions in preservice education, institutional requirements and instructional methods at the School for the Blind.
Originality/value
This case study provides practical and theoretical insights into language teacher identity and cognition within special education schools, contributing to the broader discourse on diversity in this field.
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