Removal Of Barriers Research Articles

Barriers and resilience: The impact of early marriage on girls’ education in Balochistan

Early child marriage is still prevalent in many parts of the world today, especially in areas like Balochistan, where this paper found cultural and socioeconomic factors play an influential role in early marriage. The purpose of this qualitative research is to examine the effect of early marriage on the education of young girls in Balochistan. Guided by the intersectionality framework and gender role theory, this research explores the educational disruption and psychosocial implications, as well as the community and family pressures undergone by these girls, with 10 participants interviewed. The evidence presented shows that regardless of the education achieved prior to marriage, girls drop out of school at the moment they get married and, depending on the custom, continue their education either sparingly or not at all, as their responsibilities shift to housekeeping and child raising. On self-perceived psychosocial impact, participants mentioned isolation, loss of self-esteem, and increased psychological stress as some of the major effects. The challenges were, however, compounded by social and cultural dictating that education for married girls was unnecessary as they were already expected to be wives and future mothers; in-laws also added to this by rejecting the girl’s education. Still, in these circumstances, the participants’ spirit and desire for change remained high; most of them wanted to go back to school if only they had a chance. Such findings underscore the importance of developing the appropriate programs and services that would facilitate the removal of barriers educationally and psychologically facing young married girls. This study has established the need to educate married girls and supply all the necessary encouragement they need to combat the difficulties that early marriage brings.

General trends in the transformation of traditional spiritual art in the culture of Ukraine

The purpose of this article is to examine compre-hensive trends in the transformation of traditional spiritual art of Ukraine. Academic research of this issue will help to reveal the development trajectory of traditional spiritual art in Ukrainian culture. An academic resolution of the defined issue will help to reveal the developmental trajectory of traditional art in the context of the interconnection between the established traditions and innovative processes.The main methodological tool for the study of the mentioned problem consists of summarizing the experience of empirical and theoretical research on specific aspects of the development of traditional art in Ukraine.The result of the research presented in the article. This study outlines the main patterns in the transformations of traditional spiritual art among the population of Ukraine, spanning from ancient times to the present, in the context of the interconnection between tradition and innovative processes. Until the advent of the modern era, the most distinct artistic artifacts in the traditional spiritual culture of this region’s inhabitants conveyed the creators’ reflections on phenomena of the “higher” world through artistic forms. However, at each stage of the traditional spiritual art development, various challenges arose, prompting transformations. Notably, throughout the XX century, these changes accelerated significantly. Since the late 1920s, due to the impact of Bolshevik ideology on rural culture, its spiritual component also began gradually evolve, particularly in the eastern and central regions of our country, comparing to previous decades. Ukraine’s attainment of independence and the removal of ideological barriers imposed by the Soviet regime significantly expanded intercultural connections and partnerships between Ukrainian artists and their international counterparts. The beginning of the XXI century was marked, on the one hand, by the expansion and deepening of globalization processes, which lead to the unification of various aspects of social and cultural life and substantially contribute to crises surrounding national identity. In contrast, there has been a growing interest in the unique features of Ukrainian culture and an effort to adapt the traditions of national art to new conditions.The process of transformation is also examined within the system of art’s functioning, with a notable emphasis on the activation of its sacred and prestige-reputational functions.The scientific novelty. The scientific novelty of this publication lies in the attempt to present a comprehensive view of certain aspects of folk-art existence, highlighting the unity and interconnection of its traditional characte-ristics and innovations.The practical significance. The results of this study can be used in the educational process for teaching courses within the fields of cultural studies and art history.

Evaluating the readiness for river barrier removal: A scoping review under the EU nature restoration law.

The European Union's Biodiversity Strategy 2030, reinforced by the new Nature Restoration Law, targets restoring a minimum of 25,000km of 'free-flowing rivers' by 2030. Central to this endeavor is the imperative to restore natural longitudinal and lateral connectivity of rivers and floodplains. Focused on scrutinizing data, methods, and tools employed in published studies from 2000 to 2023, our literature review reveals both encouraging developments and significant challenges at pan-European and regional scales to prioritize barriers for removal. Positive advancements include notable efforts in (i) data collection for a diverse range of taxa, and (ii) barrier data acquisition over the past two decades. Additionally, (iii) robust prioritization algorithms have been established. However, there remain significant challenges in applying these frameworks consistently across diverse geographical regions. We identified knowledge gaps in the (iv) quality of the available data, emphasizing the need for more accurate information on barrier characteristics, (v) the lack of inclusion of social aspects, and (vi) the need for expanding the focus beyond commercially significant species. We conclude that the absence of unified efforts, along with disparities in data and the lack of clear objectives for the restoration of free-flowing rivers, pose a significant constraint. It is essential to further acknowledge the necessity to address the opportunity costs, culturally important freshwater species, and climate change impacts. Collaborative solutions based on clear objectives are required to apply the ambitious goals of restoring free-flowing rivers in the context of the Nature Restoration Law.

Trends and problems in the sustainable modernisation of residential buildings

Sustainable building modernisation is an important step towards reducing the negative environmental impact of buildings, reducing energy consumption in existing residential buildings, creating more comfortable and functional living conditions, and improving their technical condition. Unfortunately, this is a burdensome, time-consuming and costly process that requires difficult decision-making. They must reasonably enable the intended sustainability goals to be achieved. Bearing this in mind, the article presents research on the issue of modernisation residential buildings. The aim is to provide up-to-date knowledge aimed at supporting modernisation decision-making. A study of the literature shows that research on sustainable modernisation of residential buildings is very extensive and unsystematic. Research areas include issues focused primarily on environmental and economic sustainability goals. More and more research is being conducted towards modernisation that takes into account wider social needs. Recent research points to the need to implement more holistic modernisation scenarios that meet a broader set of sustainability goals and criteria and that involve more stakeholders at earlier stages of modernisation. However, achieving sustainable building goals requires decision support for contrasting objectives when selecting optimal modernisation strategies. Therefore, increasingly better and more efficient tools, methods and decision support systems are being developed that provide systematic approaches for carrying out sustainable building modernisations. Building renovation decisions also require the identification and removal of barriers to modernisation and the skilful management of the various types of knowledge in terms of its creation, processing and use, providing the various stakeholders with appropriately processed knowledge during the residential modernisation stage.

Success of an exotic snail Physella acuta in anthropogenically impacted Patagonian streams

The expansion of exotic species is one of the greatest threats to biodiversity and is a significant component of global change that occurs at increasing rates due to the removal of natural barriers and the global transport of species. The snail Physella acuta, has expanded into numerous aquatic environments worldwide, given a set of traits that allows the species to thrive in new and harsh environments. This study documents changes in the composition and structure of the malacofauna and examines the presence of established and expanding populations of P. acuta in the Esquel-Percy basin (Patagonia, Argentina), which has been altered by wastewater treatment plants discharges (WWTPs). The population density of P. acuta in the studied area increased from less than 15 ind/m2 in 2005 to 1800 ind/m2 in 2016-2017. This species was the dominant mollusk at the two post-urban sites, under poor environmental conditions. Understanding the introduction pathways of exotic species to prevent and control their establishment and spread is essential since biological invasions constitute a major threat to freshwater ecosystems.

On-demand treatment of hereditary angioedema attacks: Patient-reported utilization, barriers, and outcomes.

Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is clinically characterized by recurrent attacks of subcutaneous and submucosal swelling. To investigate real-world timing, potential barriers, and impact of delaying on-demand treatment (OD) of HAE attacks. Patients with HAE (type I or II) aged 12 years or older with more than or equal to 1 treated (Treated Cohort) or untreated (Untreated Cohort) attack in the past 3 months were recruited by the US HAE Association. Respondents completed a 20-minute, self-reported, online survey about their last HAE attack. In the Treated Cohort (n = 94), of the 67% who reported treating their attack early, only 26% administered OD in less than 1 hour. Furthermore, 79% (n = 74) reported treatment-related anxiety, which correlated with treatment delay. Time to treatment paralleled changes in attack severity (33% mild attacks treated in <1 hour vs 67% in ≥1 hour, progressed to moderate/severe) and mean duration (<1 hour: 0.7 day; >8 hours: 2.7 days). In the Untreated Cohort (n = 20), 50% of the respondents describing their last untreated attack as mild experienced progression to moderate or severe and 25% reported spread to another site including the larynx and face. Untreated attacks lasted a mean of 2.3 days. The disparity between survey respondents' perception of treating early and actual time to OD administration is striking. Treatment-related anxiety was a common reason for delaying OD. Increased treatment intervals translated into progression of HAE attack severity, duration, and spread to other sites. Suboptimal management of attacks intensifies the HAE disease burden, underscoring the need for improved treatment options, guidance, and removal of OD administration barriers.

Severe bronchiolitis before and after the COVID-19 pandemic: a retrospective database analysis by the Italian Network of PICU study group (TIPNet)

BackgroundThe first post-COVID-19 pandemic year demonstrated an unusual bronchiolitis epidemic in both hemispheres and has been attributed to the removal of barriers implemented during SARS-CoV-2 infection. Several countries reported an increase in respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) bronchiolitis, with more hospitalizations and a greater need for respiratory support. We aimed to evaluate the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on the epidemiology and management of severe bronchiolitis in pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) in Italy.MethodsMulticenter, retrospective, cohort database analysis. All children younger than 24 months admitted to 7 PICUs from October 2017 to April 2023 diagnosed with bronchiolitis were included. We compared patients from pre-COVID and post-COVID eras, excluding patients from the 2020–2021 season due to low numbers. Logistic regression models were used to assess the impact of the pre-/post-COVID period on the need for invasive ventilation.ResultsSeven hundred fifteen patients were admitted to PICU during the study period, 451 patients pre-COVID and 251 patients post-COVID. Patients in the post-COVID group were older, had more comorbidities, and had higher Pediatric Index of Mortality scores at admission but the need for respiratory support was not significantly different. There was high variability in bronchiolitis management across centers. Presenting pre-COVID was protective against the risk of mechanical ventilation, adjusted for age and disease severity at admission (OR 0.38, 95% CI 0.16–0.89), while RSV infection increased the risk of intubation (OR 2.49, 95% CI 1.1–5.63).ConclusionsPICUs have faced an unexpected peak of significantly more severe cases of bronchiolitis after the COVID-19 pandemic, which did not require increased respiratory support.

PRIORITY DIRECTIONS OF CREATING A BARRIER-FREE ENVIRONMENT IN PENAL INSTITUTIONS AND DETENTION CENTERS IN THE ASSESSMENT OF EMPLOYEES OF THE STATE CRIMINAL-EXECUTIVE SERVICE OF UKRAINE

The study is dedicated to finding out the vision of employees of penal institutions and pretrial detention centers of the State Criminal-Executive Service of Ukraine, whose duties are related to working with people with disabilities, priority directions for creating a barrier-free environment in penal institutions and pretrial detention centers. Eighty-eight research participants were united into four focus groups; the task of each was, based on their own work experience, assessments the relevance of problems related to the maintenance of persons with disabilities in the penal institutions, as well as the available capabilities of the institutions, to form a list the most priority directions and methods of barrier-free environment creation. The content analysis and generalization of the obtained data showed that additional socio-psychological support, removal of physical barriers on the territory and in the buildings of institutions, and ensuring the availability of physical support services by specially trained personnel and other convicts turned out to be the most priority areas of barrier-free implementation in the participants’ evaluations. At the same time, several important directions, such as the elimination of informational, economic, and educational barriers, were not included in the lists of most groups, which, according to the authors, may indicate both an underestimation of these components of barrier-freeness by the study participants and lack of opportunities for their implementation. Development of psychological and pedagogical programs and formation of the readiness of the State Criminal-Executive Service staff and selected convicts to provide physical support services to persons with disabilities, including barrier-free communication skills, monitoring the special needs of convicts and prisoners with disabilities, according to the authors, along with other measures, will contribute to the purposeful implementation of the Strategy for the introduction of barrier-free access in places of deprivation of liberty. Key words: barrier-free environment, prisoners and convicts, penal institutions and pretrial detention centers, staff of the State Criminal-Executive Service of Ukraine.

Improving access to gene therapies: a holistic view of current challenges and future policy solutions in the United States.

Gene therapies hold the promise of delivering groundbreaking improvements in health outcomes for previously intractable diseases.These therapies possess unique characteristics that differ from traditional small molecule or biologic treatments, posing new challenges for healthcare stakeholders. While previous analyses have predominantly focused on the payment challenges associated with emerging gene therapies, a more holistic examination reveals numerous obstacles that currently hinder optimal patient access. In the United States (US), these include production and distribution issues, logistical and treatment administration challenges and coverage and reimbursement limitations imposed by US healthcare payers. Several opportunities exist to address these challenges and improve patient access, including the use of appropriate value assessment methods, the development of innovative payment solutions, the removal of inappropriate access barriers imposed by payers and improving education and awareness regarding treatment availability, benefits and risks. Moving forward, we must collectively strive for comprehensive policy and market solutions that are sensitive to the uniqueness of gene therapies to ensure their full potential is realized and these treatments are made available to those in need.

Structural Decomposition of the Economic Growth in the Croatian Economy

Abstract Croatia has been falling behind more successful new member states and belongs to the group of the least developed EU economies. After joining the EU, the availability of European structural funds, the removal of all trade barriers, and the strong growth of the tourism sector resulted in accelerating growth rates. This paper aims to decompose the total economic growth in the Croatian economy in the 2010-2018 period into the effect of increasing demand and technology improvements. The study is based on the structural decomposition analysis, which is the extension of the input-output model and has been widely used in previous studies in many economies to identify the driving forces of economic growth over a certain period. Based on empirical results, it can be concluded that the total final demand effects related to the increase in the total expenditures on the total economy level have been three times more intensive than the effects of technological change. It is estimated that the increase in final demand positively affected economic activity in each sector, while the distribution of technological change effects significantly varies. The highest positive impacts of technological change are found in the manufacturing, agri-food, and hospitality sectors. On the other hand, adverse effects of technological change are found in energy products, trade and transport, and various personal and business services. Significant variations are found in the growth dynamics of manufacturing sectors. The highest cumulative growth in 2010-2018 has been recorded in the production of computers and electronics, furniture, machinery and equipment, and wood products. In the case of computers, machinery, and furniture, the main effects are related to the product mix effects. At the same time, the economic growth of the wood industry is primarily the result of technological effects and increased participation in the supply chain of other industries.

Enhancing hydrologic LiDAR digital elevation models: Bridging hydrographic gaps at fine scales

AbstractHigh‐resolution digital elevation models (HRDEMs), derived from LiDAR, are widely used for mapping hydrographic details in flat terrains. However, artificial flow barriers, particularly from roads, elevate terrain and prematurely end flowlines. Drainage barrier processing (DBP), such as HRDEM excavation, is employed to address this issue. However, there is a gap in quantitatively assessing the impact of DBP on HRDEM‐derived flowlines, especially at finer scales. This study fills that gap by quantitatively assessing how DBP improves flowline quality at finer scales. We evaluated HRDEM‐derived flowlines that were generated using different flow direction algorithms, developing a framework to measure the effects of flow barrier removal. The results show that the primary factor influencing flowline quality is the presence of flow accumulation artifacts. Quality issues also stem from differences between natural and artificial flow paths, unrealistic flowlines in flat areas, complex canal networks, and ephemeral drainage ways. Notably, the improvement achieved by DBP is demonstrated to be more than 6%, showcasing its efficacy in reducing the impact of flow barriers on hydrologic connectivity.

Positive effects from the introduction of fully subsidised nicotine replacement therapy in Ireland

Abstract Smoking remains a leading cause of preventable death in the Europe. Despite recent declines in prevalence, the adverse health and economic effects of smoking are felt disproportionately by disadvantaged groups. Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) is well established as an effective smoking cessation aid; however, its financial cost may act as a barrier to uptake. In February 2023, eligibly for fully subsidised NRT was expanded to all users of smoking cessation services in Ireland. This study evaluated the impact of universal access to NRT on smoking cessation. This study utilised secondary analysis of routinely collected data from service users attending Irish smoking cessation services. Individuals were followed for twelve weeks. Changes in self-reported quit status and NRT use were analysed before (January 2021 - February 2023) and after (March 2023 - December 2023) the introduction of fully subsidised NRT. Logistic regression modelling identified factors associated with smoking cessation. The total number of participants was 19,717. There was higher uptake of NRT among service users who were eligible for free NRT (59% vs 40%, p &amp;lt; 0.001) and higher quit rates at four (41% vs 29%, p &amp;lt; 0.001) and twelve (29% vs 20%, p &amp;lt; 0.001) weeks. Logistic regression models demonstrated that NRT use was significantly associated with smoking cessation at four (aOR 1.88, 95%CI 1.47 - 2.41) and twelve (aOR 1.76, 95%CI 1.37 - 2.28) weeks. This study confirms the effectiveness of NRT in an Irish context and illustrates the benefits of universal access to this life saving medicine. Targeted interventions are required to intensify services offered to disadvantages groups if the ambitious objectives of Tobacco Endgame are to be achieved. These findings represent an urgent call to action for European policy makers to deliver equitable access to NRT across the continent. Such action can transform the public health landscape and help bring us closer to achieving a tobacco free Europe. Key messages • This study confirms the real-world effectiveness of NRT use as a smoking cessation aid. • The removal of financial barriers is associated with increased NRT use and successful smoking cessation.

The Carnage of Hopes: Appropriating Movements to Sustain Educational Apartheid

The article begins with South Africa as a false metaphor for racial progress, clarifying how the removal of apartheid policies ultimately justifies ongoing anti-Black structures that reinforce societal segregation. While educational sectors appropriate movements to decolonise racially disparate systems, minor educational reforms proliferate across the globe under the notion that tinkering towards a better world is transformative. By presenting three US-based examples of symbolic progress and retrenchment that model critical race theory’s notion of interest convergence, this article shows how each racialised improvement effort ultimately maintains apartheid conditions. Examples include: (a) The appropriation of the US-based Movement for Black Lives, including a focus on defunding the police instead of abolition and eradication of the school-to-prison pipeline; (b) an appropriation of efforts to increase educator diversity, including a focus on racial representation rather than the removal of structural barriers; and (c) the appropriation of US-based ethnic studies movements, including a dismissal of student demands and denial of the need for ethnic-studies prepared teachers of colour to teach ethnic studies. These systemic appropriations continue apartheid conditions, enabling schools to perpetuate intersectional racism as an intentional outcome, and offer stark warnings about countries aiming to decolonise educational systems while maintaining the infrastructures of anti-Blackness.

The non-oil sector of the Republic of Azerbaijan’s economy: Prospects and directions for development within the framework of contemporary economic policy

This study aimed to evaluate the critical variables and techniques that facilitate the sustainable development of Azerbaijan’s non-oil economic sector. The contribution of the non-oil sector to Azerbaijan’s economic development amid global transformations and economic concerns was examined. The focus was on diversifying the economy and reducing dependence on oil revenues, which is a major step towards sustainable economic growth. The study found that the development of sectors such as agriculture, industry, and services, contributes to the creation of new sources of income and ensures economic stability. The advancement of the non-oil sector is crucial for job creation, bolstering small and medium-sized firms, and enhancing the living conditions of the populace, particularly in rural and isolated regions. The study stressed that agriculture and tourism can benefit substantially from the introduction of innovative technologies and infrastructure modernisation. The non-oil sector’s contribution to the economy is evident in the enhancement of transport and logistics infrastructure, facilitating the increase of export potential. The development of quality services in areas such as healthcare, education, and tourism, also contributes to improving the social well-being of citizens and enhancing the country’s international competitiveness. The findings of the study showed that further development of the non-oil sector requires active investment, improvement of the business climate, and removal of administrative barriers. Diversification of the economy, development of innovative solutions, and infrastructure modernisation are the key factors contributing to Azerbaijan’s sustainable economic growth in the long term

Breaking the mold when organizing: Disability inclusion and countercultural practices

This paper explores the potential and limits of countercultural practices in reshaping arts-based approaches to disability inclusion, as increasingly advocated by alternative and community-based organizations. Adopting the framework of crip theory, the study focuses on the use of noise music in a French association of alternative organizations dedicated to mutual aid. We find that countercultural practices in that context rework disability inclusion in three ways: (1) By considering accessibility as not merely the removal of barriers, but also as a cultural transformation characterized by friction; (2) By emphasizing the importance of disharmony to challenge normalizing and assimilatory expectations related to the climate of inclusion; (3) By fostering economic eccentricity that shifts the valorization of disability from an individual to a collective level. We consider these practices as examples of an approach that overcomes the simple inclusion/exclusion dichotomy and claims the value of being in the margins. At the same time, these practices are also characterized by an essential tension between margins and center, as they often rely on the very organizational forms they want to counter. We propose the term “dis-including” to conceptualize this ambivalent, as well as contestatory and non-dichotomous character of the countercultural way of practicing inclusion. Dis-including is not a simple way out of marginalization, but a practice that questions established values, shifts the focus from the individual to the collective and requires breaking the mold when organizing. We therefore highlight the potential of dis-including to reshape mainstream notions of disability inclusion, extending beyond alternative organizations.

The Contribution of Green Roofs in the Achievement of Sustainable Development Goals

Green roofs are eco-friendly systems designed to deliver environmental, economic and social benefits while they enhance the aesthetic appeal of buildings. Their construction on rooftop of buildings in urban communities is important for the local residents and the environment. The Sustainable Development Goals are a set of 17 global objectives established by the United Nations in 2015 serving as a blueprint for developing a more sustainable, equitable and prosperous world by 2030, focusing on environmental, economic and social progress. The multiple benefits of green roofs are related with the achievement of the sustainable development goals. Creation of green roofs in urban areas facilitates the achievement of the SDG3 related with good health and well-being as well as SDG11 related with sustainable cities and communities, SDG13 related with climate action and SDG15 related with life on land. Therefore, the development of green roofs in urban areas is very useful and beneficial for the buildings’ residents, the environment and the local community. Due to multiple external benefits of green roofs their construction should be promoted with financial and non-financial incentives by municipal and regional authorities combined with removal of several barriers hindering their adoption and development.

A comprehensive scoping review of global educational strategies and outcomes in aedes-borne disease control

BackgroundAedes mosquito is the primary vector of emerging or re-emerging arboviruses that threaten public health worldwide. Many efforts have been made to develop interventions to control the Aedes mosquito. This scoping review was conducted to identify the nature and scope of educational interventions to prevent and control diseases transmitted through the Aedes mosquito. The findings can be used to evaluate, compare, and develop appropriate control strategies.MethodsThe present scoping review was conducted in 2023 and used Arksey and O’Malley’s approach, which involves five key stages. To search for academic papers, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus and ScienceDirect databases were used with a combination of keywords about Aedes mosquitoes, educational interventions, and disease prevention and control. The search was not limited by the publication date, yet only included studies published in English. Studies were included that reported the educational interventions about Aedes mosquito control at the community or organizational level. The screening of papers was done based on the PRISMA-ScR guideline. Excel 2019 was used for data analysis.ResultsInitially, 3,172 papers were extracted, and after screenings and reviews, a total number of 45 final papers were selected. The studies focused on educational interventions. Twenty interventional studies were at the organizational level and 25 at the community level. The latter was the most commonly used strategy. Interventions using educational approaches have achieved sustainable results. Out of the forty-five studies, twenty-one were assessed to have a low risk of bias.ConclusionsThe present scoping review evaluates the effectiveness of educational interventions at various community levels for controlling Aedes-borne diseases, emphasizing the need for multidisciplinary collaboration. Controlling Aedes mosquitoes using education and attracting the community’s participation is an effective approach to reduce diseases transmitted through Aedes. The development of education at different levels of the community, such as educational and occupational environments, can play a role in the effectiveness of societal education and can be more cost-effective. Maintaining the effect of this approach is challenging because it requires multi-sector and multidisciplinary team participation and active community engagement over the long term. Further research is required to explore the removal of barriers to the implementation of educational interventions and the consistency of effects.

Cointegration Relationship between Portfolio Investments and Investment Instruments in Türkiye

As a result of globalization, the removal of barriers to international capital has created a source for countries in need of capital. These capital sources referred to as short-term capital movements or simply portfolio investments, provide significant benefits to the economy when they first enter the country. Investment instruments are instruments used by those who have excess capital in their hands in order to make a profit. The aim of this study is to reveal the cointegration relationships between portfolio investments and investment instruments in Türkiye. The motivation for this study is that there are few studies in the literature that examine cointegration relationships between all investment instruments and portfolio investments. The study comprises quarterly data covering the period from 2009Q1 to 2023Q2. The data has been obtained from the CBRT EVDS system. According to the results of ARDL cointegration analysis; there is a cointegration relationship between the variables both in the short and long run. According to these results, in Türkiye, investment instruments do not significantly affect portfolio investments, but portfolio investments significantly affect investment instruments.

Early intervention speech-language pathologists’ beliefs and practices related to assessing dual language learners

IntroductionEarly intervention (EI) speech-language pathologists (SLPs) are required to provide culturally and linguistically responsive assessments for dual language learners (DLLs). However, SLPs consistently report feeling underprepared to assess DLLs and research demonstrates gaps in implementation of best practices in pediatric outpatient and school-based settings. This study was designed to understand EI SLPs’ beliefs and practices related to assessing DLLs referred to early intervention programs. MethodsA total of 132 EI SLPs completed a survey in which they were asked to describe their assessment procedures for a DLL case scenario and were further asked to identify the degree to which they agreed with a variety of assessment practices for assessing DLLs. ResultsResults revealed that EI SLPs’ beliefs aligned with best practices for assessing DLLs. However, substantial gaps exist between EI SLPs’ beliefs and their self-reported practices for assessing DLLs. ConclusionsThese results suggest DLLs may not be receiving evidence-based EI assessments, leading to the potential perpetuation of both over- and under-diagnosis of speech and language delays within this population. Implications include the need to increase the quality of EI SLPs assessment practices through additional training, the removal of systems-level barriers, and the continued need for increased training within preprofessional training programs.

Trade Effects of Non-Tariff Barriers in Tanzania: A Case of the Dar es Salaam-Namanga Busy Border Trade Post

The main objective of this study is to examine and quantify the effects of Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) on cargo trade movement in Tanzania, focusing on the Dar es Salaam-Namanga Border Post. Specifically, the study aims to identify the main administrative or technical requirements along this trade route (both old and new), analyze the regularity of these requirements based on respondents’ feedback, and provide recommendations for mitigating NTBs. The study utilized an empirical survey design, collecting mostly qualitative data on border trade performance and perceived non-tariff barriers. The research was guided by economic theory and targeted formal and informal cross-border traders, transport companies, truck drivers, weighbridge attendants, and customs and revenue authorities. Data was collected through desk research, interviews, questionnaires, and stakeholder consultations. The Dar es Salaam-Namanga route was chosen for its importance as the busiest commercial corridor in the East African Community (EAC). The study employed both probability and non-probability sampling techniques, restricted to the Arusha-Namanga roadway. Four data collection methods were used: desk research, interviews, questionnaires, and stakeholder consultations. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis for qualitative information, and an econometric model based on Newton's gravitational equation (a modified gravity model) was used to quantify trade effects. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was employed for stepwise multiple linear regression analysis. The model's predictive power was tested using an F-test, and it was verified to meet assumptions of linearity, homoscedasticity, and multicollinearity. The results revealed that roadblocks, customs clearance, permits, and road infrastructure significantly affected trade performance. Unethical practices at weighbridges, frequent police checks, and customs procedures lead to monetary losses and time delays for cross-border traders. Bribery, police checks, and unloading processes during inspections were identified as factors contributing to the perception of NTBs as costly and time-consuming. On a positive note, improved road conditions have reduced transportation costs by lowering vehicle repair expenses and decreasing travel time. The study concludes that there is a need for regional cooperation within the EAC to eliminate existing NTBs. It recommends streamlining administrative procedures and working hours at border points, and implementing monitoring systems to ensure the effective removal of unnecessary barriers to trade. These measures are essential to improving trade efficiency and promoting the goals of the re-established East African Community.