Use Of Best Practices Research Articles

The Efficiency of Applying Preferential Regimes for Small-Sized Businesses in Public Procurement

This study examines the efficiency of preferential procurement regimes for small-sized businesses (SBs) in Russia, using the example of assessing the results of increased procurement standards. The results of statistical and econometric analysis show a rather moderate increase in SB participation in procurement after increasing the standard. At the same time, the overall volume of purchases from SBs remains significantly lower than the standard. It also turns out that savings on purchases from SBs are greater than on other purchases, and this effect persists after increasing the standard, benefiting the state. In this context, it is necessary to strengthen control over the implementation of procurement standards for SBs and to expand the use of best practices in procurement procedures.

Making decisions on the basis of data science in managing social and economic systems

Aim. To identify the prospects and possible areas of data science use in the decision-making process in the management of social and economic systems.Objectives. To analyze existing approaches and promising directions of data science use; to analyze methods that allow to obtain real-time data for decision-making, to identify gaps and shortcomings; to briefly formulate conclusions relevant for practitioners and policy makers in the process of decision-making based on data science.Methodology. The authors analyzed the scientific literature, applied methods of logical analysis and interpretation of data.Results. In the course of the research, it was found that data science makes a significant contribution to the global transformation of society, allowing solving urgent problems of socioeconomic development. Methods that facilitate the acquisition of real-time data increase the effectiveness of decisions in the management of social and economic systems. These methods were analyzed, their advantages and disadvantages were identified, and examples of their use were presented. The key data requirements were defined: confidentiality, ethics, and security. A range of new questions for future research in the context of the topic under consideration was proposed.Conclusions. The results obtained contribute to the theoretical development of new approaches to the application of data science, as well as the practical use of best practices in cases of decision-making in the management of social and economic systems. These results can form the basis for the design and implementation of solutions by policy makers and practitioners.

Sex-based Differences in the Use of Best Practices in Mechanically Ventilated Adults in the Intensive Care Unit: An Analysis of the Toronto Multi-center iCORE Database.

Rationale Patients who are critically ill and require admission to an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) should receive the same quality of care regardless of their sex. Objectives To determine, using population data from a multicenter database in Ontario, Canada, whether sex is associated with differences in the use of 8 best practices and other interventions during the ICU care of mechanically ventilated women and men. Methods Using a cohort of patients receiving mechanical ventilation in 8 intensive care units, our co-primary outcomes were differences in compliance with 8 evidence-based practices between women and men (opioid administration, use of continuous sedation or opioids, sedation minimization; spontaneous breathing trials; stress ulcer prophylaxis; deep venous thrombosis prophylaxis; physical restraint; and mobilization). All analyses were adjusted for confounders using logistic regression and restricted to patients eligible for each best practice. Measurements and Main Results We included 19070 (11910 men, 7160 women) patients who were mechanically ventilated for more than 4 hours. Men and women had similar opioid administration, sedation minimization, stress ulcer prophylaxis, DVT prophylaxis, and mobilization. Women were less likely to receive continuous infusions of sedation or opioids than men (adjusted OR 0.86, 95% CI 0.78, 0.95), and less likely to be physically restrained (adjusted OR 0.82, 95% CI 0.74, 0.89). Conclusions: In this cohort of mechanically ventilated patients, the use of evidence-based practices was similar between women and men, except for a higher utilization of continuous sedative or opioid infusions and physical restraints in men.

Analysis of Spanish-Language News Reports on Schizophrenia and Psychosis.

Stigma toward individuals with schizophrenia and psychosis has been widely studied in the general population, but research on Spanish-language news media coverage of these mental disorders in the Latinx population is limited. The authors aimed to examine how schizophrenia and psychosis are commonly presented in U.S. Spanish-language news media, focusing on stigmatizing stereotypes, recovery themes, and the use of best practices for reporting on mental health issues. A content analysis was conducted of reports from two leading U.S. Spanish-language news outlets, Univision and Telemundo, and from the newspaper database U.S. Hispanic Newsstream. The searches included articles published from August 1, 2012, to August 1, 2022, and included keywords related to schizophrenia and psychosis. In total, 108 news articles were identified and coded. Several types of stigmatizing stereotypes were observed, including portraying a person with schizophrenia or psychosis as violent, suicidal, incompetent, or weak. Only 20 news articles included at least one recovery theme, with educational information about schizophrenia or psychosis being the most common. Most articles used person-first language when referring to people with these conditions, but few articles included information about treatment options or where and how to seek mental health care. More studies should emphasize the importance of U.S. Spanish-language news outlets offering linguistically and culturally appropriate information on treatment options and where and how to access mental health care. Studies focusing on recovery and treatment for schizophrenia and psychosis are needed to combat public mental health stigma in the Latinx population.

Best practices for use of regional limb perfusion in a field setting

Best practices for use of regional limb perfusion in a field setting

Managing for Sandy Coastal Habitat in SW Florida: Institutional Complexities Hinder Local Agencies' Use of Best Practices

Managing for Sandy Coastal Habitat in SW Florida: Institutional Complexities Hinder Local Agencies' Use of Best Practices

Feeding cattle under suboptimal conditions in Kenya: From emphasising technical (non-)adoption to stimulating adaptive performance

In the climate-development interface, research for development gained a strong interest in climate-smart agriculture and sustainable forms of intensification. Moreover, the urgency to respond to climate change stimulates a strong and sometimes exclusive focus on mitigation, driven by research-based agricultural practices. In the livestock sector, this materialises in strategies to lower emissions from livestock, which centralises the adoption question: what can we do to stimulate the use of best practices by smallholder farmers? This paper flags the risk that this outlook may overlooksmallholder farmers' capacities to navigate sub-optimal conditions of drought or scarcity. The paper applies an alternative lens for understanding ‘agriculture-as-performance’ and highlights smallholder cattle owners’ agency and resourcefulness. It aims to create a conceptual space to examine how adaptive capacities are grounded in the rhythms of agriculture under suboptimal conditions. Empirically, the study focuses on the cattle-feeding practices of five farming households evolving through seasons and lifetimes in a sedentary agricultural system in Kenya. Our frame identifies diverse affordances, conceptualised as opportunities for actions, emerging and disappearing in the immediate material environment, and we portray cattle feeding as a networked response anchored in practices of giving, sharing, and receiving. We use our insights into the dynamics and performance of entangled socio-technical practices to sketch the contours of an alternative pathway for agriculture for development. We argue in favour of a shift from an exclusive focus on the adoption of predefined optimal solutions to a diagnostic and catalytic approach integrating situated adaptive performances through which farming households respond to action opportunities.

Quality of care measurement for patients with ovarian cancer in Japan.

Quality of care is important to reduce disease progression, and improve both survival and quality of life. The Japan Society of Gynecologic Oncology has published treatment guidelines to promote standardized high-quality care for ovarian cancer in Japan. We developed quality indicators based on the guideline recommendations and used them on large datasets of health service use to examine the quality of ovarian cancer care. A panel of experts developed the indicators using a modified Delphi method. Adherence to each indicator was evaluated using data from a hospital-based cancer registry of patients diagnosed in 2018. All patients receiving first-line treatment at participating facilities were included. The adherence rates were returned to participating hospitals, and reasons for nonadherence were collected. A total of 580 hospitals participated, and the study examined the care received by 6611 patients with ovarian cancer and 1879 with borderline tumors using 11 measurable quality indicators. The adherence rate ranged from 22.6% for "Estrogen replacement within 6 months of operation" to 93.5% for "Bleomycin, etoposide, and cisplatin for germ cell tumor more than Stage II." Of 580 hospitals, 184 submitted the reasons for nonadherence. The quality of ovarian cancer care should be continuously assessed to encourage the use of best practices. These indicators may be a useful tool for this purpose.

Preschool and Kindergarten Teachers’ Self-Reported Phonological Awareness Strategies and Challenges in Teaching English Learners

This study investigates the phonological awareness strategies and challenges of preschool and kindergarten teachers in teaching English learners (ELs). Using a mix method survey design, we analyzed 57 responses. Quantitatively, we examined teachers’ use of best practices established in the literature. Qualitatively, we explored the specific strategies, challenges, and tools teachers used in the classroom. The results showed that 80% of teachers reported providing direct phonological awareness instruction daily or almost every day. However, some preschool teachers used implicit phonological awareness and rarely incorporated blending and segmenting practices. Teachers encountered challenges including language and cultural barriers, the need for developmentally appropriate and engaging materials, and support from districts and parents. Teachers desired explicit lessons, culturally relevant materials, and comprehensive toolkits. The findings underscore the needs for tailored training and resources for early childhood educators and their ELs, aiming to bridge the gap between evidence-based literacy practices and classroom implementation.

The Easiest Becomes the Rule: Beliefs, Knowledge and Attitudes of Equine Practitioners and Enthusiasts Regarding Horse Welfare.

Inadequate management conditions can impair the welfare of captive-bred horses. Understanding individuals' viewpoints and the factors influencing their decisions about adopting or avoiding certain practices may provide insights into their motivations and decision-making processes. This is particularly relevant in the equestrian community, where equine practitioners and enthusiasts often engage in harmful practices. We explored the beliefs, knowledge, and attitudes of equine practitioners and enthusiasts about horse welfare and the barriers that prevent them from employing better management practices that are essential to promoting horses' welfare. The study consisted of in-depth semi-structured interviews conducted in person with 31 individuals directly involved in the equestrian environment in Brazil. Responses were analyzed through thematic analysis with a data-driven deductive approach. Participants' beliefs, knowledge and attitudes to horse welfare were divided into three themes. The first theme, "Let the horse be a horse", captured participants' perceptions about how physical and mental aspects related to the nature and welfare of horses. The second theme, "Everyone does it like that", includes the social norms that influence decisions about the practices that impact on the welfare of the horses. The third theme, "Beyond utopia: how and why horses are managed the way they are", covered barriers that participants perceived as impediments to the use of best practices for the welfare of horses. While participants demonstrated awareness of welfare issues and acknowledged factors that negatively impact horses, there was a notable discrepancy between this knowledge and the implementation of improved management practices. This could be explained by several perceived barriers to implementing management practices that could enhance horse welfare, including lack of financial resources, limited physical space, shortage of qualified labor, time constraints, inadequate tools, and insufficient knowledge. Additionally, we identified deeply rooted social norms within the equestrian community and culturally established practices that limit approaches to horse welfare. Participants underscored the influence of these norms and different interpretations of "letting the horse be a horse" based on the horse's value and purpose. Concerning low-value horses, the primary justifications for stall housing and concentrated feeding were linked to elevated costs involved in spatial demands and labor; in contrast, for high-value horses used in performance and aesthetics, the arguments shifted to potential benefits to the horses' well-being. From an ethical perspective, ideally, individuals should refrain from owning horses if they cannot ensure the animals' welfare. Additionally, if the equestrian community neglects public attitudes towards animal welfare, it risks eroding its social license.

Steps to improve the teaching of clinical reasoning in dermatology: A scoping review and proposal.

Clinical reasoning (CR) is an area of active interest since faults in the diagnostic process can result in errors and possibly delays in care or even patient harm. The purpose of this scoping review was to collect information from the medical literature on approaches utilized to teach and assess CR in dermatology, identify gaps, and prepare a proposal on how to enhance the speciality's ability to develop trainee CR skills. We conducted a review of the published literature (1990-2020) from four databases. The initial search yielded 780 papers, and 42 relevant CR publications met inclusion criteria. Demographic, thematic content, theoretical frameworks, continuum of authenticity, competency/milestone, and assessment/educational intervention data were recorded by two screeners. Trainees at different educational levels from 17 different countries have been assessed in the dermatology literature. Most publications were of a single intervention, appeared underpowered, and had small sample sizes. Only two publications examined work-based assessments (use real patients/stimuli). Knowledge-based studies were the dominant theoretical framework with no studies exclusively focused on process-based CR interventions. Simulation was well represented with 23 (55%) investigations. Rigorous studies that examine CR teaching and assessment in dermatology are lacking. Evidence-based best practices for use of work-based assessments, especially direct observation, need to be developed/adapted for dermatology and validated. Dermatology training programs would benefit from longitudinal data on trainee CR development, process-based CR educational programs, metacognition CR exploration specific to skin disease diagnosis, and studies that yield practical recommendations on how to structure multi-faceted assessments that assess CR.

Sharing the Work: Using Diversity Advocates to Develop Inclusive Excellence

Administrators and faculty at many colleges and universities are dedicated to making the faculty hiring process fair and equitable. One program that has shown promise is to train and appoint a Diversity Advocate (DA) to serve on each faculty search and screen committee. In this study, we created and examined the early stages of a DA program at a single institution. After undergoing special training, the DA works on the search committee to encourage best practices and to discourage schemas and stereotypes from interfering with the process. Our DA program differs from some in that efforts are made to train DAs who are demographically in the majority, work in the area where the search is taking place, and have earned tenure or promotion. Training those who are demographically in the majority helps meet our goal of broadening the responsibility for evidence-based and equitable hiring practices across faculty members. While reliable data on hiring outcomes is not yet available, we developed a survey to evaluate the DA training and conducted focus groups to understand the DA experience better. Our results highlight how DAs intervened in the search process to make it more equitable. The interventions included encouraging the use of best practices, such as leading the committee in creating a rubric for evaluating candidates and intervening when bias was present. Our study provides evidence that a DA program is one way to expand the pool of faculty committed to inclusive excellence.

Fields of Balance: An Extensive Analysis of Conventional and Organic Agriculture in the Contemporary Era

By 2050, it is projected that there will be 10 billion people on the planet who need to be fed. Meeting these demands and maintaining environmental protection will be greatly dependent on the paradigms of conventional and organic agriculture. By following the historical origins of these two agricultural paradigms and examining their methods, effects, financial implications, and contributions to global food security, this review critically analyses them. We draw emphasis to the environmental footprints, paying special focus to biodiversity, greenhouse gas emissions, water management, and soil health. A deeper examination of consumer safety, community dynamics, and global market trends will be included in the discussion of the health effects of food produced in both systems and their societal ramifications. This review makes the case for an integrated approach to agriculture that makes use of best practices from both worlds by identifying the advantages and disadvantages of both farming systems. The goal of this harmonisation is to build a sustainable agricultural future that feeds people and maintains the planet's natural equilibrium.

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE "SAFE CITY" SYSTEM: HOW THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ENSURING PUBLIC SAFETY AND LAW ORDER

The relevance of this article is due to the analysis of the concept of creating the "Safe City" system and the identification of effective mechanisms and activities of the authorities aimed at ensuring public order and public safety in the city. The study of legal and information-legal aspects of the issue of ensuring public security in Kazakhstan is relevant. The research methodology of the article is based on the use of a SWOT analysis of the Safe City hardware and software system, which allows for a systematic analysis, comprehensively identifying advantages and disadvantages. The article defines the theoretical and legal aspects of ensuring public order and public safety. The views of lawyers on the definition of the concepts of "public order" and "public safety" are analyzed. Particular attention is paid to the experience of implementing the automated analytical system "Safe City". In this article, special attention is paid to the issues of ensuring public order and public safety in large cities. The impact of the impulse to implement the "Safe City" system on improving the efficiency of public safety is analyzed. The article defines the methodology for using the "Safe City" system in organizing the service of internal affairs bodies in the field of public order protection. Based on the use of best practices, recommendations are given for improving the new concept of public safety in Kazakhstan, as well as recommendations for improving the quality and efficiency of the Safe City system. A study of the quality and efficiency of the use of the automated information and analytical system "Safe City" was carried out. For a positive solution to the problem, the positive experience of Western countries in the use and implementation of the automated information and analytical system "Safe City" is analyzed. The system for providing the target program for the development and implementation of the automated information and analytical system "Safe City" is considered. The problem of increasing the efficiency of public security in large cities was studied by Kazakh and foreign researchers from different angles.

Use of recycled aggregate concrete in structural members: a review focused on Southeast Asia

ABSTRACT This article presents a comprehensive review on the use of recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) and recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) in construction, with emphasis on structural applications and identification of challenges and opportunities of RCA/RAC materials in Southeast Asia. For the first time and as a first step towards potential standardization of RCA/RAC in Southeast Asia, the article critically examines the physical and mechanical performance of RCA and RAC in structural applications. Global aggregate demand is projected to surpass 50 billion tons by 2025, with major Asian countries accounting for 62% of consumption. At the same time, the global annual production of construction and demolition waste (C&DW) exceeds 3.57 billion tons, and Asia is responsible for 53% of this total. Recycling C&DW plays a crucial role in addressing environmental issues and promoting sustainable construction practices. Previous research indicates that RAC exhibits certain physical and mechanical deficiencies, with strengths 10% to 20% lower than natural aggregate concrete (NAC). At the structural level, RAC elements show reductions of up to 15% in axial, bonding, shear, and flexural strengths relative to NAC. Measures such as treatment of RCA, recycling process optimization, and optimized mixing techniques are recommended to enhance RAC properties. Prioritizing RCA treatment during construction and exploring novel strengthening techniques could elevate improve RAC and make it suitable for structural applications. The review also found that C&DW recycling efforts vary significantly across countries (particularly in Southeast Asia), with some countries lagging regarding recycling technologies and use of best practices. Various strategies to improve the performance of RAC elements are also proposed and discussed. The main findings and shortcomings of previous investigations are critically discussed, and further research needs are identified.

Nursing assistants' use of best practices and pain in older adults living in nursing homes.

Inadequate pain management persists in nursing homes. Nursing assistants provide the most direct care in nursing homes, and significantly improving the quality of care requires their adoption of best care practices informed by the best available evidence. We assessed the association between nursing assistants' use of best practices and residents' pain levels. We performed a cross-sectional analysis of data collected between September 2019 and February 2020 from a stratified random sample of 87 urban nursing homes in western Canada. We linked administrative data (the Resident Assessment Instrument-Minimum Data Set [RAI-MDS], 2.0) for 10,093 residents and survey data for 3547 nursing assistants (response rate: 74.2%) at the care unit level. Outcome of interest was residents' pain level, measured by the pain scale derived from RAI-MDS, 2.0. The exposure variable was nursing assistants' use of best practices, measured with validated self-report scales and aggregated to the unit level. Two-level random-intercept multinomial logistic regression accounted for the clustering effect of residents within care units. Covariates included resident demographics and clinical characteristics and characteristics of nursing assistants, unit, and nursing home. Of the residents, 3305 (30.3%) were identified as having pain. On resident care units with higher levels of best practice use among nursing assistants, residents had 32% higher odds of having mild pain (odds ratio, 1.32; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-1.71; p = 0.040), compared with residents on care units with lower levels of best practice use among nursing assistants. The care units did not differ in reported moderate or severe pain among residents. We observed that higher unit-level best practice use among nursing assistants was associated with mild resident pain. This association warrants further research to identify key individual and organizational factors that promote effective pain assessment and management.

Advanced Dynamic Weight Bearing as an Observer-independent Measure of Hyperacute Hypersensitivity in Mice

ABSTRACT Background Standard methods assessing pain in rodents are often observer dependent, potentially resulting in biased outcomes. Advanced dynamic weight bearing (ADWB) offers an observer-independent approach that can provide objective, reliable data in preclinical pain research. Aims The aim of this study was to characterize the use of ADWB in assessing murine responses to allyl isothiocyanate (AITC)-induced hyperacute hypersensitivity and identify best practices for use of the device. Methods Male C57BL/6J mice received intraplantar injections of saline or 0.1% AITC solution and were assessed using the ADWB system; simultaneous observer-dependent durations of paw licking and biting were measured. ADWB data were analyzed using the proprietary software from Bioseb and correlated to observer-dependent results, with parameters assessed to optimize data collected. Results ADWB detected pain-directed changes in weight and surface area distribution in AITC-treated mice, with paw weight and surface area placement correlating to paw licking and biting. Optimization of adjustable threshold parameters allowed for reduced coefficients of variability and increased duration of validated data. Conclusions The ADWB assay provides an efficient and unbiased measure of chemical-induced hyperacute hypersensitivity in mice. ADWB detection parameters influence amount of validated data and variability, a consideration for data analysis in future studies.

Assessment of Lung Cancer YouTube Videos for Patient Education.

The internet is essential for obtaining information about lung cancer, which is the leading contributor to global cancer deaths. YouTube is a video-streaming platform that is popular among health consumers; however, the reliability of videos is variable, and few studies have evaluated their role in lung cancer education. This study uses a systematic approach to assess the characteristics, reliability and use of best practices of lung cancer YouTube videos for patient education. Using the search term "lung cancer," the first 50 YouTube videos were identified after applying exclusion criteria and removing duplicates. Two reviewers used a video assessment tool to evaluate 10 videos with minimal discrepancies. The remaining 40 videos were evaluated by one reviewer following a design based research approach. Under half the videos were published within 3 years. Mean video length was 6 min and 12 s. Video publishers were commonly from the USA (70%); were affiliated with a health care facility/ organization (30%), non-profit (26%) or commercial organization (30%); had a physician presenter (46%); were targeted towards patients (68%); and had subtitles (96%). Seventy four percent of videos supported optimal learning by including effective audio and visual channels. Lung cancer epidemiology, risk factors, and definitions (nature of the disease and classification) were among the most common topics covered. Prognostic and diagnostic information was covered less than expected. The reliability of the videos (measured by Modified DISCERN score) varied by presenter type; however, these results should be interpreted cautiously due to the absence of gold standard tools. This study encourages those producing health education videos to continue following best practices for video learning and provides strategies for healthcare providers and patients to support patient education.

PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS FOR EDUCATIONAL MANAGERS: ANALISING THE EXPERIENCE OF COUNTRIES WITH DIFFERENT SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WITH THE VIEW OF ITS POSSIBLE USE IN UKRAINE

Professional standards for educational managers establish the compliance of a person with the professional requirements; therefore, it is important to study them in order to develop the content of university training programs for school principals. The aim of the present research is to examine the experience of standardization of educational managers’ professional activity in the countries of different socio-economic development and various degrees of participation in the global educational integration processes, as well as to highlight the possible use of best practices to develop and implement the most effective university training programs for educational managers. We conducted the study during 2018 – 2020 according to the methodology of the aspect analysis, having distinguished two aspects: functional and behavioural. We analysed the professional standards within the framework of regional clusters taking as a basis the mutual convergence and interaction of their educational systems, namely regions that are the generators of integration processes; regions that respond positively to integration processes but do not initiate them; regions that are inert to the integration of educational processes. Furthermore, we chose a few countries from each cluster, which adopted the standards at the state level or at the level of individual administrative units within a particular country. The results of the analysis made it possible to identify general and special trends, peculiar to certain groups of countries. The results obtained within the framework of the study made it possible for us to develop the construct of the standard that takes into account the particular features of socio-economic development of Ukraine.

A sensor-based framework for layout and workflow assessment in operating rooms

Due to their large sizes and impediments to personnel workflows, integrating robotic technologies into the existing operating rooms (OR) is a challenge. In this study, we developed an ultra-wideband sensor-based human-machine-environment framework for layout and workflow assessments within the OR. In addition to providing best practices for use of the framework, we also demonstrated its effectiveness in understanding layout and workflow inefficiencies in 12 robotic-assisted surgeries (RAS) across 4 different surgical specialties. We found avoidable movements as the circulating nurse covers at least twice the distance of any other OR personnel before the patient cart (robot) is docked. OR areas of congestion and undesirable personnel-pair proximities across RAS phases that impose extra non-technical skill challenges were determined. Our findings highlight several implications for the added complexity of integrating robotic technologies into the OR, which can serve as drivers for objective evidence-based recommendations to combat RAS OR layout and workflow inefficiencies.