Building Tools Research Articles

Lessons from Re-Writing the Declaration, a virtual, participatory play

ABSTRACT The article details some of the process of creating and performing the participatory, virtual play, Re-Writing the Declaration, which invited the audience to re-imagine our nation’s founding through a Black, queer, feminist lens. The article highlights the unique challenges and opportunities of creating theatre in a virtual space, particularly the use of Zoom’s chat function as a tool for audience participation and community building. The author reflects on the ensemble’s shared identity as educators and how this shaped the play’s creation and performance. The article concludes by suggesting potential applications for the play in the field of Theatre for Young Audiences and emphasizing the importance of centering marginalized voices in the creation of theatre.

Intelligent optimization of horizontal wellbore trajectory based on reinforcement learning

Ultra-long horizontal wells are crucial for improving the production and developmental benefits of shale oil and gas wells. Currently, advanced downhole semi-closed-loop steering drilling technology depends on a dual communication mechanism between the surface and downhole, as well as the empirical decisions of human experts. However, it is difficult to acutely control the trajectory of ultra-long horizontal open hole drilling in a reservoir owing to geological uncertainties related to shale oil and gas, the uncertainty of the drilling tool's building capacity, and the lag of measurement information while drilling. This report proposes an adaptive target detection and design method for ultra-long horizontal well trajectories based on reinforcement learning. The developed approach enables dynamic identification of reservoir sequences according to logging-while-drilling data and prediction of horizontal targets in real-time, with a recognition accuracy of 90.1%. Additionally, measurement-while-drilling data are used to accurately characterize the depth, inclination, and azimuth of the target-entering process. The dynamic interaction mechanism between the bit and the target environment is simulated by defining the bit action, reward function, and an update mechanism. The drilling engineering conditions restrict the interactions, such that the bit automatically decides the direction in which to drill the targets, demonstrating 100% accuracy for the wellbore trajectory toward the target. The experimental application results indicate that the developed method can be applied to determine the dynamic target area of a horizontal well in real time and make intelligent downhole decisions regarding ultra-long horizontal section borehole trajectory adjustments while drilling and measuring. The drilling rate of high-quality reservoirs is therefore significantly improved. The results discussed herein provide insights to support further developments of downhole full-closed-loop intelligent autonomous decision-making borehole trajectory control.

Chimeric U-Net – Modifying the standard U-Net towards explainability

Healthcare guided by semantic segmentation has the potential to improve our quality of life through early and accurate disease detection. Convolutional Neural Networks, especially the U-Net-based architectures, are currently the state-of-the-art learning-based segmentation methods and have given unprecedented performances. However, their decision-making processes are still an active field of research. In order to reliably utilize such methods in healthcare, explainability of how the segmentation was performed is mandated. To date, explainability is studied and applied heavily in classification tasks. In this work, we propose the Chimeric U-Net, a U-Net architecture with an invertible decoder unit, that inherently brings explainability into semantic segmentation tasks. We find that having the restriction of an invertible decoder does not hinder the performance of the segmentation task. However, the invertible decoder helps to disentangle the class information in the latent space embedding and to construct meaningful saliency maps. Furthermore, we found that with a simple k-Nearest-Neighbours classifier, we could predict the Intersection over Union scores of unseen data, demonstrating that the latent space, constructed by the Chimeric U-Net, encodes an interpretable representation of the segmentation quality. Explainability is an emerging field, and in this work, we propose an alternative approach, that is, rather than building tools for explaining a generic architecture, we propose constraints on the architecture which induce explainability. With this approach, we could peer into the architecture to reveal its class correlations and local contextual dependencies, taking an insightful step towards trustworthy and reliable AI. Code to build and utilize the Chimeric U-Net is made available under:https://github.com/kenrickschulze/Chimeric-UNet---Half-invertible-UNet-in-Pytorch

8.B. Scientific session: Strengthening health information systems in the European Region

Abstract Strong health information systems (HIS) are essential for robust, evidence-informed policymaking and decision making in all levels of healthcare. The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the vital importance of HIS, but also highlighted flaws and weaknesses across HIS in Europe. Common HIS challenges include limited resources and capacity; insufficient coordination and collaboration between HIS stakeholders, leading to fragmentation and problems with interoperability; lack of central governance; and limited use of health information for decision-making. Both at the level of the WHO Regional Office for Europe (WHO/Europe) and the European Commission, policies and strategies are being implemented to support Member States in strengthening their HIS, thereby improving the availability of high quality, timely data for evidence-informed decision making, both at the country and international level. Supporting the further digitalization of HIS is an important element in this. In 2023, WHO/Europe and the European Commission joined forces in the field of HIS strengthening. This workshop will inform participants about current and future capacity building tools and activities that will be implemented under the umbrella of the EU-funded action ‘Supporting Member States in the WHO European Region in strengthening HIS and boosting health data governance and interoperability’. It will explain the policy as well as situation-on-the-ground contexts in which the action will be implemented. The workshop will start with a (1) presentation by WHO/Europe on the current HIS situation in the Region and what are the main priority areas in WHO’s work for the coming years. After that, (2) the European Commission will give more information on the above-mentioned EU-funded action and the related EU policy landscape, most notably the European Health Data Space (EHDS). Next, (3) WHO/Europe will present their catalogue of capacity building tools and activities, and share experiences with implementing these. Finally, (4) HIS modernization cases with enabling factors and challenges will be presented based on different countries’ real life experiences, illustrating the impact of HIS strengthening activities at the country level. Workshop participants will get a comprehensive overview of available HIS strengthening tools and activities in the European Region. This will help them in selecting and applying tools for strengthening their own national or regional HIS, and ensuring their HIS is prepared for aligning with the EHDS and other important policies and strategies. This will contribute to sustainable and future-proof HIS across Europe. During the workshop, there will be ample time for questions and discussion. In the discussion, participants will be asked whether they have any HIS strengthening needs that are not yet covered in the current package of tools and activities. This will help WHO and the European Commission to further harmonise their efforts with what is needed on the ground. Key messages • Despite investments in HIS following the COVID-19 pandemic, many challenges remain, which are often similar across European countries. • WHO/Europe and the European Commission have joined forces to strengthen HIS and boost health data governance and interoperability, while leveraging EHDS developments.

The Development of the Confianza Scale–Spanish: A Culturally Responsive Tool for Latine Relationship Building

AbstractLatines are the largest ethnic minority group in the United States, making up nearly one-fifth of the population. Despite experiencing similar rates of mental health issues as the dominant culture, however, Latines are notably less likely to seek treatment. Prior research has linked this reluctance to cultural mistrust, and some scholars have underscored the significance of confianza, a cultural value, in promoting Latine mental health engagement. Using a survey research methodology with a sample of 278 Latines, this study examines the psychometric properties and factor structure of the newly developed Confianza Scale–Spanish (CS-S), an instrument designed to quantitatively assess for confianza between clients and their mental healthcare providers. Study results provided initial evidence for the validity and reliability of the CS-S and indicated that confianza may be a single-factor construct. Clinical and research implications within the counseling field are discussed.

Sustainable Building Tool by Energy Baseline: Case Study

Sustainable Building Tool by Energy Baseline: Case Study

Sex Education Training as Capacity Building Tool for Mothers and their Children with Intellectual Disability: A Qualitative Study

Sex is a biological need of human beings and the aspects of sexuality and sexual development are less discussed in people with intellectual disability (ID). Sex education training (SET) for persons with ID and their parents is pivotal in mitigating challenges and creating a safe and healthy space for expressing their sexual needs. The aim was (a) to see the effects of SET in the enhancement of knowledge and skills about sexual health among adults with ID, (b) To see the effect of mothers as an observer during SET on their perception, attitude and practice on sexual health for their children with ID. The sample consisted of 11 mothers and their children who were above 18 years with ID. Awareness of sexual health education for parents of intellectually challenged children and family life and sexual health assessment tools were used. A qualitative/descriptive analysis was done. SET was started for the period of three months, two sessions in a week, each session lasting one and half hours. It was done in a playful manner on self and social awareness, safe/unsafe touch, relationships, personal safety rules and sexual harassment of women at workplace (POSH). SET shows not only enhancement in the level of awareness, knowledge on sexual health but also improved communication skills and decision-making skills among adults with ID and their mothers. Mothers feel more confident and comfortable to have open discussions with their children on sexual health.

The Influence of Educational Content on the Benefits of Living in Transit Oriented Development Housing on Instagram @lrtcity on Internal Meaning and Consumer Purchase Interest (A Survey of Instagram @lrtcity Followers)

The development of communication media in Indonesia post-COVID-19 pandemic reflects a significant transformation, particularly in the digital media realm. Instagram can be a powerful tool for brand building, enhancing engagement, and achieving communication goals. The campaigns and educational benefits are the core of the social media content from the @lrtcity account, which not only educates the public but also serves as a promotional platform with a softselling approach. Measuring consumer purchase interest is the ultimate goal of the education delivered through Instagram content, as the primary objective is to drive sales of TOD-concept properties represented by the LRT CITY brand. This research employs a quantitative method based on a positivist approach (classic/objective). The results of this study show that there is a strong and significant positive relationship between Instagram content (X) and internal meaning (Y1), with a correlation coefficient of 0.774. The contribution of Instagram content to internal meaning is 59.9%. Additionally, Instagram content (X) also shows a positive and significant influence on consumer purchase interest (Y2), with a correlation coefficient of 0.834. The contribution of Instagram content to consumer purchase interest is 69.5%.

Accelerating DNA Sequence Alignment using Altera DE2-115

DNA sequence alignment is a technique for discovering information between two base sequences which the Smith-Waterman algorithm is the accurate method that provides a precise result for alignment compared to others. However, the performance was influence by size of dataset and a long DNA base sequence which resulted the time required for the alignment process is much longer in relation to the number of DNA sequence samples. There are many ways to accelerate DNA sequence alignment, and Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) is a good choice due to its parallel processing and cost efficiency. Although FPGA acceleration approaches are not new, this work investigates a purely software-based FPGA acceleration using the Altera Cyclone IV EP4CE115F29C7N FPGA as the target device. The SW algorithm was developed using the C language in Quartus II version 18.1 and the Nios II software build tools for Eclipse. The development starts with setting up the Qsys architecture before developing the code in Eclipse to determine the computational performance. The result shows the computational timing and speed of the implementation, with the highest speed achieved being 198.76 cells per millisecond. To summarise, the computational performance ultimately depends on the maximum matrix size of the FPGA, which is also influenced by the DNA-based pair length and able to complete using low-cost FPGA.

Information System for Data Collection on Building Tools and Materials Using the Rational Unified Process (RUP) Method

UD. FLORA records the re-inventory of building equipment that has been sold by reading the transactions one by one in the ledger. A proper way is needed to overcome the problems that occur. This research aims to create an information system software. In making information system software, a method is needed that can carry out the stages from initial design to implementation of the software. This research uses the Rational Unified Process (RUP) method, namely a software development approach that is carried out repeatedly (iterative), focuses on architecture (architecture-centered), is more directed based on use cases (use case driven). This research produces a tool data collection application at UD. FLORA using the RUP method. The existence of an information system for data collection on building equipment using the Rational Unified Process method means that UD. FLORA can be helped in managing building equipment data collection. The system enables real-time transaction recording, providing better insight into inventory status, and supporting more accurate decision-making.

Commodifying Passage: Ethnographic Insights into Migration, Markets, and Digital Mediation at the Darién Gap and Mexico–Guatemala Border

This paper examines transit migration through the Darién Gap and the Mexico–Guatemala border, focusing on the commodification of migration, the transformative role of digital platforms, and the socio-economic impacts on local economies. Based on ethnographic fieldwork and in-depth interviews conducted from 2021 to 2023, we explore how migration has evolved into a commodified journey where services and safety are bought and sold, often exploiting migrants’ vulnerabilities. We analyze how digital platforms have become essential tools for navigation and community building among migrants, yet also introduce new risks and inequalities. Our findings highlight the dual nature of local economic adaptations, which both capitalize on and are reshaped by the migratory flows, leading to significant economic and social transformations. The paper argues for a reevaluation of migration policies that integrates these elements and supports a migration governance framework that prioritizes human dignity and rights. Through exposing these dynamic and interlinked phenomena, we aim to contribute to a better understanding of migration that goes beyond traditional paradigms of border security and control, advocating for policies that are just, equitable, and respectful of human experiences and challenges.

Relational Systems Evaluation rubrics as tools for building and measuring evaluation capacity

AbstractEvaluation capacity building (ECB) is still an emerging area of study in the field of evaluation. The purpose of ECB is to assist program practitioners with implementing higher‐quality evaluation; however, we need better tools and resources to effectively assess ECB efforts. Existing measures typically depend on self‐report as opposed to assessing the artifacts of ECB training. Among the few non‐self‐report tools that support the assessment of ECB efforts are Relational Systems Evaluation rubrics designed to evaluate logic models, pathway models, and evaluation plans. These rubrics were first developed and tested several years ago. The purpose of the current study is to update the Relational Systems Evaluation rubrics to reflect current ECB knowledge. The updated rubrics have good to excellent inter‐rater reliability and high internal consistency. The results of this study contribute to the ECB field by providing measurement tools for assessing the quality of ECB artifacts. The rubrics can also be used by organizations and funders who need a systematic approach for assessing (and comparing) the quality of evaluation plans and visual theory of change models (e.g., logic models).

Communal dialogue and peacebuilding education in volatile terrain: A study of the volatile African region

This article evaluates the adoption of communal dialogue as an education tool for peace building in volatile terrain in Africa, using Benue State, North-Central Nigeria, as a case in point. Benue State has, in the last eight years, been known for constant communal clashes. This article looks at ways to adopt a valid model of conflict resolution to end this struggle. The yearly uproar arising in this region as residents live in constant fear calls for concern. This inquiry collated churns of research using secondary data together with a survey to ensure a tangible solution was proffered. All the local governments in this region were selected, especially where there are consistent struggles, interferences of herdsmen, and insecurities. About 363 copies of the questionnaires were distributed among residents living in this region. The aim is to generate data bordering on peace building education initiatives, as regular conflicts have rampaged this region for over a decade. Expected findings will focus on the best model that can tackle insecurity appropriately. The study's findings show that all the respondents agreed that they see communal dialogue approaches employed as viable tools for peacebuilding education in the region. Important to note is the need to consider the peculiarities of this region. It is crucial to leverage frameworks that best suit this struggle, considering peculiarities in these regions as seen in similar areas in different parts of the world today. We therefore recommend that communal dialogue approaches be properly employed to restore lasting peace.

Effect of Pure Dephasing Quantum Noise in the Quantum Search Algorithm Using Atos Quantum Assembly.

Quantum computing is tipped to lead the future of global technological progress. However, the obstacles related to quantum software development are an actual challenge to overcome. In this scenario, this work presents an implementation of the quantum search algorithm in Atos Quantum Assembly Language (AQASM) using the quantum software stack my Quantum Learning Machine (myQLM) and the programming development platform Quantum Learning Machine (QLM). We present the creation of a virtual quantum processor whose configurable architecture allows the analysis of induced quantum noise effects on the quantum algorithms. The codes are available throughout the manuscript so that readers can replicate them and apply the methods discussed in this article to solve their own quantum computing projects. The presented results are consistent with theoretical predictions and demonstrate that AQASM and QLM are powerful tools for building, implementing, and simulating quantum hardware.

“Finding oneself” in another language: understanding translingualism and building tools for dealing with trauma in educational contexts

“Finding oneself” in another language: understanding translingualism and building tools for dealing with trauma in educational contexts

Building sustainability assessment: A comparison between ITACA, DGNB, HQE and SBTool alignment with the European Green Deal

The environmental impact of the construction industry is very heavy. Therefore, the global community is further developing green building assessment tools in order to enhance their efficiency in matching sustainability goals and being more environmentally friendly. An analysis approach by means of Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) was carried out to examine the degree of response of different green building tools utilized in Europe, namely (Innovazione e Trasparenza degli Appalti e la Compatibilità Ambientale ITACA, Deutsches Guetsiegel Nachhaltiges Bauen (DGNB), Haute Qualité Environnementale (HQE) and Sustainable Building Tool (SBTool), to the eight criteria of the European Green Deal (EGD), a roadmap elaborated by the European Commission to enhance sustainability deployment in the region. The first phase of the analysis consisted of a Boolean MCDM aiming to define to which criterion of the EGD each indicator in the tools checklists is linked. These data obtained were later examined by means of Fuzzy Logic to obtain comparable results showing how much each tool helps more following the European roadmap towards sustainability. This work intends to compare the efficiency of the most used tools in Europe for building sustainability evaluation while being based on a particular specified reference and not only the sustainable goals in general. This work also shows the efficiency of combining two MCDCM techniques to obtain better analyzing output. The result of this study shows that the DGNB is the most effective method for connecting all EGD criteria in a balanced manner. The HQE tool demonstrated a strong ability to effectively integrate the objectives of the EGD, except for the energy evaluation aspect. For the ITACA tool, it closely aligned DGNB in its response to the EGD, although it had an absent focus on the smart and sustainable shift of mobility. SBTool demonstrated average performance when compared to other protocols. This was expected since SBTool was the basis on which ITACA, DGNB, and HQE were constructed.

WELL building for developing countries: critical design criteria for residential buildings in Malaysia

Purpose This study aims to investigate the interrelationship between critical design criteria (CDC) that affect health, well-being and productivity (i.e. WELL) for residential buildings in developing countries, using Malaysia as a case study. To achieve the aim, the objectives are to identify CDC that affect WELL collectively; determine CDC that affect health, well-being, and productivity simultaneously; and analyze the interrelationship between the CDC. Design/methodology/approach Data from the semi-structured interviews and a systematic review of the existing literature were gathered for survey development. Next, survey data was collected from 114 professionals living in multistory buildings. Finally, normalized mean analysis, analytic hierarchy process (AHP), agreement analysis and Spearman correlation analysis were used to analyze the collected data. Findings Out of the 51 potential design criteria, 16 are critically affecting WELL collectively. Furthermore, six are critically affecting WELL collectively as well as health, well-being and productivity simultaneously: property price, water flow and supply, water treatment, pest management, management services and waste management. Finally, “water treatment” is highly correlated to “water management” and “water flow and supply.” In addition, “waste management” and “management services,” as well as “fire safety” and “emergency evacuation plans,” are highly correlated. Originality/value This study's originality includes investigating the CDC of residential buildings for the first time, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, in a developing country. As a result, this study uncovers holistic design criteria for policymakers to establish holistic building assessment tools for residential buildings.

Effectiveness of Simulation-Based, Peer Learning Intervention in Continuing Nursing Education: An Explorative Study.

Despite the vast research by nursing professionals on various methods of nursing education, little research has been conducted exploring the efficacy of peer learning as a teaching-learning tool amongst registered nurses. Hence, this study was conducted among in-service nursing officers to evaluate the usefulness of simulation-based peer learning sessions as an educational tool for capacity building. Using a pre-test and post-test design, the study was conducted among 150 in-service nurses at a tertiary care hospital. Five structured simulation-based, peer learning modules were designed. The nurses were divided into five groups using random and purposive sampling. Each group attended one session of the peer learning module on advanced nursing care by simulated clinical and nursing care 'demonstrate, observe, assist, and perform' (DOAP) activity. Pre-test, post-test, and retention tests (after two months) were conducted, and the results were compared. There was a significant increase in mean knowledge (p-value < 0.05) in the post-test after all five sessions, which shows the effectiveness of such peer learning sessions in improving the baseline. There was a decline in mean scores in the retention test compared to that of the post-test, which was statistically significant in only the group of learners participating in the first session. The study provides substantial evidence that simulation-based peer learning is an effective tool for continuing nursing education, and it can be used as a valuable tool to reduce the documented theory-practice gap.

An Environmental Scan of Tools That Help Individuals Living With Mild Cognitive Impairment or Neurocognitive Disorders Achieve Their Preferred Health or Well-Being.

Older adults experiencing neurocognitive disease (NCD) contend with complex care often characterized by high emotional strain. Mitigating complex care with decision support tools can clarify options. When used in conjunction with the practice of shared decision making (SDM), these tools can improve satisfaction and confidence in treatment. The use of these tools for cognitive health has increased, but more is needed to understand how these tools incorporate social needs into treatment plans. We conducted an environmental scan using a MEDLINE-informed search strategy and feedback from an expert steering committee to characterize current tools and approaches for engaging older adults experiencing NCD. We assessed their application and development, incorporation of social determinants, goals or preferences, and inclusion of caregivers in their design. We identified 11 articles, 7 of which show that SDM helps guide tool development and that mostcenter on clinical decision making. Types of tools varied by clinical site and those differences reflected patient need. A collective value across tools was their use to forge meaningful conversations. Most tools appeared designed without the explicit goal to elicit patient social needs or incorporate nonclinical strategies into treatment plans. Several challenges and opportunities exist thatcenter on strategies to engage patients in the design and testing of tools that support conversations with clinicians about cognitive health. Future work should focus on building and testing adaptable tools that support patient and family social care needs beyond clinical care settings.

Making Social Science Actionable for the NWS: The Brief Vulnerability Overview Tool (BVOT)

Abstract This paper provides an introduction to a new tool that is designed to provide operationally useful vulnerability information to National Weather Service (NWS) Weather Forecasting Offices (WFOs). The Brief Vulnerability Overview Tool (BVOT) is a shapefile containing local known, spatially specific, and weather-hazard-related vulnerabilities in a format that is easily integrated into the existing forecasting, warning, and decision support responsibilities and tasks of NWS WFO meteorologists. The methods for gathering vulnerability data and then building a BVOT for a WFO leverage and strengthen the relationships that NWS WFOs already have with their local emergency managers (EMs) and core partners to work together to identify operationally useful, local vulnerability knowledge. The BVOT is populated with discrete, known vulnerabilities to provide NWS meteorologists spatial situational awareness of those people, places, and things of greatest concern to their core partners. Crucially, the BVOT is a subsample of all potential vulnerabilities; its primary purpose is to make meteorologists aware of those weather-hazard-specific vulnerabilities that, as we posed to them, “keep them awake at night.” Here, we describe the development of the BVOT as a social science–informed operational tool; how the BVOT methods have evolved and how it can be integrated into the culture of the NWS as a tool for building and maintaining relationships with partners; and how the BVOT is designed to be used and its impact on operational decision-making as observed in NOAA’s Hazardous Weather Testbed.