Practical Considerations Research Articles

FACTORS AFFECTING PERFORMANCE OF CONCRETE PAVEMENTS

This article examines the various factors influencing the performance of concrete pavements, drawing primarily from experiences in Florida. The discussion begins with the observation that concrete pavements which do not exhibit distress within the first few years typically perform well throughout their intended lifespan. This generalization is explored through an examination of Florida's jointed concrete pavements, which range in age and exhibit varying degrees of performance. The research suggests that pavement distress often arises from a combination of factors rather than fatigue failure alone. Key areas of focus include the effects of temperature-induced displacements on slab warping and curling, and the consequent impact on pavement distress. The study details the role of initial slab warping during construction and its permanent deformation, further complicated by daily temperature cycles. It also addresses the significant issue of water intrusion through joints and its damaging effects, such as pumping and joint faulting, which compromise pavement integrity. The investigation extends to pavement design considerations, emphasizing the importance of doweled joints, slab geometry, and base stiffness in mitigating distress. Additionally, the composition of the concrete mixture, particularly the use of high early strength concrete, is scrutinized for its tendency to induce microcracks, leading to premature pavement failure. The article concludes with recommendations for improving pavement performance, including considerations for design, mixture composition, and construction practices, underlining the necessity for a multifaceted approach to address the complex nature of concrete pavement performance. (Abstract generated by AI tool ChatGPT 4)

Slicing-free Inverse Regression in High-dimensional Sufficient Dimension Reduction

Sliced inverse regression (SIR, Li 1991) is a pioneering work and the most recognized method in sufficient dimension reduction. While promising progress has been made in theory and methods of high-dimensional SIR, two remaining challenges are still nagging high-dimensional multivariate applications. First, choosing the number of slices in SIR is a difficult problem, and it depends on the sample size, the distribution of variables, and other practical considerations. Second, the extension of SIR from univariate response to multivariate is not trivial. Targeting at the same dimension reduction subspace as SIR, we propose a new slicing-free method that provides a unified solution to sufficient dimension reduction with high-dimensional covariates and univariate or multivariate response. We achieve this by adopting the recently developed martingale difference divergence matrix (MDDM, Lee & Shao 2018) and penalized eigen-decomposition algorithms. To establish the consistency of our method with a high-dimensional predictor and a multivariate response, we develop a new concentration inequality for sample MDDM around its population counterpart using theories for U-statistics, which may be of independent interest. Simulations and real data analysis demonstrate the favorable finite sample performance of the proposed method.

Commitment of Fraud Activities in Relation with Corporate Governance

Corporate Governance of legal entities is very important on determination of criminal responsibility. The theory and practice of criminal law, not only in our jurisdiction but also in a wider area, has elaborated. regarding the criminal liability of legal entities, especially of well-organized companies, such as second-tier banks, for the very position they occupy in a market and in the economy of a given country. Furthermore, we would like to emphasize the distinguish of criminal responsibility of the employee (employees) and how it is combined and separated from that of the legal entity. In our analysis below, we will show the Prosecutor interpretation of the criteria provided by the special law. Specifically, articles 3 and 4 of Law 9754/2007 "On the criminal liability of legal persons", which is the legal basis on which the criminal liability of any legal organization, in the form of a legal person, is based, according to the provisions of the Civil Code, the Law on Non-Profit Organizations ( 8788/2001) and the Law on Commercial Companies (9901/2008). To this we must also add the arguments that show that the evidence brought during trial, are not placed in the context of the criminal fact alleged to have been committed by the legal entity, moreover in some cases were deliberately distorted. As we emphasized above, we think that the strategy of the investigation was clear and not in the function of providing justice, i.e. confronting the criminal responsibility of the legal entity, in order to have a future argument for a trial possible civil, to seek civil liability from the latter, in the absence of the ability to pay of the one who caused this civil and non-criminal conflict, the Company and the party itself that claims to be the victim of this criminal process. We think that, in the event that an investigation developed and defended in this trial, in function of this strategy, would create a dangerous precedent for the business environment and would make it liable not only criminally but also civilly, for any action illegal actions carried out by its employees during the exercise of their functional duties, regardless of the fact that its governing bodies have authorized it, or moreover have been aware of these actions. The article presents concrete analysis of the legal interpretation of the legal person's criminal responsibility, but also of the evidence taken during trial in its function, we would like to dwell on some general considerations of criminal theory and practice, for the criminal liability of the legal person, since it was born as such, how it has been developed and adopted in practice in our jurisdiction, after the entry into force of the law. 9754/2004 "On the criminal liability of legal entities", seeing it in the context of the charge brought by the Prosecution body, against the person protected by me, the Legal Entity.

Applied performance analysis practices in women's football

The aim of this study was to investigate the applied performance analysis (PA) practices within women's football. An online survey was developed to assess PA practices (team, individual and opposition match analysis, training analysis, coach behaviour analysis, best practice analysis, talent identification and recruitment, and game insights), use of technology, and considerations for PA practices within women's football. Thirty-nine participants (female n = 13; male n = 26) responsible for delivering PA within women's football completed the online survey between January and August 2023. Participants worked across different competitive levels of women's football (international n = 11; senior domestic top tier n = 12; senior domestic second tier n = 7, senior domestic third tier and below n = 9; youth (<U23) domestic n = 10), including seven participants who worked across multiple levels of competition. Participants predominantly conducted team (100%), individual (79%) and opposition (84%) match analysis, and training analysis (74%). Data collection and analysis, feedback mechanisms, and application of insights gained from PA practices typically varied across competitive standards. A wide variety of software were reported for data collection (e.g. HUDL, Veo), storing and managing data and/or video (e.g. HUDL, Veo), conducting statistical analysis (e.g. Microsoft Excel, R), and providing feedback (e.g. Microsoft PowerPoint, HUDL) across competitive standards. Thirty-one respondents identified specific considerations or challenges faced when implementing PA (e.g. limited resources (42%), data availability (19%), facilities (19%)). The findings of this survey can be used to inform and develop applied PA practices in women's football, education, and development opportunities for current and aspiring performance analysts.

Harnessing AI-Powered Genomic Research for Sustainable Crop Improvement

Artificial intelligence (AI) can revolutionize agriculture by enhancing genomic research and promoting sustainable crop improvement. AI systems integrate machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) with big data to identify complex patterns and relationships by analyzing vast genomic, phenotypic, and environmental datasets. This capability accelerates breeding cycles, improves predictive accuracy, and supports the development of climate-resilient, high-yielding crop varieties. Applications such as precision agriculture, automated phenotyping, predictive analytics, and early pest and disease detection demonstrate AI’s ability to optimize agricultural practices while promoting sustainability. Despite these advancements, challenges remain, including fragmented data sources, variability in phenotyping protocols, and data ownership concerns. Addressing these issues through standardized data integration frameworks, advanced analytical tools, and ethical AI practices will be critical for realizing AI’s full agricultural potential. This review provides a comprehensive overview of AI-powered genomic research, highlights the role of big data in training robust AI models, and explores ethical and technological considerations for sustainable agricultural practices.

Automated pure-tone audiometry using true wireless stereo earbuds with active noise control

Objective Automated pure-tone audiometry (PTA) conducted outside a sound booth is heavily affected by environmental noise. This study aims to evaluate the performance of an automated PTA system, employing commercially available true wireless stereo earbuds with active noise cancellation (ANC) in noisy environments. Design The electroacoustic characteristics of earbuds are thoroughly evaluated. Hearing thresholds were measured by ANC earbuds and TDH-39 in three noise levels and two types of noise. Study sample 21 normal-hearing participants for calibration and 22 participants below mild hearing loss for evaluation experiments. Results The average absolute differences between hearing thresholds measured via the standard manual audiometer in quiet and the automated PTA in various noise conditions, across octave frequencies ranging from 125 to 8000 Hz, were as follows: 5.2 (quiet environment without ANC), 5.4 (40 dBA pink noise with ANC), and 9.3 dB (55 dBA pink noise with ANC). Conclusion ANC can mitigate the impact of low-frequency noise (below 1000 Hz) on the accuracy of hearing level measurements, aligning with trends observed in objective experimental results. However, the influence of ANC on output levels warrants serious consideration in further practices.

Quantifying menorrhagia and overview of nonsurgical management of heavy menstrual bleeding.

Heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) is a common problem, presenting in 1 in 5 females. The quantification of menstrual blood loss and the subsequent treatment of HMB are both nuanced tasks that require the physician to consider the patient perspective. The individualization of care and transition to methods that fit each individual patient are critical to building a successful relationship with the patient to facilitate follow-up care and evaluation of response to treatment. In this review we outline various methods of quantification of menstrual blood loss, including considerations of accuracy and practicality. These methods, all of which have the potential for clinical benefit, vary from pictorial assessment charts to the gold standard alkaline hematin method to asking the patient about their average amount of blood loss and how it affects their quality of life. Next, we outline nonsurgical treatments for HMB, including hormonal and nonhormonal options, and consider the potential for success, as well as treatment considerations and contraindications. Overall, options for the evaluation and nonsurgical management of menstrual blood loss and HMB are presented along with quality-of-life considerations.

Speculative desires and future imaginings: Reflections from practice

This viewpoint draws together some of the ideas and thoughts shared by the contributors to the conference closing plenary. Convened with an interest to bring together a range of perspectives, the closing plenary invited five practitioners (Funmi Adewole Elliott, Henrietta Hale, Rosemary Lee, Kate Marsh and Diego Pizarro) to reflect on future considerations for Dance and Somatic Practices.

Criminal liability of legal entities

Abstract This article dwells on the criminal liability of legal entities, especially of well-organized companies, such as second-tier banks, for the very position they occupy in a market and in the economy of a given country. We would like to emphasize the distinction of criminal responsibility of the employee (employees) and how it is linked and separated from that of the legal entity. In the following analysis, we will show the Prosecutor’s interpretation of the criteria prescribed by ad hoc law. Specifically, Articles 3 and 4 of Law 9754/2007 “On the criminal liability of legal entities”, which provides the legal basis on which is founded the criminal liability of any legal organization, in the form of a legal entity, according to the provisions of the Civil Code, Law on Non-Profit Organizations (8788/2001) and Law on Commercial Companies (9901/2008). In addition, we must point out the arguments that show that the evidence brought during trial, is not placed in the context of the criminal fact alleged to have been committed by the legal entity, or when in some cases those were deliberately distorted. The article presents a concrete analysis of the legal interpretation of the legal person’s criminal liability, but also of the evidence taken in its function during trial. We would like to elaborate on some general considerations of criminal theory and practice, on the criminal liability of the legal entity, such as when it was born as such, how it has been developed and adopted in practice in our jurisdiction upon the entry into force of Law 9754/2004 “On the criminal liability of legal entities”, analysing it in the context of the charge brought by the Prosecution.

Assessing MRI Facility Damage Post-Hurricane: Best Practices and Safety Considerations

Assessing MRI Facility Damage Post-Hurricane: Best Practices and Safety Considerations

Evaluation of sleep health in children with congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency.

Literature on sleep health in children with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) is sparse despite the important role the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis plays in sleep onset, duration, and awakenings after sleep onset. To evaluate sleep health in children and adolescents with CAH as measured by wrist actigraphy and validated sleep questionnaires. Cross-sectional study at our multidisciplinary CAH clinic. Participants aged 3-18 years with classic CAH wore an ActiGraph GT3X+ accelerometer for one week. Children and parents completed sleep questionnaires and the results were compared to published samples from the community and children with sleep disorders (clinical). Actigraphy sleep health measures were compared to consensus sleep duration recommendations and normative data in healthy children. Forty-four participants (23 males) with CAH completed the study. Actigraphy found sleep duration in children with CAH was less than recommended guidelines with significantly worse sleep efficiency and increased wake after sleep onset (p<0.05) compared to healthy children. After sleep onset, the average number of awakenings increased from 1.67 per hour during the first two hours post evening hydrocortisone dose to 3.12 per hour 4 to 7 hours post dose, corresponding with washout of the evening hydrocortisone dose. Parents of 3-10-year-olds reported significantly worse sleep onset delay and decreased sleep duration than both the community and clinical samples, and significantly more night awakenings than the community sample. Our findings suggest that sleep health is impaired in children with CAH and is an important consideration for both clinical practice and future research.

Exploring the influence of intensive management practices on recreational hunter satisfaction: a case study of red deer trophy hunting in Spain

ABSTRACT Recreational hunting, especially big game trophy hunting, has a significant impact on large areas and requires specific wildlife management strategies. However, because the pursuit of maximum hunter satisfaction can jeopardize species conservation, it is crucial to identify the factors that determine recreational trophy hunter satisfaction. We investigated these factors in southern Spain by attending 21 dog-driven Iberian red deer hunts over seven hunting seasons. We collected geographic and biometric data from 556 hunted specimens and conducted 159 face-to-face surveys with hunters. Based on partial least squares path models, our findings indicate that overall satisfaction is positively related to the dimensions of achievement, appreciation, and service. Contextual variables, including hunter experience, hunting scenarios, and individual and group hunting bags, showed varying effects on these satisfaction dimensions. Management decisions significantly influenced multiple dimensions of hunter satisfaction, with potential implications for conservation in our study system and broader considerations for natural game management versus canned hunting practices.

Rights-Based Legal Considerations for TB Isolation Practices in Community Settings in the Post-Pandemic Era.

State and local governments are free to enact infectious disease control laws to protect the public health but must conform those laws to right-based limitations imposed by the United States Constitution. TB control laws that empower public health agencies and their representatives to institute restrictions on movement and activities for persons with TB have remained largely unchanged for decades and warrant review to ensure consistency with modern legal principles. During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was increased attention to the tension between non-pharmaceutical public health interventions (masking, isolation, lock-downs) intended to reduce transmission and improve community health and their potential negative consequences on learning, mental health, individual finances and the economy at large. Increasing evidence suggests that much of TB transmission is likely to have occurred prior to diagnosis and treatment initiation, and there is limited scientific evidence for the efficacy of community-based isolation in reducing TB incidence or TB mortality; by contrast, there is evidence that treatment rapidly reduces infectiousness, and that prolonged isolation may have deleterious health and financial effects for persons with TB. The post-pandemic era presents an opportunity to reassess public health authorities' legal obligations in designing voluntary and involuntary isolation policies for persons with tuberculosis. In so doing, state and local governments can recalibrate the balance between respect for individual constitutional rights and achieving public health TB goals.

Geochemical and mineralogical assessment of environmentally sensitive elements in Neyveli lignite deposits, Cauvery Basin, India.

This research work presents an examination of the concentrations and modes of occurrence of environmentally sensitive elements within lignite deposits, located in Neyveli, within the Cauvery Basin of India. Coal is one of the most complex geologically formed materials, consisting of organic and inorganic matter. The inorganic mineral matter including thecrystalline minerals, non-crystalline mineraloids, and elements with non-mineral associations. These lignite samples underwent complete analysis encompassing macroscopic, microscopic and geochemical assessments. The analysis reveals that the total mineral matter (MM) content, comprising significant proportions of sulphides, carbonate and argillaceous components. Geochemical characterization further elucidates the lignite's properties, with proximate analysis yielding values such as ash, volatile matter and fixed carbon and the Ultimate components analysis reveals the carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, sulphur and oxygen. Inorganic mineral matters play a significant role in coal utilization, and also such modes of occurrence of elements provide useful geochemical information on coal formation and coal-bearing basin evolution. In this paper, we assess the associations of elements and minerals, as well as the associations of selected elements including environmentally-sensitive (e.g., S, As, U, and Hg), and some major elements (e.g., Ca, Mg, Fe, Al, and Ti) that have largely occurred in non-mineral forms in these low-rank coals. And also, comparative analysis is conducted between the concentrations of elements within the lignite samples and the values reported for World Clarke Brown Coals (WCBC). Particularly, some of these elements exhibit significantly high environmental sensitivity, demanding careful consideration in lignite extraction and utilization practices.

Students’ Motivation and Engagement with Task-Based Activities Using Google Workspace

The current demand for integrating technology into English language instruction to engage students in meaningful conversations is pressing in the digital era. Despite this, research on employing Google tools for collaborative, task-based activities in English education is scarce, particularly in meeting the needs of today&amp;#39;s digital learners and boosting their motivation. This study aims to bridge this research gap by evaluating the impact of using task-based Google&amp;#39;s collaborative tools on creating a cooperative learning environment and increasing students&amp;rsquo; engagement and motivation in English classes. Over one academic year, data were collected from 65 Saudi university students with varying levels of English proficiency using approximately 45 task-based activities administered using different Google tools. According to questionnaire results, motivation was a significant predictor of students&amp;#39; initiative and enjoyment in using these collaborative tools. The study confirms that students appreciate these Google tools and associates their use with increased motivation to learn English. These findings suggest that educators should align their teaching with the preferences of the digital generation by incorporating tools like Google Forms with preemptive feedback, Google Slides, and Google Docs to foster meaningful English learning. This approach can narrow the divide between traditional teaching methods and the preferred learning styles of digital learners. This study was conducted prior to the surge in Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools; the study also points out that the rise of AI has expedited the creation of task-based activities, warranting further consideration in educational practices.

Music therapists’ perceptions of creating safety in the context of trauma with children and adolescents: A qualitative study

ABSTRACT Introduction Ensuring the safety of children and adolescents who have experienced trauma is a paramount consideration in therapeutic practices, yet research specifically addressing this within music therapy is lacking. To bridge this gap, the authors aimed to use semi-structured interviews to investigate how experienced music therapists from diverse cultural backgrounds describe providing safety while working with children and adolescents who experienced trauma. Method This research employed hermeneutic phenomenology to analyze the perspectives of 18 music therapists representing 11 countries. Their descriptions of cultivating safety and establishing secure environments were shared via online interviews and techniques from Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) were used to generate results. Results Analysis of the interviews revealed four prominent themes delineating the techniques music therapists use in their sessions to foster safety. These themes encompassed various aspects such as establishing a safe space, implementing a semi-structured program, providing opportunities for control and choice, and thoughtfully incorporating music. Collectively, these themes illuminate the approaches music therapists effectively deploy to create safety in their therapeutic sessions. Discussion The experienced music therapists in this study underscored the importance of attuning to the needs of children and adolescents who have experienced adversity. Newer practitioners may be interested in the ways they described maintaining a delicate balance between openness, flexibility, well-defined boundaries, and a reliable, caring presence. These fundamental elements support the development of safe connections and meaningful engagement, potentially fostering a sense of safety for both therapists and the young people they work with.

Physiological and behavioral responses to social isolation and starvation in a social fish

Changes in the social environment, such as segregating an individual who would typically reside within a social group, may elicit physiological and behavioral responses to external stimulus such as starvation. However, such changes in phenotypic traits receive a little attention in social fish. Here, we used qingbo (Spinibarbus sinensis) with high level of sociability as animal model in order to examine the physiological and behavioral responses of this fish species to social environment (isolation vs. grouping) and nutritional state (well-fed vs. starvation). We found that differences in the reduction of body masses between the group-reared and the isolation-reared fish during periods of starvation can be partially attributed to variations in water volume within the tanks. Additionally, the decrease in standard metabolic rate was more pronounced in the group-reared fish compared to the isolation-reared fish when deprived of food, except for maximum metabolic rate and aerobic scope. Interestingly, only the group-reared fish experienced a decline in constant acceleration swimming performance after food deprivation, while this was not observed in the isolated fish. Neither social isolation nor starvation had any impact on personality expression (e.g., exploration, activity, and boldness). However, both exploration and boldness exhibited temporal effects with an increase in these two personality traits. Social isolation tended to elevate anxiety-like behavior levels. Both social isolation and starvation did not affect upper thermal tolerance; however, starvation enhanced cold resistance of the fish. Our findings contribute to a better understanding of how social environment combined with trophic stress influences phenotypic traits and may offer valuable insights into animal welfare considerations for both natural habitats and aquaculture practices.

Approaches towards pragmatic language assessment in Indian pre-schoolers: A survey among speech-language pathologists.

Pragmatic language assessment in children is performed in line with standard protocols, guidelines, and best practices. The absence of these aspects in the Indian context has resulted in the quest to explore the approaches used by speech-language pathologists (SLPs) to assess pragmatic language impairments. This survey explored the current practices of SLPs towards the assessment of pragmatic language among preschool children in India. It also aimed to identify the barriers, facilitators and identify the level of knowledge, skill and overall practice of SLPs towards their practices using self-appraisal. A total of 100 SLPs(94 females and 6 males) working with preschool aged children (three-to-six-year-olds) from across different Indian states participated in the survey. Participants were enquired about the aspects of pragmatic language assessed, methods used for assessment, awareness and use of Indian tools, the settings, members, and language used for the assessment. Additionally, they were asked to mention the specific tools used, informal methods used, barriers and facilitators, and self-appraise their knowledge, skill and overall practice. Majority of participants assessed multiple aspects of pragmatic language. All used a combination of different assessment methods, with the participants commonly using informal compared to formal approaches. Preschoolers were assessed at multiple settings, along with different communication partners. Lack of awareness on assessment tools developed in India was the major barrier, while the use of informal tasks or activities were the major facilitators influencing pragmatic language assessment to a greater extent. The knowledge and skills for the assessment of pragmatic language obtained poorer scores compared to practices. The assessment practices of the SLPs were largely influenced by the unavailability of developed or adapted tools for Indian preschoolers, leading to the need to develop indigenous assessment tools. Certain considerations for further assessment practices have been identified and discussed.

Effects of poly‐γ‐glutamic acid addition on the transformation and distribution of soil nitrogen under different water conditions

AbstractThe impact of external poly‐γ‐glutamic acid (γ‐PGA) on soil nitrogen (N) transformation and distribution remains unclear, despite its contrasting effects on N use efficiency. Therefore, soil culture and soil column experiments were conducted using three different γ‐PGA addition rates (0%, 4% and 8% of dry soil weight, w/w) under different soil water contents (40%, 60% and 80% of field water capacity) and dry–wet cycles (0, 2, 4 and 8 times cycles; a single dry–wet cycle involved reducing soil water content from 80% to 40% of field water capacity) in sandy loam soil. The results of soil culture experiment showed that the γ‐PGA significantly increased soil –N and –N contents, as well as nitrification and transformation rates. However, these effects were observed to be influenced by both the culture time and soil water content. In addition, the results of soil column experiment showed that γ‐PGA not only significantly enhanced the soil inorganic nitrogen content within the 0–20 cm soil layer, but also improved water retention capacity. However, the differences between the γ‐PGA treatments gradually diminished with an increase in dry–wet cycle times. These results indicate that γ‐PGA addition enhanced soil inorganic N content and soil water retention by influencing soil N transformation and water distribution. However, the impact of γ‐PGA addition on soil improvement was regulated by soil water content, which should be taken into full consideration in agricultural practices.

Exploring Engineering Philosophy from an Epistemological Perspective

This study explores engineering philosophy from an epistemological perspective, aiming to improve students' critical thinking skills, foster interdisciplinary understanding, promote ethical reflection, and deepen engagement with the philosophical foundations of technology. The study uses a comparative analysis and critical review of the literature on the philosophy of engineering. The results are as follows: First, the essence of engineering knowledge lies in practical application, problem-solving orientation, and interdisciplinary integration. Second, epistemological methods in engineering emphasize the importance of balancing intuition and analysis, critical thinking, rigorous experimental design, and verification and validation processes. Third, while experience and expertise are certainly crucial in shaping engineering knowledge, it is necessary to critically examine the potential biases and limitations inherent in this process. Fourth, the epistemological challenges of interdisciplinary engineering necessitate humility, open-mindedness, and interdisciplinary integration. Finally, the ethical and social dimensions of engineering knowledge are essential considerations for responsible and sustainable engineering practices. Integrating ethical reflection into decision-making and embracing social responsibility and community involvement can enable engineers to contribute to social advancement while upholding professional integrity and ethical standards. Future research suggestions include conducting a meta-epistemological analysis to study the fundamental assumptions, methodologies, and conceptual frameworks employed in engineering philosophy research from an epistemological perspective. It can explore the intersection of epistemology, ethics, and social theory in engineering practice and education. Finally, conducting historical and comparative studies of engineering epistemology in diverse cultural, historical, and technological contexts can offer meaningful insights.