Current Project Research Articles

Projecting Flood Risk Dynamics for Effective Long‐Term Adaptation

AbstractFlood losses have steadily increased in the past and are expected to grow even further owing to climate and socioeconomic change. The reduction of flood vulnerability, for example, through adaptation, plays a key role in the mitigation of future flood risk. However, lacking knowledge about vulnerability dynamics, which arise from the interaction between floods and the ensuing response by society, limits the scope of current risk projections. We present a socio‐hydrological method for flood risk assessment that simulates the interaction between society and flooding continuously, including changes in vulnerability through collective (structural) and private (non structural) measures. Our probabilistic approach quantifies uncertainties and exploits empirical data to chart risk dynamics including how society copes with flooding. In a case study for the commercial sector in Dresden, Germany, we show that increased adaptation is necessary to counteract the expected four‐fold growth in flood risk due to transient hydroclimatic and socioeconomic boundary conditions. We further use our holistic approach to identify solutions for effective long‐term adaptation, demonstrating that integrated adaptation strategies (i.e., combined structural and non structural measures) can reduce the average risk by up to 60% at the study site. Ultimately, our case study highlights the benefit of the model for robust flood risk assessment as it can capture unintended, adverse feedbacks of adaptation measures such as the levee effect. Consequently, our socio‐hydrological method contributes to a more systemic and reliable flood risk assessment that can inform adaptation planning by exploring the possible system evolutions comprehensively including unlikely futures.

Participatory soil citizen science: An unexploited resource for European soil research

AbstractSoils are key components of our ecosystems and provide 95%–99% of our food. This importance is reflected by an increase in participatory citizen science projects on soils. Citizen science is a participatory research method that actively involves and engages the public in scientific enquiry to generate new knowledge or understanding. Here, we review past and current citizen science projects on agricultural soils across Europe. We conducted a web‐based survey and described 24 reviewed European citizen science projects in the light of the 10 principles of citizen science and identified success factors for citizen science. Over 66% of the projects generated soil biodiversity data; 54% and 42% of the projects generated data on vegetation cover and soil organic carbon, respectively. Our findings show that soil citizen science projects aligned with the 10 principles of citizen science offer an unexploited resource for European soil health research. We conclude that promoting co‐creation, fostering knowledge‐sharing networks and enabling long‐term communication and commitment with citizens are success factors for further development of citizen science on soils.

Shared Space: promoting teachers’ academic understanding of inter-religious dialogue through a teacher fellowship model for religious education (RE)

We report on the design of a close-to-practice research project situated in Southwest England exploring the relationship between developing teachers’ ‘powerful knowledge’ of inter-religious dialogue in religious education (RE) through a teacher fellowship model for RE specialists, including a specialist curriculum development programme and co-constructed evaluation of an intervention seeking to promote ‘warmer’ community relations. This current phase of the ‘Shared Space’ project combines insight from two existing subject-specific knowledge exchange projects—undertaken by us—with a Teacher Fellowship approach to pedagogical and curriculum knowledge development pioneered by the Historical Association, and an emerging one, ‘After RE’. The current Shared Space project addresses two established concerns in RE that are not normally connected: (1) the lack of rigorous subject knowledge held by RE teachers in England; (2) the assumption that good RE in schools can promote community relations, a widely accepted assumption hitherto without much evidence to support it. Here we set out a justification for the project and the form it will take, based on established Shared Space principles of how best to support in-service teachers’ ongoing professional development through knowledge exchange with academics, mindful of equal power relations. While appreciating aspects of the notion of ‘powerful knowledge’ on which ‘theory-rich’ Teacher Fellowships have been based, we cite thinking from the emerging After RE project to suggest a modified theoretical framework for our investigation which will innovate methodologically when evaluating its impact in partnership with teacher participants.

Architectural acoustics: Buildings and beyond

Architectural acoustics not only covers buildings and the environment around them but also human perception of the acoustic environment, indoors and outdoors. As a technical committee of the acoustical society, our members are spread over research, academia, practitioners and industry. Architectural acoustics is not reserved for concert halls and opera houses but applies to all occupied spaces and has a direct impact on quality of life of any user of the space. Specific topics within the discipline include but are not limited to environmental sound, speech privacy, and speech intelligibility, simulated acoustic environments, annoyance, human hearing, airborne and structureborne noise, sound and impact isolation, loudspeakers and microphones, room acoustics, soundscape, and acoustical measurements. The technical committee on noise is often a cosponsor of specials sessions by the TCAA, as noise control via architectural means is common practice. This presentation will provide an overview of the TCAA and the field of architectural acoustics and provide examples of current research and projects of interest.

Establishing a Plan to Improve Pediatric Patient Comfort during PIV Insertions and Blood Specimen Collection: A Quality Improvement Effort

Highlights Patient comfort during peripheral intravenous (PIV) insertion and specimen collection was increased. The authors extended the contingency plan implemented for PICC insertion to include PIV insertion and specimen collection. The authors met their goals by using quality improvement methodology. Prioritizing patient comfort often requires institutional culture change. Abstract Background: Needle procedures can cause pain and distress, especially in pediatric patients.1 Retrospective data collected at a freestanding pediatric facility revealed that approximately 30% of pediatric patients were not demonstrating sufficient levels of comfort during peripheral intravenous (PIV) catheter insertion and specimen collection (lab draws) even after successful implementation of comfort measures by the vascular access team (VAT) in an adjacent procedure (i.e., peripherally inserted central catheter placement). The current quality improvement project was implemented to support adaptation and expansion of previous lessons learned to PIVs and lab draws specifically. Design and Methods: The VAT used the Pediatric Sedation State Scale,2 a standardized assessment tool integrated into the electronic medical record, to assess procedural comfort during PIVs and lab draws from February 2021 through April 2023. A total of 24,134 patients aged 0 to 18 years were included in the data collection. Interventions were delivered concurrently and included (1) reeducation/ongoing support for implementation of the Comfort Promise3 measures, (2) the creation and implementation of advanced comfort options, and (3) culture change. Aims and Objectives: The goal of the interventions was to improve the percentage of pediatric patients achieving adequate levels of comfort beginning at 68% in year 1 to 90% in year 2. Results: From February 2021 to April 2023, the VAT team was able to improve procedural comfort scores from 68% to 90% of pediatric patients with adequate comfort for lab draws and/or PIV insertions. Conclusions: While standard comfort measures are a good first step in pain management during needle procedures, they are not sufficient for every pediatric patient. Nitrous, sedation, and the use of anxiolytics and analgesics can play an important role in reducing pain and anxiety during needle procedures and should be considered for patients not achieving adequate levels of comfort with standard comfort measures.

PROSPECTS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIAL INNOVATIONS IN THE CONTEXT OF INNOVATIVE DEVELOPMENT OF THE COUNTRY

The article examines current issues and prospects for the development of social innovations in modern conditions of rapid changes and innovative progress in society. The author analyzes the impact of social innovations on the formation of a sustainable andinclusive society, highlighting their impact on various spheres such as education, health, social protection and the economy. The article is based on the results of empirical research, providing readers with an overview of current projects and initiativesin the field of social innovation. Special attention is paid to assessing the effectiveness and sustainability of social innovations in the context of innovative development of the country, as well as identifying factors contributing to or hindering theirsuccessful implementation. The author concludes that social innovations play an important role in shaping a society capable of adapting to the challenges of modernity. The results of the study can be useful for the development of public policy strategies in the field of social innovation aimed at the sustainable and harmonious development of society.

Portuguese rhotic variation in the Brazilian cities of Salvador and São Paulo

Brazilian Portuguese has two rhotic phonemes: the alveolar flap /ɾ/ and the historically long version which previous publications call velar, uvular, or glottal fricatives, or alveolar trills and approximants. This variation occurs both within and across dialects. Deletion is also common, most notably in word-final position. For the current project, thirty-five participants from Salvador and ten participants from São Paulo were recorded reading predetermined stimuli of isolated words and sentences, creating 6,383 instances of the rhotic phoneme. Productions were classified as exhibiting deletion or for having voicing, frication, flapping, and place characteristics. The results indicate a range of surface forms of the phoneme more variable than previously cited, with palatal fricatives common in Salvador and several flap + fricative variants common in São Paulo, along with other less frequent forms. In Salvador, glottal fricatives predominate across the board with much higher rates of deletion. In São Paulo, glottal fricatives predominate in onset positions, but alveolar trills and approximants and flap + fricative variants predominate in coda position. While deletion is most common word-finally, it occurs in all environments where the phoneme is found.

Regulative raumordnungsbezogene Optionen für eine Beschleunigung (nicht nur) der Energiewende: Ebenen, Verfahrensschritte und Bindungswirkungen

The urgency of the energy transition is in conflict with delaying effects and options that are not optimally used in the complex, multi-stage German planning system. This also applies to the law and procedures of spatial planning, as well as the interaction of spatial planning with construction planning and sectoral law. Here, fundamental reform options have not yet been exhausted, despite many current legislative projects. Some procedural steps and options for legislative deviations can be eliminated altogether, the interaction of planning and decision-making levels can be made more effective, and subject-related certain hierarchical levels in the planning system could be omitted on a topic-specific basis. Based on a brief analysis of the initial situation for spatial planning, this paper first provides corresponding general considerations on such far-reaching acceleration options and their consequences. This is followed by the presentation of numerous specific spatial planning-related optimisation options.

Using Language Learning Strategies to Enhance Writing Skills: An Empirical Study of Student-Centered Learning Approaches In Saudi Context

Arabic is the mother tongue of Saudi students. The current research project aims to investigate the extent to which the learning strategies utilized by PSAU students effectively enhance their writing skills and modify their attitudes toward writing. In the present study, the methodology used has been qualitative and quantitative, which is a mixed approach. The reason behind using a mixed approach is that this study aimed to collect both qualitative and quantitative data concerning the learners’ writing strategies used during writing classes. The research uses observation, questionnaires, and interviews to collect the data. For the study, around 250 students will be selected from the writing courses of various PSAU colleges. The effectiveness of the students’ strategies used in learning employed by the students of PSAU for promoting writing skills and changing passive attitudes towards writing is expected to reveal the role and usefulness of improving writing skills as a result of using students’ strategies.

Carbon Farming practices assessment: Modelling spatial changes of Soil Organic Carbon in Flanders, Belgium

Carbon sequestration in soils is a strategy to mitigate climate change and promote sustainable soil management. Since the European Union (EU) stimulates the reduction of greenhouse gases (GHG) from the atmosphere, the necessity to explore innovative approaches to sequester carbon in agricultural landscapes is becoming urgent. Carbon Farming (CF) has emerged as a promising program to mitigate climate change in agriculture but there is still a lack of agreement on which tools can be used to calculate Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) dynamics in this context. Using the RothC model a spatial analysis of SOC in the agricultural parcels of Flanders, Belgium was performed. Two among the various CF practices were simulated: a use of cover crops (CC) and the most common crop rotations adopted in the area, enriched with the use of cover crops. The performances of the model were evaluated and compared to other studies in areas with similar climate and environments. The selected CF practices can mitigate the carbon emissions from agricultural soils up to 60 % of the current projections. The most sensitive variables in the RothC model that affect the final total SOC, and thus determining the model outcome, are the Business As Usual (BAU) carbon inputs and the initial carbon content. For these variables the Pearson Correlation Coefficient with the change in SOC reached values of −0.78 and −0.50 respectively. To achieve net carbon sequestration in the agricultural soils of Flanders, Belgium, more effective solutions need to be evaluated. Furthermore, a larger amount and accessibility of data are required to reach better modelling performances.

What's a Little Sarcasm Between Friends: Exploring the Sarcastic Tone of Voice

Tone of voice has been characterized as a cue to sarcasm. However, researchers have found conflicting evidence regarding the acoustic properties of the sarcastic tone of voice and what social factors may affect their prevalence. The current project was designed to assess whether there is a sarcastic tone of voice employed in naturalistic conversation and if it varies as a function of shared common ground. Participants were recorded in a conversational setting while engaged in tasks designed to elicit sarcasm. Results showed that spontaneous sarcastic statements had more varied pitch, lower mean amplitude, and less varied amplitude, and were spoken more slowly than literal statements that were matched by syllables and stress. In addition, friends marked their sarcasm to a greater degree compared to strangers with regard to mean F0, mean amplitude, and amplitude variability.

Effect of E-Loyalty Cues on Repurchase Behavioural Intentions Among Online Shoppers

This study looks into how e-loyalty cues affect online shoppers' propensity to make repeat purchases. E-loyalty signals include a variety of sophisticated components, such as perceived value, website design, user interface, and brand trust. This study aims to identify the complex links between these indicators and consumers' intentions to make additional online purchases through a thorough analysis. Online retailers must comprehend the factors that led to consumers' adoption of online buying as the e-commerce industry grows more competitive. Customer relationship management, which has been identified as an efficient company approach to achieve success in the electronic market, depends on this kind of knowledge. The goal of the current research project is to comprehend online shoppers' patterns of happiness and loyalty. The focus of this study is on how emotional state and perceived likelihood of remote purchase affect e-satisfaction when shopping online. Additionally, it intends to focus on how e-satisfaction affects e-loyalty. A questionnaire was used to collect the information. The findings demonstrate that e-satisfaction is significantly positively impacted by three aspects of the emotional state experienced when online shopping: pleasure, feeling, and dominance. The all-out risk, the financial gamble, the social gamble, the mental gamble, the utilitarian gamble, and the real gamble—all aspects of the perceived gamble of distant purchase—don't significantly affect e-satisfaction, with the exception of the gamble of lost time. Finally, satisfaction has a beneficial and essential impact on cyber consumers' e-loyalty.

Addressing the gaseous and odour emissions gap in decentralised biowaste community composting

Composting has demonstrated to be an effective and sustainable technology to valorise organic waste in the framework of circular economy, especially for biowaste. Composting can be performed in various technological options, from full-scale plants to community or even individual composters. However, there is scarce scientific information about the potential impact of community composting referred to gaseous emissions. This work examines the emissions of methane and nitrous oxide as main GHG, ammonia, VOC and odours from different active community composting sites placed in Spain, treating kitchen, leftovers and household biowaste. Expectedly, the gaseous emissions have an evident relation with the composting progress, represented mainly by its decrease as temperature or biological activity decreases. GHG and odour emission rates ranged from 5.3 to 815.2 mg CO2eq d-1 kg-1VS and from 69.8 to 1088.5 ou d-1 kg-1VS, respectively, generally being lower than those find in open-air full-scale composting. VOC characterization from the community composting gaseous emissions showed a higher VOC families’ distribution in the emissions from initial composting phases, even though terpenes such as limonene, α-pinene and β-pinene were the most abundant VOC along the composting process occurring in the different sites studied. The results presented in this study can be the basis to evaluate systematically and scientifically the numerous current projects for a worldwide community composting implementation in decentralised biowaste management schemes.

Open hardware solutions in quantum technology

Quantum technologies, such as communication, computing, and sensing, offer vast opportunities for advanced research and development. While an open-source ethos currently exists within some quantum technologies, especially in quantum computer programming, we argue that there are additional advantages in developing open quantum hardware (OQH). Open quantum hardware encompasses open-source software for the control of quantum devices in labs, blueprints, and open-source toolkits for chip design and other hardware components, as well as openly accessible testbeds and facilities that allow cloud-access to a wider scientific community. We provide an overview of current projects in the OQH ecosystem, identify gaps, and make recommendations on how to close them at present. More open quantum hardware would accelerate technology transfer to and growth of the quantum industry and increase accessibility in science.

OPTIMAL SITE LAYOUT SELECTION FOR PLACEMENT OF FACILITIES AND MATERIAL IN THE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT OF KUBU RAYA DISTRICT EDUCATION AND TRAINING BUILDING

Construction project work has several essential components: construction workers, tools, materials, and other needed facilities. The placement of tools, materials, and facilities in construction projects affects the efficiency of movement (traveling distance) and the level of worker safety (safety index). It is the background of this research aims to analyse the placement of tools, materials, and other facilities in the construction project of the Kubu Raya Regency Education and Training building. In this study, indicators to point out the placement of tools, materials, and other facilities have been optimized by using some indicators such as movement efficiency (traveling distance) and the level of worker safety (safety index). Four alternative placements were drawn up (including the existing placement in the current project), analysed, and assessed which alternative is the most optimal. The other options are selected by analysing those four alternatives using the Analytical Hierarchy Process method and evaluated by weighting ranking. The analysis results show that alternative 3 is the optimal alternative to the traveling distance and safety index indicators. Alternative 3 represents that the placement of tools, materials, and facilities on the project is carried out by conditioning the access space between facilities, which is made capacious to reduce the barriers of workers in moving from one facility to another

Numerical Simulation of Habitat Restoration for Floating Fish Eggs in the Upper Yangtze River Tributaries

The upper reaches of the Yangtze River not only serve as a crucial waterway in China’s southwestern region but also function as a conservation area for rare fish species. Recognizing the tendency of current navigation channel improvement projects to overlook the impact on aquatic habitats and the limitations of existing habitat assessment systems, this study specifically focuses on the bifurcation section of the upper Yangtze River. To address these issues, a two-dimensional mathematical model is established to simulate and validate various improvement schemes. An analysis of the flow conditions necessary for fish migration and spawning in this section is conducted, determining optimal flow rates and water levels during spawning and migration periods. A suitability assessment system for spawning and migration is then established, utilizing the four major Chinese carps as representative fish species for evaluation. Through a comprehensive analysis of the results, rational improvement schemes are identified. The findings underscore the importance of considering elevation of dam crest during the construction of sub-dams to regulate the navigation channel, particularly regarding its impact on fish habitats during the dry season. In this plan, the weighted available area of the spawning ground increased by 189,251 m2, 165,860 m2, 89,527 m2, 66,542 m2, and 47,182 m2 under five conditions. Additionally, the evaluation indexes PPA, HFI, and CQI showed increases of 5.011%, 4.176%, and 2.901%, respectively. Moreover, this study refines fish habitats based on their reproductive and living habits, thereby enhancing existing habitat assessment models.

Public health genomics research in Italy: an overview of ongoing projects.

Public health genomics (PHG) aims to integrate advances in genomic sciences into healthcare for the benefit of the general population. As in many countries, there are various research initiatives in this field in Italy, but a clear picture of the national research portfolio has never been sketched. Thus, we aimed to provide an overview of current PHG research projects at the national or international level by consultation with Italian institutional and academic experts. We included 68 PHG projects: the majority were international projects in which Italian researchers participated (n = 43), mainly funded by the European Commission, while the remainder were national initiatives (N = 25), mainly funded by central government. Funding varied considerably, from € 50,000 to € 80,803,177. Three main research themes were identified: governance (N = 20); precision medicine (PM; N = 46); and precision public health (N = 2). We found that research activities are preferentially aimed at the clinical application of PM, while other efforts deal with the governance of the complex translation of genomic innovation into clinical and public health practice. To align such activities with national and international priorities, the development of an updated research agenda for PHG is needed.

Experimental Study of Novel Demountable Shear Connectors for Steel-concrete Composite Buildings

Sustainable composite structures in building construction are assembled using demountable structural elements that can be reused in the circular economy. The current research and development project, in cooperation with Budapest University of Technology and Economics and KÉSZ Group, bim.GROUP Ltd., Hungary, aims to design a novel demountable steel-concrete composite slab and frame system for buildings. The key component of this construction is the demountable shear connector. In the current research, novel bolted shear connectors with embedded bolts and threaded rods are developed and studied that can fit the applied technology of the industrial partner. One of the leading aspects of this connection is the consideration of bolt hole clearance, since it occurs initial slip and stiffness reduction of the composite beam. In the first phase of the research program, demountable and economical structural details were developed, which can reduce the stiffness reduction with the proper resistance and ductility features. To study the behavior of these shear connections, a push-out experimental program was designed and completed in March and April 2023. It is observed that novel shear connectors have a proper behavior with sufficient resistance and ductility, which is applicable according to the Eurocode 4 standard and fits the objectives of the research and development project. In the paper, the developed structural details and the push-out experimental program are presented with general results and statements besides a detailed evaluation of a specified specimen type.

"How are you?" Perspectives From Patients and Health Care Providers of Text Messaging to Support Rheumatoid Arthritis Care: A Thematic Analysis.

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) may need to access rheumatology care between scheduled visits. WelTel is a virtual care platform that supports secure two-way text-messaging between patients and their health care team. The objective of the present study was to explore perspectives and experiences of health care providers (HCPs) and patients related to the use of WelTel as an adjunct to routine care. Seventy patients with RA were enrolled in a six-month WelTel pilot project launched in September 2021. Patients received monthly "How are you?" text message check-ins and could message their health care team during clinic hours to request health advice. The current project is a qualitative study of the WelTel pilot. A subgroup of pilot participants was purposively sampled and invited to participate in interviews. A thematic analysis of transcripts was conducted using a deductive approach leveraging quality of care domains. Thirteen patients (62% female, mean age 62 years, 10 White) completed interviews. Patients' views suggested that text messaging with the rheumatology team supported high-quality care across multiple quality domains including patient-centeredness, timeliness, efficiency, safety, effectiveness, equity, and appropriateness. Seven HCPs (57.1% female, one pharmacist and six rheumatologists) completed interviews. HCPs' perspectives varied based on their experience with the WelTel platform. Additional themes reported by HCPs included perceived increased workload and burnout. Patients with RA perceived text-based messaging as supporting high-quality care. The impact of increased communications on HCP burnout and workload requires consideration, and future studies should evaluate the effect of texting on patient outcomes.

Out to Pasture: Transitioning From Servant-Leadership to Post-Leadership Roles in Academia

Faculty in leadership or administrative roles may continue their career advancement until retirement. In some cases, faculty may choose or have chosen for them, to not continue in a leadership role in the academy. An extensive search of the literature on post-leadership roles using the search term post-leadership in Web of Science, Communication Abstracts, PsycArticles (ProQuest), ProQuest Research Library, and Education Full-text (EBSCO) databases failed to uncover research specifically related to post-leadership faculty roles in higher education. According to Jasinki (2020) while much scholarship has focused on leadership development in academia, little scholarship has focused on the phenomena of “stepping down.” Utilizing autoethnographic method (see Ellis et al., 2011), the author seeks to understand the connection between the personal journey and the effects of our cultural expectations of post-leadership in academia on self-identity. This current project aims to begin the conversation by sharing a personal narrative about the process of reflection related to post-leadership roles and offering a critical self-analysis within the context of servant leadership.