Project Life Research Articles

Flourishing while withering: an explication and critique of Simone de Beauvoir’s phenomenology of aging

AbstractThis paper explores the process of aging from a phenomenological perspective. Supplementing the model of becoming old found in Simone de Beauvoir’s work with a phenomenology of human suffering and flourishing, it asks whether it is possible to lead a good life in the process of becoming old. Is it possible to flourish while experiencing bodily waning? Is it possible to flourish while experiencing the shrinking of one’s everyday world and the passing away of close others? Aging, at least in its protracted phases, appears to become full of suffering rather than flourishing. What are the prospects of finding meaningful life projects despite old age? By making use of insight found in Heidegger and other phenomenologists the paper tries to develop a slightly different view on aging than the one found in Beauvoir, stressing the importance of embodied experiences and life choices, which not only depend upon societal oppression and being objectified by others, but also upon processes of nature and the possibilities of an intergenerational intersubjectivity. Resources for this project is found in the philosophy of affectivity developed by Heidegger and other phenomenologists of facticity, such as Maurice Merleau-Ponty, Charles Taylor, Helmuth Plessner and Hannah Arendt.

The effect of baseline and longitudinal cognitive reserve on memory ageing in middle and older age adults over a 12‐year period

AbstractBackground‘Cognitive reserve’ (CR) refers to a model of active protection against cognitive decline conferred by the adaptability of one’s cognitive processes. Research on life‐course accumulation of reserve and impact of factors like gender is limited. We examined long‐term effects of CR on episodic memory in two population‐based cohorts.MethodsParticipants consists of two cohorts from the PATH Through Life project with 12 years (4 waves) of follow‐up, with had an average of 14.6 and 13.9 years of education. The mid‐life cohort (MA) was aged 40‐44 at baseline (mean age 42.6, 52.7% self‐reported female;47.3% male, 0% other gender, N = 2513) and the older cohort (OA) was aged 60‐64 at baseline (mean age 62.5, 48.1% female, 49.9% male, 0% other gender, N = 2403). A baseline composite CR measure included education, occupational complexity, and cognitive and social engagement measured by the RIASEC scales. Episodic memory (Immediate and delayed recall) was assessed with a 16‐word list. Multilevel models adjusting for baseline age, self‐reported gender, race, APOE and non‐English speaking background; evaluated the effect of both baseline and longitudinal change in CR on the longitudinal change in episodic memory.ResultsOn average, women performed better than men on the episodic memory tasks. Compared with participants in the top tertile of CR, those middle and lowest tertiles had larger decline in episodic memory in both MA and OA. Interactions with APOE were not significant, but among those with medium (model derived beta weights 95% CI: 0.35 (0.01‐0.69)) and high (0.48(0.07‐0.90)) CR, women showed less decline than men. Each component of CR (education, occupational complexity, and RIASEC) was protective against decline in immediate and delayed recall. Increase in RIASEC score over time was protective (MA (0.05, (0.04‐0.07); OA 0.13, (0.11‐0.16)) with a larger effect seen in OA.ConclusionThe current study demonstrated protective effects against cognitive decline for all types of CR measured in both middle and older‐age groups. Increases in CR over time were also protective. The benefits of CR were highest for older women who comprise the age and gender group at most risk of Alzheimer’s disease, indicating the need for CR interventions.

Association between childhood experiences and mental health in later‐life: Findings from the National Social life, Health, and Aging Project

AbstractBackgroundMiddle age is the central period of life, and it is a time when people face various mental health problems. It has been reported that the experience of childhood has a lifelong effect on mental health in middle age. However, research on positive childhood effects is insufficient, compared to negative childhood.ObjectivesTo investigate associations between childhood experiences and a latent construct of mental health in midlife adults.MethodsThe participants included 770 adults aged 50‐64 who retrospectively reported childhood events, including family life happiness, parent’s education, family’s financial status, childhood health status, family structure, experience of violence, and witness of violence. Second‐order structural equation modelling was used with mental health modelled as a second‐order latent variable with depression, anxiety, loneliness, and stress as first‐order components.ResultsThe study found that family life happiness and healthy childhood were associated with better mental health of midlife, in both the crude (β = −.221, p < 0.001; β = −.201, p < 0.01) and adjusted models (β = −0.128, p < 0.001; β = −0.095, p < 0.05).ConclusionThis is the first study confirming the associations of family life happiness and childhood health with mental health of midlife using second‐order structural equation modeling. Future work would benefit from a prospective investigation of these associations. Keywords:Mental health, Midlife, Childhood, Second‐order structural equation model

Between the genotype and the phenotype lies the microbiome: symbiosis and the making of ‘postgenomic’ knowledge

Emphatic claims of a “microbiome revolution” aside, the study of the gut microbiota and its role in organismal development and evolution is a central feature of so-called postgenomics; namely, a conceptual and/or practical turn in contemporary life sciences, which departs from genetic determinism and reductionism to explore holism, emergentism and complexity in biological knowledge-production. This paper analyses the making of postgenomic knowledge about developmental symbiosis in Drosophila melanogaster by a specific group of microbiome scientists. Drawing from both practical philosophy of science and Science and Technology Studies, the paper documents epistemological questions of artefactuality and representativeness of model organisms as they emerge in the day-to-day labour producing and being produced by the “microbiome revolution." Specifically, the paper builds on all the written and editorial exchanges involved in the troubled publication of a research paper studying the symbiotic role of the microbiota in the flies’ development. These written materials permit us to delimit the network of justifications, evidence, standards of knowledge-production, trust in the tools and research designs that make up the conditions of possibility of a postgenomic fact. More than reframing the organism as a radically novel multiplicity of reactive genomes, we conclude, doing postgenomic research on the microbiota and symbiosis means producing a story that deviates from the scripts embedded into the sociotechnical experimental systems of post-Human Genome Project life sciences.

The Influence of Construction Project Management on the Planning and Design of Residential Green Buildings

<p>我國綠建築評估系統EEWH至今已有20年歷史，然而在住宿類建築當中綠建築標章案件數仍僅占總使用執照數量1%以下，標章案之總樓地板面積僅占總使用執照總樓地板面積20%以下，因此對於推廣綠建築之成果仍有進步空間。分析綠建築申請率低的原因，包含大眾認為綠建築之成本較高、綠建築標章之總建築專案期程較久、所需之審查資料繁多…等。再者，申請綠建築標章時之分數常少於申請候選綠建築證書時之分數，甚至有案件未申請綠建築標章。專案管理係指對於專案生命週期之各項工作項目予以妥善管理，以減少專案成果與預期目標的落差。於過往在建築業的案例與相關研究中，指出專案管理對於管控建築成本與工期具有實際績效，然而案例多為大型工程與廠辦類建築物，對於住宿類建築物之探討相對較少。故本研究先透過專家問卷探討建築專案管理管控綠建築指標項目之能力，以提出在專案管理思維下，設計住宿類綠建築時可優先考量採用之建築技術，以消除大眾對於綠建築在成本與時程上之顧慮。研究成果顯示，不同綠建築技術與設施設備之採用情形，對於建築專案的管控能力確實具有差異性。在EEWH-RS版本下之指標項目，以日常節能指標與二氧化碳減量指標下之指標項目，較能夠受專案管理管控。但綠化量指標、水資源指標以及汙水垃圾改善指標等，由於其技術已經成熟、成為標準配備或已規格化，致使專案管理對其無法具有較高的影響能力。研究成果係可協助建築設計師於住宿類綠建築規劃設計時，擬定出較易管控成本與時程之方案，進而提升業主採用綠建築技術與設施設備之意願。</p> <p> </p><p>Taiwan’s green building assessment system (EEWH) has a history of 20 years, but the number of green building label cases in residential buildings still accounts for less than 1% of the total number of Building Use permit, and the total floor area of the label cases are less than 20% of the total building which get Building Use permit. So there is still room for promoting the achievements of green buildings. Analyze the reasons for the low green building application rate, including the public’s view that the cost of green building is relatively high, the overall construction project period of the green building label is longer, and the amount of review information required is more than general building... Furthermore, the score for applying for a green building seal is often less than the score for applying for a candidate green building certificate. There are even cases where the green building seal is not applied. Project management refers to the proper management of various work items in the project life cycle to reduce the gap between project results and expected goals. In the past cases and related research in the construction industry, it was pointed out that project management has actual performance in controlling construction costs and duration. However, most of the cases are large-scale projects and factory buildings, and there is relatively little discussion on residential buildings. Therefore, in this study, an expert questionnaire will be used to discuss the ability of the construction project management to control the green building index project, in order to put forward the construction technology that can be considered first when designing residential-type green buildings under the project management thinking, so as to eliminate the public’s cost and schedule for green buildings Concerns. The research results show that the adoption of different green building technologies and facilities and equipment has indeed different management and control capabilities for construction projects. The indicators under the EEWH-RS version are more able to be controlled by the project management based on the daily energy saving indicators and the CO2 reduction indicators. However, the greenery indicators, water resource indicators and sewage and garbage improvement indicators, etc., because their technology has matured, become standard equipment or has been standardized, the project management cannot have a high influence on it. The research results can assist architects in the planning and design of residential-type green buildings, and draw up plans that are easier to control costs and schedules, thereby enhancing the owners’ willingness to adopt green building technologies and facilities.</p> <p> </p>

Re-imagining metastatic breast cancer care delivery: a patient-partnered qualitative study

PurposeWhile significant progress in metastatic breast cancer (MBC) treatment has prolonged survival and improved prognosis, there remain substantial gaps in providing patient-centered supportive care. The specific care delivery needs for metastatic cancer differ from that of early-stage cancer due to the incurable nature and lifelong duration of the condition. The objective of this study was to assess how patients living with MBC would re-imagine cancer care delivery.MethodsThis qualitative study was conducted in partnership with patient-led organizations Guiding Researchers and Advocates to Scientific Partnerships (GRASP) and Project Life, a nonprofit, online wellness community founded by patients with MBC for patients living with MBC. Virtual semi-structured interviews (n = 36) were conducted with Project Life members purposively sampled from the groups’ overall membership. The interview guide contained items surrounding patients’ lived experiences of MBC, greatest unmet needs related to care, and perspectives on virtual wellness community involvement. Interviews were coded using two-stage deductive and inductive analysis.ResultsThree major themes for re-imagining cancer care delivery were identified, including holistic care, information needs, and conceptual shifts. Within these several subthemes emerged with patients re-imagining referrals to non-oncological services, caregiver support, acceptance of integrative medicine, streamlined clinical trial enrollment, curated quality patient resources, MBC-specific terminology and approaches, long-term life and goal-of-care planning, and patient-centered voice throughout.ConclusionPeople living with metastatic cancers have specific supportive care needs. These findings highlight patient-driven areas for re-imagination that are most salient for individuals with MBC.

Does training on the WHO package of essential noncommunicable (PEN) disease interventions enhance consultation quality? A real-world assessment of adherence to PEN protocol in primary health centres in the Republic of Moldova

ABSTRACT Background Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) pose a significant global health challenge. Primary health centres are pivotal in addressing this challenge by providing essential care to NCD patients. The WHO Package of Essential Noncommunicable (PEN) disease interventions has been designed to enhance the quality of NCD consultations and ensure adherence to the protocol. This study investigates the effects of PEN training in Moldova. Objectives The primary objective of this study is to assess the effects of training on WHO PEN on the quality of NCD consultations and adherence to the PEN protocol in a real -world setting in primary health centres in Moldova. Methods An observational, cross-sectional study was conducted, comparing primary health centres where health personnel received PEN training, provided by the Healthy Life project, to those where such training was not provided. In total, 24 family doctors and 24 medical assistants were observed for 233 workdays and covering 2,166 NCD consultations. Results Intervention primary health centres (PHCs) showed longer NCD consultation durations, with family doctors and medical assistants spending an added 1 minute 43 seconds and 3 minutes 10 seconds, respectively. These PHCs also reported a higher proportion of primary NCD consultations, indicating better screening for new NCD patients. Medical assistants in the intervention group took on a more pronounced role in NCD care. However, the findings also highlight the necessity to refine aspects of the PEN training, especially concerning follow-up consultations, risk assessments, and task delegation. Conclusions The findings suggest that the PEN training contributed to improvement of both the quality of NCD consultations and adherence to the PEN protocol. Yet, there is a need for enhancing the identified aspects of the PEN training. The findings highlight the potential of PEN training in primary healthcare settings for improved NCD management.

선취업·후진학 성인학습자의 교육서비스 품질연구 : Kano model과 Timko 고객만족계수를 이용하여

The purpose of this study was to identify the degree of educational service quality perceived by adult learners in ‘Work First-then on College System’ who are college students only for adult learners in the lifelong education system of the LiFE project, and to secure data to build and operate better education services in the future. To this end, the educational service quality was classified using the Kano model, and the satisfaction and dissatisfaction indexes were measured by calculating the quality factor index through Timko's customer satisfaction coefficient. The results of the education service quality research are as follows. Among the 26 questions in the 5 factors of tangibility, reliability, empathy, certainty, and reactivity, 14 questions were classified as Attractive quality and 10 questions were classified as O-dimensional quality. And two questions showed the same measurement value for Attractive quality and O-dimensional quality. In addition, all Customer Satisfaction Coefficients were classified as Attractive quality with Better index higher than Worse index. Attractive quality is a positive factor that can be amplified to the level of customer satisfaction when the service is satisfied. All 5 questions regarding confidence in teaching expertise, preparedness, technique, friendliness, and fairness were found to be attractive qualities. In addition, O-dimensional quality is a factor that leads to satisfaction when satisfied and dissatisfaction when not satisfied, and is frequently found in tangible factors. This confirmed that the external parts such as university facilities and equipment are elements that must be satisfied first. The results of this study are expected to be used as data to secure and improve the quality of educational services for adult learners, to secure admission resources for adult learners, and to create a competitive advantage.

SEADETECT: developing an automated detection system to reduce whale-vessel collision risk

With the continuous intensification of marine traffic worldwide, whale-vessel collisions at sea (or “ship strikes”) have become one of the primary causes of mortality for cetaceans and a widely recognised cause of concern for human safety and economic losses. The Mediterranean Sea is a global hotspot for whale-vessel collisions, with one of the highest rates involving large cetaceans, especially the endangered fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) and sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus). Evidence indicates that both species are experiencing higher chances of a fatal collision than what predictions have estimated so far, with ship strikes being the main human-induced threat in the area. Regional and international organisations have stressed the need to address the issue by investigating the projected impacts of ship strikes on whale populations and by identifying possible mitigation measures to reduce chances of collision. Amongst the most popular and feasible options, there is the improvement of animal detection during navigation. Here, we present SEADETECT, a LIFE project that aims at developing an automated detection system to reduce vessel collision risk with marine mammals and unidentified floating objects (UFOs), combining state-of-the-art and novel technologies with existing approaches in the study of large whale ecology. This detection system consists of three elements; an automated onboard detection system composed of several sensors, a real-time passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) network at sea and a real-time detection-sharing and alert system (REPCET®). In this paper, we propose the development of a mitigation measure framework tailored for the issue of collision with fin and sperm whales in the north-western Mediterranean Sea, but that has the transferability features necessary for its application in other high-risk areas for ship strikes worldwide.

Marital Status and Happiness During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

This study examines the long-observed marital advantage in happiness during the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic may have altered the marital advantage in happiness due to changes in social integration processes. However, this has not been explored in previous studies. Data were from the COVID-19 substudy of the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (N=2622). A series of regressions were estimated to understand marital status differences in pandemic happiness and changes in relationships with non-resident family and friends. Karlson-Holm-Breen mediation analysis was conducted to examine whether relationships with non-resident family and friends explained the marital association with pandemic happiness. From pre-pandemic to pandemic, married respondents experienced a greater increase in unhappiness than unmarried counterparts, narrowing happiness gaps. However, unmarried individuals, including cohabiting, divorced, widowed, and never married individuals, continued to report higher levels of unhappiness during the pandemic than married peers. These differences primarily stemmed from pre-pandemic happiness. After controlling for pre-pandemic happiness, cohabiting, widowed, and never married older adults did not significantly differ from their married counterparts in reporting unhappiness during the pandemic. In contrast, divorced individuals remained consistently more unhappy than married individuals during the pandemic, mainly due to deteriorated relationship quality with non-resident family. During a global crisis, it is crucial for policymakers, healthcare providers, and researchers to develop innovative interventions to promote happiness and healthy aging among all older adults, paying special attention to those who are divorced.

Big Data, Data Science, and Artificial Intelligence for Project Management in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction Industry: A Systematic Review

The high volume of information produced by project management and its quality have become a challenge for organizations. Due to this, emerging technologies such as big data, data science and artificial intelligence (ETs) have become an alternative in the project life cycle. This article aims to present a systematic review of the literature on the use of these technologies in the architecture, engineering, and construction industry. A methodology of collection, purification, evaluation, bibliometric, and categorical analysis was used. A total of 224 articles were found, which, using the PRISMA method, finally generated 57 articles. The categorical analysis focused on determining the technologies used, the most common methodologies, the most-discussed project management areas, and the contributions to the AEC industry. The review found that there is international leadership by China, the United States, and the United Kingdom. The type of research most used is quantitative. The areas of knowledge where ETs are most used are Cost, Quality, Time, and Scope. Finally, among the most outstanding contributions are as follows: prediction in the development of projects, the identification of critical factors, the detailed identification of risks, the optimization of planning, the automation of tasks, and the increase in efficiency; all of these to facilitate management decision making.

A Review of Dimension in Human Capacity Development for Construction Projects

The ability of engineers to adapt and compete is crucial for the success and effectiveness of an organisation. Human capacity development (HCD) has been acknowledged as a concept to improve individual and team skills in setting goals and maintaining the competencies needed to survive and thrive in a rapidly changing world. Therefore, it is important to focus on HCD in order to strengthen engineers for long-term efficiency. Although previous studies have primarily focused on environmental and economic dimensions, the social dimension, specifically HCD, has received less attention. This paper aims to identify the attributes of HCD in sustainable construction during different phases of a construction project's life cycle. A systematic literature review was conducted to identify and critically evaluate papers related to HCD. The attributes identified as important for improved company or agency performance include Leadership, Knowledgeability and Accountability. Based on these findings, management initiatives to apply HCD can improve performance among civil engineers.

Everyday Corruption Practices of Young People in Argentina and Russia: the Experience of Comparative Analysis

Introduction. The relevance of the topic is conditioned by the complexity and multidimensionality of the phenomenon of corruption and its negative impact on all aspects of modern society. The literature review shows that corruption has been analyzed from different angles, although no comparisons were found between countries such as Russia and Argentina. The comparison of corrupt behavior in these two societies presents academic interest because they share common features, do not belong to liberal-Western countries, but at the same time differ greatly in such factors as economic and political stability.Methodology and sources. From the theoretical and methodological point of view, the research is based on the scientific works of R. Merton, P. Bourdieu and M. Zaloznaya devoted to the issues of deviant behavior, motivation of action, practical sense and corrupt behavior. This article identifies, analyzes and compares corrupt behaviors in everyday life in Russia and Argentina, based on data provided by Russian and Argentinean young people in virtual interviews conducted in 2020 (N25) and in focus groups (N2) implemented before the pandemic, and media materials. Atlas-ti qualitative data analysis program is used.Results and discussion. In Argentina, corrupt behavior is highlighted to improve material living conditions in the context of constraints and in relation to institutions, Argentines mention more the police. While in Russia it is more related to the purpose of speeding up time, getting better services, graduating or avoiding a change of life project. Regarding institutions, universities and hospitals are mentioned.Conclusion. The study shows that neither in Russia nor in Argentina can the logic of corrupt behavior be reduced to the logic of economic behavior, as there are different motives, such as fear, custom, and assertion of right. The idea that certain situations are solved by money is widespread among young people in both societies.

On the road to retirement: Predicting nighttime driving difficulty and cessation using self-reported health factors

IntroductionOlder drivers now expect to drive longer than previous cohorts and will make up about 25% of licensed U.S. drivers by 2050. Identifying early predictors of nighttime driving difficulty, a precursor to driving retirement, can inform screening procedures and timely linkage to interventions supporting driving or transitioning to driving cessation. MethodsWe examined self-reported physical and mental health baseline predictors of greater nighttime driving difficulty in five and ten years using weighted multivariate logistic analyses of 2261 drivers, aged 57 to 85, from the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (NSHAP). Transition matrix models describe probabilities of having greater, lesser, or the same nighttime driving difficulty after five years based on baseline driving conditions and the significant logistic model factors. We built a transition matrix tool that offers users the ability to calculate expected probabilities of change in nighttime driving difficulty based on the identified salient factors. ResultsFive-year predictors of greater nighttime driving difficulty included perceived poor physical health (OR = 3.75), limitations to activities of daily living (ADLs; OR = 1.97), and clinical levels of depressive and anxiety symptoms (OR = 1.63; OR = 1.71). Excellent physical health (OR = 0.52), mental health (OR = 0.60), and any frequency of physical activity compared to ‘never’ were protective (OR = 0.37–0.51). Physical health, walking pain, and limitations to ADLs were predictive at ten-years. Transition models showed physical health and anxiety were most indicative of greater nighttime driving difficulty at 5-years for those reporting no difficulty at baseline, but limitations to ADLs were more predictive otherwise. ConclusionsLay practitioners could capitalize on the use of self-report screening measures to identify older adults who may experience near-term nighttime driving difficulty. Earlier identification may better guide long-term driving retirement planning or engagement in appropriate health interventions. The transition matrix modeling tool is freely available to facilitate development and validation of related measures.

Evaluation of a Court-Ordered Violence Prevention Program for Gun-involved Youths

As youth gun violence continues to plague marginalized US communities, knowledge about “what works” to prevent injury and illegal gun activity within this population remains a contentious and pressing issue. This study investigates the impacts of Project Life—an education-based youth gun violence prevention program—on recidivism outcomes for a sample of 368 youths in Indianapolis, Indiana, between 2015 and 2019. We conducted retrospective outcome analyses to compare youths who completed the program (83%) to youths who did not complete the program. We find that youths who completed the program were significantly less likely to recidivate with a gun violence offense within an average follow-up period of 1.5 years following enrollment in the program. Youths who spent more time incarcerated and had a parent who was incarcerated were at higher recidivism risk when controlling for prior history of offending and other key risk factors. These nonexperimental findings show short-term promise for education-based violence prevention programming for youths at risk with fewer concerns of widening the net of carceral punishment.

Identity and Biographical Construction and Life Project: Perspectives according to High School Students in Brazil

This paper is the result of a survey carried out in a public school in a city in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. We analyzed the Life Project module, a component of the high school curriculum in the Full Time Education Program (PEI). We concentrated on the analysis of the established principles, syllabuses, and students’ feelings regarding such content and the life project as a whole. This longitudinal research followed a group of ten students from their first to third years of high school at one school. Data were collected using discussion groups and analyzed based on critical discourse analysis. We found that the excessive focus on issues such as socio-emotional skills, social initiative, self-confidence, responsibility, empathy, determination, assertiveness, stress tolerance, confidence, and creative imagination placed too much responsibility on students and there was little reflection about the institutions responsible. Aspects such as public policies to support students in choosing a future profession by, for example, offering cultural and social experiences to help students expand their cultural and social capital or providing economic support to guarantee that students keep on studying, would constitute a real contribution for students to be able to build their life project, alongside identity and biographical construction.

Information Modeling of Energy Saving Processes in the Field of Design, Construction and Operation

Statement of the problem. Improving energy efficiency at various stages of the life cycle of objects in the construction industry, which is an absolute imperative of the current stage of development of society, can be achieved by integrating information modeling of the life cycle of a capital construction object with energy saving technologies. However, in domestic and foreign practice, the potential of such an integration is realized only to a small extent. In this regard, this work is devoted to the formulation of methods for overcoming this situation. Results. It is shown that the addition of the base vectors of hierarchical information models with data on the thermophysical properties of isotropic materials and orthotropic elements allows solving the research problem. Also, the formats of basic structures and clusters of higher ranks have been developed, which completely determine the information model of the energy efficiency of the life cycle of an object. Methods for optimizing the technology of information transfer between heterogeneous participants in the implementation of the life cycle are formulated. For standard construction objects, methods for simplifying the energy saving information model are formulated, which allow expanding the area of practical application of the developed models. Conclusions. The integration of technologies for information modeling of the life cycle of an object and energy saving makes it possible to optimize managerial and technical decisions to increase the energy efficiency / cost ratio both at the design stage and at the stages of construction and operation. The vector hierarchical model of energy efficiency of the project life cycle allows optimizing the updating and verification of the information model, and the mechanisms for transferring information between project participants.

Thriving Despite the Odds: Digital Capital and Reimagined Life Projects Among Mexican College Students During COVID-19.

During the pandemic, Mexico experienced one of the longest periods of school closures in Latin America. After the first year of COVID-19, thousands of college students dropped out of school, which has been partially attributed to difficulties in adapting to online learning. This study examines how some college students in Mexico coped with and overcame these challenges. Our research draws on journals of and in-depth interviews with Mexican college students who participated in the Pandemic Journaling Project-a combined online journaling platform and research study. Participant accounts describe challenges students experienced navigating the rapid roll-out of online education. However, over time, many of the students in our study cultivated a renewed sense of purpose in their educational activities. They attributed this shift in perspective to their ability to carve out new approaches to social support, the development of professional capacities, and insight into the potential for technology to promote a more inclusive society. Our work shows how students' ability to integrate digital competencies into their broader life projects and aspirations for the future played an important role in college perseverance and reducing mental health distress. Findings have important implications for the potential role of increased access to technological resources in mitigating social inequity and improving mental health outcomes among young adults.

BIM-based framework of automatic tunnel segment assembly and deviation control

The design of universal segments and deviation control of segment assembly are essential for robust and low-risk tunnel construction. A building information modeling (BIM)-based framework was proposed for parametric modeling, automatic assembly, and deviation control of universal segments. First, segment models of different levels of detail (LoDs) were built based on BIM visual programming language (VPL) for different project life cycles. Then, the geometric constraints, requirements, and procedures for parametric segment assembly were distilled to develop a program that combines a novel typesetting algorithm with a 3D path replanning algorithm. Typesetting is implemented by introducing a point indication matrix, characterizing segments by sides, and manipulating geometries in a VPL. Simultaneously, 3D path replanning, with non-uniform rational B-splines (NURBS) and arcs as basic shapes, was used to resolve unacceptable deviation situations after typesetting. Finally, the proposed framework was validated on a water diversion line and was found to be more effective and accurate than the previous method.

The Integration of Tools for the Techno-Economic Evaluation of Fixed and Floating Tidal Energy Deployment in the Irish Sea

Marine renewable energy (MRE) development will be crucial to achieve worldwide energy decarbonization. In Europe, 1 GW and 40 GW of ocean energy are set to be developed by 2030 and 2050, respectively. Support is essential if wave and tidal stream arrays are to become more economically viable than they currently are. Four recently developed open-access software tools are used in this study to investigate the critical and expensive elements of potential demonstration and commercial scale tidal projects. The tools have been designed and built to assist users with array configurations, foundation and mooring (F&M) design, operation and maintenance (O&M) strategies, and techno-economic analysis. Demonstration of their use is performed in this study to model scenarios for 2 MW, 10 MW, 40 MW, and 100 MW tidal energy projects employing typical 500 kW fixed and 2 MW floating turbines at the West Anglesey Tidal Demonstration Zone in the Irish Sea. The following metrics are examined: the power output and wake losses of staggered and line configurations; the design and costs of simple gravity-based foundations, gravity-based anchors and the four-chain catenary mooring system of a single turbine; the mean O&M costs and farm availability over the project life; and the breakdown of levelized cost of energy (LCoE) for all eight scenarios to ultimately reveal minimum values of 173 EUR/MWh and 147 EUR/MWh for fixed and floating tidal energy technologies, respectively. The thorough analysis facilitated within these four tools to forecast realistic situations in a specific location can help users design a tidal energy project for an area with considerable potential for commercial scale projects, and thus assist the ocean energy community in promoting and nurturing the sector in the years and decades ahead.