Types Of Barriers Research Articles

Investigation on improving the comprehensive performance of environmental barrier coating materials by high-entropy multiphase design

It is difficult to obtain a single-phase environmental barrier coating material that simultaneously offers the advantages of low thermal conductivity, a suitable coefficient of thermal expansion, and excellent corrosion resistance. Herein, to synthesize the advantages of single-phase materials, we have developed an effective approach for the design of high-entropy multiphase ceramics of rare earth oxides and silicates. Such a specific design approach is capable of making high-entropy RE2SiO5/RE2O3 and RE2SiO5/RE2Si2O7 (RE = Lu, Yb, Tm, Er, Ho, and Y) multiphase ceramics as two types of potential environmental barrier coating materials for Al2O3f/Al2O3 and SiCf/SiC ceramic matrix composites.

Reduction of amphibian roadkill by one-side barriers

Amphibians are the most affected vertebrates by roadkill. Often, to minimise this problem mitigation barriers are installed. While two-side barriers effectiveness is well described in the literature, one-side barriers are poorly studied. The present study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of one-side barriers installed by LIFE LINES project along the EM535 road in south-east Portugal. Two types of one-side barriers (one permanent and another temporary one made from tarp) were monitored through road surveys. For each barrier, the influence of interaction between the period (before and after the barrier installation) and road sector (control-no barrier, permanent or temporary barrier installed) on the number of amphibians was evaluated. The result showed that, contrary to the temporary barrier, the permanent one-side barrier appeared to be effective. Thus, the ineffectiveness of the temporary barrier may be related to (i) the tarp material that allows some amphibians to escape, (ii) the presence of vegetation that goes over the top of the barrier, or (iii) increased fence-end effects due to its short length. Even though less effective than two-side barriers, one-side barriers could be installed when there is budget limitation in conservation projects or if land use conflicts exist. Given that our study was the first to evaluate the effectiveness of one-side barriers, we discuss the potential constrains that may have affected our results.

Transmigrant Students’ Motivation and Problems in Learning Local Languages: Language Maintenance

Some transmigrant students in their interactions with others have desires to get to know other local languages for various reasons including the student's desire to get to know people who speak the local language more intimately. This study aims to find out the motivations or factors that cause transmigrant students to learn other local languages and what obstacles they face when learning these other local languages. The benefits of this research are to find out the factors the students have and the problems the students encounter in learning local languages as a part of language maintenance. This study used the descriptive qualitative method. The selection of respondents was carried out using the snow bowling technique. There were 50 respondents (transmigrant students) who were living in the dormitory of Universitas Kristen Indonesia, Jakarta. The researcher collected data using questionnaires. The researcher used thematic analysis to analyze the data. This research reveals that there are four main reasons for the students to learn the local language, namely a) because they want to increase their knowledge and skills in the local languages; b) because they want to understand the language and culture of friends from other tribes; c) because they like the local languages (the accent, expression, and intonation); and d) because they want to get closer with fellow students who use the local languages. This study found that there were two types of general barriers that transmigrant students experienced when learning local languages, namely external and internal barriers. This research finds that transmigrant students who live in UKI’s dormitory can be ambassadors of various Indonesian local language maintenance.

A Study of Global Trade War and Its Impact on Indian Economy

A Study of Global Trade War and Its Impact on Indian Economy

Pathways to care and barriers in treatment among patients with Dissociative disorders

IntroductionDissociative disorder patients often present with sudden and embarrassing symptoms, and it is difficult for the patient and care giver to understand initially, recognize the need for help and reach for appropriate treatment timely. This can result in high risk of engaging in dangerous behaviors such as self-harm and suicidal acts, impaired global functioning, and poor quality of life. Knowledge about the types of barriers which are there in treatment seeking, can help in planning strategies for their removal and to facilitate the treatment process. MethodsCross-sectional study among patients (n=133) with Dissociative disorders which were recruited from January 2023 to June 2023 in a tertiary care hospital. Pathways to care and barriers in treatment for Dissociative disorders were assessed by interviewing patients using semi-structured proforma. The Dissociative Experience Scale and World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHODAS 2.0)) were used to assess disease severity and impact of illness on various domains of life respectively. Group comparison was made to assess differences in social- clinical profile of patients choosing different modalities of treatment. Results133 patients of Dissociative disorders with mean age 29.6±9.2, showed their first-choice of help seeking from general practitioner/ neurologist (40.6%), traditional faith healers (35.3%), psychiatrist (18.1%) and 5.2% preferred alternative treatments. This trend changed with 2nd and 3rd contact of help seeking with greater preference for psychiatrist in their 2nd (n=45, 33.8%) and 3rd (n=69, 51.8%) contact. The median duration of untreated illness was 56 weeks (IQR 24–182 weeks). Social-clinical profile of patients varied with their choice of treatment, having lower education level (P = 0.013), longer duration of untreated illness (p=0.003), more severity of symptoms (p=0.032) and greater disability scores(p=0.002) in patients whose first treatment choice was traditional faith healers. More than 70% patients faced availability barriers, stigma, unawareness about mental illness and influence of others in treatment of choice as barriers in initiating and continuing treatment. ConclusionPatients with Dissociative disorders seek treatment from a multitude of healthcare providers including traditional faith healers, general physicians, and alternative medicine practitioners before reaching psychiatrist and undergoes various barriers in treatment. There is need to implement necessary measures for sensitization and awareness about Dissociative disorders to prevent prolonged and undue delays in initiation of appropriate management.

Exploring the impact of information and communication technologies on loneliness and social isolation in community-dwelling older adults: a scoping review of reviews

BackgroundRecognizing the escalating public health concerns of loneliness and social isolation in aging populations, this study seeks to comprehensively explore the potential of information and communication technology (ICT)-based interventions to address these issues among older adults. This scoping review of reviews aims to map and synthesize existing evidence on the effectiveness and scope of ICT interventions targeting loneliness and social isolation in community-dwelling older adults, elucidating types of technology, impacts, facilitators, barriers, and research gaps.MethodsFollowing the Joanna Briggs Institute framework, we systematically searched eight diverse databases identifying relevant published reviews. We included English-written, peer-reviewed reviews of all types, with no limits regarding time of publication about ICTs targeting loneliness and/or social isolation for community-dwelling older adults. Eligible reviews were analysed and summarized, offering a holistic narrative of the reported types of ICTs and their impact, the identified facilitators and barriers influencing the implementation and adoption of ICT interventions, and the research gaps identified in the literature.ResultsThe review included 39 publications published between 2012 and 2024, spanning systematic, scoping, and reviews of reviews. Various ICTs were reported, primarily social media virtual communities, followed by video-mediated friendly visits, conversational agents, social robots, exergames and online gameplay. Predominantly positive impacts on mitigating social isolation and loneliness were evident for these ICTs, although methodological diversity and contradictory findings complicated definite conclusions. Facilitators and barriers encompassed individual competencies, access and usage, and intervention design and implementation. Research gaps involved targeting specific subgroups, exploring innovative technologies, incorporating diverse study designs, improving research methodologies, and addressing usability and accessibility. Future research should focus on identifying elderly individuals who can benefit the most from ICT use, exploring novel technologies, using a wider range of study designs, and enhancing usability and accessibility considerations.ConclusionsThis review sheds light on the diverse range of ICTs, their impact, and the facilitators and barriers associated with their use. Future investigations should prioritize refining outcome measures, addressing gender differences, and enhancing the usability and accessibility of interventions. The involvement of older adults in the design process and the exploration of technological training interventions hold promise in overcoming barriers.

The Relationship Between Barriers to Physical Activity and Depressive Symptoms in Community-Dwelling Women.

Women are less physically active, report greater perceived barriers for exercise, and show higher levels of depressive symptoms. This contributes to high global disability. The relationship between perceived barriers for physical activity and depressive symptoms in women remains largely unexplored. The aims of this cross-sectional analysis were to examine the association between physical activity barriers and depressive symptoms, and identify types of barriers in physically inactive community-dwelling women. Three hundred eighteen physically inactive women aged 25-65 years completed the Barriers to Being Active Quiz (BBAQ) developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale at the baseline visit of the mobile phone-based physical activity education trial. The BBAQ consists of six subscales (lack of time, social influence, lack of energy, lack of willpower, fear of injury, lack of skill, and lack of resources). We used multivariate regression analyses, correcting for sociodemographics. Higher physical activity barriers were associated with greater depressive symptoms scores (linear effect, estimate = 0.75, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.39-1.12, p < 0.001). This effect appeared to taper off for the higher barrier scores (quadratic effect, estimate: -0.02, 95% CI: -0.03 to -0.01, p = 0.002). Exploratory analyses indicated that these associations were most driven by the social influence (p = 0.027) and lack of energy subscales (p = 0.017). Higher depression scores were associated with higher physical activity barriers. Social influence and lack of energy were particularly important barriers. Addressing these barriers may improve the efficacy of physical activity interventions in women with higher depressive symptoms. Future research should assess this in a randomized controlled trial. NCTO1280812 registered January 21, 2011.

Examining the Role of Third Sector Organization Volunteers in Facilitating Hospital-to-Home Transitions for Older Adults - a Collective Case Study.

With increasing attention to models of transitional support delivered through multisectoral approaches, third-sector organizations (TSOs) have supported community reintegration and independent living post-hospitalization. This study aimed to identify the core elements of these types of programs, the facilitators, and barriers to service implementation and to understand the perspectives of providers and recipients of their experiences with the programs. A collective case study collected data from two UK-based 'Home from Hospital' programs. An inductive thematic analysis generated rich descriptions of each program, and analytical activities generated insights across the cases. Programs provided a range of personalized support for older adults and addressed many post-discharge needs, including well-being assessments, support for instrumental activities of daily living, psychosocial support, and other individualized services directed by the needs and preferences of the service user. Results suggest that these programs can act as a 'safety net' and promote independent living. Skilled volunteers can positively impact older adults' experience returning home. When the programs under study are considered in tandem with existing evidence, it facilitates a discussion of how TSO services could be made available more widely to support older adults in their transition experiences.

The importance of context in teacher educators’ professional digital competence

ABSTRACT Digital technologies permeate modern life, and schools are accordingly expected to help students develop related knowledge and skills. As a result, educators’ professional digital competence (PDC) has received substantial attention from school leaders, policymakers, teacher educators, and researchers. Theory and prior research suggest that educators’ PDC does not solely determine their technology use, with contextual factors, such as competing curricular demands and access to technology, influencing technology implementation and ongoing PDC development. While some prior research has addressed how PK-12 teachers’ contexts shape their digital technology use, few studies have explored similar matters with respect to teacher educators. Drawing on an established set of teacher educator technology competencies, we report results from an international survey of 336 teacher educators regarding their self-reported PDC and its development and enactment. Using qualitative coding, exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, and quantitative analysis, we find that teacher educators develop and enact their competencies in various ways including through informal endeavours as well as formal, institutionally supported, and/or led activities. Three types of assets and barriers (access, leadership, personal characteristics) present differently for participants in different contexts. These findings have implications for how institutions support teacher educators’ PDC development and technology integration in various settings.

A comprehensive review of oral chitosan drug delivery systems: Applications for oral insulin delivery

Abstract Pharmaceutical scientists have long struggled to develop reliable and efficient systems of administering insulin orally due to multiple barriers, including stomach acidity, enzymatic degradation, and mucus barriers. However, various strategies were developed to avoid insulin degradation in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and promote membrane permeability and biological activity. Among these strategies, chitosan polymer-based carriers are widely researched due to their ability to protect insulin in the alimentary canal and deliver it effectively through the intestinal mucosa, improving its bioavailability. To improve chitosan properties, chemical and physical modifications have been developed, and recently, nanoparticles, microparticles, and beads of chitosan exhibited potential systems for oral insulin delivery (OID). This review facilitates an outline of the types of diabetes mellitus, insulin biosynthesis, and gastrointestinal barriers against oral insulin. Moreover, the limitations of subcutaneous insulin delivery and alternative routes of administration are also discussed. As an ideal and most convenient oral administration route, the challenges of safe insulin delivery through the GIT and strategies to elevate its bioavailability are highlighted. In addition, this review focuses on recent advancements in chitosan based carriers for OID and their potential future applications.

Оценка факторов, формирующих ограничительные меры для проектов международной торговли, и перспективы развития институтов взаимной торговли группы стран ЕАЭС

The authors consider aspects of the established practice of developing effective regulatory mechanisms for foreign trade projects organized by trade unions of countries. Using the grouping of protectionist measures of nontariff regulation of the EAEU countries, introduced in 2020, it was revealed that the main barriers and restrictions are institutional, not economic in nature. Special attention is paid to conducting a criteria-based assessment of the relationship between institutional barriers/restrictions and the level of obstacles using the chi-square criterion. Several statistical criteria were used to assess the degree of closeness of the relationship between the types of institutional barriers and the degree of their limitations, which are relatively easy to apply, but quite informative and meaningful in interpretation. The presented approaches in the analysis expand the possibilities of quantifying non-tariff mechanisms for regulating mutual trade projects in various trade unions organized by countries.

Review on Lightweight Mobile Flood Wall Barrier: Way Forward for Malaysia

Flooding is a persisting challenge in Malaysia. Combating flood risk has become a main priority for sustainable development in this country. The application of sophisticated engineering in hard structure approaches and flood control systems are often incongruous to the public. Therefore, there is a need to integrate the soft engineering approaches and the best practises of flood management to mitigate flood risk. There is also a need to integrate the concept of sustainable development into its planning policies towards flood hazard reduction. Mobile flood protection measures are useful as an alternative solution in flood protection and mitigation purposes. Mobile protective systems can be used for temporarily increasing the height of permanent flood protection structures during extreme events and can be utilised as emergency measure against flooding in unprotected low-lying areas. As the available mobile systems differ in the type of material, method of installation and available protection height, a description of their features, and potential application were examined including their respective opportunities and drawbacks. This article presents a review on different types of lightweight mobile flood wall barrier (MFWB) that were implemented to cope with floods in Malaysia with examples of application in other countries such as United Kingdom, Slovakia, and Netherlands. The MFWB products are reviewed and compared to each other according to the types, characteristics, mechanisms, drawbacks and how these measures are integrated into spatial planning. Based on the findings, several suggestions are given on how to improve the flood risk management in flood-prone areas and way forward for Malaysia.

Mapping the evolution of university-industry collaboration: A systematic literature review from 2000 to 2022

This research aims to improve knowledge exchange and innovation through collaborations between universities and industries in South-East European Countries (SEECs). The region benefits from better collaboration, and understanding factors such as proximity, motivations, and challenges is crucial. The study begins by suggesting that geographical closeness may influence the strength of university-industry ties and that specific conditions in SEECs may either support or impede these relationships. The paper proposes a new University-Industry Collaboration (UIC) model tailored for SEECs, built upon a review of literature from 2000 to 2022. This review examines factors like location, organizational approaches, types of knowledge exchange, key motivators and barriers, and the evolving role of universities in the region. The study introduces a specialized UIC model that could enhance regional cooperation, emphasizing strategies to overcome barriers and align university and industry goals. By extensively reviewing existing research, the paper contributes valuable insights into UIC in SEECs, aiming to deepen the understanding of these collaborations in the region.

Personal Barriers to Reporting Child Maltreatment Among Early Childhood Education and Care Professionals

The current study examined personal barriers that can prevent early childhood education and care (ECEC) professionals from reporting concerns of child maltreatment to child welfare services (CWS). The objectives were to identify different types of personal barriers and to examine differences in reporting according to employee characteristics. Norwegian ECEC professionals (N = 1369; 92% women; mean age, 44 years [SD = 11]) from 170 kindergartens completed e-questionnaires with 25 questions about personal barriers to reporting concerns of child maltreatment and questions about their own personal characteristics. Four barrier factors that underly the 25 different barriers were confirmed with factor analysis. The most endorsed personal barrier factor was “Negative consequences for the child,” which predicted barriers related to fear of negative consequences of reporting (e.g., to CWS). The second most important were the “Relationships” factor (barriers related to concerns about relationships with the child or parents), and the “Competence” factor (fear of misunderstanding and being unsure about guidelines). The least endorsed barrier factor (“Coworkers”) included fear of what superiors and coworkers might think. In general, ECEC professionals with less formal training and less work experience reported more personal barriers to reporting concerns of child maltreatment. The results are consistent with studies involving other professional groups. Better collaboration between ECEC providers and CWS is important to prevent child maltreatment. Future efforts to improve the detection and reporting of concerns of child maltreatment could consider focusing specifically on professionals with little formal training and little work experience.

An Assessment of the Safety Effects of Roadside Barriers on Reducing Mountainous Crash Injury Severity

Roadside barriers have proven effective in preventing run-off-road accidents that occurred in mountainous areas. Nonetheless, the influence of variables impacting the severity of injuries resulting from collisions involving distinct types of roadside barriers may diverge. This study delves into the factors that influence the severity of driver’s injuries in crashes encompassing three specific varieties of roadside barriers in mountainous regions, namely, W-beam barriers, flexible barriers, and roadside trees. The evolution of these factors over time is examined through the application of a random parameters logit modeling approach with heterogeneity in means and variances (RPLHMVs). By employing injury-severity data from 2016 to 2019 for the mountainous regions of a city in Southwest China, various potential influencing factors encompassing driver-, vehicle-, road-, and environment-specific characteristics are subjected to statistical analysis. The extent of the impact of identified statistically significant factors on driver’s injury severity is assessed through the computation of pseudoelasticities. The findings reveal distinctions in the outcomes of driver’s injury severity contingent upon the type of roadside barrier encountered during vehicle impacts. To illustrate, collisions involving W-beam barriers are more prone to result in severe injuries. Moreover, the influence of variables determining driver’s injury severity displays noteworthy temporal shifts. Notably, the pseudoelasticities of numerous explanatory variables remain temporally consistent for incidents involving flexible or roadside barriers. In contrast, crashes involving W-beam barriers highlight that solely the speeding indicator demonstrates temporally stable pseudoelasticities. The insights garnered from this investigation offer the potential to contribute to the formulation of fresh guidelines for the design and selection of roadside barriers aimed at mitigating the severity of injuries incurred in crashes within mountainous regions.

Willingness and Barriers to Undertaking Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Reported by Medical Students after the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic-Single-Center Study.

Most of the studies in the field of willingness and barriers to resuscitation (CPR) were conducted before the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. The aim of the study was to assess the number and types of barriers to CPR among medical students after the pandemic ended. This study was based on a survey. The data was collected from 12 April 2022 to 25 May 2022. A total of 509 complete questionnaires were obtained. The number of barriers depending on the time elapsed from the last CPR course did not differ significantly (Me = 4 [IQR 2-6] vs. Me = 5 [IQR 3-7]; p = 0.054, respectively). The number of all barriers reported by respondents differed significantly and was higher in those reporting fear of coronavirus (Me = 4 [IQR 2-6] vs. Me = 7 [IQR 4-9]; p < 0.001, respectively). A total of 12 out of all 23 barriers were significantly more frequent in this group of respondents. Barriers to CPR are still common among medical students, even despite a high rate of CPR training. The pandemic significantly affected both the number and frequency of barriers. The group of strangers and children, as potential cardiac arrest victims, deserve special attention. Efforts should be made to minimize the potentially modifiable barriers.

Impact of TBTs on Trade in ICT Goods: Differentiating by Regulatory Objectives

Abstract This paper analyses how different types of technical barriers to trade (TBTs) imposed on imports of information and communications technology (ICT) goods globally affected the value and volume of imported goods during the period of 1996–2018. Key words cited in the TBTs give an indication of the aims behind the imposition of TBTs. The results indicate that TBTs have a strong positive impact on the value of imports. While many key words cited in TBTs notified to the World Trade Organization (WTO) affect the value and volume of imports in a positive way, certain other TBTs function as trade barriers.

Patient-reported primary health care experiences in Canada: The challenges faced by Nepalese immigrant men

BackgroundDespite the Canadian universal healthcare system, new immigrants face a number of challenges in accessing primary healthcare (PHC) services. As immigration to Canada consistently increases, understanding various types of barriers to PHC and how they differ across different sub-groups is critical. We conducted a qualitative study among Nepalese immigrant men to learn from their experience with PHC access to inform healthcare providers, stakeholders, and policymakers to devise feasible approaches to enhancing access to care. MethodsWe undertook a qualitative research approach employing focus groups among a sample of first-generation Nepalese immigrant men who had prior experience with accessing PHC in Canada. Data collection and analysisWe conducted six focus groups in total with 34 participants (each group comprising 5–7 participants) in their preferred language, Nepalese, or English. Demographic information was collected prior to each focus group. Transcriptions of the discussions were prepared, and thematic analysis was employed in the qualitative data set. ResultsParticipants reported experiencing barriers at two stages: before accessing PHC services and after accessing PHC services. The barriers before accessing PHC were long wait time for an appointment with physicians, limited knowledge of own health- and services-related issues, limited service availability hours, cultural differences in health practices, and transportation and work-related challenges. The barriers after accessing PHC were long wait time in the clinic to meet with the physicians at the time of appointment, communication challenges and misunderstandings, high healthcare costs associated with dental and vision care and prescribed medicines, and inappropriate behaviours and practices of doctors and service providers. To our knowledge, this is the first study in Canada which explored barriers faced by Nepalese immigrant men in accessing PHC. ConclusionsThis study identifies barriers to accessing PHC in Canada from a group of immigrant men's perspective. It is important to account for these while making any reforms and adding new care services to the existing healthcare system so that they are equitable for these groups of individuals as well.

Types of Language Barriers and Ways of Overcoming Them in Teaching Speaking

Abstract: The subject of the manuscript is types of language barriers which appear in the process of communication of representatives of different nations and cultures. It is about the formation of communicative competence, i.e. the ability and willingness to carry out both direct communication (speaking, listening comprehension) and indirect communication (reading with understanding of foreign language texts, writing). Learning to communicate in a foreign language is the ultimate goal in the process of learning a foreign language and is considered an indicator of students’ practical mastery of this foreign language. Speaking is an extremely multidimensional and complex phenomenon.

Experience-Based Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Applications: Building Bridges to Overcome Barriers

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to examine the autobiographical memory narrative through which graduate teacher candidates (TCs) identified (1) barriers to learning, (2) Universal Design for Learning (UDL) checkpoints to remove these barriers, and (3) strategies for addressing the UDL checkpoints to remove the barriers. This study explored lived experiences among graduate TCs in relation to (a) UDL training in the graduate teacher preparation programs, (b) barriers to learning among their past experience, and (c) UDL checkpoints’ applications to removing the self-identified barriers to learning. Emerging themes and subthemes indicated that the participants used specific UDL checkpoints to overcoming specific types of barriers to learning in the past experience in K-16 education. This indicates their recognitions of specific types of barriers to learning, identifications of specific UDL checkpoints for overcoming the barriers, and considerations of specific strategies based on the identified UDL checkpoints. Implications for the future study includes having autobiographical memory narratives as a practical learning tool for graduate TCs to put themselves into perspectives of (A) students experiencing barriers to learning and (B) teachers applying UDL checkpoints to removing the barriers to learning.