scholarly journals Defining work-zones for resource allocation in Hong Kong public housing project construction using heuristic rules and operations simulation

2021 ◽  
Vol 26 ◽  
pp. 657-680
Author(s):  
Zilu Lin ◽  
Francis Siu ◽  
Daniel Chan ◽  
Daniel Lau
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Past Research ◽  
Work Zone ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Practical Case ◽  
Work Zones ◽  
Heuristic Rules ◽  
Plant Materials ◽  
Project Construction ◽  
Definition Of

In Hong Kong, 6-day construction cycle always being used for constructing one typical floor of concrete building superstructure in a week. Work-zones are defined in the working platform for better allocation of limited resources. Once the work-zones are defined, the resources (labour, plant, materials) will be allocated to a specific zone to deliver the works on a particular day of the 6-day construction cycle. In practice, the definition of work-zone is dependent on the experience of project manager. Yet, there is no past research studied the evaluation of work-zone definition schemes. As such, in this research study, three heuristic rules are proposed for choosing better scheme of work-zone. The heuristic rules are based on (i) lengths of work-zone dividing line, (ii) fluctuations of daily duration, and (iii) utilisation rates of resource. To illustrate the steps of evaluating the scheme, an illustrative example is given. To illustrate the method application of the rules, a practical case study of constructing a 40-storey housing is given. The proposed rules were verified based on sensitivity analysis and expert validation. Conclusions are drawn by expressing the contributions and limitations of the proposed rules, followed by suggesting future research works.

scholarly journals Defining Quality in Undergraduate Education

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alison W. Bowers ◽  
Shyam Ranganathan ◽  
Denise R. Simmons
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Education ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Past Research ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Stakeholder Perspectives ◽  
Search Terms ◽  
Or Practice ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Broad Overview

Objectives: This research brief explores the literature addressing quality in undergraduate education to identify what previous research has said about quality and to offer future directions for research on quality in undergraduate education. Method: We conducted a scoping review to provide a broad overview of existing research. Using targeted search terms in academic databases, we identified and reviewed relevant academic literature to develop emergent themes and implications for future research. Results: The exploratory review of the literature revealed a range of thoughtful discussions and empirical studies attempting to define quality in undergraduate education. Many publications highlighted the importance of including different stakeholder perspectives and presented some of the varying perceptions of quality among different stakeholders. Conclusions: While a number of researchers have explored and written about how to define quality in undergraduate education, there is not a general consensus regarding a definition of quality in undergraduate education. Past research offers a range of insights, models, and data to inform future research. Implication for Theory and/or Practice: We provide four recommendations for future research to contribute to a high quality undergraduate educational experience. We suggest more comprehensive systematic reviews of the literature as a next step.

When less time is preferred: An analysis of the conceptualization and measurement of overemployment

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 74-102 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia Hiemer ◽  
Maike Andresen
Keyword(s):  
Past Research ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Question Wording ◽  
Research And Practice ◽  
Adequate Definition ◽  
Advance Research ◽  
Similarities And Differences ◽  
Partial Overlap ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Consistent Approach

Socioeconomic panel data indicate that numerous employees would prefer to work less, i.e. that they are overemployed. However, due to inconsistent definitions and divergent operationalizations of overemployment, integrating existing research results is challenging and implications for research and practice are difficult to draw. To advance research in this field, we present an analysis of the concept and measurement of overemployment. To analyze the concept, we proceed in two steps. In step 1, we present the range of overemployment definitions in the literature and systematize the similarities and differences in these previous conceptualizations with the aim of arriving at an adequate definition of “overemployment.” In step 2, in view of the partial overlap between existing definitions of overemployment and other concepts used in past research, we demarcate overemployment from related concepts, identify conceptual distinctions between overemployment and other concepts and explore connections between concepts. To analyze the measurement of overemployment, we look at the bandwidth of content, measurement levels and question wording in overemployment measures and discuss the consequences of the different measures used for the overemployment rates found. We then present a consistent approach towards conceptualizing and measuring overemployment which aids future research on overemployment and similar concepts.

Review of Methods for Estimating Construction Work Zone Capacity

2021 ◽  
pp. 036119812110022
Author(s):  
Ali H. Mashhadi ◽  
Mohammad Farhadmanesh ◽  
Abbas Rashidi ◽  
Nikola Marković
Keyword(s):  
Traffic Flow ◽  
Traffic Congestion ◽  
Flow Characteristics ◽  
Work Zone ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Construction Work ◽  
Work Zones ◽  
Speed Limits ◽  
Detailed Review ◽  
Traffic Flow Characteristics

Road reconstruction and the resulting work zones are considered as a major source of traffic congestion and delays on freeways. The roadway capacity is decreased as a result of a reduced number of traffic lanes, narrower lanes, and work zone speed limits. Accurate prediction of construction work zone capacity helps traffic engineers to have a better estimation of the traffic flow characteristics. To this end, multiple methodologies have been developed to quantify the impacts of work zones on traffic flow. This paper presents a critical review of the three types of approaches to estimating construction work zone capacities, including parametric, non-parametric, and simulation. Then the most commonly considered factors and their frequency are presented. It also performs a detailed review of the approaches, their objectives, and weaknesses. Lastly, it provides recommendations for future research. The presented work could help researchers in the area of work zone capacity estimation by presenting all the previous methodologies in one place.

scholarly journals Fence Ecology: Frameworks for Understanding the Ecological Effects of Fences

BioScience ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex McInturff ◽  
Wenjing Xu ◽  
Christine E Wilkinson ◽  
Nandintsetseg Dejid ◽  
Justin S Brashares
Keyword(s):  
Anthropogenic Impacts ◽  
Past Research ◽  
Operational Definition ◽  
Ecological Effects ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Ecological Change ◽  
Human Footprint ◽  
Global Environmental ◽  
Eye Opening ◽  
Definition Of

Abstract Investigations of the links between human infrastructure and ecological change have provided eye-opening insights into humanity's environmental impacts and contributed to global environmental policies. Fences are globally ubiquitous, yet they are often omitted from discussions of anthropogenic impacts. In the present article, we address this gap through a systematic literature review on the ecological effects of fences. Our overview provides five major takeaways: 1) an operational definition of fencing to structure future research, 2) an estimate of fence densities in the western United States to emphasize the challenges of accounting for fences in human-footprint mapping, 3) a framework exhibiting the ecological winners and losers that fences produce, 4) a typology of fence effects across ecological scales to guide research, and 5) a summary of research trends and biases that suggest that fence effects have been underestimated. Through highlighting past research and offering frameworks for the future, we aim with this work to formalize the nascent field of fence ecology.

Applying personalized medicine to adult severe asthma

2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. e8-e16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angelica Tiotiu
Keyword(s):  
Personalized Medicine ◽  
Severe Asthma ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Target Therapy ◽  
Asthma Management ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Biologic Therapies ◽  
Eosinophilic Asthma ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Structured Approach

Background: Severe asthma is a heterogeneous disease that consists of various phenotypes driven by different pathways. Associated with significant morbidity, an important negative impact on the quality of life of patients, and increased health care costs, severe asthma represents a challenge for the clinician. With the introduction of various antibodies that target type 2 inflammation (T2) pathways, severe asthma therapy is gradually moving to a personalized medicine approach. Objective: The purpose of this review was to emphasize the important role of personalized medicine in adult severe asthma management. Methods: An extensive research was conducted in medical literature data bases by applying terms such as “severe asthma” associated with “structured approach,” “comorbidities,” “biomarkers,” “phenotypes/endotypes,” and “biologic therapies.” Results: The management of severe asthma starts with a structured approach to confirm the diagnosis, assess the adherence to medications and identify confounding factors and comorbidities. The definition of phenotypes or endotypes (phenotypes defined by mechanisms and identified through biomarkers) is an important step toward the use of personalized medicine in asthma. Severe allergic and nonallergic eosinophilic asthma are two defined T2 phenotypes for which there are efficacious targeted biologic therapies currently available. Non-T2 phenotype remains to be characterized, and less efficient target therapy exists. Conclusion: Despite important progress in applying personalized medicine to severe asthma, especially in T2 inflammatory phenotypes, future research is needed to find valid biomarkers predictive for the response to available biologic therapies to develop more effective therapies in non-T2 phenotype.

Collaborative Remembering in Dementia: A Focus on Joint Activities

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lars-Christer Hydén ◽  
Mattias Forsblad
Keyword(s):  
Everyday Life ◽  
Past Research ◽  
Research Field ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Research Needs ◽  
Joint Activities ◽  
Do So ◽  
Dementia Diseases

In this chapter we consider collaborative remembering and joint activates in everyday life in the case of people living with dementia. First, we review past research of practices that scaffolds the participation of persons with dementia in everyday chores under different stages of dementia diseases. We do so by suggesting three analytical types of scaffolding: when the scaffolding practices (i) frame the activity, (ii) guide actions, or (iii) are part of repair activities. Second, we review two aspects of collaborative remembering that are especially important in the case of dementia: training of scaffolding practices, and the sustaining and presentation of identities through collaborative storytelling. Finally, theoretical and methodological tendencies of the research field are summarized and future research needs are formulated.

Positive Workplaces

2009 ◽  
pp. 578-588
Author(s):  
Fred Luthans ◽  
Carolyn M. Youssef
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Behavior ◽  
Psychological Capital ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Positive Organizational Behavior ◽  
Performance Impact ◽  
Research Directions ◽  
Future Research Directions ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Psychological Capacities

Over the years, both management practitioners and academics have generally assumed that positive workplaces lead to desired outcomes. Unlike psychology, considerable attention has also been devoted to the study of positive topics such as job satisfaction and organizational commitment. However, to place a scientifically based focus on the role that positivity may play in the development and performance of human resources, and largely stimulated by the positive psychology initiative, positive organizational behavior (POB) and psychological capital (PsyCap) have recently been introduced into the management literature. This chapter first provides an overview of both the historical and contemporary positive approaches to the workplace. Then, more specific attention is given to the meaning and domain of POB and PsyCap. Our definition of POB includes positive psychological capacities or resources that can be validly measured, developed, and have performance impact. The constructs that have been determined so far to best meet these criteria are efficacy, hope, optimism, and resiliency. When combined, they have been demonstrated to form the core construct of what we term psychological capital (PsyCap). A measure of PsyCap is being validated and this chapter references the increasing number of studies indicating that PsyCap can be developed and have performance impact. The chapter concludes with important future research directions that can help better understand and build positive workplaces to meet current and looming challenges.

scholarly journals Operationalizing the 2018 World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research (WCRF/AICR) Cancer Prevention Recommendations: A Standardized Scoring System (P13-034-19)

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marissa Shams-White ◽  
Alice Bender ◽  
Nigel Brockton ◽  
Susannah Brown ◽  
Lisa Kahle ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Research ◽  
Cancer Prevention ◽  
Past Research ◽  
Healthy Weight ◽  
National Guidelines ◽  
Physically Active ◽  
Supplement Use ◽  
Funding Sources ◽  
Sweetened Beverages ◽  
Definition Of

Abstract Objectives To develop a standardized AICR/WCRF Score that measures adherence to the 2018 WCRF/AICR Cancer Prevention Recommendations and provide guidance for its application in research. Methods Each of the updated 2018 WCRF/AICR Cancer Prevention Recommendations and the associated goals and statements of advice were examined to inform the definition of a new Score. For each of the weight, physical activity, diet, and breastfeeding-specific recommendations, components and subcomponents were created. Standards for scoring each component were established based on quantitative guidance specified in the recommendations; however, if no specificity was provided, other guidelines (e.g., national guidelines), past research that operationalized 2007 WCRF/AICR recommendations, and expert panel advice were evaluated. Results The proposed AICR/WCRF Score includes eight of the ten WCRF/AICR 2018 recommendations: 1) Be a healthy weight, 2) Be physically active, 3) Eat a diet rich in whole grains, vegetables, fruits, and beans, 4) Limit consumption of fast foods and other processed foods high in fat, starches, or sugars, 5) Limit consumption of red and processed meats, 6) Limit consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, 7) Limit alcohol consumption, and, optionally, 8) For mothers: breastfeed your baby, if you can. Each of the components are worth one point: 1, 0.5, and 0 points for fully, partially, and not meeting the recommendations, respectively (total Score: 0–7 or 8 points). Two recommendations were not included in the Score due to uncertain intent of supplement use (Do not use supplements for cancer prevention) and the redundancy of the dependent components in the final recommendation (After a cancer diagnosis: follow our Recommendations, if you can). Additional guidance will stress the importance of taking into account other risk factors, such as smoking, in relevant models using the new Score. Conclusions The AICR/WCRF Score is a practical tool operationalizing the 2018 recommendations. Future studies are needed to further examine how adherence to the Score relates to cancer risk and mortality in various populations. Funding Sources None.

scholarly journals Validity of the Gender Dysphoria diagnosis and incidence trends in Sweden: a nationwide register study

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Malin Indremo ◽  
Richard White ◽  
Thomas Frisell ◽  
Sven Cnattingius ◽  
Alkistis Skalkidou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gender Dysphoria ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Medical Intervention ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Incidence Trends ◽  
Interaction Terms ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Nationwide Register Study

AbstractThe aim of this study was to examine the validity of the Gender Dysphoria (GD) diagnoses in the Swedish National Patient Register (NPR), to discuss different register-based definitions of GD and to investigate incidence trends. We collected data on all individuals with registered GD diagnoses between 2001 and 2016 as well as data on the coverage in the NPR. We regarded gender confirming medical intervention (GCMI) as one proxy for a clinically valid diagnosis and calculated the positive predictive value (PPV) for receiving GCMI for increasing number of registered GD diagnoses. We assessed crude and coverage-adjusted time trends of GD during 2004–2015 with a Poisson regression, using assigned sex and age as interaction terms. The PPV for receiving GCMI was 68% for ≥ 1 and 79% for ≥ 4 GD-diagnoses. The incidence of GD was on average 35% higher with the definition of ≥ 1 compared to the definition of ≥ 4 diagnoses. The incidence of GD, defined as ≥ 4 diagnoses increased significantly during the study period and mostly in the age categories 10–17 and 18–30 years, even after adjusting for register coverage. We concluded that the validity of a single ICD code denoting clinical GD in the Swedish NPR can be questioned. For future research, we propose to carefully weight the advantages and disadvantages of different register-based definitions according to the individual study’s needs, the time periods involved and the age-groups under study.

Dating Violence, Protection Orders, and Gender Inequality: A Cross-state Analysis of Policy Formulation and Implementation

2021 ◽  
pp. 088626052110283
Author(s):  
Katherine Brandt ◽  
Michelle Johnson-Motoyama
Keyword(s):  
Dating Violence ◽  
Gender Inequality ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Past Research ◽  
Teen Dating Violence ◽  
Policy Formulation ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
Teen Dating

Teen dating violence (TDV) is a public health crisis that organizations and individuals in several fields are working to prevent and address. State lawmakers are a group with substantial power to address TDV and intimate partner violence (IPV) through policies including Civil Protection Order (CPO) statutes. Understanding the factors that influence how state legislators craft TDV and IPV policies and how those policies are implemented can lead to policy processes that better serve survivors. Past research suggests the level of gender inequality in a state may be an important influence on TDV policies. This study used a case study approach to compare the processes of adding individuals in dating relationships to CPO statutes in a subset of states ( n = 3) with high, middle, and low levels of gender inequality. Results did not suggest that gender inequality was related to variation between states but rather that it was a larger factor that creates the need for TDV policies at all. Relationships between the state IPV coalitions and lawmakers and the historical moment that laws were considered emerged as important factors in interstate variation. Future research can build on these results by further exploring the role of gender inequality in policy processes with additional states or policies and by examining the factors identified here in greater depth. Implications for practice are also discussed.

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