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Risky Play Is Not a Dirty Word: A Tool to Measure Benefit-Risk in Outdoor Playgrounds and Educational Settings.
Get PDFChallenge, adventure, and risky play have repeatedly been found to be learning environments that positively shape childhood well-being and development. Extant evidence-based research conveys the physical, cognitive, and socio-emotional growth associated with risky play provision. However, understanding the interplay of risky play, injury, and safety is more nuanced and complex. The goal of this paper is to introduce a tool which allows educators, parents, health practitioners, urban planners, playground designers, certifiers, manufacturers, and inspectors to estimate both the benefit and risk of outdoor play and learning settings, such as playgrounds, adventure parks, or risk-taking activities. One of the key challenges associated with societal risk appetite or risk tolerance has been the inability to quantify the inherent benefits of risk taking in playgrounds and educational settings. Historically, the assessment of 'benefit-risk' has been dominated by a zero tolerance of incidents, whether in the workplace or road safety settings. Against this backdrop, if playgrounds and outdoor learning settings are boring, children will go elsewhere to seek thrills and adventure, which may often be manifested in antisocial behaviour. In 2023, 'benefit-risk' was formally recognised in the area of sport and recreation by the International Organisation for Standardisation, when it published the ISO 4980:2023 benefit-risk assessment for sport and recreational facilities, activities, and equipment. ISO 4980:2023 is a departure from the traditional view of risk management, in that it presents a perspective of risk which is not limited to framing risk as negative, but rather balances the calculation of positive benefits as well as the risks associated with the activity. Correspondingly, hazardous situations which have zero benefit should be eliminated or mitigated. The tool introduced in this paper offers playground inspectors and educators the ability to measure and assess both the benefit and risk of outdoor playgrounds and educational settings where children play, learn, and flourish
Police Wellness: Developing a Research-Supported Framework for Improving Officer Mental Health
No full textThis chapter aims to examine the latest research on the critical issue of police officer mental health and wellbeing, with a particular focus on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). As a profession that constantly navigates high-stress environments and traumatic incidents, the mental health of police officers is of paramount importance. The scope of this work incorporates findings from research predominantly conducted in Australia, New Zealand, England and Wales, and the USA. This analysis will critically evaluate the effectiveness of police organizations’ responses to this pressing international issue, highlighting the need for comprehensive strategies that address mental health concerns among officers. Over the past century, the challenges surrounding police officer well-being have become increasingly evident. Recruitment into the police service has become problematic, accompanied by rising costs in both financial and human terms, including high levels of early retirement and compensation claims. The complexities of modern policing have intensified, with greater public expectations and scrutiny contributing to job-related stress. To facilitate discussion, this chapter will outline practical and societal factors that have exacerbated stress in operational policing, setting the stage for an exploration of trauma-informed policing as a vital framework for improving mental health outcomes
Review of Advanced Control Strategies for Isolated DC–DC Converters in DC Microgrids
No full textDirect current (DC) microgrids have emerged as a promising solution for achieving resilient, efficient, and sustainable power distribution across diverse applications. Advanced control strategies are crucial to ensure reliable operation, effective energy management, and effective integration of renewable energy sources. This paper comprehensively reviews the latest developments in control techniques in DC microgrids, emphasizing their theoretical foundations, real-world applications, and performance assessments. The review covers a wide range of sophisticated control methodologies, including backstepping control, model predictive control (MPC), passivity-based control (PBC), and sliding mode control (SMC). Each approach is analyzed in detail, highlighting its underlying principles, advantages, limitations, and specific applications in DC microgrid systems. To further illustrate the practical relevance of these strategies, case studies and real-world examples are presented, demonstrating their efficacy in various operational scenarios. Additionally, the paper addresses key research challenges and identifies opportunities for future advancements in DC microgrid control strategies. This review aims to provide valuable insights for researchers and practitioners involved in the design, optimization, and operation of DC microgrids, contributing to the advancement of sustainable energy technologies in modern power systems
Numerical study on the effects of the mechanical degradation of UHPC layer and stud connectors on the fatigue performance of steel-UHPC composite bridge decks
No full textThe mechanical degradation of the structural system is often overlooked in the fatigue analysis of steel-Ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) composite bridge decks, leading to inaccuracies. This study proposes a fatigue analysis method to investigate the impacts of mechanical degradation in the UHPC layer and stud connectors on the fatigue performance of composite bridge decks. The fatigue analysis method, based on finite element analysis, was validated using a series of full-scale fatigue tests. It was then applied to evaluate the fatigue performance of composite bridge decks, revealing the deterioration process of key mechanical indicators and quantifying the effects of mechanical degradation in the UHPC layer and stud connectors on these indicators. Finally, the validated fatigue analysis method was used to investigate the fatigue performance of a typical composite bridge deck. The results indicated that mechanical degradation of the UHPC layer and stud connectors reduced structural stiffness and increased stress ranges in certain fatigue-critical details. The deterioration of the composite effect primarily involves the degradation of the UHPC layer, stud connectors, and their interactions. Ignoring this degradation could compromise the fatigue security of composite bridge decks. This study advances the understanding and analytical ability for fatigue performance in steel-UHPC composite bridge decks
Academic research on Facebook: a bibliometric review
Get PDFThis study presents a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of Facebook-related research, leveraging data from the Web of Science Core Collection. The work identifies influential authors, institutions, countries, and thematic trends by employing co-citation analysis, bibliographic coupling, and keyword co-occurrence mapping using VOSviewer software. The analysis captures the temporal evolution of Facebook research, highlighting the field's dynamic and interdisciplinary nature. The United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia emerge as the leading contributors, with US-based institutions like the University of Michigan and Michigan State University being the most productive and influential. The most frequent keywords, including “Facebook”, “social media”, and “social network sites”, correlate with key research themes, such as privacy, misinformation, and psychological well-being. Temporal analysis reveals a shift in research focus from social interaction and privacy to more complex issues like misinformation, political polarization, and COVID-19. The study identifies communication, psychology, and business as the leading research areas, with a strong presence in social sciences and computer science. The practical implications of these findings inform policymakers, social media platform developers, and analysts on key research priorities, such as misinformation and online well-being. This study advances the understanding of Facebook's role in academia and its broader societal influence
Hope and courage: A collective pedagogy to build sustainable gender equality and more.
No full textThis book comprises a series of engaging and provocative essays directed towards an optimistic consideration of hope, informed by practices that can be nurtured in school education and other sites of learning and are associated with courage and wisdom. Written from a range of perspectives and experiences each essay brings to the reader a positive orientation; one that is too often lacking in today’s global era in which much attention is paid to simplified solutions, often unfit for purpose, and which engender a spirit of despondency and demoralization.
Attention has been directed to the essay form as a departure from the academic chapter or journal article, with an expectation that the book will be of value beyond the walls of academia. The genre seeks to stimulate the reader’s and scholar’s imagination and to create new mental models that can stimulate reflection and rumination. The essays are sensitive to the many global, economic, societal and environmental discourses so dominant in the public domain and so act as antidotes to the more pernicious influences that those discourses have on educational policy making and practice
Integrating clinical scenarios in undergraduate anatomy teaching to enhance student engagement: A three-year exploratory study in a small pre-medicine cohort.
No full textClinical scenario-based learning (CSBL) has demonstrated benefits in clinical education, but its implementation in preclinical undergraduate anatomy programs remains limited. This study explored the effects of integrating clinical scenarios into a third-year undergraduate human anatomy subject within a small pre-medicine cohort. A three-year exploratory study (2017-2019) was conducted using a mixed-methods approach. Quantitative data were collected via Likert scale questions from anonymous student questionnaires (n = 53; response rate: 88%-89%), and qualitative data were derived from open-ended responses analyzed thematically. Students had previously completed a traditionally delivered anatomy subject and were then exposed to scenario-based discussions in lectures. Most students agreed that clinical scenarios enhanced peer learning (89.1%), anatomical knowledge acquisition (91.5%), and engagement with content (87.2%). Additionally, 88.7% reported increased interest in pursuing a medical career. Thematic analysis identified five key benefits: collaborative learning environment, knowledge consolidation, contextual application of knowledge, heightened engagement, and career inspiration. CSBL in undergraduate anatomy fosters high student engagement, deepens understanding, and supports medical career aspirations. These findings support wider adoption of structured, contextual, and team-based learning activities in preclinical programs
Does telemedicine technology affect prescribing quality in primary care? The case of antibiotics.
No full textWe study the impact of telemedicine technology on antibiotic prescription rates using linked administrative data from Australia on physicians and their patients. We classify physicians by their relative use of virtual consultations after the introduction of government-subsidised telemedicine services and compare their antibiotic prescribing rates before and after telemedicine services became available. We find that more intense telemedicine adopters prescribe less antibiotics while keeping prescribing quality unchanged. Our results are not explained by patient sorting, doctor shopping, or changes in the intensity of consultations
Unsteady Natural Convection and Entropy Generation in Thermally Stratified Trapezoidal Cavities: A Comparative Study
Get PDFThis study numerically investigates unsteady natural convection (NC) heat transfer (HT) and entropy generation (Egen) in trapezoidal cavities filled with two thermally stratified fluids. Both air-filled and water-filled configurations are analyzed to evaluate and compare their thermal performance under varying conditions. The cavities are characterized by a heated base, thermally stratified sloped walls, and a cooled top wall. The governing equations are numerically solved using the finite volume (FV) approach. The study considers a Prandtl number (Pr) of 0.71 for air and 7.01 for water, Rayleigh numbers (Ra) ranging from 103 to 5 × 107, and an aspect ratio (AR) of 0.5. Flow behavior is examined through various parameters, including temperature time series (TTS), average Nusselt number (Nu), average entropy generation (Eavg), average Bejan number (Beavg), and ecological coefficient of performance (ECOP). Three bifurcations are identified during the transition from steady to chaotic flow for both fluids. The first is a pitchfork bifurcation, occurring between Ra = 105 and 2 × 105 for air, and between Ra = 9 × 104 and 105 for water. The second, a Hopf bifurcation, is observed between Ra = 4.7 × 105 and 4.8 × 105 for air, and between Ra = 105 and 2 × 105 for water. The third bifurcation marks the onset of chaotic flow, occurring between Ra = 3 × 107 and 4 × 107 for air, and between Ra = 4 × 105 and 5 × 105 for water. At Ra = 106, the average HT in the air-filled cavity is 85.35% higher than in the water-filled cavity, while Eavg is 94.54% greater in the air-filled cavity compared to water-filled cavity. At Ra = 106, the thermal performance of the cavity filled with water is 4.96% better than that of the air-filled cavity. These findings provide valuable insights for optimizing thermal systems using trapezoidal cavities and varying working fluids
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