41 research outputs found
Discover Together: Attempting to Alter Understanding and Practices in Governments’ Work with Citizens
No full textAN EVALUATION OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT’S EFFECTIVENESS ON ACADEMIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY
No full textThis research study examines the US government’s effectiveness in the prevention of academic intellectual property theft. Foreign governments utilize talent recruitment programs and non-traditional collectors to infiltrate US academic and research institutions in order to gain access to valuable innovations and research. The Chinese Communist Party and its military-civil fusion doctrine make it the greatest threat to the US academic and research sectors, as any intellectual property exfiltrated may directly flow to the Chinese military. With such a threat identified, this research study endeavors to answer the question: How can the United States government better protect academic and research institutions from intellectual property theft?
The study analyzes recent US research security efforts, as there has been no overarching policy that has addressed intellectual property security in the past. The author assesses the newest US policy, the Presidential Memorandum on United States Government-Supported Research and Development National Security Policy, or NSPM-33, and finds it lacking in several key areas. Utilizing the NSPM-33 as a framework, the author offers five policy improvements that strengthen academic research security. The research study uses a case study analysis method to assess the effectiveness of the author’s recommended policy enhancements. The author analyzes two cases of university professors who were indicted and convicted of criminal charges related to academic research security. The analysis found the author’s enhancements to the current NSPM-33 policy would be effective for many cases and situations, but not all. Overall, if the NSPM-33 is bolstered by the author’s recommended policy improvements, it is likely to be a more effective instrument in reducing the number of instances of academic intellectual property theft
Impact of milieu teaching on communication skills of young children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
No full textThis 5-month study examined the impact of a behaviorally based naturalistic teaching strategy, milieu teaching, on the communication skills of preschool-aged children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in an early childhood special education (ECSE) classroom. A multiple baseline across participants design was used. Communication targets were selected based on each child’s Individualized Education Plan. Milieu teaching strategies were implemented in two activities per day per target. Generalization and maintenance effects were also determined. Results indicated that milieu strategies are an effective means of providing communication skills instruction for young children with ASD in an ECSE classroom.Journal Articl
Making molehills into mountains: Adult responses to child sexuality and behaviour
No full textSexual behaviour among children can be perplexing for adults as they negotiate a spectrum of ideas relating to abuse and natural curiosity. In the search for understandings, adults can act in ways that close opportunities for children to explore and describe meanings for the behaviour. This article invites practitioners to check their assumptions in this kind of work, and to take a stance that opposes abusive actions – while taking up a position of enquiry to support the multiple stories that make up children’s lives
Developing a novel bioacoustic monitoring for Garden Dormice using passive sound recorders and machine learning
No full textOne of the challenges of small mammal conservation is to be able to find the target species in the field. This is especially true for small nocturnal hibernators like dormice. Passive bioacoustic monitoring, as a non-invasive method, can be a useful tool to more efficiently find vocalizing animals in the field. However, bioacoustic methods produce a large amount of data, of which the manual analysis is highly time consuming. Therefore, there is need for an automatized process for identifying animal vocalization in acoustic data. Two types of recorders, audiomoths and BAR-LT recorders, were installed at a total of 10 locations of known Garden Dormouse (Eliomys quercinus) activity in Germany and were left recording in the field from June to September, producing a total of 3.54 TB of data. Based on our own and volunteers' observations, Garden Dormouse vocalizations were manually identified in a subset of the sound files produced. These vocalizations, as well as ambient sound samples, were labelled and extracted to train a TensorFlow model, which was then tested on new subsets of the complete dataset. Comparing sound quality and acquisition costs of the two recorder types shows the potential for large-scale monitoring applications using the less expensive and open source audiomoth. Next steps include a time analysis of Garden Dormouse calls to find out when they are vocally more active during the study period. Such knowledge can help narrow the temporal scale of future bioacoustic studies on this species
Forests for the Forest Dormouse: Building conservation guidelines with and for land managers
No full text<p>The Forest Dormouse (<em>Dryomys nitedula</em>) is native to a variety of Austrian forest landscapes, although recordings of the species are very rare. In a 3-year nationwide search we are trying to collect data on abundance, habitat preferences, and response to forest management practices. Nest box occupancy is recorded at 20 study sites. In an extensive citizen science initiative, we are also looking at data from footprint tunnels, camera traps and casualties from cat predation. Additionally, audio detectors (AudioMoths) are tested against other methods as a new monitoring approach.</p><p>First year results indicate a surprising accumulation of Forest Dormice near or in anthropogenically shaped areas, such as settlements and pastures. Distribution of the species in Austria seems to be much more concentrated on some alpine areas than previously thought.</p><p>The study results, together with data on land management, will form the basis for management guidelines which will be developed together with foresters and county administrations.</p>
Noise characterization and exposure of indoor hockey officials
No full text2015 Spring.Includes bibliographical references.Researchers have recently associated self-reported hearing loss in sports officials who use whistles. However, the actual noise exposures or degree of hearing loss to sports officials have not been determined to date. Researchers have shown that frequent noise exposures to equivalent sound pressure levels that exceed 85 dB may not only contribute to hearing loss, but also incidence of hypertension. Therefore, a pilot study was conducted to assess hockey official noise exposures at two sporting arenas that host junior and collegiate hockey games. The purpose of this study was threefold: (1) to measure the noise to which hockey officials are exposed; (2) to determine if hockey officials are at increased risk of hearing damage from officiating games; and (3) to determine if hearing protection is warranted. This pilot study will help determine if a more comprehensive study, including audiometric testing, at louder, larger sports arenas is necessary. A total of 23 hockey official noise exposure samples were taken over the course of six hockey games. The hockey official noise exposure samples were collected while they were officiating games using Larson Davis personal noise dosimeters Models 706 and 703+. Each game was approximately three hours in duration. The dosimeters were pre-calibrated and attached to the officials with the microphone positioned within a one-foot radius of their heads on their dominant sides. The dosimeters were post-calibrated and the data were downloaded using the Larson Davis Blaze® Software. Analysis of the noise data included descriptive statistics such as the time-weighted average, eight-hour time-weighted average, noise dose percent, the equivalent sound pressure level, and the predicted 8-hour noise dose percent. Although the hockey games were only approximately three hours in duration, 15 of 23 (65%) of the officials were overexposed to noise based on the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists recommended threshold limit value of 85 dBA as an eight-hour time-weighted average (3 dB exchange rate). Furthermore, all officials sampled had equivalent continuous sound pressure levels that exceeded 85 dBA. None of the hockey officials were exposed to noise levels in excess of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) permissible exposure limit of 90 dBA as an eight-hour TWA (5 dB exchange rate) or the OSHA action limit of 85 dBA (5 dB exchange rate). Based on the results of this pilot study, hockey officials are overexposed to hazardous levels of noise that can likely contribute to hearing loss. Therefore, recommendations that include training and the use of earplugs were provided to reduce hockey official noise exposure and reduce the risk of developing noise-induced hearing loss in this population of workers. However, to determine if temporary hearing loss occurs from hockey game noise, future research using audiometric testing pre- and post-game exposure should be performed
Noise characterization and exposure at a ski resort
No full text2012 Summer.Includes bibliographical references.This study examined the noise exposures of employees at a ski resort working in the job categories of snowmaker, snow groomer, or chair lift operator. Noise exposures for all employees were obtained using personal noise dosimetry. Snowmakers were monitored during their normal 12-hour work shifts (n=19 for both night and day shifts) and results indicated that 70% of the snowmakers exceeded the OSHA 12-hour AL (82 dBA), 32% exceeded the OSHA recommended 12-hour PEL (87 dBA), 11% exceeded the OSHA PEL (90 dBA), and 63% exceeded the ACGIH® 12-hour TLV® (83 dBA). When comparing noise exposures of the day-shift snowmaker crew to the night-shift crew, results indicated that 100% of the night-shift crew exceeded the OSHA 12-hour Action level (82 dBA), 40% exceeded the OSHA recommended 12-hour PEL (87 dBA), 10% exceeded the OSHA PEL (90 dBA), and 100% exceeded the ACGIH® 12-hour TLV® (83 dBA). Results also indicated that of the day-shift snowmaker crew, 33% exceeded the OSHA 12-hour AL (82 dBA), 22% exceeded the OSHA recommended 12-hour PEL (87dBA), 11% exceeded the OSHA PEL (90 dBA), and 44% exceeded the ACGIH® 12-hour TLV® (83 dBA). Snowmaker equipment was also analyzed using a sound level meter for eight different snowmaking machines, with results revealing a range of 83 dBA to 116 dBA. The chair lift operation population (n=20) was monitored for work shifts varying from 8 to 10 hours. The findings indicated that 5% exceeded the OSHA 10-hour AL (83 dBA), none of the chair lift worker population exceeded the OSHA recommended 10-hour PEL (88 dBA), none exceeded the OSHA PEL (90 dBA), and 10% exceeded the ACGIH® 10-hour TLV® (84 dBA). Chair lift equipment was also analyzed using a sound level meter, which indicated a range of 75 dBA to 81 dBA. Noise exposures for snow groomers were ascertained for entire 10-hour work shifts (n=19). The results from this study indicated that none of the snow groomers exceeded any published occupational noise criteria from OSHA or ACGIH®. Snow grooming machines were also characterized using a sound level meter for four different snow grooming machines, which illustrated a range of 74 dBA to 78 dBA. It is recommended that management take steps in order to reduce the exposure times to excessive noise for snowmaker employees, either by obtaining snowmaking machines that generate noise at a safe level or by decreasing work shifts of snowmaker employees. It is also recommended that snowmaker employees continue to wear and maintain their current hearing protection devices. It is recommended that this ski resort continue the participation of all snowmaker employees in the current hearing conservation program. Further research is also recommended in order to determine if chair lift operator employees should be enrolled into a hearing conservation program to help ensure that no employees are at risk of sustaining hearing damage
Noise characterization and exposure of indoor sporting events
No full text2012 Spring.Includes bibliographical references.Noise, as a hazard in the work place, has long been recognized as an issue facing workers. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recognizes that control of noise is a critical issue facing today's employers and employees. Occupational hearing loss was identified as one of the 21 priority areas for research in the next century. A report from the EPA in 1981 estimates that over 9 million Americans are exposed to occupational noise greater than 85 decibels (dB) and more recent estimates from NIOSH indicate excessive noise exposures upwards of 30 million. Occupational and recreational noise exposures were evaluated at a two sporting arenas hosting hockey games at the collegiate and semi-professional level. Between the two facilities studied, a total of 54 personal noise dosimetry samples were taken over the course of seven home hockey games, three at Venue 1 and four at Venue 2. This included 15 worker personal noise samples and nine fan personal noise samples at Venue 1; and 19 worker personal noise samples and 11 fan personal noise samples at Venue 2. Extensive area monitoring was conducted at each venue to further characterize the stadium noise on a location by location basis. These data are useful in characterizing occupational exposure of indoor arena support staff and may also provide a foundation for future research No workers or fans from either venue were exposed to noise in excess of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) permissible exposure limit of an eight-hour time-weighted average (TWA) of 90 A-weighted decibels (dBA) or the eight-hour TWA action limit of 85 dBA. However, six of 15 (40%) workers and three of nine (33%) fans sampled at Venue 1 were exposed to noise in excess of the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) recommended threshold limit value (TLV) of 85dBA. In addition, eleven of 19 (57%) workers and ten of 11 (90%) fans sampled at Venue 2 were exposed to noise in excess of the ACGIH noise TLV. A two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted on the personal noise dosimetry data from workers and fans to determine if there were significant differences between noise exposures to workers and fans within and between the venues investigated. At a 95% confidence level, it was determined that there were significant noise exposure differences between nearly all groups in evaluating both OSHA and ACGIH criteria. However, no significant noise exposure differences were detected between workers at the different venues
