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A comprehensive evaluation of physical activity (PA) engagement and policy implementation among Filipino children and adolescents with disabilities is vital in the promotion of an active healthy lifestyle. This is the first Para Report Card of the Philippines that presents the available evidence on the 10 commonly used PA indicators. Published and gray literature were searched for country-specific evidence on PA behaviors, physical fitness, and sources of influence. Stakeholders representing relevant national institutions, special education schools, and advocacy groups also provided input on the grades. Only Organized Sport and Government indicators had sufficient data to be graded F and B, respectively. The rest of the indicators were graded as incomplete due to the limited availability of nationally representative data. Findings of the Philippines 2022 Para Report Card on PA highlight the need to strengthen the documentation and evaluation of these indicators among Filipino children and adolescents with disabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is an overview of the results from 14 countries or jurisdictions in a Global Matrix of Para Report Cards on physical activity (PA) of children and adolescents with disabilities. The methodology was based on the Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance's Global Matrix 4.0. Data were aligned with 10 indicators (Overall PA, Organized Sport, Active Play, Active Transport, Physical Fitness, Sedentary Behavior, Family & Peers, Schools, Community & Environment, and Government) to produce Para Report Cards. Subsequently, there were 139 grades; 45% were incomplete, particularly for Active Play, Physical Fitness, and Family & Peers. Collectively, Overall PA was graded the lowest (F), with Schools and Government the highest (C). Disability-specific surveillance and research gaps in PA were apparent in 14 countries or jurisdictions around the world. More coverage of PA data in Para Report Cards is needed to serve as an advocacy tool to promote PA among children and adolescents with disabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transportation significantly affects the health and welfare of surplus dairy calves, largely due to the various stressors and pathogen exposures encountered during the process. Concurrently, an animal's microbiome is known to correlate with its health status, with stress-induced alterations in the microbiota potentially precipitating various diseases. This study aimed to compare the effects of transportation durations of 6, 12, or 16 h on the fecal microbiota in young surplus dairy calves. We used a randomized controlled design in which surplus dairy calves aged 1 to 19 d from 5 commercial dairy farms in Ontario were allocated into 1 of 3 transportation groups (6, 12, and 16 h of continuous transportation). Health assessments were conducted before, immediately after, and for 2 wk following transportation. Fecal samples were collected before, immediately after, and at 24 and 72 h after transportation and subjected to 16S rRNA sequencing. Alpha diversity metrics showed no significant differences between the 3 transportation groups at any of the sampling time points. Although β diversity metrics revealed no clustering by transportation groups, they indicated significant differences across sampling time points within each group. The overall analysis revealed a total of 22 phyla and 353 genera, with Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria , and Fusobacteria being the most abundant phyla. Bacteroides, Escherichia / Shigella, Lactobacillus, Collinsella , and Bifidobacterium were the most abundant genera. The reduction in Fusobacteria abundance before and after transport was significantly larger in the 16-h transportation group when compared with the 6-h transportation group. We also identified several genus-level and amplicon sequence variation-level taxa that displayed significant differences in their abundances across various transportation groups, observed at all sampling time points investigated. This research identifies microbiota changes due to varying transportation durations in surplus dairy calves, providing a broad understanding of the microbial shifts in surplus dairy calves after transportation across varying durations. Although these variations may not directly correlate with overall calf health or indicate dysbiosis, these results emphasize the importance of further investigating transportation practices to enhance calf health and well-being. Further studies are warranted to elucidate the relationship between microbiota and calf health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food insecurity means that a person does not have access to sufficient nutritious food for normal growth and health. Food insecurity can lead to many health problems such as obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and other long term health conditions. People living with a severe mental illness are more likely to experience food insecurity than people without mental illness. Peer‐led in‐depth interviews were conducted with adults with severe mental illness from Northern England, during which their experiences of food insecurity and strategies to tackle food insecurity were discussed. Interviews took place between March and December 2022, with interviews being transcribed and analysed using deductive and inductive thematic analysis. Thirteen interviews were conducted, finding that food insecurity in adults with severe mental illness was often a long‐standing issue. Unemployment, the cost‐of‐living crisis and fuel poverty impacted on experiences of food insecurity. Difficulties accessing food banks such as transport, stigma, and the limited selection of available food was also discussed. Strategies to tackle food insecurity centred on making food banks more accessible and improving the quality of available food. Future research should aim to eradicate food insecurity for adults with severe mental illness, as limited research and action focuses on this population group over and above 'mental illness' or 'poor mental health'. Removing barriers to accessing food such as lack of transport, and providing food which is of adequate nutritional quality, should be prioritised, as well as tackling the stigma and accessibility issues surrounding food banks use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Social risks are common among cancer survivors who have the fewest financial resources; however, little is known about how prevalence differs by age at diagnosis, despite younger survivors' relatively low incomes and wealth. Methods: The authors used data from 3703 participants in the Detroit Research on Cancer Survivors (ROCS) cohort of Black cancer survivors. Participants self‐reported several forms of social risks, including food insecurity, housing instability, utility shut‐offs, not getting care because of cost or lack of transportation, and feeling unsafe in their home neighborhood. Modified Poisson models were used to estimate prevalence ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of social risks by age at diagnosis, controlling for demographic, socioeconomic, and cancer‐related factors. Results: Overall, 35% of participants reported at least one social risk, and 17% reported two or more risks. Social risk prevalence was highest among young adults aged 20–39 years (47%) followed by those aged 40–54 years (43%), 55–64 years (38%), and 65 years and older (24%; p for trend <.001). Compared with survivors who were aged 65 years and older at diagnosis, adjusted prevalence ratios for any social risk were 1.75 (95% CI, 1.42–2.16) for survivors aged 20–39 years, 1.76 (95% CI, 1.52–2.03) for survivors aged 40–54 years, and 1.41 (95% CI, 1.23–1.60) for survivors aged 55‐64 years at diagnosis. Similar associations were observed for individual social risks and experiencing two or more risks. Conclusions: In this population of Black cancer survivors, social risks were inversely associated with age at diagnosis. Diagnosis in young adulthood and middle age should be considered a risk factor for social risks and should be prioritized in work to reduce the financial effects of cancer on financially vulnerable cancer survivors. This report evaluates associations between age at diagnosis and the prevalence of social risks, such as food insecurity, housing instability, and forgoing care because of lack of transportation in a population‐based cohort of Black cancer survivors. Age at diagnosis was inversely associated with social risks, and young adult survivors reported the highest prevalence of any social risks, multiple social risks, and several individual social risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to describe the health status and barriers of people who sought care on a free mobile health clinic for women without insurance in California. Participants were 221 women who attended the Salud para Mujeres (Women's Health) mobile medical clinic between 2019 and 2021. Medical chart abstractions provided data on sociodemographic factors, medical history, barriers to care, depressive symptoms, and dietary factors. Anthropometric measure, blood pressure, and biomarkers of cardiometabolic disease risk were also abstracted. Participants were young adult (29.1 [SD 9.3] years), Hispanic (97.6%), farm-working (62.2%) women from Mexico (87.0%). Prevalent barriers to accessing (non-mobile) medical care included high cost (74.5%), language (47.6%), hours of operation (36.2%), and transportation (31.4%). The majority (89.5%) of patients had overweight (34.0%) or obesity (55.5%), and 27% had hypertension. Among those (n = 127) receiving a lipid panel, 60.3% had higher than recommended levels of low-density lipoprotein and 89% had lower than recommended levels of high-density lipoprotein. Point-of-care HbA1c tests (n = 133) indicated that 9.0% had diabetes and 24.8% had prediabetes. Over half (53.1%) of patients reported prevalent occupational exposure to pesticides and 19% had moderate to severe depressive symptoms. Weekly or more frequent consumption of sugar sweetened beverages (70.9%) and fast food (43.5%) were also prevalent. Mobile health units have potential for reaching women who face several barriers to care and experience major risk factors for cardometabolic disease. Findings suggest a compelling need to assure that Hispanic and Indigenous women and farmworkers have access to healthcare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, a temporary change in policy was implemented in 2020. Breast screening services in England were advised to change from timed appointments to an open invitation for invitees to contact the service and arrange an appointment. This change to invitation methodology had potential benefits and risks including impacting inequalities in uptake. Qualitative data were collected by online questionnaire from 23 service providers and routinely collected quantitative uptake data were analysed to investigate the impact of open invitations on the National Programme in the South of England. Office for National Statistics and general practitioner (GP) practice profile data enabled the modelling of sociodemographic characteristics of breast screening invitees at each GP practice. Most services changed to open invitations (17/23), 82% of which altered administrative capacity and/or procedures to accommodate this change. Logistic benefits were reported including a more consistent flow of participants, fewer long gaps and fewer wasted slots. The change to open invitations was associated with a 7.2% reduction in the percentage of participants screened, accounting for participant sociodemographics and historical screening provider uptake. The inequality in screening uptake experienced by participants of minority ethnic background was exacerbated by the change to open invitations. Open invitations, whilst affording logistic benefits in an unprecedented pandemic era, were associated with reduced overall uptake and exacerbation of existing health inequality experienced by women of minority ethnic background. The broader impact on services highlighted the need for sustainability of measures taken to accommodate such operational changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gravity model is a widely recognized tool for estimating the movement of people and goods. In this study, we introduce two gravitational variables, population size and regional GDP per capita (RGDPPC), to explain the characteristics of population movement between and within cities in South Korea. A log-linearized gravity model is employed to run regression analyses at three spatial levels: the national level (encompassing the entirety of South Korea), the metropolitan level (focusing on the Seoul and Busan Metropolitan Transportation Areas) and the city level (specifically in Seoul and Busan). The study incorporates data on various modes of transportation from 246 of the 250 municipalities in South Korea. Predictive performance of the model is better when utilizing national-level data. However, as spatial area decreases and population density increases, the models explanatory power decreases significantly when relying solely on data related to either population size or RGDPPC. The findings suggest that incorporation of both population size and RGDPPC into the gravity model best captures the dynamics of traffic flow within economically integrated regions. This relationship is analogous to gravitational fields generated by two distinct types of mass. Including both population size and RGDPPC, the gravity model can be leveraged effectively to estimate traffic patterns, particularly within regions characterized by high economic integration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: US hospitals are focussing more than ever on meeting important patient social needs. Patients often make multiple trips to hospitals related to nonmedical issues that could likely be averted through the increased integration of case management strategies. Although the percentage of hospitals using advanced practice nurses (APNs) in this role is still relatively low, we explore the idea that employing APN case managers improves hospitals' abilities to alleviate hospital overusage. Design: The study used a cross‐sectional design. Methods: We used the 2021 American Hospital Association data set, which includes 5855 hospitals, of which 4315 were general medical hospitals. Results: Using descriptive statistics and Poisson regression, we discovered that employing APN case managers in US acute care hospitals is associated with an increased likelihood that hospitals will implement strategies addressing patient social needs. Conclusions: When hospitals screen patients for social needs and formulate and implement internal and external strategies designed to meet patient social needs, many stakeholders stand to benefit. Should more hospitals observe such benefits when utilizing an APN case manager model, it will likely proliferate, and demand for APNs could accelerate further. Impact: Following the reduction in unnecessary patient visits and readmissions, hospitals' scarce resources are freed up to offer timely care to patients that are truly medically in need. Furthermore, financial performance improves under this scenario. APNs play a critical role in enabling hospitals to realize such benefits. Patient or Public Contribution: No patient or public contribution. We used archival data in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When projects suffer noncompletion, state highway agencies (SHAs) may trigger liquidated damage (LD) provisions, and at times, contractors may challenge their enforceability. Normally, to be compensated for the costs expected during the delay, states design the LD schedules by associating LD rates to specific contract sizes. A review of the literature found that states varied significantly in the LD schedule designs. However, no studies have explored the relationship between the LD rates and contract sizes (LDR-CS) across states. Exploring this relationship could lead to identifying the underlying model of the relationship, explaining how states vary the LD rates against contract sizes, running comparative analyses of the states' LD schedules, and designing optimal LD schedules, among other potential benefits. To realize these benefits, the objectives of this work were to (1) statistically explore and characterize the LDR-CS relationship, and (2) develop a representative model of the relationship. To achieve these objectives, descriptive, box–whisker, and cluster analyses were performed to characterize the relationship, and regression analysis was utilized to search for the best-fit representation model. The relationship was found to be challenging; it had a unique L-shape, and was modeled successfully only using transformed nonlinear regression. The research results could facilitate performing LD comparative analysis among states, help SHAs assess and build confidence in their LD rates, and help update and optimize LD schedule designs. This work contributes to the body of knowledge with new statistical dimensions to comprehend the LDR-CS relationship, providing tables, charts, and transformed nonlinear models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transportation networks frequently employ hub-and-spoke network architectures to route flows between many origin and destination pairs. Hub facilities work as switching points for flows in large networks. In this study, we focus on a problem, called the single allocation hub-and-spoke network design problem. In the problem, the goal is to allocate each non-hub node to exactly one of the given hub nodes so as to minimize the total transportation cost. The problem is essentially equivalent to another combinatorial optimization problem, called the metric labeling problem. The metric labeling problem was first introduced by Kleinberg and Tardos in 2002, motivated by application to segmentation problems in computer vision and related areas. In this study, we deal with a case where the set of hubs forms a star, which is encountered especially in telecommunication networks. We propose a polynomial-time randomized approximation algorithm for the problem, whose approximation ratio is less than 5.281. Our algorithms solve a linear relaxation problem and apply dependent rounding procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractProblem, research strategy, and findingsTakeaways for practiceThe Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), passed in 1990, set requirements that public agencies in the United States, which receive federal funds, must remove physical barriers in the public right-of-way that might prevent someone with a disability from accessing goods and services. ADA’s impact on transportation extends from equitable access in public transportation to meeting compliance requirements for curb ramps at intersections. Researchers argue that public agencies are still falling behind in ADA implementation due to scarce funding, inadequate asset inventory development, and limited transition/compliance plans. We asked: What can organizations and practitioners do to improve ADA implementation for infrastructure design and supply? We relied on an online survey (n = 206) and semistructured interviews (n = 36) with transportation practitioners across the United States. The findings revealed that ADA implementation has been thwarted due to three primary themes that make meeting ADA implementation in transportation challenging: 1) political priorities and organizational coordination that limit ADA in practice; 2) limited guidance, resources, and capacity; and 3) challenges with retrofits, new construction, and maintenance.Our work suggests that organizations and practitioners wish to expand ADA implementation, but to achieve this, additional monetary resources and employee training are needed. Requiring ADA asset inventories and compliance plans, along with developing a framework to improve accessibility from project conception to postdelivery, could incentivize widespread ADA implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Palliative care remains key in assisting patients who have life-threatening conditions. In most low- and middle-income countries, it is often offered through a centralized system with limitations, including Malawi. In 2014, the World Health Organization called for improving palliative care access through primary health care and community models. Malawi and Neno District subsequently decentralized palliative care delivery to local health centers. This qualitative study explored the decentralization of palliative care services in Neno District, Malawi. Methods: The descriptive qualitative study was conducted between 2021 and 2022 in two conveniently selected health centers providing palliative care in the Neno District. Fourteen healthcare workers were purposefully selected to participate in two focus groups. Fifteen patients were conveniently selected and participated in three focus groups. Data was analyzed using deductive and inductive approaches. Focused group discussions were conducted in Chichewa (Malawi's official local language), audio recorded, transcribed, translated into English, and analyzed thematically. Results: Four main themes emerged from the focus groups. Patients described positive relationships with healthcare workers built on trust and holistic care over time. Accessing care included transport, social support, time constraints, and distance issues. Facilities effectively responded to needs through coordinated care and follow-up. Decentralization was perceived to benefit patients by reducing travel challenges and improving local access to efficient and inclusive palliative care services. However, challenges with resources, distance, and social support remained. Limitations in sampling and missing participant details necessitate further research with broader sampling. Conclusion: Overall, the study provides empirical evidence that can optimize palliative care delivery in similar low-resource contexts by informing policies to address barriers through decentralized approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Transportation policies can impact health outcomes while simultaneously promoting social equity and environmental sustainability. We developed an agent-based model (ABM) to simulate the impacts of fare subsidies and congestion taxes on commuter decision-making and travel patterns. We report effects on mode share, travel time and transport-related physical activity (PA), including the variability of effects by socioeconomic strata (SES), and the trade-offs that may need to be considered in the implementation of these policies in a context with high levels of necessity-based physical activity. Methods: The ABM design was informed by local stakeholder engagement. The demographic and spatial characteristics of the in-silico city, and its residents, were informed by local surveys and empirical studies. We used ridership and travel time data from the 2019 Bogotá Household Travel Survey to calibrate and validate the model by SES. We then explored the impacts of fare subsidy and congestion tax policy scenarios. Results: Our model reproduced commuting patterns observed in Bogotá, including substantial necessity-based walking for transportation. At the city-level, congestion taxes fractionally reduced car use, including among mid-to-high SES groups but not among low SES commuters. Neither travel times nor physical activity levels were impacted at the city level or by SES. Comparatively, fare subsidies promoted city-level public transportation (PT) ridership, particularly under a 'free-fare' scenario, largely through reductions in walking trips. 'Free fare' policies also led to a large reduction in very long walking times and an overall reduction in the commuting-based attainment of physical activity guidelines. Differential effects were observed by SES, with free fares promoting PT ridership primarily among low-and-middle SES groups. These shifts to PT reduced median walking times among all SES groups, particularly low-SES groups. Moreover, the proportion of low-to-mid SES commuters meeting weekly physical activity recommendations decreased under the 'freefare' policy, with no change observed among high-SES groups. Conclusions: Transport policies can differentially impact SES-level disparities in necessity-based walking and travel times. Understanding these impacts is critical in shaping transportation policies that balance the dual aims of reducing SES-level disparities in travel time (and time poverty) and the promotion of choice-based physical activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Youth with HIV (YWH) face challenges in achieving viral suppression, particularly in the Southern United States, and welcome novel interventions responsive to community needs. The Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) describes factors that influence behavior change, and the Positive Youth Development (PYD) supports youth-focused program design. We applied TPB and PYD to explore factors supporting care engagement and challenges for YWH in South Texas. We conducted 14 semi-structured interviews with YWH and 7 focus groups with 26 stakeholders informed by TPB, PYD, and themes from a youth advisory board (YAB). The research team and YAB reviewed emerging themes, and feedback-aided iterative revision of interview guides and codebook. Thematic analysis compared code families by respondent type, TPB, and PYD. All study methods were reviewed by the UT Health San Antonio and University Health Institutional Review Boards. Emerging themes associated with care engagement included: varied reactions to HIV diagnosis from acceptance to fear/grief; financial, insurance, and mental health challenges; history of trauma; high self-efficacy; desire for independence; and desire for engagement with clinic staff from their age group. Stakeholders perceived YWH lifestyle, including partying and substance use, as care barriers. In contrast, YWH viewed "partying" as an unwelcome stereotype, and barriers to care included multiple jobs and family responsibilities. Two key themes captured in PYD but not in TPB were the importance of youth voice in program design and structural barriers to care (e.g., insurance, transportation). Based on these findings, we provide critical and relevant guidance for those seeking to design more effective youth-centered HIV care engagement interventions. By considering the perspectives of YWH in program design and incorporating the PYD framework, stakeholders can better align with YWHs' desire for representation and agency. Our findings provide important and relevant guidance for those seeking to design more effective HIV care engagement interventions for YWH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the transition period when connected and automated vehicles (CAVs) and human-driven vehicles (HDVs) coexist on the roadway, miscommunication and improper interactions may lead to accidents due to lack of awareness of each other's intentions. The most promising approach to this problem is to view roadway transportation as a cyber-physical-social system consisting of CAV, HDV, and infrastructure subsystems. Although adaptations of infrastructure are as critical as the technological advances of vehicles, the role of infrastructure in CAV and HDV interactions has not been fully acknowledged. We consider the roadway transportation system from the system-of-systems perspective, taking a human-centred approach that integrates the behaviours of human drivers and CAVs with the design and enhancement of transportation infrastructure. We provide an overview of prior studies regarding information-processing and communication of the subsystems. Interactions between HDVs and infrastructure are summarised by human driving behaviours and HDV crash analysis. Interactions between HDVs and CAVs focus on how they perceive and predict actions of each other. Interactions between CAVs and infrastructure are characterised by possible adaptations of infrastructure to support CAV navigation. Lastly, we propose a human-centred framework to provide guidance for research on and design of next-generation transportation infrastructure with CAVs and HDVs. Implementation of CAVs on the roadways with HDVs requires a system-of-systems approach that includes the CAVs, HDVs, and transportation infrastructure. Humans must be at the center of this approach because their actions are central to the success of the entire system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an overview of the status and future prospects of fuel-cell electric vehicles (FC-EVs). As global concerns about emissions escalate, FC-EVs have emerged as a promising substitute for traditional internal combustion engine vehicles. This paper discusses the fundamentals of fuel-cell technology considering the major types of fuel cells that have been researched and delves into the most suitable fuel cells for FC-EV applications, including comparisons with mainstream vehicle technologies. The present state of FC-EVs, ongoing research, and the challenges and opportunities that need to be accounted for are discussed. Furthermore, the comparison between promising proton-exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) and solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) technologies used in EVs provides valuable insights into their respective strengths and challenges. By synthesizing these aspects, the paper aims to provide a comprehensive understanding and facilitate decision-making for future advancements in sustainable FC-EV transportation, thereby contributing to the realization of a cleaner, greener, and more environmentally friendly future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The organization of primary Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) transport is highly variable. Methods: To present the experience of the first mobile pediatric ECMO program in Spain, we designed a prospective descriptive study of all primary neonatal and pediatric (0–16 years) ECMO transports carried out over 10 years. The main variables recorded include demographic information, patient background, clinical data, ECMO indications, adverse events, and main outcomes. Results: 39 primary ECMO transports were carried out with a 66.7% survival to hospital discharge. The median age was 1.24 months[IQR: 0.09–96]. Cannulation was mostly peripheral venoarterial (33/39). The mean response time from the call from the sending center to the departure of the ECMO team was 4 h[2.2–8]. The median inotropic score at the time of cannulation was 70[17.2–206.5], with a median oxygenation index of 40.5[29–65]. In 10% of the cases, ECMO-CPR was performed. Adverse events occurred in 56.4%, mostly related to the means of transport (40% overall). On arrival at the ECMO center, 44% of the patients underwent interventions. The median PICU stay was 20.5 days[11–32]. 5 patients developed neurological sequels. Statistically significant differences between survivors and deceased patients were not found. Conclusions: A good survival rate, with a low prevalence of serious adverse events, suggests a clear benefit of primary ECMO transport when conventional therapeutic measures are exhausted and the patient is too unstable to undergo conventional transport. A nationwide primary ECMO-transport program must therefore be offered to all patients regardless of their location. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives Age-friendly communities are those with characteristics that can support and promote healthy aging. Among the common domains of these characteristics, transportation and neighborhood spaces are particularly relevant for older adults maintaining mobility in their communities. The objective of this scoping review is to provide a synthesis of age-friendly community indicators, developed for research and planning, that evaluate characteristics most associated with community-level mobility, specifically transportation and neighborhood spaces. Research Design and Methods We conducted a systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, Medline, APA PsychInfo, CINAHL Plus, SocIndex, Academic Search Premier, and Web of Science. We reviewed 8 articles and reports that described the development or evaluation of a set of generalizable indicators to measure the age-friendliness of a community's transportation and neighborhood spaces resources. Results Indicators of transportation and neighborhood spaces ranged from self-reported measures of accessibility and convenience to objective measures of the availability and cost of services. Explicit discussion of mobility at the community level was variable in these records, and few authors specifically discussed common life transitions impacted by these age-friendly community indicators, such as driving cessation. Discussion and Implications Although age-friendly communities are a well-established goal for promoting healthy aging, our review found few validated approaches for measuring age-friendliness that researchers and communities can use to investigate mobility at the community level. This is an important gap in studying life transitions such as driving cessation. Further research can provide a better understanding of which community characteristics support ongoing mobility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Like everything for the past 2 centuries, agriculture has depended increasingly on fossil fuel energy. Pressures to shift to renewable energy and changes in the fossil fuel industry are set to massively alter the energy landscape over the next 30 years. Two near-certainties are increased overall prices and/or decreased stability of energy supplies. The impacts of these upheavals on specialty crop production and consumption are unknowable in detail but the grand lines of what will likely change can be foreseen. This foresight can guide the research, extension, and teaching needed to successfully navigate a future very unlike the recent past. Major variables that will influence outcomes include energy use in fertilizer manufacture, in farm operations, and in haulage to centers of consumption. Taking six increasingly popular fruit and vegetable crops and the top two horticultural production states as examples, here we use simple proxies for the energy requirements (in gigajoules per ton of produce) of fertilizer, farm operations, and truck transport from Florida or California to New York to compare the relative sizes of these requirements. Trucking from California is the largest energy requirement in all cases, and three times larger than from Florida. As these energy requirements themselves are all fairly fixed, but in future will likely rise in price and/or be subject to interruptions and shortages, this pilot study points to two commonsense inferences: First, that fruit and vegetable production and consumption are set to reposition to more local/regional and seasonal patterns due to increasing expenses associated with fuel, and second, that coastto-coast produce shipment by truck will become increasingly expensive and difficult. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nurse informaticists (NIs) play a pivotal role in addressing health-related social needs through integrating technology into electronic health records. NIs navigate regulatory landscapes, emphasizing screening for social determinants of health during hospital encounters. This article underscores NIs’ strategic contributions to optimizing data collection, supporting health equity, and utilizing innovative technologies to bridge gaps in healthcare outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The need for abundant, sustainable, and clean energy is becoming increasingly important in the modern world due to continuous population growth and industrial expansion. Hydrogen (H2) has been identified as a potential energy carrier due to its high gravimetric energy density. Because H2 is not frequently found in its molecular form, it has to be obtained through various methods such as steam methane reforming, coal gasification, fossil fuels, and electrochemical techniques. H2 produced via PEMWE has proved to be an efficient method compared to other electrolysers. The limiting factor of a PEM electrolyser system is the OER catalyst. Commercially, IrO2 and RuO2 are used; however, both these metals are rare and expensive. Current research reports the use of binary metal oxides as an alternative OER catalyst to decrease the overall CAPEX costs. Various synthesis methods are available, with the Adams’ fusion method being the simplest. Characterisation techniques used to evaluate the performance of these catalysts include cyclic voltammetry (CV), linear scan voltammetry (LSV), XRD, XRF, SEM/EDS, and chronopotentiometry. Hydrogen as a clean fuel has a broad potential for use across all sectors, including transportation, residential, and industrial. In recent years, extensive research has been done on all aspects of hydrogen production, storage, and transportation. This review paper aims to study other bimetallic metals to reduce the Ir content used as an oxidative evolution reaction to reduce the capital cost of the PEM electrolyser. To produce green hydrogen that could reduce the carbon footprint in several industrial processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Perinatal intimate partner violence (IPV) is a prevalent problem in Peru, but no evidence-based interventions have been developed to address the needs of Peruvian pregnant women exposed to IPV. The current qualitative study examined existing resources in Lima, Peru for IPV-exposed pregnant women, barriers to women's access to resources, and how to make a new intervention for these women accessible and responsive to their needs. Method: Using thematic analysis, the study analyzed qualitative focus groups data from healthcare providers (N = 11) and pregnant women (N = 14, 50% of whom had experienced perinatal IPV) in Lima. Results: Women used word of mouth from other women to determine which community resources were trustworthy. Obstacles to resource utilization included IPV-related barriers, emotional barriers, and lack of knowledge about, access to, and trust in community and legal resources. Participants discussed that future interventions for IPV-exposed pregnant women should provide information to bolster women's resilience across the lifespan, such as childhood education about safe sex and gender equality, and education in adulthood about safety planning for IPV, healthy relationships, and maternal health and infant care. To improve resource accessibility, participants described the importance of fostering trust among women and healthcare providers, providing childcare, transportation, and mental and physical health services at little to no cost. Conclusion: Study findings have important implications for mental health supports, women's access to information, and broader social efforts aimed at reducing perinatal IPV in Peru, especially the role of accessible community resources in fostering women's resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To evaluate patients' satisfaction levels with primary healthcare services and providers in Jordan and assess differences in patients' satisfaction in relation to sociodemographic factors and accessibility to primary healthcare. Design: A descriptive cross‐sectional design was used in this study. Sampling: A convenient sampling technique was utilized. Measures: A 34‐item survey instrument was adopted and distributed to patients in nine primary healthcare centers in Amman in the period between October and December 2022. Results: A total of 225 patients completed the survey. The mean total score for patient satisfaction with primary healthcare services was 25.22 (SD = 4.13). There were significant differences in satisfaction with services in terms of educational level, visitation reason, mode of transportation, availability of parking, and suitably designed for patients with disabilities. Furthermore, the mean total score for patient satisfaction with primary healthcare providers was 22.85 (SD = 5.86). There were significant differences in relation to visitation reason, mode of transportation, and parking space availability. Conclusion: It is important to improve patient satisfaction in primary healthcare facilities, and the Ministry of Health should implement policies for improving the quality of services provided by primary healthcare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite increasing attention to theories in transportation equity, few focus on specific social groups, such as older people. Scholars and practitioners need to better understand the implications that residential location, access to transportation, and technology resources have for older people's quality of life. Drawing on literature from urban planning, gerontology, and public health, I develop a framework, accessibility capability, that will support the planning of future transportation systems and neighborhoods to accommodate older people's travel needs. Scholars and practitioners can benefit from this critical synthesis of literature as they consider how to build more age-friendly cities and communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unique service needs exist for expectant or parenting youth with foster care histories (EPY) and their families. Informed by Critical Ecological Systems Theory (CEST), this exploratory qualitative study presents findings from an inductive content analysis of in‐depth interviews and focus groups with EPY and service providers. The study included nine in‐depth face‐to‐face interviews with service providers (n = 5) and EPY (n = 4) as well as five focus groups with service providers (n = 23) and three with EPY (n = 7) to identify the characteristics of service providers, agencies and systems that may act as barriers to service utilization among EPY with a foster care history (n = 10) or juvenile justice history (n = 1). Service provider characteristics included negative attitudes towards EPY and/or those with child welfare experiences. Agency characteristics included a lack of workforce diversity, employee turnover, lack of training about diverse communities, restrictive enrolment processes and eligibility requirements, lack of childcare and transportation and limited accessibility of services. System characteristics included a lack of up‐to‐date information about existing services, territorialism, funding sources that do not prioritize interagency collaboration and a lack of communication/coordination among agencies. Implications include hiring and retaining a diverse workforce, providing training about diverse communities and implicit biases concerning young parents, developing navigation services specifically for EPY and developing processes for sharing data and communicating across systems that interact with EPY. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are several cases of twin cities worldwide. In Europe, most of them came to attention after the fall of the Berlin Wall, when divided twin cities were still located on opposite sides of the Iron Curtain. Since then, many cases have been investigated, especially focusing on their functional and institutional integration, which turns out to be fundamental for their development. In this paper we deal with the case of Reggio Calabria and Messina, two large cities which face each other on the two banks of the Strait of Messina. Despite their proximity, they are poorly connected: socioeconomic interactions (e.g., commuting flows) are limited, and institutional coordination is lacking. However, they have a remarkable integrative potential, based on their complementary characteristics. By conducting a Delphi investigation, a technique which to date has never been used in this field, we analyze the potential, the scenarios, and the strategies to achieve the integration of these twin cities. Our findings show that integration may give back centrality to these two urban areas. This is a feasible scenario, which can be expected to materialize in a relatively short time even without full institutional coordination, focusing on transport services rather than on other infrastructural options (e.g., the Messina Bridge project). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, drawing on an extensive research project across three countries (VET Africa 4.0 Collective 2023), we produce an emerging argument that it is necessary to rethink and reframe VET logics and approaches in a warming future dominated by informality and mass unemployment. Currently,neither the formal VET college or workplace are adequately set up to provide the type(s) of VET that are in demand or needed for just transitioning and sustainable futures. We acknowledge the importance of political economy accounts in developing a richer understanding of VET, but suggest these are not sufficient for dealing with the existential and practical crisis of the climate emergency. We note that many scholars have sought to address this tension in the academic literature by adopting a political ecology account that reframes the theoretical and political challenge. This leads us to call for a political-economy-ecology account of VET. Although we acknowledge the limited nature of our approach here, we offer some thoughts for VET analysis with reflection on these theoretical issues applied to four cases studies from Uganda and South Africa of VET provisioning in oil, transport, water and food (which materially shape our cases). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we develop a two-level supply chain model with low carbon emissions for defective deteriorating items under learning in fuzzy environment by using the double inspection process. Carbon emissions are a major issue for the environment and human life when they come from many sources like different kinds of factories, firms, and industries. The burning of diesel and petrol during the supply of items through transportation is also responsible for carbon emissions. When any company, firm, or industry supplies their items through a supply chain by using of transportation in the regular mode, then a lot of carbon units are emitted from the burning of petrol and diesel, etc., which affects the supply chain. Carbon emissions can be controlled by using different kinds of policies issued by the government of a country, and lots of companies have implemented these policies to control carbon emissions. When a seller delivers a demanded lot size to the buyer, as per demand, and the lot size has some defective items, as per consideration, the demand rate is uncertain in nature. The buyer inspects the received whole lot and divides it into two categories of defective and no defective deteriorating items, as well as immediately selling at different price. The fuzzy concept nullifies the uncertain nature of the demand rate. This paper covers two models, assuming two conditions of quality screening under learning in fuzzy environment: (i) the buyer shows the quality screening and (ii) the quality inspection becomes the seller's responsibility. The carbon footprint from the transporting and warehousing the deteriorating items is also assumed. The aim of this study is to minimize the whole inventory cost for supply chains with respect to lot size and the number of orders per production cycle. Jointly optimizing the delivery lot size and number of orders per production cycle will minimize the whole fuzzy inventory cost for the supply chain and also reduce the carbon emissions. We take two numerical approaches with authentic data (from the literature reviews) for the justification of the proposed model 1 and model 2. Sensitivity observations, managerial insights, applications of these proposed models, and future scope are also included in this paper, which is more beneficial for firms, the industrial sector, and especially for online markets. The impact of the most effective parameters, like learning effect, fuzzy parameter, carbon emissions parameter, and inventory cost are shown in this study and had a positive effect on the total inventory cost for the supply chain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The older adult population in the United States is projected to grow significantly due to improvements in healthcare and sustained population growth. Adults aged 65 and older experience unique risks for, and consequences of, substance misuse. This End Page applies recovery capital theory to outline the distinctive physical, social, human, and community and cultural forms of recovery capital for older adults. Based on this conceptualization, we provide directions for examining recovery from substance use disorders among older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cilia are slender, hair-like cell protrusions that are present ubiquitously in the natural world. They perform essential functions, such as generating fluid flow, propulsion, and feeding, in organisms ranging from protozoa to the human body. The coordinated beating of cilia, which results in wavelike motions known as metachrony, has fascinated researchers for decades for its role in functions such as flow generation and mucus transport. Inspired by nature, researchers have explored diverse materials for the fabrication of artificial cilia and developed several methods to mimic the metachronal motion observed in their biological counterparts. In this review, we will introduce the different types of metachronal motion generated by both biological and artificial cilia, the latter including pneumatically, photonically, electrically, and magnetically driven artificial cilia. Furthermore, we review the possible applications of metachronal motion by artificial cilia, focusing on flow generation, transport of mucus, particles, and droplets, and microrobotic locomotion. The overall aim of this review is to offer a comprehensive overview of the metachronal motions exhibited by diverse artificial cilia and the corresponding practical implementations. Additionally, we identify the potential future directions within this field. These insights present an exciting opportunity for further advancements in this domain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Prior studies suggest that physical activity lowers circulating C-reactive protein (CRP) levels. However, little is known about the association between regular active commuting, i.e. walking or cycling to work, and CRP concentrations. This study examines whether active commuting is associated with lower CRP. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study using population-based FINRISK data from 1997, 2002, 2007 and 2012. Participants were working adults living in Finland (n = 6208; mean age = 44 years; 53.6% women). We used linear and additive models adjusted for potential confounders to analyze whether daily active commuting, defined as the time spent walking or cycling to work, was associated with lower high-sensitivity (hs-) CRP serum concentrations compared with passive commuting. Results: We observed that daily active commuting for 45 min or more (vs. none) was associated with lower hs-CRP [% mean difference in the main model: -16.8%; 95% confidence interval (CI) -25.6% to -7.0%), and results were robust to adjustment for leisure-time and occupational physical activity, as well as diet. Similarly, active commuting for 15-29 min daily was associated with lower hs-CRP in the main model (-7.4; 95% CI -14.1 to -0.2), but the association attenuated to null after further adjustments. In subgroup analyses, associations were only observed for women. Conclusions: Active commuting for at least 45 min a day was associated with lower levels of low-grade inflammation. Promoting active modes of transport may lead not only to reduced emissions from motorized traffic but also to population-level health benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cooperative, connected, and automated mobility (CCAM) infrastructure plays a key role in understanding and enhancing the environmental perception of autonomous vehicles (AVs) driving in complex urban settings. However, the deployment of CCAM infrastructure necessitates the efficient selection of the computational processing layer and deployment of machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) models to achieve greater performance of AVs in complex urban environments. In this paper, we propose a computational framework and analyze the effectiveness of a custom-trained DL model (YOLOv8) when deployed in diverse devices and settings at the vehicle-edge-cloud-layered architecture. Our main focus is to understand the interplay and relationship between the DL model's accuracy and execution time during deployment at the layered framework. Therefore, we investigate the trade-offs between accuracy and time by the deployment process of the YOLOv8 model over each layer of the computational framework. We consider the CCAM infrastructures, i.e., sensory devices, computation, and communication at each layer. The findings reveal that the performance metrics results (e.g., 0.842 mAP@0.5) of deployed DL models remain consistent regardless of the device type across any layer of the framework. However, we observe that inference times for object detection tasks tend to decrease when the DL model is subjected to different environmental conditions. For instance, the Jetson AGX (non-GPU) outperforms the Raspberry Pi (non-GPU) by reducing inference time by 72%, whereas the Jetson AGX Xavier (GPU) outperforms the Jetson AGX ARMv8 (non-GPU) by reducing inference time by 90%. A complete average time comparison analysis for the transfer time, preprocess time, and total time of devices Apple M2 Max, Intel Xeon, Tesla T4, NVIDIA A100, Tesla V100, etc., is provided in the paper. Our findings direct the researchers and practitioners to select the most appropriate device type and environment for the deployment of DL models required for production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Vietnamese state is envisioning Hanoi as a prosperous, 'civilised' capital city with fast, 'modern' mobilities and their corresponding infrastructures, including expressways and an elevated railway. Concurrently, slower informal paratransit are increasingly discouraged and marginalised, threatening the livelihoods of hundreds of three-wheeler motorbike delivery drivers. Despite official registration as disabled war veterans, 'real' three-wheeler drivers find themselves in an ever more conscribed environment, while other drivers attempting to maintain livelihoods in this way are deemed 'fake' by officials and further ostracised. Drawing on conceptual debates regarding people as infrastructure and mobility (in)justice, and ethnographic fieldwork with three-wheeler drivers, I detail how drivers (both 'real' and 'fake') must negotiate inconsistent policies, a growing discourse that they are obsolete and hence disposable, and new infrastructures incompatible with their livelihoods. Combined, these elements create specific mobility experiences and frictions to which drivers react with subtle and inventive tactics to maintain their rights to the city's streets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the impact of domestic fuel prices, population, and economic activity on transport CO2 emissions, employing Saudi Arabia as a case study. The research uncovers statistically significant long-term associations between these variables. Despite transport CO2 emissions demonstrating slight responsiveness to fuel price alterations, with estimated elasticity values between – 0.1 and – 0.15, the study affirms the relevance and timeliness of the Saudi government's strategy to curtail fuel incentives. Projections for a 2030 scenario, encompassing heightened economic activity aspirations and further escalations in domestic fuel prices to mirror true market costs, revealed a 1.8 percent annual reduction in transport CO2 emissions from 2021 to 2030 compared to a scenario with unchanging fuel prices. The insights from this study bear significance not only for Saudi Arabia but also for other oil-rich nations striving to pave the way toward a sustainable transportation future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The precise classification recognition of dangerous driving behaviors can effectively reduce traffic accidents and improve road safety. To address the challenges of complex and dynamic traffic environments where driving behaviors can vary significantly, an innovative method for classification recognizing for dangerous driving behaviors has been developed, utilizing an enhanced k-means clustering algorithm. Wavelet decomposition is applied to denoise the image data of driving behaviors. The refined data is then effectively categorized using the improved k-means clustering technique to discern distinct driving actions. Convolutional neural networks are employed to extract and classify critical action areas, enabling precise identification of hazardous driving behaviors. Test results demonstrate that this designed method achieves a maximum classification recognition rate of 98% for dangerous driving behaviors, with shorter recognition processing time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous studies have explored associations between bicycle network characteristics and bicycle ridership. However, the majority of these studies have been conducted in inner metropolitan regions and as such, there is limited knowledge on how various characteristics of bicycle networks relate to bicycle trips within and across entire metropolitan regions, and how the size and composition of study regions impact on the association between bicycle network characteristics and bicycle ridership. We conducted a retrospective analysis of household travel survey data and bicycle infrastructure in the Greater Melbourne region, Australia. Seven network metrics were calculated (length of the bicycle network, betweenness centrality, degree centrality, network density, network coverage, intersection density and average weighted slope) and Bayesian spatial models were used to explore associations between these network characteristics and bicycle ridership. We demonstrated that bicycle ridership was associated with several network characteristics, and that these characteristics varied according to the outcome (count of the number of trips made by bike or the proportion of trips made by bike) and the size and characteristics of the study region. These findings challenge the utility of approaches based on spatially modeling network characteristics and bicycle ridership when informing the monitoring and evaluation of bicycle networks. Further efforts are required to be able to quantify network characteristics that reflect the myriad of factors that influence comfort and safety for people of all ages and abilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated student food insecurity on college campuses and exposed the vulnerability of institutions with no food emergency response. During the COVID-19 pandemic and for years to come, the need for social work to lead efforts on college campuses to address student food insecurity is even greater. The need will continue to be significant for social workers in higher education to support students with basic needs, including resources for food, housing, childcare, and transportation. As has been true after other pandemics and economic downturns, professionally trained social workers are critical to brokering resources for individuals in crisis. This article critically examines the role of social work education in addressing the issue of student food insecurity. Through a conceptual lens, it explores the many dimensions of this problem and highlights vital contributions that social work can make within a higher education setting to alleviate food insecurity, enhance student well-being, and promote equitable opportunities for academic success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As cities develop more and longer‐range external relations, some have challenged the long‐standing notion that population size indicates a city's power in its urban system. But are population size and network centrality really independent properties in practice, or do larger cities tend to be more central in urban networks? To answer this question, we conducted a systematic literature search and meta‐analysed 41 reported correlations between city size and degree centrality. The results show that population size and degree centrality are significantly and positively correlated for cities across various urban systems (r = 0.77), but the correlation varies by network scale and type. The size‐centrality association is weaker for global economic and transportation networks (r = 0.43), and stronger for non‐global social and communication networks (r = 0.91). This clarifies seemingly contradictory predictions in the literature regarding the association betweensize and centrality for cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to investigate characteristics associated with farm vehicle and farm labor transportation-related roadway crashes in the state of Florida. Agricultural roadway crashes related to these vehicles have not been explored in Florida. The data for this study comes from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) for the years 2013–2021. The data is recorded by the Florida Highway Patrol when a vehicular crash has occurred. The data is then coded to allow the selection of farm and agricultural-related vehicles. Specifically, this study focuses on farm labor transport vehicles and farm vehicles (e.g. farm tractors). There were 744 farm vehicle- and 209 farm labor transportation-related crashes during the 9-year study period. The farm labor transport vehicle crashes involved a total of 420 vehicles and 1,329 individuals, and the farm vehicle crashes involved 1,458 vehicles and 1,652 individuals. Injury risk for non-farm labor transportation vehicle occupants was significantly higher than injury risk for farm labor transportation vehicle occupants. The average fatality rate for farm vehicle-involved (2.1 fatalities per 100 crashes) and farm labor transportation vehicle-involved crashes (2.9 fatalities per 100 crashes) were much higher than the overall FL roadway crash fatality rate (0.45 fatalities per 100 crashes). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyzes public sentiment on news sites and Twitter concerning the development of the Trans-Sumatra Toll Road (JTTS). Applying a lexicon-based approach to calculate sentiment scores, this study found a predominance of positive sentiments in news articles and tweets regarding the JTTS development. Employing multinomial logit estimation to examine the determining factors, this study however found no specific relationship between JTTS segment completion and public sentiment on news sites or Twitter. Nonetheless, the association changed and became noticeable on Twitter after controlling the effects of socioeconomic characteristics on sentiment scores. The development status of the JTTS segment influenced public sentiment considerably. This study highlights the potential of social media to facilitate public engagement and inform government decision making. Furthermore, it offers a comprehensive analysis of public sentiment regarding toll road infrastructure development by incorporating multiple stakeholders, including government agencies, business actors, community organizations (via news articles), and local communities (via Twitter data), and highlights various interests, concerns, and conflicts surrounding toll road projects. The investigation of socioeconomic and demographic factors in relation to public sentiment further contributes to our understanding of the underlying influences and dynamics that shape opinions on toll-road infrastructure through sentiment analysis and quantitative methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The metaverse, an interconnected virtual realm encompassing virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and digital platforms, presents a novel avenue for enhancing road and traffic safety. This review paper explores the evolving interplay between the metaverse and transportation in general, and road/traffic safety in particular, outlining its potential, challenges, and future prospects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objectives of this study on the forestry and logging workforce are to: 1) Analyze causes of injuries/fatalities to inform future intervention studies focused on risk mitigation, 2) determine whether there are any trends or associations between work-related risk factors and workplace injuries/fatalities over a 16-year period (2003–2019), and 3) identify knowledge gaps related to injuries and fatalities for future studies to address. Data on fatalities, injuries, and illnesses of the forestry and logging workforce from the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics were analyzed. Correlation analysis (p <.05) was conducted to assess the relationship between causes of forestry and logging workforce fatalities by cause of fatality in the United States. Injury and fatality rates were calculated for each year (fatalities: 2003–2018; injuries: 2005–2019) and time span-specific incidence rates were calculated by cause. Contact with objects and equipment was the primary cause of injuries and fatalities in the forestry and logging workforce during the study period. Transportation-related incidents ranked second as the cause of fatalities, while the category of falls, slips, and trips was the second leading cause of injuries. Gaps in occupational health and safety identified by this study should be collaboratively addressed by researchers and the forestry industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discussions around reasons for foster care entry primarily focus on family-level service needs. However, families exist within social environments that can either increase or reduce risk for foster care entry. This qualitative study draws on interviews (n = 27), focus groups (n = 7), and open-ended survey responses (n = 548) from child-serving professionals in Indiana to identify community- and systems-level factors contributing to entry. Through qualitative coding we identified eight themes at the community- and systems-levels that direct attention toward modifiable dimensions of the social environment that can serve as targets for policy and practice reform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines child welfare worker definitions of difficult cases and how definitions change over time. Seven waves of child welfare worker responses to survey questions asking what makes a case particularly difficult were collected over 3.5 years. Findings identified eight general difficult categories: case attributes, parent/caregiver issues, case tasks, children's issues, uncooperative/non-compliant clients, communication/logistical issues, case type, and agency-related issues. Across waves, case attributes, parent/caregiver issues, and case tasks were cited most frequently. Frequencies for some categories (i.e. case attributes) changed over time. Implications for workload and caseload management are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study examined empirical solutions to fish logistics and supply value chain network from selected fishing camps to markets in Warri South, Delta State, Nigeria. Issues relating to high cost of transporting fishes and fisheries products from fishing camps to major markets, poor logistic practices, physical handling and packaging of fishes during transit, are major determinant in the final market price of fish, and also play critical role in the immediate physical satisfaction of the fish consumer. In this study, 100 questionnaires were distributed to fishermen, boat drivers and distributors, eighty (80) questionnaires were returned. Multiple regressions were used for the analysis with statgraphic software version 16.0. The results of the study showed that there was a statistically significant relationship (P < 0.05) between transportation cost of fish and perceived price of fish at a great extent with p-value of 0.01 which is less than alpha level of 0.05. Results also showed that significant relationship existed in the integration of logistics services and this promotes the economic value of fish at a moderate extent at 0.01 which is less than 0.05 alpha value. Finally, recommendations were made for policy implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the role of the Thai monarchy in shaping urban transportation in Bangkok, Thailand’s capital and one of the world’s most congested cities. With an inquiry into the history of Bangkok under the reign of the previous king, Rama IX, the narratives of city staff who received the monarch’s guidance, and the king’s initiatives that relate to city planning, this article illustrates the problematic role of the monarchy in urban transportation. While the palace and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration have saluted Rama IX’s initiatives for building more ring roads, overpasses, and bridges to solve traffic congestion, this article argues that these royal initiatives failed to address the roots of the problem. These include an excessive reliance on motor vehicles, insufficient public transportation, the dominant role of the automotive industry in the national economy, city planning that serves middle-class drivers at the expense of the mass of commuters, the close association between the crown and car companies, and the unconstitutional role of the monarchy in such matters. Swept under the rug during the historic reign of Rama IX, these problems have started to come to light in the current reign of Rama X. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of salt addition on the skin gene expression of Mucin, Antimicrobial peptides, cortisol, and glucose in Oreochromis niloticus after 5-hour transportation in water. Three groups were compared: Control, post-transport without salt (PT-S), and post-transport with 5 g salt-1(PT + S), with a stocking density of 28.6 gL-1, 20 fish for each experimental group. The results showed that the PT-S group had more significant changes in gene expression than the PT + S group, suggesting that salt alleviated the stress and immune responses of O. niloticus. The PT-S group had higher expression of mucin- 2(MUC + 2) (7.58 folds) and mucin-5AC (MUC5-AC) (6.29 folds) than the PT + S group (3.30 folds and 4.16 folds, respectively). The PT-S group also had lower expression of β-defensin-1 (Dβ1) (0.42 folds), β-defensin-2 (Dβ2) (0.29 folds), and Cath1 (0.16 folds) than the PT + S group (0.82 folds, 0.69 folds, and 0.75 folds, respectively). The skin morphology of the PT-S group revealed some white patches with no goblet cell openings, while the PT + S group had better preservation of skin features with some goblet cell openings and slight white patches. This study indicates that O. niloticus can benefit from sodium chloride during transportation, as it helps to reduce stress and inflammation, balance mineral levels, enhance health and immunity, and regulate mucous secretion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. Transport of cattle can be stressful and may lead to increased body temperature. It is necessary to quantify the effect of transport on body temperature so that informed management decisions can be made. Aims. This study aimed to determine the effects of a 5.5 h, 430 km road transport journey on body temperature (TB) of feedlot steers. Methods. Body temperature was obtained at 30 min intervals. All cattle were weighed and randomly allocated to a truck pen prior to transport. Cattle were transported on a single B-double truck, with three upper-deck and three lower-deck compartments. At 0630 hours, cattle were walked from their pens (25 m), weighed and loaded onto the truck. Loading was completed by 1030 hours. Key results. During the weighing and loading process prior to transport, mean TB increased from 39.37 ± 0.11°C to 40.21 ± 0.11°C. Immediately following loading, mean TB increased. The TB of cattle on the upper deck was 40.96 ± 0.08°C and on the lower deck 40.89 ± 0.08°C (P = 0.6299). During the first 3 h of the journey, the TB of lower-deck cattle decreased by 1.14°C (P < 0.01), compared with a 0.83°C reduction in cattle on the upper deck. Over the duration of the journey, which took 1 h longer than expected, the mean TB of the cattle on the upper deck (40.47 ± 0.11°C) was greater (P < 0.0001) than that on the lower deck (40.04 ± 0.12°C). One hour after unloading at the abattoir, pooled TB was 40.26 ± 0.12°C. Minimum TB (38.87 ± 0.04°C) occurred at 10.5 h after unloading. Conclusions. The results from this study highlight that increases in TB were more associated with cattle handling and loading events, rather than transport, under these environmental conditions. Understanding the magnitude of this increase will help managers decide on pre- and post-transport management of cattle. Implications. Cattle handling and loading for transport may lead to an increase in TB, which can remain elevated for a number of hours. However, it is unclear what the impact of hotter climatic conditions would have on trailer microclimate and, as such, TB regulation during road transport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]