Sustainable Development in Vietnam: The Interconnectedness of Climate Change, Socio-Economic Development, Land Use, and Food Security

In response to climate change, many nations are facing a crisis in regards to managing land use, mitigating environmental degradation, and otherwise pursuing sustainable development. Vietnam faces many unique circumstances, both historical and present, that make it an interesting case study in such topics. As the discernable impacts of climate change increase, it is necessary for Vietnam to pursue policies that are holistic and effective, especially considering the extreme vulnerability of the nation’s inhabitants. The most important factors to consider are climate change, socio-economic development, land use, and food security—especially how these concepts intertwine to create the reality of Vietnam’s political, ecological, and social landscape

The acquisition of locational incorporation structures in Inuktitut

Locative noun incorporation constructions in Inuktitut behave differently in the adult grammar than donon-locative instances. This study investigates whether the production of locative incorporation differsfrom other noun incorporation structures over the course of acquisition. One would expect locativeincorporation to be more difficult to acquire and therefore to emerge later, however this does not appearto be the case. Despite the added complexity of optional possessors and the added syntactic complexityof locational postpositions, locative incorporation appears to be acquired early and similarly to nounincorporation as both structures are produced by all children at the earliest ages studied. Additionally,an interesting pattern of acquisition emerged in the production of possessives. A phonologically reducedpossessor form emerges for several of the children, however the possessor is never reduced in the adultgrammar. Morphosyntactically speaking, this shows evidence of acquisition. The production of thereduced possessor shows that the concept is acquired in terms of morphology and syntax but is not yetfully acquired phonologically

Regional Food Systems Planning: A Case Study from Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom

The number of food systems plans being developed across the United States and Canada are growing. These plans have been undertaken by states, regions, counties and municipalities and share a common focus on advancing the capacity of the food system. This paper provides an overview of how one rural, three-county region, the Northeast Kingdom (NEK) of Vermont, has undertaken a regional food system planning and assessment process. The project is led by a regional planning commission and economic development corporation, Northeastern Vermont Development Association (NVDA). Working with the region’s leading local food hub organization, the Center for an Agricultural Economy (CAE), the year-long planning process has led to the creation of a strategic plan that includes asset maps; goals, targets, and measures; a governance network analysis for support-system actors; recommended strategies and action items; and a proposed implementation framework. We compare the NEK planning process to other previous efforts and draw some conclusions about rural regional food systems planning more generally

An Examination of Hybrid Work Models in Large U.S. Public Accounting Firms Post-Pandemic and the Multidimensional Effects on Employee Performance

This literature review explores the multidimensional effects that hybrid work models have on public accountants working in large U.S. firms post-pandemic. Research findings reveal that employee burnout may be more prevalent within virtual working environments and the negative consequences of flexible work models include an upset of the work-life balance, increase in the risk of cyber fraud, and deterioration of internal control. The pandemic shift to computer-based work relationships is also evaluated along with the adverse effects of antisocial working environments such as productivity and knowledge spillover in addition to technology overload. Further, this study identifies methods to reduce the negative consequences of remote work as a strategic staffing guide for public accounting practitioners

Built environment assessment: Multidisciplinary perspectives.

Context:As obesity has become increasingly widespread, scientists seek better ways to assess and modify built and social environments to positively impact health. The applicable methods and concepts draw on multiple disciplines and require collaboration and cross-learning. This paper describes the results of an expert team׳s analysis of how key disciplinary perspectives contribute to environmental context-based assessment related to obesity, identifies gaps, and suggests opportunities to encourage effective advances in this arena. Evidence acquisition:A team of experts representing diverse disciplines convened in 2013 to discuss the contributions of their respective disciplines to assessing built environments relevant to obesity prevention. The disciplines include urban planning, public health nutrition, exercise science, physical activity research, public health and epidemiology, behavioral and social sciences, and economics. Each expert identified key concepts and measures from their discipline, and applications to built environment assessment and action. A selective review of published literature and internet-based information was conducted in 2013 and 2014. Evidence synthesis:The key points that are highlighted in this article were identified in 2014-2015 through discussion, debate and consensus-building among the team of experts. Results focus on the various disciplines׳ perspectives and tools, recommendations, progress and gaps. Conclusions:There has been significant progress in collaboration across key disciplines that contribute to studies of built environments and obesity, but important gaps remain. Using lessons from interprofessional education and team science, along with appreciation of and attention to other disciplines׳ contributions, can promote more effective cross-disciplinary collaboration in obesity prevention

Evaluation of a Low-Cost, PC-Based Driving Simulator to Assess Persons with Cognitive Impairments Due to Brain Injury

Brain injury due to accident or stroke frequently results in cognitive impairment, reducing an individual’s ability to judge driving situations accurately. Rehabilitation professionals typically use a combination of clinical and on-road tests to determine whether an individual is safe to drive. Weighing the safety of the community, the candidate, and the driving evaluator, these on-road tests are often conducted under road, traffic and weather conditions less demanding than those that a driver might face in the “real world,” and thus may offer less than complete information regarding the candidate’s responses to such real-world driving challenges. Indeed, individuals with mild cognitive deficits may perform adequately under such testing conditions but unsafely when driving challenges increase. Complicating this situation further, those with mild to moderate acquired cognitive impairments may be largely unaware of their own limitations, and thus more intolerant of perceived delays or challenges to their desire to drive again. Although continuing advances have improved performance and fidelity while significantly reducing costs, most interactive driving simulators remain too expensive for widespread clinical application. In a project funded by the National Center for Medical Rehabilitation Research, National Institutes of Health, we sought to determine, on a pilot basis, whether a low-cost, PC-based driving simulator could provide clinicians with information useful to their efforts to assess the safe ability to drive of individuals with cognitive impairments. We developed two comprehensive simulator-based driving scenarios, one quite basic and one more challenging, and pilot-tested them on ten subjects – five with moderate cognitive impairments, and five age and sex matched-controls without impairment. The “simple” scenario was developed to match the essential demands of the first half of an existing on-road driving evaluation; the “complex” scenario was based on the second half of the on-road evaluation into which more demanding, but still common, driving challenges were integrated. Road types, lane widths, pavement markings, traffic signals, horizontal and vertical curvature, and the proximal built environment were all created in simulation to provide a convincing generic representation of the on-road test. Challenges incorporated into the “complex” phase of the scenario, which were absent from the “simple” phase, included traffic events such as: cross-traffic failing to stop at a STOP sign; pedestrians crossing the driver’s path; vehicles suddenly pulling out in front of the subject from the road shoulder; opposing thru traffic appearing suddenly from behind slower moving vehicles as the subject attempted to turn left; slower moving lead vehicles causing passing decisions; traffic streams forcing gap acceptance decisions; etc. Results from the simulator were compared to results from the on-road evaluation. In addition, data gathered from subject exit interviews was used to judge simulator verisimilitude and efficacy in changing self-awareness of deficit. Because the cognitive impairments associated with brain injury often reduce the individual’s awareness of his or her own limitations, we looked at evidence that performance on the simulator could contribute to an individual’s own understanding of his or her driving strengths and weaknesses. The results of the pilot study will lead to an enhancement of simulator capabilities, and to a comprehensive clinical trial at multiple sites. This paper will present the findings of this pilot investigation and an overview of the expanded clinical study