Establishment of Occupational Safety and Health As A Minor

Safety plays an essential role in the construction industry. With construction projects increasing in size, time, and overall complexity, it has become increasingly difficult to implement safe protocol and procedures. Present-day construction projects sometimes require more than 10,000 employees, including dozens of subcontractors, office teams, and more on-site. In addition to the increased need for laborers, increasing project size means an increase in demand for individuals with expertise and experience in safety practices. Projects of all shapes and sizes are in need of professionals with proven expertise in implementing safety practices. Currently, many incoming project engineers and field engineers lack the important knowledge that is crucial to protecting an individual or group of individuals from being at high risk of exposure to imminent danger. For these reasons, it is important that Cal Poly College of Architecture establish an Occupational Safety and Health Minor. Increasing the number of industry professionals with safety backgrounds from Cal Poly will be immensely advantageous. Establishing Occupational Safety and Health as a Minor at Cal Poly would prove our students, especially when compared to those from other universities, are determined, intuitive, reliable, and prepared to be involved in the industry. By making this minor available to all students, primarily those who intend to be involved in the construction industry, annual construction-related injuries and deaths will vastly decrease, and the demand for more safety professionals will be met. This new curriculum would follow Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidelines and make job-sites throughout the United States safer and more productive projects

Italian validation of CoViD-19 Peritraumatic Distress Index and preliminary data in a sample of general population [Validazione italiana del CoViD-19 Peritraumatic Distress Index e dati preliminari in un campione di popolazione generale]

Introduzione. Il distress peritraumatico è un importante predittore del disturbo da stress post-traumatico e sebbene per la sua misurazione siano disponibili diversi questionari, nessuno di questi è specifico per CoViD-19. Il CoViD-19 Peritraumatic Distress Index (CPDI), recentemente sviluppato in Cina, si caratterizza come strumento di rapida compilazione (10 minuti), facilmente comprensibile e apprezzato dalle persone. Scopo. Obiettivi di questo studio sono stati: 1) la validazione della versione italiana del CPDI e 2) la misura della prevalenza di stress peritraumatico in questa fase CoViD-19. Metodi. Per la traduzione del CPDI è stata utilizzata la procedura standard della forward-backward translation.Il questionario è stato poi somministrato online a 329 persone (191 di genere femminile e 137 di genere maschile, età media=46,49±13,58 anni). Il CPDI ha mostrato una coerenza interna, misurata con l’alpha di Cronbach, pari a 0,916. La validità del contenuto è stata giudicata soddisfacente da due psicologhe esperte di stress e trauma. La validità del costrutto è data dall’elevata correlazione con le dimensioni di Intrusione, Evitamento e Iperarousal come misurate dall’Impact of Event Scale-Revised (r=0,63, r=0,57, r=0,71, rispettivamente). Risultati. I risultati emersi dal nostro studio sono paragonabili a quelli cinesi. Un terzo delle persone ha manifestato sintomi di distress peritraumatico lieve/moderato e grave. Le femmine hanno punteggi più elevati dei maschi. Le persone anziane sono più resistenti di quelle più giovani, così come quelle che sono state in quarantena rispetto a quelle che non ci sono state. Dal modello di regressione logistica multivariata emerge che punteggi maggiori di distress sono associati a uso di psicofarmaci (AOR=4,28; IC 95%=1,55-11,85), utilizzo di rimedi per dormire (AOR=4,05;IC 95%=2,07-7,94), preoccuparsi di morire in caso di contagio CoViD-19 (AOR=3,33;IC 95%=1,83- 6,06), genere femminile (AOR=2,95; IC 95%=1,58-5,53), credo religioso (AOR=1,97; IC 95%=1,05-3,70). Avere un’età dai 51 ai 71 anni, essere stati in quarantena e aver ricevuto supporto psicologico sono variabili risultate associate a bassi punteggi di distress. Conclusioni. Le caratteristiche psicometriche della versione italiana sono risultate soddisfacenti e confermano che il CPDI è uno strumento veloce, non invasivo, che può essere somministrato online e quindi “sicuro” in una fase ad alto rischio di contagio. Permette, come una termografia psichica, di rilevare rapidamente i bisogni della popolazione e proporre interventi altrettanto rapidi.Introduction. Peritraumatic distress is an important predictor of post-traumatic stress disorder and although several questionnaires are available for its measurement, none of these are specific to CoViD-19. The new CoViD-19 Peritraumatic Distress Index (CPDI), developed in China, is characterized as a rapid compilation tool (10 minutes), easily understandable and appreciated by people. Aim. The objectives of this study were: (1) the validation of the Italian version of the CPDI, and (2) the measurement of the prevalence of peritraumatic distress in this phase 1 CoViD-19. Method. CPDI has been translated using a standard forward-backward-translation procedure and offered online to 329 people (191 females and 137 males, aged 46.49 ± 13.58 years). The CPDI showed an internal-consistency of Cronbach’s α=0.916. Content validity was judged satisfactory by two psychologists experienced in stress and trauma. The construct validity is given by the high correlation with the dimensions of Intrusion, Avoidance and Hyperarousal as measured by the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (r=0.63, r=0.57, r=0.71, respectively). Results. Our results are comparable to the Chinese ones. A third of people experienced symptoms of mild/moderate and severe peritraumatic distress. Females have higher scores, compared to males. Older people are more resilient, compared to younger, and those who have been in quarantine report less distress than those didn’t, as evidenced by the results of the multivariate logistic regression model. High distress was associated with use of psychotropic drugs (AOR=4.28; 95% CI=1.55-11.85), sleeping remedies (AOR=4.05; 95% CI=2.07-7.94), be worried about dying in case of contagion CoViD-19 (AOR=3.33; 95% CI=1.83-6.06), female gender (AOR=2.95; 95% CI=1.58-5.53) and have a religious belief (AOR=1.97; 95% CI=1.05-3.70). To be aged 51-71 years, to have been in quarantine and to have received psychological support were variables associated with lower distress scores. Conclusions. The psychometric properties of the Italian version are satisfactory and confirm that CPDI is a tool fast, non-intrusive, administered online, and therefore ‘safe’ in a phase with a high risk of contagion. It allows, like a psychic thermoscan, to quickly detect the needs of the population and propose equally rapid interventions

O desenvolvimento da criatividade, através da utilização de técnicas de mapas mentais e analogias, no processo de criação em moda

Este artigo descreve a experiência prática de um trabalho realizado em sala de aula, que trata de agregar técnicas facilitadoras do desenvolvimento da criatividade, num processo de criação de moda. O método usado foi adaptado para o design de moda, através da utilização dos conceitos de “mapas mentais” e “analogias”, conjugados em um exercício prático de criatividade. O objetivo deste estudo consiste em analisar o desempenho criativo dos alunos e as possibilidades resultantes da utilização e adaptação de tal técnica criativa.This article describes the experience of a practical work in the classroom, which deals with aggregating techniques that facilitate the development of creativity in a process of fashion creating. The method used was adapted to the fashion design, through the use of "mental maps" and "analogies" concepts, combined in a practical exercise of creativity. The aim of this study is to analyze the creative performance of students and the possibilities resulting from the use and adaptation of such creative technique

Incentivo ao consumo consciente através de processos alternativos de criação em moda

Este trabalho, desenvolvido em sala de aula, trata da criação de peças de vestuário com base na criatividade e na reciclagem. O objetivo do exercício é despertar no aluno a importância da inovação aliada a reutilização de materiais e insumos, o incentivo ao consumo consciente através da criação de produtos que vêm ao encontro do cenário social contemporâneo, na cadeia produtiva da modaThis work, developed in the classroom, comes to creating garments based on creativity and recycling. The aim of the exercise is to awaken in students for the importance of innovation coupled with the reuse of materials and supplies, encouraging for conscious consumption by creating products that come to meet the contemporary social scene in the fashion supply chai

Helping Students Make Informed Decisions About Transition Via Web-Based Resources

Although there are many transitions that occur in a young person’s life, transition from high school to adulthood can be one of the most challenging. This transition requires autonomy and decision-making skills. To support youth in having positive outcomes after high school, it is imperative for teachers to have strategies to guide students in making informed decisions as they begin the transition process. This article provides teachers with strategies and resources to help youth build autonomy, make informed decisions, and gain information via web-based resources to support the transition from high school into postschool life. Steps for building autonomy, evaluating web-based resources, and investigating web-based resources to support transition are included

Food chains and value system: the case of potato, fruit, and cheese

The aim of the paper is to analyse patterns of value system sharing along food chains, so to explore the agro-food enterprises capacity to be competitive and sustainable. The research focused on three food chains: potato, fruit, and Grana cheese of Emilia Romagna region. The paper adopts the value system approach. The methodology is aimed at creating a consolidated financial statement for each food chain so to re-create the chain operating profit and identify how this is shared among the different food chain stages. The analysis is carried out on 189 enterprises for the potato chain, 187 for the fruit chain and 203 for the cheese chain. The number of enterprises was invariable over the 5 year 2003-2007, leading to some 2,900 financial statement analysis. The chains analysed show differences. In the potato and fruit chains 35% of value is created by distribution, whereas in cheese chain only 13.6%. Over the five years value decreases 5% in fruit and potato and 9% in cheese. The lack of adequate strategic food chain partnership allows an increasing retail market power over the whole chain at the expenses of the primary sector entailing a declining sustainability for all chain actors.food chain, value system, profitability, potato, fruit, cheese, Agricultural and Food Policy,

Genetic algorithm full-waveform inversion: uncertainty estimation and validation of the results

We cast the genetic algorithm-full waveform inversion (GA-FWI) in a probabilistic framework that through a multi-step procedure, allows us to estimate the posterior probability distribution (PPD) in model space. Since GA is not a Markov chain Monte Carlo method, it is necessary to refine the PPD estimated by GA (GA PPD) via a resampling of the model space with a Gibbs sampler (GS), thus obtaining the GA+GS PPDs. We apply this procedure to two acoustic 2D models, an inclusion model and the Marmousi model, and we find a good agreement between the derived PPDs and the varying resolution due to changes in the seismic illumination. Finally, we randomly extract several models from the so derived PPDs to start many local full-waveform inversions (LFWIs), which produce final high-resolution models. This set of models is then used to numerically estimate the final uncertainty (GA+GS+LFWI PPD). The multimodal and wide PPDs derived from the GA optimization, become unimodal and narrower after LFWI and, in the well illuminated parts of the subsurface, the final GA+GS+LFWI PPDs contain the true model parameters. This confirms the ability of the GA optimization in finding a velocity model suitable as input to LFWI

Observing the intrinsic linewidth of a quantum-cascade laser: beyond the Schawlow-Townes limit

A comprehensive investigation of the frequency-noise spectral density of a free-running mid-infrared quantum-cascade laser is presented for the first time. It provides direct evidence of the leveling of this noise down to a white noise plateau, corresponding to an intrinsic linewidth of a few hundred Hz. The experiment is in agreement with the most recent theory on the fundamental mechanism of line broadening in quantum-cascade lasers, which provides a new insight into the Schawlow-Townes formula and predicts a narrowing beyond the limit set by the radiative lifetime of the upper level.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure