Simulating Geobag Revement Failure Processes

An experimental and numerical study has been carried out to help develop design guidelines for the construction of low-cost river bank protection using geobags. Building upon previous work, a 1:10 scale model was tested in a laboratory flume, comparing two different construction methods (running bond and stack bond), subjected to three different water depths. It was found that whilst the failure pattern was highly dependent on water depth, the construction method had no noticeable impact, and it was concluded that the dominating factor is the friction between individual geobags, which itself is dependent on bag overlap rather than specific construction method. A simple Discrete Element Method (DEM) model was constructed using the LIGGGHTS open source software with drag and lift models applied to a multi sphere simulation of the laboratory model geobags. It was found that despite its simplicity this DEM model could reproduce the failure pattern of revetments very well, and thus has potential for future use in developing design guidelines aimed at the developing world

Outward FDI from Canada and its policy context

Canada was a major net importer of foreign direct investment (IFDI) prior to 1996. The stimulus for the surge in Canada's outward FDI (OFDI) came from profitable investment opportunities abroad. Canada has diversified significantly its OFDI away from the United States over the past 20 years. The financial crisis significantly affected Canada's FDI outflows, but OFDI seems to have rebounded in the second half of 2009. While Canadian investment has historically gone mainly to developed countries, recent changes in Government policies seem to suggest that Canada is looking to build closer ties with developing countries as well. Canada has a longstanding commitment to multilateral cooperation and actively supports the World Trade Organization (WTO) framework as a way to promote international trade and investment. At the same time, Canada continues actively to negotiate foreign investment promotion and protection agreements (FIPAs)

Inward FDI in Canada and its policy context

Canada has actively participated in the corporate globalization process and is a major importer of foreign direct investment (FDI). Canada's high levels of inward FDI (IFDI) over the past 25 years reflect its improved business climate, reduced restrictions on foreign ownership and a prospering economy. Like other developed economies, Canada experienced declining FDI inflows in 2008 and 2009, largely due to the dramatic fall in mergers and acquisitions (M&As) and the global economic recession. The outlook for 2010 and beyond however is promising because of the expected economic expansion in Canada and other countries, and improved global financial markets. Moreover, the Canadian Government has sent strong signals to foreign investors that Canada is open for business by, among other things, lifting restrictions on previously protected sectors and increasing the financial thresholds for the review of foreign investments

Profile of Corporate Social Media Consumer Segments

The trade and academic literature is replete with commentary about the need for companies to develop promotional strategies and to adopt media platforms that are more engaging and conversational with customers than the traditional top-down company directed one-way communication strategies of the past (Thomas, Peters, Howell and Robbins, 2012; Foster, West and Francescucci 2011; Deighton and Kornfeld, 2009). This viewpoint is supported by Christodoulides (2008) who reported that many customers view information about a company or brand that they obtained from blogs, social networking sites and the like as being more relevant, believable and important to them in their interactions with the company than similar company provided information. Social media savvy customers are by all counts a highly diverse lot and reaching them effectively requires the use of different messages for different groups (Heo and Cho, 2009; Stern, Rao and Gould 1990). For example, some social media users follow a wide variety of posts and enjoy the benefits of special offers while others have mixed feelings about being marketed to on social media websites. Interestingly, this new brand of customer also expects businesses to really know them, their life cycles, their personalities and the goods and services that they desire (Beauchamp 2013)

FailSpace project

This research explores how cultural policy can better recognise, acknowledge and learn from failure. It posits that failures are largely overlooked in the dominant narratives about cultural participation policies and projects and argues that this absence reduces the capacity for learning and change. By moving beyond the tendency to make the ‘case for culture’ which is prevalent both in academic and policy documents, this research provides space for alternative voices to be heard. In doing so, the study disrupts the taken-for-granted assumptions upon which existing policy processes and practices are sustained and reproduced. It presents alternative stories of failure, with the intention to encourage new routes for future policy intervention intended to support cultural participation. The data includes interviews, workshops, and surveys with policy makers, cultural practitioners and participants

Laboratory Investigation of Geobag Revetment Performance in Rivers

Geobag (sand-filled geotextile bags) revetments have recently emerged as long-term riverbank protection measures in developing countries; however, their performance is still not well understood. The hydraulic stability of geobag revetments used for riverbank protection has been studied within an extensive laboratory programme to improve our understanding of the complete failure processes of geobag revetments. A 1:10 scale distorted physical model was tested in a laboratory flume, comparing a range of different construction methods and revetment side slopes, subjected to different flow loading. The results indicate that whilst failure mechanisms are highly dependent on water depth and revetment slope, the construction method had no noticeable impact. It was thus concluded that the dominating factor is the friction between individual geobags, which itself is dependent on bag longitudinal overlap rather than a specific construction method

The Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic On adolescent Mental Health and Substance Use

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to determine whether COVID-19-induced financial impact, stress, loneliness, and isolation were related to perceived changes in adolescent mental health and substance use. METHODS: Data were from Baseline (2018) and Wave 3 (2020; mean age = 14.8; 50% female) of 1,188 adolescents recruited from 12 Texas public middle schools as part of a randomized controlled trial. Participants were primarily Black (23%), Latinx (41%), Asian (11%), and White (9%). We assessed mental health and substance use (Baseline and Wave 3) and pandemic-related physical interaction, loneliness, stress, family conflict, and economic situation (Wave 3). RESULTS: COVID-19-induced stress and loneliness were linked to depression (beta = 0.074, p ≤ .001; beta = 0.132, p ≤ .001) and anxiety (beta = 0.061, p = .001; beta = 0.088, p ≤ .001) among ethnically diverse adolescents. Adolescents who did not limit their physical interactions due to COVID-19 had fewer symptoms of depression (beta = -0.036, p = .03); additionally, adolescents who did not restrict their socializing were substantially more likely to report using a variety of substances (e.g., for episodic heavy drinking; odds ratio = 1.81, p = .001). Increased use of a food bank was linked to depression (beta = 0.063, p ≤ .001) and a negative change in financial situation was linked to increased alcohol use (odds ratio = 0.70, p = .04) among adolescents. DISCUSSION: After controlling for prepandemic psychopathology and race/ethnicity, COVID-19 induced isolation, loneliness, stress, and economic challenges were linked to poor mental health and substance misuse. Substantial structural, community, school, and individual level resources are needed to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on adolescent psychosocial health

A qualitative evaluation of the effect of a longitudinal dementia education programme on healthcare student knowledge and attitudes

Background and objectives There is a need to ensure that the future healthcare workforce has the necessary knowledge and skills to deliver high quality compassionate care to the increasing number of people with dementia. Our programme has been set up to address this challenge. In the programme, undergraduate healthcare students (nursing, medical and paramedic) visit a family (person with dementia and their carer) in pairs over a 2-year period. This qualitative study sought to understand the student experience of the programme. Methods Participants were undergraduate healthcare students who were undertaking our programme at two universities. We sampled for variation in the student participants in order to generate a framework for understanding the student experience of the programme. Students were invited to take part in the qualitative study, and written consent was obtained. Interviews and focus group transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis. Results Thirty-nine (nursing, medical and paramedic) student participants took part in individual in-depth qualitative interviews and 38 took part in five focus groups. Four key themes were identified from the analysis; relational learning, insight and understanding, challenging attitudes and enhanced dementia practice. Discussion Student experience of our programme was shown to be positive. The relationship between the students and family was most impactful in supporting student learning, and the subsequent improvement in knowledge, attitudes and practice. Our model of undergraduate dementia education has applicability for other long-term conditions

Racial Discrimination and Interpersonal Violence in Asian American Adolescents During the COVID-19 Pandemic

PURPOSE: Racial discrimination targeting Asians in the United States has increased sharply since the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite a well-established link with mental/physical health outcomes, little is known about how racial discrimination relates to interpersonal violence, particularly in adolescents. To address this gap in knowledge, we examined cross-sectional and longitudinal (1-year follow-up) associations between racial discrimination and interpersonal violence perpetration and victimization in Asian American adolescents in a large US city. METHODS: Data from Waves 3 (2020) and 4 (2021) of a randomized clinical trial of a school-based violence prevention program were examined. We limited our sample to participants who identified as Asian American (n = 344; 48.3% female; Mean RESULTS: At Wave 3, 26.5% of the adolescents reported experiencing some form of racial discrimination, including 18.3% experiencing verbal harassment due to race and 16.0% reporting inequitable treatment due to race. Relative to their nonvictimized counterparts, adolescents who experienced racial discrimination were more likely to report being a victim of bullying and teen dating violence cross-sectionally and being a bullying victim longitudinally. Moreover, those who experienced racial discrimination reported more bullying and teen dating violence perpetration concurrently, as well as more dating violence perpetration 1 year later. DISCUSSION: In the understudied population of Asian American adolescents, we found that experiencing racial discrimination contributes to both interpersonal violence victimization and perpetration. Youth violence prevention could include strategies addressing racial discrimination

Don\u27t Know where to Go for Help : Safety and Economic Needs among Violence Survivors during the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic and related quarantine has created additional problems for survivors of interpersonal violence. The purpose of this study is to gain a preliminary understanding of the health, safety, and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on people that are experiencing or have previously experienced violence, stalking, threats, and/or abuse. An online survey, open from April to June 2020, was taken by people with safety concerns from interpersonal violence. Participants were recruited from IPV and sexual assault-focused agencies, state coalitions, and social media. Quantitative data were summarized using descriptive methods in SPSS and coding methods from thematic and content analysis was used to analyze qualitative data from open-ended questions. A total of 53 participants were recruited for the survey. Individuals with safety concerns have experienced increased challenges with health and work concerns, stress from economic instability, difficulties staying safe, and access resources and support. Over 40% of participants reported safety had decreased. Use of social media and avoidance strategies were the most common safety approaches used. Participants reported mixed experiences with virtual services. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated existing structural concerns for survivors of violence like IPV and sexual assault. Increased support and economic resource access, coupled with modified safety planning and improved virtual approaches, would better help meet survivor needs