Analysis of Claims in the Uganda Construction Industry

The increasing cost of infrastructure development risks stifling national investment plans.Many projects in Uganda have suffered because of the frequency and magnitude of claims made by parties involved especially the contractors.As a result,the construction industry is plagued with claims which quite often lead to adversarial relationships.The major grounds for claims were identified through studying the contract documents where claims had been made.Increase in scope;change orders;errors in contract documents;inclement weather;inflation;delay in possessing the site;and change in the tax policy were the most prevalent grounds for making claims.Problems identified in claiming process include delays in getting approval;information on claims not reliable;hostility from the parties involved;pricing of claims;delays in effecting payment when approved;and overzealous contract interpretation leading to misunderstanding and delays Using a survey on project managers for 64 contractors and their corresponding clients or their representatives,the major ways in which it can be reduced were identified as being thoroughness during the design phase;providing for inflation;proper planning of works;using prequalified contractors;and proper documentation of records.Clients have a big role to play in reducing claims.

Application of Specialized Group Management in the Quality Control of Perioperative Nursing

Objective:To explore the role of specialized group management in the quality control of perioperative nursing.Methods:45 surgical nurses from our hospital were selected as the research subjects.Traditional operating room management was adopted from July 2019 to June 2020,and specialized group management was adopted from July 2020 to June 2021.The surgeon’s satisfaction,surgical nurses’core professional competence,and surgical patients’satisfaction were obtained through surveys and the results were analyzed.Results:Surgeon satisfaction before the implementation of specialized group management was significantly lower than after its implementation(P<0.05).Besides,surgical nurses’core professional competency scores before the implementation of specialized group management were significantly lower than after its implementation(P<0.05).Lastly,surgical patients’satisfaction before the implementation of specialized group management was significantly lower than after its implementation(P<0.05).Conclusion:Specialized group management helps to improve the quality of perioperative care and should be applied in clinical practice.

Effects of pooling,specialization,and discretionary task completion on queueing performance

Pooling,unpooling/specialization,and discretionary task completion are typical operational strategies in queueing systems that arise in healthcare,call centers,and online sales.These strategies may have advantages and disadvantages in different operational environments.This paper uses the M/M/1 and M/M/2 queues to study the impact of pooling,specialization,and discretionary task completion on the average queue length.Closed-form solutions for the average M/M/2 queue length are derived.Computational examples illustrate how the average queue length changes with the strength of pooling,specialization,and discretionary task completion.Finally,several conjectures are made in the paper.

Attributes of Specialized Households'Resilience and Its Impact on Rural Industrial Advancement:A Case Study of National Musical Instrument Production Specialized Households in Lankao County,Henan,China

Specialized households serve as the primary units within specialized villages in China,and their capacity to withstand risks and external influences significantly shapes the future trajectory of specialized villages and the overall vitality of the rural economy.In this study,we established a measurement indicator system based on the definition of specialized households’resilience,elucidating the logical connection between specialized households’resilience and rural industrial development in China.The musical instrument industry in Lankao County,Henan Province of China,was employed as a case;survey data,the entropy method,and an obstacle diagnosis model were used to examine how instrument production specialized households responded to the challenges posed by Corona Virus Disease 2019(COVID-19)and the tightening of national environmental protection policies,yielding the following key findings:1)there exists substantial variation in the comprehensive resilience levels among different specialized households;2)the ability to learn and adapt is the most significant contributor to the overall resilience level of specialized households;3)technological proficiency and access to skilled talent emerge as pivotal factors influencing specialized households’resilience;4)the positioning of specialized households within the industrial supply chain and the stability of their income have a direct bearing on their resilience level.The influence of specialized households’resilience on industrial development primarily manifests in the following ways:stronger resilience correlates with increased stability in production and sales,fostering a more proactive approach to future actions.However,heightened exposure to the external macroeconomic environment can lead to a higher rate of export reduction.To enhance the development resilience of entities like specialized households and family farms,and to invigorate rural economic development,escalating investments in rural science and technology and prioritizing the training of technical talent become imperative.

The Oral Health Status of Person with Special Needs in Kumasi

Background: The most prevalent non-communicable disease worldwide is oral health-related disease, with dental caries and periodontal conditions being common. Oral health status significantly impacts overall health and quality of life. Barriers to dental care affect children with special needs. This study evaluates the oral health status and treatment requirements of people with special needs. Methodology: This descriptive cross-sectional study in Kumasi, Ghana examined oral health status among people, 121 children with special needs over two months, in June-July 2022. Dental caries, periodontal changes, malocclusion, and trauma were assessed. The data was analyzed using SPSS 20.0. Results: The oral health status among people with special needs in this study was generally moderate, with a range from very good to very poor. The prevalence of dental caries was 37%, with a mean DMFT score of 2.82. Periodontal health showed unsatisfactory indicators such as mobile teeth, poor gingival health, high plaque scores, and the presence of halitosis. Conclusion: This descriptive study aimed to provide baseline data on the oral health status of special needs students in Kumasi, addressing the lack of knowledge in this area. It highlighted the importance of dental care in maintaining good oral health and overall well-being in individuals with special needs. Coordinated efforts by dental professionals are needed to provide dental health education and preventive interventions for these children.

Nondestructive and active interrogation system for special nuclear material:proof of principle and initial results

Herein,we employ the threshold energy neutron analysis(TENA)technique to introduce the world's first active interrogation system to detect special nuclear materials(SNMs),including U-235 and Pu-239.The system utilizes a DD neutron generator based on inertial electrostatic confinement(IEC)to interrogate suspicious objects.To detect secondary neutrons produced during fission reactions induced in SNMs,a tensioned metastable fluid detector(TMFD)is employed.The current status of the system's development is reported in this paper,accompanied by the results from experiments conducted to detect 10 g of highly enriched uranium(HEU).Notably,the experimental findings demonstrate a distinct difference in the count rates of measurements with and without HEU.This difference in count rates surpasses two times the standard deviation,indicating a confidence level of more than 96% for identifying the presence of HEU.The paper presents and extensively discusses the proof-of-principle experimental results,along with the system's planned trajectory.

Empowering Rice Farmers in Nueva Ecija, Philippines: A Strategic Approach to Boosting Income through Special Purpose Rice Production

Low income is the main problem of millions of farmers who are cultivating 4.81 million hectares in the Philippines. This problem is attributed to challenges specifically low yield, low quality of produce, and significant post-harvest losses, particularly in a resource-scarce setting. This study aimed to help increase the farmers’ income in selected towns of Nueva Ecija through the promotion and use of special purpose rice production technology. Twenty (20) farmer-cooperators in three towns of Nueva Ecija were selected to demonstrate the production technology covering a total area of 4.75 hectares during the dry season, and 3.3 hectares during the wet season, both in 2023. Extension modalities such as training, techno-demo establishment, information material and technical assistance provision, and market linkage were undertaken to enhance their knowledge, attitude, and skills on special rice production and enterprise. The study utilized the descriptive quantitative method wherein the data were gathered through surveys, specifically personal interviews. Results showed that 70% of the farmer-cooperators were male and 60% were living below the poverty threshold. The farmers were 53 years old on average and engaged in farming as their primary source of income. The average yield of special purpose rice particularly the CLS-2 variety was higher (6.46 MT/ha and 6.22 MT/ha during dry and wet seasons, respectively) than that of inbred or non-special rice. The income per hectare from special purpose rice production per hectare was Php 75,420.00, which is higher than that of regular rice at Php 29,389.00, giving a higher benefit of Php 46,031.00. The technology adopters and area planted increased (from 6 to 9 and from 1.4 hectares to 2.75 hectares, respectively) in Licab, Nueva Ecija. The opposite was true in Sto. Domingo and Guimba, Nueva Ecija where farmers were discouraged by the marketing issues that arose.

Specialization or Diversification:Which is More Conducive to Foreign Trade Resilience?Evidence from China-Russia Border Regions in Northeast China

Under the background of complex international situation,how to build the special geo-economic space of China-Russia bor-der lies in strengthening their foreign trade resilience against external shocks.Based on empirical evidence from ten prefecture-level China-Russia border regions in Northeast China,this paper analyzed the spatiotemporal evolution of foreign trade resilience under different shocks.Furthermore,through the Panel Regression model,the mechanism of the industrial structure on the foreign trade resilience in contraction period and expansion period was discussed.The results showed that:1)from 2004 to 2021,foreign trade in China-Russia border regions experienced five phases.The overall foreign trade resilience was higher than expected,showing a rising volatility trend,but there was significant spatial heterogeneity in the ability of cities to cope with shocks.2)Highly specialized clusters were mainly concentrated in Yichun,Heihe and Da Hinggan Ling Prefecture,while Mudanjiang and Yanbian performed better in related and unrelated diversification.3)In different stages of economic system evolution,the response mode,degree and result of border foreign trade resilience to regional industrial structure showed obvious stage characteristics.During the contraction period,related diversification was more conducive to improving the resistance through risk spillovers.During the expansion period,specialization played a more significant role in improving regional resilience through self-reinforcing effect.These results are beneficial for expanding the resilience theory,ensuring border economic security and optimizing border industrial investment layout.

Smart specialization,public authorities,and innovation intermediaries in developing regions

Despite a growing body of literature on smart specialization,the role of public authorities and innovation intermediaries,particularly in developing regions,remains understudied.This research examines one of the first attempts to apply the smart specialization framework to the development of an innovation strategy outside Europe,specifically in the Pernambuco State,Brazil.We focus on two priority areas(clothing and high-tech automotive components)identified by the state government as key targets for pilot policy experimentation and use different methods,such as social network analysis and content analysis,to interview strategic innovation actors for studying the promotion of innovation and regional development in Pernambuco.Findings highlight how regional governance,collaboration,and trust are shaped by public authorities and innovation intermediaries.The study identifies three key challenges in implementing smart specialization strategy in developing regions:i.e.,achieving effective decentralization,cultivating an innovation culture,and establishing participatory governance mechanisms.The public sector actors act as crucial knowledge brokers and policy intermediaries,facilitating the linkages and partnerships necessary to overcome these challenges.

Effect of special types of bread with select herbal components on postprandial glucose levels in diabetic patients

BACKGROUND Nutrition recommendations in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)are to consume rye or integral bread instead of white bread.A positive effect on glucoregulation has been achieved by enriching food with various biologically active substances of herbal origin,so we formulated an herbal mixture that can be used as a supplement for a special type of bread(STB)to achieve better effects on postprandial glucose and insulin levels in patients with T2DM.AIM To compare organoleptic characteristics and effects of two types of bread on postprandial glucose and insulin levels in T2DM patients.METHODS This trial included 97 patients with T2DM.A parallel group of 16 healthy subjects was also investigated.All participants were given 50 g of rye bread and the same amount of a STB with an herbal mixture on 2 consecutive days.Postprandial blood glucose and insulin levels were compared at the 30^(th),60^(th),90^(th) and 120th min.A questionnaire was used for subjective estimation of the organoleptic and satiety features of the two types of bread.RESULTS Compared to patients who consumed rye bread,significantly lower postprandial blood glucose and insulin concentrations were found in T2DM patients who consumed STB.No relevant differences were found among the healthy subjects.Subjectively estimated organoleptic and satiety characteristics are better for STB than for rye bread.CONCLUSION STB have better effects than rye bread on postprandial glucoregulation in T2DM patients.Subjectively estimated organoleptic and satiety characteristics are better for STB than for rye bread.Therefore,STB can be recommended for nutrition in T2DM patients.

Impact of specialized nursing outpatient case management on postcoronary artery bypass grafting patients

BACKGROUND Some patients with coronary atherosclerotic heart disease experience major adverse cardiac events(MACE)and require readmission after Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting(CABG)surgery.This is often attributed to patients'unhealthy lifestyles and dietary habits,inadequate understanding of the disease,and poor disease management compliance.Thus,searching for more targeted nursing intervention models that can enhance patients'self-management abilities and reduce the risk of readmission after CABG surgery is significant.AIM To observe the impact of specialized nursing outpatient case management on patients after CABG surgery.METHODS A total of 103 patients who underwent CABG surgery in our hospital between April 2021 and April 2022 comprised the study sample.The patients were divided into two groups using an odd-even number grouping method.The control group received routine nursing care,while the case management group received specialized nursing outpatient case management.The differences in psychological status,adherence to medical treatment,self-care ability,knowledge mastery,quality of life scores,and the occurrence rate of MACE were compared between the two groups.RESULTS After the intervention,the case management group had lower scores on the selfrating depression scale and self-rating anxiety scale and lower MACE rate,as well as higher scores for adherence to a healthy diet,medication adherence,good lifestyle habits,regular exercise,and timely follow-up,higher scores on the Coronary Heart Disease Self-Management Scale,higher scores for managing adverse habits,symptoms,emotional cognition,emergency response,disease knowledge,general lifestyle,and treatment adherence,higher scores for understanding coronary heart disease,recognizing the importance of medication adherence,understanding selfcare points after CABG surgery,and being aware of post-CABG precautions,higher scores for physical well-being,disease condition,general health,social-psychological well-being,and work-related aspects(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Specialized nursing outpatient case management can enhance patient adherence to medical treatment,knowledge mastery,psychological well-being,and overall quality of life in patients after CABG surgery.

AGGREGATE SPECIAL FUNCTIONS TO APPROXIMATE PERMUTING TRI-HOMOMORPHISMS AND PERMUTING TRI-DERIVATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH A TRI-ADDITIVEψ-FUNCTIONAL INEQUALITY IN BANACH ALGEBRAS

In this paper,we define a new class of control functions through aggregate special functions.These class of control functions help us to stabilize and approximate a tri-additiveψ-functional inequality to get a better estimation for permuting tri-homomorphisms and permuting tri-derivations in unital C*-algebras and Banach algebras by the vector-valued alternative fixed point theorem.

Special Termination of Minimal Model Program

This paper presents a self-contained proof of Special Termination of MMP (Minimal Model Program). By refining the assumptions and simplifying the argument, it offers a more accessible approach compared to the original proof in BCHM (Birkar-Cascini-Hacon-McKernan).

Analysis of coastline changes and influencing factors for the Macao Special Administrative Region based on Neural Network Algorithms

The Macao Special Administrative Region is located in the southeastern coastal area of China.The region of Macao was narrow in the history,so land reclamation has become a main means of expanding its geographical scope.Exploring the significance of land reclamation for the planning and urban construction of the Macao region provides valuable references.(1)The Google Earth Engine(GEE)cloud processing platform is used in this study to calculate the modified normalized difference water index(MNDWI)based on Landsat data from 1986 to 2021;(2)the Jenks natural index classification method is used to extract the water body range,and the water body boundary as well as area at different periods is calculated combined with the neural network classification method in the environment for visualizing images(ENVI)software;(3)this study then combines the patch-generating land use simulation(PLUS)model to predict the future trend of shoreline changes in the study area in 2036.The result indicates that the MNDWI and neural net classification method lead to a high classification accuracy with both the overall accuracy(OA)and Kappa coefficient being higher than 87%.Land reclamation activities in Macao were gradually intense from 1986 to 2021,with social and economic conditions such as transportation being main influencing factors,which provides valuable references and inspiration for the regional planning of the Macao Special Administrative Region.

Research on Disciplines in China’s Local Universities from the Perspective of Special Zones

China's local colleges and universities are the main force of China's higher education.Due to the limited construction funds,weak discipline foundation and other reasons,China's local colleges and universities generally face the embarrassment of weak discipline.How to break the constraints of the traditional management system,concentrate and efficiently allocate limited resources to achieve the overall improvement of the discipline construction level,the successful experience of China's special economic zones provides model reference and construction guidance for Chinese local universities.This study takes the subject special zones of local universities in China as the research object,chooses the theoretical system of economics and institutional theory as the logical starting point of the research,constructs the research framework of three dimensions of idea value,system design and action strategy,takes the reform of special economic zones as the institutional model and practice reference,and carries out the research from five dimensions of reform subject,logic,path,idea and strategy.Explore the effective development path of the rise of discipline construction.

Motion and Special Relativity in Complex Spaces

A natural extension of the Lorentz transformation to its complex version was constructed together with a parallel extension of the Minkowski M4 model for special relativity (SR) to complex C4 space-time. As the [signed] absolute values of complex coordinates of the underlying motion’s characterization in C4 one obtains a Newtonian-like type of motion whereas as the real parts of the complex motion’s description and of the complex Lorentz transformation, all the SR theory as modeled by M4 real space-time can be recovered. This means all the SR theory is preserved in the real subspace M4 of the space-time C4 while becoming simpler and clearer in the new complex model’s framework. Since velocities in the complex model can be determined geometrically, with no primary use of time, time turns out to be definable within the equivalent theory of the reduced complex C4 model to the C3 “para-space” model. That procedure allows us to separate time from the (para)space and consider all the SR theory as a theory of C3 alone. On the other hand, the complex time defined within the C3 theory is interpreted and modeled by the single separate C1 complex plane. The possibility for application of the C3 model to quantum mechanics is suggested. As such, the model C3 seems to have unifying abilities for application to different physical theories.

Design a Special Fixture for Tractor Lever

Aiming at the problems of long time and poor machining precision in processing the tractor lever workpiece,a special fixture suitable for the tractor lever workpiece is designed by analyzing the processing technology of the lever workpiece,and the workpiece is accurately positioned and tightened under the action of the special fixture.Efficient machining of the workpiece can be achieved by using a drill template.The fixture not only has the advantages of high production efficiency,low cost and high life,but also effectively improves the processing technology of the workpiece,and has certain reference value for the subsequent fixture improvement design.

Evaluation of a Specialized Nurse Decision Support System in the Prevention of Stroke- Associated Pneumonia

Objective:To design and implement a specialized nurse decision support system in the Department of Neurology and explore its effectiveness in preventing stroke-associated pneumonia(SAP).Methods:A decision support module for specialized nurses was developed based on SAP-graded prevention strategies.A total of 664 neurology inpatients admitted to The First People’s Hospital of Xuzhou between July 2023 and September 2023 were selected as the conventional group,receiving standard nursing care.Another 704 neurology inpatients admitted between October 2023 and December 2023 were selected as the experimental group,receiving SAP-graded prevention strategies under the specialized nurse decision support system.The incidence of SAP in the two groups was compared.The occurrence of SAP was recorded using the Acute Ischemic Stroke-Associated Pneumonia Risk(A2DS2)scoring system.Swallowing function was evaluated using the Water Swallow Test(WST),and quality of life was assessed using the Swallowing Quality of Life(SWAL-QOL)scale.Results:The incidence of SAP in the experimental group was significantly lower than in the conventional group(P<0.05).After nursing interventions,the WST scores in the experimental group were lower,while the SWAL-QOL scores were higher compared to the conventional group(P<0.05).Conclusion:The design and implementation of a specialized nurse decision support system in the Department of Neurology significantly reduced the incidence of SAP in neurology inpatients,improved swallowing function,and enhanced quality of life.This approach shows promise for widespread application.

The Design and Application of Specialized Creative Integration Curriculum for Promoting the Development of Creative Thinking of Teacher Trainees under the Concept of Open Education

Based on the concept of open education,this study designs a specialized and creative integration course to enhance the development of teacher trainees’creative thinking,and presents a curriculum model based on the theory of expansive learning,non-disposable assignments,and the framework of“pre-course knowledge comprehension and assimilation,in-course thematic cooperation and discussion,and post-course thinking training.”Through the implementation of the specialized and creative integration course practice with the example of“building an online training platform for teacher qualification,”it has been verified that the course design is effective in stimulating the creative thinking of teacher trainees.In addition,the study also analyzes the developmental trajectories of teacher trainees with different levels of creativity and systematically reveals the intrinsic mechanism of the course in enhancing the creativity of teacher trainees and optimizing their thinking paths.

Exploration and Practice of“Four Integration and Four Innovation”Specialized and Creative Integration Talent Cultivation Mode:Taking Chongqing Energy Vocational College as an Example

With the release of China Education Modernization 2035,education modernization has become a national strategic goal.In this context,Chongqing Energy Vocational College is actively exploring the“four integration and four innovation”specialized and creative integration talent cultivation mode,aiming at cultivating high-quality talents with innovative spirit and practical skills.This paper analyzes the status quo and challenges of talent cultivation in higher vocational education,puts forward the main practices of innovation-driven,creation and research,cross-border integration,and innovative practice,and has achieved remarkable results.Additionally,it summarizes the experience revelation and provides a reference for other higher vocational colleges and universities.