Construction quality acceptance performance-related specifications for chip seals

The research described herein details the establishment of a framework for construction quality acceptance performance-related specifications(PRS) for chip seal surface treatments. This paper establishes acceptance quality characteristics(AQCs) and relationships between the AQCs and related chip seal performance measures. This work is a critical step in developing PRS for constructed chip seal treatments and establishing suitable guidelines for the PRS. The main objective of this paper is to determine appropriate test methods to evaluate each defined AQC. The relationships that are established between the AQCs and chip seal performance are used to define performance ranges and threshold values for a particular performance measure. These performance ranges and threshold values then can be used to define pay factors for the constructed chip seal section. The threshold values and pay factors for each AQC described herein are preliminary recommendations and require further validation prior to implementation. However, this research demonstrates how these PRS would be utilized to ensure acceptable chip seal construction quality in the field.The developed construction quality acceptance PRS framework uses the percent within limits(PWL) concept to determine whether a chip seal lot passes the PRS threshold values and whether the contractor receives full pay, is subject to a pay penalty, or fails the construction PRS and must correct the chip seal within the first year in service, which constitutes the typical warranty period for contracted chip seal work.Finally, recommendations are made as to the next steps in the development and validation of these construction quality acceptance PRS that are needed for implementation by contractors and state roadway maintenance agencies.

Health professionals’perspective on the impact of community health care reform in different regions of China

Objective:Changes in supplying community health services,degree of satisfaction,and pol-icy suggestions are presented from the perspectives of health professionals in different regions of China with the purpose of further facilitating comprehensive reform of community health services.Methods:Based on geographic location and economic level of development,eight cities were selected and 12 community health service institutions were chosen by random sampling from each city.A questionnaire survey was conducted by the health professionals.Results:With respect to working enthusiasm,reduction in antibiotic drug use,social image and trust of patients,more health professionals in middle and western China showed positive feed-backs than those in eastern China.With respect to preliminary results of the reform,performance and salary,and health care insurance policies,health professionals’satisfaction levels in middle and western China were higher than in eastern China.The health professionals in middle and western China were more concerned about equipment,infrastructure and increasing training op-portunities.The health professionals in both eastern and middle China accentuated improving the variety of essential drugs covered by health insurance,while health professionals in eastern China suggested performance-related payment reform.Conclusions:The performance of health professionals in middle and western China was improved more signifi cantly through comprehensive reform than that of health professionals in eastern China.For health professionals in middle and western China,it is essential to strengthen infrastructure and increase professional training,while health professionals in middle and eastern China would like to see an increase in the variety of essential drugs,and those in eastern China require strengthening performance-related payment reform.