Hong Kong is a crowded city where pavements, lanes, hawker areas, trunk roads and highway are closely built. With heavy traffic flow on complex road networks, the noise barriers located in the urban centre usually adjacent to commercial centres and residential buildings. The design of noise barriers is therefore needed to be in harmony with the landscape of the neighbourhood. Different kinds of green noise barrier systems combined with soil and vegetation had been developed across Europe and the USA in recent years. It is believed that an effective controller of noise shall be visually attractive especially for residents who are adjacent to the roads. A number of noise barriers with vegetation were successfully implemented in European Countries. Nevertheless, these engineering techniques cannot be fully applied to Hong Kong due to the over-crowded living environment. A well-designed green noise barrier system is the critical reason for successful application to sustain the vegetation and to insulate and absorb noise. The objective of this study to investigate different kinds of green noise barriers and come up with some guidelines for design consideration in order to optimize the green noise barriers. The study provides a thorough analysis of the available green noise barrier systems across the world, including a look at all the potentials benefits from environmental and socio-economics perspectives. The pilot field measurement was conducted at Yeung Uk Road where green noise barriers located between a heavily travelled main road and residential area in Tsuen Wan, to measure the SPL and Leq noise levels to assess the effectiveness of the green noise barriers. No significant attenuation effect is observed on the green noise barrier which has to be attributed to the median placement and over-crowded urban environment. Online questionnaires and interviews are conducted to investigate the effects of vegetation on the perception of green noise barriers. Results show that 78% of the respondents preferred vegetation rather than concrete (0.1%) and other materials. 77% like the aesthetics appearance of vegetation and 86% are willing to bear the cost. In general, 95% of the respondents agreed green noise barriers should be promoted in Hong Kong. The results assured that (1) vegetation on green noise barrier is aesthetically pleasing and mostly preferred; (2) people are willing to pay for green noise barrier for aesthetics; (3) aesthetic or vegetated screen is important in determining human response to noise which improved public perception of traffic noise due to visual and psychological relief. The outcome of the study indicated that it is feasible to promote green noise barriers in Hong Kong, with the evidence of the potential benefits, technical experience and public support. It is also suggested that the living wall modular system is the best system which is suitable for the application in Hong Kong. / published_or_final_version / Environmental Management / Master / Master of Science in Environmental Management

Research indicates there is a gap in the implementation of online courses and programs in engineering education compared to other academic disciplines (Allen & Seaman, 2008, 2011, 2013). Using a mixed methods approach, this study collected both quantitative survey and qualitative interview data to identify which factors engineering faculty members perceived influence the implementation of online engineering courses. The survey items, based on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology Model (UTAUT) (Davis, 1989; Venkatesh, Morris, Davis, & Davis, 2003), included important factors specific to engineering education as indicated the literature. The interview instrument was developed based on the significant results of the survey portion of the study. The initial survey was sent to every engineering faculty member at all 31 institutions and 125 ABET accredited engineering programs in the state of Texas, with a final response population of n=266. The findings identified three major factors that influenced the implementation of online engineering courses: online teaching experience, course development issues, and implementation of technical aspects particular to engineering in an online format. The results are discussed within the context of the literature and recommendations to address the identified factors and barriers to implementation of online engineering are provided. / text

The aim of this study was to describe how elderly’s sexuality can be expressed and to describe factors that affect older people's sexuality. The aim was also to describe the opportunities and barriers to health care providers to promote older people's sexuality and to describe the articles quality based on the methodological aspect of selection. A literature review with a descriptive approach was conducted on four qualitative and ten quantitative articles. The included articles were published between 2003 and 2013. Databases used for article search was PubMed, Cinahl and PsychInfo with the following keywords: Sexuality, Nurses, Aged, Geriatrics, Attitude Of Health Personnel, Residential Facilities, Quality Of Life, Older Adults. The Main results showed that elderly’s sexuality manifested itself in many different ways. The intimacy was to some extent more important than the actual intercourse. In general, poor health, diagnosed diseases, medical treatments and advanced aged had a negative impact on older people's sexuality. A clear policy with guidelines, education and guidance for staff were alternative ways to promote older people's sexuality. Caregiver’s uncertainty and negative attitude about the management and treatment of older people's sexuality was barriers to promoting older people's sexuality. Finally, inadequate or completely lack of guidance on the subject elderly and sexuality was barriers to promoting elderlies sexuality. Older people's sexuality is expressed highly individual and influenced by individual circumstances and situation. Few studies have been conducted on the subject elderly and sexuality, which is why further research in the area is necessary for further evidence. For proper care to be able to be performed more training and research is required in the subject elderly and sexuality.

Several factors affect sports and recreation participation in human communities. Such factors include sports and recreation knowledge and skills of people, availability of time, interest and disposable income etc. Through expressing their various social needs, community residents are able to show the adequacy and or the inadequacy in the factors influencing sports and recreation participation in their communities. Several studies have indicated that inadequacy in the factors influencing sports and recreation participation such as inadequate programmes, lack of interest, lack of disposable income, lack of facilities result in low participation in sports and recreation activities. Low participation in sports and recreational pursuits could result in increased hypokinetic morbidity and other social and economic problems such as: crime, substance and drug abuse, juvenile delinquency, alienated anti-social behaviours, work absenteeism, medical and social justice costs in communities. The main purpose of the study was to find different sports and recreation needs of three communities in Botswana. Five hundred (500) residents of the three communities aged 18-40 years were randomly selected in the three communities in Botswana to participate in the study. The questionnaire that was prepared and administered on the randomly selected residents of the three communities attempted to gather the following information: general sports and recreation participation profile of the respondents of the three communities, participation in sports and recreation activities in the three communities' recently constructed integrated sports facilities, problems responsible for low participation in sports and recreation activities and finally to identify which of the five barrier categories; aptitude, socio-economic, socio-cultural, awareness of community integrated sports facilities and facility constraints constrained sports and recreation in the three communities. Descriptive statistics and frequency, T-test and ANOVA were used to analyse data. The results showed low participation that ranged from 0.0% to 47.4% in sports activities in the three communities, participation in few recreational activities, low participation in the three communities' integrated sports facilities accounted by 29.5% in Molepolole, 26.1% in Serowe and 53.4% in Masunga for both men and women. The results showed problems perceived to constrain sports and recreation participation in the three communities. Descriptive data analysis also showed that out of the five barrier categories (aptitude, socio-cultural, awareness of facilities and facility constraints) respondents of the three communities were mainly constrained by the socio-economic barriers. Facility constraints were only found to constrain participation in Masunga. T-test analysis showed no significant differences between males and females of each of the three communities in the five barrier categories. The ANOVA test of variance showed significance difference between females of the three communities in four of the five barrier categories and a no significant difference in one of the five barrier categories. No significant difference was found between males of the three communities in four barrier categories and a significant difference was only found in one barrier category. These results led to the acceptance of the hypothesis that 'the three communities in Botswana have similar sports and recreation needs' and the partial acceptance of the hypothesis that 'there is no significant difference between respondents of the three communities in the way they experienced the five barrier categories. / Thesis (M.A. (Recreation Science))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2004.

No description available.

The sharp decline of tariff trade barriers has been one of the achievements of the world trading system. However, the reduction in tariffs has exposed the many non-tariff barriers that remain. As tariffs continue to fall, there seems to be a corresponding reliance on SPS measures as a source of protection for domestic producers. This underscores the need for a legal framework that can address the fundamental issue of whether a measure validly exists to protect consumers or is merely a 'sham' to protect domestic producers. This thesis argues that the protectionist use of SPS measures undermines the promised benefits of agricultural trade liberalization. Developing countries face numerous problems with regard to SPS measures. This thesis examines these problems and argues that there is a need to strengthen the capacity of developing countries to establish and implement SPS measures; meet the SPS requirements of trade partners; and participate fully in the work of standard setting organizations in the establishment of international standards, guidelines and recommendations. In addition, despite the proposed reductions in tariff barriers stipulated in the WTO Agreement on Agriculture, a lot remains to be done to fully liberalize trade in agriculture. Several issues still need to be addressed in order to enable developing countries to reap the benefits of trade liberalization in agriculture. These issues include market access, domestic and export support, food security and special and differential treatment.

The closure of the Manawatu Gorge in August 2011 caused a change in the travel time for patients living in the eastern area of the MidCentral Health District to their main hospital and health services located in Palmerston North. This presented an opportunity to study the effect a change in travel time and spatial access had on a population before and after such an event. This study used a retrospective cohort design, using routinely collected data from general practice, emergency department, hospital admissions and outpatient services. The investigation was completed using novel geospatial information systems methods to produce high fidelity data for analysis with free and open source software by developing and validating two new methods of improving geocoding data quality and a new travel time prediction model. Potential and realised spatial accessibility measures were calculated for 101,456 patients over 3.5 years while the gorge was both open and closed. Catchment sensitivity analysis and two-step floating catchment area using distance decays presented complimentary evidence of accessibility change during the Manawatu Gorge closure. Analysis of utilisation measures in both primary and secondary care were correlated with travel time. Utilisation of general practice services appeared to be negatively impacted by increased travel time when comparing realised accessibility in a control and intervention group during the gorge closure. It appeared as though other factors affected access to health services to a greater degree than an increase of up to fifteen minutes travel time.

This thesis explores how the University of Canterbury has responded to the Tertiary Education Strategy's (2002-2007) concerns vis-à-vis declining Maori participation and unsatisfactory rates of retention and completion in mainstream universities. This research is based on the qualitative method of in-depth taped interviews with twenty-five participants enrolled as 'Maori' at Canterbury in 2004. Notwithstanding increased recognition of biculturalism at Canterbury, issues relating to entrenched monoculturalism identified by Grennell (1990), Clothier (2000) and Phillips (2003) appear to be largely unresolved. Participants confirm the Ministry of Education's (2001) contention that Personal and Family Issues, Financial Difficulties, Negative Schooling Experiences, Inadequate Secondary Qualifications, Transitional Difficulties, Isolation, Unwelcoming Tertiary Environments and Inappropriate Support Structures are barriers to Maori success. However, testimonies reflect that these barriers represent exogenous factors derived from state and institutional policies and practices, not endogenous factors attributable to Maori genes, cultural socioeconomic status or engagement with the system. The Tertiary Education Strategy's (2002-2007) devolution of responsibility to institutions to address ethnic disparities in human capital imposes the same structural constraints on Maori that undermine achievement in the compulsory sector. The types of support structures participants identify as conducive to addressing deficit cultural capital and fostering academic achievement are Maori-centred initiatives, devoid of the deficit ideology that underpins mainstream assimilationist interventions; and or institutional provisions that incorporate greater stakeholder input with improved accountability and monitoring mechanisms that safeguard against recourse to deficit rationalizations for underachievement. Maori parity in engagement with the tertiary education sector is contingent upon the state and its institutions redressing the cumulative effects of the colonial and neo-colonial marginalization of Maori in Aotearoa/New Zealand.

Tourism to Spain is a significant part of the Spanish economy especially on the southern coastal areas which attracts a huge number of foreign tourists, in particular, a large number of British. Over the years many have chosen this area as their permanent or semi-permanent home and thus creating pockets of English speaking communities along the coast. This is evidenced by the presence of the many English owned and operated businesses coupled with the fact that there is a high number of Spanish who speak English. On the surface the communities appear to be economically self-supporting and socially independent of their Spanish hosts so perhaps it should be of little surprise that there is a low level of Spanish language uptake in these communities. Quite clearly the “need” has been removed and so the majority of people seem to struggle to string a basic sentence together. The basis of this thesis is research into the community of British seasonal tourists with particular emphasis on integration through language learning. The target group is a defined demographic of retirees who spend approximately six months over the Northern European winter period in Spain. They still have their own home in the UK and do not call Spain home. Their level of language uptake is very low. Language is a fundamental part of our own social identity and culture and is a significant factor in integration. Therefore in order to understand why there appears to have been little uptake of Spanish language learning by this group, it is important to look at the elements that may have had an influence on their decision making process. Learning another language, particularly for older people, can prove to be challenging if not extremely difficult. Initially the barriers are identified as being age, financial situation, lack of encouragement from spouses or peers and lack of self-confidence.

Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. / As an example of ships used as weapons (SAW), an oil tanker is hijacked and commandeered by terrorists to collide with a high-value maritime or shore target. If sunk or destroyed in a shipping lane as a result of a counter measure, the SAW’s collateral damage would severely disrupt the traffic flow in the shipping lane. To prevent such a disruptive catastrophe, non-destructive measures must be implemented to cause the SAW to deviate from its destructive path toward the target. One such a measure involves a strategic application of forces induced by water plume barriers (WPB) to the SAW. The goal of this thesis is to examine the feasibility of realizing such a measure. Toward this goal, a mission analysis, using the Singapore Strait as setting and petrochemical plants on Jurong Island as targets of a SAW attack, establishes the requirement on the deviation of the SAW path from its destructive course. The nominal WPB-induced force that satisfies the deviation requirement is estimated using ship hydrostatics. Solving the equations of motion governing the response of the SAW to a strategic application of a WPB-induced force yields the SAW’s motion, which is used to define a range of the WPB-induced forces and their application locations and durations that satisfy the SAW’s path deviation requirement. Parametric studies were conducted for a range of physically realizable WPB-induced forces and application times. The results demonstrate that, in principle, the objectives of this work are achievable. These results will be validated upon the completion of an on-going research by National University of Singapore. The range of the WPB-generated forces and their application durations serve as requirements to the generation of water plume barriers.