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Particular Strengths (particular + strength)
Selected AbstractsLarge-scale climatic signatures in lakes across Europe: a meta-analysisGLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY, Issue 7 2007THORSTEN BLENCKNER Abstract Recent studies have highlighted the impact of the winter North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) on water temperature, ice conditions, and spring plankton phenology in specific lakes and regions in Europe. Here, we use meta-analysis techniques to test whether 18 lakes in northern, western, and central Europe respond coherently to winter climate forcing, and to assess the persistence of the winter climate signal in physical, chemical, and biological variables during the year. A meta-analysis approach was chosen because we wished to emphasize the overall coherence pattern rather than individual lake responses. A particular strength of our approach is that time-series from each of the 18 lakes were subjected to the same robust statistical analysis covering the same 23-year period. Although the strongest overall coherence in response to the winter NAO was exhibited by lake water temperatures, a strong, coherent response was also exhibited by concentrations of soluble reactive phosphorus and soluble reactive silicate, most likely as a result of the coherent response exhibited by the spring phytoplankton bloom. Lake nitrate concentrations showed significant coherence in winter. With the exception of the cyanobacterial biomass in summer, phytoplankton biomass in all seasons was unrelated to the winter NAO. A strong coherence in the abundance of daphnids during spring can most likely be attributed to coherence in daphnid phenology. A strong coherence in the summer abundance of the cyclopoid copepods may have been related to a coherent change in their emergence from resting stages. We discuss the complex nature of the potential mechanisms that drive the observed changes. [source] The Australian experience of deinstitutionalization: interaction of Australian culture with the development and reform of its mental health servicesACTA PSYCHIATRICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 2006A. Rosen Objective:, To describe the Australian experience of deinstitutionalization of the Australian National Mental Health Strategy in the context of the history of mental health services in Australia, and of Australian culture. Method:, The development of Australian Mental Health Services is described with reference to developments in both psychiatric intervention research and Australian culture. The effects and achievements of national mental health reforms are described and critically examined. Results:, The relationship in Australia between the development of mental health services and the development of Australian society includes the stories of colonization, gold rushes, suppression of indigenous peoples' rights, incarceration of mentally ill people, and incompatible state service systems. Mental health services required reform to provide consistent services and support for full citizenship and rights for such individuals who are still on the margins of society. Recent national developments in service models and service system research have been driven by the Australian National Mental Health Strategy. The translation of national policy into state/territory mental health service systems has led to a ,natural' experiment between states. Differing funding and implementation strategies between states have developed services with particular strengths and limitations. Conclusion:, The effects of competition for limited resources between core mental health service delivery and the shift to a population-based public health approach (to prevention of mental illness and promotion of mental health), leaves our services vulnerable to doing neither particularly well. The recent loss of momentum of these reforms, due to failure of governments to continue to drive and fund them adequately, is causing the erosion of their considerable achievements. [source] The use of simulation and post-simulation interview to examine the knowledge involved in community nursing assessment practiceJOURNAL OF ADVANCED NURSING, Issue 5 2000Alison Bryans PhD MSc BA DipHV RGN RNT The use of simulation and post-simulation interview to examine the knowledge involved in community nursing assessment practice This paper describes the development of an innovative research approach which used the complementary methods of simulation and post-simulation interview to examine the knowledge-base involved in community nursing assessment practice in the United Kingdom. The study commenced in 1994 and the main phase of data-gathering took place over a 3-week period in 1995. Having outlined the study's aim, context and theoretical background, this paper focuses on the two main methods of data-gathering used. Detailed description of the simulation method and the post-simulation interview and the rationales for their use are followed by critical discussion which identifies their particular strengths and weaknesses. Threats to validity are also considered. It is argued that the combined use of a simulated assessment and a post-simulation structured interview has great potential as a means of exploring the knowledge involved in community nursing assessment practice. [source] Formative assessment of the consultation performance of medical students in the setting of general practice using a modified version of the Leicester Assessment PackageMEDICAL EDUCATION, Issue 7 2000Robert K McKinley Objective To evaluate the use of a modified version of the Leicester Assessment Package (LAP) in the formative assessment of the consultation performance of medical students with particular reference to validity, inter-assessor reliability, acceptability, feasibility and educational impact. Design 180 third and fourth year Leicester medical students were directly observed consulting with six general practice patients and independently assessed by a pair of assessors. A total of 70 practice and 16 departmental assessors took part. Performance scores were subjected to generalizability analysis and students' views of the assessment were gathered by questionnaire. Results Four of the five categories of consultation performance (Interviewing and history taking, Patient management, Problem solving and Behaviour and relationship with patients) were assessed in over 99% of consultations and Physical examination was assessed in 94%. Seventy-six percent of assessors reported that the case mix was ,satisfactory' and 20% that it was ,borderline'; 85% of students believed it to have been satisfactory. Generalizability analysis indicates that two independent assessors assessing the performance of students across six consultations would achieve a reliability of 0·94 in making pass or fail decisions. Ninety-eight percent of students perceived that their particular strengths and weaknesses were correctly identified, 99% that they were given specific advice on how to improve their performance and 98% believed that the feedback they had received would have long-term benefit. Conclusions The modified version of the LAP is valid, reliable and feasible in formative assessment of the consultation performance of medical students. Furthermore, almost all students found the process fair and believed it was likely to lead to improvements in their consultation performance. This approach may also be applicable to regulatory assessment as it accurately identifies students at the pass/fail margin. [source] Introduction to "The Impact of the Hurricanes of 2005 on New Orleans and the Gulf Coast of the United States"AMERICAN ANTHROPOLOGIST, Issue 4 2006J. ANTHONY PAREDES In this introduction, I briefly compare anthropological notice of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005 to that of the more powerful Hurricane Camille in 1969 and note pertinent developments in the intervening 36 years, especially the emergence of an anthropological specialty in the study of natural disasters. An overview of the collection follows with comments on particular strengths of each article and suggestions for some of their wider implications for research and public policy. I conclude with a consideration of possible avenues for further anthropological research on hurricanes in general and questions on recovery from Katrina, Rita, and ensuing floods specifically, thus providing a wide-angle perspective on this "In Focus" endeavor,impacts of hurricanes, disaster anthropology, and both short-term and long-term culture change. [source] | ||||||||||