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Conceptual Basis (conceptual + basis)
Selected AbstractsThe therapeutic relationship in secondary mental health care: a conceptual review of measuresACTA PSYCHIATRICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 4 2007J. Catty Objective: The study aimed to determine the conceptual basis of measures of the patient,professional relationship used in routine mental health services research by reviewing their face, content and construct validity. Method: A comprehensive literature search identified measures of the relationship used in mental health services research. The conceptual basis of each identified measure was identified by a review of measures' authors assessments of face, content and construct validity plus item analysis of the measures themselves. Results: The search identified 15 measures. The seven developed in psychotherapy were likely to be better validated conceptually; most were based on therapeutic alliance models. Measures developed specifically for mental health services were based on a wider range of models including global assessments of the relationship. Conclusion: Most of the better validated measures originate in psychotherapy, but there is limited evidence for their validity in general mental health services. Four measures are recommended. [source] Drug Policy and the Public Good: a summary of the bookADDICTION, Issue 7 2010Drugs, Public Policy Group ABSTRACT Drug Policy and the Public Good was written by an international group of scientists from the fields of addiction, public health, criminology and policy studies to improve the linkages between drug research and drug policy. The book provides a conceptual basis for evidence-informed drug policy and describes epidemiological data on the global dimensions of drug misuse. The core of the book is a critical review of the cumulative scientific evidence in five general areas of drug policy: primary prevention programmes in schools and other settings; health and social services for drug users; attempts to control the supply of drugs, including the international treaty system; law enforcement and ventures into decriminalization; and control of the psychotropic substance market through prescription drug regimes. The final chapters discuss the current state of drug policies in different parts of the world and describe the need for future approaches to drug policy that are coordinated and informed by evidence. [source] Authority through synergism: the roles of climate change linkagesENVIRONMENTAL POLICY AND GOVERNANCE, Issue 5 2006Björn-Ola Linnér Abstract This article examines the conceptual basis of synergies between the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and other international organizations and agreements. It discusses why synergies are made, what kinds there are and their potential consequences. Considering actors' divergent goals, synergies do not necessarily imply win,win outcomes. The article distinguishes between positive and negative synergetic effects, which should be explicated at different levels, such as the differing goals of various agreements, institutions, parties and social groups. Efforts of international organizations to increase synergy can be regarded as attempts to build authority. Yet, synergy is also used by countries to influence this process. Current synergetic efforts may profoundly affect the relocation of authority in global environmental governance, not only by streamlining mandates, practices and objectives, but also by leading to more powerful international organizations (e.g. WTO) increasingly taking precedence over climate change agreements. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment. [source] Resource allocation-based life histories: A conceptual basis for studies of ecological toxicology,ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 8 2001Justin D. Congdon Abstract Whereas ecological assessments of contaminants are concerned with populations and higher levels of organization, most mechanistic work in toxicology is directed at effects on individuals and their parts. We propose that studies based on individuals can be useful in ecological analysis of polluted systems when based on the concepts of resource allocation-based life history analysis. At the heart of the resource allocation approach is the concept of operative environments of individuals (i.e., environmental factors influencing birth, death, or migration). Contaminants can have strong influences on operative environments, modifying resource allocation strategies that reflect changes in energy assimilation and demands. By examining contaminant-induced responses of individuals from the perspective of changing operative environments, individual-based changes and population dynamics can be addressed in an ecologically rigorous manner. [source] The oral ecosystem: implications for educationEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF DENTAL EDUCATION, Issue 4 2006H. M. Eriksen Abstract, We propose a model that is applicable to oral health education. The model describes the oral cavity in a complexity-based ecological context. This concept includes the premise that factors from different organisational levels (biological, individual, community, society) interact in a complex way with the potential to ,stress' the ecosystem and thereby provoke changes. This mode of action complies with the understanding of the oral cavity as a complex adaptive system. An ecological model is actively used in the undergraduate problem-based curriculum at the Faculty of Odontology, Malmö University, Sweden and has recently been applied as a conceptual basis for the new dental curriculum being established at the University of Tromsø in Northern Norway. The purpose is to encourage and promote an ecological, health-oriented view and to stimulate reflections on premises for oral health and diseases in an integrated context. [source] Concurrent assessment of fish and habitat in warmwater streams in WyomingFISHERIES MANAGEMENT & ECOLOGY, Issue 1 2006M. C. QUIST Abstract, Fisheries research and management in North America have focused largely on sport fishes, but native non-game fishes have attracted increased attention due to their declines. The Warmwater Stream Assessment (WSA) was developed to evaluate simultaneously both fish and habitat in Wyoming streams by a process that includes three major components: (1) stream-reach selection and accumulation of existing information, (2) fish and habitat sampling and (3) summarisation and evaluation of fish and habitat information. Fish are sampled by electric fishing or seining and habitat is measured at reach and channel-unit (i.e. pool, run, riffle, side channel, or backwater) scales. Fish and habitat data are subsequently summarised using a data-matrix approach. Hierarchical decision trees are used to assess critical habitat requirements for each fish species expected or found in the reach. Combined measurements of available habitat and the ecology of individual species contribute to the evaluation of the observed fish assemblage. The WSA incorporates knowledge of the fish assemblage and habitat features to enable inferences of factors likely influencing both the fish assemblage and their habitat. The WSA was developed for warmwater streams in Wyoming, but its philosophy, process and conceptual basis may be applied to environmental assessments in other geographical areas. [source] Anatomic Endodontic Technology (AET) , a crown-down root canal preparation technique: basic concepts, operative procedure and instrumentsINTERNATIONAL ENDODONTIC JOURNAL, Issue 8 2005F. Riitano Abstract Aim, To illustrate the conceptual basis and the operative procedure of the Anatomic Endodontic TechnologyTM (AET) technique and to illustrate the specific instruments used in each phase. Summary, The basic characteristics of the AETTM technique are reported. The instruments and procedure are described in three phases: coronal access, coronal-middle preparation and apical preparation. In the first phase, correct cavity design is described. In the coronal-middle phase, the use of four stainless steel shaping instruments, powered by a reciprocating handpiece is described, incorporating a brushing-milling action against canal walls. During the apical phase, dedicated apical stainless steel and NiTi hand instruments are used to complete the preparation. The stainless steel apical files are used with a 1/4 turn and withdrawal movement whilst the NiTi are used in 360° rotary motion. Key learning points ,,Most current canal shaping techniques do not prepare all the canal walls and can result in over-enlargement in some areas. ,,AETTM defines three regions of the canal: coronal (from the cavo-surface of the access cavity), coronal-middle, and apical. ,,Coronal-middle instrumentation is undertaken with four mechanically driven stainless steel shaping instrument used in brushing-milling action against canal walls. ,,Apical preparation is completed by hand and with the formation of a stop. [source] Odd electrons in molecular chemistry, surface science, and solid state magnetismINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF QUANTUM CHEMISTRY, Issue 14 2007E. F. Sheka Abstract A unified theoretical or computational odd-electrons approach is suggested to nanomaterials, making possible their consideration on the same conceptual basis as well as on the same computational footing. The current paper presents the approach application to the chemistry of fullerenes, carbon single-walled nanotubes, surface science of silicon crystal, as well as to the molecular magnetism of both molecular crystals composed of transitional metal complexes and solid polymerized fullerenes. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2007 [source] Social Representations Theory: A Progressive Research Programme for Social PsychologyJOURNAL FOR THE THEORY OF SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR, Issue 4 2008MARTIN W. BAUER ABSTRACT The study "Psychoanalysis,its image and its public" intimates that common sense is increasingly informed by science. But common sense asserts its autonomy and, in turn, may affect the trajectory of science. This is a process that leads to many differentiations,in common sense, in scientific innovation and in political and regulatory structures. Bauer and Gaskell's toblerone model of triangles of mediation provided a distillation of their reading of "La Psychanalyse." Here it was argued that representations are multi-modal phenomena necessitating the use of multiple methodologies (comparative and longitudinal; qualitative and quantitative). In this paper we briefly summarise these arguments and elaborate ways in which social representation theory can be considered a progressive research programme. "Progressive" because as the theory has developed it has extended the range and depth of its conceptual basis; it provides a new synthesis for the social scientific understanding of the phenomena of common sense and of representation; it acts as an antidote to the reductionism of public opinion and, finally, it is a stimulus to depart from disciplinary silos. However, there remain unresolved issues: how to segment the relevant social milieus and how to close the feedback loop from common sense to science? [source] The characteristics, qualities and skills of practice developersJOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 3 2003Brendan Mccormack BSc, DPhil, PGCEA Summary ,,There is a growing interest in practice development as a systematic process for the development of quality patient care. ,,Whilst there is a range of accounts of practice development in the literature, little work has been undertaken to develop an understanding of the systems and processes involved and there is even less on the roles involved in practice development. ,,This paper explores in particular the characteristics, qualities and skills of practice developers, i.e. professionals who have formal responsibility for developing practice in organizations. ,,The paper represents part of a larger study exploring the conceptual basis of the term ,practice development'. ,,Data for this part of the project were collected through literature analysis, seven focus groups involving 60 practice developers and telephone interviews with 25 practising nurses with experience of working with practice developers. The data were analysed using cognitive mapping processes. ,,Four role functions are presented in the paper, as well as qualities and skills needed to operationalize the identified role functions. ,,A clear picture of the skills and qualities required by practice developers emerges from the data. [source] Science and technology capacity building and partnership in African agriculture: perspectives on Mali and EgyptJOURNAL OF INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, Issue 5 2005Seife Ayele Science and technology (S&T) have long been seen as key for development. This paper considers the issue of capacity building in the light of recent reconceptualization of the role of science and technology in development. Reconceptualization suggests that science and technology are better seen as key elements of innovation systems, which are themselves the means of gaining value from knowledge creation; and, that innovation, knowledge and development are tightly knit elements of a system of organisations and institutions that must function coherently for improved knowledge and innovation systems to emerge. Developing such systems requires linkages of many types. The paper describes and discusses the conceptual basis for capacity building interventions, using partnership-based capacity building initiatives in new agricultural technologies from Mali and Egypt. The empirical analysis from both countries shows evidence of research capacity building in the form of recruitment, training of scientific staff and provision of research infrastructure. Unsurprisingly, given the S&T knowledge base, the Malian case illustrates the difficulty of moving beyond basic forms of research capacity building. In Egypt, with significant S&T capacity, there is evidence of organizational and institutional innovation towards broader knowledge, and innovation system development in agri-biotechnology. The role of partnerships, and government as ,systems-builder', are shown to be important. Lessons are drawn from these (and other) cases about the relationship between partnerships, S&T and innovation capacity building. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Leadership quality and follower affect: A study of U.S. presidential candidatesJOURNAL OF LEADERSHIP STUDIES, Issue 4 2008M. David Albritton Using the tripartite model of attitude structure as a conceptual basis, this article investigates voter attitudes toward presidential candidates, including cognitive and affective assessments of these leaders as well as behavioral intentions and voting behavior. Data collected from the seven most recent U.S. presidential elections were used to compare Democratic and Republican Party candidates who were successful in securing votes to those who were unsuccessful. Here, follower perceptions of leader intelligence, feelings of pride and hope, as well as feelings of fear and anger were found to be statistically different between the two groups. Additionally, regression analysis using follower assessments of candidates' leadership quality, as dependent upon certain perceptual traits of that leader, are presented. Candidates perceived to be higher in intelligence, considered to possess stronger degrees of inspirational quality, and judged more "likeable," in terms of generating stronger degrees of positive follower affect and lower degrees of negative follower affect, are considered better quality leaders. Followers' perceptions of these traits are found to be key predictors of whether that follower will consider a leader to be of high quality. [source] Review article: a conceptual approach to understanding the molecular mechanisms of cancer development in Barrett's oesophagusALIMENTARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 8 2001R. F. Souza Oesophageal adenocarcinoma is one of the most deadly human malignancies. Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD) has been established as a strong risk factor for oesophageal adenocarcinoma, and more than 40% of adult Americans experience regular GERD symptoms. GERD can be complicated by oesophagitis, and by replacement of oesophageal squamous mucosa with metaplastic, intestinal-type epithelium (Barrett's oesophagus) that is predisposed to malignancy. Cancers in Barrett's oesophagus arise through a sequence of genetic alterations which endow unlimited proliferative capacity upon the cells by affecting components of the cell cycle clock apparatus,the pivotal molecular machinery in the cell nucleus that controls whether a cell will proliferate, differentiate, become quiescent or die. This report describes how the genetic abnormalities that have been recognized in Barrett's oesophagus might promote carcinogenesis through effects on the cell cycle clock machinery. The goal of this review is to provide the clinician with a useful conceptual basis for evaluating studies on the molecular mechanisms underlying the progression from metaplasia to carcinoma in Barrett's oesophagus. [source] On the Status of Restoration Science: Obstacles and OpportunitiesRESTORATION ECOLOGY, Issue 2 2007Evan Weiher Abstract Terrestrial restoration ecology is not as well developed as aquatic and wetland restoration. There are several key obstacles to progress in restoration ecology, but these obstacles may also be viewed as opportunities to exploit. One obstacle is demonstration science, or an overreliance on simplistic experiments with few treatment factors and few levels of those factors. Complex, multivariate experiments yield greater insights, especially when teamed with sophisticated methods of data analysis. A second key obstacle is myopic scholarship that has led to little synthesis and weak conceptual theory. A greater awareness of and explicit references to ecological principles will help develop the conceptual basis of restoration science. Where should restoration ecology be headed? We should consider forming partnerships with developers, landscape artists, and industry to do complex, large-scale experiments and make restoration a more common part of everyday life. [source] Applications: The Mathematics of Electoral District Allocation in New ZealandAUSTRALIAN & NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF STATISTICS, Issue 3 2002Ian Westbrooke This paper outlines the implicit conceptual basis of New Zealand's electoral district allocation, as embodied in the Electoral Act 1993. It puts the words of the Act into simple mathematical formulae and describes how these concepts are implemented in the Government Statistician's electoral calculations, with examples from the 1997 calculations. The paper shows how the M,ori Option affects the number of M,ori electoral districts, and describes an unexpected effect of the Option on the number of General electoral districts. [source] | ||||||||||||||||