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Considerable Development (considerable + development)
Selected AbstractsGuided self-help supported by paraprofessional mental health workers: an uncontrolled before,after cohort studyHEALTH & SOCIAL CARE IN THE COMMUNITY, Issue 1 2009Paul Farrand Senior Lecturer in Health Psychology Abstract There has been considerable development of guided self-help clinics within primary care. This uncontrolled before,after cohort study examines efficiency and effectiveness of these clinics when supported by paraprofessional mental health workers having little mental health training and experience. Data were collected by seven Graduate Mental Health Workers (GMHW) located in South-west England. Alongside an analysis of clinic attendance and dropout, efficiency was measured with respect to the number and length of sessions to support patients with the effectiveness of the interventions examined with respect to problem severity. Over a 15-month period, 1162 patients were referred to the GMHW clinics with 658 adopting guided self-help. Patients using guided self-help received an average input per patient, excluding assessment, of four sessions of 40 minutes. Dropout rate was comparable to other primary-care-based mental health clinics supported by experienced mental health professionals with 458 patients completing all support sessions. However, only 233 patients went on to attend the 3 months of follow-up session. Effectiveness of guided self-help clinics supported by paraprofessional mental health workers was comparable to that supported by an experienced mental health nurse. Improvements in problem severity were statistically significant, with 55% and 58% (final support session) and 63% and 62% (3 months of follow-up) of patients experiencing clinically significant and reliable change for anxiety and depression, respectively. However, concerns exist over the efficiency of the GMHW clinic especially with respect to the use of longer support sessions and high dropout rate at the 3 months of follow-up session. The paper concludes by highlighting the effectiveness of guided self-help when supported by paraprofessional mental health workers, but questions the utility of the two-plus-one model of service delivery proposing a collaborative care approach as an alternative. [source] The performance of non-linear exchange rate models: a forecasting comparisonJOURNAL OF FORECASTING, Issue 7 2002Gianna Boero Abstract In recent years there has been a considerable development in modelling non-linearities and asymmetries in economic and financial variables. The aim of the current paper is to compare the forecasting performance of different models for the returns of three of the most traded exchange rates in terms of the US dollar, namely the French franc (FF/$), the German mark (DM/$) and the Japanese yen (Y/$). The relative performance of non-linear models of the SETAR, STAR and GARCH types is contrasted with their linear counterparts. The results show that if attention is restricted to mean square forecast errors, the performance of the models, when distinguishable, tends to favour the linear models. The forecast performance of the models is evaluated also conditional on the regime at the forecast origin and on density forecasts. This analysis produces more evidence of forecasting gains from non-linear models. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] WS10 Development of CALUX bioassay-based systems as instruments to detect hormones and contaminantsJOURNAL OF VETERINARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 2006A. BROUWER Objective Tremendous progress has been made in the ability to measure particular contaminants or veterinary drugs at very low concentrations. However, rare or previously unknown compounds, metabolites and mixtures are still presenting considerable analytical challenges, while this category in particular might be relevant in terms of food safety. In addition, the need for higher throughput screening strategies at lower costs also demands for methods in addition to chemical analysis. There is considerable development in methodology based on the interaction with bio-macromolecules or living cells or on a biological response in the exposed animal. The aim of this workshop is to provide an up-o-date and practical overview of the various analytical and biological strategies that are available to screen or detect (prior) exposure to drugs, contaminants and pollutants. [source] WS11 Comprehensive investigation of the transcriptomeJOURNAL OF VETERINARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 2006T. PINEAU Objective Tremendous progress has been made in the ability to measure particular contaminants or veterinary drugs at very low concentrations. However, rare or previously unknown compounds, metabolites and mixtures are still presenting considerable analytical challenges, while this category in particular might be relevant in terms of food safety. In addition, the need for higher throughput screening strategies at lower costs also demands for methods in addition to chemical analysis. There is considerable development in methodology based on the interaction with bio-macromolecules or living cells or on a biological response in the exposed animal. The aim of this workshop is to provide an up-o-date and practical overview of the various analytical and biological strategies that are available to screen or detect (prior) exposure to drugs, contaminants and pollutants. [source] Law, Finance, and Politics: The Case of IndiaLAW & SOCIETY REVIEW, Issue 3 2009John Armour The liberalization of India's economy since 1991 has brought with it considerable development of its financial markets and supporting legal institutions. An influential body of economic scholarship asserts that a country's "legal origin",as a civilian or common law jurisdiction,plays an important part in determining the development of its investor protection regulations, and consequently its financial development. An alternative theory claims that the determinants of investor protection are political, rather than legal. We use the case of India to test these theories. We find little support for the idea that India's legal heritage as a common law country has been influential in speeding the path of regulatory reforms and financial development. Rather, we suggest there are complementarities between (1) India's relative success in services and software; (2) the relative strength of its financial markets for outside equity, as opposed to outside debt; and (3) the relative success of stock market regulation, as opposed to reforms of creditor rights. We conclude that political economy explanations have more traction in explaining the case of India than do theories based on "legal origins." [source] Early Education for Spatial Intelligence: Why, What, and HowMIND, BRAIN, AND EDUCATION, Issue 3 2010Nora S. Newcombe Spatial representation and thinking have evolutionary importance for any mobile organism. In addition, they help reasoning in domains that are not obviously spatial, for example, through the use of graphs and diagrams. This article reviews the literature suggesting that mental spatial transformation abilities, while present in some precursory form in infants, toddlers, and preschool children, also undergo considerable development and show important individual differences, which are malleable. These findings provide the basis for thinking about how to promote spatial thinking in preschools, at home, and in children's play. Integrating spatial content into formal and informal instruction could not only improve spatial functioning in general but also reduce differences related to gender and socioeconomic status that may impede full participation in a technological society. [source] Attributable fractions for partitioning risk and evaluating disease prevention: a practical guideTHE CLINICAL RESPIRATORY JOURNAL, Issue 2008Geir E. Eide Abstract Introduction:, The attributable fraction (AF) is used for quantifying the fraction of diseased ascribable to one or more exposures. The methodology and software for its estimation has undergone a considerable development during the last decades. Objectives:, To introduce methods for: (i) apportioning excess risk to multiple exposures, groups of exposures and subpopulations; (ii) graphical description; and (iii) survival data. Results:, Adjusted, sequential and average AFs are reasonable measures obtainable with standard software. The latter two both sum up to the combined AF for a set of exposures. The average AFs are independent of the exposures' ordering. For an ordered, preventive strategy, scaled sample space cubes illustrate the effects on the risk of disease from stepwise exposure removal. Pie charts illustrate the portions of the total risk ascribed to different exposures or risk-profiles. Attributable hazard fraction, AF before time t, and AF within study incorporate time to disease and interventions. Conclusions:, The practice of crude calculations of AFs in epidemiology should be abandoned. Further development of methods for AFs with survival data and possibly linking it to causal modelling is of interest. Please cite this paper as: Eide GE. Attributable fractions for partitioning risk and evaluating disease prevention: a practical guide. The Clinical Respiratory Journal 2008; 2: 92,103. [source] Managed socialization: how smart companies leverage global knowledgeKNOWLEDGE AND PROCESS MANAGEMENT: THE JOURNAL OF CORPORATE TRANSFORMATION, Issue 3 2007Deependra Moitra Driven by economic and market forces, the last 2 decades have witnessed a phenomenal acceleration in the pace of globalization. Today, globalization, and particularly globalization of knowledge work, has emerged as a business necessity. In their quest for competitiveness, more and more companies are leveraging global resources by distributing knowledge work across borders and essentially establishing around-the-clock innovation engines. Yet, managing knowledge,the most valuable resource of the new economy enterprises,remains to be a formidable business challenge to deal with. This challenge assumes even greater complexity in the context of globalization, characterized by distance, language barriers, cultural diversity, and a host of other socio-political factors. Whilst there have been considerable developments in the discipline of knowledge management, much of that does not quite alleviate the struggle companies face in effectively harnessing global knowledge. Specifically, while much progress has been made in managing explicit knowledge, firms find it hard to capture and leverage the tacit knowledge, which holds the key to knowledge-based competition. This paper argues that this inability to capitalize on the tacit knowledge stems from a missing ,social' dimension in the design of knowledge management strategies, which when addressed leads to unleashing the valuable tacit knowledge. Drawing on real-world research spanning 12 leading companies, in this paper we discuss Managed Socialization,the most vital management process for harnessing global knowledge. We argue that only by instituting managed socialization firms can truly succeed in leveraging global knowledge. Toward that, we describe the various elements that constitute managed socialization and based on case studies distil actionable insights that firms can capitalize on to fuel their quest for global dominance. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Defining the Bobath concept using the Delphi techniquePHYSIOTHERAPY RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL, Issue 1 2006Sue Raine Abstract Background and Purpose. The Bobath concept, based on the work of Berta and Karel Bobath, offers therapists working in the field of neurological rehabilitation a framework for their clinical interventions. It is the most commonly used approach in the UK. Although they recognize that over the last half-century the concept has undergone considerable developments, proponents of the Bobath concept have been criticized for not publishing these changes. The aim of the present study was to use the Delphi technique to enable experts in the field to define the current Bobath concept. Method. A four-round Delphi study design was used. The sample included all members of the British Bobath Tutor's Association, who are considered experts in the field. Initial statements were identified from the literature, with respondents generating additional statements during the study. The level of agreement was determined using a five-point Likert scale. The respondents were then provided with feedback on group opinions and given an opportunity to re-rate each statement. The level of group consensus was set at 80%. Results. Fifteen experts took part. The response rate was 85% in the first round, and 93% in each subsequent round. Ten statements from the literature were rated with a further 12 generated by the experts. Thirteen statements achieved consensus for agreement and seven for disagreement. Conclusions. The Delphi study was an effective research tool, maintaining anonymity of responses and exploring expert opinions on the Bobath concept. The experts stated that Bobath's work has been misunderstood if it is considered as the inhibition of spasticity and the facilitation of normal movement, as described in some literature. They agreed that the Bobath concept was developed by the Bobaths as a living concept, understanding that as therapists' knowledge base grows their view of treatment broadens. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Comparative Functional Morphology of the Masticatory Apparatus in the Long-snouted CrocodilesANATOMIA, HISTOLOGIA, EMBRYOLOGIA, Issue 4 2002H. Endo Summary The masticatory muscles and their related structures of the skull were observed in the Indian gavial (Gavialis gangeticus), the false gavial (Tomistoma schlegelii), and the African slender-snouted crocodile (Mecistops cataphractus) to detail some morphological differences in comparison with the other crocodile species, and to compare and elucidate the functional strategy of themasticatory apparatus in these long-snouted species. The Musculus pterygoideus posterior was relatively smaller in the three species compared with many short-snouted crocodiles. It suggests that the masticatory power in fish-eating long-snouted species is not so high as in the short-snouted crocodiles, while the masticatory muscles were morphologically different among the three long-snouted species as follows. The M. pterygoideus posterior of the false gavial was extended in the lateral side of the lower jaw unlike the Indian gavial. The M. pseudotemporalis and the Fenestra supratemporalis were largely developed in the Indian gavial, however we suggest that the other two species possess the weak bundles in this muscle. The false gavial and the African slender-snouted crocodile have the pterygoid bone well-developed extending dorso-ventrally and it is suggested that the M. adductor mandibulae posterior attached to the pterygoid bone may be much larger than the Indian gavial. These data morphologically clarify the masticatory mechanism in the long-snouted crocodiles different from the short-snouted species, and demonstrate that the evolutional strategy to share the functional role in the masticatory muscles have been differently established between the Indian gavial and the other two species. We also obtained the morphological data in the fossil skull of the Machikane crocodile (Toyotamaphymeia machikanense) and concluded from the fossil characters that the considerable developments of the M.pterygoideus posterior and the M.pseudotemporalis in this species had not morphologically been consistent with both the Indian and false gavials. [source] Fault Diagnosis Engineering in Molecular Signaling Networks: An Overview and Applications in Target DiscoveryCHEMISTRY & BIODIVERSITY, Issue 5 2010Ali Abdi Abstract Fault diagnosis engineering is a key component of modern industrial facilities and complex systems, and has gone through considerable developments in the past few decades. In this paper, the principles and concepts of molecular fault diagnosis engineering are reviewed. In this area, molecular intracellular networks are considered as complex systems that may fail to function, due to the presence of some faulty molecules. Dysfunction of the system due to the presence of a single or multiple molecules can ultimately lead to the transition from the normal state to the disease state. It is the goal of molecular fault diagnosis engineering to identify the critical components of molecular networks, i.e., those whose dysfunction can interrupt the function of the entire network. The results of the fault analysis of several signaling networks are discussed, and possible connections of the findings with some complex human diseases are examined. Implications of molecular fault diagnosis engineering for target discovery and drug development are outlined as well. [source] | |||||||||||||