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Greater Collaboration (greater + collaboration)
Selected AbstractsThe importance of ecological research for ecosystem management: The case of browsing by swamp wallabies (Wallabia bicolor) in commercially harvested native forestsECOLOGICAL MANAGEMENT & RESTORATION, Issue 1 2004Julian Di Stefano Summary Ecosystem management often proceeds within the context of sub-optimal relationships between ecologists and ecosystem managers, and management outcomes could be improved with greater collaboration between members of these disciplines. This paper identifies an ecosystem management problem resulting from the interaction between timber harvesting and browsing wallabies, and this case study is used to exemplify how ecological data and expertise can contribute to the process of ecosystem management. It is argued that appropriate use of existing ecological data, establishment of strategic new research and the implementation of management actions as experimental hypothesis tests can facilitate achievement of management objectives, but greater collaboration between ecologists and managers is required before this can occur. Reasons for sub-optimal relationships are outlined, and the potential for structural change within large State-run ecosystem management agencies to improve interactions between managers and ecologists is discussed. [source] Geolocation of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) movements in the Gulf of Maine using tidal informationFISHERIES OCEANOGRAPHY, Issue 4 2007J. P. GRÖGER Abstract Information derived from archival tags (digital storage tags, DSTs) were used to backtrack the migration of 11 tagged Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) during 2001 in Massachusetts Bay, the Gulf of Maine, and Georges Bank. The DST tags continuously recorded time, temperature and depth. To geolocate fish positions during its time at large, we first extracted the tidal signal from the pressure recordings on the DST tags, and then compared the resulting data to data predicted with a Massachusetts Bay tidal model that provided us with geographical coordinates at a given date and time. Using least-squares criteria within an estimated geographical region of confidence that was constrained by biological and statistical information (e.g. swimming speed, known release and recapture location, and bottom depth) we were able to geolocate the fish. The resultant geolocated migration tracks indicate a large degree of movement of Atlantic cod in the region and an elevated importance of the Great South Channel (GSC) migration corridor between Massachusetts Bay and the western Georges Bank and Nantucket Shoals region. This observation contrasts strongly with inferences of limited movements by Atlantic cod based on conventional tag recapture methods (mean of 1200 km traveled versus 44 km traveled as measured by conventional tagging and geolocation, respectively). This study demonstrates that geolocation methodologies applied to archival tag studies hold great promise of becoming an important new tool for fisheries managers to quantify the movements of fishes. It also points out the need for greater collaboration between fisheries scientists and oceanographers, and particularly for the development of improved tidal models to cover stock regions more accurately and with higher precision. [source] Putting the meio- into stream ecology: current findings and future directions for lotic meiofaunal researchFRESHWATER BIOLOGY, Issue 1 2000A. L. Robertson Summary 1There is a paucity of research on epigean freshwater lotic meiofauna. This may result from a previous emphasis on interstitial (groundwater and hyporheic) meiofauna and/or a reliance on sampling methodologies in lotic systems which are inappropriate for meiofauna. 2Meiofauna contribute much to the diversity of lotic ecosystems. Species lists for seven streams reveal that meiofauna contribute 58,82% of total species numbers, with rotifers and chironomids dominating most systems. The absence of taxonomic keys for most meiofaunal taxa in large areas of the world precludes a wider analysis of their contribution to lotic diversity and an assessment of biogeographical patterns and processes. 3The trophic and functional role of meiofauna in lotic ecosystems is unclear. There are few estimates of meiofaunal production in freshwaters and biomass spectra have produced conflicting results for lotic meiofauna. Present static estimates suggest that the contribution of meiofauna to lotic productivity and biomass is small to moderate, but further studies incorporating a temporal component may provide a more realistic picture of the total contribution of meiofauna to biomass size spectra. 4Meiofauna differ from macroinvertebrates in several respects apart from size and conceptual models for lotic ecosystems should include all metazoans if they are to be truly representative. 5Information on the basic ecology of certain lotic meiofauna (i.e. nematodes, tardigrades, microturbellarians) is urgently required. For those groups whose distributional patterns are better understood (e.g. microcrustaceans), the mechanisms underpinning these patterns should be explored. It is essential that the importance of meiofauna is recognised by lotic ecologists; the only realistic way forward is for greater collaboration among meiofaunal ecologists and taxonomists and other lotic scientists. [source] The Concept that Came Out of the Cold: the Progressive Historicization of Generic Fascism and its New Relevance to Teaching Twentieth-century HistoryHISTORY COMPASS (ELECTRONIC), Issue 1 2003Roger Griffin This article first surveys the confusion that prevailed in fascist studies for decades, and which makes it quite understandable if the term ,fascism' has been generally avoided both by historians and by lecturers and others teaching inter-war European history to students in non-specialist ,survey' courses. It then outlines the main features of the ,new consensus' that is emerging among scholars on the heuristic value of seeing fascism as a form of revolutionary ideology, bent on purging society of decadence and inaugurating the rebirth of the nation. Next, it focuses on how this approach enables Fascism and Nazism to be located within the supranational forces shaping modern history, and on the light it throws on their profound relationship to totalitarianism, political religion and modernity. It closes with brief examples of how this approach can be applied to structuring answers to essays and exam questions on inter-war Europe, and welcomes the prospect opened up by the new consensus for greater collaboration between specialists in fascist studies, empirical historians, university lecturers, textbook writers and students , and even, one day, students in secondary education, and their teachers and examiners , in this fascinating, and rapidly evolving, field of teaching and research. [source] Interprofessional education: the interface of nursing and social workJOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 1-2 2010Engle Angela Chan Aims., To examine the influence of interdisciplinary seminars on undergraduate nursing and social work students' perceptions of their learning. Background., Collaboration is considered to be important for health professionals in working towards good patient care, and interdisciplinary education is seen as one way of addressing this need for greater collaboration and team work. Today's health professionals are dealing with an increasing number of older and chronically ill patients. The biopsychosocial dimensions inherent in such chronic illnesses bring about a closer working relationship between the nursing and social work professions to foster good patient care. No local research in Hong Kong, however, has looked specifically at how these two professions can develop their collaborative skills and qualities through interdisciplinary education. Design., Mixed methods design. Method., Data from questionnaires, videotape recordings of the sessions and follow-up phone interviews were used for quantitative and qualitative analyses. Results., The findings revealed three themes: an increased awareness of each other's professional values and personal judgement, a recognition of each other's disciplinary knowledge emphases and more, and an appreciation for, and learning about each other's roles for future collaboration. Conclusions., Whilst, it is usual to identify health professionals as non-judgemental, it is also important to recognise the existence of their personal and professional values and beliefs that shape their decision-making. Equally beneficial for students is their reported understanding of the other discipline's emphasis on the physical or social aspects of care, and the interrelationships and complementary values that lead to students' appreciation of each other's roles and the possibility for their future collaboration in the holistic care of patients. Relevance to clinical practice., The sharing of each other's knowledge and their appreciation of the corresponding roles enhanced students' decision-making capacity and the extension of the holistic approach beyond one profession, which is essential for good patient care. [source] Exploring the perceived effect of an undergraduate multiprofessional educational interventionMEDICAL EDUCATION, Issue 6 2000Article first published online: 25 DEC 200 Context Improved teamwork and greater collaboration between professions are important factors in effective health care. These goals may be achieved by including interprofessional learning in the undergraduate medical curriculum. The Faculty of Medicine at the University of Liverpool organized a pilot two-day multiprofessional course involving all the health care related disciplines. Objective The present study examined the perceived effect of the multiprofessional course on the work practice of these newly qualified health care professionals. Method The views of former students who took part in the pilot course were collected using a semi-structured interview schedule and analysed using a qualitative data analysis software package QSR NU*DIST. Results Two main themes emerged. These centred around role knowledge and interprofessional attitudes. Data indicated that participants perceived the course to have increased their knowledge of the other professions and that this effect had persisted. Reported benefits to their working practice included facilitating appropriate referrals, increasing professional empathy and awareness of other professionals' skills, raising confidence and heightening awareness of the holistic nature of patient treatment. Participants reported forming negative attitudes towards other professions during their undergraduate education. They believed these had been partly encouraged by course tutors. The pilot course was perceived to have had had little effect on these attitudes. Changes occurred once the newly qualified professionals started work. Conclusions The results support the idea that interprofessional educational interventions must be tailored to specific learning goals to be implemented successfully, and that interprofessional education should be prolonged and widespread to have a real impact. [source] Australian hospital generalist and critical care nurses' perceptions of doctor,nurse collaborationNURSING & HEALTH SCIENCES, Issue 2 2001Wendy P. Chaboyer RN Abstract Previous researchers have indicated that collaborative practice between doctors and nurses results in positive effects on patient care, health-care costs and provider satisfaction. Despite these benefits, collaborative practice appears to be the exception, rather than the dominant pattern, within health care. A collaborative relationship cannot evolve if individuals do not value and respect others' competencies. This study, a mailed survey, used the Collaboration with Medical Staff Scale to compare the perceptions of doctor,nurse collaboration held by critical care nurses and generalist hospital nurses. The hypothesis that critical care nurses perceive there to be greater collaboration with doctors than their generalist nurse colleagues was supported even after taking into consideration education and experience. These results suggest that critical care is an area that might be useful when trying to understand the dimensions and implications of collaboration among health professionals. [source] Does molecular typing make any contribution to the care of patients with infection?CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTION, Issue 4 2004H. Humphreys Abstract Molecular typing has been used extensively to study the epidemiology of infection, but there are few studies on the role of typing in the clinical management of infected patients. Examples of this include distinguishing relapse of infection from new infection, determining the significance of colonisation with potential pathogens, assessing the capacity of isolates to spread and cause serious illness, and linking changes in antimicrobial resistance with treatment. Further studies in selected patient groups and greater collaboration between molecular microbiologists, clinical microbiologists and infectious disease physicians are required to determine the impact of molecular typing in these and other scenarios. [source] |