scholarly journals Deconstructing the performance of everyday activities: a case in dementia

2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (6) ◽  
pp. 967-977 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clarissa M. Giebel ◽  
Daniela Montaldi
Keyword(s):  
Daily Living ◽  
Care Management ◽  
Family Carers ◽  
Major Area ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Everyday Functioning ◽  
Management Planning ◽  
Everyday Activities ◽  
Different Types

ABSTRACTBackground:The assessment of everyday functioning in dementia is currently very global and in most cases fails to provide an in-depth overview of specific areas of deficits. Every activity comprises different sub-tasks which may be impaired to different degrees. Performance of some sub-tasks might be maintained and could thus be the foundation for remaining independent for longer. Thus, the objective of this study was to explore the benefits of breaking down everyday activities into sub-tasks.Methods:A total of 183 family carers of people with mild dementia completed the revised Interview for Deteriorations in Daily Living Activities in Dementia 2 (R-IDDD2) rating their relative's everyday functioning. Each of the 20 activities comprised three sub-tasks. Data were analyzed using ANOVA with Bonferroni corrections, and sub-tasks were clustered in relation to different forms of cognition.Results:The majority of activities showed at least one major area of impairment. Sub-tasks could be clustered based on different types of cognition. Several sub-tasks had a focus on memory (forgetting it is time to do the cleaning; forgetting previously known telephone numbers), whereby short-term, long-term, and prospective memory could be distinguished further. Other sub-tasks were clustered into attention (getting more distracted when driving) and executive function (sorting out bills).Conclusions:The R-IDDD2 and its analysis of sub-task performance offers a novel platform to examine impairments comprehensively. This can help both in aiding timelier diagnosis by recognizing subtle deficits, but also in care management planning, whereby family and paid carers should only care for those sub-tasks that are most impaired and thus encourage remaining independent for longer.

15. Democracies, Democratization, and Authoritarian Regimes

2020 ◽  
pp. 336-362
Author(s):  
Peter Ferdinand
Keyword(s):  
Economic Development ◽  
Recent Literature ◽  
Authoritarian Regimes ◽  
Short Term ◽  
National Crisis ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Types Of Democracy ◽  
The Face ◽  
Long Term Trends

This chapter focuses on democracies, democratization, and authoritarian regimes. It first considers the two main approaches to analysing the global rise of democracy over the last thirty years: first, long-term trends of modernization, and more specifically economic development, that create preconditions for democracy and opportunities for democratic entrepreneurs; and second, the sequences of more short-term events and actions of key actors at moments of national crisis that have precipitated a democratic transition — also known as ‘transitology’. The chapter proceeds by discussing the different types of democracy and the strategies used to measure democracy. It also reviews the more recent literature on authoritarian systems and why they persist. Finally, it examines the challenges that confront democracy in the face of authoritarian revival.

Integration of geological and seismological data in earthquakes occurrence models for Italy: towards a unified model for different forecast perspectives

2019 ◽  
Vol 219 (3) ◽  
pp. 2148-2164
Author(s):  
A M Lombardi
Keyword(s):  
Aftershock Sequence ◽  
Earthquake Forecasting ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Background Rate ◽  
Etas Model ◽  
Term Forecast ◽  
Earthquake Predictability ◽  
Background Seismicity ◽  
Different Types

SUMMARY The operational earthquake forecasting (OEF) is a procedure aimed at informing communities on how seismic hazard changes with time. This can help them live with seismicity and mitigate risk of destructive earthquakes. A successful short-term prediction scheme is not yet produced, but the search for it should not be abandoned. This requires more research on seismogenetic processes and, specifically, inclusion of any information about earthquakes in models, to improve forecast of future events, at any spatio-temporal-magnitude scale. The short- and long-term forecast perspectives of earthquake occurrence followed, up to now, separate paths, involving different data and peculiar models. But actually they are not so different and have common features, being parts of the same physical process. Research on earthquake predictability can help to search for a common path in different forecast perspectives. This study aims to improve the modelling of long-term features of seismicity inside the epidemic type aftershock sequence (ETAS) model, largely used for short-term forecast and OEF procedures. Specifically, a more comprehensive estimation of background seismicity rate inside the ETAS model is attempted, by merging different types of data (seismological instrumental, historical, geological), such that information on faults and on long-term seismicity integrates instrumental data, on which the ETAS models are generally set up. The main finding is that long-term historical seismicity and geological fault data improve the pseudo-prospective forecasts of independent seismicity. The study is divided in three parts. The first consists in models formulation and parameter estimation on recent seismicity of Italy. Specifically, two versions of ETAS model are compared: a ‘standard’, previously published, formulation, only based on instrumental seismicity, and a new version, integrating different types of data for background seismicity estimation. Secondly, a pseudo-prospective test is performed on independent seismicity, both to test the reliability of formulated models and to compare them, in order to identify the best version. Finally, a prospective forecast is made, to point out differences and similarities in predicting future seismicity between two models. This study must be considered in the context of its limitations; anyway, it proves, beyond argument, the usefulness of a more sophisticated estimation of background rate, inside short-term modelling of earthquakes.

Simple Techniques for Monitoring Footpath Erosion in Mountain Areas of North-West England

1977 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 145-148 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosalind A. Coleman
Keyword(s):  
Aerial Photography ◽  
Technical Expertise ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Mountain Areas ◽  
North West ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Different Seasons ◽  
One Year ◽  
Site Types

Very precise measurements of the movement of coarse-textured, unconsolidated materials may be meaningless. Therefore the study of individual processes operating on footpaths may require a different approach. However, for identification of changes of reasonable dimensions, methods such as those described above are inexpensive, quick, and require no technical expertise. It may be argued that, for path management, erosion that is too limited to be measured by these methods is too limited to be a problem. It can certainly be argued that the problem of spatial correlation implies a large number of measurements. What is lost in lack of precision may be more than compensated for by the gain in data from the larger area and wider variation in site-types that it is possible to monitor with such simple techniques.To monitor the effects of recreation in mountain areas, it is desirable to be able to measure any change in path-state and relate this to recreation factors at different seasons and under different sit; -conditions. Three methods of measurement have been considered in this paper, corresponding to three time-scales. Aerial photography has been used to demonstrate trends over the long term, and has proved adequate to differentiate between path sections with differing resistance to erosion.Short-term measurement has been carried out relative to known fixed positions. Two methods are suggested. One is less precise, but simple and widely applicable, and can be used for measurement intervals of six months to one year. The other is more detailed and can be used for measurement intervals of a few days, but is limited in its application by practical considerations.It is suggested that simple techniques used at a large number of different types of site may be more effective than detailed measurements at a few sites.

scholarly journals Script Generation of Activities of Daily Living in HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorders

2011 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 740-745 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Cobb Scott ◽  
Steven Paul Woods ◽  
Ofilio Vigil ◽  
Robert K. Heaton ◽  
Igor Grant ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Daily Living ◽  
Standardized Test ◽  
Mental Representations ◽  
Executive Dysfunction ◽  
Neurocognitive Disorders ◽  
Everyday Functioning ◽  
Everyday Activities ◽  
Adequate Knowledge ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Hiv Associated Neurocognitive Disorders

AbstractScript generation describes one's ability to produce complex, sequential action plans derived from mental representations of everyday activities. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection on script generation performance. Sixty HIV+ individuals (48% of whom had HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders [HAND]) and 26 demographically comparable HIV- participants were administered a novel, standardized test of script generation, which required participants to verbally generate and organize the necessary steps for completing six daily activities. HAND participants evidenced significantly more total errors, intrusions, and script boundary errors compared to the HIV- sample, indicating difficulties inhibiting irrelevant actions and staying within the prescribed boundaries of scripts, but had adequate knowledge of the relevant actions required for each script. These findings are generally consistent with the executive dysfunction and slowing common in HAND and suggest that script generation may play a role in everyday functioning problems in HIV. (JINS, 2011, 17, 740–745)

scholarly journals Terrorism as a type of political communication: The use of propaganda of the deed in hegemonic struggles

2020 ◽  
Vol 72 (4) ◽  
pp. 709-732
Author(s):  
Filip Otovic-Visnjic
Keyword(s):  
Political Communication ◽  
Communication Strategies ◽  
Important Goal ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Cultural Approach ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Theoretical Conception ◽  
Terrorist Acts ◽  
Efficient Realization

The paper focuses on the communicological dimension of the terrorist act, starting from the position that the violence is used to convey various messages in a non-verbal way. Throughout the research into the propaganda of the deed, the technique on which communicational tactics of terrorists are mostly based, the author seeks to examine extensive ranges of communication strategies used by insurgent groups against dominant hegemony. By combining the elements of Jacques Ellul's theoretical conception of propaganda along with the cultural approach in the interpretation of mechanisms in which hegemony operates, the author refutes perspectives that deny rebellions? possibilities for efficient realization of their propaganda goals by using acts of violence. The author?s conclusion is based on three arguments. Firstly, for modern propaganda, provoking the behavior of the audience (ortopraxie) is a more important goal than influencing its attitudes (orthodoxy). Secondly, it is possible to notice elements in the pre-propaganda field, which evade hegemonic control, due to the contradiction between ideological narratives and the real structure, and which insurgent propaganda may utilize. Lastly - by means of terrorist acts, their performers address different types of audiences with different goals simultaneously. The author concludes that the efficiency of propaganda can be manifested in two manners: in the short term - when an act of violence represents a direct ?trigger? for the desired behavior of the audience; in the long term - by including the act and provoked behavior in the network of memories, which becomes an element of pre-propaganda that can be referred to in the future.

Hot Mix Asphalt Rubber Applications in Virginia

1996 ◽  
Vol 1530 (1) ◽  
pp. 18-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. W. Maupin
Keyword(s):  
Department Of Transportation ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Ground Tire Rubber ◽  
Asphalt Rubber ◽  
Evaluation Time ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Virginia Department ◽  
Long Term Performance ◽  
Term Performance

Four test sections using asphalt rubber hot mix were placed in Virginia from 1990 to 1993. These installations were to familiarize contractors and Virginia Department of Transportation personnel with the construction process and compare the performance of different types of mixes containing ground tire rubber. The MacDonald and Rouse wet processes were used successfully. Dense graded surface mixes, a gap-graded surface mix, and a base mix were manufactured. A stress-absorbing membrane interlayer was also used on one project in an attempt to deter or eliminate various types of cracking. The asphalt rubber mixes have performed as well as the conventional mixes over the short term. More evaluation time is needed to determine if long-term performance of the asphalt rubber mixes is superior to conventional mixes. The asphalt rubber mixes cost 64 to 102 percent more than conventional mixes. This cost would probably decrease if substantial quantities were placed.

Ethical Values Reassessed: Rethinking the Covid19 Pandemic First Triage Guidelines

2021 ◽  
Vol 66 (Special Issue) ◽  
pp. 89-89
Author(s):  
Sabine Hauser ◽  
◽  
Rouven Porz ◽  
Maria Aluaș ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Ethical Values ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Political Values ◽  
Meta Level ◽  
Different Types ◽  
The Difference

"In March 2020, many countries in commissions and medical societies moved very quickly to draft fair and transparent triage guidelines; this in order to plan ahead for possible resource bottlenecks in the treatment of COVID-19 patients in intensive care units. There are a lot of consciously chosen (but also less reflected) ethical values in these guidelines. Our presentation compares the values of eight of such guidelines, but first shows how to read such values in the first place. Many health professionals are hardly aware of the explicit presentation of ethical-philosophical values. From a methodological point of view, this presentation is based on a hermeneutic-ethical approach. The guidelines are interpreted, an interpretation aid is developed, and the values of the guidelines are reconsidered in comparison. On a meta-level, we could identify different types of values, besides medical and ethical values, the guidelines were also filled with procedural, structural and legal-political values. On a content level, the unreflective handling of the value of autonomy, which often competes with the value of public health, is particularly evident. This competition is little reflected. Another point of divergence between the guidelines is the degree of precision or the difference between long-term and short-term medical prognosis. We believe that with our analysis we can contribute to making value discussions in health care more open and explicit. We would like to present these conclusions for discussion at this year’s EACME conference in Cluj. "

scholarly journals Assessment of patient-reported outcomes after polytrauma: protocol for a systematic review

BMJ Open ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. e017571 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irmela Gnass ◽  
Michaela Ritschel ◽  
Silke Andrich ◽  
Silke Kuske ◽  
Kai Moschinski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Activities Of Daily Living ◽  
Daily Living ◽  
Patient Reported Outcomes ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Patient Reported

IntroductionSurvivors of polytrauma experience long-term and short-term burden that influences their lives. The patients’ view of relevant short-term and long-term outcomes should be captured in instruments that measure quality of life and other patient-reported outcomes (PROs) after a polytrauma. The aim of this systematic review is to (1) collect instruments that assess PROs (quality of life, social participation and activities of daily living) during follow-up after polytrauma, (2) describe the instruments’ application (eg, duration of period of follow-up) and (3) investigate other relevant PROs that are also assessed in the included studies (pain, depression, anxiety and cognitive function).Methods and analysisThe systematic review protocol is developed in line with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols statement. MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, PsycINFO, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and the trials registers ClinicalTrials.gov and WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform will be searched. Keywords, for example, ‘polytrauma’, ‘multiple trauma’, ‘quality of life’, ‘activities of daily living’ or ‘pain’ will be used. Publications published between January 2005 and the most recent date (currently: August 2016) will be included. In order to present the latest possible results, an update of the search is conducted before publication. The data extraction and a content analysis will be carried out systematically. A critical appraisal will be performed.Ethics and disseminationFormal ethical approval is not required as primary data will not be collected. The results will be published in a peer-reviewed publication.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42017060825.

A review of the effects of different marking and tagging techniques on marine mammals

2012 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristen A. Walker ◽  
Andrew W. Trites ◽  
Martin Haulena ◽  
Daniel M. Weary
Keyword(s):  
Marine Mammals ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Acute Effects ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Radio Transmitters ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Published Research

Wildlife research often requires marking and tagging animals to collect data on survival, reproduction, movement, behaviour and physiology. Identification of individual marine mammals can be carried out using tags, brands, paint, dye, photogrammetry, telemetry and other techniques. An analysis of peer-reviewed articles published from January 1980 to April 2011 addressing the effects of marking revealed a preponderance of studies focussed on short-term effects such as injuries and behavioural changes. Some marking techniques were reported to cause pain and to change swimming and haul-out behaviour, maternal attendance, and duration of foraging trips. However, marking has typically not been found to affect survival. No published research has addressed other possible long-term effects of marking related to injuries or pain responses. Studies of the more immediate effects of marking (mostly related to externally attached devices such as radio-transmitters) have shown a variety of different types and magnitudes of responses. It is important to note that studies failing to find treament differences are less likely to be published, meaning that the present and any other reviews based on published literature may be a biased sample of all research conducted on the topic. Publishing results that found no or low impacts (i.e. best practices) as well as those that found significant impacts on animals should both be encouraged. Future research under more controlled conditions is required to document acute effects of marking, including injury and pain, and to better understand longer-term effects on health, reproduction and survival. We recommend that studies using marked animals standardise their reports, with added detail on methodology, monitoring and sampling design, and address practices used to minimise the impact of marking on marine mammals.

scholarly journals Hedonism and the choice of everyday activities

2016 ◽  
Vol 113 (35) ◽  
pp. 9769-9773 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maxime Taquet ◽  
Jordi Quoidbach ◽  
Yves-Alexandre de Montjoye ◽  
Martin Desseilles ◽  
James J. Gross
Keyword(s):  
Negative Affect ◽  
Positive Affect ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Human Behavior ◽  
Smartphone Application ◽  
Daily Activities ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Everyday Activities

Most theories of motivation have highlighted that human behavior is guided by the hedonic principle, according to which our choices of daily activities aim to minimize negative affect and maximize positive affect. However, it is not clear how to reconcile this idea with the fact that people routinely engage in unpleasant yet necessary activities. To address this issue, we monitored in real time the activities and moods of over 28,000 people across an average of 27 d using a multiplatform smartphone application. We found that people’s choices of activities followed a hedonic flexibility principle. Specifically, people were more likely to engage in mood-increasing activities (e.g., play sports) when they felt bad, and to engage in useful but mood-decreasing activities (e.g., housework) when they felt good. These findings clarify how hedonic considerations shape human behavior. They may explain how humans overcome the allure of short-term gains in happiness to maximize long-term welfare.

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