Dose–response models: how might we think about linearity and nonlinearity?

2009 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
PF Ricci

We add to the issues raised by Dr David Ropeik’s article Risk Communication and Non-Linearity (forthcoming, BELLE Newsletter, 2008) regarding the thinking about the acceptance of linear and nonlinear (hormetic) dose–response models. We summarize some of the perceptual aspects discussed by Ropeik (2008) and comment on decision-making by the single decision-maker. It seems that the heuristics discussed by Ropeik (2008) are related to those private decision-makers who may not benefit from extensive technical, scientific, and legal advice sufficiently to make well-informed decisions and, perhaps more importantly, may not have the funds for that advice. Dose–response models are intangible, abstract quantities: unlike private goods and services, they are not priced by the market. We suggest a duality between the private and the public decision-maker that in the end may loose its crispness, because it can occur in the same person. Nonetheless, this duality is evident at the analysis phase of decision-making, relative to the decision phase, and thus, provides a convenient way to address the issues addressed by Ropeik (2008). In particular, for at least legal and common sense reasons, the public decision-maker must follow a scientific-analytical causal process – as represented by models of dose–response – to select and justify her choice of one over the other. Whether the final decision as to which model is to be used in regulatory law is a matter that goes beyond the analytical aspects of the choice and is governed by political and other aspects of governance.

2020 ◽  
pp. 107-139
Author(s):  
Mattias P. Gassman

The controversy over the altar of Victory shows how pagans and Christians expressed competing ideas on the public role of religion in an increasingly Christian empire. In 382, Gratian revoked funding from the Roman state priesthoods and removed the altar from the Senate house. Following Gratian’s death in 383, the Senate appealed to his brother, Valentinian II, through the urban prefect, Symmachus, whose communiqué was successfully countered by Ambrose of Milan. Recent scholarship has favoured Symmachus’ account, which it sees as an appeal for religious tolerance, and argued that the affair was decided by the power politics of a child emperor’s unstable court. In response, this chapter argues that Symmachus was actually trying to exclude the emperor’s Christianity from public decision-making. All religions may, for Symmachus, lead to God, but the old cults are Rome’s divinely appointed defence, as well as the bond between Senate and emperors. Ambrose put Valentinian’s duty to God at the heart of his appeal. Ambrose’s Senate contained many Christians, and Ambrose was bound to resist an emperor who endorsed pagan sacrifices (the closest either work comes to explicit political gamesmanship). Together, their works show how malleable Rome’s public religion still was, more than seventy years after Constantine embraced Christianity.


2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 44-60
Author(s):  
Magdalena Miśkowiec ◽  
Katarzyna Maria Gorczyca

This article describes how the public participation is understood as involvement of individuals, groups and local communities in public decision making. On 9 October 2015, the Urban Regeneration Act was passed in Poland. The purpose of the Act is to integrate the local activities of the stakeholders in regeneration. Engaging stakeholders is essential for proper implementation of regeneration programmes and is aimed at preventing degradation of urban space and crisis phenomena by enhancing social activity. The main aim of the article is to focus on different forms of public participation in urban regeneration. The study includes an analysis of the public participation procedures employed during the implementation of Communal Regeneration Programmes in Poland, as exemplified by the Olkusz Commune. The analysis is summarised to form a model of public participation in regeneration programmes, including suggestions for the use of ICT tools for consultation purposes.


1983 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 80-87
Author(s):  
S. S. Brand

Private and public decision-making The interaction between the private and public sectors is important in South Africa. Much criticism is expressed by the one sector against the other. This can be partly attributed to an incomplete understanding of the processes of decision-making in the two sectors, and of the differences between them. A comparison is drawn between the most important elements of the decision-making processes in the two sectors. Public decision-making deals mostly with matters concerning the community and the economy as a whole, whereas private decision-making is concerned mostly with parts of the whole. The aims at which decision-making in the two sectors are directed, differ accordingly, as do the perceptions of the respective decision-makers of the environment in which they make decisions. As a consequence, the criteria for the success of a decision also differ substantially between the two sectors. The implications of these differences between private and public decision-making for the approach to inflation and the financing of housing, are dealt with as examples. Finally, differences between the ways in which decisions are implemented in the two sectors, also appear to be an important cause of much of the criticism from the private sector about decision-making in the public sector.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S915-S915
Author(s):  
Kalisha Bonds ◽  
MinKyoung Song ◽  
Karen Lyons ◽  
Martha Driessnack

Abstract Decision-making involvement (e.g., verbal and/or nonverbal communication) of persons with dementia (PWD) has been associated with quality of life of PWDs and their caregivers, underscores personhood, and reduces ethical dilemmas for caregivers regarding the PWD’s care. Yet, no study has explored the decision-making involvement in formal and daily care of both members of African-American dementia dyads (i.e., African-American PWDs and their African-American caregivers), limiting our understanding of how these dyads navigate decision-making during the dementia trajectory. This study took a closer look through in-depth, semi-structured interviews with African-American dementia dyads as they reflected on their decision-making surrounding formal and daily care. A pilot study of five dyadic interviews, each averaging 45 minutes, was completed. We used a combination of quantitative content analysis, decision-making matrices and I-poems created from I-statements of the dyad regarding their decision-making involvement. Decision-making matrices (i.e., diagrams of the degree of sharing, the balance of power within the dyad, and the final decision maker in formal and daily care) were constructed across interviews. The pairing of traditional analyses with the novel use of I-poems traces participants’ sense of self, ensuring their voice is retained. There was agreement within all five dyads regarding the final decision maker(s) in formal and daily care. Between dyads, daily decision-making involvement was led by African American PWDs; whereas, formal care decision-making involvement of African American PWDs varied. Findings highlight the importance of a deeper understanding of formal and daily care decision-making involvement within and between African-American dementia dyads and potential clinical implications.


2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 15
Author(s):  
Maria Susana Nedo

Abstract:This study aimed at describing the interaction of the factions in the organization's decision-making process DPRD Malang; with a focus on the kind of interaction both internally and externally fraction of the party over government policies Malang in development projects / peralian traditional market status and Dinoyo Blimbing Malang into Modern market in the city of Malang. Based on the results of field research (Member of Parliament Malang in Malang Parliament Office II) and analysis of data regarding political interactions between members of the board in a fraction in DPRD Malang; especially the interactions between the factions with regard to public decision making (policy Making) in the case of market Dinoyo and Blimbing can be seen the political interaction between the factions in the organization DPRD Malang in various forms, including: conflict, Accommodation, Compromise, and the Coalition in the process of pushing or thwart development policy and the transitional status of both markets.Although the final decision through voting; DPRD Malang still approve policies Dinoyo market development and market Blimbing as the modern market, since the beginning of the discussion on the construction of two projects in the city parliament Malang occur Pros and Cons of each-each faction will be the plan. Semuannya behalf of the interests of the people to remain grounded in their respective party platforms. The difficulties in the market building approvals showed adannya interaction among factions in the party's internal and external parties on development projects in both markets. The change of final views and policies fractions as a result of lobbying-lobbying in the political interaction between factions both in the form of cooperation (Pro) and the opposition (Counter) shows the form of interaction in political communication who conducted members of the faction DPRD Malang internal and external parties resulting in a decision together though through a vote to approve the construction of traditional markets and Dinoyo Blimbing into Modern market. Keywords: Fraction of DPRD II Malang, Interaction and Political Communication, Public Decision


2006 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-81 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guy Howard ◽  
M. Feroze Ahmed ◽  
Shamsul Gaifur Mahmud ◽  
Peter Teunis ◽  
Annette Davison ◽  
...  

The main response to arsenic contamination of shallow tubewells in Bangladesh is the provision of alternative water supplies. To support decision-making in relation to alternative water supply selection, the Arsenic Policy Support Unit commissioned the development of a tool for estimating disease burdens for specific options using disability-adjusted life years as the metric. This paper describes the assumptions in dose-responses, relationships between microbial indicators and pathogens, water consumed and population characteristics used, and presents a case study of how the tool was applied. Water quality data and dose-response models were used to predict disease burdens due to microbial pathogens and arsenic. Disease burden estimates predicted by the tool were based on evidence in the published literature. There were uncertainties in key assumptions of water consumed and the ratio of microbial indicators and pathogens, which led to broad confidence intervals and the need to consider the results in a wider context and further research needs. Deep tubewells and rainwater harvesting had the lowest disease burden estimates, while pond sand filters and dug wells had much higher predicted disease burden due to frequent microbial contamination. The need for rigorous water supply protection through water safety plans was highlighted. At present, the risk assessment is useful for informing judgement by experienced water and health professionals and identifying key research questions. Improved arsenic dose-response models and a better understanding of the relationship between microbial indicators and pathogens in tropical settings are required.


Author(s):  
Pedro Henrique H.F. de Cristo ◽  

This paper presents the concept of the Digital Agora(DA): a physical + digital space for participatory democracy that responds to the global demand for more participation on the public decision making of cities by integrating specific public policies for instruments of direct democracy, spaces for systematization, synthesis and articulation, and effective technologies to generate a new calibration between representative and direct democracy at the city level.


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