scholarly journals Standards as applied in reality: a case study on the translation of standards in eHealth evaluation practice

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Monika Jurkeviciute
Keyword(s):  
The Elderly ◽  
Target Population ◽  
Evaluation Study ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Practical Application ◽  
Evaluation Practice ◽  
Sequence Of Events ◽  
Chronological Sequence ◽  
E Mail

Abstract Background Application of standards is a way to increase quality in an evaluation study. However, standards are used insufficiently in eHealth evaluation, affecting the generalization of the knowledge generated. This study aimed to explore how standards are used in a practical setting of an eHealth evaluation, and to identify the factors that can hinder their use. Methods The data were collected in a multi-national and interdisciplinary eHealth evaluation study targeted at the elderly people suffering from mild cognitive impairment and mild dementia. The study was carried out in four countries and funded by the European Union. The collected data included meeting minutes (n = 8) and e-mail correspondence (n = 261) between partners. The chronological sequence of events related to the use of standards was established. Subsequently, the hindering factors related to the use of standards were identified from the sequence. Results The use of four standards was described, reflecting a variety of related processes or barriers that emerge during eHealth evaluation. The processes differed based on the type of the standard. Specifically, evaluation frameworks were found to be conceptual standards and they were easy to agree upon, while standardized metrics were more tangible and their use triggered negotiations. Further, the following factors hindered the use of standards in eHealth evaluations: (1) inadequacy of a standard to address a target population or a disease, (2) insufficient resources to use a standard, (3) lack of experience in using a standard, and (4) lack of validation of a standard in a particular location. Conclusions Standardization initiatives in eHealth evaluation provide a blueprint for evaluation, but their practical application is problematic. The practical circumstances of an evaluation study can cause deviations in the standards, thus producing heterogeneity in the evaluation methodologies.

scholarly journals BETTER CITIZENS - HUMANITARIAN AND GENDER TRAINING, EUTM SOMALIA

2016 ◽  
pp. 35-44
Author(s):  
Garry McKeon
Keyword(s):  
Armed Forces ◽  
Humanitarian Law ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Practical Application ◽  
Daily Lives ◽  
Irish Case ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Female Soldiers ◽  
The Eu

This paper is concerned with the practical application of UNSCR 1325 and other related UN Resolutions and associated doctrine regarding gender training. It focuses in particular on training a group of individuals as culturally and educationally diverse as those trained by the EU in the European Union Training Mission (EUTM) Somalia. It serves as an Irish case study on a humanitarian and gender training mission, based on personal experience from the mission. The article considers how to teach an effectively illiterate group of male and female soldiers in gender and humanitarian law, as well as in the implications of the Law on Armed Conflict (LOAC). The article endeavours to give a perspective from a tactical viewpoint on the challenges of delivering a meaningful explanation, the practical application of the efforts of the International community in dealing with the horrors of conflict, the manner in which responsible soldiers and citizens are expected to behave in the resolution of conflict, and the development of a society transitioning from crisis to modernity. In developing a programme for the delivery of lectures, cognisance was given to the very low base the soldiers were starting from and also to determining the aim and scope of the lectures. The measure of their success is how the soldiers reacted to scenario-based exercises, incorporating issues on the application of the LOAC and the aspects of gender they may find in their daily lives as soldiers in the Armed Forces of Somalia. The measure was successfully identified by the EUTM instructors at the end of the training period as a positive reflection of the delivery. Prispevek obravnava praktično uporabo Resolucije Varnostnega sveta Organizacije združenih narodov 1325 in drugih sorodnih resolucij ter pripadajoče doktrine, povezane z usposabljanjem na področju spola. Še posebej se ukvarja z usposabljanjem kulturno in izobrazbeno tako raznolike skupine posameznikov, kot so bili udeleženci usposabljanja EU na misiji EUTM Somalija. Prispevek je irska študija primera o misiji za usposabljanje s področja humanitarnosti in spola ter temelji na osebnih izkušnjah z misije. Osredotoča se na vprašanje, kako učinkovito izobraziti skupino pripadnikov in pripadnic oboroženih sil o enakosti spolov in humanitarnem pravu ter globljem pomenu prava oboroženih spopadov. Avtor skuša predstaviti taktični vidik izzivov pri podajanju smiselne razlage in praktični uporabi prizadevanj mednarodne skupnosti za spoprijemanje z grozotami spopadov ter način ravnanja odgovornih vojakov in državljanov pri reševanju sporov in razvoj družbe pri prehodu iz krize v sodobno ureditev. Pri oblikovanju programa predavanj je bilo upoštevano nizko osnovno znanje vojakov na usposabljanju, pozornost pa je bila namenjena tudi določitvi ciljev in obsega predavanj. Merilo uspešnosti je bil odziv udeležencev v različnih scenarijih, ki so vključevali vprašanja uporabe prava oboroženih spopadov in vidika enakosti spolov, s katerimi se kot pripadniki somalijskih oboroženih sil srečujejo v vsakodnevnem življenju. Uspešnost usposabljanja je bila po mnenju inštruktorjev EUTM pozitiven odraz predavanj.

Determinants and barriers of PV self-consumption in Spain from the perception of the installers for the promotion of distributed energy systems

2020 ◽  
pp. 153-169
Author(s):  
José Ángel Gimeno ◽  
Eva Llera Sastresa ◽  
Sabina Scarpellini
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Energy Transition ◽  
Legal Framework ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Distributed Energy ◽  
Sustainable Solutions ◽  
Highly Sensitive ◽  
Transition Scenario

Currently, self-consumption and distributed energy facilities are considered as viable and sustainable solutions in the energy transition scenario within the European Union. In a low carbon society, the exploitation of renewables for self-consumption is closely tied to the energy market at the territorial level, in search of a compromise between competitiveness and the sustainable exploitation of resources. Investments in these facilities are highly sensitive to the existence of favourable conditions at the territorial level, and the energy policies adopted in the European Union have contributed positively to the distributed renewables development and the reduction of their costs in the last decade. However, the number of the installed facilities is uneven in the European Countries and those factors that are more determinant for the investments in self-consumption are still under investigation. In this scenario, this paper presents the main results obtained through the analysis of the determinants in self-consumption investments from a case study in Spain, where the penetration of this type of facilities is being less relevant than in other countries. As a novelty of this study, the main influential drivers and barriers in self-consumption are classified and analysed from the installers' perspective. On the basis of the information obtained from the installers involved in the installation of these facilities, incentives and barriers are analysed within the existing legal framework and the potential specific lines of the promotion for the effective deployment of self-consumption in an energy transition scenario.

A Cooperative Computer Game for Public Efficiency Development

2014 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 4760-4766
Author(s):  
Sachchida Nand Prasad
Keyword(s):  
Group Therapy ◽  
Group Work ◽  
Computer Games ◽  
Computer Game ◽  
Target Population ◽  
Design Interfaces ◽  
Design Case Study ◽  
Effective Group ◽  
Public Group

This paper presents a design case study of SIDES: Design Interfaces to Develop Effective Public Efficiency. SIDES is a tool designed to help adolescents in Public group therapy, specifically individuals with Asperser’s Syndrome, practice effective group work efficiency using a four-player cooperative computer game that runs on computer games technology. We are represent the design process and evaluation of SIDES conducted over a period of six months with a middle school Public group therapy class. Our findings indicate that   computer games   are a motivating and supported tool for effective group work among. My target population and reveal different design lessons to inform the development of similar systems.

Optimizing preventive maintenance over a finite planning horizon in a semi-Markov framework

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonio Sánchez Herguedas ◽  
Adolfo Crespo Márquez ◽  
Francisco Rodrigo Muñoz
Keyword(s):  
Preventive Maintenance ◽  
Recurrence Relations ◽  
Direct Calculation ◽  
Planning Horizon ◽  
Practical Implementation ◽  
Practical Application ◽  
Mathematical Solution ◽  
Accumulated Reward ◽  
Finite Planning Horizon

Abstract This paper describes the optimization of preventive maintenance (PM) over a finite planning horizon in a semi-Markov framework. In this framework, the asset may be operating, and providing income for the asset owner, or not operating and undergoing PM, or not operating and undergoing corrective maintenance following failure. PM is triggered when the asset has been operating for τ time units. A number m of transitions specifies the finite horizon. This system is described with a set of recurrence relations, and their z-transform is used to determine the value of τ that maximizes the average accumulated reward over the horizon. We study under what conditions a solution can be found, and for those specific cases the solution τ* is calculated. Despite the complexity of the mathematical solution, the result obtained allows the analyst to provide a quick and easy-to-use tool for practical application in many real-world cases. To demonstrate this, the method has been implemented for a case study, and its accuracy and practical implementation were tested using Monte Carlo simulation and direct calculation.

scholarly journals Operational and Safety Management at Intersections: Can the Turbo-Roundabout Be an Effective Alternative to Conventional Solutions?

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 5103
Author(s):  
Vincenzo Gallelli ◽  
Giusi Perri ◽  
Rosolino Vaiana
Keyword(s):  
Traffic Congestion ◽  
Safety Management ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Assessment Model ◽  
Pollutant Emission ◽  
Emission Rates ◽  
The European Union ◽  
European Union Policy ◽  
Union Policy

The European Union policy strategies on the sustainability of the transport system pursue the goals of maximizing safety and environmental benefits and reducing the severity and frequency of crashes, congestion, and pollutant emission rates. A common issue is the planning of the most effective solution for operational and safety management at intersections. In this study, an egg turbo roundabout is proposed as the alternative solution to a conventional roundabout in Southern Italy which suffers from traffic congestion. A comparative analysis is carried out using microsimulation techniques to investigate the safety effects and operational improvements of converting a traditional priority intersection into standard roundabout or turbo roundabout layout. In particular, the VISSIM software is used to explore the most relevant operational performance measures: queue length, travel times and delays. The lowest values of these measurements are recorded for the simulated turbo roundabout, thus making this scheme more appropriate in terms of operational performances. With regard to safety analysis, the Surrogate Safety Assessment Model (SSAM) is used to collect information on the predicted number of conflicts, the probability, and severity of the potential collisions. The results suggest that, for the specific case study, the safety levels of the standard roundabout and the turbo roundabout are approximately comparable.

scholarly journals Decision-Making Processes in Controlling Exposure to Sunlight Supported by Simulation Tools: A Case Study in Warm Weather

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (14) ◽  
pp. 4100
Author(s):  
Mariana Huskinson ◽  
Antonio Galiano-Garrigós ◽  
Ángel Benigno González-Avilés ◽  
M. Isabel Pérez-Millán
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Global Analysis ◽  
Energy Performance ◽  
Information Modeling ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Evaluation Tool ◽  
Simulation Tools ◽  
Building Information ◽  
The Impact

Improving the energy performance of existing buildings is one of the main strategies defined by the European Union to reduce global energy costs. Amongst the actions to be carried out in buildings to achieve this objective is working with passive measures adapted to each type of climate. To assist designers in the process of finding appropriate solutions for each building and location, different tools have been developed and since the implementation of building information modeling (BIM), it has been possible to perform an analysis of a building’s life cycle from an energy perspective and other types of analysis such as a comfort analysis. In the case of Spain, the first BIM environment tool has been implemented that deals with the global analysis of a building’s behavior and serves as an alternative to previous methods characterized by their lack of both flexibility and information offered to designers. This paper evaluates and compares the official Spanish energy performance evaluation tool (Cypetherm) released in 2018 using a case study involving the installation of sunlight control devices as part of a building refurbishment. It is intended to determine how databases and simplifications affect the designer’s decision-making. Additionally, the yielded energy results are complemented by a comfort analysis to explore the impact of these improvements from a users’ wellbeing viewpoint. At the end of the process the yielded results still confirm that the simulation remains far from reality and that simulation tools can indeed influence the decision-making process.

scholarly journals Global online platforms, COVID-19, and culture: The global pandemic, an accelerator towards which direction?

2021 ◽  
pp. 016344372199453
Author(s):  
Antonios Vlassis
Keyword(s):  
Soft Power ◽  
Asia Pacific ◽  
Policy Framework ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Online Platforms ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Major Development ◽  
The Us ◽  
Media Platform

The article proposes to consider the COVID-19 global pandemic as new major development for cultural industries and policies and to highlight timely and crucial trends due to the lockdown measures. Thus, it attempts to stimulate the scholarship debate regarding the consequences of the pandemic to the action of global online platforms, as well as to policy and economic aspects of cultural sectors. Taking as case study the audio-visual sector, the article explores whether the US global streaming platforms are the winning players of the lockdown measures and emphasizes the multifaceted strategies developed by US-based platforms in order to strengthen their soft power. Focusing on China and the European Union, the article also argues that the overwhelming action of US-based online platforms triggers the potential emergence of media platform regionalization in the context of COVID-19 pandemic. Finally, it highlights the regulatory challenges and how the new empirical trends are expected to shape the current audio-visual policy framework. The analysis focuses on the period between the beginning of global pandemic in Asia-Pacific in January 2020 and the progressive easing of lockdown measures in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific in July 2020.

scholarly journals R–R–T (resistance–resilience–transformation) typology reveals differential conservation approaches across ecosystems and time

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Guillaume Peterson St-Laurent ◽  
Lauren E. Oakes ◽  
Molly Cross ◽  
Shannon Hagerman
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
Climate Change Adaptation ◽  
Conservation Practices ◽  
Practical Application ◽  
Empirical Assessment ◽  
Transformative Action ◽  
Conservation Actions

AbstractConservation practices during the first decade of the millennium predominantly focused on resisting changes and maintaining historical or current conditions, but ever-increasing impacts from climate change have highlighted the need for transformative action. However, little empirical evidence exists on what kinds of conservation actions aimed specifically at climate change adaptation are being implemented in practice, let alone how transformative these actions are. In response, we propose and trial a novel typology—the R–R–T scale, which improves on existing concepts of Resistance, Resilience, and Transformation—that enables the practical application of contested terms and the empirical assessment of whether and to what extent a shift toward transformative action is occurring. When applying the R–R–T scale to a case study of 104 adaptation projects funded since 2011, we find a trend towards transformation that varies across ecosystems. Our results reveal that perceptions about the acceptance of novel interventions in principle are beginning to be expressed in practice.

scholarly journals A Dieldrin Case Study: Another Evidence of an Obsolete Substance in the European Soil Environment

Agriculture ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 314
Author(s):  
Petros Tsiantas ◽  
Evangelia N. Tzanetou ◽  
Helen Karasali ◽  
Konstantinos M. Kasiotis
Keyword(s):  
Active Substance ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Carcinogenic Risk ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Soil Environment ◽  
Single Application ◽  
Environmental Concentration ◽  
Tandem Mass Spectrometric ◽  
Potential Use

Soil constitutes a central environmental compartment that, due to natural and anthropogenic activities, is a recipient of several contaminants. Among them, organochlorine pesticides are of major concern, even though they have been banned decades ago in the European Union, due to their persistence and the health effects they can elicit. In the presented work, a gas chromatographic tandem mass spectrometric (GC-MS/MS) developed method was applied to soil samples after the suspected and potential use of formulations containing organochlorine active substance. One soil sample was positive to dieldrin at 0.018 mg kg−1. Predicted environmental concentration in soil (PECsoil) considering a single application of this active substance potentially attributed the finding in its past use. The subsequent health risk assessment showed negligible non-carcinogenic risk and tolerable carcinogenic risk. The latter signifies that repetitive and prolonged sampling can unveil the pragmatic projection of persistent chemicals’ residues in the soil.

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