Editorial

2007 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tade M Spranger

AbstractBoth the confidence of the international scientific community and the public hopes risen by stem cell technology were shaken one year ago by what is called the Korean stem cell scandal. The forgery conducted by one of Korea's major scientists led to several fundamental questions. Some of them refer to ethical aspects, while others concern legal facets: Are law and ethics really able to control scientific research in the field of biotechnology and biomedicine ? Which effects are exerted by the ”publish or perish” policy as well as the commercialisation of basic research on the quality of scientific work ? Is the practical relevance of stem cell research overestimated ? Has the relationship between principal researchers and their staff to be reviewed or even controlled according to tightened ethical and legal standards ?

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Izabela Grabowska ◽  
Radosław Antczak ◽  
Jan Zwierzchowski ◽  
Tomasz Panek

Abstract Background The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities [1] highlights the need to create proper socioeconomic and political conditions for persons with disabilities, with a special focus on their immediate living conditions. According to the Convention, these conditions should be built to ensure that persons with disabilities have the potential to enjoy a high quality of life (QoL), and this principle is reflected in the notion of livable areas. The crucial aspect of this framework is the relationship between the individual QoL and the environment, broadly understood as the socioeconomic as well as the technical conditions in which persons with disabilities function. Methods The basic research problem was to assess the relationship between individual QoL for the population with disabilities as a dependent variable and livability indicators as independent variables, controlling for individual characteristics. The study used a dataset from the EU-SILC (European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions) survey carried out in 2015 in Poland. The research concept involved several steps. First, we created a variable measuring the QoL for the entire population with disabilities. To measure the multidimensional QoL, we used Sen’s capability approach as a general concept, which was operationalized by the MIMIC (multiple indicators multiple causes) model. In the second step, we identified the livability indicators available in the official statistics, and merged them with survey data. Finally, in the last step, we ran the regression analysis. We also checked the data for the nested structure. Results We confirmed that the general environmental conditions, focused on creating livable areas, played a significant role in shaping the QoL of persons with disabilities; i.e., we found that the higher the level of the local Human Development Index, the higher the quality of life of the individuals living in this area. This relationship held even after controlling for the demographic characteristics of the respondents. Moreover, we found that in addition to the general environmental conditions, the conditions created especially for persons with disabilities (i.e., services for this group and support for their living conditions) affected the QoL of these individuals. Conclusions The results illustrate the need to strengthen policies aimed at promoting the QoL of persons with disabilities by creating access to community assets and services that can contribute to improving the life chances of this population.


1985 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 165-186 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Hudson

The past decade has seen the growth of a considerable literature on the link between government popularity, as reflected by the proportion of the public indicating their intention to vote for the government in opinion polls, and the state of the economy, as represented by certain key variables. The work began in the early 1970s with articles by Goodhart and Bhansali, Mueller, and Kramer. It continued through the decade; some of the more recent contributions can be found in a set of readings edited by Hibbs and Fassbender. However, despite the amount and quality of this work, problems remain. Principal amongst these, as Chrystal and Alt have pointed out, is the inability to estimate a relationship which exhibits any degree of stability either over time or between researchers. Nearly all the studies have been successful in finding a significant relationship for specific time periods, but when these are extended, or when the function is used to forecast outside the original estimation period, the relationship appears to break down.


Numeracy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven Harrison

Although research into the relationship between quantitative literacy (QL) and news reporting is sparse, the consensus among researchers is that journalists tend not to place QL very highly among their professional values and that journalism suffers as a consequence. This paper is an attempt to provide concrete examples of the ways in which news reports systemically misinterpret, misrepresent, or misuse numerical data as part of the reporting process. Drawing on scenarios ranging from elections and healthcare to the mundane world of food preparation, it shows how a lack of rigour in the fields of reporting and news production can lead to a diminution in the quality of journalism presented to the public. It is argued that while the effect of this can sometimes be trivial, on occasion it is literally a matter of life and death.


Author(s):  
N. D. Borshchik ◽  

The peer-reviewed monograph is devoted to a number of topical issues, including the seizure and forced development of foreign territories and material resources, the existence of slavery, racial discrimination and even genocide of the local population. These phenomena in one form or another exist in modern reality. The merit of the author's team under the leadership of professor S. V. Lyubichankovskiy lies in the very formulation of a complex and debatable research problem: the relationship between the concepts of “acculturation” and “colonialism”, the existence of a state mechanism for the implementation of colonial policy and its evolution, the study of the phenomenon of the existence of the Russian Empire itself arouse keen interest of specialists in various branches of scientific knowledge. The authors did significant work to define the research terminology, to develop unified approaches and methods for solving tasks, which, in general, determined the quality of scientific work: the book under review can be evaluated as a major achievement of modern Russian historical science.


F1000Research ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. 56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giorgio Scita ◽  
Carmen Sorrentino ◽  
Andrea Boggio ◽  
David Hemenway ◽  
Andrea Ballabeni

Basic scientific research generates knowledge that has intrinsic value which is independent of future applications. Basic research may also lead to practical benefits, such as a new drug or diagnostic method.  Building on our previous study of basic biomedical and biological researchers at Harvard, we present findings from a new survey of similar scientists from three countries.  This survey asked about the scientists’ motivations, goals and perspectives along with their attitudes concerning  policies designed to increase both the practical (i.e. public health) benefits of basic research as well as their own personal satisfaction. Close to 900 basic investigators responded to the survey; results corroborate the main findings from the previous survey of Harvard scientists.  In addition, we find that most bioscientists disfavor present policies that require a discussion of the public health potential of their proposals in grants but generally favor softer policies aimed at increasing the quality of work and the potential practical benefits of basic research. In particular, bioscientists are generally supportive of those policies entailing the organization of more meetings between scientists and the general public, the organization of more academic discussion about the role of scientists in the society, and the implementation of a “basic bibliography” for each new approved drug.


2019 ◽  
pp. 26
Author(s):  
Antonio Díaz Sotelo

ResumenEl objeto de este texto es la exposición y análisis de los procedimientos de intervención pública en el paisaje urbano de la ciudad de Madrid. El objetivo último de ese análisis es identificar el modelo público para el paisaje urbano en Madrid.  Este texto se centra en la exposición analítica de documentos oficiales antes que en sus conclusiones definitivas, por lo que le corresponde la denominación de Informe.  Este informe se organiza en dos partes: una exposición teórica que enmarca el posterior análisis de instrumentos administrativos de intervención en el paisaje.  Se concibe como parte de la investigación de Tesis Doctoral titulada “Transformación Reciente del Paisaje Comercial en el Centro Histórico”, acotada en un marco temporal de apenas diez años, marcado por la crisis y la desregulación económica, y en un marco territorial limitado al centro histórico de Madrid. Esa investigación se enmarca en una reflexión general sobre la relación entre actividad económica y paisaje urbano. El interés de este informe para la investigación es sobre la utilidad de ese modelo público para el paisaje urbano en Madrid como parámetro para valorar la rentabilidad de los esfuerzos públicos y privados en la mejora de la calidad del paisaje urbano.AbstractThe purpose of this text is the exhibition and analysis of public intervention procedures in the urban landscape of the city of Madrid. The ultimate goal of this analysis is to identify the public model for the urban landscape in Madrid. This text focuses on the analytical exposition of official documents rather than on their final conclusions, for which reason the denomination of Report corresponds. This report is organized in two parts: a theoretical exposition that frames the subsequent analysis of administrative instruments of intervention in the landscape. It is conceived as part of the Doctoral Thesis research titled "Recent Transformation of the Commercial Landscape in the Historic Center", bounded within a period of just ten years, marked by the crisis and economic deregulation, and in a territorial framework limited to the historic center of Madrid. This research is part of a general reflexion on the relationship between economic activity and urban landscape. The interest of this report for the investigation is about the utility of that public model for the urban landscape in Madrid as a parameter to assess the profitability of public and private efforts in improving the quality of the urban landscape.


2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
A C Martins ◽  
P Francisco

Abstract Introduction Recognizing that AT service characteristics, including knowledge and reasoning of providers, play a potential role in the appropriated selection and training, with impact on the psychosocial domains of QoL. In Portugal, AT services are detected to be ineffective concerning evaluation, recommendation, advocacy, training and outcome measuring, what could be a reason for these findings. Objectives To investigate the relationship between AT services characteristics and psychosocial impact of the wheelchairs on users QoL to get insights to new approach models in physiotherapy. Methodology Procedures included answering to self-administered questionnaires at their own. The dependent variable was the psychosocial impact of assistive devices (PIADS) and the independent variables were satisfaction with AT (QUEST) and AT service characteristics. Results Participants were 184 wheelchair users for more than one year with diverse diagnosis; age M = 37.3 years, recruited at physiotherapy/rehabilitation settings in Portugal. Wheelchair users are more satisfied with devices than with AT services. Correlations between psychosocial impact of wheelchair are moderate regarding the satisfaction of device dimension, measured by QUEST. No corrections were found to satisfaction with service dimension Manual wheelchair users scored lower psychosocial impact than motorized wheelchair users and that difference was statistically significant. Conclusion PT should be aware of the newest high technology devices introduced on the market, payment sources and state AT programs as well as destigmatize dependence associated to AT. We got significant insights to AT field and to the development of PT curriculum; PT students need more than the basic level of knowledge and training they achieved at school to feel prepared to provide AT services. After graduation, PTs need continuing education on AT. Strategies are discussed on this report.


2019 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 161-169 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haruka Kasamatsu ◽  
Akiko Tsuchida ◽  
Kenta Matsumura ◽  
Moeko Shimao ◽  
Kei Hamazaki ◽  
...  

AbstractBackgroundPostpartum depression is a major mental health issue. It not only adversely affects the mother's quality of life, but also mother-infant bonding. However, the relationship between postpartum depression (at multiple points after childbirth) and mother-infant bonding failure one year after birth is not well understood. This study investigates the relationship between postpartum depression at 1-month and 6-month after birth and mother-infant bonding failure at 1 year after birth with a large cohort.MethodsData from 83 109 mothers from the Japan Environment and Children's Study were analyzed. Mother-infant bonding 1-year after delivery was assessed using the Mother-to-Infant Bonding Scale Japanese version (MIBS-J). Postpartum depression was measured using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) at 1-month and 6-month after delivery. Twenty covariates during pregnancy and one month after delivery were controlled for deriving the odds ratios (ORs) describing postpartum depression to mother-infant bonding.ResultsEPDS Total Score crude ORs and adjusted ORs against the MIBS-J Total Score at 1-month and 6-month after delivery were calculated. Crude ORs were 1.111 (95% CI 1.110–1.112) and 1.122 (95% CI 1.121–1.124) respectively. In the fully adjusted model, ORs were 1.088 (95% CI 1.086–1.089) and 1.085 (95% CI 1.083–1.087), respectively.ConclusionsThis study demonstrated prospectively, in a large-scale cohort, that depression at multiple postpartum points, including associations with each EPDS and MIBS-J factors, may be a robust predictor of mother-infant bonding failure 1-year after birth.


Author(s):  
Hassan Shehzad ◽  
Dr Muhammad Zaman ◽  
Shane Zahra

The aim of this research paper was to tap the role of anchorpersons of talk shows in promotion of media agenda and shaping political reality through measuring correspondence between time consumed by the anchorpersons and panel of experts. For the purpose, systematic random sampling technique has been used to select prime time talk shows of Geo News for one year. On the basis of wide coverage, three issues memo gate, law and order and corruption were selected to gauge the relationship between the variables. The results show a significant correlation between slant for the issues and time consumed by the anchors has been observed on all the three issues. The results showed that more the time grabbed by anchorpersons, more the programs remained in unfavorable state towards government. The results also revealed that 71% of total talk shows’ time was grabbed by the anchorpersons while panel of experts allotted 29% percent time in the issues. Anchorpersons remained unfavorable and biased in its deliberations towards government to a great extent by snatching the maximum time of the programs for molding the public opinion in a certain direction.


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