scholarly journals A Study in Polish Housing Conditions. Methodology and Building Typology Characteristics

2013 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ewa Stachura
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Sustainable Consumption ◽  
Housing Conditions ◽  
New Paradigm ◽  
Complex Needs ◽  
Housing Environment ◽  
Functional Aspects ◽  
Building Typology ◽  
Housing Needs

Abstract The attributes of the housing environment constitute an important part of the quality of living. Flats and houses, as other products, fulfill the complex needs of users, starting with the provision of shelter and a sense of safety, to satisfaction associated with the social context of occupancy and the perception of its aesthetic values. The housing environment, more than other functional aspects of architecture, shapes the structure of modern cities, and its high quality standards are reflected in the urban potential that promotes economic growth. The new paradigm of sustainable consumption, which is becoming widely popular all over the world, affects housing needs and modifies the housing preferences in Poland. Changes should be monitored in reference to current housing needs in Poland, to have a better view on new trends, as present-day housing conditions affect consumers’ needs and preferences. Knowledge of the relations between the qualitative aspects of housing conditions and expectations should support architects, urban planners and local authorities in creating a functional and aesthetic housing environment endowed with the attributes attractive to occupants. The paper is focused on presenting certain aspects of the present-day housing conditions in Poland. Out of extensive research material resulting from empirical studies, issues that concern the types of settlements, occupancy period, form of ownership (flats or houses) and utilized space have been selected. The derived information enables the evaluation and interpretation of the quality of the housing environment and the occupants’ aspirations.

Assessing Medical Evidence

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacob Stegenga
Keyword(s):  
Quality Assessment ◽  
Randomized Trials ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Allocation Concealment ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Medical Evidence ◽  
Empirical Methods ◽  
First Order ◽  
First Order Methods

Medical scientists employ ‘quality assessment tools’ to assess evidence from medical research, especially from randomized trials. These tools are designed to take into account methodological details of studies, including randomization, subject allocation concealment, and other features of studies deemed relevant to minimizing bias. There are dozens of such tools available. They differ widely from each other, and empirical studies show that they have low inter-rater reliability and low inter-tool reliability. This is an instance of a more general problem called here the underdetermination of evidential significance. Disagreements about the quality of evidence can be due to different—but in principle equally good—weightings of the methodological features that constitute quality assessment tools. Thus, the malleability of empirical research in medicine is deep: in addition to the malleability of first-order empirical methods, such as randomized trials, there is malleability in the tools used to evaluate first-order methods.

scholarly journals Evolution of university governance in Morocco: Which impacts?

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 94
Author(s):  
Khalid Ayad ◽  
Khaoula Dobli Bennani ◽  
Mostafa Elhachloufi
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Economic Development ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
University Governance ◽  
General Review ◽  
Theoretical Literature ◽  
Quality Of Higher Education ◽  
The Subject ◽  
The Way

The concept of governance has become ubiquitous since it is recognized as an important tool for improving quality in all aspects of higher education.In Morocco, few scientific articles have dealt with the subject of university governance. Therefore, we will present a general review of the evolution of governance through laws and reforms established by Moroccan Governments from 1975 to 2019. The purpose of the study is to detect the extent of the presence of university governance principles in these reforms.This study enriches the theoretical literature on the crisis of Moroccan university and opens the way to new empirical studies to better understand the perception of university governance concept in the Moroccan context and to improve the quality of higher education and subsequently the economic development of the country.The findings of this study show an increasing evolution of the presence of university governance principles in reforms and higher education laws.

scholarly journals Mobile Networks and Internet of Things Infrastructures to Characterize Smart Human Mobility

Smart Cities ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 894-918
Author(s):  
Luís Rosa ◽  
Fábio Silva ◽  
Cesar Analide
Keyword(s):  
Internet Of Things ◽  
Mobile Networks ◽  
Smart Cities ◽  
Human Mobility ◽  
Rapid Development ◽  
Disruptive Technology ◽  
New Paradigm ◽  
Design And Optimization ◽  
High Level

The evolution of Mobile Networks and Internet of Things (IoT) architectures allows one to rethink the way smart cities infrastructures are designed and managed, and solve a number of problems in terms of human mobility. The territories that adopt the sensoring era can take advantage of this disruptive technology to improve the quality of mobility of their citizens and the rationalization of their resources. However, with this rapid development of smart terminals and infrastructures, as well as the proliferation of diversified applications, even current networks may not be able to completely meet quickly rising human mobility demands. Thus, they are facing many challenges and to cope with these challenges, different standards and projects have been proposed so far. Accordingly, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been utilized as a new paradigm for the design and optimization of mobile networks with a high level of intelligence. The objective of this work is to identify and discuss the challenges of mobile networks, alongside IoT and AI, to characterize smart human mobility and to discuss some workable solutions to these challenges. Finally, based on this discussion, we propose paths for future smart human mobility researches.

scholarly journals Mini-Implant-Retained Overdentures for the Rehabilitation of Completely Edentulous Maxillae: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (8) ◽  
pp. 4377
Author(s):  
Serena Vi ◽  
Damon Pham ◽  
Yu Yian Marina Du ◽  
Himanshu Arora ◽  
Santosh Kumar Tadakamadla
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Survival Rate ◽  
Data Extraction ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Implant Survival ◽  
Patient Reported ◽  
Full Text Review

Purpose: Mini-dental implants (MDIs) have been used to support and retain overdentures, providing patients with a less invasive placement procedure. Although lucrative, the use of MDIs to retain a maxillary overdenture is still not an established treatment modality. This systematic review aims to answer the question: Do mini-implant-retained maxillary overdentures provide a satisfactory treatment outcome for complete edentulism? Methods: A systematic search for relevant articles was conducted to include articles published until April 2021 in the following electronic databases: CINAHL, Cochrane, EMBASE, PubMed, and Web of Science. All empirical studies evaluating the biological, survival, or patient-reported outcomes after placing mini-implant-retained overdentures in maxilla were considered for inclusion. The risk of bias was assessed by utilizing the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal checklist. Study screening and data extraction were conducted by three reviewers independently. Results: The electronic search retrieved 1276 titles after omitting duplicates. Twenty articles were considered for full-text review, of which six studies were included in this systematic review. The included studies evaluated a total of 173 participants with a mean age of 66.3 years. The overall mini-implant survival rate was 77.1% (95% CI: 64.7–89.5%) with a mean follow-up time of 1.79 years (range: 6 months to 3 years). Implant survival differed significantly when comparing complete and partial palatal coverage overdentures. Those with complete palatal coverage exhibited less bone loss overall compared to partial coverage overdentures. Participants of all studies reported an increase in the quality of life and in satisfaction after rehabilitation treatment with MDIs. Conclusions: The survival rate of mini-implants retaining an overdenture in the maxilla was observed to be lower than the values reported for traditional implants in the literature. Improvements were observed in all aspects in terms of patient satisfaction, quality of life, oromyofunction, and articulation after the treatment.

Self-Perception of Voice and Swallowing Handicap in Parkinson’s Disease

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Alice K. Silbergleit ◽  
Lonni Schultz ◽  
Kendra Hamilton ◽  
Peter A. LeWitt ◽  
Christos Sidiropoulos
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Parkinson’S Disease ◽  
Parkinson's Disease ◽  
Disease Duration ◽  
Self Perception ◽  
Functional Aspects ◽  
Dysphagia Handicap Index ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship

Background: Hypokinetic dysarthria and dysphagia are known features of Parkinson’s disease; however, self-perception of their handicapping effects on emotional, physical, and functional aspects of quality of life over disease duration is less understood. Objective: 1) Based upon patient self-perception, to determine the relationship of the handicapping effects of dysphagia and dysphonia with time since diagnosis in individuals with Parkinson’s disease; 2)To determine if there is a relationship between voice and swallowing handicap throughout the course of Parkinson’s disease. Method: 277 subjects completed the Dysphagia Handicap Index and the Voice Handicap Index. Subjects were divided into three groups based on disease duration: 0–4 years, 5–9 years, and 10 + years. Results: Subjects in the longer duration group identified significantly greater perceptions of voice and swallowing handicap compared to the shorter duration groups. There was a significant positive correlation between the DHI and VHI. Conclusion: Self-perception of swallowing and voice handicap in Parkinson’s disease are associated with later stages of disease and progress in a linear fashion. Self-perception of voice and swallowing handicap parallel each other throughout disease progression in Parkinson’s disease. Individuals may be able to compensate for changes in voice and swallowing early while sensory perceptual feedback is intact. Results support early targeted questioning of patient self-perception of voice and swallowing handicap as identification of one problem indicates awareness of the other, thus creating an opportunity for early treatment and maintenance of swallowing and communication quality of life for as long as possible.

scholarly journals Guided Self-help Teletherapy for Behavioural Difficulties in Children with Epilepsy

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sophie Bennett ◽  
Isobel Heyman ◽  
Sophia Varadkar ◽  
Anna Coughtrey ◽  
Fahreen Walji ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Unmet Need ◽  
Hospital Setting ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Paediatric Hospital ◽  
Complex Needs ◽  
Self Help ◽  
Behavioural Difficulties

AbstractBehavioural difficulties impact greatly upon quality of life for children with chronic illness and their families but are often not identified or adequately treated, possibly due to the separation of physical and mental health services. This case study describes the content and outcomes of guided self-help teletherapy for behavioural difficulties in a child with epilepsy and complex needs using an evidence-based behavioural parenting protocol delivered within a paediatric hospital setting. Behavioural difficulties and progress towards the family’s self-identified goals were monitored at each session. Validated measures of mental health and quality of life in children were completed before and after intervention and satisfaction was measured at the end of treatment. Measures demonstrated clear progress towards the family’s goals and reduction in weekly ratings of behavioural difficulties. This case demonstrates that a guided self-help teletherapy approach delivered from within the paediatric setting may be one way of meeting unmet need.

scholarly journals Transnational sustainability certification for the bioeconomy? Patterns and discourse coalitions of resistance and alternatives in biomass exporting regions

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Vogelpohl
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Studies ◽  
General Pattern ◽  
New Paradigm ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
Governmental Organizations ◽  
Non Governmental Organizations ◽  
Political Economies ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Sustainability Standards ◽  
Discourse Coalitions

AbstractThe bioeconomy is nowadays widely proclaimed by governments and corporations around the world as a new paradigm for a sustainable economy. Essentially, it broadly denotes the promotion, development and establishment of the use of biogenic resources in diverse kinds of industrial technologies, production processes and products. Yet, in order for the bioeconomy to be sustainable, it has to be assured that these biogenic resources are sourced sustainably. In the last 30 years, transnational sustainability certification (TSC) has established itself as a popular instrument in this context, for example in the case of European biofuels sustainability regulation. In the last decade or so, however, TSC initiatives in several biomass production sectors like palm oil, soy, fruits, aquaculture or fisheries—mostly initiated by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and corporations from the Global North—are increasingly met with resistance from actors from the resource-producing countries, mostly located in the Global South. Issues brought up in this context concern their lack of legitimacy and respect for national regulatory sovereignty and conflicting priorities in terms of sustainable development. Consequently, governmental and corporate actors from the resource-producing countries have developed sustainability standards that now at least partly compete with TSC. Against this background, this contribution investigates this apparent dilemma of biomass certification by taking stock of existing TSC initiatives and territorial responses to them in several sectors of the bioeconomy in order to discover general patterns and dynamics of transnational biomass sustainability certification. This analysis is based on a review of existing empirical studies on these issues as well as on conceptual literature on discourse coalitions and transnational hybrid governance for the classification of the different aspects and developments in the individual sectors. Results show that TSC is indeed challenged in all sectors around story lines of sovereignty and sustainability, employed by closely associated state and industry actors in the specific context of the prevalent state-industry relations and the practices and institutions of the respective international political economies. Beyond this general pattern, these alternative systems take on different shapes and complex relations between transnational and territorial sustainability governance emerge that are not always antagonistic, but also exist in parallel or even complementarily and involve various hybrid configurations of public and private actors. Overall, this casts some doubt on the potential of TSC as an instrument to safeguard the sustainability of the bioeconomy and shows one of its potential pitfalls, which is reflected upon in the conclusion.

Rivigo

2017 ◽  
pp. 1-35
Author(s):  
G. Raghuram ◽  
Pooja Sanghani
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Service ◽  
Professional Organizations ◽  
New Paradigm ◽  
Market Segments ◽  
Logistics Industry ◽  
Iot Platform ◽  
The Future

Rivigo, a new entrant in the trucking business in India, believed that a new paradigm in the trucking/logistics industry could be brought about that would not only improve the quality of service dramatically, but also upgrade a truck driver's lifestyle. While the industry faced driver shortage largely due to long stays away from home, Rivigo hoped to attract drivers by offering them roles which would bring them back home in 24 hours. Drivers would be part of a relay, handing over the truck at pit stops. Further, they leveraged an IT-enabled IoT platform on a fleet of owned trucks. All this revolutionized most of the traditions then followed in the industry. The entrepreneur and his core team comprised professionals from premium institutes of the country, with experience in professional organizations in related domains. By offering services like assured delivery at half the time and full shipment visibility, Rivigo had to charge a premium to market segments that would value this. The case raises the question of sustainability in the future.

Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectrophotometry: An Ecofriendly Method for the Analysis of Injectable Daptomycin

2017 ◽  
Vol 100 (5) ◽  
pp. 1569-1576 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eliane Gandolpho Tótoli ◽  
Hérida Regina Nunes Salgado
Keyword(s):  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Sustainable Consumption ◽  
Toxic Waste ◽  
Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci ◽  
Ir Spectrophotometry ◽  
Vancomycin Resistant ◽  
Ftir Spectrophotometry ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Daptomycin (DPT) is an important antimicrobial agent used in clinical practice because it is very active against several types of medicinally challengingGram-positive bacteria, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and vancomycin-resistant Enterococci. In addition to concerns about the quality of the analytical methods used in the QC of drugs, there is also concern about the impact of these methods on the environment. The trend toward sustainable consumption is increasingly evident and has forced the pharmaceutical industry to reduce the generation of toxic waste. Inthis context, IR spectrophotometry stands out because it does not use organic solvents and, although it is formally accepted for the identification of individual compounds, also allows the quantification of substances. Therefore, the aim of this work was to develop and validate a green analytical method for theanalysis of DPT in a lyophilized powder for injection by FTIR spectrophotometry. The method involved absorbance measurements in the spectral region of 1700–1600 cm−1. The method was properly validated and found to be linear, precise, accurate, selective, and robust for the concentrationrange between 0.2 and 0.6 mg/150 mg. The validated method was able to quantify DPT powder for injection and can be used as an environmentally friendly alternative for routine analysis in QC.

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