scholarly journals Achieving Quality Forest and Landscape Restoration in the Tropics

Forests ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 820 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liz Ota ◽  
Robin L. Chazdon ◽  
John Herbohn ◽  
Nestor Gregorio ◽  
Sharif A. Mukul ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Landscape Restoration ◽  
Spatial Coverage ◽  
The World ◽  
The Tropics ◽  
Incremental Process ◽  
Over Time

Forest and landscape restoration (FLR) is being carried out across the world to meet ambitious global goals. However, the scale of these efforts combined with the timeframe in which they are supposed to take place may compromise the quality of restoration, and thus limit the persistence of restoration on the landscape. This paper presents a synthesis of ten case studies identified as FLR to critically analyse implemented initiatives, their outcomes, and main challenges, with an eye to improving future efforts. The identified FLR projects are diverse in terms of their spatial coverage, objectives; types of interventions; and initial socioeconomic, institutional, and environmental conditions. The six principles of FLR—which have been widely adopted in theory by large global organisations—are inadequately addressed across the initiatives presented here. The identified FLR project or interventions, although expected to offer diverse benefits, face many challenges including the lack of long-term sustainability of project interventions, limited uptake by regional and national agencies, limited monitoring, reporting and learning, poor governance structures, and technical barriers, which are mainly owing to institutional weaknesses. On the basis of these cases, we propose that the best pathway to achieving FLR is via an incremental process in which a smaller number of more achievable objectives are set and implemented over time, rather than setting highly ambitious targets that implementers struggle to achieve.

scholarly journals An intercomparison of tropical cyclone best-track products for the Southwest Pacific

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew D. Magee ◽  
Danielle C. Verdon-Kidd ◽  
Anthony S. Kiem
Keyword(s):  
Tropical Cyclone ◽  
Tropical Cyclones ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Tropical Cyclogenesis ◽  
Southwest Pacific ◽  
Temporal Differences ◽  
Joint Typhoon Warning Center ◽  
Over Time

Abstract. Recent efforts to understand tropical cyclone (TC) activity in the Southwest Pacific (SWP) have led to the development of numerous TC databases. The methods used to compile each database vary and are based on data from different meteorological centres, standalone TC databases and archived synoptic charts. Therefore the aims of this study are to (i) examine spatial and temporal differences between the TC databases, and, (ii) investigate how changes in observational technology influence the temporal quality of TC records over time. To achieve this, we compare three best-track TC databases for the SWP region (0°–35°S, 135°E–120°W) from 1945–2011: the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC), the International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship (IBTrACS), and the Southwest Pacific Enhanced Archive of Tropical Cyclones (SPEArTC). The results of this study suggest that SPEArTC is the most complete repository of TCs for the SWP region. In particular, we show that the SPEArTC database includes a number of additional TCs, not included in either the JTWC or IBTrACS database. These SPEArTC events do occur under environmental conditions conducive to tropical cyclogenesis (TC genesis). Further, while changes in observational technologies from 1945 have undoubtedly improved our ability to detect and monitor TCs, we show that the number of TCs detected prior to the satellite era (1945–1969) are not statistically different to those in the post-satellite era (post-1970). Although studies on TC intensity should be limited to post-satellite/post-geostationary satellite eras only, this study suggests that SPEArTC data (from 1945) may be used to investigate long-term variability of TC counts and TC genesis locations.

scholarly journals Psychometric validation of the Chinese version of the PaArticular Scales among elderly residents in long-term care facilities with joint contractures

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi-chang Chen ◽  
Keh-chung Lin ◽  
Chen-Jung Chen ◽  
Shu-Hui Yeh ◽  
Ay-Woan Pan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
World Health Organization ◽  
Long Term Care ◽  
Chinese Version ◽  
World Health ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Joint Contractures ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization

Abstract Background Joint contractures, which affect activity, participation, and quality of life, are common complications of neurological conditions among elderly residents in long-term care facilities. This study examined the reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the PaArticular Scales in a population with joint contractures. Methods A cross-sectional study design was used. The sample included elderly residents older than 64 years with joint contractures in an important joint who had lived at one of 12 long-term care facilities in Taiwan for more than 6 months (N = 243). The Chinese version of the PaArticular Scales for joint contractures was generated from the English version through five stages: translation, review, back-translation, review by a panel of specialists, and a pretest. Test-retest reliability, internal consistency reliability, construct validity, and criterion validity were evaluated, and the results were compared with those for the World Health Organization Quality of Life scale and the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule. Results The Chinese version of the PaArticular Scales had excellent reliability, with a Cronbach α coefficient of 0.975 (mean score, 28.98; standard deviation, 17.34). An exploratory factor analysis showed three factors and one factor with an eigenvalue > 1 that explained 75.176 and 62.83 % of the total variance in the Activity subscale and Participation subscale, respectively. The subscale-to-total scale correlation analysis showed Pearson correlation coefficients of 0.881 for the Activity subscale and 0.843 for the Participation subscale. Pearson’s product-moment correlation revealed that the correlation coefficient (r) between the Chinese version of the PaArticular Scales and the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule was 0.770, whereas that for the World Health Organization Quality of Life scale was − 0.553; these values were interpreted as large coefficients. Conclusions The underlying theoretical model of the Chinese version of the PaArticular Scales functions well in Taiwan and has acceptable levels of reliability and validity. However, the Chinese version must be further tested for applicability and generalizability in future studies, preferably with a larger sample and in different clinical domains.

scholarly journals CTNI-01. EFFECT OF STEREOTACTIC RADIOSURGERY COMPARED TO WHOLE-BRAIN RADIOTHERAPY FOR LIMITED BRAIN METASTASIS ON LONG TERM COGNITION AND QUALITY OF LIFE: A POOLED ANALYSIS OF RANDOMIZED CLINICAL TRIALS

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. ii40-ii41
Author(s):  
Joshua Palmer ◽  
Brett Klamer ◽  
Karla Ballman ◽  
Paul Brown ◽  
Jane Cerhan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Randomized Clinical Trials ◽  
Whole Brain Radiotherapy ◽  
Pooled Analysis ◽  
Cognitive Outcomes ◽  
Phase Iii ◽  
Brain Radiotherapy ◽  
Over Time

Abstract PURPOSE We investigated the long term impact of SRS and WBRT in two large prospective phase III trials. METHODS Patients with 1–4 BMs +/- resection were randomized to SRS or WBRT. Cognitive deterioration was a drop of >1 standard deviation from baseline in >2/6 cognitive measures (CM). Quality of life (QOL) scores were scored 0–100 point scale. CM and QOL scores were modeled using baseline adjusted Linear Mixed Models (LMM) with uncorrelated random intercept for subject and random slopes for time. Differences over time between groups and the effect of >2 cognitive scores with >2 SD change from baseline were assessed. RESULTS 88 patients were included with median follow up of 24 months. We observed decreasing CM over time (SRS: 4/6; WBRT: 5/6). Mean CM was significantly higher in SRS for Total recall and Delayed Recall at 3, 6, 9, 12 months. More patients in WBRT arm declined 1 SD in >1 and >2 CM at the 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. A 1 SD decline in >3 CM at 1 year was 21% SRS vs 47% WBRT (p=0.02). SRS had fewer patients with a 2 SD decline in >1 CM at every time point. SRS had fewer patients with a 2 SD decline at >2 and >3 CM. WBRT had lower QOL at 3 months, but switched to SRS having lower QOL at 24 months for PWB, EWB, FWB, FactG, BR, and FactBR (p< 0.05). A 2 SD decline in cognition decreased mean FWB by 6.4 units (95% CI: -11, -1.75; p=0.007) and decreased QOL by 5.1 units (95% CI: -7.7, -2.5; p< 0.001). CONCLUSIONS We report the first pooled prospective study demonstrating the long term outcomes of patients with BMs after cranial radiation. WBRT was associated with worse cognitive outcomes. Impaired cognition is associated with worse QOL.

scholarly journals Long term outcome of functional independence and quality of life after traumatic SCI in Germany

Spinal Cord ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Florian Möller ◽  
Rüdiger Rupp ◽  
Norbert Weidner ◽  
Christoph Gutenbrunner ◽  
Yorck B. Kalke ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Functional Independence ◽  
Term Outcome ◽  
Long Term Outcome ◽  
Cord Injury ◽  
Over Time

Abstract Study design Multicenter observational study. Objective To describe the long-term outcome of functional independence and quality of life (QoL) for individuals with traumatic and ischemic SCI beyond the first year after injury. Setting A multicenter study in Germany. Methods Participants of the European multicenter study about spinal cord injury (EMSCI) of three German SCI centers were included and followed over time by the German spinal cord injury cohort study (GerSCI). Individuals’ most recent spinal cord independence measure (SCIM) scores assessed by a clinician were followed up by a self-report (SCIM-SR) and correlated to selected items of the WHO short survey of quality of life (WHO-QoL-BREF). Results Data for 359 individuals were obtained. The average time passed the last clinical SCIM examination was 81.47 (SD 51.70) months. In total, 187 of the 359 received questionnaires contained a completely evaluable SCIM-SR. SCIM scores remained stable with the exception of reported management of bladder and bowel resulting in a slight decrease of SCIM-SR of −2.45 points (SD 16.81). SCIM-SR scores showed a significant correlation with the selected items of the WHO-QoL-BREF (p < 0.01) with moderate to strong influence. Conclusion SCIM score stability over time suggests a successful transfer of acquired independence skills obtained during primary rehabilitation into the community setting paralleled by positively related QoL measurements but bladder and bowel management may need special attention.

Protected Areas: offering security to whom, when and where?

2016 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 172-180 ◽  
Author(s):  
ALICE B. KELLY ◽  
A. CLARE GUPTA
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Protected Area ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Local Population ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Economic Context ◽  
Term Management ◽  
Over Time

SUMMARYThis study considers the issue of security in the context of protected areas in Cameroon and Botswana. Though the literature on issues of security and well-being in relation to protected areas is extensive, there has been less discussion of how and in what ways these impacts and relationships can change over time, vary with space and differ across spatial scales. Looking at two very different historical trajectories, this study considers the heterogeneity of the security landscapes created by Waza and Chobe protected areas over time and space. This study finds that conservation measures that various subsets of the local population once considered to be ‘bad’ (e.g. violent, exclusionary protected area creation) may be construed as ‘good’ at different historical moments and geographical areas. Similarly, complacency or resignation to the presence of a park can be reversed by changing environmental conditions. Changes in the ways security (material and otherwise) has fluctuated within these two protected areas has implications for the long-term management and funding strategies of newly created and already existing protected areas today. This study suggests that parks must be adaptively managed not only for changing ecological conditions, but also for shifts in a protected area's social, political and economic context.

scholarly journals Validation of the IASI FORLI/Eumetsat ozone products using satellite (GOME-2), ground-based (Brewer-Dobson, SAOZ) and ozonesonde measurements

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Boynard ◽  
Daniel Hurtmans ◽  
Katerina Garane ◽  
Florence Goutail ◽  
Juliette Hadji-Lazaro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
A Priori ◽  
Long Term Stability ◽  
Comparison Results ◽  
Independent Observations ◽  
Mean Differences ◽  
A Priori Uncertainty ◽  
The Tropics ◽  
Global Mean

Abstract. This paper assesses the quality of IASI/Metop-A (IASI-A) and IASI/Metop-B (IASI-B) ozone (O3) products (total and partial O3 columns) retrieved with the Fast Optimal Retrievals on Layers for IASI Ozone (FORLI-O3) v20151001 software for nine years (2008–2017) through an extensive inter-comparison and validation exercise using independent observations (satellite, ground-based and ozonesonde). IASI-A and IASI-B Total O3 Columns (TOCs) are generally consistent, with a global mean difference less than 0.3 % for both day- and nighttime measurements, IASI-A being slightly higher than IASI-B. A global difference less than 2.4 % is found for the tropospheric (TROPO) O3 column product (IASI-A being lower than IASI-B), which is partly due to a temporary issue related to IASI-A viewing angle in 2015. Our validation shows that IASI-A and IASI-B TOCs are consistent with GOME-2, Dobson, Brewer and SAOZ retrieved ones, with global mean differences in the range 0.1–2 % depending on the instruments. The IASI-A and ground-based TOC comparison for the period 2008–July 2017 shows good long-term stability (negative trends within 3 % decade−1). The comparison results between IASI-A and IASI-B against smoothed ozonesonde partial O3 columns vary in altitude and latitude, with maximum standard deviation for the 300–150 hPa column (20–40 %) due to strong ozone variability and a priori uncertainty. The worst agreement with the ozonesondes and with UV-vis retrieved TOC [satellite and ground] is found at the southern high latitudes. Compared to ozonesonde data, IASI-A and IASI-B O3 products overestimate the O3 abundance in the stratosphere (up to 20 % for the 150–25 hPa column) and underestimates the O3 abundance in the troposphere (within 10 % for the mid-latitudes and ~ 18 % for the tropics). Based on the period 2011–2016, non-significant drift is found for the northern hemispheric tropospheric columns while a small drift prevails for the period before 2011.

scholarly journals Supporting the development of scientific understanding when constructing an evolving explanation

2022 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ann M. Novak ◽  
David F. Treagust
Keyword(s):  
Scientific Explanation ◽  
Project Based Learning ◽  
Incremental Development ◽  
Freshwater Organisms ◽  
Freshwater System ◽  
New Evidence ◽  
Scientific Ideas ◽  
Over Time

AbstractWe explore how students developed an integrated understanding of scientific ideas and how they applied their understandings in new situations. We examine the incremental development of 7th grade students’ scientific ideas across four iterations of a scientific explanation related to a freshwater system. We demonstrate that knowing how to make use of scientific ideas to explain phenomena needs to be learned just as developing integrated understanding of scientific ideas needs to be learned. Students participated in an open-ended, long-term project-based learning unit, constructing one explanation over time to address, “How healthy is our stream for freshwater organisms and how do our actions on land potentially impact the water quality of the stream?” The explanation developed over several weeks as new data were collected and analyzed. Students discussed evidence by revisiting scientific ideas and including new scientific ideas. This research investigates two questions: (1) As students engage in writing a scientific explanation over time, to what extent do they develop integrated understanding of appropriate scientific ideas? and (2) When writing about new evidence, do these earlier experiences of writing explanations enable students to make use of new scientific ideas in more sophisticated ways? In other words, do earlier experiences allow students to know how to make use of their ideas in these new situations? The results indicated statistically significant effects. Through various iterations of the explanation students included richer discussion using appropriate scientific ideas. Students were also able to make better use of new knowledge in new situations.

scholarly journals STRENGTHENING OF SCHOOL QUALITY THROUGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL LEADERSHIP

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 151
Author(s):  
Wresni Pujiyati
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Principal Leadership ◽  
Research Method ◽  
School Quality ◽  
School Principal ◽  
Qualitative Approach ◽  
Leadership Model ◽  
Leadership Strategy

This study aims to analyze and find out the implementation of principals 'leadership through school quality with the long-term goal of improving the quality of schools through principals' leadership. The specific target of this research is to develop a principal's leadership model. The research method uses a qualitative approach through case studies through observation, interviews, document studies relating to the principal's leadership and school quality. The general conclusion is that improving school quality is a process towards the realization of quality schools. Principal's leadership in strengthening school quality can be found in (1) Improving school quality (2) Principal's leadership strategy in improving school quality.

scholarly journals Artikel Manajemen Mutu Terpadu

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nur Afni Syaputri ◽  
Rusdinal ◽  
Hade Afriansyah
Keyword(s):  
Quality Management ◽  
Customer Satisfaction ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Corporate Culture ◽  
Drop Out ◽  
Educational Services ◽  
Customer Education ◽  
The World

The aim of quality management is to ensure that all parts of the organization work together to improve the processes, products, services and corporate culture to achieve long-term success that comes from customer satisfaction. This article was prepared by the author using the system referring to the literature review. The implementation of integrated quality management in education goes through several processes from the preparation, planning, and implementation of the quality of educational services that are expected by education customers. Meeting the expectations of customer education is a quality management paradigm that must be fulfilled, so that those who drop out of school and unemployment can be minimized in the world of our education.

Driving Brand Equity With Radical Transparency

2017 ◽  
pp. 18-62 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Business Model ◽  
Brand Equity ◽  
Positive Feedback ◽  
Perceived Quality ◽  
Brand Associations ◽  
Equity Model ◽  
Loyal Customers ◽  
Over Time

The main purpose of this chapter is to analyze the categories of brand equity assets through the prism of radical transparency. The results reveal that the brand equity requires investment and disappears over time if not maintained consistently with the selected business model and the company's values. The chapter is dedicated to systemize the theoretical and practical findings over the brand equity elements. Brand loyalty is the first element of the brand equity model. The benefits for the company which uses the radical transparency practices can be simply synthesized into one big advantage - satisfied and loyal customers who generate stable revenues and profits for the company in the long term. Radical transparency has a major impact on stimulating brand awareness as a factor that is particularly important in the sense that the brand must first enter into the considerations set. The company should be ready and open for cooperation with all interested parties and provide positive feedback whenever necessary. This enhances the perceived quality of the brand and the trust. The application of the radical transparency concept in the overall operation of the company enables the creation of a special set of brand associations that create long-lasting relationships with consumers, mixed with positive emotional mix that seals the success in the long term.

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