scholarly journals The Interplay of Objectivity and Subjectivity in Landscape Character Assessment: Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches and Challenges

Land ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 53
Author(s):  
Theano S. Terkenli ◽  
Aikaterini Gkoltsiou ◽  
Dimitris Kavroudakis

Landscape character assessment (LCA) methods have been used in the past few decades to analyze, classify, and map landscape types, using objective and subjective approaches, with the aid of both quantitative and qualitative data. This paper addresses and critically evaluates the compromises and ways in which contemporary LCA methodologies employ (or profess they employ) objective versus subjective and quantitative versus qualitative data and analytical tools, in their conceptualization and implementation. It begins with an extensive literature review of the ways in which the objective/subjective and the quantitative/qualitative variables interweave in currently practiced or proposed versions of LCA. With the aid of meta-analysis, the paper traces and discusses the recent evolution, methods, concessions, and risks of such endeavors, and develops an integrative conceptual model for critical assessment, analysis, and negotiation of the interplay between objective–subjective and quantitative–qualitative constituent parts of existing LCA methodologies. It concludes by pointing to pitfalls and prospects, in the broader attempt towards a more concerted, integrative approach to LCA development and practice, both appropriate to its challenges and adaptable to time–space–culture–discipline landscape particularities and means of implementation.

Proceedings ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 74 (1) ◽  
pp. 9
Author(s):  
Birgul Kutlu ◽  
Yeliz Gunal Aggul ◽  
Idil Atasu ◽  
Zeynep Kaymaz

This meta-analysis examines the studies on groupware published between the years 2010 and 2020. Descriptive analysis was conducted to determine the distribution of studies in terms of publication year, time–space matrix category, targeted sectors, research methods, and the academic field of the journals that published these studies. Although groupware played a significant role in communication, collaboration, and coordination of users in various collaborative work conditions and sectors, the majority of studies focused on asynchronous and distributed collaborative work environments in the software engineering field, and the research method preferred was design science.


Vaccines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 821
Author(s):  
Marek Petráš ◽  
Ivana Králová Lesná ◽  
Jana Dáňová ◽  
Alexander M. Čelko

Vaccination as an important tool in the fight against infections has been suggested as a possible trigger of autoimmunity over the last decades. To confirm or refute this assumption, a Meta-analysis of Autoimmune Disorders Association With Immunization (MADAWI) was conducted. Included in the meta-analysis were a total of 144 studies published in 1968–2019 that were available in six databases and identified by an extensive literature search conducted on 30 November 2019. The risk of bias classification of the studies was performed using the Newcastle–Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale. The strength of evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation. While our primary analysis was conducted in terms of measures of association employed in studies with a low risk of bias, the robustness of the MADAWI outcome was tested using measures independent of each study risk of bias. Additionally, subgroup analyses were performed to determine the stability of the outcome. The pooled association of 0.99 (95% confidence interval, 0.97–1.02), based on a total of 364 published estimates, confirmed an equivalent occurrence of autoimmune disorders in vaccinated and unvaccinated persons. The same level of association reported by studies independently of the risk of bias was supported by a sufficient number of studies, and no serious limitation, inconsistency, indirectness, imprecision, and publication bias. A sensitivity analysis did not reveal any discrepancy in the primary result. Current common vaccination is not the cause of any of the examined autoimmune disorders in the medium and long terms.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 232596712097319
Author(s):  
Przemysław A. Pękala ◽  
Dominik P. Łazarz ◽  
Mateusz A. Rosa ◽  
Jakub R. Pękala ◽  
Adam Baginski ◽  
...  

Background: The posterior meniscofemoral ligament (pMFL) of Wrisberg attaches to the posterior horn of the lateral meniscus and the lateral intercondylar aspect of the medial femoral condyle and passes posteriorly to the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL). The pMFL plays a role in recovery after PCL injuries and offers stability to the lateral meniscus, promoting normal knee function. Purpose/Hypothesis: The aim of the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) arm of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of the pMFL in Polish patients. The purpose of the systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the clinical relevance of the pMFL in knee surgery. It was hypothesized that extensive variability exists in reports on the prevalence, function, and clinical significance of the pMFL. Study Design: Cross-sectional study and systematic review; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: A retrospective MRI investigation was conducted on 100 randomly selected lower limbs of Polish patients (56 male, 44 female) performed in 2019 to determine the prevalence of the pMFL. Additionally, an extensive literature search of major online databases was performed to evaluate all reported data on the pMFL. Assessments of article eligibility and data extraction were completed independently by 2 reviewers, and all disagreements were resolved via a consensus. A quality assessment of the included articles was performed using the Anatomical Quality Assessment tool. Results: In the MRI arm of this study, the pMFL was observed in 73 of the 100 limbs. In the meta-analysis, 47 studies were included, totaling 4940 lower limbs. The pooled prevalence of the pMFL was found to be 70.4% (95% CI, 63.4%-76.9%); the mean length was 27.7 mm (95% CI, 24.8-30.5 mm) and the mean widths were 4.5, 6.1, and 4.1 mm for the meniscal and femoral attachments and midportion, respectively. The mean pMFL thickness was 2.3 mm (95% CI, 1.8-2.7 mm). Conclusion: Despite the variability in the literature, the pMFL was found to be a prevalent and large anatomic structure in the knee joint. The shared features of this ligament with the PCL necessitate the consideration of its value in planning and performing arthroscopic procedures of the knee.


Author(s):  
Dewanta Arya Nugraha ◽  
Arifian Dimas ◽  
C Cari ◽  
A Suparmi ◽  
Widha Sunarno

<p><strong>Abstract: </strong>This study aims to analyze the POE learning model for understanding physics concepts. The method used in this research is a meta-analysis. Meta-analysis is research that examines the results of similar studies. Data obtained from national and international journal documents taken by purposive sampling based on conformity with the research theme. Data analysis using quantitative data analysis with presentations and qualitative data analysis in the form of descriptions of research results found. Based on data analysis, it found that the POE learning model can improve students' understanding of concepts.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Abstrak: </strong>Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis model pembelajaran POE terhadap pemahaman konsep fisika. Metode yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah meta analisis. Meta analisis merupakan penelitian yang mengkaji hasil penelitian yang sejenis. Data diperoleh dari dokumen-dokumen jurnal nasional maupun internasional yang diambil secara purposive sampling berdasarkan kesesuaian dengan tema penelitian. Analisis data menggunakan analisis data kuantitatif dengan presentasen dan analisis data kualitatif berupa deskripsi-deskripsi hasil penelitian yang ditemui. Berdasarkan analisis data ditemukan bahwa model pembelajaran POE dapat meningkatkan pemahaman konsep siswa</p>


Geografie ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 112 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-83
Author(s):  
Zdeněk Lipský ◽  
Dušan Romportl

The main goal of this paper is to introduce the importance of landscape typology in present times when many landscapes are exposed to dynamic human impacts such as land use changes, urbanization, intensive agriculture, forestry or industrialization. Different approaches to landscape typology in Czechia and other European countries as well as relations of landscape typology to landscape character assessment and the European Landscape Convention are discussed. A requirement of a new exact and applicable landscape typology is a great challenge for Czech geographers.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 23-33
Author(s):  
T.  I. Alifanova

As noted in the first part of the paper in the extensive literature on crises and crisis management, it is possible to allocate two main directions: internal —  where the main attention is paid to technical and structural aspects and external — where the organization focuses on managing of stakeholders. Despite the fact that over past 20 years each of these directions has being developed to a large extent independently, it had been revealed that there were definite number of opportunities for their integration. Based on the results of research given in the extensive list of used literature, it will be shown how both of these perspectives can be combined into single integrated structure. At the same time the study of potential for synthesis of internal and external perspectives is going to be covered by time frame of three main crisis stages: pre-crisis prevention, crisis management and post-crisis outcomes, and term “crisis management” will reflect activities at these stages of organizational management in broadest sense.


2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (10) ◽  
pp. 030006052096434
Author(s):  
Zhen-Yu Li ◽  
Zhen Zhang ◽  
Xiao-Zhong Cao ◽  
Yun Feng ◽  
Sha-Sha Ren

Background Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is associated with higher aggressiveness and mortality than hormone-positive breast cancer because of the lack of approved therapeutic targets. Patients with TNBC who attain a pathological complete response (pCR) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy have improved survival. Platinum-based agents show promising activity in TNBC; however, their use remains controversial. We conducted a meta-analysis to assess the role of platinum-based agents in neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with TNBC. Methods We performed an extensive literature search of the Pubmed, Embase, and Cochrane databases. We calculated pooled odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the identified studies. Results Eight randomized controlled trials with 1345 patients were included in the analysis. The addition of platinum-based agents improved pCR compared with neoadjuvant therapy based on anthracyclines, cyclophosphamide, taxanes, and fluorouracil (49.1% vs. 35.9%; OR: 1.87, 95% CI: 1.23–2.86). Hematological adverse events were similar in both groups, except for more thrombocytopenia in the platinum-based group (OR: 7.96, 95% CI: 3.18–19.93). Conclusion The addition of platinum-based agents to neoadjuvant chemotherapy improved pCR rates in patients with TNBC, with a slight increase in hematological toxicities. Platinum-based agents might thus be an accessible and economically viable option in patients with TNBC.


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