Towards a Holistic Approach to Validating Conceptual Models

2011 ◽  
pp. 229-251
Author(s):  
Jorg Becker
Keyword(s):  
Conceptual Models ◽  
Empirical Work ◽  
Holistic Approach ◽  
Evaluation Approach ◽  
Research Fields ◽  
Current State ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
State Of Research ◽  
Procedure Model

The chapter sketches a holistic approach to semantically validating conceptual models. The quality and thus the validation of conceptual models are of high economic importance. However, only little empirical work has focused on their evaluation so far. This raises the question whether a holistic approach to determining the quality of conceptual models is available yet. In order to describe the current state of research and to expose the so far neglected research fields we develop a two dimensional framework. With the help of this framework we can identify a notable shortcoming on conceptual model evaluation. We can show that there is actually no approach that covers all aspects of the framework. Hence, we describe a procedure model that integrates different evaluation techniques. This procedure model provides a starting point to further elaborate on a holistic evaluation approach.

scholarly journals Olfaction and Aging: A Review of the Current State of Research and Future Directions

i-Perception ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 204166952110203
Author(s):  
Jonas K. Olofsson ◽  
Ingrid Ekström ◽  
Maria Larsson ◽  
Steven Nordin
Keyword(s):  
Warning Signs ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Current State ◽  
Challenging Tasks ◽  
State Of Research ◽  
To Come ◽  
Health Cognition ◽  
Olfactory Abilities ◽  
And Training

Olfaction, the sense of smell, is characterized by a notable age-dependency such that aging individuals are more likely to have poor olfactory abilities. These impairments are considered to be mostly irreversible and as having potentially profound effects on quality of life and food behavior, as well as constituting warning signs of mortality, cognitive dysfunction, and dementia. Here, we review the current state of research on aging and olfaction, focusing on five topics which we regard to be of particular relevance for the field: nutrition and health, cognition and dementia, mortality, environment and genetics, and training-based enhancement. Under each of these headlines, we provide a state-of-the-art overview and discuss gaps in our knowledge which might be filled by further research. Understanding how olfactory abilities are diminished in aging, and how they may be alleviated or recovered, involves a set of challenging tasks for researchers in the years to come.

Internet Health Resources: from Quality to Trust

2003 ◽  
Vol 42 (02) ◽  
pp. 134-142 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Doupi ◽  
Jeroen van den Hoven ◽  
K. Lampe
Keyword(s):  
Information Quality ◽  
Empirical Work ◽  
Health Resources ◽  
Online Information ◽  
Total Quality ◽  
Scientific Publications ◽  
Four Dimensions ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Quality Aspects

Summary Objectives: Quality of online health resources remains a much debated topic, despite considerable international efforts. The lack of a systematic and comprehensive conceptual analysis is hindering further progress. Therefore we aim at clarifying the origins, nature and interrelations of pertinent concepts. Further, we claim that quality is neither a necessary nor a sufficient condition for Internet health resources to produce an effect offline. As users’ trust is also required, we examine the relation of quality aspects to trust building online. Methods: We reviewed and analyzed the key documentation and deliverables of quality initiatives, as well as relevant scientific publications. Using the insights of philosophy, we identified the elementary dimensions which underlie the key concepts and theories presented so far in the context of online health information quality. We examined the interrelations of various perspectives and explored how trust as a phenomenon relates to these dimensions of quality. Results: Various aspects associated with the quality of online health resources originate from four conceptual dimensions: epistemic, ethical, economic and technological. We propose a conceptual framework that incorporates all these perspectives. We argue that total quality exists only if all four dimensions have been addressed adequately and that high total quality is conducive to warranted trust. Conclusions: Quality and trust are intertwined, but distinct concepts, and their relation is not always straightforward. Ideally, trust should track quality. Apprehending the composition of these concepts will help to understand and guide the behavior of both users and providers of online information, as well as to foster warranted trust in online resources. The framework we propose provides a conceptual starting point for further deliberations and empirical work.

scholarly journals Mass housing estates legacy: urban design perspectives

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carmen Díez Medina ◽  
Javier Monclús
Keyword(s):  
World War Ii ◽  
Urban Design ◽  
International Debate ◽  
Urban Forms ◽  
Mass Housing ◽  
Current State ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Collective Housing ◽  
Housing Estates

In the recent international debate about mass housing estates built during the decades of rapid urban growth after the World War II different approaches coexist. Many studies, including diagnosis about their current state, have been carried out, some of them from a social and economic standpoint; other offer architectural and historical approaches. It has only been in the last years, that urban planning and urban design perspectives have been considered in depth. In the case of Spain, some global visions complement more specific approaches, such as the ones focused on the obsolescence of dwelling typologies and urban forms. In addition to this, there are consolidated teams working on some cities, especially Madrid and Barcelona, which continue developing previous studies started some decades ago. Our starting point is that Spanish collective housing (polígonos) constitutes a huge legacy which needs accurate diagnosis. Our research has been developed from an urban design perspective, focusing on urban forms and free open spaces. The goal is to add some nuances to some excessively generic interpretations, trying to find ‘indicators’ (such as density, urban integration, diversity…) that allow a suitable evaluation of ‘each’ case, besides a qualitative approach. Although there are common factors that have led to a general loss of urban quality, it is necessary to take into account the specificities of each city, context, transformation processes, etc. In this way, future necessary interventions could provide more appropriate knowledge for the regeneration, recovery or reactivation of these estates. This paper addresses with a comparative perspective some case studies of Spanish polígonos built in Madrid, Barcelona and Zaragoza between 1950 and 1975. Contrasting the original situation at the time of their construction with their current state, the quality of the urban projects (classified in ‘Best’, ‘Good’, ‘Standard’, ‘Poor’) and the resilience or the obsolescence processes has been tested.

scholarly journals Reconstructing Vindonissa as a living document – A case-study of digital reconstruction for output to pre-rendered and real-time applications

2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 396-408
Author(s):  
Jonas Christen
Keyword(s):  
Real Time ◽  
Time Use ◽  
3D Models ◽  
Digital Reconstruction ◽  
Current State ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Reconstructive Process ◽  
The Alps ◽  
State Of Research

The legion camp “Vindonissa” in Switzerland is considered one of the most important roman sites north of the alps. Research there has been going on for over a century and reconstructive drawings have always been a way to showcase scientific findings of the site, the earliest of them dating back as far as 1909.In 2015, it was decided to produce a new series of illustrations. The whole camp and its surrounding settlements had to be constructed as hand-generated 3D models, allowing for quick changes during the reconstructive process and flexibility in future adaptations. Topographical data, archaeological plans as well as building profiles provided by experts were the basis for the model.The main focus was on a general impression of the camp and not on individual buildings but some landmarks as the newly postulated circus were crafted with a higher level of detail as they are the topic of scientific discourse and it helps the discussion if they have a certain fidelity. The circus also serves as a good example for the value of the imaging process in research: Only after trying to fit it into the topography it was noted that it would overlap with a street that was previously thought to run through this area. In the discussion between archaeologists and illustrators a new path for the street was chosen that fits into the landscape and is scientifically acceptable.The new series of illustrations was originally published in the annual report of the archaeological society Vindonissa. The resulting model represents the current state of research but mainly serves as a starting point for future discussion: All buildings are constructed so that they can easily be adapted for real-time use and a Virtual Reality application is the logical next step for its use. 

scholarly journals The Scarcity of Literature on the Psychological, Social, and Emotional Effects of Gastroparesis in Children

Children ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (9) ◽  
pp. 115
Author(s):  
Tiffany H. Taft ◽  
Bethany Doerfler ◽  
Emily Edlynn ◽  
Linda Nguyen
Keyword(s):  
Pediatric Patients ◽  
Significant Risk ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Social And Emotional ◽  
Current State ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Psychosocial Impacts ◽  
Future Research Directions ◽  
State Of Research

Gastroparesis (GP) is a chronic, gastric dysmotility disorder with significant morbidity and mortality. The hallmark of GP is the delayed emptying of the contents of the stomach in the absence of any mechanical obstruction. Patients most commonly report chronic symptoms of nausea, vomiting, feeling full quickly when eating, bloating, and abdominal pain. Treatments are limited with relatively poor efficacy. As such, children with GP are at significant risk for the development of psychological co-morbidities. In this paper, we provide a topical review of the scientific literature on the psychological, social, and emotional impacts of gastroparesis in pediatric patients. We aim to document the current state of research, identify gaps in our knowledge with appropriate recommendations for future research directions, and highlight the unique challenges pediatric patients with GP and their families may face as they manage this disease. Based on the current review, research into the psychosocial impacts in children with GP is essentially non-existent. However, when considering research in children with other chronic digestive diseases, children with GP are likely to face multiple psychosocial challenges, including increased risk for anxiety and depression, stigma, and reduced quality of life. These significant gaps in the current understanding of effects of GP across domains of childhood functioning allow for ample opportunities for future studies to address psychosocial outcomes.

Antecedents of cultural agency theory: in the footsteps of Schwarz living systems

Kybernetes ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 46 (2) ◽  
pp. 210-222 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maurice Yolles ◽  
Davide Di Fatta
Keyword(s):  
Agency Theory ◽  
Complex Adaptive System ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Theoretical Point ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Research Fields ◽  
Current State ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Complex Adaptive ◽  
Cultural Agency

Purpose Cultural agency theory (CAT) generates higher simplex through principles of recursion, and, in this way, it is able to create a potential for the generation of families of new paradigms in different fields. Characterised by its interdisciplinary nature, CAT’s origins have a heterogeneous nature related to different disciplines and research fields. With this in mind, the present manuscript aims to shed light on the antecedents of CAT, especially emphasising the role of Schwarz’s studies as a feel rouge in the evolution of this theory. Design/methodology/approach Through a systematic review of the previous literature, this paper highlights the multidisciplinary nature of CAT, mapping the multifaceted framework of its antecedents. Findings The results are summarised in a conceptual map that does not constitute a point of arrival, but rather a starting point: consolidating the current state, this paper also provides new insights for further studies. Research limitations/implications This manuscript still remains a theoretical point of view. Further studies are required to apply this study’s reasoning. Originality/value From a theoretical point of view, this paper achieves a new and original cornerstone about the previous studies on CAT; from a practical viewpoint, this paper gets an input for further implications. While these theories were originally setup for cognitive processes, this paper suggests extensions to model a complex adaptive system framework for management and marketing studies.

scholarly journals Giving a Voice to the Little Ones: The Bioarchaeology of Children in the Baltics

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 ◽  
pp. 97-116
Author(s):  
Alessandra Morrone
Keyword(s):  
Skeletal Remains ◽  
Social Lives ◽  
Research Fields ◽  
Current State ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
The Baltic ◽  
New Research ◽  
Future Work ◽  
Baltic Area ◽  
Shed Light

The skeletal remains of non-adults provide endless insights into numerous aspects of their personal, family and social lives. Although they were considered to be marginal members of society, children can potentially shed light on factors influencing the overall health and survival of their communities, sensitively conveying the ability of a population to adapt to its environment and cope with moments of crisis. In the last decade, worldwide interest in the archaeology of children has grown, and has driven the bioarchaeological investigation of their skeletal remains. However, the bioarchaeological study of non-adults has received surprisingly little interest in the Baltic states. This review presents the past and current state of the art with specific focus on the Baltic area from prehistory to historic times, outlining new research fields and the benefits of studying non-adult skeletal remains, and proposing specific possible directions for future work on this topic. The paper is aimed at giving a louder voice to the youngest actors of ancient communities, and perhaps offers a starting point for developing a definitive bioarchaeology of children in the Baltics.

scholarly journals Design at the root of biophilia. Imitation. Nature.

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 047-058
Author(s):  
Marcin Marciniak ◽  
Dżoana Latała-Matysiak
Keyword(s):  
Negative Impact ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Positive Influence ◽  
Local Communities ◽  
Existing Buildings ◽  
Current State ◽  
State Of Research ◽  
Mental Well Being ◽  
Structural Solutions

According to the current state of research on the phenomenon of biophilia, the positive influence of nature's elements on humans has long been widely understood. Since the negative impact of urbanised areas on quality of life was noticed, human-friendly architecture has been redefined, where the physical and mental well-being of people using buildings, remains highly dependent on their contact with the environment. Selected examples of existing buildings analyzed two different approaches to contemporary biophilic architecture; one where nature is the pedestal of the whole building and one where the interpretation of nature translates into technological, engineering or structural solutions. The architectural examples modelled on nature, have gained recognition in local communities and worldwide renown, so it can be concluded that the flourishing of organic and bionic architecture is fully justified. Biophilia determines human well-being, while remaining closely related to the natural environment.

scholarly journals Application of core X-ray microtomography in oilfield geology

Georesursy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 34-43
Author(s):  
Andrey Ponomarev ◽  
Mikhail Zavatsky ◽  
Tatiana Nurullina ◽  
Marsel Kadyrov ◽  
Kirill Galinsky ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drilling Fluid ◽  
Source Rocks ◽  
Micro Ct ◽  
Practical Application ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Current State ◽  
Digital Core ◽  
State Of Research ◽  
Oil Source

The article presents studies devoted to the practical application of computer X-ray microtomography (micro-CT) in oilfield geology. In particular, the authors give results of using the method for sample defectoscopy before petrophysical studies in order to improve the quality of analyzes. The paper includes an example of assessing the depth of core plugging with drilling fluid; assessing the mineral composition by micro-CT; experimental core studies when modeling the thermal effect on the oil source rocks of the Bazhenov formation. The authors also examine the current state of research in the field of digital petrophysics or digital core. The study is aimed at introducing the micro-CT method into the oilfield process.

scholarly journals Bog Bodies in Context: Developing a Best Practice Approach

2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 227-249 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henry Chapman ◽  
Roy van Beek ◽  
Ben Gearey ◽  
Ben Jennings ◽  
David Smith ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Landscape ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Scales ◽  
Best Practice Guidelines ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Current State ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Practice Approach ◽  
State Of Research ◽  
Bog Body

Bog bodies are among the best-known archaeological finds worldwide. Much of the work on these often extremely well-preserved human remains has focused on forensics, whereas the environmental setting of the finds has been largely overlooked. This applies to both the ‘physical’ and ‘cultural’ landscape and constitutes a significant problem since the vast spatial and temporal scales over which the practice appeared demonstrate that contextual assessments are of the utmost importance for our explanatory frameworks. In this article we develop best practice guidelines for the contextual analysis of bog bodies, after assessing the current state of research and presenting the results of three recent case studies including the well-known finds of Lindow Man in the United Kingdom, Bjældskovdal (Tollund Man and Elling Woman) in Denmark, and Yde Girl in the Netherlands. Three spatial and chronological scales are distinguished and linked to specific research questions and methods. This provides a basis for further discussion and a starting point for developing approaches to bog body finds and future discoveries, while facilitating and optimizing the re-analysis of previous studies, making it possible to compare deposition sites across time and space.

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