Developing a Personalized Integrative Obesity-Coaching Program: A Systems Health Perspective

Current obesity management strategies are failing to achieve sustainable and favorable long-term results. We propose a more personalized, dynamic, and systemic perspective on the interactions of key determinants and coaching advice on obesity. The aim of this study was to use a systems view on overweight, complexity science, and a transdisciplinary process to develop a five-year personalized integrative obesity-coaching and research program. Managers, medical specialists, clinical psychologists, dieticians, physical- and psychomotor therapists, and lifestyle coaches aligned their perspectives and objectives with experts in systems thinking and systems biology. A systems health model of obesity was used to identify the causal relations of variables with the most influence on obesity. The model helped to align and design a personalized integrative obesity-coaching program and to identify the key variables to monitor the progress and to adjust the personalized program, depending on the goals and needs of the participant. It was decided to use subtyping of participants by a systems biologist, based on traditional Chinese medicine symptoms, as a novel method to personalize the intervention. The collaborative transdisciplinary approach based upon a systems view on obesity was successful in developing a personalized and adaptive five-year obesity-coaching and research program.

Gilchrist-James, Gayle

Gayle Gilchrist-James (1940–2008) was a leader in social work in Canada and around the world. Through her social work practice, academia, and leadership at the national and international levels, she exemplified what a social worker could do through hard work, vision, and passion. Her wholistic systems view gave her the sense of “no limits” about her life and work. Her leadership was rooted in compassion and a humanitarian perspective. She was a role model to students and faculty at the University of Calgary in her teaching style and how she cared deeply for the students she taught. Her crowning accomplishments were her work with the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) as vice-president (North America) and president and the creation of the IFSW’s Commission on Human Rights.

Tackling Grand Challenges beyond Dyads and Networks: Developing a Stakeholder Systems View Using the Metaphor of Ballet

Tackling grand challenges requires coordination and sustained effort among multiple organizations and stakeholders. Yet research on stakeholder theory has been conceptually constrained in capturing this complexity: existing accounts tend to focus either on dyadic level firm–stakeholder ties or on stakeholder networks within which the focal organization is embedded. We suggest that addressing grand challenges requires a more generative conceptualization of organizations and their constituents as stakeholder systems. Using the metaphor of ballet and insights from dance theory, we highlight four defining dimensions of stakeholder systems (two structural and two dyadic); we proceed to offer a dynamic model of how those dimensions may interact and coevolve. Our metaphor and resulting theory of stakeholder systems are thereby well equipped to incorporate the complexity of tackling grand challenges, where many contemporary stakeholder arrangements are oriented around issues rather than firms.

Nanocellulose: Resources, Physio-Chemical Properties, Current Uses and Future Applications

The growing environmental concerns due to the excessive use of non-renewable petroleum based products have raised interest for the sustainable synthesis of bio-based value added products and chemicals. Recently, nanocellulose has attracted wide attention because of its unique properties such as high surface area, tunable surface chemistry, excellent mechanical strength, biodegradability and renewable nature. It serves wide range of applications in paper making, biosensor, hydrogel and aerogel synthesis, water purification, biomedical industry and food industry. Variations in selection of source, processing technique and subsequent chemical modifications influence the size, morphology, and other characteristics of nanocellulose and ultimately their area of application. The current review is focused on extraction/synthesis of nanocellulose from different sources such as bacteria and lignocellulosic biomass, by using various production techniques ranging from traditional harsh chemicals to green methods. Further, the challenges in nanocellulose production, physio-chemical properties and applications are discussed with future opportunities. Finally, the sustainability of nanocellulose product as well as processes is reviewed by taking a systems view. The impact of chemicals, energy use, and waste generated can often negate the benefit of a bio-based product. These issues are evaluated and future research needs are identified.