bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A likely microendemic new species of terrestrial iguana, genus Chalarodon, from Madagascar
Authors: MIRALLES AURELIEN , GLAW FRANK , RATSOAVINA FANOMEZANA M. , VENCES MIGUEL
Published: April 2015

A new species of the hitherto monotypic genus Chalarodon is described from southern Madagascar and a lectotype (ZMB 4360) is designated for C. madagascariensis Peters, 1854. The new species of terrestrial iguana, Chalarodon steinkampi sp. nov., is defined by several morphological characters and by concordant differentiation in mitochondrial and nuclear DNA with >5% uncorrected pairwise genetic distance in the 16S rRNA gene. It can be most clearly recognized by the presence of smooth (vs. keeled) gular and ventral scales, a spotted pattern extending from flanks onto belly, and an unpigmented throat. The new species is known from only a small area between the villages of Amboasary Sud and Esomony, located west of the Andohahela Massif, while C. madagascariensis appears to be widespread over much of southern and western Madagascar. We highlight the need for further exploration of this unprotected region which might host several other microendemic species.
HITS: Hurricane Intensity and Track Simulator with North Atlantic Ocean Applications for Risk Assessment
Authors: Nakamura J. , Lall U. , Kushnir Y. , Rajagopalan B.
Published: April 2015

A nonparametric stochastic model is developed and tested for the simulation of tropical cyclone tracks. Tropical cyclone tracks demonstrate continuity and memory over many time and space steps. Clusters of tracks can be coherent, and the separation between clusters may be marked by geographical locations where groups of tracks diverge as a result of the physics of the underlying process. Consequently, their evolution may be non-Markovian. Markovian simulation models, as are often used, may produce tracks that potentially diverge or lose memory quicker than happens in nature. This is addressed here through a model that simulates tracks by randomly sampling track segments of varying length, selected from historical tracks. For performance evaluation, a spatial grid is imposed on the domain of interest. For each grid box, long-term tropical cyclone risk is assessed through the annual probability distributions of the number of storm hours, landfalls, winds, and other statistics. Total storm length is determined at birth by local distribution, and movement to other tropical cyclone segments by distance to neighbor tracks, comparative vector, and age of track. The model is also applied to the conditional simulation of hurricane tracks from specific positions for hurricanes that were not included in the model fitting so as to see whether the probabilistic coverage intervals properly cover the subsequent track. Consequently, tests of both the long-term probability distributions of hurricane landfall and of event simulations from the model are provided.
The Influence of High-Frequency Atmospheric Forcing on the Circulation and Deep Convection of the Labrador Sea
Authors: Holdsworth Amber M. , Myers Paul G.
Published: April 2015

The influence of high-frequency atmospheric forcing on the circulation of the North Atlantic Ocean with emphasis on the deep convection of the Labrador Sea was investigated by comparing simulations of a coupled ocean–ice model with hourly atmospheric data to simulations in which the high-frequency phenomena were filtered from the air temperature and wind fields. In the absence of high-frequency atmospheric forcing, the strength of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation and subpolar gyres was found to decrease by 25%. In the Labrador Sea, the eddy kinetic energy decreased by 75% and the average maximum mixed layer depth decreased by between 20% and 110% depending on the climatology. In particular, high-frequency forcing was found to have a greater impact on mixed layer deepening in moderate to warm years whereas in relatively cold years the temperatures alone were enough to facilitate deep convection. Additional simulations in which either the wind or temperature was filtered revealed that the wind, through its impact on the bulk formulas for latent and sensible heat, had a greater impact on deep convection than the temperature.
The Influence of Surface and Precipitation Characteristics on TRMM Microwave Imager Rainfall Retrieval Uncertainty
Authors: Carr N. , Kirstetter P.-E. , Hong Y. , Gourley J. J. , Schwaller M. , Petersen W. , Wang Nai-Yu , Ferraro Ralph R. , Xue Xianwu
Published: April 2015

Characterization of the error associated with quantitative precipitation estimates (QPEs) from spaceborne passive microwave (PMW) sensors is important for a variety of applications ranging from flood forecasting to climate monitoring. This study evaluates the joint influence of precipitation and surface characteristics on the error structure of NASA’s Tropical Rainfall Measurement Mission (TRMM) Microwave Imager (TMI) surface QPE product (2A12). TMI precipitation products are compared with high-resolution reference precipitation products obtained from the NOAA/NSSL ground radar–based Multi-Radar Multi-Sensor (MRMS) system. Surface characteristics were represented via a surface classification dataset derived from NASA’s Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS). This study assesses the ability of 2A12 to detect, classify, and quantify precipitation at its native resolution for the 2011 warm season (March–September) over the southern continental United States. Decreased algorithm performance is apparent over dry and sparsely vegetated regions, a probable result of the surface radiation signal mimicking the scattering signature associated with frozen hydrometeors. Algorithm performance is also shown to be positively correlated with precipitation coverage over the sensor footprint. The algorithm also performs better in pure stratiform and convective precipitation events, compared to events containing a mixture of stratiform and convective precipitation within the footprint. This possibly results from the high spatial gradients of precipitation associated with these events and an underrepresentation of such cases in the retrieval database. The methodology and framework developed herein apply more generally to precipitation estimates from other passive microwave sensors on board low-Earth-orbiting satellites and specifically could be used to evaluate PMW sensors associated with the recently launched Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission.
Toward understanding the heterogeneity in obsessive-compulsive disorder: Evidence from narratives in adult patients
Authors: Van Schalkwyk Gerrit I , Bhalla Ish P , Griepp Matthew , Kelmendi Benjamin , Davidson Larry , Pittenger Christopher
Published: April 2015

Background:

Current attempts at understanding the heterogeneity in obsessive-compulsive disorder have relied on quantitative methods. The results of such work point toward a dimensional structure for obsessive-compulsive disorder. Existing qualitative work in obsessive-compulsive disorder has focused on understanding specific aspects of the obsessive-compulsive disorder experience in greater depth. However, qualitative methods are also of potential value in furthering our understanding of obsessive-compulsive disorder heterogeneity by allowing for open-ended exploration of the obsessive-compulsive disorder experience and correlating identified subtypes with patient narratives.

Objective:

We explored variations in patients’ experience prior to, during and immediately after performing their compulsions.

Method:

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 adults with obsessive-compulsive disorder, followed by inductive thematic analysis. Participant responses were not analyzed within the context of an existing theoretical framework, and themes were labeled descriptively.

Results:

The previous dichotomy of ‘anxiety’ vs ‘incompleteness’ emerged organically during narrative analysis. In addition, we found that some individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder utilized their behaviors as a way to cope with stress and anxiety more generally. Other participants did not share this experience and denied finding any comfort in their obsessive-compulsive behaviors. The consequences of attentional difficulties were highlighted, with some participants describing how difficulty focusing on a task could influence the need for it to be repeated multiple times.

Conclusions:

The extent to which patients use obsessive-compulsive disorder as a coping mechanism is a relevant distinction with potential implications for treatment engagement. Patients may experience ambivalence about suppressing behaviors that they have come to rely upon for management of stress and anxiety, even if these behaviors represent symptoms of a psychiatric illness.
The Drivers of Corporate Climate Change Strategies and Public Policy
Authors: Backman Charles A. , Verbeke Alain , Schulz Robert A.
Published: April 2015

Effective public policy to mitigate climate change footprints should build on data-driven analysis of firm-level strategies. This article’s conceptual approach augments the resource-based view (RBV) of the firm and identifies investments in four firm-level resource domains (Governance, Information management, Systems, and Technology [ GISTe]) to develop capabilities in climate change impact mitigation. The authors denote the resulting framework as the GISTe model, which frames their analysis and public policy recommendations. This research uses the 2008 Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) database, with high-quality information on firm-level climate change strategies for 552 companies from North America and Europe. In contrast to the widely accepted myth that European firms are performing better than North American ones, the authors find a different result. Many firms, whether European or North American, do not just “talk” about climate change impact mitigation, but actually do “walk the talk.” European firms appear to be better than their North American counterparts in “walk I,” denoting attention to governance, information management, and systems. But when it comes down to “walk II,” meaning actual Technology-related investments, North American firms’ performance is equal or superior to that of the European companies. The authors formulate public policy recommendations to accelerate firm-level, sector-level, and cluster-level implementation of climate change strategies.
Casting the lean spell: The promotion, dilution and erosion of lean management in the NHS
Authors: McCann Leo , Hassard John S , Granter Edward , Hyde Paula J
Published: April 2015

Lean thinking has recently re-emerged as a fashionable management philosophy, especially in public services. A prescriptive or mainstream literature suggests that lean is rapidly diffusing into public sector environments, providing a much-needed rethink of traditional ways of working and stimulating performance improvements. Our study of the introduction of lean in a large UK public sector hospital challenges this argument. Based on a three-year ethnographic study of how employees make sense of lean ‘adoption’, we describe a process in which lean ideas were initially championed, later diluted and ultimately eroded. While initially functioning as a ‘mechanism of hope’ (Brunsson, 2006) around which legitimacy could be generated for tackling longstanding work problems, over time both ‘sellers’ and ‘buyers’ of the concept mobilized lean in ambiguous ways, to the extent that the notion was rendered somewhat meaningless. Ultimately, our analysis rejects current prescriptive or managerialist discourses on lean while offering support for prior positions that would explain such management fashions in terms of the ‘life cycle of a fad’.
Auxetic epoxy foams produced by solid state foaming
Authors: Quadrini Fabrizio , Bellisario Denise , Ciampoli Luigi , Costanza Girolamo , Santo Loredana
Published: April 2015

Auxetic epoxy resin foams were produced by solid-state foaming thanks to the use of properly shaped precursors. In fact, a re-entrant hexagonal shape of the precursors is preserved during foaming and results in a foam with a complex structure: a thin macro-structure with the re-entrant geometry filled with foam. The auxetic behavior was observed by using tensile tests at different temperatures (room temperature, 80℃, and 100℃). Indentation tests were also carried out to evaluate the gradient properties across the lines of the thin re-entrant macro-structure. In order to show that the auxetic behavior depended on the internal macro-structure, tests were also performed on foam panels obtained by cylindrical tablets and, therefore, with a standard-hexagonal macro-structure. In conclusion, the auxetic behavior was observed only for the foam panels with re-entrant hexagonal structure at 80℃. In this case, a negative Poisson’s ratio is immediately achieved at small strains and tends to a zero plateau value for longitudinal strains up to 1%.
Variation of the mechanical properties of E-glass/epoxy composites subjected to hygrothermal aging
Authors: Dogan Akar , Atas Cesim
Published: April 2015

In this study, the effects of hygrothermal aging on the mechanical properties and impact behavior of glass-epoxy composites were investigated experimentally. The vacuum-assisted resin infusion molding was used to manufacture composites. In manufacturing of composites, unidirectional E-glass fabrics with areal density of 300 g/m2 and a resin system (Araldite LY 564/Aradur 3487 BD) were used. In order to determine mechanical properties such as modulus of elasticity, longitudinal and transverse strengths, shear strength, and Poisson’s ratio, the composite samples were prepared according to the ASTM standards. Then, the samples were conditioned at a constant temperature (95℃) and a constant humidity (70%) for different periods of times, ranging from 0 h to 1200 h. The conditioning temperature was chosen due to the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the intact composites which is determined as 78℃. It is noted that the most affected mechanical property via material degradation is modulus of elasticity in transverse direction (E2) while the least affected one is shear modulus (G12). The perforation threshold of the composite materials also decreases with increase of conditioning time.
Criminal Achievement and Self-efficacy
Authors: Laferrière Dominique , Morselli Carlo
Published: April 2015

Objectives:

Self-efficacy, the subjective belief that one can successfully perform a behavior, has been shown to be an important predictor of various conventional behaviors. This study applies self-efficacy theory to offending experiences and aims at examining the factors that influence criminal self-efficacy.

Methods:

The study is based on a survey questionnaire that was administered to 212 inmates. The sources of information identified by self-efficacy theory—individual and contextual characteristics, physiological states, social persuasion, vicarious learning, and personal performance accomplishments—were operationalized with the data to evaluate their impact on criminal self-efficacy.

Results:

Results from ordered logistic regressions demonstrate that age, education, legitimate earnings, relative criminal earnings, qualifications, authority, and criminal earnings are the most potent factors influencing the development of criminal self-efficacy.

Conclusion:

This study’s findings are consistent with research on noncriminal contexts in that one’s self-efficacy in a given domain is primarily the result of personal and vicarious experiences as well as contextual features surrounding these activities. While this study could not evaluate the temporal horizons extending from criminal self-efficacy, we believe that these subjective outlooks bare great theoretical relevance for life course criminology and might prove informative in understanding criminal persistence and desistance.
Highly nanofilled polystyrene composite
Authors: Kourki Hajir , Famili Mohammad Hossein Navid , Mortezaei Mehrzad , Malekipirbazari Milad , Disfani Mahdi Najjar
Published: April 2015

Highly filled systems, such as dental materials and tires, have some exceptional properties that make them very special for particular scientists and engineers. In this study, the thermal and dynamic properties of highly nanosilica-filled polystyrene were investigated. Thermal study predicts a phase in the filled system, named as adsorbed polymer, that has a different glass transition temperature ( Tg) compared with the neat polymer. The adsorbed polymer seems to be responsible for special thermal properties of the highly filled system. The dynamic properties of the filled system are observed to have a similar trend as the thermal behavior at different particle sizes and concentrations, both increasing linearly with the increase of volume fraction of adsorbed polymer. However, at higher volume fractions or for smaller particles, this trend changes and the filler networking mechanism is considered to be the reason for this change. Effect of the filler network is studied through the Han plot and it is found that the contribution of the filler network to the dynamic behavior of the highly filled system increases by reducing the particle size and increasing the particle loading. Beside the particle size and concentration, the effect of filler surface physics on dynamic and thermal behavior of the highly filled system is investigated and it is found that surface modification of the particle surface with nonpolar groups tends to lower Tg and volume fraction for the adsorbed phase and lower strength of the filler network. In this work, the samples were prepared using the method of stabilizing suspension in polymer solution. For viscoelastic investigation, the dynamic rheometry in sweep mode was chosen, also for studying the thermal behavior, differential scanning calorimetric tests were performed. In addition, in order to study the structure of filler in low and highly filled samples, atomic force microscopic imaging was employed.
Collective intentionality or documentality?
Authors: Ferraris Maurizio
Published: April 2015

In this article I defend two theses. The first is that the centrality of recording in the social world is manifested through the production of documents, a phenomenon which has been present since the earliest phases of society and which has undergone an exponential growth through the technological developments of the last decades (computers, tablets, smartphones). The second is that the centrality of documents leads to a view of normativity according to which human beings are primarily passive receptors of rules manifested through documents. We are not intentional producers of values. The latter, as I shall suggest in my conclusion, should be viewed as being ‘socially dependent’ rather than ‘socially constructed’.
Sources of Pluralism – Introduction
Authors: Rasmussen David M.
Published: April 2015

This special double issue of Philosophy and Social Criticism focuses on the sources of pluralism. The introduction will summarize and present the contents of this issue in 4 sections: (1) on the origins of pluralism (Richard Bernstein, Ulrich Preuß, Rajeev Bhargava, Ramin Jahanbegloo); (2) on the development of pluralism (Alessandro Ferrara, Julian Baggini, Paolo Costa, Maurizio Ferraris); (3) pluralism in Turkey (Murat Borovalı and Cemil Boyraz, Markus Dressler, İlay Romain Örs and Ömer Turan, Cengiz Aktar); (4) and pluralism within Islam (Khaled Abou El Fadl, Syafiq Hasyim, Saskia Schäfer, Volker Kaul).
Order, Reputation and Narrative: Forms of State Violence in Late Socialist Macedonia
Authors: Brown Keith
Published: April 2015

Taking the view that micro-historical approaches augment our understanding of how sweeping societal change is experienced and enacted ‘from below’ by human actors, this paper focuses on the largely forgotten ‘Vevčani affair’ (1987–1989) to illuminate some under-examined modalities of violence in the waning years of Communist Party rule in Yugoslavia. In particular, the paper seeks to trace how physical violence by security forces against residents of Vevčani, a village in Western Macedonia, in August 1987 (as well as an earlier confrontation in May 1987) was part of a larger framework of forces, which included three other modalities of violence here defined as existential, reputational and narratival. The paper also examines the degree to which this particular dispute in the Republic of Macedonia became part of broader political battles in Yugoslavia, and how the existence of differentiated ‘publics’ within an increasingly tenuous federation operated to accelerate the dramatic changes under way in the different republics.
The typology of multitasking activity
Authors: Székely Levente
Published: April 2015

Results produced by researches in recent years prove that communicational and media consumption habits of people living in today’s ‘age of information’ are defined to a great extent by multitasking which, alongside juvenile generations, is increasingly common in adult society. Surveys dealing with the phenomenon of multitasking are typically focused on the growing role of parallel activities and their effect on cognitive functions. In connection with the subject, in my research, I try to enquire into the widespread and expanding phenomenon of media multitasking during media consumption, in relation to types of activity. My efforts concentrate on two of the latter areas, recreational and resource-enhancing activities. I attempt to determine the extent of the presence of multitasking in certain activities and the role of the aim and nature of activities entering the sphere of multitasking.
A nuanced understanding of Internet use and non-use among the elderly
Authors: van Deursen Alexander JAM , Helsper Ellen J
Published: April 2015

This article examines explanations for both Internet use and non-use by older individuals. Older adults are often considered a homogeneous group with uniform reasons for Internet non-use, or when they are online, practising a uniform range of activities. The study gathered data concerning senior non-users through a national telephone survey. Data concerning senior Internet users were obtained through a nationally representative online survey. The findings suggest that although a substantial part of the senior Internet non-users live in surroundings that enable Internet uptake, they seem to be less eager or unable to do so. Important differences among senior non-users are based on gender, age, education, household composition and attitude towards the Internet. Differences among users were based on life stage, social environment and psychological characteristics. This article thus reveals that older citizens are a very diverse group in which some are more likely to be digitally excluded than others.
Prosodic and lexical marking of contrast in L2 Italian
Authors: Turco Giuseppina , Dimroth Christine , Braun Bettina
Published: April 2015

We investigated the second language (L2) acquisition of pragmatic categories that are not as consistently and frequently encoded in the L2 than in the first language (L1). Experiment 1 showed that Italian speakers linguistically highlighted affirmative polarity contrast (e.g. The child ate the candies following after The child did not eat the candies) in 34.3% of the cases, by producing a nuclear pitch accent on the finite verb (i.e. verum focus accent). Experiment 2 revealed that high-proficient German and Dutch non-native speakers of Italian linguistically encoded polarity contrast more frequently, either using a verum focus accent (German) or lexical markers (Dutch). This corresponds closely to the patterns preferred in their native languages. Our results show L1 transfer on three levels: (1) the relevance of the pragmatic category (i.e. marking polarity contrast on the assertion component), (2) the linguistic markers to encode polarity contrast and (3) the phonetic implementation of the intonational marking. These three levels of transfer have implications for how non-native speakers acquire the L2 discourse organizational principles and the linguistic markers to encode them.
Modified thoracolumbar injury classification and severity score (TLICS) and its clinical usefulness
Authors: Park Hee Jin , Lee So Yeon , Park Noh Hyuck , Shin Hun Gyu , Chung Eun Chul , Rho Myung Ho , Kim Mi Sung , Kwon Heon Ju
Published: April 2015

Background

Thoracolumbar injury classification and severity score (TLICS) is not very reliable for assessment of injury to the posterior ligament complex, even when scored by experts. It is not reasonable to score every compression fracture or burst fracture the same as there is great variety in the severity of compression fractures and burst fractures.

Purpose

To propose a modified TLICS (mTLICS) and evaluate the performance of the mTLICS system by measuring the agreement between scores determined by radiologists using both systems and actual treatment procedure delivered.

Material and Methods

We retrospectively evaluated 134 patients with acute lumbar and thoracic spinal trauma after undergoing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using new mTLICS and conventional TLICS system. Inter-observer agreements of TLICS and mTLICS scores were analyzed using the kappa statistic. Nonparametric correlation analysis was used to determine correlation (R) among each score and the surgical intervention.

Results

The mTLICS system showed slightly higher correlation than TLICS (Rs, TLICS, 0.592 and 0.613 vs. mTLICS, 0.628 and 0.639). If we consider a total maximal score of 4 to be a negative surgical indication, mTLICS showed significantly higher sensitivities than TLICS, and if we consider a total minimal score of 4 to be a positive surgical indication, mTLICS showed significantly higher specificities than TLICS.

Conclusion

The mTLICS score corrects deficiencies in the TLICS system that lead to ambiguity in the radiological diagnostic criteria. mTLICS is a more suitable scoring system than TLICS for predicting surgical management accurately, especially for morphological injuries.
Occupation as a Quality of Life Constituent: A Nursing Home Perspective
Authors: Green Sharon , Cooper Barbara Acheson
Published: April 2015

Occupational therapy, with its core belief in the occupational needs of individuals, facilitates independent and meaningful activity. When clients become elderly, frail and subject to multiple pathology, they may need the care of a nursing home. Here, through the lack of use of residual abilities, a spiral of decline in occupational performance can occur. To increase knowledge of the factors that contribute most to enabling occupational performance in nursing home settings, a study was carried out in the north-west of England (n=20). Semi-structured interviews were conducted with the matrons to determine the philosophy of care, the daily routines and the approach to activity provision for residents. The data were analysed using a person/environment/occupation framework.

The results indicated that the level of function of the residents greatly influenced the amount and types of activity offered. The matron's role was found to be crucial in recognising the therapeutic value of non-traditional activities and in maximising the use of staff and resources to enhance quality of life for the residents. Flexibility and a creative use of resources were found to have a greater positive influence on the quality of life of severely disabled residents than official policy. In these settings, the role of the occupational therapist moves from hands-on provider to consultant, primarily to the matron.
The Role of the Occupational Therapist in Addressing the Spiritual Needs of Clients
Authors: Udell Lorraine , Chandler Colin
Published: April 2015

There is a continuing debate within the health professions on the place of spirituality and the approach to be taken towards spiritual needs within holistic care. In occupational therapy, the need for both a working definition of spirituality and evidence to validate spirituality as a performance component has been identified (Urbanowski and Vargo 1994). The aim of this study was to add to the debate by exploring the experiences of occupational therapists who have encountered spiritual needs in their practice.

A phenomenological approach using semi-structured interviews with three Christian occupational therapists explored their understanding of spirituality and experience of spiritual needs in practice. While the therapists interviewed had some difficulty in putting into words the concept of spirituality, they were able to identify spiritual needs in their clients and expressed opinions regarding the possible role of the occupational therapist in dealing with the spiritual needs of clients. It was clear that spiritual counselling was not considered to be appropriate for the occupational therapist, although recognising the spiritual dimension of an individual was important.

In the United Kingdom, the occupational therapy profession needs to develop further its view on spirituality in holistic care and the impact that it has on the health and wellbeing of its clients.
Occupational Therapy for Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder: A Study of the Effectiveness of a Combined Sensory Integration and Perceptual-Motor Intervention
Authors: Davidson Tracy , Williams Brian
Published: April 2015

Developmental coordination disorder (DCD) is a problem for a significant proportion of children during school years and may result in more enduring social and emotional problems. Both occupational therapists and physiotherapists provide services for children with DCD. However, there are few studies examining the effectiveness of interventions for this client group. This has resulted in continuing uncertainty over the most effective treatment for this condition. This paper examines past problems with regard to definitions of the disorder, research design and ethical barriers.

The results of a pre-test, post-test single-group study of an occupational therapy intervention for DCD are then presented. Outcomes were measured by the Movement ABC and the Beery-Buktenica Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration (Beery 1982) at one-year follow-up. The results are discussed in relation to the shortcomings of research design used in the study. It is concluded that the intervention, consisting of combined sensory integration and perceptual-motor training, is likely to be ineffective at 12-month follow-up.
Clinical Governance and User Involvement
Authors: Cusack Louise , Sealey-Lapeš Christine
Published: April 2015

Clinical governance is high on the Government's agenda for improving quality in health and social care. It was introduced to ensure fair access to effective, prompt and high quality care for all users, regardless of geographical area. An integral aspect of this initiative is the involvement of users.

This paper presents current government policy on clinical governance, a working definition and an exploration of the value of user involvement. It gives an example of establishing a strategy for user involvement, from Bedfordshire and Luton Community NHS Trust, where the first author is a non-executive member of the Trust Board. It suggests methods that occupational therapists can use to involve users in various aspects of the service.

The authors propose that, for occupational therapists, the whole culture of involving users must shift from being passive to being proactive. Occupational therapists are well placed to be pioneers in this agenda and must move forward in involving users, in order to create modern, dependable and user-friendly health and social care.
Joint Working between Occupational Therapy and Clinical Psychology in a School Setting: A Neurorehabilitation Case Study of a Child with an Acquired Developmental Disability
Authors: Kalpogianni E , Frampton I , Rado T
Published: April 2015

This article presents a case study of the assessment and treatment of an 8-year-old boy with developmental disabilities following meningitis. It aims to explore the extent to which clinical child psychologists and paediatric occupational therapists share a common frame of reference that enables them to work jointly, in an effective and complementary way, to improve clinical standards.

Following a combined programme of intervention, the outcome assessment showed significant improvement in the specific components of visual attention and visual search. However, more generalised improvement in daily living skills was not apparent. The implications for joint working between health professionals and for collaboration with teachers are discussed.
The Benefits to Young People Experiencing Psychosis, and Their Families, of an Early Intervention Programme: Evaluating a Service from the Consumers' and the Providers' Perspectives
Authors: Fisher Angela , Savin-Baden Maggi
Published: April 2015

The new agenda for mental health services, driven by the National Service Framework for Mental Health, places emphasis on social inclusion, the promotion of mental health, the provision of needs-led services and the development of partnerships with users, carers and the wider community. The evaluation focused on an occupational therapy initiative that embraced this agenda and which was targeted at young people, aged between 16 and 25 years, who were experiencing or who had recently experienced psychosis. The programme, known as ‘TIME’, integrated the provision of evidence-based psychosocial therapies, namely early intervention, family intervention, cognitive therapy and cognitive-behavioural therapy, and occupational therapy. It was evaluated by gaining the perspectives of all the key stakeholders, that is, both consumers and providers of the programme.

Although TIME was valued by the service users, the findings indicated discrepancies between the embedded values and norms of the health care systems and those espoused by theorists and policy. Thus, if services that strive to embrace the values and standards laid down in the National Service Framework for Mental Health are to succeed, these important issues will need to be addressed and specific consideration given to the underpinning values essential to the delivery of user-led services.
Manual Handling Risk Assessments in Occupational Therapy
Authors: Hignett Sue
Published: April 2015

The occupational therapy department at a large acute hospital identified 63 manual handling risks in its practice. To facilitate the management of these risks, a 2-year ergonomic study was carried out to rationalise these risks into generic themes. A qualitative methodological approach was taken to explore the complex professional, social and cultural issues. Data were collected using observations and interviews and then analysed with the assistance of NUD*IST.

This article attempts to show the process within the study as well as the findings. An explanatory display was used to communicate the researcher's interpretation to the occupational therapists, resulting in the production of the three generic themes of treatment handling, interagency communication and non-hospital property.
Factors Influencing the Career Choice of First-Year Occupational Therapy Students
Authors: Craik Christine , Gissane Conor , Douthwaite Jane , Philp Edward
Published: April 2015

Although there has been much literature published on occupational therapy as a career choice over the past 40 years, little has come from the United Kingdom. This quantitative study surveyed 330 first-year occupational therapy students at Brunel University, West London, between 1996 and 1999 using a purpose-designed questionnaire.

Over this period there was an increase in the diversity of the student group in relation to gender and ethnic origin, with 70% of each year being over the age of 21 years. The majority of students had previously worked in a health care setting, which was the method by which 30% had first heard about occupational therapy. Although many students had pursued their interest in the profession through formal methods, 25% had used informal methods by contacting an occupational therapy service or occupational therapy friend or family member.

The reasons for career choice were principally aspects of the profession such as variety and challenge and, secondly, an interest in people and a wish to help disabled people; material aspects such as job availability, promotion and salary were the least important. While the value of occupational therapists in recruitment was acknowledged, more robust and sustained promotion of occupational therapy as a career was indicated.
A Pilot Community Living Skills Group: An Evaluation
Authors: Brown Fiona , Shiels Mary , Hall Caroline
Published: April 2015

This article presents the findings of a 12-week pilot community living skills (CLS) group for eight adults with enduring mental health needs; five of these adults met the inclusion criterion for the study. The group was established to promote skills for home management, community living, personal care and safety, and social and interpersonal functioning.

The Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) and a client satisfaction questionnaire were used as broad measurement tools: the COPM was scored pre-group and post-group and the questionnaire was completed following the final session. A follow-up home visit was carried out by therapists to gauge further the skill transfer from group to home environment.

In the tasks identified according to the COPM pre-group and post-group, performance and satisfaction scores were improved slightly. The questionnaire results indicated high levels of client satisfaction.

The topics rated as most helpful were of a practical nature and those enjoyed less were of a discursive nature. The post-group home visits demonstrated an improvement in the majority of group members in effective task management within the home.

The implications for future occupational therapy and research are considered on the basis of the findings. These demonstrate that a basic form of evaluation can be used effectively to promote good clinical practice and, on this occasion, the need for future CLS groups. They also serve to demonstrate the need for a larger scale, more in-depth evaluation of CLS groups within mental health practice.
Strategies for Facilitating Physical Activity and Wellbeing: A Health Promotion Perspective
Authors: Reynolds Frances
Published: April 2015

Small increases in physical activity can enhance physical and psychological wellbeing. This article reviews some of the skills and strategies that have been shown in previous research to be effective in assisting individuals to adopt a more active lifestyle, namely educational interventions, exploring barriers to physical activity, promoting self-efficacy for exercise, maximising rewards, encouraging goal setting, enhancing resistance to relapse, building social support and providing reminders or cues to action. These skills, it is argued, are relevant to occupational therapy with a wide range of clients, in both physical health and mental health settings.
The Assessment of Motor and Process Skills: An Evaluation of the Impact of Training on Service Delivery
Authors: McAdam Kathy , Thomas Wendy , Chard Gill
Published: April 2015

Thirty-six occupational therapists that completed a training course on the Assessment of Motor and Process Skills (AMPS), held in the West Midlands, took part in a follow-up evaluation. This examined the effectiveness of the AMPS training on the occupational therapy service delivery. Twenty-eight structured interviews were carried out with occupational therapists from the West Midlands region and eight postal questionnaires returned from occupational therapists outside the region.

The outcome indicated that observation skills had improved and that the AMPS was an appropriate tool to use for the purposes of assessment, guiding intervention and measuring outcomes of occupational therapy. There were variations in the ease with which the AMPS was administered with different client groups, but 89% of the occupational therapists were still using the AMPS at 9 months following training across a range of services. The main difficulties encountered were a lack of access to a computer and the additional support needed for the AMPS to be fully integrated into clinical practice.

The adaptability of the AMPS as a standardised assessment and outcome measure makes it a good choice of tool to use across an occupational therapy service. The effects of the AMPS training on such a service are discussed, with recommendations for managers planning the distribution of limited training budgets and the implications for service development needs.
Supervision in Occupational Therapy, Part 3: Accommodating the Supervisor and the Supervisee
Authors: Sweeney Grace , Webley Paul , Treacher Andy
Published: April 2015

This paper, the final one in a series of three, aims to draw together the findings of the two reported studies on the experiences of supervisors and supervisees in the discipline of occupational therapy (Sweeney et al 2001a,b) and to distil recommendations for the future practice of supervision within the profession.

A paucity of empirical research on the process of supervision within the health care professions has resulted in a confusion concerning the purpose of supervision, its distinctiveness from other activities and the role and function of both supervisors and supervisees, and a lack of clarity regarding the tasks and techniques to be employed within supervision. In keeping with concerns about supervision expressed in the general literature, the findings of these studies (Sweeney et al 2001a,b) suggest that supervision as it is currently practised within occupational therapy is not a comfortable experience for either the supervisor or the supervisee.

This paper recommends steps that can be adopted by both supervisors and supervisees to facilitate the development of a more productive relationship within supervision; for example, the use of training, exposure to theories and models of supervision, and the use of agendas, contracts and feedback. Supervisor and supervisee recommendations are discussed within the wider framework of professional, cultural and organisational implications.
Rethinking the Practice-Knowledge Interface in an Uncertain World: a Model for Practice Development
Authors: Higgs Joy , Titchen Angie
Published: April 2015

The world of professional practice is uncertain because of the very nature of working with inexact health sciences in human contexts and because of the rapid changes constantly occurring in the health sciences' knowledge, practice and technology. To work in this uncertain world, occupational therapists, along with other health professionals, need to participate in the development of their individual and collective professional practice.

This paper presents a model for practice development which reframes the practice-knowledge interface. This traditional point of division (between knowledge and practice, between academic and practice learning, between propositional and experience-based knowledge) is replaced with a dialectical relationship. Practice can be enhanced through the development of the practice and knowledge of individuals and the profession, recognising the interdependence of practice and knowledge in their mutual generation and operation.
Using Learning Contracts in Fieldwork Education: the Views of Occupational Therapy Students and those Responsible for their Supervision
Authors: Whitcombe Steven W
Published: April 2015

Occupational therapy students at the University of Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff, use learning contracts during fieldwork placements. A learning contract is a practical agreement between the student and the fieldwork educator, which is designed to take account of the student's individual learning needs. Studies have considered the value of using learning contracts within health care settings; however, there is little evidence available of their use with occupational therapy students and fieldwork educators.

The aims of this study were to consider occupational therapy students' and fieldwork educators' opinions on the advantages and disadvantages of learning contracts and to identify how contracts were used in the fieldwork setting. A further aim was to identify the attitudes of students and fieldwork educators towards the educational theory — andragogy – underpinning learning contracts.

A postal questionnaire was used to gather information from a year group of 46 occupational therapy students and the 52 fieldwork educators responsible for their supervision. The respondents suggested a number of advantages and disadvantages of using learning contracts and most respondents had positive attitudes towards andragogical theory. The study found that the majority of the respondents supported the use of learning contracts in fieldwork settings and further research is recommended.

Conclusion and recommendations

Learning contracts can be used to apply the theory of andragogy to the fieldwork component of health care courses. Some research has looked at the use of contracts in clinical settings; however, research that took account of the views of occupational therapists and occupational therapy students was not found when reviewing the literature.

Overall, the study is supportive of research that suggests that learning contracts can be a useful tool in fostering independent learning and the skills of self-evaluation. However, when interpreting the findings, it needs to be taken into account that the study focused on one group of occupational therapy students from one particular problem-based learning course. In view of this, the following recommendations are made:
Conducting Focus Groups: Purpose and Practicalities
Authors: Hollis Vivien , Openshaw Sheila , Goble Rita
Published: April 2015

Focus groups are increasingly used by health professionals for obtaining research data and for gathering opinions about the perceived qualities of a service. The advantages of this method are that it is easily understood, reflects cultural differences and has a high face validity by providing convincing findings. Focus groups are especially useful for exploring the attitudes and experiences associated with a particular topic.

Although occupational therapists may be using focus groups, only a very few studies have been reported. This paper provides background information on focus groups which will assist in weighing this method against a number of other group techniques. Personal experience and a wide range of published material contribute to guidelines for preparing for and conducting focus groups. Practical suggestions and approaches are offered to help occupational therapists to increase the credibility and dependability of their results.
Speech Recognition as an Input to Electronic Assistive Technology
Authors: Hawley Mark S
Published: April 2015

Automatic speech recognition systems can be enormously beneficial for people with physical disabilities, having the potential to provide a fast and easy-to-use input for computer access and control of the home environment.

An overview, based on a review of the research literature and clinical observations, is given of the suitability and performance of speech recognition for computer access in two situations ± for people with no speech problems and for people with dysarthria ± and case studies are presented as examples. Commercial large vocabulary systems are often appropriate for people with no, mild or moderate speech problems, although adequate time, training and support are essential. Those with severe dysarthria achieve lower recognition rates, but speech recognition can still be a useful method of input for some individuals.

Speech input as a means of controlling the home environment is mainly based on small vocabulary speech recognition, and recognition reliability is dependent upon the consistency of the speech of the individual. Although speech recognition may be a solution for some people, others reject the technology because of inadequate reliability. This is particularly a problem for people with dysarthria, where speech recognition rates can be unacceptably low due to inconsistent speech.