Personal Concept Research Articles

John Tomer’s Reconceptualization of the Concept of Human Capital

This chapter examines John Tomer’s contributions to our understanding of the concept of human capital. Tomer criticized the standard mainstream view of the concept as narrowly focused on education and training and as seeing investments in human capital as having “an individual, cognitive, and machine-like nature.” A broader concept included attention to the people’s noncognitive development, and employed both social capital and personal capital concepts. This produces a more expansive view of human development, allows for a humanistic psychological perspective, and supports a multi-dimensional, Maslovian understanding of the hierarchy of human needs. Tomer framed his policy thinking regarding investments in human capital in terms of the goal of helping people become ‘smart’ persons. He recognized that a barrier to accomplishing this is high levels of economic inequality. The chapter thus goes on to discuss how socially stratified societies generate economic inequality in regard to human capital investments, and how thinking in terms of people’s capabilities can help us advance progressive economic and social policies agendas.

Perioperative changes in the plasma metabolome of patients receiving general anesthesia for pancreatic cancer surgery.

Background: Modern anesthesia strives to offer personalized concepts to meet the patient’s individual needs in sight of clinical outcome. Still, little is known about the impact of anesthesia on the plasma metabolome, although many metabolites have been shown to modulate the function of various immune cells, making it particularly interesting in the context of oncological surgery. In this study longitudinal dynamics in the plasma metabolome during general anesthesia in patients undergoing pancreatic surgery were analyzed.Materials and Methods: Prospective, observational study with 10 patients diagnosed with pancreatic (pre-) malignancy and subjected to elective resection surgery under general anesthesia. Plasma metabolites (n = 630) were quantified at eight consecutive perioperative timepoints using mass spectrometry-based targeted metabolomics.Results: 39 metabolites significantly changed during the perioperative period. Tryptophan concentrations decreased by 45% with the maximum decrease after anesthesia induction (p = 6.24E-07), while taurine synthesis increased (p = 1.46E-04). Triacylglycerides and lysophosphatidylcholines were significantly reduced with increased liberation of free monounsaturated fatty acids (p = 0.03). Carnitine levels decreased significantly (p = 9.30E-04).Conclusions: The major finding of this study was perioperative tryptophan depletion and increased taurine synthesis. Both are essential for immune cell function and are therefore of significant interest for perioperative management. Further studies are needed to identify influencing anesthetic factors.

Incomplete penetrance of a novel SDHD variation causing familial head and neck paraganglioma

ObjectiveIdentification of variations in tumour suppressor genes encoding the tetrameric succinate dehydrogenase (SDHx) mitochondrial enzyme complex may lead to personalised therapeutic concepts for the orphan disease, familial paraganglioma (PGL) type 1‐5. We undertook to determine the causative variation in a family suffering from idiopathic early‐onset (22 ± 2 years) head and neck PGL by PCR and Sanger sequencing.DesignProspective genetic study.SettingTertiary Referral Otolaryngology Centre.ParticipantsTwelve family members.Main outcome measuresMain outcomes were clinical analysis and SDH genotypingResults and ConclusionsA novel heterozygous c.298delA frameshift variation in exon 3 of SDH subunit D (SDHD) was associated with a paternal transmission pattern of PGL in affected family members available to the study. Family history over five generations in adulthood indicated a variable penetrance for PGL inheritance in older generations. The c.298delA variant would cause translation of a 34‐residue C‐terminus distal to lysine residue 99 in the predicted transmembrane domain II of the full‐length sequence p.(Thr100LeufsTer35) and would affect the translation products of all protein‐coding SDHD isoforms containing transmembrane topologies required for positional integration in the inner mitochondrial membrane and complex formation. These results underly the importance of genetic screening for PGL also in cases of unclear inheritance, and variation carriers should benefit from screening and lifelong follow‐up.

Building a Coaching Culture-The Roles of Coaches, Mentors, and Sponsors.

Building a Coaching Culture-The Roles of Coaches, Mentors, and Sponsors.

Implant-based multiplane breast augmentation\u2014a personal surgical concept for dynamic implant\u2013tissue interaction providing sustainable shape stability

BackgroundThe aesthetic long-term stability in shape, symmetry, and natural appearance of an aesthetically augmented breast remains a constant challenge. It has become clear that the results depend strongly on the technique applied and the experience of the surgeon. An ongoing controversy concerns the positioning of the implants. Subglandular, submuscular, partial submuscular, and subfascial pockets have different tradeoffs and advantages. However, secondary deformity, unnatural feel, and appearance are not addressed uniformly. The aim of the following study was to establish a standard procedure allowing for the desired and reproducible results to provide long-term stability and aesthetic quality.MethodsThe authors have developed a standardized dissection of a dynamic implant pocket. In this approach, a submuscular dissection with lower and medial release of the pectoralis muscle is combined with a wide subfascial release of the breast gland and a scoring of the deep plane of the superficial glandular fascia. In the final step, the deep layer of the glandular fascia is sutured tightly and firmly to the deep layer of the abdomino-pectoral fascia. A total of 867 patients received a 4D pocket–based breast implant by the authors. A subset of 33 patients was further analyzed for long-term results. Retrospectively, all data were analyzed from the electronic patient information system and files of patients using GraphPad 8. For comparison of multiple experimental groups, one-way ANOVA was performed where indicated.ResultsThe concept not only addresses the biplanar approach of submuscular implant placement (3D) but adds the 4th dimension (4D) of an aesthetically pleasing dynamic shape of the augmented breast providing long-term stability. Measurements—taken at 3 months, and 1, 2, 3, 5, and ≥ 7 years post augmentation—for SN-N, N-IMF, N-ML, and MC-N distances did not show any significant changes over time. In the patient cohort of 867 patients (1734 implants), the overall complication rate was < 5%. Revisions for bleeding were below 0.5%. Shape stability was observed over 7 years in more than 95% of the patients.ConclusionsOur results indicate that our technique of multiplane breast augmentation provides long-term stability and aesthetic quality. It may solve some of the existing tradeoffs of the different methods by combining the benefits of each technique supported by an additional shaping through a controlled deep fasciotomy.Level of evidence: Level IV, therapeutic study.

Underlying delusion: Predictive processing, looping effects, and the personal/sub-personal distinction

ABSTRACT What is the relationship between the concepts of the predictive processing theory of brain functioning and the everyday concepts with which people conduct and explain their mental lives? To answer this question, we focus on predictive processing explanations of mental disorder that appeal to false inference. After distinguishing two concepts of false inference, we survey four ways of understanding the relationship between explanations of mental phenomena at the personal and sub-personal level. We then argue that if predictive processing accurately accounts for psychological and socio-cultural dynamics, then personal and sub-personal concepts must display a looping relationship that can impact the nature of at least some mental phenomena. In particular, explaining the phenomenon of delusion in terms of the sub-personal concept of false inference should change the nature of delusional experiences themselves.

Developing acute care-based mental health nurses' knowledge and skills in providing recovery-orientated care: A mixed methods study.

Recovery-oriented principles have progressively been accepted as a standard of mental health practice in many countries, including Australia. A private mental health Clinic in Melbourne, Australia, is dedicated to embedding the principles of recovery-oriented practice into care by (i) providing recovery education and training for their staff and (ii) co-designing resources with consumers to promote active consumer engagement and participation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of these initiatives on staff knowledge and provision of recovery-oriented care in acute care. Two groups of study participants were recruited: the first group completed the staff training programme introducing the concept of recovery-oriented practice, and the second group was a convenience sample of nurses recruited 12months later working on the acute inpatient wards at the study site. Nurses completed Recovery Knowledge Inventory (RKI) and Recovery Self-Assessment (RSA-Provider) surveys and participated in a focus group discussion. The three major themes identified from the focus group discussion were as follows: (i) nurses' understanding of personal recovery-orientated practice, (ii) how to embed personal recovery-oriented care into practice, and (iii) barriers to consumer participation in recovery-oriented activities in acute care. There were significant differences between the two groups on the RKI subscale scores of 'Expectations regarding recovery' and the 'Roles of self-definition and peers in recovery' and 'Life goals' and 'Choice' factors on the RSA subscale scores. There were some gaps in the nurses' knowledge and implementation of personal recovery-oriented concepts, highlighting the need for further training and cultural change.

Perspectives on mental health recovery from Egyptian mental health professionals: A qualitative study.

WHAT IS KNOWN ON THE SUBJECT?: Personal recovery concept is dominant in mental health systems when service user involvement is emphasized; however, service user involvement in mental health research and practice does not exist in Egypt. Definitions of recovery from high-income and English-speaking countries should be carefully adapted to other settings. Nurses providing mental health care in Egypt generally do not have specialized mental health nursing qualifications. WHAT THE PAPER ADDS TO EXISTING KNOWLEDGE?: Both cultural and contextual uniqueness of Egypt as a Middle Eastern, low-middle-income country were clear in the findings of this paper. There are differences in the definition of family and service user engagement in the current study and in high-income countries. Seeking faith healers as a barrier to mental health recovery is culturally unique. Functional recovery prevails as a model in Egypt as there is limited service user involvement. Nursing values and code of ethics are consistent with enablers of mental health recovery. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE?: Changing the pre-registration nursing education to prepare specialized graduates in mental health nursing. Training of mental health professionals on recovery approaches which involve service users is needed in Egypt. Mental health nurses in Egypt can use the current findings to implement national campaigns to raise public awareness of mental health problems. ABSTRACT: Introduction Recovery-oriented mental health practice is an emerging approach that aims to empower individuals to define their goals and take responsibility for their own recovery. However, mental health practice in Egypt is still custodial. Aim To explore perspectives of Egyptian mental health professionals on recovery. Method Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 mental health professionals identified through snowball sampling. Results The current study identified that functional recovery outweighed other definitions. Four facilitators of mental health recovery were identified: therapeutic relationship; family engagement; cultural sensitivity; and professionals' self-awareness. Six barriers to recovery were found, comprising mental health stigma and lack of awareness, seeking traditional healers, shortage of psychiatrists, cost of treatment, lack of training and effective rehabilitation programs. Discussion The concept of functional recovery predominates among nurses and other mental health professionals, which may be due to limited training and the historical lack of service user involvement in Egypt. Lack of support from family and society, inadequate training MHPs and perceived system inefficiencies are also major impeding factors for recovery. Implications for Practice There is a need for nurses to be involved in designing intervention programs targeting the general public and to support increased involvement of people with mental health issues.

Personalization (Election Campaign Coverage)

Personalization (Election Campaign Coverage)

Mathematics education undergraduates’ personal definitions of the notion of angle of contiguity in Kinematics

The concept of a mathematical definition causes severe difficulties among students during problem solving and proving activities. Students’ difficulties with the use of mathematical definitions often arise from the fact that students are often given those definitions instead of constructing them. With the aim of developing an understanding of the kinds of student teachers evoked concept images of the notion of angle of contiguity, a qualitative case study was conducted at one state university in Zimbabwe. Purposive sampling was used to select 28 mathematics undergraduate student teachers who responded to a test item. Qualitative data analysis was guided by ideas drawn from the theoretical framework of Abstraction in Context and idea of imperative features of a mathematical definition. Student teachers written responses revealed that student teachers personal concept definitions consisted of ambiguous and irrelevant formulations that did not capture the essence of the idea of the angle of contiguity. In some cases their responses were not consistent with the definition of the angle of contiguity. Although there were a few instances of adequate descriptions of the concept, (8 out of 32) these and the inadequate descriptors elicited can contribute significantly towards efforts intended to improve mathematics instruction. Improved mathematics instruction will lead to enhanced conceptualizations of mathematics concepts.

A Phenomenological Study: Exploring the Meaning of Spirituality in Long-term Recovery in Alcoholics Anonymous

ABSTRACT Recovery in Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) is framed within a broad notion of spirituality, in which members are encouraged to nurture personal concepts of spirituality. An interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA), semi-structured interview study was conducted, to explore the role of spirituality for five members of A.A. with long-term recovery (LTR) from alcohol use disorder (AUD). Three higher-order themes, conceptualizing spirituality as a secular and existential phenomenon were identified. The study highlights the role of secular spirituality as a coping mechanism in LTR, demonstrating that A.A. can be an effective treatment for individuals wishing to recover from AUD, regardless of their belief systems.

Exploration of recovery of people living with severe mental illness (SMI) in low/middle-income countries (LMICs): a scoping review

ObjectiveTo examine the literature on how recovery of people with severe mental illness (SMI) is conceptualised in low/middle-income countries (LMICs), and in particular what factors are thought to facilitate recovery.DesignScoping...

Exploring the Meaning of Spirituality and Spiritual Care in Chinese Contexts: A Scoping Review.

Spirituality is recognised as a fundamental aspect of health and nursing care. Yet, there are few studies exploring how this concept may be understood outside of Western culture. This scoping review seeks to address this omission by focusing specifically on research conducted with Chinese populations. This is important because people from Chinese backgrounds (PBC) are now residing all over the world, and their spirituality and spiritual needs should be considered when providing healthcare. Adopting a purely generalist understanding and application of spirituality may not capture the cultural difference that exists between the East and West. This scoping review adopted Arksey and O'Malley's method to focus on spirituality and spiritual care among PBC in health and nursing. The systematic strategy was adopted and used to search the main databases in health and nursing. Eighteen (n = 18) empirical studies were included in the review: 11 qualitative studies and seven quantitative involving 1870 participants. The scoping review revealed that in the Chinese understanding of spirituality is an abstract and personal concept which can refer to an internal vital force, experiences of suffering, and traditional Chinese cultural and religious values. As the multidimensional understanding of spirituality and spiritual care may cause confusion, these findings may provide a direction for the researchers emphasising the need for cultural and religious sensitivity when understanding of spirituality.

A Systematic Review of Cost-Effectiveness Studies of Interventions With a Personalized Nutrition Component in Adults

ObjectivesImportant links between dietary patterns and diseases have been widely applied to establish nutrition interventions. However, knowledge about between-person heterogeneity regarding the benefits of nutrition intervention can be used to personalize the intervention and thereby improve health outcomes and efficiency. We performed a systematic review of cost-effectiveness analyses (CEAs) of interventions with a personalized nutrition (PN) component to assess their methodology and findings. MethodsA systematic search (March 2019) was performed in 5 databases: EMBASE, Medline Ovid, Web of Science, Cochrane CENTRAL, and Google Scholar. CEAs involving interventions in adults with a PN component were included; CEAs focusing on clinical nutrition or undernutrition were excluded. The CHEERS checklist was used to assess the quality of CEAs. ResultsWe identified 49 eligible studies among 1792 unique records. Substantial variation in methodology was found. Most studies (91%) focused only on psychological concepts of PN such as behavior and preferences. Thirty-four CEAs were trial-based, 13 were modeling studies, and 4 studies were both trial- and model-based. Thirty-two studies used quality-adjusted life year as an outcome measure. Different time horizons, comparators, and modeling assumptions were applied, leading to differences in costs/quality-adjusted life years. Twenty-eight CEAs (49%) concluded that the intervention was cost-effective, and 75% of the incremental cost-utility ratios were cost-effective given a willingness-to-pay threshold of $50 000 per quality-adjusted life year. ConclusionsInterventions with PN components are often evaluated using various types of models. However, most PN interventions have been considered cost-effective. More studies should examine the cost-effectiveness of PN interventions that combine psychological and biological concepts of personalization.

Dead ringers? Legal persons and the deceased in European data protection law

Notwithstanding suggestions that the concrete treatment of legal and deceased person data during European data protection's development has been broadly comparable, this article finds that stark divergences are in fact apparent. Justification for the inclusion of both categories has rested on a claimed linkage to living natural person interests. However, despite early fusion, legal persons have been increasingly seen to have qualitatively different information entitlements compared to natural persons, thereby leaving European data protection with a very limited and indirect role here. In contrast, living natural persons and the deceased have not been conceived as normatively dichotomous and since the 1990s there has been growing interest both in establishing sui generis direct protection for deceased person data and also indirect inclusion through a link with living natural persons. Whilst the case for some indirect inclusion is overwhelming, a broad approach to the inter-relational nature of data risks further destabilizing the personal data concept even in relation to living persons alone. Given that jurisdictions representing almost half of the EEA's population now provide some direct protection and the challenges of managing digital data on death continue to grow, the time may be ripe for a ‘soft’ recommendation on direct protection in this area. Drawing on existing law and scholarship, such a recommendation could seek to specify the role of both specific control rights and diffuse confidentiality obligations, the criteria for time-limits in each case and the need for a balance with other rights and interests which recognises the significantly decreasing interest in protection over time.

Making Personal Finance Personal: The Use Of Service-Learning In Personal Finance Classes

Service-learning integrates community service and classroom instruction and promotes civic awareness and significant learning. This paper describes an innovation in pedagogy through a service-learning project within personal finance classes at a Christian university. In this project, college students create art projects explaining basic personal finance concepts to second graders and lead an interactive lesson at a local school. This project provides an example of biblical financial stewardship through giving of one’s money, time, and talents.

Personal Hygiene Concept, Knowledge, and Awareness Regarding COVID-19 among Bangladeshi People

Aim: Novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has emerged as an unknown fallacy that forced into a global pandemic. Only a few vaccines are available for a limited number of people, and most of the population are not vaccinated yet. So, social distancing, proper personal hygiene, and sanitization concepts are the main factors to prevent the spread of this disease. For a densely populated country like Bangladesh, the concepts of social distancing are unpopular, and people are reluctant to follow community health guidelines. This study aimed to understand the personal hygiene concept, knowledge, and awareness of Bangladeshi people against COVID-19. Subject and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from March to June 2020 through an online Google survey. Those who answered all the questions were finally included for result calculation (n = 182). The chi-square test was applied to evaluate the correlations among the groups based on education, income level, and occupation. Results: The results showed that education level and occupational status play a vital role in awareness about the general symptoms of COVID-19. Students have a lower rate of washing hands for 20 sec than people of other occupations (p = 0.037). The rate of using masks while going outside is not common in the low-income group (p = 0.010). A significant variation was also observed in wearing a mask when income level, education, and occupation were considered to compare among the groups. There was a noteworthy distinction in handwashing frequency and duration of handwashing in different occupation groups of the participants (p = 0.044 and 0.008, respectively). On the other hand, graduates were found comparatively more concerned about maintaining home quarantine and isolation firmly than others. They know the differences and significance of these two interventions properly. Conclusion: More comprehensive education programs could be helpful to enhance the concept of personal hygiene, knowledge, and awareness level of the people for a country like Bangladesh.

Similarities and Differences in How Supervisors at Canadian and UK Institutions Understand Doctoral Supervision

Similarities and Differences in How Supervisors at Canadian and UK Institutions Understand Doctoral Supervision

Can Animism Save the World? Reflections on Personhood and Complexity in the Ecological Crisis

The term “animism” is at once a fantasy internal to modernity and a semiotic conduit enabling a serious inquiry into non-modern phenomena that radically call into question the modern distinction of nature and culture. Therefore, I suggest that the labelling of people, practices or ideas as “animist” is a strategic one. I also raise the question if animism can help to solve the modern ecological crisis that allegedly stems from the nature-culture divide. In particular, animism makes it possible to recognize personhood in non-humans, thus creating moral relationships with the non-human world. A number of scholars and activists identify animism as respect for all living beings and as intimate relationships with nature and its spirits. However, this argument still presupposes the fixity of the ontological status of beings as alive or persons. A different view of animism highlights concepts of fluid and unstable persons that emerge from ongoing communicative processes. I argue that the kind of attentiveness that drives fluid personhood may be supportive of a politics of life that sees relationships with non-humans in terms of moral commitment.

Mass Personalization Strategy in Modern Education

The article analyzes mass personalization as a model for arrangement educational activities, the innovativeness of which is due to the modern technological capabilities of creating or adapting an educational product in accordance with the individual needs of the student. The author shows the dependence of the social demand for mass personalization in education via a number of mega-trends in economic and social development. The concept of mass personalization in the economic aspect is examined; the possibility of extrapolating the idea of mass personalization to the field of modern education is substantiated. The author considers the strategy of mass personalization as one of the ways to develop a more open architecture of education and increase the social effectiveness of educational practices. The first part of the article analyzes the potential of mass personalization for the development of education itself and for solving a wide range of social development problems. It is noted that the increasing variety of technological solutions allows one to design non-linear educational schemes, develop educational ecosystems, and shape the educational landscape to meet the heterogeneous social order for education. The urgency of the tasks of the development of “digital pedagogy” for the formation of motivation and subjectivity of individuals as the main condition of the effectiveness of mass personalization and for minimizing errors in determining the goals of learning is emphasized. The possibility of shifting the emphasis in the axiology of education from an instrumental interpretation of educational results to emphasizing the importance of education as a process of formation of personality in its integrity is considered. The article then moves on to examine the possible risks of implementing a mass personalization strategy. Risks of the development of educational inequality, a departure from the principles of egalitarianism in the organization of education are considered, the risks of violations of privacy and confidentiality of students associated with the use of big data are analyzed, the possibilities of manipulating the consciousness of students, managing their attention as potential threats are noted. The conclusion is made about the possible prospects for the development of mass personalization strategy.