Formal Terminology Research Articles

Do Residential Long-Term Care Policies Support Family Involvement in Residents’ Quality of Life in Four Canadian Provinces?

ABSTRACT Family members are essential contributors to the quality of life (QoL) of persons living in residential long-term care (RLTC). This paper analyzes how the system enables or inhibits family involvement with residents in RLTC. Our analysis of 21 policies that regulate long-term care in four Canadian Provinces reveal differences in their portrayal of residents’ families. Family roles are characterized procedurally (task-oriented) or relationally (interactive). Operational standards linked to licensing of RLTC homes employ more formal terminology, while RLTC program guidelines, use facilitative language to engage families and build relationships. Examples of orientation procedures, care protocols, living at risk, and end-of-life care reveal inter-provincial variations. We argue that there are opportunities to further engage families within the current regulatory framework and improve their continued contributions in the post-pandemic era.

Families as Valued Contributors to LTC Residents' Quality of Life: Policy Perspectives

Family members are essential contributors to Q0L of LTC residents. This paper analyzes how the system views family’s role in residents’ QoL and enables or inhibits family involvement. Our analysis of 21 policies that regulate LTC in four Canadian Provinces reveal differences in their portrayal of residents’ families. In many policies, family roles are characterized procedurally (task-oriented) or relationally (interactive) by policy type. Operational standards (regulatory policies) linked to licensing employ more formal terminology, while LTC program guidelines use facilitative language to engage families and build relationships through voluntary means. Specific examples of orientation and admission procedures, care protocols including use of restraints, right to live at risk, and end-of-life care are presented to reveal inter-provincial variations. We argue there are opportunities to further engage families within the current regulatory framework.

PRECISE MATHEMATICS COMMUNICATION: THE USE OF FORMAL AND INFORMAL LANGUAGE

INTRODUCTION. When explaining their reasoning, students should communicate their mathematical thinking precisely, however, it is unclear if formal terminology is necessary or if students can explain or describe mathematical concepts using everyday language. This paper reports the results of two studies. The first explores the relation between students’ use of formal and informal mathematical language and procedural knowledge in mathematics; the second replicates and extends these findings using a longitudinal design over the course of an entire school year. METHOD. Study 1 uses a pre-test, intervention, post-test method across one unit of study. Study 2 uses the same pre-test, intervention, post-test method, however, it implements a longitudinal design across an entire school year using growth curve analysis. RESULTS. Findings show that students benefit most when they attempt to describe the targeted mathematical concepts, regardless of the type of language used. This finding is consistent with prior work showing that having students go through the process of self-explaining, independent of the quality of those explanations, yields benefits to learning (i.e. Chi, 2000). DISCUSSION. Although teachers should still use formal language in their classrooms; they should not be discouraged if students are initially unable to use formal language correctly. We suggest that teachers allow students to explain their reasoning using either formal or informal terms, especially while students are in the midst of developing an understanding the mathematical concepts.

Fighting sustainability challenges on two fronts: Material efficiency and the emerging carbon capture and storage technologies

Technological and regulatory responses to large-scale environmental threats, such as depletion of the natural resources and climate change, tend to focus on one issue at time. Emerging carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies that are in different stages of development offer a case that demonstrates this dilemma. This article approximates the implications of two emerging CCS applications on existing steel mill’s CO2 emissions and its use of material resources. The evaluated applications are based on the mineralization method and the comparative case represents two versions of a geological CCS method. The results of the evaluation indicate that if technical bottleneck issues related to CO2 sequestration with mineralization can be solved, it can be possible to achieve a similar CO2 reduction performance with mineralization-based CCS applications as with more conventional CCS applications. If the CO2 capturing potential of mineralization-based applications could be taken into use, it could also enable the significant improvement of material efficiency of industrial operations. Urgent problem hampering the development of mineralization-based CCS applications is that the policy regimes related to CCS especially in the European Union (EU) do not recognize mineralization as a CCS method. Article suggests that the focus in the future evaluations and in policy should not be directed only on CO2 sequestration capacity of CCS applications. Similarly important is to consider their implications on material efficiency. Article also outlines modifications to the EU’s CCS policy in terms of the formal terminology.

The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) in Electronic Health Records

The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) is the World Health Organization's standard for describing health and health-related states. Examples of how the ICF has been used in Electronic Health Records (EHRs) have not been systematically summarized and described yet. To provide a systematic review of peer-reviewed literature about the ICF's use in EHRs, including related challenges and benefits. Peer-reviewed literature, published between January 2001 and July 2015 was retrieved from Medline®, CINAHL®, Scopus®, and ProQuest® Social Sciences using search terms related to ICF and EHR concepts. Publications were categorized according to three groups: Requirement specification, development and implementation. Information extraction was conducted according to a qualitative content analysis method, deductively informed by the evaluation framework for Health Information Systems: Human, Organization and Technology-fit (HOT-fit). Of 325 retrieved articles, 17 publications were included; 4 were categorized as requirement specification, 7 as development, and 6 as implementation publications. Information regarding the HOT-fit evaluation framework was summarized. Main benefits of using the ICF in EHRs were its unique comprehensive perspective on health and its interdisciplinary focus. Main challenges included the fact that the ICF is not structured as a formal terminology as well as the need for a reduced number of ICF codes for more feasible and practical use. Different approaches and technical solutions exist for integrating the ICF in EHRs, such as combining the ICF with other existing standards for EHR or selecting ICF codes with natural language processing. Though the use of the ICF in EHRs is beneficial as this review revealed, the ICF could profit from further improvements such as formalizing the knowledge representation in the ICF to support and enhance interoperability.Citation: Maritz R, Aronsky D, Prodinger B. The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) in Electronic Health Records. Appl Clin Inform 2017; 8: 964-980 https://doi.org/10.4338/ACI-2017050078.

The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) in Electronic Health Records. A Systematic Literature Review.

The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) is the World Health Organization's standard for describing health and health-related states. Examples of how the ICF has been used in Electronic Health Records (EHRs) have not been systematically summarized and described yet. To provide a systematic review of peer-reviewed literature about the ICF's use in EHRs, including related challenges and benefits. Peer-reviewed literature, published between January 2001 and July 2015 was retrieved from Medline®, CINAHL®, Scopus®, and ProQuest® Social Sciences using search terms related to ICF and EHR concepts. Publications were categorized according to three groups: Requirement specification, development and implementation. Information extraction was conducted according to a qualitative content analysis method, deductively informed by the evaluation framework for Health Information Systems: Human, Organization and Technology-fit (HOT-fit). Of 325 retrieved articles, 17 publications were included; 4 were categorized as requirement specification, 7 as development, and 6 as implementation publications. Information regarding the HOT-fit evaluation framework was summarized. Main benefits of using the ICF in EHRs were its unique comprehensive perspective on health and its interdisciplinary focus. Main challenges included the fact that the ICF is not structured as a formal terminology as well as the need for a reduced number of ICF codes for more feasible and practical use. Different approaches and technical solutions exist for integrating the ICF in EHRs, such as combining the ICF with other existing standards for EHR or selecting ICF codes with natural language processing. Though the use of the ICF in EHRs is beneficial as this review revealed, the ICF could profit from further improvements such as formalizing the knowledge representation in the ICF to support and enhance interoperability.

THE REFORM OF LEGAL ENGLISH AND ITS IMPACT ON THE STRUCTURE OF THE VERB PHRASE IN THE LANGUAGE OF BRITISH LEGAL ACTS

Legal English is known as a complex language system characterized by the use of formal terminology, complex syntax and a complicated style of writing. However, over the last 40 years legal English has been undergoing reforms which were initiated by the proponents of the Plain English Campaign. The main goal of this movement has been to simplify legal language, in particular the language of legal acts, for the purpose of making it equally comprehensible to both legal experts and ordinary citizens. This paper gives a brief overview of the most significant reforms that have taken place in the sphere of verb phrase focusing on the „deletion“ of the modal shall and the reduction of passive sentences, which are nowadays considered widely recognized rules in the drafting of not only British but also legal acts of all the English-speaking jurisdictions. Keywords: Plain English Campaign, verb phrase, legal acts, reform, shall, passive voice

A Formal Description of Problem Frames

Michael Jackson defines a Problem Frame as a mean to describe and classify software development problems. The initial description of problem Frames is essentially graphical. A weakness of this proposal is the lack of formal specification allowing efficient reasoning tools. This paper deals with Problem Frames' formal specification with Description Logics. We first propose a formal terminology of Problem Frames leading to the specification of a Problem Frames' TBOX and a specific problem's ABOX. The Description Logics inference tools can then be used to decompose multi frame problems or to fix a particular problem into a Problem Frame.

Do Medical Students Recall and Use the Language of Ethics They are Taught Preclinically Once They are in the Clinical Training Environment? An Empirical Study in Ethics Education

Background: Ethics education is an established part of the medical school curriculum and typically involves preclinical instruction that includes formal ethical terminology. However, it is not clear whether the language of ethics taught in preclinical settings is applied by students during the clinical years of training. Methods: We used a survey and a content analysis of written reflections to determine whether third-year (clinical) medical students were able to recall and apply ethical principles and other sources of ethical value they were taught as second-year (preclinical) students. Results: The majority of clinical students were able to recall the four ethical principles, appreciated the relevance of preclinical ethics education, and had positive self-assessments of their clinical-ethical reasoning abilities. However, they were less able to recall other (nonprinciple) sources of ethical value and infrequently used ethical terms spontaneously in written reflections about ethically or professionally challenging issues. Conclusions: Ethics educators should consider the extent to which preclinical ethics education depends on a formal language of ethics and should develop ways to reinforce that language meaningfully through experience-based learning opportunities during the clinical years of training, with special emphasis on the way clear ethical reasoning and communication demonstrate respect for other persons.

Ground Support Terminology and Classification: An Update

It is nearly two decades since a formal terminology and a classification scheme were proposed for rock reinforcement hardware and applications. That combined framework was used to clearly identify concepts associated with reinforcement mechanics in a manner that was consistent and robust enough to characterise all reinforcement systems. Since that time, many new reinforcement systems have been developed and it can be shown that they all fit within the proposed classification scheme. Most recently, a complementary new terminology and a classification scheme for surface support, also based on mechanics, have been developed. This framework is invaluable in the design of ground support schemes, the planning of testing and instrumentation programs and the development of software used to simulate the static and dynamic response of rock reinforcement and support systems. It will be shown that the terminology and classification schemes are valid today and will so remain into the future because of the laws of mechanics.

Bioinformatic analysis of allergens

The number of resources containing data on the sequence, structure, and evolution of allergenic proteins has increased significantly in the last several years. At the same time, informatics resources related to the functioning of the immune system continue to mature rapidly. This proliferation creates a need for effective means to locate, extract, and integrate data from multiple sources to advance our understanding of allergens and allergy. Effective data integration rests on the development and application of both a system of data descriptors (metadata) and methods for data exchange between information repositories and analytic resources. A well designed metadata system for allergens should include descriptors for primary data, annotations, and data manipulation tools. An effective system would also allow integration with electronic clinical, nutrition, labeling, and health resources. The process of developing such a system for allergens creates an opportunity to identify and formalize important concepts that are widely used but often poorly defined. For example, formal terminology could be developed such that allergen databases could include descriptors for the evidence used to identify epitope sequences or cleavage sites. An XML schema called AllerML has been described that demonstrates the implementation of a terminology system for allergen data. One of the benefits inherent in using a system of shared data descriptors is that database developers can use it as the basis for implementing “application program interfaces” (APIs) that permit analysis software to directly access data within a database. The essential next steps in the creation of an integrated bioinformatics system for allergens based on currently existing opportunities and resources will be described.

The Psychometrics of Photographic Cropping: The Influence of Colour, Meaning, and Expertise

Cropping is the central act of photography, the viewfinder of a camera being used to crop a portion of the visual world which is then surrounded with a frame. Six studies are described which show that the act of cropping is carried out reliably and confidently by both expert and non-expert participants. Two studies confirm that some croppers are better croppers than others, their cropped images being preferred aesthetically over the croppings of less-good croppers. Colour had little impact on cropping decisions, whereas thresholded monochrome images ('Mooney images') dramatically altered crop positions. That suggests that cropping can be driven top-down, by the meaning of objects in photographs, but the fact that the Mooneyised images are still cropped consistently, suggests that image structure, perhaps in the form of low-level image properties, may still be important. Experts crop pictures differently from non-experts, and they take longer, viewing a wider range of possible crops, pausing longer to assess crops, and using more formal terminology when reflecting on their cropping decisions. Experts' crops are not, however, preferred more, either by non-expert viewers or by expert viewers. Cropping, it is suggested, is an ideal paradigm for experimental aesthetics, allowing precise experimental control with Fechner's Method of Production, a technique which normally is not easy to use.

Optimal probe length varies for targets with high sequence variation: implications for probe library design for resequencing highly variable genes.

BackgroundSequencing by hybridisation is an effective method for obtaining large amounts of DNA sequence information at low cost. The efficiency of SBH depends on the design of the probe library to provide the maximum information for minimum cost. Long probes provide a higher probability of non-repeated sequences but lead to an increase in the number of probes required whereas short probes may not provide unique sequence information due to repeated sequences. We have investigated the effect of probe length, use of reference sequences, and thermal filtering on the design of probe libraries for several highly variable target DNA sequences.ResultsWe designed overlapping probe libraries for a range of highly variable drug target genes based on known sequence information and develop a formal terminology to describe probe library design. We find that for some targets these libraries can provide good coverage of a previously unseen target whereas for others the coverage is less than 30%. The optimal probe length varies from as short at 12 nt to as large as 19 nt and depends on the sequence, its variability, and the stringency of thermal filtering. It cannot be determined from inspection of an example gene sequence.ConclusionsOptimal probe length and the optimal number of reference sequences used to design a probe library are highly target specific for highly variable sequencing targets. The optimum design cannot be determined simply by inspection of input sequences or of alignments but only by detailed analysis of the each specific target. For highly variable sequences, shorter probes can in some cases provide better information than longer probes. Probe library design would benefit from a general purpose tool for analysing these issues. The formal terminology developed here and the analysis approaches it is used to describe will contribute to the development of such tools.

The use of ICF codes for information retrieval in rehabilitation research: An empirical study

Purpose. Rehabilitation research information can be obtained from various bibliographic sources. Nevertheless, search strategies and terminologies differ from one database to another making it challenging for the novice user or users of multiple databases. This paper discusses a novel approach of using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) codes to retrieve rehabilitation research information.Method. A crosswalk was created by mapping the Center for International Rehabilitation Research and Information Exchange's (CIRRIE) subject headings to the two-level ICF codes and a search interface was developed (available at: http://cirrie.buffalo.edu/icf/crosswalk.php) so that users can input ICF codes instead of conventional subject headings.Results. About 62% of all CIRRIE subject headings were mapped to equivalent ICF codes. Among the CIRRIE subject heading that were mapped, 43% were mapped to the Environmental Factors, followed by 34% mapped to the Activities and Participation component of the ICF.Conclusion. Although the ICF was not conceived or developed as a system of formal terminology, it can be used effectively for information retrieval in conjunction with an existing vocabulary. This paper describes the first attempt in implementing the use of ICF for information retrieval.

Real-World Contexts, Multiple Representations, Student-Invented Terminology, and Y-Intercept

One classroom using two units from a Standards-based curriculum was the focus of a study designed to examine the effects of real-world contexts, delays in the introduction of formal mathematics terminology, and multiple function representations on student understanding. Students developed their own terminology for y-intercept, which was tightly connected to the meaningfulness and implicit/explicit temporality of the contexts that students investigated as part of their classroom activities. This terminology held great promise for promoting the concept of y-intercept within a multiple representation environment. However, the teacher's interpretation of different activities and his assumptions about the transparency of different representations, as well as students' past experiences left the student-generated terminology and the concept of y-intercept disconnected from one another. This resulted in student-generated terminology that had limited applicability, a fragile understanding of y-intercept within different representations, and for some students, interference between their invented terminology and the concept of y-intercept itself.

Versus and troubadours around 1100: A comparative study of refrain technique in the ‘New Song’

AbstractRelationships between Aquitanian versus and troubadour song have often been adduced, particularly with respect to formal structures or terminology (the term vers used by some troubadours could come from versus). This study adopts a different approach, emphasizing comparative examination of musico-poetic techniques on which much work remains to be done. It uses the refrain – not hitherto a subject of substantive comparative study of these repertories – as a focus of analysis in selected versus and early troubadour pieces. It demonstrates both the rich inventiveness of refrain techniques and how these techniques, deployed in different linguistic environments and in different cultural contexts, shed light on the specificities as well as similarities of each repertory and nourish the individual expressiveness characteristic of the early twelfth-century ‘New Song’.

Assessment of Incidental Learning of Medical Terminology in a Veterinary Curriculum

The objective of this study was to determine whether students in a veterinary curriculum at Mississippi State University would gain an understanding of medical terminology, as they matriculate through their courses, comparable to that obtained during a focused medical terminology unit of study. Evaluation of students' incidental learning related to medical terminology during the 2004/2005 and 2005/2006 academic years indicated that 88.7% and 81.9% of students, respectively, scored above 70% on a medical terminology exam by the end of the first year of the curriculum. For the 2004/2005 academic, 67.6% increased their percentage of correct answers above 70% from the first medical terminology exam to the third. For the 2005/2006 academic year, 61.1% of students increased their score above 70% from the first to the third exam. Our data indicate that students can achieve comprehension of medical terminology in the absence of a formal terminology course.

Development of Korean Oriental Nursing Terminology Set

Objective: This study aimed to develop a Korean oriental nursing terminology set for nursing documentation in electronic nursing record systems. Methods: This study was conducted in two steps. The primary terminology set was constructed by extracting terms from textbooks and materials about oriental nursing (2,708 terms). Then the appropriateness of terms as an oriental nursing vocabulary was reviewed by four teams of oriental nursing experts and practitioners. In addition, the frequency of uses of terms was examined in oriental nursing. Data were summarized using descriptive statistics. Results: Of 2,708 terms, 25.4% (n=688) were evaluated as appropriate and high-use oriental nursing terms by all expert teams. Among the terms, 24.1% (n=166) were nursing action terms representing acupuncture, moxibustion, cupping, massage, treatment and observation, medication administration, health promotion, and others. The others (75.9%) were nursing phenomenon terms representing drugs, medical materials, instruments, tests, theories, disease names, syndrome differentiation, and signs and symptoms. The proportion of terms used only in oriental nursing was 52.3%. Conclusion: A total of 688 terms were identified as appropriate oriental nursing terms, as well as high-use terms. This terminology set can be used for the basic data to develop a formal terminology set in oriental nursing practice. (Journal of Korean Society of Medical Informatics 13-2, 91-97, 2007)

Two Biblical Architectural Images in Light of Cuneiform Sources (Lexicographical Note X)

Biblical translators have traditionally rendered the lexeme ? uniformly throughout the Tanakh as denoting completeness, despite ambiguities in some occurrences that point to the possibility of alternative definitions. This paper seeks to assist in elucidating the verses in question, shedding light on previously misunderstood biblical texts utilizing ancient Near Eastern evidence, particularly where epigraphic corroborations of the innovated biblical Hebrew definitions converge with iconographic depictions. The crowns of ancient royalty are illustrated as microcosmic versions of battlemented ancient city walls, lending the nebulous usages of ? newfound significance. Our thesis is further supported by the continuum of terminology and understanding of ? apparent in post-biblical and rabbinic literature. An identical approach is applied to the ? metaphors found in the Song of Songs. These were normally understood as somewhat awkward images describing the female body. Here too, two forms of ancient evidence-epigraphic and archaeological-converge, illuminating an architectural reference that serves to sharpen the anatomical metaphor. We hope to assert the utmost necessity of examining Akkadian parallels to biblical Hebrew, as the Bible is a body of literature that has a pronounced lack of formal architectural terminology.

Guidelines for terminology for microtechnology in clinical laboratories (IUPAC Technical Report)

Abstract There is no formal terminology used to describe the scope and use of microtechnology in the clinical laboratory. For many laboratory scientists, the word "microchip" is synonymous with high-density microarrays used primarily for investigating gene expression. The document proposes a system of "categories" and "descriptors" that facilitates the classification of a device in a way that communicates details of its function and analytical role, and describes the analytical principle involved and the methods and materials used for its manufacture. Adoption of this system would enable scientists to employ four descriptors that clearly delineate the function, analytical role, and chemical or physical principle involved in the device. Examples of existing commercial devices are given to illustrate the utility of the system.