Shared Action Research Articles

FXR1P is a GSK3β substrate regulating mood and emotion processing.

Inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) is a shared action believed to be involved in the regulation of behavior by psychoactive drugs such as antipsychotics and mood stabilizers. However, little is known about the identity of the substrates through which GSK3β affects behavior. We identified fragile X mental retardation-related protein 1 (FXR1P), a RNA binding protein associated to genetic risk for schizophrenia, as a substrate for GSK3β. Phosphorylation of FXR1P by GSK3β is facilitated by prior phosphorylation by ERK2 and leads to its down-regulation. In contrast, behaviorally effective chronic mood stabilizer treatments in mice inhibit GSK3β and increase FXR1P levels. In line with this, overexpression of FXR1P in the mouse prefrontal cortex also leads to comparable mood-related responses. Furthermore, functional genetic polymorphisms affecting either FXR1P or GSK3β gene expression interact to regulate emotional brain responsiveness and stability in humans. These observations uncovered a GSK3β/FXR1P signaling pathway that contributes to regulating mood and emotion processing. Regulation of FXR1P by GSK3β also provides a mechanistic framework that may explain how inhibition of GSK3β can contribute to the regulation of mood by psychoactive drugs in mental illnesses such as bipolar disorder. Moreover, this pathway could potentially be implicated in other biological functions, such as inflammation and cell proliferation, in which FXR1P and GSK3 are known to play a role.

Navigating complexity through knowledge coproduction: Mainstreaming ecosystem services into disaster risk reduction

Achieving the policy and practice shifts needed to secure ecosystem services is hampered by the inherent complexities of ecosystem services and their management. Methods for the participatory production and exchange of knowledge offer an avenue to navigate this complexity together with the beneficiaries and managers of ecosystem services. We develop and apply a knowledge coproduction approach based on social–ecological systems research and assess its utility in generating shared knowledge and action for ecosystem services. The approach was piloted in South Africa across four case studies aimed at reducing the risk of disasters associated with floods, wildfires, storm waves, and droughts. Different configurations of stakeholders (knowledge brokers, assessment teams, implementers, and bridging agents) were involved in collaboratively designing each study, generating and exchanging knowledge, and planning for implementation. The approach proved useful in the development of shared knowledge on the sizable contribution of ecosystem services to disaster risk reduction. This knowledge was used by stakeholders to design and implement several actions to enhance ecosystem services, including new investments in ecosystem restoration, institutional changes in the private and public sector, and innovative partnerships of science, practice, and policy. By bringing together multiple disciplines, sectors, and stakeholders to jointly produce the knowledge needed to understand and manage a complex system, knowledge coproduction approaches offer an effective avenue for the improved integration of ecosystem services into decision making.

Using Disruptive Innovation to Improve Patient Care

Using Disruptive Innovation to Improve Patient Care

Toward an evidence-based patient-provider communication in rehabilitation: linking communication elements to better rehabilitation outcomes

Background: There is a growing interest in linking aspects of patient-provider communication to rehabilitation outcomes. However, the field lacks a conceptual understanding on: (a) ‘how’ rehabilitation outcomes can be improved by communication; and (b) through ‘which’ elements in particular. This article elaborates on the conceptual developments toward informing further practice and research. Methods: Existing models of communication in healthcare were adapted to rehabilitation, and its outcomes through a comprehensive literature review. Results: After depicting mediating mechanisms and variables (e.g. therapeutic engagement, adjustment toward disability), this article presents the ‘4 Rehab Communication Elements’ deemed likely to underpin rehabilitation outcomes. The four elements are: (a) knowing the person and building a supportive relationship; (b) effective information exchange and education; (c) shared goal-setting and action planning; and (d) fostering a more positive, yet realistic, cognitive and self-reframing. Discussion: This article describes an unprecedented, outcomes-oriented approach toward the design of rehabilitation communication, which has resulted in the development of a new intervention model: the ‘4 Rehab Communication Elements’. Further trials are needed to evaluate the impact of this whole intervention model on rehabilitation outcomes.

Historical Rightness

Abstract In addressing issues of transgenerational justice, ethical analysis is overmatched by the challenge of assigning benefits and burdens to actors, monitoring cooperation between actors, and calculating the consequences of actions in long-term compound action. But justice-oriented ethics is not the only frame of reference in which rightness is judged. Our shared responsibility on a larger scale of action is the object of a distinctively historical reckoning that takes account of how action seems actually to have accumulated and seems likely to accumulate further over the long term. Historically responsible agents are obliged to act in accordance with more informed and considerate views of shared action over time. The most basic standard of historical rightness is greatness in the sense of a maximized participation of all actors in shared action. Actions can be responsible by promoting the freedom and solidarity of agents and the redemption of past actions without being demonstrably just.

INTEREST GROUPS AND SOCIAL ECONOMY

Impact of the action undertaken by the interest groups for the social economic prosperity is still the topic of the longterm scientific debates. According to some researchers the interest groups contribute to the boost of the society’s prosperity, while according to the others monopolistic structures tend to emerge due to the interest groups. Taking into consideration the scientific academic approach development of the uniform opinion on the role of the interest groups as the connecting element between economy and politics would be of high importance. The present opinion would facilitate process of the society’s judgment about the outcomes of the action undertaken by the groups. During the recent 40 years the influence made by interest groups on the country’s social economic environment has been in the focus of attention. In the 6-th decade the formation of economic interest groups was analysed, in the eighth decade rent seeking theories made their influence. Rent seeking theory includes the analysis of interest representation effectiveness and resource distribution. In the 9 th decade research included the influence of interest groups on nation growth and recession. Later research embraced the influence of interest groups on the regional development of countries as well as on the policy of European environmental safety and on the economic growth of developing countries. Evaluation of the efficiency of the action undertaken by the interest groups is of great importance for development of the uniform opinion, that in turn calls for objective evaluation of the profits received due to and costs spent by the entities for participation in the shared action. Papers of some economists provide analysis of both the interests groups and impact they make for the entities that make and implement strategic decisions. On the other hand, the lack of the analysis of the efficiency of the action undertaken by the interest groups with respect to the social economics, when evaluating the profits received from the shared action and the costs related to that with respect to the economic entity, as well as a shortage of the original patterns to demonstrate efficiency of the shared action undertaken by the interest groups are obvious. Taking into consideration diversity of the forms of the action undertaken by the interest groups and after having completed the comparative analysis of the concepts on the interest groups, the below definition of the concept on the interest group is provided: the interest group is a union that joins different subjects seeking for the benefit, and that represents their interests as well as provides members of the group with the products of selective encouragement. The costs incurred during the shared action is covered by the interest groups using the members’ fees collected and other purpose-driven contributions as well as means independently earned in a way of selling the products of selective encouragement. Membership in the interest group is based on the principle of voluntariness.

Plurale Subjekte: Ein Simmelscher Ansatz

This paper discusses certain desiderata for an acceptable »Simmelian« account of social groups, and explains why my own account of social groups as plural subjects is preferable to the accounts considered (Weber, Tönnies, Mises). With regard to the »we«-intentionality of plural subjects, this theory of social groups should be taken to demand only that some rough general type of shared action or shared cognition must be understood to be in question of all sides. It is hoped, then, that this theory of plural subjects in general may turn out to be of help in demystifying older accounts of collectivity.

Mutual action of anticancer and antiparasitic drugs: are there any shared targets?

Parasites and cancers have some common features. It has been shown that some parasites interfere with tumor growth. In addition, they both have common antigens such as the Tn antigen. A communal action of anticancer and antiparasitic drugs has been reported. This shared action may be related to common targets for these drugs in cancers and parasites. In this paper, mutual action of anticancer and antiparasitic drugs, with the aim of discussing shared targets of these drugs, has been reviewed.

Scaling up community activism: the role of intermediaries in collective approaches to community energy

Summary Intermediary organisations can play a significant role in the changing environment of UK energy, transcending the perceived divides between individual action, activism and top-down policy. This paper discusses a Bristol based action research project which, working with local community energy groups, explored the role of intermediary organisations not just in bringing together learning, providing support and aggregating impact but also in helping to shape stronger local energy action by connecting across and beyond existing activity in ways that put communities first. This approach enabled the development of the ‘Bristol Community Strategy for Energy’, which takes a different approach to the national ‘Community Energy Strategy’ which it preceded. We consider the roles of intermediary organisations in scaling up community activity: linking with policy and supporting shared action to accelerate community responses to energy concerns. We also draw on the underpinning theory before concluding with recommendations to reinforce the maturing and changing local energy landscape.

From shared learning to shared action in building resilience in the city of Bandar Lampung, Indonesia

This paper describes how the city of Bandar Lampung began to incorporate climate change adaptation goals into its budget and some of its plans. A series of Shared Learning Dialogues supported by the Asian Cities Climate Change Resilience Network (ACCCRN) involved staff from city government, NGOs and universities. This led to the formation of a multi-stakeholder City Team that was charged by the mayor with assessing climate risks and vulnerability, prioritizing problems and programmes, supporting small-scale adaptation projects and functioning as climate change adaptation advocates within the city. The paper describes some of these projects and how a range of factors underpinned better solid waste management and flood risk reduction, including fiscal reform that brought a large increase in the city’s budget, strong leadership and better planning. Challenges and barriers are also discussed, including what is needed to ensure that local government continues to incorporate climate change adaptation into its work and investments.

Some Considerations on the Construction of Ethics Policies. Shared Ethics and Communicative Action

In this paper we propose to differentiate the ethical values of an organization into constitutive ethical values around which the organization was formed and operates, and the operational values - around which are set the organization's good practices. Constitutive values are correlated with the organization's mission, while operational values are correlated with the policies of the organization, its products and services. The purpose of research is to identify the core and instrumental values that underlie the construction of coherent ethical policies in the organization, with particular reference to public administration (Matei, 2010). We are interested how are operationalized the existing ethical values into ethics policies of an organization, and which are the strategies through which organizations build among their members the set of specific ethical skills according to ethics policies. Operational ethical values of the organization, understood as the source of its success, are: strengthening the relations with customers, suppliers and communities, perfect behaviour, honesty, respect for others, treating (others) with dignity. Are analysed the ethical principles considered in the construction of ethics policy of the organization, like for example distributive justice inspired by the work of John Rawls. The expression of the ethical principle is transposed into the organization's policy through: commitment to good practices; assumed equal opportunities and assumed competition; honesty; commitment to legislation. Implementation tools of ethics policies are represented by the ethics code, ethics committee, ethics counselling and supervising, ethics audit.

Perspective taking: building a neurocognitive framework for integrating the "social" and the "spatial".

Perspective taking: building a neurocognitive framework for integrating the "social" and the "spatial".

The Power of nursing: Guiding patients through a journey of uncertainty

PurposeThe objective of this qualitative study was to understand the experiences of oncology nurses in patient counseling and support services in the ambulatory care setting. Methods and sampleA qualitative study was conducted using grounded theory methods. Data were generated through four focus group interviews with 21 oncology nurses currently providing counseling and support services for cancer patients in Japan. The content was analyzed based on a constant comparison approach. ResultsThe power of nursing was identified through three themes: connecting with the patient (shared needs); personalized coordination (shared action); and realizing the patient's potential (reassurance). Oncology nurses should guide patients through the uncertain cancer trajectory by identifying patients' true needs based on an established relationship, providing personalized coordination, and developing their potential. Patient-centered care can be provided in non-physical care settings such as counseling and support services. ConclusionsOur study describes the uniqueness and significance of nursing, and provides insights into realizing the full potential of nurses. This conceptual model can be used as a guide for practice and an educational tool to build professional identity of nurses. Oncology nurses can take a leadership role in enhancing the visibility of the nurses in multidisciplinary environments.

Design management of sustainability values: a learning organization perspective

Sustainable issues are complex and intertwined, transcending traditional project boundaries and calling for a design process that supports innovation and learning. The aim of this study is to investigate how and why the management of sustainability values poses a challenge for a design team. Case study research is selected to leverage industry knowledge and the innovation of Target Value Design (TVD), an integrated design management process with a focus on client value delivery. Since one of the most challenging aspects of sustainability is its systemic nature, the design team is evaluated through the lens of a learning organization, which is grounded in systems thinking. While the TVD process supports value delivery from an organizational perspective, the evaluation of the findings points to three key considerations that affect the delivery of sustainability beyond the measures of green building criteria. First, the need to articulate explicit sustainability values in order to build a shared vision and action plan. Second, a mind shift toward a whole systems approach in order to identify trans-disciplinary opportunities for innovative solutions. And third, the restructuring of the design team roles. This study has practical implications for the management of complex sustainability projects, and for human resource development.

Louise Glück's Twenty-First-Century Lyric

This essay examines a contemporary poetics that implicitly challenges prevailing critiques of lyric as asocial, monologic, and naively self-expressive. Louise Glück practices a lyric mode whose plainspoken surface and emotional immediacy belie its metalinguistic and metafictional complexity. Her poems' illocutionary structures and their attunement to everyday grammatical nuance convey an understanding of language as situational, context-dependent shared action, an understanding that chimes with the insights of ordinary-language philosophy. The perspectives offered by Glück's work can fruitfully complicate dominant models of lyric and binary narratives of American poetic history that set lyric voice against philosophical ambition and linguistic innovation.

FACILITATING A SHIFT TO COMPREHENSIVE CARER-LED ASSESSMENT IN PALLIATIVE HOME CARE: THE CSNAT APPROACH

IntroductionThe Carer Support Needs Assessment Tool (CSNAT) is an evidence based tool for comprehensive assessment of carers' needs. Use of the tool in practice requires a shift from informal practitioner-led...

CHALLENGES TO IMPLEMENTING COMPREHENSIVE CARER ASSESSMENT IN PALLIATIVE HOME CARE: FINDINGS FROM A CLUSTER TRIAL

IntroductionThe Carer Support Needs Assessment Tool (CSNAT) is evidence based and comprehensive. It helps structure an assessment process that enables carers to consider, express and prioritise support needs, then develop...

Special issue: Metaphor, vision and schoolwide pedagogies

School improvement is an ongoing challenge. The articles in this special issue of Improving Schools provide insight into the manner in which organizational coherence empowers schools to make a difference in their communities and improve student outcomes. Coherence within the case study schools whose stories are shared has been achieved through collective commitment to a set of shared values and beliefs captured in the form of a school’s Vision and Schoolwide Pedagogical Framework (SWP). These artefacts serve to sustain focus on priorities pertinent to a specific school context. Collaborative practice and reflection across a school professional learning community ensure that shared meaning making results in shared action and intent, the very basis on which coherence is built. When a vision and set of guiding principles become embedded into practice over time, the resulting meaning system enhances the distinctive culture of that school. Synergies generated by shared norms and assumptions produce unconscious culturally appropriate responses to a complex variety of everyday needs. Teacher isolation within the four walls of a classroom diminishes and the social and intellectual capacity built through continued and enhanced collaborative practice within the school staff and community enhances school goals and transfers into improved outcomes for students. Read individually, these articles encourage the reader to reflect on each school narrative, the impact of the findings, and how these relate to personal teaching experiences. When read in sequence they portray a collective story about teaching passion and commitment, sustained capacity building and schoolwide coherence. In ‘School meaning systems: The symbiotic nature of culture and ‘‘language-in-use’’’, the strong reciprocal link between a school’s context specific vision and schoolwide pedagogy and how the development, exploration and ongoing commitment to these artefacts of shared knowledge creation produce shared meaning and coherence is explored in detail. ‘Activating the “language for learning” through schoolwide pedagogy: The case of MacKillop School’ clearly illustrates how coherence within the case study school resulted in student outcomes improving significantly in the areas of numeracy and literacy. With a community of 98 percent ‘English as an added language’ students, the research explores the impact of the schoolwide pedagogical principles on practice and the emergence of a language for learning. 493713 IMP16210.1177/1365480213493713Improving SchoolsEditorial 2013

Measuring social capital change using ripple mapping

This article provides a detailed description of how to implement a ripple mapping activity to assess youth program effects on community capital and concludes with examples from Maine and Kansas. The maps lead to group reflection on project outcomes and further research and evaluation questions for group members. The results from five Maine communities showed that youth in schools and community clubs promoted intentional, mutually beneficial relationships with community groups and businesses and increased shared action on community projects. Likewise, youth in five small Kansas towns implemented and evaluated health promotion projects and found through mapping that youth built social capital in addition to awareness, knowledge, and skills in community health promotion. Ripple mapping helped to demonstrate that actions of youth-adult partnerships in both states improved the built, human, and social capital in small towns.

Evaluating a Future Search Conference for an Academic Library’s Strategic Planning

Future Search conferences are widely used to engage a large number of stakeholders to create a shared vision and action plan for an organization, community, or other human system. An evaluation was conducted one year after an academic library implemented this approach to imagine its desired future and to articulate its strategic directions. Using both interview and survey methods, this case study offers insights about the extent to which the Future Search conference output was realized in an academic library setting, its impact on transforming the library, and its applicability for academic library planning.