Systematic Procedures Research Articles

Caregiver-Implemented Intervention for Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review of Coaching Components

Caregiver-implemented intervention, commonly facilitated via coaching, is an increasingly common approach to early intervention for infants and toddlers with or at risk for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The present systematic review examines four coaching components across the literature on caregiver-implemented intervention models for children under 36 months with or at risk for ASD. Systematic search procedures resulted in 26 studies for review. Results showed that although most studies addressed building on caregivers’ competence and guided practice, many neglected to address collaborative coaching components, including planning, reflection, and decision making. Less than a quarter of the studies reviewed described incorporating all four coaching components, highlighting remaining gaps in the literature. Implications of our findings and recommendations for future research are discussed.

Systematic Review of the Impact of Behavioral Health Homes on Cardiometabolic Risk Factors for Adults With Serious Mental Illness.

This systematic review examined the impact of health homes on cardiometabolic risk among adults with serious mental illness. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses procedures were used to conduct the systematic review. Databases were searched for peer-reviewed articles published between 1946 and August 2018 that compared health homes with a control condition (e.g., usual care and secondary data analyses using matched samples). Participants, interventions, comparisons, outcomes, and study design criteria were used to assess study eligibility. Studies were assessed for methodological quality by using the Quality Assessment of Before and After Studies With No Control Group and the Quality Assessment of Controlled Intervention Studies. Eighteen studies (i.e., 11 observational studies, four quasi-experimental studies, and three randomized controlled trials) reported on 17 health homes. Most studies reported increases in receipt of screening for cardiometabolic risk factors and service use. There was a modest reduction in selected cardiometabolic risk factors among people with serious mental illness, but clinical outcomes varied widely among studies. Improvement in cardiometabolic risk factors varied across the studies, and the clinical significance of these reductions was not clear. Peer support and self-management training may represent strategies to improve cardiometabolic risk factors. Colocation of services may not be enough to significantly affect cardiometabolic risk factors. Health homes that include standardized screening, peer support and self-management training, and intervention components that target interdependent risk factors may have a greater impact on clinical outcomes.

Performance anxiety in professional musicians: a systematic review on prevalence, risk factors and clinical treatment effects.

Music performance anxiety (MPA) is one of the most common disorders among professional musicians, nevertheless, little is known about the disease. With this systematic review, prevalence, risk factors and treatment procedures for MPA were assessed, and for the first time, quality assessments were carried out for all studies using standardized assessment tools. A systematic literature search was conducted via search algorithms in the databases MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycArticles, PsycInfo and ERIC. Included were case reports, case-control, cohort, cross-sectional and intervention studies examining professional musicians with MPA. For quality assessment, adapted tools of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute were used. A total of 43 studies were included (10 case reports, 21 intervention, 11 cross-sectional, one cohort study). Quality ratings ranged from -11 to 6 out of a maximum of 15/16 points for cross-sectional/cohort studies and -4 to 11 out of 18 points for intervention studies. The prevalence of MPA was between 16.5% and 60%. More women than men were affected and musicians older than 45-50 years reported less MPA than younger musicians. Regarding treatment cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and β-blockers were most often researched with beneficial results for CBT. However, studies with adequate control groups for CBT interventions are needed to clarify its efficacy. Studies showed methodological weaknesses, especially in the selection of participants, recording of influencing factors, blinding of interventions, randomization of participants and analysis of comorbidity. Recommendations for further research are made.

Frontotemporal Dementia Knowledge Scale: Development and Preliminary Psychometric Properties.

Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) accounts for ∼10% of dementia cases and is the most common cause of early-onset dementia. However, no well-validated instrument currently exists to measure knowledge about FTD. In this study, we used systematic scale development procedures to create a scale to measure knowledge of FTD based on a contemporary understanding of the disease. Standard scale development methods were used to create items and evaluate their psychometric properties. A total of 72 health care professionals and 102 caregivers of people with FTD responded to items measuring FTD knowledge, general dementia knowledge, crystallized intelligence, experience with FTD, and demographic information. The Frontotemporal Dementia Knowledge Scale (FTDKS) contains 18 items that cover key, basic knowledge about FTD in the domains of risk factors, symptoms, course, caregiving, and treatment. The scale uses a 4-point True/False format with a Don't Know option and takes ∼5 minutes to complete. In the current sample the FTDKS had good psychometric properties in terms of reliability and validity. The FTDKS can be used with health care professionals and caregivers of people with FTD to assess their knowledge about the disease. The scale may be useful to evaluate knowledge in clinical care and educational program contexts.

Strengths‐based reading assessment for deaf and hard‐of‐hearing students

AbstractMost standardized reading assessments used with deaf and hard‐of‐hearing (d/Dhh) students do not accommodate their frequent lack of spoken language fluency. Such tests are rarely normed on d/Dhh individuals and do not adjust for potentially biased test items. Yet, accurate and valid measures of reading skills are essential for making appropriate instructional and programmatic decisions. The miscue analysis procedure is an individualized reading assessment using an authentic reading experience with systematic procedures for evaluating a reader's meaning‐making processes. It has been used successfully with struggling, successful, bilingual, and diverse hearing readers to identify distinctive skill patterns. Its flexible and individualized procedures may lead to similar insights regarding the reading processes utilized by d/Dhh students. This manuscript describes adaptations of the reading miscue analysis for d/Dhh students who use spoken language, English‐based sign systems, or American Sign Language. Similar to running record procedures, the miscue analysis utilizes a comprehensive analytic process. In addition, each miscue is categorized across graphophonic/visual, semantic, and syntactic aspects of the reading process to identify unique meaning making patterns. This type of comprehensive and authentic assessment can lead to an improved understanding of the strengths and needs of d/Dhh students that result in improved achievement.

Teacher-Delivered Training to Promote Paraprofessional Implementation of Systematic Instruction

As paraprofessionals gain more instructional responsibilities for individual students, feasible training strategies must be established to promote effective delivery of instruction. This train-the-trainer study was designed to teach paraprofessionals how to implement an evidence-based instructional practice under the direction of the classroom teacher. After receiving training from a university researcher, a special education teacher trained three paraprofessionals to implement constant time delay while teaching three students with multiple disabilities. The paraprofessional training consisted of a workshop, video modeling, and coaching with performance feedback. A single-case multiple baseline across paraprofessionals design was used to evaluate the effectiveness of the teacher-delivered training package. All paraprofessionals implemented the systematic instructional procedures with high levels of fidelity and accuracy after training. The special education teacher and paraprofessionals shared their perceptions on the highly effective training and value of the study through social validity surveys. Implications and limitations of the study are discussed.

Prevalence of dating violence and its impact on undergraduate students’ learning at the University of Cape Coast, Ghana

The study explored the prevalence of dating violence and its impact on learning among undergraduate psychology students in the University of Cape Coast. The descriptive survey design was employed for the study with a total of 376 students made up of 193 males and 183 females drawn from the department of education and psychology. Proportional and systematic sampling procedures were employed to obtain the sample. Results revealed that undergraduate psychology students experience dating violence ranging from physical, psychological and sexual. Results indicated that dating violence has negative impact on students academically, socially and psychologically. It was again discovered that female undergraduate students and young undergraduate students experience dating violence more than male undergraduate students and older under undergraduate students. It was recommended that undergraduate students should postpone dating while in school and concentrate on their learning. Besides, those who may be affected should seek counselling.Keywords: Dating, violence, prevalence, undergraduate students, learning

Street food in Dushanbe, Tajikistan: availability and nutritional value.

Street food is part of the culture in central Asia. Although nourishing food can be found, unhealthier options are becoming increasingly popular - a marker of nutrition transition. The nutritional composition of street food in urban settings is, however, unknown. The objective of the present study was, thus, to characterise the street food availability in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. A total of 800 street food vending sites in public markets were selected through random and systematic procedures. Trained interviewers collected data on vending sites' characteristics, location and food available. Samples of the most commonly available food were collected (ninety-nine homemade and thirty-five industrial). Macronutrients were quantified through proximate analysis. Fruit, drinks and food other than fruits were available, respectively, in 4·5, 40·5 and 87·4 %, of the vending sites. Among the latter, 63·6 % sold only homemade (e.g. bread, traditional dishes, snacks, pastries, sandwiches and cakes), 19·3 % only industrial (e.g. bread, snacks, pastries and cookies) and 17·1 % both types of food. Homemade food presented higher energy per serving compared with industrial food (median 452 v. 276 kcal/serving (1891 v. 1155 kJ/serving); P < 0·001). A high content of SFA (soup: 10·9 g/serving) and trans-fatty acids (cakes: 1·8 g/serving) was also found in homemade food. However, industrial wafers showed the highest content of these fatty acids (12·9 g/serving and 2·5 g/serving, respectively). Soft drinks were available in 68·5 % of the vending sites selling beverages. Homemade and industrial street food, with heterogeneous nutritional value, were widely available in Dushanbe. Hence, policies promoting the availability of healthy food should be encouraged.

Struggle of a Geisha in Maintaining Her Pride as Seen in Arthur Golden’s Memoirs of a Geisha

This thesis is entitled "The Struggle of Geisha in Maintaining Her Pride as seen in Arthur Golden's Memoirs of a Geisha" seen from the perspective of structuralism. This research is limited on basic ideas that relate to the observation into three questions as follow: (1) how is geisha’s life before World War II (2) how was the geisha struggle after World War II, and (3) how is geisha maintaining her pride before and after second world war. The objectives of this research were (1) to analyze Sayuri’s life before World War II (2) to explain Sayuri's life after World War II, and (3) to study and explain the types of struggles in maintaining her pride by Sayuri as the main female character , to oppose and think of Sayuri's struggle to fight exploitation and significant meaning, and to find out and explain the depiction of Sayuri's struggle. The theory used is from Gough and Gautam about the structural analysis used to answer the purpose of this research. For the method of data analysis, the author uses systematic procedures with novel understanding and structural theory. Data collection techniques use documentation techniques in finding data that is relevant to the subject of analysis. The object of this research is a novel entitled Memoirs of a Geisha written by Arthur Golden in 1997 and the data are sentences related to the struggle of a woman found in the novel. Sayuri as the main female character in the novel represents women in general who can gain their independence and have a smart and brave attitude to take the important decisions in their life.

Social Validity Assessment in Behavior Interventions for Young Children: A Systematic Review

We sought to identify, examine, and summarize empirical literature focused on early childhood behavior interventions examined using a single case research designs (SCD) and published between 2001 and 2018. Using systematic procedures, 28 studies that met established inclusion criteria were identified, reviewed, and compared with respect to general and social validity assessment characteristics of SCD studies on behavior interventions for young children with problem behavior. The findings of the current review suggest: (a) promoting implementation fidelity through implementation support to improve social validity outcomes, (b) providing guidelines for timing and frequency of social validity assessment, and (c) development of social validity assessment tools designed to assess each of the social validity dimensions (i.e., goals, procedures, and outcomes).

Antibiotics resistance - a stumbling block to antibiotics research

Antibiotics are natural or synthetic substances that inhibit the growth of infectious microorganisms and prevent from them, causing serious infections. Though the discovery of penicillin was claimed to be accidental, later on, systematic procedures for antibiotic discovery was introduced by Waksman through his streptomycin discovery. Adopting Waksman's platform, many researchers are exploring natural sources in search of antibiotics. On the other hand, the development of resistance to antibiotics is growing at a rate faster than the discovery of new antibiotics. While a number of semi synthetic and synthetic compounds with antimicrobial properties are emerging to combat the above problem, the microorganisms are in no way working inferior to resist the actions of such substances. In fact, the development of resistance by microorganisms to above said alternatives are observed at an even faster rate than the natural antimicrobial compounds obtained from microbes. The reason behind such a faster resistance development is due to the similar structural features of semi-synthetic and synthetic compounds to natural antibiotics from microbes. The treatment of infectious diseases becomes a big task and requires a greater concern nowadays to avoid increased rates of mortality. This is an alarming condition demanding for the discovery and development of new antimicrobial compounds that would end up as a better solution for the existing problem and avoid the development of resistance. This review presents the background of antibiotics discovery and resistance development and also provides an insight into the available strategies to combat the problem.

A web-based geovisual analytics platform for identifying potential contributors to culvert sedimentation.

Sediment accumulation at culverts involves large-scale and interlinked environmental processes that are difficult to address with experimental or physical modeling methods. This article presents an alternative data-driven investigation for shedding insights into these processes. Accordingly, a web-based geovisual analytics application, the IowaDOT platform, was developed, which allows users to explore the complex processes associated with the sediment deposition at culverts. The platform provides systematic procedures for (1) collecting and integrating analytical variables into a single dataset, (2) quantifying the degree of culvert sedimentation using time series of aerial images, (3) identifying drivers that contribute to culvert sedimentation processes from a variety of culvert structural and upstream landscape characteristics using a tree-based feature selection algorithm, and (4) facilitating the understanding of complex spatial and relational patterns of culvert sedimentation processes using multivariate geovisualizations supported by a self-organizing map (SOM). As the outcomes of this study, these patterns identify culvert sedimentation-prone regions in Iowa and quantify empirical relationships between the drivers and culvert sedimentation degrees. A simple evaluation of the platform was performed to assess the usefulness and user satisfaction of the tool by professional users, and positive feedbacks are received.

Development of a measurement system for complex oral information transfer in medical consultations

BackgroundInformation exchange between physician and patient is crucial to achieve patient involvement, shared decision making and treatment adherence. No reliable method exists for measuring how much information physicians provide in a complex, unscripted medical conversation, nor how much of this information patients recall. This study aims to fill this gap by developing a measurement system designed to compare complex orally provided information to patient recall.MethodsThe development of the complex information transfer measurement system required nine methodological steps. Core activities were data collection, definition of information units and the first draft of a codebook, refinement through independent coding and consensus, and reliability testing. Videotapes of physician-patient consultations based on a standardized scenario and post-consultation interviews with patients constituted the data. The codebook was developed from verbatim transcriptions of the videotapes. Inter-rater reliability was calculated using a random selection of 10% of the statements in the transcriptions.ResultsThirtyfour transcriptions of visits and interviews were collected. We developed a set of rules for defining a single unit of information, defined detailed criteria for exclusion and inclusion of relevant units of information, and outlined systematic counting procedures. In the refinement phase, we established a system for comparing the information provided by the physician with what the patient recalled. While linguistic and conceptual issues arose during the process, coders still achieved good inter-rater reliability, with intra-class correlation for patient recall: 0.723, and for doctors: 0.761. A full codebook is available as an appendix.ConclusionsA measurement system specifically aimed at quantifying complex unscripted information exchange may be a useful addition to the tools for evaluating the results of health communication training and randomized controlled trials.

Trauma Informed Child Welfare Systems-A Rapid Evidence Review.

Trauma informed care (TIC) is a whole system organisational change process which emerged from the seminal Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) study, establishing a strong graded relationship between the number of childhood adversities experienced and a range of negative outcomes across multiple domains over the life course. To date, there has been no systematic review of organisation-wide implementation initiatives in the child welfare system. As part of a wider cross-system rapid evidence review of the trauma-informed implementation literature using systematic search, screening and review procedures, twenty-one papers reporting on trauma-informed implementation in the child welfare system at state/regional and organisational/agency levels were identified. This paper presents a narrative synthesis of the various implementation strategies and components used across child welfare initiatives, with associated evidence of effectiveness. Training was the TIC implementation component most frequently evaluated with all studies reporting positive impact on staff knowledge, skills and/or confidence. The development of trauma-informed screening processes, and evidence-based treatments/trauma focused services, where evaluated, all produced positive results. Whilst weaknesses in study design often limited generalisability, there was preliminary evidence for the efficacy of trauma-informed approaches in improving the mental and emotional well-being of children served by community-based child welfare services, as well as their potential for reducing caregiver stress and improving placement stability.

Teaching L2 Speaking: Recommending a Holistic Approach

Speaking is often considered one of the most difficult skills to develop in a second or foreign language. Many traditional approaches to language teaching focus on text-based skill development or emphasize aural receptive skills. However, as English continues to grow as a global language, learners want and need to be able to express their ideas through speech. It is no surprise then that most recent approaches to teaching stress the importance of developing communicative skills. Unfortunately, many lack systematic procedures, are atheoretical, and/or have not been supported by empirical research. Therefore, this article will provide an overview of teaching approaches and methods as they relate to speaking instruction. Such a review would be trivial without making recommendations for practice, so one particular approach will be highlighted and then justified based on its sound theoretical underpinnings and empirical support for several of its defining characteristics. Implications for teachers will be discussed throughout.

Integrated design environment for reusable modular assembly systems

PurposeThis paper aims to provide a service-based integrated prototype framework for the design of reusable modular assembly systems (RMAS) incorporating reusability of equipment into the process. It extends AutomationML (AML) developments for an engineering data exchange to integrate and standardize the data formats that support the design of RMAS.Design/methodology/approachThe approach provides a set of systematic procedures and support tools for the design of RMAS. This includes enhanced domain knowledge models that facilitate the interpretation and integration of information across the design phases.FindingsThe inclusion of reusability aspects in the design phase improves the sustainability of future assembly systems, by ensuring equipment use until its end-of-life. Moreover, the integrated support tools reduce the design time, while improving the quality/performance of the system design solution, as it enables the exploration of a larger solution space. This will result in a better response to dynamic and rapidly changing system requirements.Social implicationsThis work provides a sustainable approach for the design of modular assembly systems (MAS), which will ensure better resource utilization. Additionally, the standardization of the data and the support of low cost tools is expected to benefit industrial companies, particularly the small- and medium-sized enterprises.Originality/valueThis approach offers a service-based platform which uses production data to incorporate reusability aspects into the design process of modular assembly system. Moreover, it provides a framework for modular assembly system design by extending the current design processes and interactions between stakeholders. To support this, a standardized method for information representation and exchange across the several phases of the RMAS design activity is briefly illustrated with an industrial case study.

Rate-based modeling and economic optimization of next-generation amine-based carbon capture plants

Amine scrubbing processes remain an important technology for mitigating the contribution of carbon emissions to global warming and climate change. Like other chemical processes, they can benefit from computer-aided optimization at the design stage, but systematic optimization procedures are rarely employed due to the challenges of simulating the requisite rate-based mass transfer and reaction models. This paper presents a novel approach for the simulation and optimization of rate-based columns, with specific application to the absorber and stripper columns found in (amine-) solvent-based carbon capture processes. The approach is based on pseudo-transient continuation, and the resulting column models are easily incorporated into large-scale process flowsheets with other previously developed pseudo-transient models. We demonstrate that the proposed approach allows for gradient-based optimization of next-generation amine scrubbing processes by considering a complex carbon capture process under three different operating conditions. The results provide general insight into the design of amine scrubbing processes, and shadow prices at the optimal point(s) suggest potential avenues for improving the process economics. The effects of carbon dioxide removal percentage and flue gas composition on process economics are briefly analyzed.

A Teoria Fundamentada na pesquisa qualitativa em educação musical: delimitações conceituais, construções e potenciais

A pesquisa qualitativa tem ganhado destaque no cenário da produção acadêmico-científica em educação musical nas últimas décadas, apresentando diversidade de temáticas e enfoques teórico-metodológicos. Como forma de contribuir com o desenvolvimento dessas pesquisas, este artigo trata sobre a Teoria Fundamentada (Grounded Theory), um método/metodologia que congrega um conjunto de técnicas e procedimentos sistemáticos de análise e de interpretação com vistas à construção de teorias enraizadas em dados empíricos. Para tanto, discorre sobre a sua origem, definição, características, pressupostos epistemológicos e procedimentos de análise de dados. Por fim, apresenta algumas pesquisas que foram desenvolvidas a partir desse método e tece considerações sobre o seu potencial na construção de teorias próprias ao campo da educação musical.

Numerical Modeling of Non-Uniformly Reinforced Carbon Concrete Lightweight Ceiling Elements

The paper focuses on the specifics of macro-scale modeling of thin-walled textile-reinforced concrete shells. Application of layered shell finite elements requires systematic procedures for identification of material characteristics associated with the individual layers within the cross section. The identification of the material parameters describing the tensile behavior of a composite cross section is done using data obtained from the tensile test. Such test is usually performed only for a reference configurations with a simple layup of fabrics and a chosen thickness. The question is how to derive the strain-hardening response from the tensile test that is relevant for a changed cross-sectional configuration. We describe and discuss scaling and mixture rules that can be used to modify the material parameters for modified cross-sectional layups. The rules are examined in the context of the test results obtained on a shell that was reinforced non-uniformly, with varying types of textile fabrics and varying thickness within the shell surface.

Modelling approaches for mixed forests dynamics prognosis. Research gaps and opportunities

Aim of study: Modelling of forest growth and dynamics has focused mainly on pure stands. Mixed-forest management lacks systematic procedures to forecast the impact of silvicultural actions. The main objective of the present work is to review current knowledge and forest model developments that can be applied to mixed forests.Material and methods: Primary research literature was reviewed to determine the state of the art for modelling tree species mixtures, focusing mainly on temperate forests.Main results: The essential principles for predicting stand growth in mixed forests were identified. Forest model applicability in mixtures was analysed. Input data, main model components, output and viewers were presented. Finally, model evaluation procedures and some of the main model platforms were described.Research highlights: Responses to environmental changes and management activities in mixed forests can differ from pure stands. For greater insight into mixed-forest dynamics and ecology, forest scientists and practitioners need new theoretical frameworks, different approaches and innovative solutions for sustainable forest management in the context of environmental and social changes.Keywords: dynamics, ecology, growth, yield, empirical, classification.