True Integration Research Articles

An overview of social science research in the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research*

In the mid‐1990s, the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) expanded its mission beyond sustainable improvements in productivity and formally incorporated a poverty focus. At the same time it initiated a process for the System to become explicitly output and impact oriented. As a result, social science research has become an integral part of the CGIAR research agenda and the research implementation process. And there is evidence that research in the social and anthropological disciplines is permeating the CGIAR research. However, there is a need for a systematic effort to facilitate the formulation and implementation of an updated social science research agenda that is commensurate with the new CGIAR vision and strategy. This is particularly important in facilitating the true integration of social research into the CGIAR research agenda, a need that has been strongly highlighted by external reviews in recent years. This article emphasises that there is a need to foster a research culture and ethos in the CGIAR that will promote a development‐oriented synthesis of socially responsible research that integrates biophysical and human sciences in CGIAR research planning and implementation processes along the research‐to‐development continuum in agriculture, forestry, and fisheries.

Commentary: Promoting Paradigmatic Change in Child and Adolescent Mental Health and Schools

This is an important series in School Psychology Review reflecting growing efforts to reform and enhance systems of education and mental health for youth, while connecting them together. This article by Maurice Elias and colleagues (Elias, Zins, Graczyk, & Weissberg, 2003) from the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) is an impressive effort that will both inspire future work and provide a roadmap for key challenges and ideas for overcoming them. In this commentary, I expand on two of the article's prominent themes. My comments reflect my 12 years of experience as a clinical psychologist working in a program that is now in 22 Baltimore schools; and my experiences in research, training, and technical assistance in school mental health through a federally funded national center (the Center for School Mental Health Assistance; see http:// csmha.umaryland.edu) that was established in 1995. Please note that some, including Elias et al. (2003) avoid the term school mental health, which I presume is to avoid the stigma of the term mental health and concerns that schools are not in the mental health business. However, there is an international effort to reclaim the term mental health (Rowling, 2002; Weare, 2000) to reflect emotional, behavioral, and cognitive processes that influence personal health and success in life. In addition, our work in the program in Baltimore and at the national center has focused on the effective joining of education and mental health systems (see Weist, 2001). For these reasons, and for simplicity in language, I use the term school mental health generally, and in the discussion that follows. Theme 1: Bridging the Vision-Reality Gap Elias et al. (2003) cogently present that the relatively advanced knowledge base regarding implementation of social and emotional learning (SEL) programs in schools is often a stark contrast with the reality of the school setting. They emphasize the critical importance of context, given that efforts to implement evidence-based programs lead to positive outcomes in some but not other schools. The significant environmental and staff issues confronted in implementing these programs in urban schools are articulated forcefully, and will resonate for people who work in them. In urban schools it is easy to succumb to feelings of defeatism, as educational, administrative, and mental health staff contend with high levels of problems in youth, too limited resources, and a confusing mishmash of disconnected and often severely limited support services. Such realities underscore the importance of systematic approaches to influence policy and organize school mental health efforts to enable student learning (Adelman & Taylor, 1999). In urban schools as well as in other schools, these realities also emphasize the significant limitations in staff, training, materials, and other resources to implement a full and coordinated continuum of mental health promotion and intervention. In the area of prevention research, CASEL and its collaborators (e.g., Graczyk, Domitrovich, & Zins, 2003) are helping to lead the way in ensuring that programs include adequate levels of support, training, and technical assistance to promote effective implementation. Elias et al. (2003) also emphasize that true integration of social-emotional and academic development in public schools requires a tremendous commitment that sustains through the progressive seasons of the innovation, including the secondary phases when the early momentum and many of the early leaders are gone. It is critical to match innovations to schools that are ready for change and to promote and maintain commitment for change within them. These are extremely important tasks, and although the diffusion of intervention literature provides some guidance, this research is limited. Mechanisms to assess school readiness for change are needed, as are empirical studies that explore various strategies to promote commitment and maintenance of change efforts. …

Cultivating a disease management partnership: a value-chain model.

Disease management (DM) is one of the health care industry's more innovative value-chain models, whereby multiple relationships are created to bring complex and time-sensitive services to market. The very nature of comprehensive, seamless DM provided through an outsourced arrangement necessitates a level of cooperation, trust, and synergy that may be lacking from more traditional vendor-customer relationships. This discussion highlights the experience of one health plan and its vendor partner and their approach to the development and delivery of an outsourced heart failure (HF) DM program. The program design and rollout are discussed within principles adapted from the theoretical framework of a value-chain model. Within the value-chain model, added value is created by the convergence and synergistic integration of the partners' discrete strengths. Although each partner brings unique attributes to the relationship, those attributes are significantly enhanced by the value-chain model, thus allowing each party to bring the added value of the relationship to their respective customers. This partnership increases innovation, leverages critical capabilities, and improves market responsiveness. Implementing a comprehensive, outsourced DM program is no small task. DM programs incorporate a broad array of services affecting nearly every department in a health plan's organization. When true seamless integration between multiple organizations with multiple stakeholders is the objective, implementation and ongoing operations can become even more complex. To effectively address the complexities presented by an HF DM program, the parties in this case moved beyond a typical purchaser-vendor relationship to one that is more closely akin to a strategic partnership. This discussion highlights the development of this partnership from the perspective of both organizations, as revealed through contracting and implementation activities. It is intended to provide insight into the program development and rollout processes that one health plan and its partner have adopted to advance a DM model that integrates appropriately within the local environment. This discussion also highlights how an organizational culture can shift from an emphasis on cost, growth, and control to an emphasis on quality, innovation, and service within a value-chain model.

Photovoltaic roofing: issues of design and integration into buildings

In the last decade, the development of photovoltaic roofing elements has been exceptional. These efforts were not limited to merely improving the integration methods with standard PV products but were also directed towards the production of appropriate elements that could replace roof tiles or shingles. This paper reviews some of the competing technologies for photovoltaic roofing and addresses the issues raised in the total integration of PV into roofing structures. The paper also discusses the general requirements of an idealised photovoltaic roofing system and some of the relevant variables that are required for the satisfaction of the end users. It has been shown that current strategies available for the true integration of PV elements as roof tiles or shingles utilising the sloped building fabric are limited. There are however, major on-going activities to research and develop roofing systems based on the foot-print of a roof tile or shingle.

Group theory and quasiprobability integrals of Wigner functions

The integral of the Wigner function of a quantum mechanical system over a region or its boundary in the classical phase plane, is called a quasiprobability integral. Unlike a true probability integral, its value may lie outside the interval [0,1]. It is characterized by a corresponding selfadjoint operator, to be called a region or contour operator as appropriate, which is determined by the characteristic function of that region or contour. The spectral problem is studied for commuting families of region and contour operators associated with concentric disks and circles of given radius a. Their respective eigenvalues are determined as functions of a, in terms of the Gauss-Laguerre polynomials. These polynomials provide a basis of vectors in Hilbert space carrying the positive discrete series representations of the algebra su(1,1)or so(2,1). The explicit relation between the spectra of operators associated with disks and circles with proportional radii, is given in terms of the dicrete variable Meixner polynomials.

Role and Use of Technologies in Integrated Coastal Zone Management: Lessons from the European Demonstration Programme

Technologies are considered tools to increase the number of "available options" and to "enlarge the freedom of action" of society to achieve specific objectives. One such objective is sustainable development of the coastal zones. One way to achieve this is via integrated coastal zone management (ICZM): the integration of otherwise sectoral management activities. ICZM is not yet a widespread practice. Even in situations where integrated management is attempted, the role of technologies that might be deployed on the coastal zone to satisfy other societal needs or to provide a solution to specific problem, is not always adequately considered. True integration requires an understanding of how a technology is influenced by or impacts the surrounding natural, economic, and social environment. The present article describes an analysis of the role and use of technologies in the European Union Demonstration Programme on ICZM.

Borderline Personality Disorder: A Clinical Guide

Borderline Personality Disorder: A Clinical Guide

Human-centred engineers—a model for holistic interdisciplinary communication and professional practice

There are many challenges facing graduate engineers in a rapidly changing world. Engineers of the future will require abilities previously not considered ‘core’ to their professional practice. This research is aimed at the development of an enhanced understanding of the human component in system development and operation in both engineering and human factors graduates. Consideration of ‘human factors’ in engineering design will reduce the likelihood of human error, resulting in a safer, more efficient work environment for all stakeholders. The synergy of practice of the two disciplines of engineering and human factors, through an innovative teaching model, such as the one currently being developed, will ensure that graduates from both disciplines will become leaders in their professional practice. This model is being developed through an action research project. The findings indicate that the two disciplines must learn to work together during the entire design process. It is not enough to simply educate the engineers in the basics of human factors and the human factors practitioners in the basics of the design process. True integration is needed to achieve the synergy. Relevance to industry Current engineering education prepares graduates well in terms of technical solutions, but very poorly in terms of social design skills. This paper informs a paradigm change that will encourage continued technical reliability, but enhanced social responsibility.

Practical integrated metallurgical accounting solutions for supporting production decisions

Metallurgical accounting in the mineral processing industry transforms accumulated process data, including flow rates and assays, into a coherent information format. This is used to rapidly provide production reporting and key performance indications. Comprehensive and coherent data must be a component of any system expected to accomplish reconciliation in the mass-balancing process. Quality issues are thus improved with such desired methods via a mass-balancing engine utilizing the results of measurements acquired by various on-line sensors, analyzers and sophisticated laboratory equipment. Metallurgical accounting, when accomplished through such an engine, provides high-value information in a simple, straightforward and simplified manner. Exceptional utility is then transparently available to authorized personnel for access to metallurgical accounting reports, production reports, mass balance results, performance indicators, and so on. This paper discusses how such information can be used to “drill down” into each result set by consulting the data hierarchy to evaluate and validate calculations and input data used to produce the specific results being queried. The power of such a system resides in the full and true integration of all production and laboratory data. What is integrated are the data thus acquired via a single user interface, a single database, a single configuration tool, etc. From this comes the derivation of contextual information and its maintenance. It is possible to reduce metallurgical accounting and production reporting from possibly hours or even days to a matter of minutes. The result is maximization of information reliability and availability from masses of otherwise discrete and difficult to access key data.

Extended structured adaptive supervisory control model of shop floor controls for an e-Manufacturing system

The high cost and long development cycle of shop floor control systems and the lack of true system integration capabilities are identified as one of the most challenging obstacles in deploying e-Manufacturing systems. Overcoming these obstacles is essential for manufacturers to execute a make-to-order business model in order to stay competitive and remain profitable in the future. We propose a formal method to generate the desired control trajectories and provide true integration mechanisms for shop floor control systems. Using the proposed architecture can result in the development of an e-Manufacturing system capable of achieving a substantial reduction of both the high cost and long development cycle currently required to engineer shop floor control systems. By taking advantage of both the linear growth of the complexity function in a structured adaptive supervisory control model and the information-centric characteristics of a virtual production line in a manufacturing execution system, a formal model, which we call an extended structured adaptive supervisory control, for a discrete manufacturing system is introduced. A shop floor control system based on the extended structured adaptive supervisory control model is built for an industrial testbed system. The shop floor control system is fully tested and evaluated.

Integrated Instruction: Is it Science? Is it Mathematics?

Although much has been said in recent years about the value and importance of integrating the curriculum, many questions remain. Is integration always desirable? Can mathematics and science be taught as equals? What are the implications for student learning? Can integrated instruction meet state and national standards for each discipline? Is true integration even possible? In this article, we look closely at these issues: first, from the perspective of mathematics teachers, then from the perspective of science teachers. We also clarify both the potential of integration and the various problems that teachers must recognize and address if integrated instruction is to be successful. When appropriate, we have included content examples that have rich potential for integration but nevertheless present their own unique challenges and issues.

Integrated platform for silicon photonic crystal devices at near-infrared wavelengths

We demonstrate an integrated fiber-photonic crystal system with a uniform band gap of around 1550 nm with insertion loss as low as 3.5 dB. One-dimensional photonic crystals fabricated on this platform exhibit a higher-order photonic band gap with over 30 dB suppression of transmission from 1400 to 1700 nm that is consistent with simulation. These results may lead to true integration of photonic crystals into optical fiber communication systems as optical switches and routers.

On board system model for road intelligent transport system

The paper describes a model to implement on board systems for road passenger transportation using the intelligent transportation systems (ITS). Proposed for use in this model are some new technologic advances to achieve a true integration of the on board information systems that are often integrated weakly. All the on board elements needed to give useful information, such as communications, positioning, sensors devices and ticketing, are integrated in this model.

A Practical Guide to Building an Integral World

We stand at the start of a new millennium with a growing awareness of what is wrong with our civilization but little agreement as to what to do. From environmental crises to democratic systems dominated by moneyed interests, the list of dangers is long and growing. Each issue has a band of defenders who struggle to right that particular wrong but, because these bands are disjointed, the broad movement they serve remains incoherent and weak. The broad movement is usually described as toward "sustainable civilization," but its precise designation is "integral society." The challenge for the emerging "new science" is to provide a framework for understanding that unifies and gives direction to the disparate efforts that comprise the integral movement. This framework must address three needs. First, it must provide a sound understanding of why, despite our sophistication, things seem to be going badly in so many spheres. Secondly, it must present a believable vision of where our civilization should be headed. Finally, it must provide a sense that there are concrete steps we can take to achieve the deep dreams that most of us actually share. What we need, in short, is not more disparate insights, but rather a collective intellectual unity that integrates existing insights into a logically coherent and emotionally compelling whole. Such integration, however, cannot be constructed artificially, by committee or consensus. Rather, true integration can only come from a unified scientific understanding of why various ideas connect. Today, a scientific story capable of such unifying understanding is found in the expanded theory of evolution that is emerging from the union of a broad range of scientific efforts. This theory also serves as a unifying thread for an integrated new science. This article outlines the "dynamic" view of evolution and how it unites integral efforts.

A High Performance Square-Root Domain Integrator

In this work a true square-root domain integrator configuration is proposed, which is implemented using new current geometric-mean and multiplier/divider blocks. The main advantage of the proposed configuration, in comparison with previous realizations, is the immunity to the body effect. Additional important features are low-voltage operation capability, linear tuneability and design modularity.

LANGUAGE, NATIONAL INTEGRATION AND NIGERIA FEDERATION

The position of this paper is that the lack of any true national integration in the country is traceable to the belief and conduct of the elite class represented in the various ethnic groups that make up Nigeria. The masses believe in their various elite classes to the level of misnomer, while the elite on the other hand use their position to consolidate their own gains. In addition, the government exercises power in an intentionally exclusive manner, with emphasis on the dominant and subordinate structures in the society. In a situation like this, the search for true unity and national integration would have no end. There is no loyalty to the nation any more, except complex ethnic or sectional loyalties. However, the opinion of this paper is that the beginning for the achievement of a true federation is to allow the political objectives, as enshrined in the constitution, to be the guiding principle of any government in this country. Failure to uphold and put into practice these constitutional provisions means that Nigeria would remain very much in the woods. (Humanities Review: 2002 2(1): 93-100)

Social Exclusion and Knowledge

This article offers a critical examination of the repercussions of the different ways in which the poor have been defined and positioned by the governments and the international organizations that fund them, resulting in the application of rigid and homogeneous categories, as well as wrong and inconsistent policies for fighting poverty. At the same time, the article points out that efforts have been made recently to understand the specific demands for social justice, equity, tolerance, and respect for diversity, as well as for true integration, put forward by the excluded populations. In this respect, the author calls for an acknowledgement of the phenomenon of exclusion as the condition which adds to poverty the impossibility of fully participating in social life and exercising citizenship. To be excluded means more than just being poor. It means being absent from the political action that defines a society's path at a given time and in a given territory. The author concludes with a declaration of the need to revise and reformulate our understanding of the forms taken by the excluded populations' presence in society, with recognition of those populations' diversity, contradictory expressions, demands and exercise of rights, as a basis for formulating policies that will effectively support the right to collective well-being and hope.

Simple analytical approximations to the integrals of the Bessel functionsJν: application to the transmittance of a circular aperture

Two accurate, yet simple, analytic approximations to the integral of the Bessel function J0 are presented. These first and second-order approximations are obtained by improving on the recently developed method known as two-point quasi-rational approximations. The accuracy of the first-order approximant is better than 0.05. The second-order approximant is practically indistinguishable from the true integral, even for very large values of the argument (overall accuracy is better than 0.002 05). Our approximants are, in addition, analytic and therefore replace with significant advantages both the well known power series and the asymptotic formulae of the integral. Approximants to the transmittance function of a plane wave through a circular aperture are derived, a problem which arises in diffraction theory and particle scattering. The second-order approximant to the transmittance is analytic too, and can be evaluated for small and large values of the argument, just with a hand-calculator. Its accuracy is better than 0.0011. As an extension, two first-order approximations to the integrals of the Bessel functions Jν, of fractional order ν, are derived.

A HEALTH SERVICES PERSPECTIVE ON DELIVERY OF PSYCHIATRIC SERVICES IN PRIMARY CARE INCLUDING INTERNAL MEDICINE

Serious problems persist in the recognition and treatment of psychiatric problems in primary care despite multiple interventions directed at correcting these problems. Improved outcomes depend on improved recognition, and screening instruments need to be streamlined tremendously to be accepted by primary care providers. Publication of guidelines and physician education, although essential for improved care, are probably insufficient to implement guidelines-based care. Improvements in psychiatric outcome appear to depend on the level of intensity of the intervention employed. Continued research is needed to determine the most effective type of educational intervention and more widely applicable quality improvement processes. Broad-based changes in health service delivery focusing on the true integration of mental health services with general medical care are required to bring about meaningful, effective change. Ongoing changes in physician training programs (combined primary care/psychiatry programs) may facilitate implementation of guideline-based psychiatric care in medical settings, but the full impact of these changes is not likely to be felt for several years.

Hispanic Psychiatry: From Margin to Mainstream

The advent of the 21st century offers a unique opportunity for a reassessment of the epistemological bases of American psychiatry and its diverse components. The case of Hispanic/Latino psychiatry in the U.S. exemplifies the complexities of this process including a reaffirmation of its singular characteristics, and a struggle to gain recognition from and full acceptance into ‘mainstream’ psychiatry. After a brief review of the history of Hispanic communities in the U.S., relevant issues such as acculturation and the response of the host society to the waves of immigrants from ‘south of the border’ are discussed. The growth and increasing visibility of Hispanic psychiatry are demonstrated by an examination of existing organizations, workforce, academic enrollment and productivity, and the contributions of its Latin American and Spanish streams. The receptivity of American psychiatry and the accomplishments and failures on the way towards a true integration are assessed. The journey of Hispanic psychiatry from margin to mainstream will be based on the shaping of a true mestizo identity, continuous and consistent research contributions in specific areas, in-depth study of biocultural linkages in a variety of clinical phenomena, and the adoption by American psychiatry of a new form of universalism modeled after the genuine mestization process of its Hispanic component.