Zufriedenheit von Schülerinnen und Schülern und ihre soziale Integration

Eine gegenstandsbezogene Konzeption von Zufriedenheit geht davon aus, dass sich die Lebenszufriedenheit Jugendlicher von ihrer Zufriedenheit mit der Schule, mit der Klasse und der Lehrperson unterscheidet. Es wurde überprüft, ob sich diese Zufriedenheiten durch soziale Prozesse und Strukturen in der Schulklasse vorhersagen lassen. Im Rahmen einer Längsschnittuntersuchung mit 692 Schülerinnen und Schülern der siebten bis zwölften Klassenstufe aus 50 Schulklassen der Kantone Bern, Aargau und Solothurn (Schweiz) wurden diese Thesen anhand eines standardisierten Fragebogens analysiert. Wahrgenommene Klassenkohäsion und der subjektiv wahrgenommene Klassenstatus erklärten, im Gegensatz zum objektiven Klassenstatus, gemessen mit einem Soziogramm, einen beachtlichen Anteil der gegenstandsspeifischen Zufriedenheit, selbst nach Ablauf eines Jahres. Die Klassenstruktur und die Zufriedenheitsmasse waren sehr stabil. Klassenprozesse erlauben nicht nur Vorhersagen der Klassenzufriedenheit, sondern haben eine generalisierende Wirkung auch auf andere Zufriedenheitsbereiche.

The multiple-scattering series in few-nucleon systems

We discuss under which circumstances the resummation of the multiple-scattering series is justified from an EFT point of view. The application to πd and K̅d scattering is briefly discussed.

Knowledge in software-maintenance outsourcing projects: beyond integration of business and technical knowledge

Knowledge processes are critical to outsourced software projects. According to outsourcing research, outsourced software projects succeed if they manage to integrate the client’s business knowledge and the vendor’s technical knowledge. In this paper, we submit that this view may not be wrong, but incomplete in a significant part of outsourced software work, which is software maintenance. Data from six software-maintenance outsourcing transitions indicate that more important than business or technical knowledge can be application knowledge, which vendor engineers acquire over time during practice. Application knowledge was the dominant knowledge during knowledge transfer activities and its acquisition enabled vendor staff to solve maintenance tasks. We discuss implications for widespread assumptions in outsourcing research.

Experimenting and modeling: sharp distinctions, integration or just a mess?

At first sight, experimenting and modeling form two distinct modes of scientific inquiry. This spurs philosophical debates about how the distinction should be drawn (e.g. Morgan 2005, Winsberg 2009, Parker 2009). But much scientific practice casts serious doubts on the idea that the distinction makes much sense. There are two worries. First, the practices of modeling and experimenting are often intertwined in intricate ways because much modeling involves experimenting, and the interpretation of many experiments relies upon models. Second, there are borderline cases that seem to blur the distinction between experiment and model (if there is any). My talk tries to defend the philosophical project of distinguishing models from experiment and to advance the related philosophical debate. I begin with providing a minimalist framework of conceptualizing experimenting and modeling and their mutual relationships. The methods are conceptualized as different types of activities that are characterized by a primary goal, respectively. The minimalist framwork, which should be uncontroversial, suffices to accommodate the first worry. I address the second worry by suggesting several ways how to conceptualize the distinction in a more flexible way. I make a concrete suggestion of how the distinction may be drawn. I use examples from the history of science to argue my case. The talk concentrates and models and experiments, but I will comment on simulations too.

Scheduled versus Pro Re Nata Dosing in the VIEW Trials

PURPOSE To analyze visual acuity (VA) outcomes before and after preplanned treatment regimen change in the VIEW studies at week 52 (W52). DESIGN Multiple post hoc analyses for retrospectively defined subgroups in 2 multicenter, multinational, double-masked trials. PARTICIPANTS Two thousand four hundred fifty-seven neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) patients. METHODS Patients were randomized to treatment with 0.5 mg ranibizumab given monthly, a 0.5-mg or 2-mg intravitreal aflibercept injection given monthly, or 2 mg intravitreal aflibercept given every other month, after 3 initial monthly doses, up to W52. From W52 through W96, patients received their original dosing assignment using a capped pro re nata (PRN) regimen, with defined retreatment criteria based on VA and morphologic signs of disease activity and mandatory dosing at least every 12 weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Best-corrected VA (BCVA) and optical coherence tomography assessments were mandatory at all visits from baseline to W96. Outcomes were changes in BCVA and central retinal thickness. Outcomes were evaluated in all patients who completed 2 years of the VIEW studies using the last observation carried forward method for missing data at interim visits. RESULTS After W52, approximately 20% of patients lost 5 Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) letters or more across all treatment arms with PRN treatment. Patients who met the retreatment criterion of loss of 5 ETDRS letters or more in the first quarter of the PRN dosing phase did not recover; mean final VA loss across the 4 study arms was -4.4 to -5.8 letters. Outcomes of these patients up to W52 were indistinguishable from those of the overall population. There were no differences between groups in serious ocular adverse events or Anti-Platelet Trialists' Collaboration arterial thromboembolic events through W96. CONCLUSIONS These analyses suggest that there are subgroups of patients for whom VA outcomes in the second year of the VIEW studies were less stable than in the first year and for whom W52 seems to be an important inflection point. Although alternate reasons specific to the nature of the underlying AMD cannot be fully excluded, the switch in treatment regimen at W52 is a plausible explanation.

Usability and Acceptability of ASSESS MS: Assessment of Motor Dysfunction in Multiple Sclerosis Using Depth-Sensing Computer Vision

Background: Sensor-based recordings of human movements are becoming increasingly important for the assessment of motor symptoms in neurological disorders beyond rehabilitative purposes. ASSESS MS is a movement recording and analysis system being developed to automate the classification of motor dysfunction in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) using depth-sensing computer vision. It aims to provide a more consistent and finer-grained measurement of motor dysfunction than currently possible. Objective: To test the usability and acceptability of ASSESS MS with health professionals and patients with MS. Methods: A prospective, mixed-methods study was carried out at 3 centers. After a 1-hour training session, a convenience sample of 12 health professionals (6 neurologists and 6 nurses) used ASSESS MS to capture recordings of standardized movements performed by 51 volunteer patients. Metrics for effectiveness, efficiency, and acceptability were defined and used to analyze data captured by ASSESS MS, video recordings of each examination, feedback questionnaires, and follow-up interviews. Results: All health professionals were able to complete recordings using ASSESS MS, achieving high levels of standardization on 3 of 4 metrics (movement performance, lateral positioning, and clear camera view but not distance positioning). Results were unaffected by patients’ level of physical or cognitive disability. ASSESS MS was perceived as easy to use by both patients and health professionals with high scores on the Likert-scale questions and positive interview commentary. ASSESS MS was highly acceptable to patients on all dimensions considered, including attitudes to future use, interaction (with health professionals), and overall perceptions of ASSESS MS. Health professionals also accepted ASSESS MS, but with greater ambivalence arising from the need to alter patient interaction styles. There was little variation in results across participating centers, and no differences between neurologists and nurses. Conclusions: In typical clinical settings, ASSESS MS is usable and acceptable to both patients and health professionals, generating data of a quality suitable for clinical analysis. An iterative design process appears to have been successful in accounting for factors that permit ASSESS MS to be used by a range of health professionals in new settings with minimal training. The study shows the potential of shifting ubiquitous sensing technologies from research into the clinic through a design approach that gives appropriate attention to the clinic environment.

The relationship between hospital financial performance and information technology integration strategy selection

In light of the new healthcare regulations, hospitals are increasingly reevaluating their IT integration strategies to meet expanded healthcare information exchange requirements. Nevertheless, hospital executives do not have all the information they need to differentiate between the available strategies and recognize what may better fit their organizational needs. ^ In the interest of providing the desired information, this study explored the relationships between hospital financial performance, integration strategy selection, and strategy change. The integration strategies examined – applied as binary logistic regression dependent variables and in the order from most to least integrated – were Single-Vendor (SV), Best-of-Suite (BoS), and Best-of-Breed (BoB). In addition, the financial measurements adopted as independent variables for the models were two administrative labor efficiency and six industry standard financial ratios designed to provide a broad proxy of hospital financial performance. Furthermore, descriptive statistical analyses were carried out to evaluate recent trends in hospital integration strategy change. Overall six research questions were proposed for this study. ^ The first research question sought to answer if financial performance was related to the selection of integration strategies. The next questions, however, explored whether hospitals were more likely to change strategies or remain the same when there was no external stimulus to change, and if they did change, they would prefer strategies closer to the existing ones. These were followed by a question that inquired if financial performance was also related to strategy change. Nevertheless, rounding up the questions, the last two probed if the new Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act had any impact on the frequency and direction of strategy change. ^ The results confirmed that financial performance is related to both IT integration strategy selection and strategy change, while concurred with prior studies that suggested hospital and environmental characteristics are associated factors as well. Specifically this study noted that the most integrated SV strategy is related to increased administrative labor efficiency and the hybrid BoS strategy is associated with improved financial health (based on operating margin and equity financing ratios). On the other hand, no financial indicators were found to be related to the least integrated BoB strategy, except for short-term liquidity (current ratio) when involving strategy change. ^ Ultimately, this study concluded that when making IT integration strategy decisions hospitals closely follow the resource dependence view of minimizing uncertainty. As each integration strategy may favor certain organizational characteristics, hospitals traditionally preferred not to make strategy changes and when they did, they selected strategies that were more closely related to the existing ones. However, as new regulations further heighten revenue uncertainty while require increased information integration, moving forward, as evidence already suggests a growing trend of organizations shifting towards more integrated strategies, hospitals may be more limited in their strategy selection choices.^

Editoriall: A Holistic View of Family Preservation Services

One of the hallmarks of family preservation services is that they are holistic and attend to multiple dimensions of family life. In that spirit, this issue of the Family Preservation Journal provides a holistic view of these services, by offering research from the perspective of children, parents, caseworkers, and students of social work. These articles focus on the effectiveness of services, parents' perceptions of services, and the knowledge, attitudes and behavior of child welfare caseworkers. There should be something here for everyone who serves children and their families.

La Federación de Asociaciones Católicas de Empleadas frente al trabajo femenino (Argentina, 1922-1954)

Este artículo analiza la propuesta de la Federación de Asociaciones Católicas de Empleadas (FACE), institución liderada por Monseñor Miguel de Andrea, frente a la participación asalariada de las mujeres, desde sus orígenes hasta el enfrentamiento con el gobierno peronista. A partir del análisis de publicaciones periódicas, se sostiene que la FACE construyó una noción de excepcionalidad del trabajo femenino que legitimó las prácticas de inequidad laboral que padecían las mujeres, mientras que también ofreció una integración social a sus miembros a través de múltiples servicios sociales

El tratamiento de los estudios de caso como herramienta de investigación : Su aporte en el subcampo de las Relaciones Internacionales

Este artículo revisa el papel clave que los métodos de estudio de casos han jugado en el estudio de las relaciones internacionales, especialmente en los estudios de Estados Unidos. Los estudios de caso en el subcampo de Relaciones Internacionales no son los estudios inconexos, a-teóricos e ideográficos que sus críticos censuran. Estos forman un conjunto cada vez más estandarizado y riguroso y, junto con el trabajo estadístico y formal, han contribuido a mejorar de forma acumulativa el entendimiento de la política mundial. El artículo analiza y revisa ejemplos de criterios de selección de casos (incluyendo los menos probables, menos y más similares y los casos desviados); la innovación conceptual; teorías tipológicas, tipologías explicativas, el análisis comparativo cualitativo y el análisis de conjuntos difusos; el proceso de rastreo, y la integración de múltiples métodos

La Federación de Asociaciones Católicas de Empleadas frente al trabajo femenino (Argentina, 1922-1954)

Este artículo analiza la propuesta de la Federación de Asociaciones Católicas de Empleadas (FACE), institución liderada por Monseñor Miguel de Andrea, frente a la participación asalariada de las mujeres, desde sus orígenes hasta el enfrentamiento con el gobierno peronista. A partir del análisis de publicaciones periódicas, se sostiene que la FACE construyó una noción de excepcionalidad del trabajo femenino que legitimó las prácticas de inequidad laboral que padecían las mujeres, mientras que también ofreció una integración social a sus miembros a través de múltiples servicios sociales

El tratamiento de los estudios de caso como herramienta de investigación : Su aporte en el subcampo de las Relaciones Internacionales

Este artículo revisa el papel clave que los métodos de estudio de casos han jugado en el estudio de las relaciones internacionales, especialmente en los estudios de Estados Unidos. Los estudios de caso en el subcampo de Relaciones Internacionales no son los estudios inconexos, a-teóricos e ideográficos que sus críticos censuran. Estos forman un conjunto cada vez más estandarizado y riguroso y, junto con el trabajo estadístico y formal, han contribuido a mejorar de forma acumulativa el entendimiento de la política mundial. El artículo analiza y revisa ejemplos de criterios de selección de casos (incluyendo los menos probables, menos y más similares y los casos desviados); la innovación conceptual; teorías tipológicas, tipologías explicativas, el análisis comparativo cualitativo y el análisis de conjuntos difusos; el proceso de rastreo, y la integración de múltiples métodos

El tratamiento de los estudios de caso como herramienta de investigación : Su aporte en el subcampo de las Relaciones Internacionales

Este artículo revisa el papel clave que los métodos de estudio de casos han jugado en el estudio de las relaciones internacionales, especialmente en los estudios de Estados Unidos. Los estudios de caso en el subcampo de Relaciones Internacionales no son los estudios inconexos, a-teóricos e ideográficos que sus críticos censuran. Estos forman un conjunto cada vez más estandarizado y riguroso y, junto con el trabajo estadístico y formal, han contribuido a mejorar de forma acumulativa el entendimiento de la política mundial. El artículo analiza y revisa ejemplos de criterios de selección de casos (incluyendo los menos probables, menos y más similares y los casos desviados); la innovación conceptual; teorías tipológicas, tipologías explicativas, el análisis comparativo cualitativo y el análisis de conjuntos difusos; el proceso de rastreo, y la integración de múltiples métodos

Does the use of multiple FTAs force firms to raise local input share? : evidence of the spaghetti bowl phenomenon

This paper empirically investigates the firm-level relationship between the local input share and the number of used FTAs by employing the data on FTA utilization in Japanese affiliates in ASEAN. As a result, we do not find a robust linear relationship. However, affiliates using a large number of FTAs (seven or eight) have an extremely higher share of local inputs. This result might be interpreted as the first evidence of the “spaghetti bowl phenomenon”.