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This research stems from the need of the Italian Cultural Institute to map the institutions involved in teaching Italian in the area considered and to analyse the quality of the teaching and learning process of the Italian language. The objectives are multiple and linked to the importance of finding the causes that slow the growth of the study of Italian in Japanese Kansai. Therefore, the first part of this action research will outline the cultural and linguistic education coordinates that characterize the Japanese context; in the second part, the research data will be interpreted in order to trace new methodological development trajectories to increase the quality of the Italian teaching process in Kansai.Part 1 This part focuses on the situation of foreign language teaching in Japan. It also describes the strategies to promote the teaching of the Italian language in Japan from 1980 to now. 1 Modern Language Policy in Japan Between Past and Present This first chapter describes linguistic policy for the promotion of foreign languages in Japan by the Ministry of Education (MEXT). 2 Japanese Educational System Focus of this chapter are the cultural, pedagogical and linguistic education characteristics of the context under investigation. 3 Teaching Italian Language in Japan The purpose of this chapter is to outline the general frame of the spreading of the Italian cultural model in a traditional Japanese context. Part 2In the second part the action research and the training project design are described. 4 The Action-Research Project This chapter describes the overall design of the research and the research questions that inspired an investigation in the context under study. The aim is to understand whether there is a link between the methodological choices of the teachers and the difficulties in learning Italian for Japanese students. Part 3 In this third part, the situation of teaching Italian in relation to different learning contexts in Japanese Kansai will be examined. 5 A Case Study at Italian Culture Institute in Osaka The goals of this chapter are to analyse the problems of teaching Italian at the IIC and suggest methodological improvement paths for teachers of Italian language at IIC. 6 A Case Study at Osaka University The data obtained by the informants will be used to analyse the situation of the teaching of Italian at Department of Italian language of this university and suggest curricular and methodological improvements to increase the quality of teaching and learning Italian. 7 A Case Study at Kyoto Sangyo University The chapter outlines the methodological and technical characteristics used to teach Italian at Kyoto Sangyo University and suggests strategies aimed at enhancing students’ language learning.

The first textbook based upon International Standards on Auditing (ISAs), this fully revised and updated fourth edition presents a structured approach to auditing principles using ISAs as its basis. The International Standards on Auditing are now widely regarded as the global benchmark for auditing standards and as such an important audit quality indicator. This book describes the developments and practical use of all ISAs, as well as significant national standards in different countries. The new edition has been updated in line with International Standards and presents a truly International perspective. The book provides students with a real-world perspective as close to current auditing practice and thinking as possible. Key features: Structure of the book following the four phases of the audit process Coverage of the latest auditing insights including technology and automated tools & techniques (data analytics) Updates of the most recent auditing & assurance standards, including ISA 315 and 540 Highlighting the broader range of assurance engagements Practice exam-style questions with end-of-chapter answers And take a look at the book website here, for more information and extra materials for both tutors and students.

The quality of data collected in official spatial databases is crucial in making strategic decisions as well as in the implementation of planning and design works. Awareness of the level of the quality of these data is also important for individual users of official spatial data. The author presents methods and models of description and evaluation of the quality of spatial data collected in public registers. Data describing the space in the highest degree of detail, which are collected in three databases: land and buildings registry (EGiB), geodetic registry of the land infrastructure network (GESUT) and in database of topographic objects (BDOT500) were analyzed. The results of the research concerned selected aspects of activities in terms of the spatial data quality. These activities include: the assessment of the accuracy of data collected in official spatial databases; determination of the uncertainty of the area of registry parcels, analysis of the risk of damage to the underground infrastructure network due to the quality of spatial data, construction of the quality model of data collected in official databases and visualization of the phenomenon of uncertainty in spatial data. The evaluation of the accuracy of data collected in official, large-scale spatial databases was based on a representative sample of data. The test sample was a set of deviations of coordinates with three variables dX, dY and Dl – deviations from the X and Y coordinates and the length of the point offset vector of the test sample in relation to its position recognized as a faultless. The compatibility of empirical data accuracy distributions with models (theoretical distributions of random variables) was investigated and also the accuracy of the spatial data has been assessed by means of the methods resistant to the outliers. In the process of determination of the accuracy of spatial data collected in public registers, the author’s solution was used – resistant method of the relative frequency. Weight functions, which modify (to varying degree) the sizes of the vectors Dl – the lengths of the points offset vector of the test sample in relation to their position recognized as a faultless were proposed. From the scope of the uncertainty of estimation of the area of registry parcels the impact of the errors of the geodetic network points was determined (points of reference and of the higher class networks) and the effect of the correlation between the coordinates of the same point on the accuracy of the determined plot area. The scope of the correction was determined (in EGiB database) of the plots area, calculated on the basis of re-measurements, performed using equivalent techniques (in terms of accuracy). The analysis of the risk of damage to the underground infrastructure network due to the low quality of spatial data is another research topic presented in the paper. Three main factors have been identified that influence the value of this risk: incompleteness of spatial data sets and insufficient accuracy of determination of the horizontal and vertical position of underground infrastructure. A method for estimation of the project risk has been developed (quantitative and qualitative) and the author’s risk estimation technique, based on the idea of fuzzy logic was proposed. Maps (2D and 3D) of the risk of damage to the underground infrastructure network were developed in the form of large-scale thematic maps, presenting the design risk in qualitative and quantitative form. The data quality model is a set of rules used to describe the quality of these data sets. The model that has been proposed defines a standardized approach for assessing and reporting the quality of EGiB, GESUT and BDOT500 spatial data bases. Quantitative and qualitative rules (automatic, office and field) of data sets control were defined. The minimum sample size and the number of eligible nonconformities in random samples were determined. The data quality elements were described using the following descriptors: range, measure, result, and type and unit of value. Data quality studies were performed according to the users needs. The values of impact weights were determined by the hierarchical analytical process method (AHP). The harmonization of conceptual models of EGiB, GESUT and BDOT500 databases with BDOT10k database was analysed too. It was found that the downloading and supplying of the information in BDOT10k creation and update processes from the analyzed registers are limited. An effective approach to providing spatial data sets users with information concerning data uncertainty are cartographic visualization techniques. Based on the author’s own experience and research works on the quality of official spatial database data examination, the set of methods for visualization of the uncertainty of data bases EGiB, GESUT and BDOT500 was defined. This set includes visualization techniques designed to present three types of uncertainty: location, attribute values and time. Uncertainty of the position was defined (for surface, line, and point objects) using several (three to five) visual variables. Uncertainty of attribute values and time uncertainty, describing (for example) completeness or timeliness of sets, are presented by means of three graphical variables. The research problems presented in the paper are of cognitive and application importance. They indicate on the possibility of effective evaluation of the quality of spatial data collected in public registers and may be an important element of the expert system.

This book deals with the issue of the quality of education systems by examining the key factors that influence learning outcomes, and by highlighting in a systemic way the determinants of this quality. I have shown the importance of considering the quality of learning outcomes as the ultimate and unavoidable objective of any education system that aims to be efficient and effective. I reviewed the theoretical bases that concern the politics, approaches and mechanisms of quality management applied to education. I developed a model called Elmandjra, which tries to explain the influence links that can exist between the inputs, the processes and the outputs of an education system, and how they must function to improve the quality of the learning outcomes. To answer the problem of the book, I compared the proposed model to the reality of the Moroccan educational system based on a research methodology that combines discussion within a focus group, and analysis of statistical data and results of international surveys concerning the Moroccan education system. The results of the work made it possible to establish a model for the quality of education systems comprising nine criteria. They also generated 52 indicators which use will enable other researchers to apply the model to the institutional assessment of education systems. I ended my book by presenting the conclusions on the state of the Moroccan education system that the exploitation of the Elmandjra model made it possible to draw, as well as by recommendations to improve the quality of the Moroccan education system, which other countries can to be inspired to improve theirs.

These Guidelines are one of the results of the four-year research project “Open Online Learning for Digital and Networked Society” (2017-2021). The project objective was to enable university teachers to design open and online learning through open and online learning curriculum and environment applying learning analytics as a metacognitive tool and creating open and online learning assessment and recognition practices, responding to the needs of digital and networked society. The research of the project resulted in 10 scientific publications and 2 studies prepared by Vytautas Magnus university Institute of Innovative Studies research team in collaboration with their international research partners from Germany, Spain and Portugal. The final stage of the research attempted creating open and online learning assessment and recognition practices, responding to the learner needs in contemporary digital and networked society. The need for open learning recognition has been increasing during the recent decade while the developments of open learning related to the Covid 19 pandemics have dramatically increased the need for systematic and high-quality assessment and recognition of learning acquired online. The given time also relates to the increased need to offer micro-credentials to learners, as well as a rising need for universities to prepare for micro-credentialization and issue new digital credentials to learners who are regular students, as well as adult learners joining for single courses. The increased need of all labour - market participants for frequent and fast renewal of competences requires a well working and easy to use system of open learning assessment and recognition. For learners, it is critical that the micro-credentials are well linked to national and European qualification frameworks, as well as European digital credential infrastructures (e.g., Europass and similar). For employers, it is important to receive requested quality information that is encrypted in the metadata of the credential. While for universities, there is the need to properly prepare institutional digital infrastructure, organizational procedures, descriptions of open learning opportunities and virtual learning environments to share, import and export the meta-data easily and seamlessly through European Digital Hub service infrastructures, as well as ensure that academic and administrative staff has digital competencies to design, issue and recognise open learning through digital and micro-credentials. The first chapter of the Guidelines provides a background view of the European Qualification Framework and National Qualification frameworks for the further system of gaining, stacking and modelling further qualifications through open online learning. The second chapter suggests the review of current European policy papers and consultations on the establishment of micro-credentials in European higher education. The findings of the report of micro-credentials higher education consultation group “European Approach to Micro-credentials” is shortly introduced, as well as important policy discussions taking place. Responding to the Rome Bologna Comunique 2020, where the ministers responsible for higher education agreed to support lifelong learning through issuing micro-credentials, a joint endeavour of DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion and DG Research and Innovation resulted in one of the most important political documents highlighting the potential of micro-credentials towards economic, social and education innovations. The consultation group of experts from the Member States defined the approach to micro-credentials to facilitate their validation, recognition and portability, as well as to foster a larger uptake to support individual learning in any subject area and at any stage of life or career. The Consultation Group also suggested further urgent topics to be discussed, including the storage, data exchange, portability, and data standards of micro-credentials and proposed EU Standard of constitutive elements of micro-credentials. The third chapter is devoted to the institutional readiness to issue and to recognize digital and micro-credentials. Universities need strategic decisions and procedures ready to be enacted for assessment of open learning and issuing micro-credentials. The administrative and academic staff needs to be aware and confident to follow these procedures while keeping the quality assurance procedures in place, as well. The process needs to include increasing teacher awareness in the processes of open learning assessment and the role of micro-credentials for the competitiveness of lifelong learners in general. When the strategic documents and procedures to assess open learning are in place and the staff is ready and well aware of the processes, the description of the courses and the virtual learning environment needs to be prepared to provide the necessary metadata for the assessment of open learning and issuing of micro-credentials. Different innovation-driven projects offer solutions: OEPass developed a pilot Learning Passport, based on European Diploma Supplement, MicroHE developed a portal Credentify for displaying, verifying and sharing micro-credential data. Credentify platform is using Blockchain technology and is developed to comply with European Qualifications Framework. Institutions, willing to join Credentify platform, should make strategic discussions to apply micro-credential metadata standards. The ECCOE project building on outcomes of OEPass and MicroHE offers an all-encompassing set of quality descriptors for credentials and the descriptions of learning opportunities in higher education. The third chapter also describes the requirements for university structures to interact with the Europass digital credentials infrastructure. In 2020, European Commission launched a new Europass platform with Digital Credential Infrastructure in place. Higher education institutions issuing micro-credentials linked to Europass digital credentials infrastructure may offer added value for the learners and can increase reliability and fraud-resistant information for the employers. However, before using Europass Digital Credentials, universities should fulfil the necessary preconditions that include obtaining a qualified electronic seal, installing additional software and preparing the necessary data templates. Moreover, the virtual learning environment needs to be prepared to export learning outcomes to a digital credential, maintaining and securing learner authentication. Open learning opportunity descriptions also need to be adjusted to transfer and match information for the credential meta-data. The Fourth chapter illustrates how digital badges as a type of micro-credentials in open online learning assessment may be used in higher education to create added value for the learners and employers. An adequately provided metadata allows using digital badges as a valuable tool for recognition in all learning settings, including formal, non-formal and informal.

Steel Castings Handbook, Sixth Edition contains information and engineering data relevant to the design, manufacture, and application of steel castings. The book's content is organized into five multiple-chapter sections, covering the design process, manufacturing equipment and procedures, purchasing, detailed application examples, and material selection for property optimization and manufacturability. The handbook also includes an appendix with composition and hardness data for a wide range of casting alloys and coverage on heat treatments, molding methods, redesign for casting, and the effect of quality on component performance. With its detailed explanations and extensive use of illustrations, the book serves equally well as a reference, text, or guide for both new and experienced engineers. For information on the print version, ISBN 978-0-87170-556-3, follow this link.

This chapter explores the employment performance and capacities of the Tunisian private sector. The analysis relies mainly on data from the annual enterprise surveys and on the TLMPS 2014 data. The size and the structure of the Tunisian labor market are analyzed, showing that the creation of more jobs requires the private sector to invest more, especially in new technologies. The private sector must increase its share in the economy and improve its competitiveness internationally. The intra- and inter-sectoral allocation of employment and variation of labor productivity are described, analyzing the capacity of the economy to improve the quality of labor demand and absorb highly educated young people. The link between firm size and labor demand is also analyzed, showing the need for a new industrial structure with a bigger share of larger and more dynamic enterprises.

Device-to-Device (D2D) Communication and Non Orthogonal Multiple Access (NOMA) have become topics of interest for researchers. They are widely recognized as techniques of the next generation cellular wireless networks. D2D technique offers uninterrupted communication among proximate mobile users without transferring data to the base station. This can provide high data rates and power control mechanisms. If D2D direct link distance is more, or the quality of channel is poor then the direct D2D communication gives larger propagation losses. This type of scenarios use relay assisted D2D communication, for improving the transmission capacity and coverage. Where as NOMA ) is one of the many technologies that promise greater capacity gain and spectral efficiency than the present state of the art, and is a candidate technology for 5G cellular networks In this book, fundamentals, state of the art, applications and research challenges of D2D and NOMA have been discussed in simple language

Emerging evidence demonstrates that sexual minority individuals experience disproportionate physical health burdens compared to heterosexuals because of their exposure to stigma. Due in part to increased public recognition of this stigma, recent decades have witnessed the collection of high-quality data exploring its links with adverse health. This chapter reviews this accumulating evidence. It first describes historical trends that have enabled the scientific study of sexual minority physical health. Next, it reviews sexual orientation disparities in physical health and factors that have been proposed to account for these disparities, with a particular focus on stigma and minority stress as precursors of adverse health. It then outlines potential cognitive–affective, behavioral, and physiological processes linking minority stress with poor health. It also highlights bidirectional processes that might operate between stigma and health. The chapter concludes by suggesting several promising opportunities for future research in this nascent field of inquiry.

This chapter explores how numbers are represented amongst children in different cultures, and shows how this can enrich our understanding of mathematical cognition. It focuses on two specific, related topics: the representation of multi-digit numbers and the scaling of a mental number line. The authors consider whether linguistic differences in number structures directly influence children’s understanding of place value. They also consider whether cross-cultural and developmental differences in the quality of children’s mental representations of number are direct influences on mathematical skill. Together, these two topics allow us to consider evidence for the existence of cross-cultural difference in mathematics and investigate factors that might underlie them. The authors propose that whilst the interpretation of data needs to proceed cautiously, valuable insights can be gained from relevant research.

Many researchers have studied how social competition and aggression affect health and well-being. However, few have made significant theoretical contributions to the understanding of how competition and aggression specific to women’s same-sex social networks may alter their health and well-being. Indeed, several lines of research indicate that positive interpersonal relationships between women are correlated to improved health, and, as a corollary, stressful and competitive interpersonal relationships result in significant health costs. Using evolutionary ecological theory and supporting data from Sidama pastoralist women in rural southwestern Ethiopia, this essay proposes that sleep quality and trade-offs between time spent sleeping for more waking time may be one of the pathways through which women’s health is affected by competition and aggression with other women. Sleep is gained or lost due to ruminations and investments over immediate social situations with other women, and this in turn can affect women’s health and well-being.

Iron and Steel Castings Engineering Guide covers the interrelated factors that determine the quality, performance, and cost of castings made from iron and steel. It describes the engineering involved in optimizing component geometries for function and manufacturability. It explains how microstructure influences mechanical properties and how to achieve a target microstructure for product performance through melting, melt treatment, and heat treating. It familiarizes readers with molding and core making processes and how to implement them, along with filling, feeding, and cooling procedures, for specific materials, geometries, and microstructures. It includes examples highlighting best practices as well as issues and concerns such as process limitations, assembly constraints, distortion and internal stresses, casting defects, and overly aggressive designs. It also contains composition, property, and structure-related data for many types of cast iron and grades of steel and includes detailed process outlines and design guidelines for tooling, gating, and feeding systems. For information on the print version, ISBN: 978-1-62708-330-0, follow this link.

The Francis and Mary Crane Collection of Native American material culture at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science contains nearly 200 medals that they described as “relating to Indians.” Although this is a subset of the 12,600 objects in their collection, it is clear from the archives that Francis spent more time with these medals than with any other portion of the collection. Unfortunately, the Crane’s medal collection has, to date, not been systematically analyzed or published by a numismatic professional. This volume fills that lacuna. We have identified nine medal categories in the Crane Collection, with the most important being the genuine Indian peace medals awarded to Native American leaders by various colonial governments. In addition to presenting an analysis of the medals, we attempt to capture how it feels to be an advanced collector with knowledge, passion, and money, for Francis Crane was fortunate to be such a hobbyist. He focused on what he wanted, was linked to a specialized network of dealers and collectors who shared his passion, and had the financial resources to collect in a systematic way. With this introductory volume, including hundreds of high-quality photographs, we set the stage for additional analyses by Indigenous knowledge keepers, numismatists, and scholars interested in the interaction between colonial governments and Native American tribes in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Extrusion, Second Edition provides a complete and thorough overview of the processes, equipment, and tooling used to extrude metals into desired shapes and forms. It covers all types of processes, including direct, indirect, and hydrostatic extrusion, cable sheathing, continuous extrusion, and the extrusion of powder metals. It describes each process in detail, explaining how the associated forces, stresses, displacements, and heat cause metals to deform and flow and how it affects the microstructure and properties of the resulting products. It discusses the design, setup, and control of extrusion equipment, the use of lubricants and shells, the effect of tooling materials and geometries, and the practical implications of material flow, friction, discard length, and exit temperature. It describes the deformation and extrusion behaviors of many materials, the product forms into which they can be made, and related processing requirements. The book also provides detailed application examples, an introduction to quality management, a review of the basics of metallurgy, and experimentally measured extrusion data. For information on the print version, ISBN 978-0-87170-837-3, follow this link.

The economic burden of rheumatic diseases for society, various payers, and last but not least the individual patient has been increasingly recognized. In addition to the well-known impact of back pain and osteoarthritis, the upcoming new and expensive therapies have made this issue especially intriguing in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). A mean international estimate of the total annual costs of RA, mainly consisting of direct resource consumption and indirect costs due to productivity losses relating to paid work, comes to about €5600. Other inflammatory rheumatologic diseases (ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, lupus erythematosus) generate similar costs. The implementation of expensive biological drugs in rheumatic care has also led to the pressing need to determine the relation of their costs and clinical outcome (e.g. quality-adjusted life-years, QALYs) in order to compare different treatment strategies in defined patient groups. In RA the health-economic evidence for the cost-effectiveness of biologicals is already quite substantial in terms of treatment of early and advanced RA, as last option treatment of patients refractory to TNF inhibitors. Their cost-effectiveness as first line treatment is less clear. All biologicals have proved their cost-effectiveness in various settings depending on patient selection. It has been clearly demonstrated that adherence to the current guidelines, including monitoring of their effectiveness. leads to cost-effective scenarios. In TNF-refractory RA, abatacept and rituximab have proved to be economically favourable strategies. Economic data on other inflammatory rheumatic entities is relatively sparse. Incomplete long-term and observational data are still the most prominent gaps in health-economic evidence relating to rheumatic disorders.

The EBA Guidelines on loan origination and monitoring (hereinafter "GL LOM") undoubtedly represent a substantially new piece of the banking regulatory framework. In fact, for the first time, the regulator moves into a topic that was traditionally outside the scope of financial regulation, so far almost exclusively focused on aspects directly linked to both micro- and macro-prudential stability, notably through capital and liquidity management requirements and guidelines on Business Model and Internal Governance. The credit management process, and in particular loan origination and monitoring, has always been typically considered as a business issue under sole responsibility of banks, as it is considered one of the "core" processes (if not the "core" process) of the banking business. As a matter of fact, since the issue of the capital requirement regulation (i.e., Basel II and Basel III), and the introduction of the use requirements for the rating systems, the regulator moved very close, but not yet, to prescribe specific credit assessment criteria, while dictating methodological and organizational requirements for the authorization of the rating systems, and leaving substantial freedom to banks to define their own models and embedded assessment criteria and indicators. With the GL LOM, the regulator takes a further step, remarkably beyond its traditional remit, dictating principles and rules for the evaluation of the credit quality of borrowers. The starting point for this new approach from the regulator can be found in the ECB guidelines on Non-Performing Loans, later endorsed by the Bank of Italy Guidelines for Less Significant Banks, aimed at encouraging banks to define their NPL management processes and establish reduction plans to achieve NPL ratio targets in line with the regulator's expectations. Consistently with the focus on NPL, the regulation on Calendar Provisioning, amending the CRR was issued; as being a Regulation, it involves all banks, and not only significant ones (for which the ECB Addendum also applies). In addition, the new definition of default (the so-called "new Dod") has defined stricter criteria for the transition of exposures to the default status and also made the return of "cured" exposures to the performing status more difficult. The combined effect of these regulatory changes has been to make the default of counterparties not only more probable but also much more "expensive" for the banks. The natural “next step” of these regulatory changes was to "move backward" into the management process covering loan origination and monitoring . The EBA's stated objective with the issuance of the GL LOM is to define "robust and prudent" standards of lending practices so as to maintain a low level of NPLs in the future. Therefore, the focus of the GL LOM is the definition of requirements (some outlined as prescriptions, others in terms of principles) for the creditworthiness assessment of counterparties and for the management of the related data and information. Notwithstanding the fact that the Final Report has articulated the principle of proportionality much more clearly as compared to the Consultation Paper, the GLs set out three macro-categories of counterparties for which specific requirements are defined: • Individuals • Micro and small businesses • Medium and large companies. The GL LOM also provide recommendations about the valuation of guarantees both at origination and during ongoing monitoring, encouraging the use of advanced statistical models. The GL LOM focus on real estate guarantees, while financial collateral is outside the scope of the GL LOM. In the mind of the regulator, the GL LOM should not only reflect industry practices, but also incorporate the latest supervisory guidance on lending, and provide the stimulus to include ESG, AML/CTF and the use of innovative technologies into banking origination and, where applicable, monitoring processes.

Children's Nurses require excellent clinical skills to provide high quality care to children and young people across a range of different ages. After the first year of their training, children's nursing students must master skills of increasing complexity whilst developing clinical judgement and confidence. Therefore, it is vital that links are made to children's biology and development, family needs, legal issues and problem solving but until now, it has been hard to find all this in one place. Clinical Skills for Children's Nursing is designed for children's and general nursing students in second year onwards to facilitate the transition from closely supervised beginners, to qualified professionals. By clearly explaining essential principles, evidence and special considerations, this text helps students to build up their confidence, not just in performing skills, but also in decision-making in readiness for registration and beyond. Step-by-step guides to performing core and advanced procedures are presented in tables for easy comprehension and revision, illustrated by photographs and drawings. Each skill draws on the available evidence base, which is updated regularly on the accompanying Online Resource Centre. Uniquely, this text develops students' critical thinking skills and ability to deliver child centred care by providing clear links to anatomical, physiological and child development milestones as well as regular nursing alerts which help prevent readers from making common mistakes. Clearly reflecting the Nursing and Midwifery Council's Essential Skills Clusters for registration and beyond, Clinical Skills for Children's Nursing is designed to support student nurses develop into competent practitioners. Supported by a dedicated Online Resource Centre with up-to-date evidence, realistic scenarios, and a wealth of other tools. On the Online Resource Centre: For registered lecturers and mentors: - Figures from the book, ready to download and use in teaching material For students: - Evidence, guidelines and protocols, reviewed and updated every 6 months - Over 40 interactive scenarios - Active web links provide a gateway to the articles cited in the book - Flashcard glossary to help learn key terms

The monograph reflects the problems of Russian psycholinguistics from the moment of its inception in Russia to the present day and presents its main directions that are currently developing. In addition, theoretical developments and practical results obtained in the framework of different directions and research centers are described in a concise form. The task of the book is to reflect, as far as it is possible in one edition, firstly, the history of the formation of Russian psycholinguistics; secondly, its methodology and developed methods; thirdly, the results obtained in different research centers and directions in different regions of Russia; fourthly, to outline the main directions of the further development of Russian psycholinguistics. There is no doubt that in the theoretical, methodological and applied aspects, the main problems and the results of their development by Russian psycholinguistics have no analogues in world linguistics and psycholinguistics, or are represented by completely original concepts and methods. We have tried to show this uniqueness of the problematics and the methodological equipment of Russian psycholinguistics in this book. The main role in the formation of Russian psycholinguistics was played by the Moscow psycholinguistic school of A.A. Leontyev. It still defines the main directions of Russian psycholinguistics. Russian psycholinguistics (the theory of speech activity - TSA) is based on the achievements of Russian psychology: a cultural-historical approach to the analysis of mental phenomena L.S. Vygotsky and the system-activity approach of A.N. Leontyev. Moscow is the most "psycholinguistic region" of Russia - INL RAS, Moscow State University, Moscow State Linguistic University, RUDN, Moscow State Pedagogical University, Moscow State Pedagogical University, Sechenov University, Moscow State University and other Moscow universities. Saint Petersburg psycholinguists have significant achievements, especially in the study of neurolinguistic problems, ontolinguistics. The most important feature of Russian psycholinguistics is the widespread development of psycholinguistics in the regions, the emergence of recognized psycholinguistic research centers - St. Petersburg, Tver, Saratov, Perm, Ufa, Omsk, Novosibirsk, Voronezh, Yekaterinburg, Kursk, Chelyabinsk; psycholinguistics is represented in Cherepovets, Ivanovo, Volgograd, Vyatka, Kaluga, Krasnoyarsk, Irkutsk, Vladivostok, Abakan, Maikop, Barnaul, Ulan-Ude, Yakutsk, Syktyvkar, Armavir and other cities; in Belarus - Minsk, in Ukraine - Lvov, Chernivtsi, Kharkov, in the DPR - Donetsk, in Kazakhstan - Alma-Ata, Chimkent. Our researchers work in Bulgaria, Hungary, Vietnam, China, France, Switzerland. There are Russian psycholinguists in Canada, USA, Israel, Austria and a number of other countries. All scientists from these regions and countries have contributed to the development of Russian psycholinguistics, to the development of psycholinguistic theory and methods of psycholinguistic research. Their participation has not been forgotten. We tried to present the main Russian psycholinguists in the Appendix - in the sections "Scientometrics", "Monographs and Manuals" and "Dissertations", even if there is no information about them in the Electronic Library and RSCI. The principles of including scientists in the scientometric list are presented in the Appendix. Our analysis of the content of the resulting monograph on psycholinguistic research in Russia allows us to draw preliminary conclusions about some of the distinctive features of Russian psycholinguistics: 1. cultural-historical approach to the analysis of mental phenomena of L.S.Vygotsky and the system-activity approach of A.N. Leontiev as methodological basis of Russian psycholinguistics; 2. theoretical nature of psycholinguistic research as a characteristic feature of Russian psycholinguistics. Our psycholinguistics has always built a general theory of the generation and perception of speech, mental vocabulary, linked specific research with the problems of ontogenesis, the relationship between language and thinking; 3. psycholinguistic studies of speech communication as an important subject of psycholinguistics; 4. attention to the psycholinguistic analysis of the text and the development of methods for such analysis; 5. active research into the ontogenesis of linguistic ability; 6. investigation of linguistic consciousness as one of the important subjects of psycholinguistics; 7. understanding the need to create associative dictionaries of different types as the most important practical task of psycholinguistics; 8. widespread use of psycholinguistic methods for applied purposes, active development of applied psycholinguistics. The review of the main directions of development of Russian psycholinguistics, carried out in this monograph, clearly shows that the direction associated with the study of linguistic consciousness is currently being most intensively developed in modern Russian psycholinguistics. As the practice of many years of psycholinguistic research in our country shows, the subject of study of psycholinguists is precisely linguistic consciousness - this is a part of human consciousness that is responsible for generating, understanding speech and keeping language in consciousness. Associative experiments are the core of most psycholinguistic techniques and are important both theoretically and practically. The following main areas of practical application of the results of associative experiments can be outlined. 1. Education. Associative experiments are the basis for constructing Mind Maps, one of the most promising tools for systematizing knowledge, assessing the quality, volume and nature of declarative knowledge (and using special techniques and skills). Methods based on smart maps are already widely used in teaching foreign languages, fast and deep immersion in various subject areas. 2. Information search, search optimization. The results of associative experiments can significantly improve the quality of information retrieval, its efficiency, as well as adaptability for a specific person (social group). When promoting sites (promoting them in search results), an associative experiment allows you to increase and improve the quality of the audience reached. 3. Translation studies, translation automation. An associative experiment can significantly improve the quality of translation, take into account intercultural and other social characteristics of native speakers. 4. Computational linguistics and automatic word processing. The results of associative experiments make it possible to reveal the features of a person's linguistic consciousness and contribute to the development of automatic text processing systems in a wide range of applications of natural language interfaces of computer programs and robotic solutions. 5. Advertising. The use of data on associations for specific words, slogans and texts allows you to predict and improve advertising texts. 6. Social relationships. The analysis of texts using the data of associative experiments makes it possible to assess the tonality of messages (negative / positive moods, aggression and other characteristics) based on user comments on the Internet and social networks, in the press in various projections (by individuals, events, organizations, etc.) from various social angles, to diagnose the formation of extremist ideas. 7. Content control and protection of personal data. Associative experiments improve the quality of content detection and filtering by identifying associative fields in areas subject to age restrictions, personal information, tobacco and alcohol advertising, incitement to ethnic hatred, etc. 8. Gender and individual differences. The data of associative experiments can be used to compare the reactions (and, in general, other features of thinking) between men and women, different social and age groups, representatives of different regions. The directions for the further development of Russian psycholinguistics from the standpoint of the current state of psycholinguistic science in the country are seen by us, first of all:  in the development of research in various areas of linguistic consciousness, which will contribute to the development of an important concept of speech as a verbal model of non-linguistic consciousness, in which knowledge revealed by social practice and assigned by each member of society during its inculturation is consolidated for society and on its behalf;  in the expansion of the problematics, which is formed under the influence of the growing intercultural communication in the world community, which inevitably involves the speech behavior of natural and artificial bilinguals in the new object area of psycholinguistics;  in using the capabilities of national linguistic corpora in the interests of researchers studying the functioning of non-linguistic and linguistic consciousness in speech processes;  in expanding research on the semantic perception of multimodal texts, the scope of which has greatly expanded in connection with the spread of the Internet as a means of communication in the life of modern society;  in the inclusion of the problems of professional communication and professional activity in the object area of psycholinguistics in connection with the introduction of information technologies into public practice, entailing the emergence of new professions and new features of the professional ethos;  in the further development of the theory of the mental lexicon (identifying the role of different types of knowledge in its formation and functioning, the role of the word as a unit of the mental lexicon in the formation of the image of the world, as well as the role of the natural / internal metalanguage and its specificity in speech activity);  in the broad development of associative lexicography, which will meet the most diverse needs of society and cognitive sciences. The development of associative lexicography may lead to the emergence of such disciplines as associative typology, associative variantology, associative axiology;  in expanding the spheres of applied use of psycholinguistics in social sciences, sociology, semasiology, lexicography, in the study of the brain, linguodidactics, medicine, etc. This book is a kind of summarizing result of the development of Russian psycholinguistics today. Each section provides a bibliography of studies on the relevant issue. The Appendix contains the scientometrics of leading Russian psycholinguists, basic monographs, psycholinguistic textbooks and dissertations defended in psycholinguistics. The content of the publications presented here is convincing evidence of the relevance of psycholinguistic topics and the effectiveness of the development of psycholinguistic problems in Russia.

Management of Sjögren's syndrome (SS) encompasses confirmation of diagnosis, disease assessment, and treatment of glandular and systemic manifestations including special situations such as pregnancy and SS-related lymphoma. The American European Consensus Group classification criteria 2002 are the current gold standard for the diagnosis of SS. Salivary gland sialometry, sialochemistry, and ultrasound and tear osmolarity may be useful adjuncts. Symptoms of SS are non-specific and must be actively explored. When assessing patients with SS, it is important to consider not only objective parameters such as abnormalities in blood tests and changes in tear and salivary flow, but also patient-reported outcome measures and impact on quality of life. Current management of patients with SS is hampered by the lack of evidence-based strategies. The symptoms experienced by patients with SS are often not fully appreciated by clinicians, which may contribute to the suboptimal management of the condition. Management of fatigue remains a major challenge and a holistic, multidisciplinary approach is recommended. Factors that may contribute to fatigue should be fully addressed. Recent advances in the understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms of SS have informed more targeted therapeutic strategies with some promising data. Optimal management of SS requires expertise from different disciplines. Combined clinics with rheumatology, oral medicine, and ophthalmology input will improve care and communications as well as reduce the number of clinic visits for patients and healthcare-related cost. Effective link between pSS specialists, dentists, opticians, and general practitioners will facilitate early diagnosis and reduce risk of long-term disability of SS.

Management of Sjögren’s syndrome (SS) encompasses confirmation of diagnosis, disease assessment, and treatment of glandular and systemic manifestations including special situations such as pregnancy and SS-related lymphoma. The American European Consensus Group (AECG) classification criteria 2002 are the current gold standard for the diagnosis of SS. Salivary gland sialometry, sialochemistry, and ultrasound and tear osmolarity may be useful adjuncts. Recently, preliminary classification criteria of the American College of Rheumatology have been introduced as an alternative to the AECG criteria. Symptoms of SS are non-specific and must be actively explored. When assessing patients with SS, it is important to consider not only objective parameters such as abnormalities in blood tests and changes in tear and salivary flow, but also patient-reported outcome measures and impact on quality of life. Current management of patients with SS is hampered by the lack of evidence-based strategies. The symptoms experienced by patients with SS are often not fully appreciated by clinicians, which may contribute to the suboptimal management of the condition. Management of fatigue remains a major challenge and a holistic, multidisciplinary approach is recommended. Factors that may contribute to fatigue should be fully addressed. Recent advances in the understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms of SS have informed more targeted therapeutic strategies with some promising data. Optimal management of SS requires expertise from different disciplines. Combined clinics with rheumatology, oral medicine, and ophthalmology input will improve care and communications as well as reduce the number of clinic visits for patients and healthcare-related cost. Effective link between pSS specialists, dentists, opticians, and general practitioners will facilitate early diagnosis and reduce risk of long-term disability of SS.

This is the second edition of the first comprehensive textbook about the measurement and valuation of health benefits for economic evaluation. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and similar agencies around the word require cost-effectiveness evidence in the form of incremental cost per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) in order to make comparisons across competing demands on resources, and this has resulted in an explosion of theoretical and empirical work in the field. This book addresses the theoretical and practical considerations in the measurement and valuation of health benefit with empirical examples and applications to help clarify understanding and make relevant links to the real world. It includes a glossary of key terms and provides guidance on the use of different methods and instruments. This updated edition provides an-up-to date review of the theoretical basis of the QALY; the definition of health; the techniques of valuation (including ordinal); the modelling of health state values (including mapping between measures); a detailed review of generic preference-based measures and other instruments for obtaining health state utility values (with recent developments); cross-cultural issues (including the disability-adjusted life year); the aggregation of QALYs; and the practical issues surrounding the use of utility values in cost-effectiveness models. The book concludes with a discussion on the way forward in light of the substantial methodological differences, the role of normative judgements, and where further research is most likely to take forward this fascinating component of health economics.

Adult Nursing Practice: Using evidence in care enables today's students and newly qualified nurses develop the knowledge and skills they need to deliver, and lead care tomorrow. Reflecting the principles of evidence-based care in line with the current NMC competencies, this textbook helps students learn to manage patients with common conditions and fundamental health needs so they can provide the best possible evidence-based care. Written, and edited by leading nurses from practice, education and research, it focuses on common diseases, fundamental health needs, and symptoms that nurses' encounter in daily practice. Conditions are clearly explained so that the causes of ill health are easily understood. Every chapter covers pathophysiology, indicates the key priorities for nursing assessment, and discusses 'what the evidence says', before considering nursing management options. Throughout the authors' clear signposts to trustworthy evidence mean that students can effortlessly select the best nursing interventions for their patients using the current available evidence-base. The ideal guide for students preparing for registration and newly qualified staff going through preceptorship, it is packed with over 115 illustrations and lots of features to bring the subject to life and make learning easier: BLNursing assessment illustrations outline challenges caused by common diseases in a helpful and memorable way, highlighting issues that need assessment BLRed flag icons indicate the warning signs of deterioration and urgent questions are listed that can be used for assessment and monitoring BLCase studies of effective evidence-based interventions show the difference that high quality nursing care makes BLCross references between common conditions' causes and managing related health needs and symptoms develop understanding by clearly linking pathophysiology with nursing management options BLTheory into practice boxes further enhance learning through suggested activities, such as exploring key evidence, considering major practice issues or applying core knowledge while out on placement BLOnline resource centre at www.oxfordtextbooks.co.uk/orc/bullock http://www.oxfordtextbooks.co.uk/orc/bullock. Filled with interactive and useful e-learning resources to help students test their learning, keep up-to-date with the latest evidence and further expand their knowledge, it features: BLClinical decision making scenarios BLQuiz questions BLUpdates to content BLHyperlinked references BLimages from the book BLLecturer resources