The importance of compassion is widely recognized and it is receiving increasing research attention. Yet, there is lack of consensus on definition and a paucity of psychometrically robust measures of ...this construct. Without an agreed definition and adequate measures, we cannot study compassion, measure compassion or evaluate whether interventions designed to enhance compassion are effective. In response, this paper proposes a definition of compassion and offers a systematic review of self- and observer-rated measures. Following consolidation of existing definitions, we propose that compassion consists of five elements: recognizing suffering, understanding the universality of human suffering, feeling for the person suffering, tolerating uncomfortable feelings, and motivation to act/acting to alleviate suffering. Three databases were searched (Web of Science, PsycInfo, and Medline) and nine measures included and rated for quality. Quality ratings ranged from 2 to 7 out of 14 with low ratings due to poor internal consistency for subscales, insufficient evidence for factor structure and/or failure to examine floor/ceiling effects, test–retest reliability, and discriminant validity. We call our five-element definition, and if supported, the development of a measure of compassion based on this operational definition, and which demonstrates adequate psychometric properties.
•Compassion is recognized as important across many sectors of society.•There is lack of consensus on definition and few self/observer-rated measures exist.•Five elements of compassion are proposed after consolidating existing definitions.•The psychometric properties of measures could be improved, limiting their utility.•A new measure of compassion with robust psychometric properties is needed.
Due to their outstanding resolution and well-constrained chronologies, Greenland ice-core records provide a master record of past climatic changes throughout the Last Interglacial–Glacial cycle in ...the North Atlantic region. As part of the INTIMATE (INTegration of Ice-core, MArine and TErrestrial records) project, protocols have been proposed to ensure consistent and robust correlation between different records of past climate. A key element of these protocols has been the formal definition and ordinal numbering of the sequence of Greenland Stadials (GS) and Greenland Interstadials (GI) within the most recent glacial period. The GS and GI periods are the Greenland expressions of the characteristic Dansgaard–Oeschger events that represent cold and warm phases of the North Atlantic region, respectively. We present here a more detailed and extended GS/GI template for the whole of the Last Glacial period. It is based on a synchronization of the NGRIP, GRIP, and GISP2 ice-core records that allows the parallel analysis of all three records on a common time scale. The boundaries of the GS and GI periods are defined based on a combination of stable-oxygen isotope ratios of the ice (δ18O, reflecting mainly local temperature) and calcium ion concentrations (reflecting mainly atmospheric dust loading) measured in the ice. The data not only resolve the well-known sequence of Dansgaard–Oeschger events that were first defined and numbered in the ice-core records more than two decades ago, but also better resolve a number of short-lived climatic oscillations, some defined here for the first time. Using this revised scheme, we propose a consistent approach for discriminating and naming all the significant abrupt climatic events of the Last Glacial period that are represented in the Greenland ice records. The final product constitutes an extended and better resolved Greenland stratotype sequence, against which other proxy records can be compared and correlated. It also provides a more secure basis for investigating the dynamics and fundamental causes of these climatic perturbations.
In the late 1980s and 1990s, the advanced industrial countries considered replacing the existing analogue television infrastructure with a new digital one. A key common feature to the debates over ...digital TV (DTV) in the United States, Western Europe and Japan was the eventual victory of the ideas of digitalism (the superiority of everything digital over everything analogue) and of digital convergence (the merging of computing, telecommunications and broadcasting infrastructures made possible by digitalization) in public debates over standards. Jeffrey Hart's book shows how nationalism and regionalism combined with digitalism to produce three different and incompatible DTV standards in the three regions, an outcome which has led to missed opportunities in developing the new technologies. Hart's book contributes to our understanding of relations between business and government, and of competition between the world's great economic powers.
The terms ‘shoal’, ‘swarm’ and ‘school’ are very frequently used in research on collective behaviours in animals. Pitcher’s definitions are accepted as the authority in the field but are based on a ...conceptual criterion of sociability. Without call into question the basis of these definitions, they do not provide tools to determine these behaviours quantitatively. To compare studies between populations, species, taxa or different experimental treatments, and between different authors, quantitative references are necessary. Quantitative measurements of collective behaviours can also test and validate the predictive capacity of computer models by comparing real data from nature so that different models can be compared. The first part of this paper succinctly reviews the definitions and meanings of these behaviours, with particular attention paid to quantitative aspects. This review underlines a series of conceptual confusions concerning these behavioural terms observed in the scientific literature and oral scientific communications. The second part reviews the quantitative parameters developed by biologists studying collective fish behaviours, mainly fish shoals, and by theoretical biologists and physicists studying computer modelling of collective behaviours. The parameters reviewed herein make no attempt to explain the mechanisms and causes that create a shoal, a swarm or a school, but rather try to describe these collective behaviours, and to connect local and global properties with individual and collective behaviours. Recent development over the last decade in technology, data processing capacity, cameras, and video tracking tools have provided the opportunity to obtain quantitative measures of collective dynamic behaviours in animals both rapidly and precisely.
Summary
Postoperative ileus (POI) is an abnormal pattern of gastrointestinal motility characterized by nausea, vomiting, abdominal distension and/or delayed passage of flatus or stool, which may ...occur following surgery. Postoperative ileus slows recovery, increases the risk of developing postoperative complications and confers a significant financial load on healthcare institutions. The aim of the present review is to provide a succinct overview of the clinical features and pathophysiological mechanisms of POI, with final comment on selected directions for future research.Terminology used when describing POI is inconsistent, with little differentiation made between the obligatory period of gut dysfunction seen after surgery (‘normal POI’) and the more clinically and pathologically significant entity of a ‘prolonged POI’. Both normal and prolonged POI represent a fundamentally similar pathophysiological phenomenon. The aetiology of POI is postulated to be multifactorial, with principal mediators being inflammatory cell activation, autonomic dysfunction (both primarily and as part of the surgical stress response), agonism at gut opioid receptors, modulation of gastrointestinal hormone activity and electrolyte derangements. A final common pathway for these effectors is impaired contractility and motility and gut wall oedema. There are many potential directions for future research. In particular, there remains scope to accurately characterize the gastrointestinal dysfunction that underscores an ileus, development of an accurate risk stratification tool will facilitate early implementation of preventive measures and clinical appraisal of novel therapeutic strategies that target individual pathways in the pathogenesis of ileus warrant further investigation.
Psychological flexibility (PF) is a popular construct in clinical psychology. However, similar constructs have existed since the mid-20th century, resulting in different terms, definitions and ...measures of flexibility, hindering the advancement of the field. The main measure of PF – the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire (AAQ-II; Bond et al., 2011) – has also been heavily criticized. To move towards definitional consensus and improved measurement, we surveyed the literature to map PF and related-terms, examine definitional overlaps, and assessthe psychometric quality of prominent flexibility measures. A scoping review was conducted in two databases (PsycNET and SCOPUS). Twenty-three flexibility constructs appeared across 220 articles, and twelve measures were included and rated for quality. PF, psychological inflexibility (PI), and cognitive flexibility (CF) were most prominent. Definitional similarities among prominent flexibility constructs emerged, namely handling distress or interference, taking action, and meeting goals or values. The Personalized Psychological Flexibility Index (PPFI; Kashdan, Disabato, Goodman, Doorley, & McKnight, 2020) appears to be the best measure available to assess PF. Problems with the current use of the AAQ-II were apparent, hindering current knowledge of PF. Definitional consensus and measurement development are vital to advance the field. To this end, recommendations and next steps for researchers and practitioners are outlined.
•Psychological flexibility is seen as an important construct in clinical psychology.•There is a lack of definitional consensus and questionable measurement abounds.•We offer three aspects of psychological flexibility from consolidating definitions.•Popular measures are flawed, hindering our knowledge of psychological flexibility.•A better measure exists; definitional consensus and measure development is vital.
BACKGROUND:Low anterior resection syndrome is pragmatically defined as disordered bowel function after rectal resection leading to a detriment in quality of life. This broad characterization does not ...allow for precise estimates of prevalence. The low anterior resection syndrome score was designed as a simple tool for clinical evaluation of low anterior resection syndrome. Although the low anterior resection syndrome score has good clinical utility, it may not capture all important aspects that patients may experience.
OBJECTIVE:The aim of this collaboration was to develop an international consensus definition of low anterior resection syndrome that encompasses all aspects of the condition and is informed by all stakeholders.
DESIGN:This international patient-provider initiative used an online Delphi survey, regional patient consultation meetings, and an international consensus meeting.
PARTICIPANTS:Three expert groups participatedpatients, surgeons, and other health professionals from 5 regions (Australasia, Denmark, Spain, Great Britain and Ireland, and North America) and in 3 languages (English, Spanish, and Danish).
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE:The primary outcome measured was the priorities for the definition of low anterior resection syndrome.
RESULTS:Three hundred twenty-five participants (156 patients) registered. The response rates for successive rounds of the Delphi survey were 86%, 96%, and 99%. Eighteen priorities emerged from the Delphi survey. Patient consultation and consensus meetings refined these priorities to 8 symptoms and 8 consequences that capture essential aspects of the syndrome.
LIMITATIONS:Sampling bias may have been present, in particular, in the patient panel because social media was used extensively in recruitment. There was also dominance of the surgical panel at the final consensus meeting despite attempts to mitigate this.
CONCLUSIONS:This is the first definition of low anterior resection syndrome developed with direct input from a large international patient panel. The involvement of patients in all phases has ensured that the definition presented encompasses the vital aspects of the patient experience of low anterior resection syndrome. The novel separation of symptoms and consequences may enable greater sensitivity to detect changes in low anterior resection syndrome over time and with intervention.
Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), Mixed Reality, and Extended Reality (often – misleadingly – abbreviated as XR) are commonly used terms to describe how technologies generate or modify ...reality. However, academics and professionals have been inconsistent in their use of these terms. This has led to conceptual confusion and unclear demarcations. Inspired by prior research and qualitative insights from XR professionals, we discuss the meaning and definitions of various terms and organize them in our proposed framework. As a result, we conclude that (1) XR should not be used to connote extended reality, but as a more open approach where the X implies the unknown variable: xReality; (2) AR and VR have fundamental differences and thus should be treated as different experiences; (3) AR experiences can be described on a continuum ranging from assisted reality to mixed reality (based on the level of local presence); and (4), VR experiences can be conceptualized on a telepresence-continuum ranging from atomistic to holistic VR.
•XR should not be used as an abbreviation for “Extended Reality”; X should be the placeholder for “all” new reality formats.•AR and VR have fundamental differences and thus should be treated as different experiences.•AR experiences can be described on a LOCAL PRESENCE continuum ranging from Assisted Reality to Mixed Reality.•VR experiences can be conceptualized on a TELEPRESENCE-continuum ranging from atomistic to holistic VR.
Es wird gestritten und gerungen. Über Antisemitismusdefinitionen, deren gesetzliche Anwendung und deren potentiellen Missbrauch. Über Antisemitismus als Phänomen geht es in diesen Debatten kaum. Ich ...möchte erstens anregen, dass wir den Antisemitismusbegriff (auch) als Begriff im theoretischen Sinne verstehen sollten. Es soll sich zweitens zeigen, dass ein rassismuskritischer Ansatz nach Charles Mills für eine stärkere Einbeziehung jüdischer Erfahrungen bei der Begriffsbildung und darüber für ein weites Antisemitismusverständnis streitet. Durch eine klarere Trennung von Begriffs- und Anwendungsebene könnte – drittens – die vermeintliche Kollision von Antisemitismuskritik und Rassismuskritik jedenfalls in dieser Debatte vermieden werden, so die Hoffnung.
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