One of the key issues in the planning, construction and management of public service infrastructure is financing such infrastructure and ensuring its long-term reliability. For this purpose, it is ...necessary to establish effective asset management tools. The basis for the creation of such tools is relevant registers. In Slovenia, the technical register and fixed assets register of public service infrastructure both represent the same subject from different points of view, but they are usually not interconnected. Qualitative and quantitative analyses of both registers in 13 local communities in Slovenia were used to develop a decision model for the integration of the fixed assets register and the technical register of public service infrastructure. The proposed decision model will offer local communities one possible approach for connecting the technical register and fixed assets register of public service infrastructure. This will be the first step towards the establishment of effective asset management tools for managing public service infrastructure.
The rapid growth in the use of mobile phone applications (apps) provides the opportunity to increase access to evidence-based mental health care.
Our goal was to systematically review the research ...evidence supporting the efficacy of mental health apps for mobile devices (such as smartphones and tablets) for all ages.
A comprehensive literature search (2008-2013) in MEDLINE, Embase, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PsycINFO, PsycTESTS, Compendex, and Inspec was conducted. We included trials that examined the effects of mental health apps (for depression, anxiety, substance use, sleep disturbances, suicidal behavior, self-harm, psychotic disorders, eating disorders, stress, and gambling) delivered on mobile devices with a pre- to posttest design or compared with a control group. The control group could consist of wait list, treatment-as-usual, or another recognized treatment.
In total, 5464 abstracts were identified. Of those, 8 papers describing 5 apps targeting depression, anxiety, and substance abuse met the inclusion criteria. Four apps provided support from a mental health professional. Results showed significant reductions in depression, stress, and substance use. Within-group and between-group intention-to-treat effect sizes ranged from 0.29-2.28 and 0.01-0.48 at posttest and follow-up, respectively.
Mental health apps have the potential to be effective and may significantly improve treatment accessibility. However, the majority of apps that are currently available lack scientific evidence about their efficacy. The public needs to be educated on how to identify the few evidence-based mental health apps available in the public domain to date. Further rigorous research is required to develop and test evidence-based programs. Given the small number of studies and participants included in this review, the high risk of bias, and unknown efficacy of long-term follow-up, current findings should be interpreted with caution, pending replication. Two of the 5 evidence-based mental health apps are currently commercially available in app stores.
El desafio de la busqueda de las personas victimas de desaparicion forzada comprende usualmente el de la recuperacion de la identidad de los restos que logran ser hallados. Este trabajo releva la ...dimension juridica de la identificacion y su calidad de decision acerca de la prueba de un hecho, que puede ser analizada con las herramientas conceptuales de la teoria de la prueba juridica. Sobre esa base, se aborda la pregunta sobre el estandar de prueba aplicable y se ofrece un analisis basado en la experiencia chilena reciente, en la que se ha tendido a consolidar la prueba positiva de ADN como una suerte de golden standard, exclusivo y excluyente, para la identificacion. A menudo, sin embargo, ese resultado no se puede alcanzar por deterioro del ADN en las muestras de restos obtenidos, por la escasez de las muestras dada la practica de exhumaciones clandestinas o por falta de muestras de parientes para comparacion. El trabajo explora las preguntas que se abren entonces, tanto respecto de la posibilidad de que otra clase de pruebas forenses sean aceptables y suficientes como sobre el trato que se debe dar a los restos cuya identificacion no resulta actualmente posible.
Despite widespread scientific and popular interest in mindfulness-based interventions, questions regarding the empirical status of these treatments remain. We sought to examine the efficacy of ...mindfulness-based interventions for clinical populations on disorder-specific symptoms. To address the question of relative efficacy, we coded the strength of the comparison group into five categories: no treatment, minimal treatment, non-specific active control, specific active control, and evidence-based treatment. A total of 142 non-overlapping samples and 12,005 participants were included. At post-treatment, mindfulness-based interventions were superior to no treatment (d=0.55), minimal treatment (d=0.37), non-specific active controls (d=0.35), and specific active controls (d=0.23). Mindfulness conditions did not differ from evidence-based treatments (d=−0.004). At follow-up, mindfulness-based interventions were superior to no treatment conditions (d=0.50), non-specific active controls (d=0.52), and specific active controls (d=0.29). Mindfulness conditions did not differ from minimal treatment conditions (d=0.38) and evidence-based treatments (d=0.09). Effects on specific disorder subgroups showed the most consistent evidence in support of mindfulness for depression, pain conditions, smoking, and addictive disorders. Results support the notion that mindfulness-based interventions hold promise as evidence-based treatments.
•We examined the relative efficacy of mindfulness-based interventions on clinical symptoms of psychiatric disorders.•142 randomized clinical trials were included (N=12,005 participants). Control conditions were coded on a five-tier system.•At post-treatment, mindfulness interventions were equivalent to evidence-based treatments and superior to other comparisons.•At follow-up, mindfulness interventions were equivalent to minimal and evidence-based treatments and superior to others.•The most consistent evidence for mindfulness-based interventions was seen for depression, pain, smoking, and addictions.
When Archie Cochrane reproached the medical profession for not having critical summaries of all randomised controlled trials, about 14 reports of trials were being published per day. There are now 75 ...trials, and 11 systematic reviews of trials, per day and a plateau in growth has not yet been reached. Although trials, reviews, and health technology assessments have undoubtedly had major impacts, the staple of medical literature synthesis remains the non-systematic narrative review. Only a small minority of trial reports are being analysed in up-to-date systematic reviews. Given the constraints, Archie Cochrane's vision will not be achieved without some serious changes in course. To meet the needs of patients, clinicians, and policymakers, unnecessary trials need to be reduced, and systematic reviews need to be prioritised. Streamlining and innovation in methods of systematic reviewing are necessary to enable valid answers to be found for most patient questions. Finally, clinicians and patients require open access to these important resources.
Purpose To analyze the process of evaluation of electronic evidence in the civil sphere in Colombian legislation, from the differential point of view of documentary evidence, taking in account the ...particular technical elements of this means of evidence. Methodology This is a critical doctrinal type research, by contrasting the legal norms that regulate the issue of assessment, with the doctrinal trends that explain the process of evidentiary assessment academically, all applied in parallel to the value judgment that must be made by the civil case judge regarding documentary evidence and electronic evidence in order to establish the differences between both means of evidence and more precisely regarding their judicial assessment, to determine the differential implications of a Correct evaluation exercise of the electronic evidence and its repercussion in the judicial decision as the culmination of the jurisdictional activity. Findings The process of evidentiary evaluation is of special importance in the judicial process, since it follows the conviction of the judge of the case regarding the facts of the process, from which the rule of trial is structured; Hence, the evaluation of the electronic evidence implies a differential and particularized process in technical terms, which differs from the evaluation of the documentary evidence, in order to correctly bring to the process the representation of the facts contained in electronic media, which entails the urgent need for basic training of the judge in matters of computer evidence, since the rules of sound criticism and the free assessment of evidence as a standard of evidence, must be added with the assessment of technical and methodological aspects of this means of evidence, whose parameters are established in this investigation. Keywords: Evidentiary Assessment. Documentary Proof. Electronic Proof. Assessment of Electronic Proof. Judicial Decision. Proposito Analizar el proceso de valoracion de la prueba electronica en el ambito civil en la legislacion colombiana, desde la optica diferencial de la prueba documental, observando los elementos tecnicos particulares de este medio de prueba. Metodologia Esta investigacion es de tipo doctrinal critica, a traves de la contrastacion de las normas legales que regulan la valoracion con las tendencias doctrinales que explican el proceso de la valoracion probatoria, todo ello aplicado en paralelo al juicio de valor que debe efectuar el juez de la causa civil respecto de la prueba documental y de la prueba electronica, con el fin de establecer las diferencias entre ambos medios de prueba y, mas precisamente, respecto de su valoracion judicial, para determinar las implicaciones diferenciales que conlleva un correcto ejercicio de valoracion de la prueba electronica y su repercusion en la decision judicial como culmen de la actividad jurisdiccional. Resultados El proceso de valoracion probatoria reviste una trascendencia especial en el proceso judicial, pues de alli se desprende la conviccion del juez de la causa respecto de los hechos del proceso, de donde se estructura la regla de juicio; de alli que la valoracion de la prueba electronica implique un proceso diferencial y particularizado en terminos tecnicos, que difiere de la valoracion de la prueba documental, en aras de llevar al proceso en forma correcta la representacion de los hechos contenidos en medios electronicos, lo cual implica la imperiosa necesidad de la formacion basica del juez en temas de prueba informatica, pues a las reglas de la sana critica y la libre valoracion de la prueba, como el estandar de prueba, se debe adicionar la valoracion de aspectos tecnicos y metodologicos de este medio de prueba, cuyos parametros se establecen en esta investigacion. Palabras Clave: Valoracion Probatoria. Prueba Documental. Prueba Electronica. Valoracion De La Prueba Electronica. Decision Judicial.
Purpose To analyze the process of evaluation of electronic evidence in the civil sphere in Colombian legislation, from the differential point of view of documentary evidence, taking in account the ...particular technical elements of this means of evidence.
Abstract GRADE suggests that examination of 95% confidence intervals (CIs) provides the optimal primary approach to decisions regarding imprecision. For practice guidelines, rating down the quality ...of evidence (i.e., confidence in estimates of effect) is required if clinical action would differ if the upper versus the lower boundary of the CI represented the truth. An exception to this rule occurs when an effect is large, and consideration of CIs alone suggests a robust effect, but the total sample size is not large and the number of events is small. Under these circumstances, one should consider rating down for imprecision. To inform this decision, one can calculate the number of patients required for an adequately powered individual trial (termed the “optimal information size” OIS). For continuous variables, we suggest a similar process, initially considering the upper and lower limits of the CI, and subsequently calculating an OIS. Systematic reviews require a somewhat different approach. If the 95% CI excludes a relative risk (RR) of 1.0, and the total number of events or patients exceeds the OIS criterion, precision is adequate. If the 95% CI includes appreciable benefit or harm (we suggest an RR of under 0.75 or over 1.25 as a rough guide) rating down for imprecision may be appropriate even if OIS criteria are met.
This article aims to study, from an epistemological point of view, the relevance of the final part of article 206 of the Brazilian Criminal Procedure Code, given that, after pointing out the duty to ...testify, it allows people who have blood ties with the accused to refuse to testify. Further on, however, it imposes their testimony when necessary. This article is structured in the search for truth through evidence, notably testimonial, because in the criminal process a past event, with penal relevance, is reconstructed in order to arrive at the guilt or innocence of the accused. Thus, the relevance of the final part of the article above is discussed for this purpose.
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