Child, parent, and service predictors of psychotropic polypharmacy among adolescents and young adults with an autism spectrum disorder

Objectives: This study examined the child, parent, and service factors associated with polypharmacy in adolescents and young adults with ASD. Methods: As part of an online survey examining health service utilization patterns among individuals with ASD, parents provided demographic and clinical information pertaining to their child. This included information on current medication use, as well as information on clinical services received, clinical history, and parent wellbeing. Analyses examined the bivariate association between individual child, parent, and service variables and polypharmacy. Variables significantly associated with polypharmacy were included in a multiple variable logistic regression. Results: Of the 363 participants sampled, approximately one quarter were receiving two or more psychotropic drugs concurrently. The child’s psychiatric co-morbidity, history of hurting others, therapy use, and parent burden were predictors of polypharmacy. Conclusion: Adolescents and young adults with ASD are a highly medicated population with multiple factors associated with psychotropic polypharmacy. While there may be circumstances where polypharmacy is necessary, a richer understanding of what predicts polypharmacy may lead to targeted interventions to better support these individuals and their families. Findings also highlight the need to support families of children with ASD prescribed multiple psychotropic medications.The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (funding reference number 102677) and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Postdoctoral Fellowship Award

O gesto e a guitarra clássica: prolegomena para novos paradigmas

En esta tesis se argumenta que la pedagogía y práctica tradicional de la guitarra clásica ha seguido un enfoque prescriptivo-mecanicista: prescriptivo puesto que los conceptos teóricos y las instrucciones procedimentales tienden a tratarse como normas universales; y mecanicista, en el sentido en que la coordinación motriz asociada con la práctica instrumental es frecuentemente comprendida y expresada en términos de la metáfora conceptual “humanomáquina”. Tras explorar implicaciones e inconvenientes de dicho enfoque, se propone considerar un modelo basado en el gesto como fenómeno holístico, con componentes perceptivos, afectivos, cognitivos y cinéticos que interactúan entre sí y que no existen por separado. Para ello se exploran y discuten dominios transdisciplinares del conocimiento como ciencias cognitivas, teorías sistémicas, teorías del aprendizaje y control motor, filosofía, ciencias del deporte y el Método Feldenkrais. Posteriormente se elabora un análisis crítico de los métodos y tratados canónicos de la guitarra clásica publicados durante el siglo XX, en los que se refleja un enfoque prescriptivo-mecanicista, contrastando ejemplos específicos de la literatura del instrumento con evidencia teórica y empírica abordada a lo largo de la tesis. Finalmente, se presenta un complemento fenomenológico y heurístico, acompañado de material audiovisual, donde el autor describe un proceso personal de transformación psicofísica en el que transitó de un paradigma mecanicista a un paradigma de orientación holística.Nesta tese argumenta-se que a pedagogia e prática tradicional da guitarra clássica tem seguido uma abordagem prescritivo-mecanicista: prescritiva, uma vez que conceitos teóricos e instruções procedimentais tendem a ser tratados como normas universais; e mecanicista, no sentido em que a coordenação motora associada à prática instrumental é freqüentemente entendida e expressa em termos da metáfora conceptual "homem-máquina". Após explorar as implicações e desvantagens dessa abordagem, propõe-se considerar um modelo baseado no gesto como um fenômeno holístico, com componentes perceptivos, afetivos, cognitivos e cinéticos que interagem entre si e não existem separadamente. Para isso, domínios transdisciplinares do conhecimento, como ciências cognitivas, teorias sistémicas, teorias de aprendizagem e controlo motor, filosofia, ciências do desporto e o Método Feldenkrais, são explorados e discutidos. Posteriormente, é elaborada uma análise crítica dos métodos e tratados canónicos da guitarra clássica publicados durante o século XX, nos quais se reflete uma abordagem prescritivo-mecanicista, contrastando exemplos específicos da literatura do instrumento com evidências teóricas e empíricas da tese. Finalmente, é apresentado um complemento fenomenológico e heurístico, acompanhado de material audiovisual, onde o autor descreve um processo pessoal de transformação psicofísica, transitando de um paradigma mecanicista para um paradigma de orientação holística.In this thesis it is argued that the traditional pedagogy and practice of the classical guitar has followed an approach that is prescriptive-mechanistic: prescriptive since theoretical concepts and procedural instructions tend to be treated as universal norms; and mechanistic, in the sense that the motor coordination associated with instrumental practice is frequently understood and expressed in terms of the "human-machine" conceptual metaphor. After exploring the implications and disadvantages of this approach, it is proposed to consider a model based on the gesture as a holistic phenomenon, with perceptive, affective, cognitive and kinetic components that interact with each other and do not exist separately. For that purpose, transdisciplinary domains such as cognitive sciences, systemic theories, motor control and learning theories, philosophy, sports sciences and the Feldenkrais Method are explored and discussed. Subsequently, a critical analysis of the canonical methods and treatises of the classical guitar published during the 20th century, which reflect a prescriptive-mechanistic approach, is elaborated, contrasting specific examples of the instrument’s literature with theoretical and empirical evidence addressed throughout the thesis. Finally, a phenomenological and heuristic complement –coupled with audiovisual material- is presented, in which the author describes a personal process of psycho-physical transformation from a mechanistic paradigm to one with a holistic approach.Programa Doutoral em Músic

Prescriptive approach to instrumental music education. A critical thought

Si bien en el papel los modelos de enseñanza instrumental han ido migrando paulatinamente hacia una perspectiva constructivista y ecológica; en la práctica, la pedagogía tradicional de instrumentos musicales frecuentemente conserva un enfoque de corte prescriptivo-mecanicista. Prescriptivo porque conceptos, teorías y procedimientos tienden a tratarse como normas universales o verdades absolutas, y mecanicista, en el sentido en que el funcionamiento del cuerpo humano es comprendido y expresado en términos de la metáfora conceptual humano-máquina. Con base en argumentos fundamentados en distintos dominios del saber, como filosofía, ciencias cognitivas, aprendizaje motor y teoría de los sistemas dinámicos, en este artículo se exploran críticamente implicaciones y desventajas de dicho enfoque.Even though models for instrumental teaching have at least on paper been gradually moving towards a constructivist and ecological perspective; in practice, instrumental pedagogy often retains a prescriptive-mechanistic approach. Prescriptive since concepts, theories, and procedures tend to be treated as universal norms or absolute truths, and mechanistic, in the sense that the performance of the human body is understood and expressed in terms of the human-machine conceptual metaphor. Based on substantiated arguments from different domains, such as philosophy, cognitive sciences, motor learning and dynamic systems theory; in this article the implications and disadvantages of this approach are critically explored.Sociedad Argentina para las Ciencias Cognitivas de la Músic

Detection of Algerian Honey Adulteration by Raman Spectroscopy and Chemometrics Methods

Honey is one of the most popular foods in Algeria. This study, Raman spectroscopy combined with chemometrics methods: - principal component analysis (PCA), - hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) was used to achieve the identification and detection of pure and adulterated honeys. Thus, 16 samples of authentic Algerian honey samples taken in different geographical locations from west and south-west of Algeria and 72 of adulterated samples were each mixed with authentic honey samples in the following ratios: 1: 20 (5%), 1:10 (10%), 1:5 (20%), 1:3 (30%), 1:2.5 (40%) and 1:2 (50%) and fructose, glucose, sucrose and syrup were analyzed. PCA and HCA were successfully used to process spectral data for discrimination of pure honey and adulterated honey, so we showed a successful separation between pure and adulterated honey. We observed clearly three clusters (A: pure honeys, B: adulterated honeys, C: adulterants (Glucose (G), Fructose (F), sucrose (S)). Raman spectroscopy was efficient in discrimination of honey using PCA and HCA. The PC1-PC2 plane, which accounts for 98.34 % of total variance could be sufficient to distinguish authentic honeys. The proposed methods based on Raman spectra have important utility for food safety and quality control of honey products

Enfoque prescriptivo de la educación musical instrumental

Si bien en el papel los modelos de enseñanza instrumental han ido migrando paulatinamente hacia una perspectiva de corte constructivista y ecológica, la pedagogía tradicional de enfoque prescriptivo permanece vigente en las aulas de música. En esta, conceptos, teorías y procedimientos tienden a tratarse como normas universales o verdades absolutas. Teniendo como referente las ideas de  Michael Polanyi sobre conocimiento tácito, en este artículo se analizan y discuten críticamente implicaciones del enfoque prescriptivo característico del modelo tradicional de enseñanza musical

A Review of The Importance of Entrepreneurial Marketing for Small and Medium Enterprises

The purpose of this paper is to review the impact of entrepreneurial approaches to marketing activities in Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). Due to scarce resources and limited market knowledge, scholars suggest that SMEs cannot follow conventional marketing activities. Drawing on earlier research this paper analyses the characteristics and existence of marketing activities that ensure the survival and growth of entrepreneurial ventures. The research was instrumented by using five previous qualitative studies in entrepreneurial and marketing activities. The analysis of the results conclude that successful entrepreneurs undertake unconventional marketing approaches. In addition, the studies provide enough evidence that entrepreneurial marketing is driven by networking and represent an essential tool for SMEs

IMEurope Marketing Plan

Nowadays in modern business-to-business (b2b) markets, developing marketing communications has become one of the key factors. Specially, if the firm is small and unknown in the market and is facing a highly competitive environment. Therefore it becomes essential to build a company image and increase awareness in the minds of their interest groups. The objective of this paper is to create an effective marketing communications plan for a British company called “Inventory Management Europe Ltd” (IMEurope), which aims to extend the contracts of computer parts to £150K per month and to extend the scraping business to £125K per month. Currently, IMEurope does not carry out any formal marketing plan, thus the purpose of this paper is to provide an insightful preliminary plan that can be developed and eventually executed. This marketing plan is an opportunity to assess the key marketing activities that IMEurope should deploy in their aim to acquire new customers, build stronger ties with the existing ones and boost the company’s image within the British and International Computer Service industry

Cezayir, Bejaia'daki mezbaha verilerine dayanan tüberküloz hakkında i̇lk rapor: Geriye dönük 10 yıllık bir araştırma

Tuberculosis (TB) is a widespread and endemic disease of ruminants in Algeria posing a significant threat to public health. A retrospective abattoir study was conducted in Bejaia province (Algeria) from 2009 to 2018 to estimate the prevalence of tuberculosis in cattle, sheep, and goats using detailed meat inspection procedure. The overall prevalence of tuberculosis was 2.06% (4092/199 077) in cattle, 0.007% (11/168 796) in sheep, and 0.008% (11/164 986) in goats. The annual prevalence rate of the disease showed intermittent increase in levels over the ten years period of the study. However, monthly fluctuations of tuberculous lesions in slaughtered cattle were recorded throughout the study period with detection rates ranging from 1.77% and 2.36%. In addition, the variation in seasonal prevalence in cattle and goats is not significant (P > 0.05). Our analysis has revealed the magnitude of TB in the study area and warrants further systematic investigation on the transmission of the disease in Algeria.Tüberküloz (TB), Cezayir'de halk sağlığı için önemli bir tehdit oluşturan ruminantların yaygın ve endemik bir hastalığıdır. Bejaia'da (Cezayir) sığır eti, koyun ve keçilerde tüberküloz prevalansının ayrıntılı bir et muayene prosedürü kullanılarak tahmin edilmesi için geriye dönük bir mezbaha çalışması yapılmıştır. Tüberküloz prevalansı sığırlarda % 2.06 (2.092/199 077), koyunlarda % 0.007 (11/168 796) ve keçilerde % 0.008 (11/164 986) idi. Hastalığın yıllık yaygınlık oranı, çalışmanın on yıllık dönemi boyunca aralıklarla artmıştır. Ancak, kesilen sığırlarda aylık tüberküloz lezyonlarındaki dalgalanmalar, çalışma süresi boyunca % 1.77 ile % 2.36 arasında değişen tespit oranlarında kaydedilmiştir. Ayrıca sığır ve keçilerde mevsimsel prevalanstaki değişiklik anlamlı değildir (P> 0.05). Analizimiz, çalışma alanındaki TB'nin büyüklüğünü ortaya çıkarmıştır ve Cezayir'de hastalığın bulaşmasına ilişkin daha fazla sistematik araştırmayı garanti etmektedir