Value Theory for Virtue Ethics: Rational, Objective, and Human Criteria

This paper is an attempt at framing Virtue Ethics in a manner that it is not derivative of either deontological or utilitarian ethics. The purpose in doing this is to avoid certain pitfalls in the other two approaches, and the argument hinges on a holistic treatment of values in a social community, as well as the role of practical rationality as the means to edify such a system. There follows an examination of John Dancy and John McDowell’s work on this, with a critical perspective on where these clarifications have currency, and where these fall short

Memory, the Self and Why We Are Conscious (Or alternatively: Why We Don’t Do Consciousness)

This paper aims at examining a new assessment of a foundational paradigm for conducting science within the fields of neurology and its corresponding philosophy of mind. The main view examined is that of Alva Noë, professor of philosophy at UC Berkeley, and the view he forwards in his book Out of Our Heads. His main thesis rests on a critique of current scientific methodology and the foundational paradigm of functionalism, which he counters with a view from a more radical examination of what consciousness is in terms of living beings in their environments and the processes that animate these living beings. The author of this paper takes some issue with this process ontology that Noë forwards and critiques it based on its own premises and what follows from it, while later contrasting it with a focus on personal memory as Henri Bergson had described them in developing his metaphysical system

TOTAL COST OF OWNERSHIP IN SALES AND MARKETING

Background: There is an internal belief within Axis that despite their products’ relatively high initial price, the total cost of ownership (TCO) of an Axis camera solution is lower than that of other brands. However, there is no internal research or tools to verify if it is true. Without this, Axis is unable to communicate their belief in an educated and quantifiable way, which is desired in sales and marketing situations. Purpose: The purpose of this master thesis is to create a TCO analysis framework for a network based video surveillance solution from a seller perspective. The framework is then to be applied on Axis’s solutions to identify and weigh the most important parameters that affect the TCO. Based on this, a TCO analysis model that can be used by Axis’s sales force is to be developed. Methodology: The overall methodology used in the project is action research in combination with descriptive, exploratory and problem-solving approaches depending on the specific research question. The theoretical methodologies have been integrated with a TCO development and implementation framework, which has formed the research process. Conclusions: Existing literature offers a range of TCO frameworks, but little research has been done regarding TCO from a seller perspective. A TCO analysis is very case specific, why generic models are not appropriate. A new framework for the development of a TCO sales tool is therefore proposed, which is adapted and provides detailed guidelines to the network camera surveillance industry. Using this framework, more than 50 cost factors that affect the TCO of a camera solution have been identified and categorised. These were then implemented into a sales tool that can be used to analyse and demonstrate costs and benefits. The significance of the cost factors affecting the TCO for a camera solution varies a lot. For sales and marketing purposes, the parameters that the company can influence and that differentiate a product from another should be emphasised. The benefits for companies to utilise TCO in sales and marketing are several, even though there are some distinct barriers to overcome. For Axis, the developed TCO sales tool can be a strategic resource to help convince its customers to shift their focus from a low-price mind-set to a pursuit of low-cost solutions

Evaluating diverse electronic consultation programs with a common framework.

BackgroundElectronic consultation is an emerging mode of specialty care delivery that allows primary care providers and their patients to obtain specialist expertise without an in-person visit. While studies of individual programs have demonstrated benefits related to timely access to specialty care, electronic consultation programs have not achieved widespread use in the United States. The lack of common evaluation metrics across health systems and concerns related to the generalizability of existing evaluation efforts may be hampering further growth. We sought to identify gaps in knowledge related to the implementation of electronic consultation programs and develop a set of shared evaluation measures to promote further diffusion.MethodsUsing a case study approach, we apply the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation and Maintenance (RE-AIM) and the Quadruple Aim frameworks of evaluation to examine electronic consultation implementation across diverse delivery systems. Data are from 4 early adopter healthcare delivery systems (San Francisco Health Network, Mayo Clinic, Veterans Administration, Champlain Local Health Integration Network) that represent varied organizational structures, care for different patient populations, and have well-established multi-specialty electronic consultation programs. Data sources include published and unpublished quantitative data from each electronic consultation database and qualitative data from systems' end-users.ResultsOrganizational drivers of electronic consultation implementation were similar across the systems (challenges with timely and/or efficient access to specialty care), though unique system-level facilitators and barriers influenced reach, adoption and design. Effectiveness of implementation was consistent, with improved patient access to timely, perceived high-quality specialty expertise with few negative consequences, garnering high satisfaction among end-users. Data about patient-specific clinical outcomes are lacking, as are policies that provide guidance on the legal implications of electronic consultation and ideal remuneration strategies.ConclusionA core set of effectiveness and implementation metrics rooted in the Quadruple Aim may promote data-driven improvements and further diffusion of successful electronic consultation programs

Electronic consultations (E-consults) and their outcomes: a systematic review

OBJECTIVE: Electronic consultations (e-consults) are clinician-to-clinician communications that may obviate face-to-face specialist visits. E-consult programs have spread within the US and internationally despite limited data on outcomes. We conducted a systematic review of the recent peer-reviewed literature on the effect of e-consults on access, cost, quality, and patient and clinician experience and identified the gaps in existing research on these outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We searched 4 databases for empirical studies published between 1/1/2015 and 2/28/2019 that reported on one or more outcomes of interest. Two investigators reviewed titles and abstracts. One investigator abstracted information from each relevant article, and another confirmed the abstraction. We applied the GRADE criteria for the strength of evidence for each outcome. RESULTS: We found only modest empirical evidence for effectiveness of e-consults on important outcomes. Most studies are observational and within a single health care system, and comprehensive assessments are lacking. For those outcomes that have been reported, findings are generally positive, with mixed results for clinician experience. These findings reassure but also raise concern for publication bias. CONCLUSION: Despite stakeholder enthusiasm and encouraging results in the literature to date, more rigorous study designs applied across all outcomes are needed. Policy makers need to know what benefits may be expected in what contexts, so they can define appropriate measures of success and determine how to achieve them. Informatics Association 2019. This work is written by US Government employees and is in the public domain in the US

Host-plant acceptance on mineral soil and humus by the pine weevil Hylobius abietis (L.)

1 The pine weevil Hylobius abietis (L.) (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) is an economically important pest of conifer forest regeneration in Europe and Asia. 2 Soil scarification, which usually exposes mineral soil, is widely used to protect seedlings from weevil attack. However, the mechanism behind this protective effect is not yet fully understood. 3 Field experiments were conducted to determine the pine weevil's responses to visual and odour stimuli from seedlings when moving on mineral soil and on undisturbed humus surface. 4 One experiment measured the number of pine weevils approaching seedlings, with and without added host odour, on mineral soil and undisturbed humus. Seedlings with added host odour attracted more weevils on both soil types. Unexpectedly, somewhat more weevils approached seedlings surrounded by mineral soil. 5 In a similar experiment, feeding attacks on seedlings planted directly in the soil were recorded. Only half as many seedlings were attacked on mineral soil as on undisturbed humus. 6 In the first experiment, the weevils were trapped 2.5 cm from the bases of the seedlings' stems, whereas they could reach the seedlings in the experiment where seedlings were planted directly in the soil. We conclude that the pine weevils' decision on whether or not to feed on a seedling is strongly influenced by the surrounding soil type and that this decision is taken in the close vicinity of the seedling. The presence of pure mineral soil around the seedling strongly reduces the likelihood that an approaching pine weevil will feed on it