Daily life participation in childhood chronic disease: a qualitative study on the child’s and parent’s perspective

ObjectiveTo understand how a child with a stable chronic disease and his/her parents shape his/her daily life participation, we assessed: (1) the parents’ goals regarding the child’s daily life participation, (2) parental strategies regarding the child’s participation and () how children and their parents interrelate when their goals regarding participation are not aligned.MethodsThis was a qualitative study design using a general inductive approach. Families of children 8–19 years with a stable chronic disease (cystic fibrosis, autoimmune disease or postcancer treatment) were recruited from the PROactive study. Simultaneous in-depth interviews were conducted separately with the child and parent(s). Analyses included constant comparison, coding and categorisation.ResultsThirty-one of the 57 invited families (54%) participated. We found that parents predominantly focus on securing their child’s well-being, using participation as a means to achieve well-being. Moreover, parents used different strategies to either support participation consistent with the child’s healthy peers or support participation with a focus on physical well-being. The degree of friction between parents and their child was based on the level of agreement on who takes the lead regarding the child’s participation.ConclusionsInterestingly, parents described participation as primarily a means to achieve the child’s well-being, whereas children described participation as more of a goal in itself. Understanding the child’s and parent’s perspective can help children, parents and healthcare professionals start a dialogue on participation and establish mutual goals. This may help parents and children find ways to interrelate while allowing the child to develop his/her autonomy.

Developing Rapport and Trust in the Interrogative Context

Decades of behavioral science research has consistently demonstrated the advantages of employing a rapport-based approach to investigative and intelligence interviewing. After identifying the problematic procedures of accusatorial approaches, current research has turned to a more proactive study of the techniques and tactics that align with a rapport-based and information-gathering framework that is effective for eliciting comprehensive and reliable information. Despite a growing body of research supporting the use of this framework, it stands in contrast with an accusatorial approach that is common practice in North America (and other parts of the world). This chapter reviews empirically supported approaches for investigative interviewing (including aspects of effective elicitation and deception detection) and describes recent research on tactics for developing rapport and trust in the interrogative context. Herein we distinguish how trust and rapport-based techniques differ from currently employed confrontational techniques, and provide operational examples of how these tactics have been employed in the field.

Implementation model of spinoff incubator in non institutionalized universities [Modelo de implementación de incubadora spin off en universidades no institucionales]

This paper aims to discuss the implementation of a business incubator model within non-institutionalized state universities that allow the development of companies managed by students. The proposal is the result of a descriptive and proactive study. For this, we have taken into account successful incubation models that can be adapted to our academic and pedagogical reality within the university system. Based on this adaptation, we can argue that it is applied.

Advances in understanding the transformation of engineered nanoparticles in the environment

Engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) are known to possess unique size and shape dependent chemical and physical properties. As a result of their properties, ENPs have been effective in several important applications including catalysis, sensor design, photonics, electronics, medicine, and the environmental remediation of toxic pollutants. Such properties and applications have led to an increase in the manufacture of ENPs and a rise in their presence in consumer products. The increase of ENPs in consumer products presents several opportunities and challenges, and necessitates a proactive study of their health and safety. This article highlights some recent work in which we have studied the effect of exposure of well-defined ENPs to pesticides and the effect of pH and dissolved organic matter. We also summarize our work and that of others who have studied the toxicity of ENPs with microorganisms. The results provide insights on the need for green manufacturing strategies of ENPs, their use and safe disposal practices.