Our long term aim is to address the open problem of combined structural/dimensional synthesis for planar mechanisms . For that purpose, we have developed a design platform for linkages with lower pairs which is based on a qualitative kinematics . Our qualitative kinematics is based on the notion of Instantaneous Centers of Velocity, on considerations of curvature and on a modular decomposition ...

Background: In recent years, a growing number of methods for synthesising qualitative research have emerged, particularly in relation to health-related research. There is a need for both researchers and commissioners to be able to distinguish between these methods and to select which method is the most appropriate to their situation. Discussion: A number of methodological and conceptual links b...

This paper is a synthesis of the information in the report Inventory, Bibliography and Synthesis of Qualitative Research in the European Union which was co-ordinated for the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, Lisbon, Portugal, by the National Addiction Centre, London, UK. It is based on the work of a network of qualitative researchers from the European Union. The report in...

OBJECTIVES In a qualitative synthesis, primary qualitative studies are integrated to develop a theory or evidence-based interventions. Until now, the strength of the evidence in the primary studies has not been taken into account in the outcome of the qualitative synthesis. In this paper, a method is developed and evaluated to assign weights to the findings of the qualitative studies using both...

INTRODUCTION Little is known about how to reduce unnecessary imaging for low back pain. Understanding clinician, patient and general public beliefs about imaging is critical to developing strategies to reduce overuse. OBJECTIVE To synthesise qualitative research that has explored clinician, patient or general public beliefs about diagnostic imaging for low back pain. METHODS AND ANALYSIS We...

It is necessary to consider community opinions about social events and respond with proper actions. Support is needed to acquire a basic or rough idea of community opinions quickly. In this paper, the authors show how to elicit main points from community opinions with a simple word association test on college students about the highlighted social events in China in 2010. Two supporting technolo...

Qualitative evidence syntheses (QES) have increased in prominence and profile over the last decade as a discrete set of methodologies to undertake systematic reviews primary qualitative research health social care education. The findings from synthesis can enable richer interpretation particular phenomenon, circumstances, or experiences than single studies achieve. methods were developed respon...