Applying SMART Goal Intervention Leads to Greater Goal Attainment, Need Satisfaction and Positive Affect

Previous research suggests that planning interventions lead to increased goal attainment, while other researchsuggests that goal attainment leads to increased well-being. This research integrates these two sets of researchfindings by investigating the effectiveness of one goal planning intervention, the SMART goal program, on goalattainment, and thus need satisfaction and well-being, in university students. An experimental design across aone-week period was employed to test whether participants in the experimental group, who received the SMARTgoal instructions, better obtained their goal in comparison to control group participants who did not receive thosespecific instructions. Findings indicated that the SMART goal program led to greater rated goal attainment andneed satisfaction, but not greater subjective well-being (SWB). Nevertheless, one component of SWB, positiveaffect, was greater in the Experimental group. Type of individually chosen self-concordant goal content hadno impact on whether participants attained their goal.

The Use of Goal Attainment Scaling in the Acupuncture of Children with Intellectual Disability

Objective: The therapeutic effect of acupuncture is often evaluated based on the experience and judgment of acupuncturists and the subjective feelings of patients. Thus, we investigated the suitability of goal attainment scaling(GAS), an objective outcome measurements, to evaluate the responsiveness of children with intellectual disability to acupuncture therapy. Methods: This is an assessor-blinded, single-group cohort study that included 17 children with intellectual disabilities. The therapeutic effect of acupuncture was assessed by the T scores of GAS at four time points during the 3-month treatment. The responsiveness of GAS to acupuncture therapy was measured using the standardized response mean(SRM). Results: Compared with control, the 4-, 8-, and 12-week scores improved significantly after treatment(P < 0.01, P≤0.001,P≤0.001), with significant differences between each month(P < 0.01, P≤0.001, P≤0.001). Furthermore, all periods assessed GAS(to measure the therapeutic effect of acupuncture) showed marked responsiveness(SRMs >0.8). Conclusion: GAS is responsive in evaluating individual changes in the acupuncture treatment of children with intellectual disabilities. It is a feasible tool to match both the needs of children with intellectual disabilities and the clinical characteristics of acupuncture.

Optimum allocation of FACTS devices in Fars Regional Electric Network using genetic algorithm based goal attainment

This paper presents a novel approach to find optimum locations and capacity of flexible alternating current transmission system (FACTS) devices in a power system using a multi-objective optimization function. Thyristor controlled series compensators (TCSCs) and static var compensators (SVCs) are the utilized FACTS devices. Our objectives are active power loss reduction, newly introduced FACTS devices cost reduction, voltage deviation reduction, and increase on the robustness of the security margin against voltage collapse. The operational and controlling constraints, as well as load constraints, were considered in the optimum allocation. A goal attainment method based on the genetic algorithm (GA) was used to approach the global optimum. The estimated annual load profile was utilized in a sequential quadratic programming (SQP) optimization sub-problem to the optimum siting and sizing of FACTS devices. Fars Regional Electric Network was selected as a practical system to validate the performance and effectiveness of the proposed method. The entire investment of the FACTS devices was paid off and an additional 2.4% savings was made. The cost reduction of peak point power generation implies that power plant expansion can be postponed.

Management and risk factor control of coronary artery disease in elderly versus nonelderly： a multicenter registry

Background Coronary artery disease （CAD） is a leading cause of death in elderly because aging is the important non-modifiable risk factors of atherosclerosis and also a predictor of poor outcomes. Underuse of guideline directed therapy may contribute to suboptimal risk factor control and worse outcomes in the elderly. We aimed to explore the management of CAD, risk factors control as well as goal attain- ment in elderly compared to nonelderly CAD patients. Methods The CORE-Thailand is an ongoing multicenter, prospective, observational registry of patients with high atherosclerotic risk in Thailand. The data of 4120 CAD patients enrolled in this cohort was analyzed comparing between the elderly （age ≥ 65 years） vs. nonelderly （age 〈 65 years）. Results There were 2172 elderly and 1948 nonelderly patients. The elderly CAD patients had higher prevalence of hypertension, dyslipidemia, atrial fibrillation and chronic kidney disease. The proportion of patients who received coronary revascularization was not different between the elderly and nonelderly CAD patients. Antiplatelets were prescribed less in the elderly while statin was prescribed in the similar proportion. Goal attainments of risk factor control of glycemic control, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, and smoking cessation except the blood pressure goal were higher in the elderly CAD patients. Conclusions The CORE-Thailand registry showed the equity in the treatment of CAD between elderly and non-elderly. Elderly CAD patients had higher rate of goal attainment in risk factor control except blood pressure goal. The effects of goal attainment on cardiovascular outcomes will be demonstrated from ongoing cohort.

Management Accounting Problems and Perspectives in the Local Government of Estonia： An Analysis From the Viewpoint of Parsons＇ Paradigm

This case study focuses on the current and future needs of the management accounting within the Tallinn city government and their potential relationships with the sustainability reporting. This analysis is based on the study carried out within the city organizations in 2011. The questionnaire drawn up by the authors includes several questions about the current management accounting tools of the city and their development and support needs. The authors also add some questions related to the sustainability reporting, which is obligatory for the city as one of the members of the Aalborg Charter. The quantitative methodology was used. The authors＇ conclusion is that the level of the managerial accountability of the Estonian municipality is increasing and its sole economic focus is changing to a broader perspective. According to the findings of the study, the authors argue that both management accounting principles and sustainability principles are coming closer together. By using Talcott Parsons＇ adaptation, goal attainment, integration, and latency （AGIL） paradigm, the authors point out four critical components for implementing the sustainability reporting into a management accounting system. The results of this study highlight the role of values in the management accounting development, which is in harmony with the AGIL paradigm.

A New Era: New Orientation for Development, and New Goals for Attainment

A new era of socialism with Chinese characteristics is the era of inheriting the past and carrying forward into the future, and continuously winning the great victory of socialism with Chinese characteristics under the new historical conditions; is the era of making a decisive victory in building a moderately prosperous society in all-respects and building a socialist modern country in an all-round way; is the era for the people of all ethnic groups to unite and strive to continuously create a better life and to gradually realize the common prosperity of all the people; is the era to realize the Chinese dream featuring all the Chinese people making concerted efforts and striving to achieve the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation; is an era in which China is increasingly approaching the center of the world stage and continuously making greater contributions to human kind.