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Design science research (DSR) aims to generate knowledge about innovative solutions to real-world problems. Consequently, DSR needs to deal with the complexity related to problem and solution spaces involving sociotechnical phenomena that people perceive differently and are subject to constant change. This complexity poses challenges to sequential, process-based approaches—specifically, the existing DSR methodology. We designed a DSR methodology that extends existing approaches by adding a complementary organizing logic to address complexity. Based on the theory of hierarchical, multilevel systems, we suggest organizing DSR based on the concept of "echelons"—meaning decomposing DSR projects into smaller logically coherent self-contained parts—and suggest a set of five design echelons that imply a hierarchical organizing logic for DSR projects. The echeloned DSR (eDSR) methodology was developed in five iterations, involving seven design and evaluation episodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Willingness to pay (WTP) is a metric that is widely valued and utilized among both practitioners and academics. However, the conceptualization of WTP is ambiguous, and this ambiguity is reflected across existing methods of measuring WTP. The authors first present a formal mathematical framework that clarifies WTP as a distributional concept—rather than a single number—constructed as a function of customers, comparisons, and situations. The framework further reveals the operation of two comparative mechanisms, direct and indirect, by which situational factors affect WTP. They then introduce a new method to measure WTP—the comparative method of valuation (CMV)—that, unlike existing methods, is designed to account for the inherently comparative and situational nature of WTP. Across nine studies reported in the article and four additional studies in the Web Appendix, the authors (1) examine differences in results between CMV and choice-based conjoint as well as between CMV and the classic Becker–DeGroot–Marschak methodology, (2) demonstrate that CMV is a valid and reliable measure of WTP, and (3) illustrate applications of CMV to managerial problems. This article offers both conceptual clarity and methodological advances to understanding the construction and measurement of WTP for practitioners and academics alike. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate the accuracy of ChatGPT (Chat generative pretrained transformer), a large language model, in calculating sample size for sport-sciences and sports-medicine research studies. Methods: We conducted an analysis on 4 published papers (ie, examples 1–4) encompassing various study designs and approaches for calculating sample size in 3 sport-science and -medicine journals, including 3 randomized controlled trials and 1 survey paper. We provided ChatGPT with all necessary data such as mean, percentage SD, normal deviates (Zα/2 and Z1−β), and study design. Prompting from 1 example has subsequently been reused to gain insights into the reproducibility of the ChatGPT response. Results: ChatGPT correctly calculated the sample size for 1 randomized controlled trial but failed in the remaining 3 examples, including the incorrect identification of the formula in one example of a survey paper. After interaction with ChatGPT, the correct sample size was obtained for the survey paper. Intriguingly, when the prompt from Example 3 was reused, ChatGPT provided a completely different sample size than its initial response. Conclusions: While the use of artificial-intelligence tools holds great promise, it should be noted that it might lead to errors and inconsistencies in sample-size calculations even when the tool is fed with the necessary correct information. As artificial-intelligence technology continues to advance and learn from human feedback, there is hope for improvement in sample-size calculation and other research tasks. However, it is important for scientists to exercise caution in utilizing these tools. Future studies should assess more advanced/powerful versions of this tool (ie, ChatGPT4). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we analyze the literature concerning the implementation of digital twins (DTs) for zero-defect manufacturing (ZDM) following a systematic method and, guided by a preliminary finding that a structured and standardised approach to the development of the DT applications is lacking, we provide a standardised design methodology to guide researchers and practitioners in their efforts to develop DTs regardless of the domain. After examination and interpretation of the literature, we also present the results of our state-of-the-art analysis, discuss the current state and limitations of research and practice, and provide useful insights on this important and complex topic. The design methodology proposed in our study will benefit both practitioners and academicians by covering the essential elements to be considered when developing DTs for ZDM for any applications in this domain. The study also contributes to knowledge by presenting a structured overview of the specific research area with a comprehensive, systematic, and critical analysis of the literature and by providing answers to some fundamental questions in the context of DTs for ZDM. Finally, we provide suggestions for further developments in research and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The association between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has been explored in various studies, revealing inconsistent correlations that impact therapeutic effectiveness. This heterogeneity in findings requires further exploration to understand what may be driving this. Therefore, this study focuses on systematically reviewing the data, classification of variables, and analytical approach to understand if and how this may be contributing to the mixed findings. This review aims to provide insights that can enhance the generalisability of future research findings. Methods: A comprehensive electronic search was conducted, including EMBASE, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Web of Science Core Collection, Scopus and specialised sleep journals. The included studies were observational studies published in English from 2011 onwards, involving adults above 18 years with OSA and T2DM or prediabetes, and included a control group. Exclusions were pregnant women, interventional studies, randomised trials, systematic reviews, conference abstracts, case studies and studies without a control group or only with descriptive analysis. Results: We reviewed 23 studies that met the inclusion criteria. Among cohort studies, 54% did not report attrition rates, and 52% did not detail methods for handling missing data in all studies. Nine studies (39%) predominantly included male participants. Objective measures were prevalent in assessing OSA, with 11 using home portable sleep monitors and four employing clinic polysomnography, though only three validated home sleep monitors. The apnea-hypopnea index was commonly used to define OSA severity, with six studies adapting the American Academy of Sleep Medicine criteria. Two studies utilised validated self-report questionnaires for OSA symptoms. T2DM diagnosis methods varied, with 17 studies using blood samples, two relying only on self- reporting, and four confirmed diagnosis via medical records. Conclusions: The variability in sample characteristics, data quality, and variable coding may contribute to the mixed finding. This review identifies gaps in using the standardised measures, reporting attrition rates, handling missing data, and including both sexes. Addressing these issues is crucial to enhancing future research generalisability. Standardising diagnostic criteria, considering clinical and sociodemographic factors, and ensuring inclusivity in study populations are essential for advancing understanding and treatment strategies for OSA and T2DM. Protocol registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero, identifier CRD42023397547. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Grains make up a large proportion of both human and animal diets. With threats to food production, such as climate change, growing sustainable and successful crops is essential to food security in the future. Germination is one of the most important stages in a plant's lifecycle and is key to the success of the resulting plant as the grain undergoes morphological changes and the development of specific organs. Micro-computed tomography is a non-destructive imaging technique based on the differing x-ray attenuations of materials which we have applied for the accurate analysis of grain morphology during the germination phase. Results: Micro Computed Tomography conditions and parameters were tested to establish an optimal protocol for the 3-dimensional analysis of barley grains. When comparing optimal scanning conditions, it was established that no filter, 0.4 degrees rotation step, 5 average frames, and 2016 × 1344 camera binning is optimal for imaging germinating grains. It was determined that the optimal protocol for scanning during the germination timeline was to scan individual grains at 0 h after imbibition (HAI) and then the same grain again at set time points (1, 3, 6, 24 HAI) to avoid any negative effects from X-ray radiation or disruption to growing conditions. Conclusion: Here we sought to develop a method for the accurate analysis of grain morphology without the negative effects of possible radiation exposure. Several factors have been considered, such as the scanning conditions, reconstruction, and possible effects of X-ray radiation on the growth rate of the grains. The parameters chosen in this study give effective and reliable results for the 3-dimensional analysis of macro structures within barley grains while causing minimal disruption to grain development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Systematic reviews and data synthesis of randomised clinical trials play a crucial role in clinical practice, research, and health policy. Trial sequential analysis can be used in systematic reviews to control type I and type II errors, but methodological errors including lack of protocols and transparency are cause for concern. We assessed the reporting of trial sequential analysis. Methods: We searched Medline and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews from 1 January 2018 to 31 December 2021 for systematic reviews and meta-analysis reports that include a trial sequential analysis. Only studies with at least two randomised clinical trials analysed in a forest plot and a trial sequential analysis were included. Two independent investigators assessed the studies. We evaluated protocolisation, reporting, and interpretation of the analyses, including their effect on any GRADE evaluation of imprecision. Results: We included 270 systematic reviews and 274 meta-analysis reports and extracted data from 624 trial sequential analyses. Only 134/270 (50%) systematic reviews planned the trial sequential analysis in the protocol. For analyses on dichotomous outcomes, the proportion of events in the control group was missing in 181/439 (41%), relative risk reduction in 105/439 (24%), alpha in 30/439 (7%), beta in 128/439 (29%), and heterogeneity in 232/439 (53%). For analyses on continuous outcomes, the minimally relevant difference was missing in 125/185 (68%), variance (or standard deviation) in 144/185 (78%), alpha in 23/185 (12%), beta in 63/185 (34%), and heterogeneity in 105/185 (57%). Graphical illustration of the trial sequential analysis was present in 93% of the analyses, however, the Z-curve was wrongly displayed in 135/624 (22%) and 227/624 (36%) did not include futility boundaries. The overall transparency of all 624 analyses was very poor in 236 (38%) and poor in 173 (28%). Conclusions: The majority of trial sequential analyses are not transparent when preparing or presenting the required parameters, partly due to missing or poorly conducted protocols. This hampers interpretation, reproducibility, and validity. Study registration: PROSPERO CRD42021273811 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a framework with two options for selecting a subgroup of training cases for intracranial aneurysm (IA) treatment. Option one, general training, describes training cases that represent a variety of different IAs that represent the diversity of real world cases. This can be achieved via instance selection (IS), which reduces size of a dataset by eliminating redundancies via outlier removal and clustering. Option two, a specific training scenario, describes training that is specialized based on IA features of a specific case, for which we present the novel reverse instance selection (RIS), which introduces similarity to the specific case to the IS methodology. We evaluated our IS and RIS by comparing them to subsets selected based on similarity (SIM) and random sampling (RndS). RIS outperformed SIM and RndS in 79% of experiments. IS outperformed RndS in 33% of experiments. In both scenarios, we observed that our approaches, which balance the weaknesses of SIM and RndS, perform best for small subset sizes close to the database cluster size. Our IS and RIS are flexible in regards to the underlying machine learning and weighting of metrics for evaluation, thus providing a way to select a representative and diverse subset not just for IAs, but also for different kinds of data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Objective Description of the innovative method Description of its effectiveness Discussion Public contribution Minority populations are utilizing mobile health applications more frequently to access health information. One group that may benefit from using mHealth technology is underserved women, specifically those on community supervision.Discuss methodological approaches for navigating digital health strategies to address underserved women's health disparities.Using an intersectional lens, we identified strategies for conducting research using digital health technology and artificial intelligence amongst the underserved, particularly those with community supervision.We explore (1) methodological approaches that combine traditional research methods with precision medicine, digital phenotyping, and ecological momentary assessment; (2) implications for artificial intelligence; and (3) ethical considerations with data collection, storage, and engagement.Researchers must address gendered differences related to health, social, and economic disparities concurrently with an unwavering focus on the protection of human subjects when addressing the unique needs of underserved women while utilizing digital health methodologies.Women on community supervision in South Central Texas helped inform the design of JUN, the mHealth app we reported in the case exemplar. JUN is named after the Junonia shell, a native shell to South Texas, which means strength, power, and self‐sufficiency, like the participants in our preliminary studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights Doppler ultrasound may be used to assess leg blood flow (Q̇leg${{\dot{Q}}_{{\mathrm{leg}}}}$), but the reliability of this method remains unexplored in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), where between‐subject variability may be larger than healthy due to peripheral vascular changes. This study aimed to investigate the reliability of Doppler ultrasound in quantifying Q̇leg${{\dot{Q}}_{{\mathrm{leg}}}}$ during single‐leg knee‐extensor exercise (KEE) in COPD patients compared with those obtained from healthy matched controls. In this case–control study, 16 participants with COPD were matched based on sex and age with 16 healthy controls. All participants underwent measurement of Q̇leg${{\dot{Q}}_{{\mathrm{leg}}}}$ using Doppler ultrasound in a KEE set‐up at various intensities on two separate visits. Confounding factors on Q̇leg${{\dot{Q}}_{{\mathrm{leg}}}}$ were controlled for, and the ultrasound scans were consistently performed by the same sonographer. During exercise, smallest real difference (SRD) ranged from 367 mL to 583 mL in COPD and 438 mL to 667 mL in the control group. The coefficient of variation (CV) ranged from 7.9% to 14.3% in COPD and 9.4% to 10.4% in the control group. The intraclass correlation coefficient ranged from 0.75 to 0.92 in COPD and 0.67 to 0.84 in the control group. CV was lower in the control group during exercise at 0 W, but apart from that, reliability was not different between groups during exercise. Doppler ultrasound showed nearly equal reliability when evaluating Q̇leg${{\dot{Q}}_{{\mathrm{leg}}}}$ in COPD patients and healthy individuals with a CV below 15% during exercise for both groups. What is the central question of this study? What is the between‐day reliability of Doppler ultrasound when quantifying leg blood flow during single‐leg knee‐extensor exercise in COPD patients compared to healthy matched controls? What is the main finding and its importance? This study demonstrates a coefficient of variation ranging from 7.9 to 14.3% during single‐leg knee‐extensor exercise for between‐day reliability when applying Doppler ultrasound to assess leg blood flow in patients with COPD. Furthermore, it offers insights into the peripheral circulatory constraints in COPD, as evidenced by diminished leg blood flow. This study is the first of its kind to evaluate the reliability of Doppler ultrasound in the assessment of the peripheral circulation during exercise in COPD. What is the central question of this study?What is the between‐day reliability of Doppler ultrasound when quantifying leg blood flow during single‐leg knee‐extensor exercise in COPD patients compared to healthy matched controls?What is the main finding and its importance?This study demonstrates a coefficient of variation ranging from 7.9 to 14.3% during single‐leg knee‐extensor exercise for between‐day reliability when applying Doppler ultrasound to assess leg blood flow in patients with COPD. Furthermore, it offers insights into the peripheral circulatory constraints in COPD, as evidenced by diminished leg blood flow. This study is the first of its kind to evaluate the reliability of Doppler ultrasound in the assessment of the peripheral circulation during exercise in COPD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ocean practices, intended as a wide spectrum of methodologies supporting ocean-related research, operations, and applications, are constantly developed and improved to enable informed decision-making. Practices start from the idea of an individual or a group and often evolve towards what can be called good or best practices. This bottom-up approach may in principle result in different paths for the evolution of each practice, and ultimately generate situations where it is not clear to a new user how to compare two practices aiming at the same objective, and determine which one is best. Also, although a best practice is supposed to be the result of a multi-institutional collaborative effort based on the principles of evidence, repeatability and comparability, a set of individual requirements is not yet defined in literature for a practice to be considered a good, better, and ultimately a best practice. This paper proposes a method for addressing those questions and presents a new maturity model for ocean practices, built upon existing maturity models for systems and software, developed and adopted in the last decades. The model provides attributes for assessing both the maturity of the practice description and its implementation. It also provides a framework for analyzing gaps and suggesting actions for practice evolution. The model has been tested against a series of widely adopted practices and the results are reported and discussed. This work facilitates a common approach for developing and assessing practices, from which greater interoperability and trust can be achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Why you should read this article: • To discover how the virtual nominal group technique (vNGT) effectively overcomes the limitations of traditional face-to-face nominal group technique (NGT) • To gain insights into the practical applications and challenges of vNGT in healthcare research and policy formulation, enhancing your understanding of remote collaboration methods • To learn about the adaptability and benefits of vNGT, including its ability to facilitate inclusive, cost-effective and time-efficient consensus-building processes across diverse geographic locations. Background: Nominal group technique (NGT) is widely used in healthcare research to facilitate decision-making and consensus-building. Traditional NGT requires face-to-face interaction and its limitations include potential biases, logistical challenges and high costs. The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated a shift to virtual methods, which led to the development of virtual nominal group technique (vNGT). Aim To reflect on the use of vNGT, particularly in the context of Ghader et al (2023), to understand its effectiveness in overcoming the limitations of traditional NGT and on its applicability in pandemic-affected scenarios. Method: This paper reviews and discusses literature on the use and effectiveness of NGT compared to other consensus-building methods and examines the emergence of vNGT in overcoming the limitations of traditional NGT. The authors also reflect on their use of vNGT in a study to identify cardiovascular research priorities in the UAE and provide details of its implementation. Discussion: vNGT bridges the gap between the localised nature of traditional NGT and the global reach of the Delphi technique. It allows for the inclusion of diverse participants, saves costs and offers time-efficiency. The study demonstrated vNGT’s adaptability, with participants engaging in idea generation, discussion and prioritisation using online tools. However, challenges persist with vNGT, including reduced accessibility for certain demographics, timing issues across time zones and technical difficulties. Conclusion: vNGT successfully integrates the interactive, consensus-building aspects of NGT with the broad reach of Delphi. It can be valuable in research and decision-making, especially in an era of increased remote collaboration. Implications for practice: vNGT can significantly impact healthcare research and policy formulation by enabling more inclusive, cost-effective and timely consensus-building processes. However, considerations for accessibility and technical support are crucial for its wider adoption and effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Why you should read this article: • UK care homes are an important example of a complex environment where research is essential but faces multiple challenges in terms of rigour and methodology • This paper offers a variety of important methodological strategies to identify and address challenges that could impact findings and the ability to carry out research • It highlights the importance of taking a critical stance with all elements of the research process and illustrates the need to identify and mitigate challenges when conducting research in complex environments. Background: The evidence base for hydration practice in care homes is underdeveloped. High-quality research is therefore needed to determine what practices support older people with dementia in drinking sufficient fluid. However, methodological developments are needed to be able to do this. Aim: To highlight the methodological issues researchers encountered during a feasibility cluster, randomised controlled trial of ThinkDrink, a hydration care guide for people with dementia living in UK care homes. Discussion: This is a challenging area because of the complexity of recruitment, participation and data collection in care homes. Researchers must pay extra attention to rigour and quality in the design of their studies. There may be multiple challenges, so various strategies may be required. Conclusion: It is important that researchers continue to reflect on rigorous approaches to develop evidence in a crucial area of care, despite these challenges. Implications for practice: Researchers working in complex environments face a variety of challenges to complete methodologically rigorous research. It is important for researchers to be critical of research processes and data, to mitigate and overcome these challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents findings from an instructional-based inquiry, aimed to evaluate the critiquing characteristics of an accredited interior design program, and to optimize the experience of studio-based feedback practices for contemporary students. This investigation pre-dates the unprecedented shift to remote instruction due to the global pandemic, providing a unique snapshot of Generation Z emergent designers at a time when in-person feedback reigned. Data was collected through an anonymous, voluntary survey which invited students to share their experiences and perceptions of various modalities of project feedback. The findings are four-fold. First, students view critique not merely as a validation or gatekeeping function but as an interactive form of guidance, underscoring the necessity of harmonizing directive discourse with empowering feedback. Second, methods like peer reviews, desk crits, and illustrative feedback are seen as particularly beneficial, being both personalized and intimate, and are valued equally in both in-studio and out-of-studio settings. Third, 1–2 weekly contact hours with instructors is preferred for project feedback, pointing to a possible disparity between student expectations and prevailing practices. Finally, students recognized the potential benefits of using online critiquing tools for project feedback, even prior to the extensive uptake of online platforms during the pandemic in which students had little experience using them. This study contributes valuable context to the future of interior design education, and illustrates areas in which research concerning modern students and instructional practices can be further developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores a design fiction approach in an educational context by applying it to a third-year industrial design studio class. The Food Futures project is conducted with thirty students in the design studio. We approached the future of food using a design fiction approach since the combination of food and design is a highly complex and social issue that requires a systems-level change. The project started with a design fiction workshop to adapt the approach to the class. After the students had written their briefs in the context of the future storyworlds, the project continued with weekly critique sessions. The data is collected through the project outcomes, recordings, and questionnaires. A methodological discussion about using this approach in the educational context is presented based on the collected reflections. We argue that design fiction can be used in studio projects for research and idea-generation phases to support divergence processes through building storyworlds. Furthermore, we examined how this approach can be integrated into design education based on how students defined their limitations considering their visualisation techniques and design intervention levels (product, product-service-system, spatio-social) within future storyworlds. Imbued with the ability to envision socio-technical environments, we see design fiction as a useful tool for adapting industrial design education to emerging approaches such as systemic design and transition design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To identify current key areas for nursing research in Switzerland, we revised the Swiss Research Agenda for Nursing (SRAN) initially published in 2008. Background: By developing a research agenda, nursing researchers internationally prioritize and cluster relevant topics within the research community. The process should be collaborative and systematic to provide credible information for decisionmakers in health care research, policy, and practice. Sources of Evidence: After a participative, systematic, and critical evaluation within and outside of the Swiss Association for Nursing Science, the updated SRAN 2019–2029 defines four research priorities (new models of care, nursing care interventions, work and care environment, and quality of care and patient safety) and four transversal themes (organization of research, research methodologies, research in health care policy and public health perspectives). Conclusion: Adding to other national nursing research agendas, the categories are organized in a framework of key research priorities and transversal themes. They relate to the importance of global and local foci of research as well as challenges in health care services and policy systems. The agenda is an important prerequisite for enhancing the influence of nursing research in Switzerland and provides guidance for the next decade. Implications for Nursing Practice: The revised agenda ensures that research projects target key knowledge gaps and the discipline's core questions in respective countries. Implications for Health Policy: Nursing research should inform and influence health policy on all institutional and political levels. Therefore, the integration of public health perspectives in research is one of the most important new aspects of SRAN 2019–2029. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The teaching and creative movement course incorporates details of physical movements most suitable to be conducted face-to-face. However, the Covid-19 pandemic has undeniably changed pedagogical methodologies, forcing this course to be conducted online via the medium of technology. Therefore, this paper explains the challenges and advantages of the synchronous and asynchronous video conferencing mixed strategies in the teaching and creative movement course. The setting in this research is a semester of the teaching and learning conducted at a university in Malaysia using the Google Meet application and video. The factors of resources and technological capability as well as the psychological factor that is related to social activity hinder the full advantage of video conferencing and technological usage in this course. The researcher also pointed out the security and safety problem experienced by one of our students to get internet access from a remote area, and the need to consider individual student home situations before sending them to learn from home. The identification of strengths and weaknesses faced by this course will enable further efforts in improving the quality of online dance education which incorporate the use of technology to obtain maximum results, especially for developing countries such as Malaysia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Humanity has never suffered so much from racial repression, social division and cultural domination as in the contemporary world. Freedom is under the severest attack the mankind has ever seen. Erno and Birk timely seize the issue of human freedom and contend that psychologists must turn their attention to it from a practical, political and interdisciplinary perspective, thereby opening up new avenues to human flourishing and self-actualization. And yet this proposal has given still insufficient heed to the cultural nature of freedom. It is the objective of this essay to argue for and sketch out a cultural-discursive approach that purports to provide not just a systematic and precise account of freedom but also a methodological framework for its research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores a novel approach to enhancing cognitive proficiency by targeting neural mechanisms that facilitate science and math learning, especially mental rotation. The study specifically examines the relationship between upper alpha intensity and mental rotation skills. Although prior neurofeedback research for increasing upper alpha highlights this correlation, mostly with familiar objects, novel chemistry and math learning prompts envisioning unfamiliar objects which question the persistence of this correlation. This study revisits the upper alpha and mental rotation relationship in the context of unfamiliar objects with a single neurofeedback session and examines the efficiency of manual and automatic neurofeedback protocols. Results will provide a basis for integrating neurofeedback protocols into learning applications for enhanced learning. Our study encompassed three cohorts: Group 1 experienced an automatic neurofeedback protocol, Group 2 received a manual neurofeedback protocol, and the control group had no neurofeedback intervention. The experimental phases involved EEG measurement of individual upper alpha (frequency of maximal power + 2 Hz) intensity, mental rotation tasks featuring geometric and unfamiliar molecular stimuli, one neurofeedback session for applicable groups, post-treatment upper alpha level assessments, and a mental rotation retest. The neurofeedback groups exhibited increased levels of upper alpha power, which was correlated with improved response time in mental rotation, regardless of stimulus type, compared to the control group. Both neurofeedback protocols achieved comparable results. This study advocates integrating neurofeedback into learning software for optimal learning experiences, highlighting a single session's efficacy and the substantial neurofeedback protocol's impact in enhancing upper alpha oscillations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on improving engineering skills in students advocates for high‐quality teaching practices as well as the implementation of digitally enhanced management systems, such as e‐Learning. Furthermore, COVID‐19 led to several changes in education, such as switching drastically from face to face to emergency remote and later hybrid teaching. This study has focused on the proposal, the application and the evaluation of a new e‐Learning teaching method. FastTest PlugIn has been used for the creation of large sets of questions, to develop parameterised and individualised exercises in Moodle. The method has been applied since COVID‐19, considering different types of teaching: completely remote, hybrid and face to face. It has been implemented in some courses of the bachelor's and master's degree in engineering at the University of Cadiz (Spain). The academic performance and students' feedback on the method have been obtained. During remote teaching, students presented lower scores than before the pandemic. However, as students became familiar with the method and at least face‐to‐face exams were carried out, the scores and students' perception of the difficulty of the courses improved. The main novelty of this method is the reliability of creating different exercises for a consistent level of difficulty; the ability to avoid dishonest actions of students; and the time saved by instructors, as exercises are automatically corrected. This study provides the advantages and benefits of digitally enhancing university teaching. Furthermore, it is the first to investigate the integration of FastTest PlugIn to enhance teaching quality and engineering skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The temporal structuring of migrant gig workers' work and lives has been insufficiently addressed in research. Drawing on multi-sited onlineoffline methodologies, including interviews with migrants working via location-based work platforms (cleaning, food delivery) in Finland, we propose the term platform assemblage to analyse the temporal entanglements of living labour, work platforms and the border regime. We argue that migrant gig workers' entanglement in the platform assemblage engenders experiences of constraint, not only via formally weak labour market positions but also through the specific temporalities arising in the complex entwinement of algorithms, the varying digital platforms used, ratings, urban interferences, migratory status and the personal resources required to navigate these constraints. Discerning the relationship between migrants' encounters with the temporal border regime, the temporal organisation of platform work, and migrants' contestations over the dynamics of work, the article contributes to the emerging literature on migrant gig workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Under the label of 'Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI)', increasing efforts have been made over the past decade to make research and innovation (R&I) more open and inclusive to improve the way we solve today's complex challenges. However, no commonly accepted norms or standards on the practical implementation of RRI currently exist. One of today's challenges is how to facilitate its implementation within science education. This article aims to contribute to the necessary conceptual and practical grounding of RRI in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics) education by developing a framework of RRI competencies and by gaining insight into secondary school STEAM educators' practices and perspectives on teaching RRI competencies. It adds to an emerging research field in which science education contributes to solving real-world problems by focusing on competencies needed to participate in RRI processes. Methodology: After developing a Comprehensive Framework of RRI Competencies in STEAM education, we engaged secondary school teachers (n=40) involved in innovation within the education project Xplore Health (XH). Participants were recruited through purposive and homogenous sampling from three cities in Spain (Barcelona, Granada and A Coruña). Through one focus group in each city, we analysed teachers' perspectives on how well RRI competencies in the Framework were covered using the XH's educational resources and on how that coverage could be improved. Results: The results show that teachers encounter important limitations in addressing competencies within all the RRI process requirements: reflexivity, anticipation, inclusion and responsiveness. They suggested learning methods and actions for improving that coverage in secondary STEAM education. Discussion and conclusions: We conclude that the Comprehensive Framework of RRI Competencies helps teachers reflect on how to innovate in STEAM education and that Community-Based Participatory Research facilitates the development of most of the competencies teachers considered difficult to apply with the other approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mindfulness (i.e., relating to one's internal and external awareness with non-evaluative attitudes) is increasingly applied as a determinant and strategy to change dietary and physical activity behaviours in the general adult population. However, current applications of mindfulness lack methodological standardisation, thereby limiting its comparison. The aim of this study was to examine currently applied conceptual definitions of mindfulness regarding their elements, their measurement, and the consistency between the defined elements and their measurement. Using scoping review methodology, we searched PubMed, PsycINFO, and Web of Science databases for peer-reviewed literature. Definitions were analyzed using an inductive content analysis approach. Consistency between defined elements and measurement was scored on an index. Across 57 records, less than half defined mindfulness as specific to a disposition, state, or action. One third described mindfulness as an attentional process without attitudinal elements. An additional 30% mentioned non-judgment as the singular attitudinal element underlying mindfulness. Empirical articles (n = 45) predominantly assessed dispositional mindfulness as a single score and frequently lacked measurement of defined attitudinal elements or measured elements that were not defined. To advance the systematic investigation of mindfulness, we present a conceptual model describing the measurement selection based on explicitly defined attentional and attitudinal mindfulness elements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Physiological measures associated with emotional expressions have been used extensively in lab- and, more recently, digital-learning settings. However, the portable and ubiquitous nature of hardware that measures these physiological features makes them particularly useful in situations where you do not want the hardware to be too obtrusive, like in contexts of informal learning. In this proof-of-concept study, we apply skin conductance methods that measure Electrodermal Activity (EDA) to a family everyday activities context, in which a parent and their children, complete several science learning activities, while being recorded by both video and EDA hardware. We analyse the resulting data in three different ways: (i) a peak analysis in software recommended by the hardware provider, (ii) a conventional, qualitative microanalysis, and (iii) a method mainly used by econometricians to discover 'structural breaks' in time series data. We conclude that all three provide a piece of the overall puzzle, revealing up- and down-sides of each method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In June 2021, a girl named Du Meizhu revealed on Weibo (Chinese Twitter) of having been emotionally and sexually abused by the top-tier idol Kris Wu. The incident gained publicity over the month and climaxed in mid-July, when netizens started the hashtag #girls help girls# on Weibo. Rapidly topping the trending list, this incident led to heated discussions around the case and women's social status in contemporary Chinese patriarchy. Yet unlike its #MeToo counterpart, the hashtag had been taken down hastily within hours, cutting its practitioners off from further engagements. In this paper we nonetheless propose a more positive interpretation of the incident. Combining Massumi's affect theory with Foucault's heterotopia, we argue that Weibo users constructed themselves an affective heterotopia in the hashtag #girls help girls#. Through an affective textual analysis of the posts in the hashtag, we argue that while vulnerable to censorship, the affective force in this heterotopia is ultimately untameable to the discursive regime, potentially leading to concrete feminist ends. In so doing, we offer methodological insight for understanding online feminist discussions in the particular context of contemporary China, adding to scholarship that transcends the global North orientation in feminist theory and politics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This Committee Report provides methodological, interpretive, and reporting guidance for researchers who use measures of heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV) in psychophysiological research. We provide brief summaries of best practices in measuring HR and HRV via electrocardiographic and photoplethysmographic signals in laboratory, field (ambulatory), and brain‐imaging contexts to address research questions incorporating measures of HR and HRV. The Report emphasizes evidence for the strengths and weaknesses of different recording and derivation methods for measures of HR and HRV. Along with this guidance, the Report reviews what is known about the origin of the heartbeat and its neural control, including factors that produce and influence HRV metrics. The Report concludes with checklists to guide authors in study design and analysis considerations, as well as guidance on the reporting of key methodological details and characteristics of the samples under study. It is expected that rigorous and transparent recording and reporting of HR and HRV measures will strengthen inferences across the many applications of these metrics in psychophysiology. The prior Committee Reports on HR and HRV are several decades old. Since their appearance, technologies for human cardiac and vascular monitoring in laboratory and daily life (i.e., ambulatory) contexts have greatly expanded. This Committee Report was prepared for the Society for Psychophysiological Research to provide updated methodological and interpretive guidance, as well as to summarize best practices for reporting HR and HRV studies in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study introduces Indigenous Case Study (ICS) as a methodology poised to foster decolonized and anti-racist spaces. ICS is a weaving of TribalCrit, critical and Indigenous methodological approaches, and considers contemporary and historical contexts, simultaneously. In the current manuscript, ICS helps reimage campuses through revised policies and practices that work toward the creation of decolonized and inclusive institutions for Native students and communities. ICS allows for deeper analyses as we interrogate the dissonance between university president's statements about race and inclusion, institutional policies and practices, and the experiences of Native students as shared through student stories. We explore historical documents, president speeches, campus events, individual interviews, and researcher auto-narratives in Sharing Circles over the course of five years. The findings situate historical and contemporary campus contexts as we reveal five manifestations of oppression experienced by Native students: exploitation, marginalization, powerlessness, cultural imperialism, and violence. ICS provides circular and methodical methods that offer the opportunity to think in more complex ways as we offer findings and discussions on the cultivation of decolonized and anti-racist spaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored visually impaired youths' perspectives toward feeling valued in integrated physical education. Situated in an experiential qualitative approach, this study utilized inclusion understood as an intersubjective experience broadly, and feeling valued specifically, as a conceptual lens to guide and inform methodological and data interpretation decisions. Eighteen visually impaired youth completed two interviews each using video conference technology or phone call, and audio recorded, transcribed, and subjected to reflexive thematic analysis. Three interrelated themes were constructed, depicting the participants experiences and perspectives of what it means to be valued, and if they felt valued, within integrated physical education: (a) feeling valued is contingent on others, (b) value is unavailable without accessibility, and (c) being valued for possessing (non-athletic) characteristics. Participants described feeling valued or unvalued based on accommodative (e.g. peers acknowledging their impairment) or un-accommodative (e.g. teachers forgetting their impairment and needs) experiences with others within the PE context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cornerstone of this study is a poem of psychological poetry concerning some religious teachings. The poem was composed by the author. In a first step, in order to confirm the therapeutic capacity of psychological poetry, an after-death letter regarding a rabbi is presented. In a second step, psychological poetry's ability as a scientific tool is tested through a study of the relationship between religion and happiness. Here, religion is represented by some religious teachings of a luminary rabbi as they are understood by the author. Happiness is represented by research on Positive Psychology (PP). More specifically, the values of the religious teachings found in the poem are examined and compared to the scientifically established characteristics assigned to happiness. A new method of comparison is applied and allows us to identify and validate the presence of similarities between the two variables. The results obtained in both steps are positive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, the authors address some of the scientific challenges associated with using observation as a research method. The authors ask how researchers contextualise and understand observation in terms of its theoretical underpinnings and how it is conducted. Using a vignette in the kindergarten context, the authors explore how observation as a research method requires theoretical reflection in and on observational work. They discuss the role of the observing researcher in a dialectical position and process. The researchers discuss both the dependency on – and the critical suspension of preunderstanding that is necessary for – conducting observations. In addition to being grounded in the researcher's own embodied position, observation is directed towards something/somebody and by somebody. The researchers are simultaneously also observed by those they are observing. The conclusion assumes that reciprocity in the understanding of observation contributes to knowledge and discussions about credibility and validity in qualitative research based on observation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Electrónica Interuniversitaria De Formación del Profesorado is the property of Asociacion Universitaria de Formacion del Profesorado (AUFOP) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Existing research qualitatively explores consumer preferences for stroke rehabilitation interventions. However, it remains unclear which intervention characteristics are most important to consumers, and how these preferences may influence uptake and participation. Discrete choice experiments (DCE) provide a unique way to quantitatively measure preferences for health and health care. This study aims to explore how DCEs have been used in stroke rehabilitation and to identify reported consumer preferences for rehabilitation interventions. A systematic review of published stroke rehabilitation DCEs was completed (PROSPERO registration: CRD42021282578). Six databases (including CINAHL, MEDLINE, EconLIT) were searched from January 2000-March 2023. Data extracted included topic area, sample size, aim, attributes, design process, and preference outcomes. Descriptive and thematic analyses were conducted, and two methodological checklists applied to review quality. Of 2,446 studies screened, five were eligible. Studies focused on exercise preference (n = 3), the structure and delivery of community services (n = 1), and self-management programs (n = 1). All had small sample sizes (range 50–146) and were of moderate quality (average score of 77%). Results indicated people have strong preferences for one-to-one therapy (over group-based), light-moderate intensity of exercise, and delivery by qualified therapists (over volunteers). Few DCEs have been conducted in stroke rehabilitation, suggesting consumer preferences could be more rigorously explored. Included studies were narrow in the scope of attributes included, limiting their application to practice and policy. Further research is needed to assess the impact of differing service delivery models on uptake and participation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Mevzu is the property of Ali Sever and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Tourism geographers in Anglo-American geographical departments are transitioning into teaching and research tourism in applied schools and departments, such as business, resource and environment, and even cultural and creative industries. Because of pressure related to national research assessment and funding, tourism geographers are not encouraged to continue undertaking serious theoretical research related to their mother discipline, instead transitioning to conducting applied research and publishing in hybrid journals. Although such changes in tourism geographers' research behavior are frequently discussed internationally, they have not been assessed and reported in academic contexts within Asia, particularly Taiwan. This study aimed to investigate the research behavior of tourism geographers regarding the differences between those who are staffed in geography departments and those who transition to applied departments such as tourism and recreation, resource and environment, and others. Their research behavior is examined in terms of publishing journals, paradigmatic approaches, research types, research methods, and geographical scales based on content analysis of articles published by tourism geographers in geography and tourism and recreation departments. The results revealed that there are significant differences in the research behavior of tourism geographers between different departments. Finally, this paper explains the differences in terms of Taiwan's changing social and economic conditions, the academic traditions and politics of the geography and applied departments, the research habits and preferences of tourism geographers among departments, and other aspects. The findings can help international tourism geography academic circles understand the complexity and diversity of the tourism geography academic landscape of China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid (AsA), is an essential organic compound that is crucial for both plants and animals. Due to the inability of humans and some other animals to synthesize AsA, it is essential for them to consume sufficient plant products, especially leaves and fruits, which are good sources of AsA. Numerous studies have attempted to understand how different environmental factors influence crop AsA development. However, a comprehensive understanding of how environmental conditions affect ascorbic acid development remains elusive. This challenge may be due, in part, to the inherent difficulty of accurately and consistently measuring plant AsA. Measurements vary significantly depending on the tools and techniques used to capture them, and consequently, comparing results from different studies is complex. To address this challenge, our study develops a regression model to predict the AsA content in lettuce based on different light conditions. By analyzing how the varying daily light integral (DLI) and the blue light spectrum affect AsA levels, the model provides actionable insights for optimizing light treatments. This model not only aids in enhancing the development of AsA in lettuce but also assists farmers in achieving more sustainable agricultural practices by identifying optimal light spectra and DLI, thus promoting efficient resource utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The smart city concept has entered the public debate over the last decade as a concept for the development of urban space for the efficiency, improvement and availability of public and private services and sustainability. The Business Models Canvas is most often used in the literature for the creation of business models of smart services. On the basis of the above, we investigated whether the Business Models Canvas is the most used tool for creating business models for public smart services in Slovakia and whether cities and municipalities need to evaluate their models for the provision of public smart services. However, there is no commonly used methodology for evaluating smart city business models to help both practitioners and researchers choose the best option. The goal of the research is to create a tool for evaluating business models of public smart services in smart cities. The base method used was the Delphi method, based on the previous primary (content) analysis process of the Business Model Canvas best practices. In total, 709 towns and villages participated in the primary research. Subsequently, the obtained data were evaluated and used for further research using the Delphi method, in which 28 experts participated. The research was carried out between 2020 and 2023 in Slovakia. Primary research confirmed that the Business Models Canvas is the most used tool for creating business models for public smart services in Slovakia and cities and municipalities need to evaluate their models for the provision of public smart services. Areas and basic building blocks were also identified for the design of the evaluation methodology of business models for public smart services. The proposal of the methodology for evaluating business smodels for public smart services in Slovakia was implemented using the Delphi method with the cooperation of 28 experts. Based on the results of the Delphi method, a methodological procedure for evaluating business models for public smart services was established. The methodology proposed in the paper is a simple, organized, flexible and transparent system that facilitates the work of evaluators of business models of public smart services and marketing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As part of a research project on the lived and everyday temporal experiences of British people in the Covid-19 pandemic, a Mass Observation directive was commissioned that asked volunteers about their changing rhythms, feelings, and imagined futures. The responses were rich and raw. Some of these reflections, however, expressed a risk of harm that raised ethical issues that were not anticipated beforehand. These issues were complicated by the interstitial character of the data, being not primary and not quite secondary. This Sociology in Action paper reflects on one diary that expressed risk of harm to think through the slipperiness of the data as well as the ethical responsibility researchers have towards the well-being of participants and that of their own. I suggest a proactive ethical framework for such interstitial data that includes an ethics of care towards the participants and stimulates ethical reflexivity that prepares the researcher for potential emotional ties and investments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Additive manufacturing and topology optimization provide new possibilities to produce complex parts. They can be used separately but with joint applications as a mutually reinforcing solution in component development tasks. The results obtained using the design software can be refined even further depending on the specific goal set. This paper deals with mass reduction with stiffness-based topology optimization of a structural component. The effect of different design spaces, load cases, and design parameters were examined. Then, the new part was validated with FEA simulation. After the validation, the part was prepared for 3D metal printing. Based on the research results, we present a methodology that can be used as a solution considering the software's limitations and the development of the specific component. Applying the methodology developed in the research makes it possible to achieve mass minimization on other parts with a similar method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article argues that the material dimensions of secrecy, which have been neglected within academic research into consumption and into material culture, are ripe for sociological analysis and attention. We draw on two empirical projects – one using qualitative interviews to talk to women about their sex toys and the other ethnographically informed research into things people keep but are no longer using - to explore secret things within the home. By taking a facet methodology approach, we consider secret objects in relation to each other and interrogate how secrets are made (in)visible through strategies and practices around objects within the home and how the potency of secret objects is managed. We make two key arguments: first, considering the relationship between secrecy and intimacy, we argue that there are three dimensions of secrecy (which do not always coalesce): what is known about, what is verbalised, and what is materialised. Second, we redirect the idea of relational work to material things, looking at where things are kept, who they are revealed to and the silences around things, and argue that these practices are part of the work of everyday relationships and intimacies. The article demonstrates that objects are vital in understanding how secrecy, intimacy and everyday relationships are lived and forms part of a wider argument for the sociology of culture to centre the unnoticed and mundane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this research was creation and validation of a methodology for the development of production systems of suppliers of the automotive industry. The theoretical starting points analyze the available literary sources and point to the insufficient treatment of the issue by a comprehensive industry standard representing a gap in the current state of knowledge. The practical part of the research is divided into two stages. The subject of the first stage is the standardization of the methodology through a structured scientific procedure in intensive cooperation with a panel of experts. The subject of the second stage is testing the methodology on authentic projects of the application sector using case studies. The results of the testing showed that in all projects managed using the proposed methodology there was an increase in performance compared to projects managed in a traditional way. The successful confrontation of the proposed solution with reality (practice) is underlined by the confrontation with the current state of knowledge (theory). The practical benefits of the research are the possibility of implementing the methodology into the pedagogical process at training workplaces and, above all, its application into engineering practice to develop new production systems of suppliers of the automotive industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Environmental & Social Management Journal / Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental is the property of Environmental & Social Management Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Environmental & Social Management Journal / Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental is the property of Environmental & Social Management Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Environmental & Social Management Journal / Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental is the property of Environmental & Social Management Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)