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Research on persons with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities (PIMD) has been limited and faces unique challenges, including accessibility, methodological issues, and ethical considerations, especially when using AI-based technologies. Negative attitudes toward technology from gatekeepers exacerbate these challenges. The text summarizes the experience of studies that explores AI's application in recognizing emotional states in individuals with PIMD through complex and multimodal data collection, including video, facial expressions, and vocalizations. Methodological challenges include the need for extensive data and the heterogeneity of the target group. AI has been utilized to interpret behaviors of people with PIMD, albeit with limitations in data processing and AI performance. Ethical concerns arose regarding privacy and the comprehensiveness of data collection, impacting the participation and utility of AI in research with vulnerable populations. Despite substantial impediments, AI research offers potential quality-of-life benefits for people with PIMD but requires an ethically reflective approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the impact of methodological choices and collaborative processes in a complex study that delved into the intimate experiences of violence as narrated by conscripts to the Peruvian armed forces. Lurgio Gavilán is a Peruvian anthropologist who strongly identifies with the interviewed veterans because of his own experiences, and Jelke Boesten is European feminist scholar with specific ideas about gender justice. Our collaboration allows us to raise fundamental questions around the limitations, validity, and ethics of knowledge production. The "debris" of this collaboration refers to the ethical questions that we may have previously failed to raise and address. Why did each of us embark on this research? Have our respective epistemological positions shifted due to the research? How has the nature of the collaboration, and our different positions of power therein, enlightened or concerned us? With what are we left, and what do we leave behind? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the value of serial assessments and the challenges of observational research in the context of extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) for patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). It highlights three large randomized controlled trials that evaluated the effect of ECPR on survival, each with different findings. The article then introduces a new study that examines the added value of serial lactate measurements for outcome prediction among adult patients undergoing ECPR after OHCA. The study finds that increased lactate clearance is associated with higher survival rates and more favorable neurological outcomes. However, the study has limitations, such as not incorporating arterial oxygen tension (Pao2) into the analysis, which may have influenced the results. Overall, the study emphasizes the importance of serial assessments and post-resuscitation care in improving outcomes for ECPR patients. [Extracted from the article]

Persuasive arguments attribute academics' persistent struggles in making time for writing to the increasing demands of a marketised sector on the academic role (Dickson-Swift et al. 2009; Macleod, Steckley, and Murray 2012). Whilst a significant body of literature promotes different writing interventions as potential solutions, the challenge of building and sustaining a culture in which their positive outcomes are maintained remains. In this paper, I explore the practices of academics writing for publication purposes. Drawing on the concept of academic writing as 'identity work (French 2020), I demonstrate that writing practices are entwined with wider academic and institutional identities, which either work for or against building sustainable writing cultures. I argue for a methodological shift in how writing initiatives are researched, drawing a distinction between my ethnographic case study of one writing group and others that focus either on retrospective accounts or analysing correlations between writing groups and productivity. Specifically, I argue for a focus on the ongoing process of becoming a writer rather than on its production. The study builds on existing literature to explain why writing groups are experienced as valuable to participants. It argues that they offer more than simply protected space for writing; they reframe participants' understandings of themselves and their academic identities and reintegrate research writing with other aspects of their role. This identity work occurs within visible, protected spaces for writing, where participants work both individually and in community, and reflection and dialogue are central. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The revamp of the National Student Survey (NSS) has led to the elimination of the final 'overall satisfaction' question for Higher Education Institutions in England. This paper develops an index approach that can effectively summarise student satisfaction, utilising a 'fuzzy poverty' methodology that assigns weights to dissatisfaction outcomes based on their correlation levels. We show how our dissatisfaction index enables a comprehensive sector-level analysis by combining NSS data with sector-wide data and further show the usefulness by presenting a case study. Our approach can be universally and unbiasedly applied to student surveys globally, while alleviating problems related to the removal of the overall satisfaction question in the UK. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article questions what social scientists mean by the term 'Member of Parliament' ('MP') and explains that they tend to associate it with a universal conception of parliamentary representation. The author starts to present the rationale behind this presupposition, which lies in the resistance of legislative studies to interpretive approaches, and shows its limits. He then defends the necessity of extensive scientific knowledge of deliberative assemblies to distinguish the vernacular meanings of the notion of 'MP' from its analytical meaning. Finally, he takes the example of his own research in France to show the concrete difficulties of a singular conception of parliamentary representation and to expose the virtues of using empirical-based ideal types to overcome them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) pose a challenge for achieving science that is both reproducible and replicable. The challenge is compounded in supervised models that depend on manually labeled training data, as they introduce additional decision‐making and processes that require thorough documentation and reporting. We address these limitations by providing an approach to hand labeling training data for supervised ML that integrates quantitative content analysis (QCA)—a method from social science research. The QCA approach provides a rigorous and well‐documented hand labeling procedure to improve the replicability and reproducibility of supervised ML applications in Earth systems science (ESS), as well as the ability to evaluate them. Specifically, the approach requires (a) the articulation and documentation of the exact decision‐making process used for assigning hand labels in a "codebook" and (b) an empirical evaluation of the reliability" of the hand labelers. In this paper, we outline the contributions of QCA to the field, along with an overview of the general approach. We then provide a case study to further demonstrate how this framework has and can be applied when developing supervised ML models for applications in ESS. With this approach, we provide an actionable path forward for addressing ethical considerations and goals outlined by recent AGU work on ML ethics in ESS. Plain Language Summary: Artificial intelligence and machine learning can make it hard to do science in a way that can be repeated. This can mean redoing a study in the exact same way to see if you can get the same or similar results (reproducibility) or trying to use the same study design on a new problem to see if the results are the same or similar (replicability). These types of scientific repetitions is important for developing robust knowledge, but is hard to do with certain types of machine learning that rely on data that were categorized by researchers. The researchers have to make decisions and categorize their data, which the machine learning algorithm then uses as a guide to make its own decisions. Generally, there is not enough information shared by the researchers about how these decisions were made to repeat the science or evaluate how good it is. In this paper, we provide a way to address these shortcomings. The approach and example we offer illustrates how to (a) create a rulebook that can be shared for how to make decisions and (b) quantitatively measure how consistent the researchers are at using that rulebook to make their decisions. Key Points: We provide a rigorous hand labeling procedure to improve the replicability and reproducibility of supervised machine learning (ML)Our case study and step‐by‐step guide clearly outline how the procedure can be appliedThe procedure is an actionable path forward for addressing ethical considerations and goals for ML development in Earth systems science [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, more people are living into advanced old age, with age-associated frailty, disability and multimorbidity. Achieving equity for all ages necessitates adapting healthcare systems. Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) have an important place in adapting evidence-based medicine and clinical care to reflect these changing needs. CPGs can facilitate better and more systematic care for older people. But they can also present a challenge to patient-centred care and shared decision-making when clinical and/or socioeconomic heterogeneity or personal priorities are not reflected in recommendations or in their application. Indeed, evidence is often lacking to enable this variability to be reflected in guidance. Evidence is more likely to be lacking about some sections of the population. Many older adults are at the intersection of many factors associated with exclusion from traditional clinical evidence sources with higher incidence of multimorbidity and disability compounded by poorer healthcare access and ultimately worse outcomes. We describe these challenges and illustrate how they can adversely affect CPG scope, the evidence available and its summation, the content of CPG recommendations and their patient-centred implementation. In all of this, we take older adults as our focus, but much of what we say will be applicable to other marginalised groups. Then, using the established process of formulating a CPG as a framework, we consider how these challenges can be mitigated, with particular attention to applicability and implementation. We consider why CPG recommendations on the same clinical areas may be inconsistent and describe approaches to ensuring that CPGs remain up to date. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This introduction to the special issue titled, "Reading: The Long Preparation for Inquiry," asks why reading has not been as prominent as writing in educational and social science research. The authors suggest reading may not seem as empirical as writing and so has been assigned fairly limited roles in the research process—reading for the literature review at the beginning of a research project and reading to review research reports at the end. Reading, especially reading philosophy, which the authors encourage, can be considered speculative and ephemeral and bound more to the rational than the empirical side of the rational/empirical binary that structures empirical research's epistemological goals. Also, it can be difficult to control reading—who knows what a reader might read? The authors recommend that researchers commit to reading as a necessary, lengthy preparation for scholarship and research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the methodological design of a qualitative research strategy that followed the bricolage approach. The research, a qualitative case study, followed the empowerment journey of 12 adult learners in a second chance educational programme, aiming at recording the mechanisms through which the learners were empowered or disempowered. The initial plan to use a single methodology was modified to address the challenges that raised from the study itself. This modification led to the implementation of the bricolage approach. Following the bricolage principles opened a space of a creative combination of different methodologies, theories, and tools and the implementation of all the five types of bricolage, namely the theoretical, the methodological, the interpretive, the narrative, and the political. The paper presents a detailed account on how bricolage was developed as a "custom-fit" construct to serve the goals of the study. Hermeneutic Phenomenology and Critical Discourse Analysis were the two main methodologies combined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article addresses the implications of intersectional qualitative interviews across identity categories of gender, race, ethnicity, and immigrant status. Responding to the research gap on the intersectionality in qualitative interviews and informed by the intersectionality framework, this reflective critical discourse study shares an analysis of two interviews conducted by a female minority researcher. Using the analytic methods of critical discourse analysis, the study examines how the interviewer and interviewee enacted, resisted, and negotiated diverse positionalities and power imbalance within the interview space. Particularly, the analysis demonstrates the researcher's challenges, vulnerability, and mitigating efforts in resisting the powered position taken by the interviewee in light of gender, race, and immigrant status. It also reveals how identity convergence allowed the participants to inhabit the space as collaborative insiders despite the tension in other layers of intersection. Methodological dilemmas and implications for intersectional interviews will be discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The rapidly growing field of multimorbidity research demonstrates that changes in multimorbidity in mid- and late-life have far reaching effects on important person-centered outcomes, such as health-related quality of life. However, there are few organizing frameworks and comparatively little work weighing the merits and limitations of various quantitative methods applied to the longitudinal study of multimorbidity. Methods We identify and discuss methods aligned to specific research objectives with the goals of (i) establishing a common language for assessing longitudinal changes in multimorbidity, (ii) illuminating gaps in our knowledge regarding multimorbidity progression and critical periods of change, and (iii) informing research to identify groups that experience different rates and divergent etiological pathways of disease progression linked to deterioration in important health-related outcomes. Results We review practical issues in the measurement of multimorbidity, longitudinal analysis of health-related data, operationalizing change over time, and discuss methods that align with 4 general typologies for research objectives in the longitudinal study of multimorbidity: (i) examine individual change in multimorbidity, (ii) identify subgroups that follow similar trajectories of multimorbidity progression, (iii) understand when, how, and why individuals or groups shift to more advanced stages of multimorbidity, and (iv) examine the coprogression of multimorbidity with key health domains. Conclusions This work encourages a systematic approach to the quantitative study of change in multimorbidity and provides a valuable resource for researchers working to measure and minimize the deleterious effects of multimorbidity on aging populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For years educators have advocated for student voice as an emancipatory project with the potential of addressing the inequalities of schooling and beyond. However, against a burgeoning education practice and policy concern for student wellbeing, student voice practice in schools may privilege an inward rather than outward gaze, curtailing the likelihood of transformative action. In this article I examine the enactment of a student voice initiative with a wellbeing focus in a Melbourne primary school. Methodologically, I take a case-study approach, drawing on fieldnotes, interviews with school staff, and student focus group data. I draw on the concepts of 'emotional capital' and 'feeling rules' to illustrate the way that the affective aspects of inequality were (re)produced. I argue that student voice practice when focused on wellbeing warrants particular attention as, rather than addressing inequalities, student voice practice may generate further advantage for those whom the system of education serves best. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This conceptual paper proposes that all methodologies create a footprint like the carbon footprint. Design and implementation of new methodologies require limited resources and funding, and these resources are not equitably distributed on a global scale. Thus, we argue for more ecological uses of methodologies, especially in the context of data collection and interdependent relations of knowledge/information creation. Like the excessive use of energy sources, potentially unnecessary productions of new data, information, and evidence should not be regarded as unproblematic, let alone virtuous. Rather, qualitative researchers, funding agencies, and other bodies that evaluate research, should question whether new data, information, evidence are needed and at what cost. We also propose more data recycling, data sharing, open access data, and other ecological ways of supporting shared knowledge and monitoring excessive data production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study tackles the Garden of Forking Paths, as a challenge for replicability and reproducibility of ERP studies. Here, we applied a multiverse analysis to a sample ERP N400 dataset, donated by an independent research team. We analyzed this dataset using 14 pipelines selected to showcase the full range of methodological variability found in the N400 literature using systematic review approach. The selected pipelines were compared in depth by looking into statistical test outcomes, descriptive statistics, effect size, data quality, and statistical power. In this way we provide a worked example of how analytic flexibility can impact results in research fields with high dimensionality such as ERP, when analyzed using standard null‐hypothesis significance testing. Out of the methodological decisions that were varied, high‐pass filter cut‐off, artifact removal method, baseline duration, reference, measurement latency and locations, and amplitude measure (peak vs. mean) were all shown to affect at least some of the study outcome measures. Low‐pass filtering was the only step which did not notably influence any of these measures. This study shows that even some of the seemingly minor procedural deviations can influence the conclusions of an ERP study. We demonstrate the power of multiverse analysis in both identifying the most reliable effects in a given study, and for providing insights into consequences of methodological decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose: The international Consensus on Therapeutic Exercise aNd Training (i-CONTENT) tool is a new instrument developed to evaluate the therapeutic quality of exercise interventions. Home-based exercise has been shown to improve physical fitness in older adults, but its effects may be influenced by therapeutic quality. The purpose of this systematic review was to describe the therapeutic quality of home-based exercise interventions for community-dwelling older adults and examine the relationship between therapeutic quality and changes in physical fitness. Methods: Six electronic databases and 2 clinical trial registries were searched for randomized controlled trials investigating the effects of home-based exercise on physical fitness in community- dwelling older adults (≥60 years). Therapeutic quality was evaluated using the i-CONTENT tool for items of patient selection, type of exercise, safety, type/timing of outcomes, exercise dose, and adherence. International Consensus on Therapeutic Exercise aNd Training items were used to explain heterogeneity in meta-regression analyses. Risk of bias, certainty of evidence and credibility of analyses were assessed. Results: Thirty-six trials (n = 6157 participants) were identified. Most studies (≥66.7%) had high or probably high therapeutic quality for i-CONTENT items, except exercise dose (47.2%) and adherence (16.7%). Interventions improved upper- (N = 20 trials; standardized mean difference [SMD] = 0.39; 95% CI, 0.13-0.64; low certainty of evidence) and lower-body strength (N = 28; SMD = 0.42; 95% CI, 0.08-0.77; very low certainty), and aerobic fitness (N = 8; SMD = 0.42; 95% CI, 0.08-0.77; very low certainty). For exercise dose, low- or probably low-quality studies negatively influenced effects on upper- (estimated β = -.48; P = .049; moderate credibility) and lower-body strength (estimated β = -.77; P = .048; moderate credibility). For adherence, low- or probably low-quality studies negatively influenced effects on aerobic fitness (estimated β = -.97; P = .02; low credibility). Conclusions: Home-based exercise may improve upper- and lower-body strength, as well as aerobic fitness in older adults. However, the effectiveness of interventions is affected by inadequate dosing of exercise programs and adherence issues. Physical therapists should have the best available evidence to support their clinical decision making, especially when designing and monitoring home programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Zeitschrift für Pädagogik is the property of Julius Beltz GmbH & Co. KG Beltz Juventa 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.)

The Restricted Mean Survival Time (RMST) serves as a valuable and extensively utilized metric in clinical trials. However, its application becomes intricate when dealing with data atiected by lengthbiased sampling, rendering traditional inference strategies inadequate. To overcome this challenge, we advocate for the adoption of nonparametric techniques. One notably promising approach is the Empirical Likelihood (EL) method, which furnishes robust results without the need for stringent parametric assumptions. In practical scenarios, the underlying sampling distributions often remain elusive, necessitating adjustments in the case of parametric methodologies. The EL method has demonstrated its eficacy in addressing such complexities. Consequently, this paper introduces the EL method for computing RMST in situations involving both length-biased and right-censored data. Additionally, we introduce the concept of adjusted empirical likelihood (AEL) to further enhance the coverage probability, particularly when dealing with smaller sample sizes. To gauge the performance of the EL and AEL methods, we conduct simulations and rigorously compare their results. The findings unequivocally demonstrate that AEL-based confidence intervals consistently provide superior coverage probability when juxtaposed with EL-based intervals. Lastly, we substantiate the practical applicability of our proposed method by employing it in the analysis of a real dataset. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we are going to obtain some normal superchar- acter theories of a group of order 6n with the presentation special cases. We will also prove that the automorphic supercharacter theories of this group can be computed with the other methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we delve into frame theory to create an in- novative iterative method for resolving the operator equation Lu = f. In this case, L : H ! H, a bounded, invertible, and self-adjoint lin- ear operator, operates within a separable Hilbert space denoted by H. Our methodology, which is based on the GMRES projective method, in- troduces an alternate search space, which brings another dimension to the problem-solving process. Our investigation continues with the assess- ment of convergence, where we look at the corresponding convergence rate. This rate is intricately in uenced by the frame bounds, shedding light on the eflectiveness of our approach. Furthermore, we investigate the ideal scenario in which the equation finds an exact solution, providing useful insights into the practical implications of our work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main focus of this paper is the meaning of the term "theory" in comparative law. It examines the comparative law theory literature and conducts an in-depth analysis of a sample of articles from two journals (AJCL and EJCLG). Theory is considered very important in legal scholarship. AJCL articles are usually more "theory-thick" than their European counterparts. Nevertheless, the majority of European literature also places a strong emphasis on theory-related language. Yet, it is often unclear why authors used these words or what they contributed to the paragraph, section, or research objective. None of the articles reviewed discussed or acknowledged the polysemous nature of theory. This lack of clarity and transparency may hinder the progress of comparative law scholarship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The introductory discourse is the one that introduces the text from the point of view of another writer, which is different from that of a genuine or actual writer. It is just a prefacing discourse which inaugurates the text. The introductory discourse appeared in modern literature with the appearance of Gerard Genet's book " Attabat" " The Thresholds ", especially after it shed light on the outer text which includes the titles, preface, dictation, introduction and cover .etc. Instead of the importance of the book " Thresholds" (Attabat) in explaining the texts and discovering its gentrification, the received feedback exaggerated its applied practicing; therefore it deviated from the genuine text. What should be mentioned here is that the presence of the introductory discourse in the chronicle of Western criticism, it does not mean that it is not found in the Arabic chronicle. The heritage or tradition books assured that the old historians and the writers of biographies were interested in such discourses whether that which were written by them or by others. This study deals with the introductory discourse of Taha Hussein. He also adopted the new generations and their important writings; he was very keen to enlighten their writings with his great style. His writings to theses introduction were not in a hurry or impressional. They depended on an accurate and strict scientific. Hence, it seeks to identify the introductory discourse of Taha Hussein. It tries to pinpoint the types, objectives and forms of the introductory discourse of Taha Hussein. It approaches the aspects of the curriculum which he used in his writings and to discover whether there is a difference between this genre of writing and his intellectual and critical writing. This study is divided into two parts; the first part is a theoretical one, identifying the introductory discourse, its objectives and types in the Arabic tradition. The second part deals with the forms of the introductory discourse and its sorts of taha Hussein. His writings of the introductory course were various including the introductions of the literary, intellectual and biographical translations of? books. The study concluded that the introductory discourse was prominent in the Arabic and Islamic culture, and Taha Hussein played an effective part in the culture; presenting integrated vision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European Space Agency (ESA) has been developing an MBSE Methodology to address the increased digitalization of systems engineering and facilitate the complex system development in ESA projects and other European space projects. The methodology is based on the European Cooperation for Space Standardization (ECSS) standards for Systems Engineering, and feedback from projects using the methodology. By using the ECSS standards as the starting point, the processes, terminology and expected outputs are familiar to the engineers, lowering the usage barrier within the Agency. This paper describes the background of and effort for establishing the MBSE methodology and a description of the methodology. The paper also reports on the current efforts at ESA for deploying MBSE and the way forward regarding the methodology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Colombiana de Ciencias Sociales is the property of Fondo Editorial Fundacion Universitaria Luis Amigo 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.)

Surface hydrologic modeling becomes a problem when insufficient spatial and temporal information is available. It is common to have useful modeling periods of less than 15 years. The purpose of this work is to develop a methodology that allows the selection of meteorological and hydrometric stations that are suitable for modeling when information is scarce in the area. Based on the scarcity of data, a series of statistical tests are proposed to eliminate stations according to a decision-making process. Although the number of stations decreases drastically, the information used is reliable and of adequate quality, ensuring less uncertainty in the surface simulation models. Individual basin modeling can be carried out considering the poor data. The transfer of parameters can be applied through the nesting of basins to have information distributed over an extensive area. Therefore, temporally and spatially extended modeling can be achieved with information that preserves statistical parameters over time. If data management and validation is performed, the modeled watersheds are well represented; if this is not done, only 26% to 50% of the runoff is represented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - Self-assessment is regarded as a complex metacognitive process by scholars. Nevertheless, in the context of English as a Second Language (ESL) speaking, self-assessment practices often rely on assessment criteria and teacher commentaries. However, speaking involves spontaneous expression with limited access to external standards. Therefore, this case study aims to explore the metacognitive strategies that proficient ESL students use during selfassessment in spontaneous speech production contexts. Methodology - Three participants, purposefully selected, participated in two spontaneous group discussions recorded on video. Instances of participants' dysfluency served as prompts in stimulated recall interviews, complemented by video recordings to validate participants' responses. The thematic analysis of interview data utilised a conceptual framework integrating O'Malley and Chamot's (1990) metacognitive strategies and Kormos' (2006) speech production model. Findings - The analysis revealed that participants employed three key metacognitive strategies - organisational planning, selective attention, and self-monitoring to self-assess their spontaneous speech. Feedback sources, such as their proficiency in the second language (L2) and contextual factors, influenced the application and effectiveness of these strategies during self-assessment (SA). Significance - This study offers insights into how proficient ESL students self-assess their spontaneous speech production, leveraging their available resources. In addition, this study identifies speech challenges the participants encountered and how they applied metacognitive strategies to address them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - Given the research gaps identified in a literature review, this study aims to uncover how the intensity of learners' motivational behavior and its predictors vary with grade level. Methodology - A large-scale survey was conducted to examine motivational behavior and its predictors among EFL learners across three education levels and ten grades in Taiwan: primary school (Grades 3 to 6), junior high school (Grades 7 to 9), and senior high school (Grades 10 to 12). A total of 12,441 valid cases were collected from both rural and urban areas in Taiwan. ANOVA and multiple regression analysis were used to analyze the data. Findings - The results showed a significant effect of grade level on the intensity of motivational behavior. Specifically, learners' intensity of motivational behavior tended to decline with grade level (years of study). The significant predictors of motivational behavior also differed with grade level. Significance - In addition to theoretical and methodological contributions to L2 motivation research, this study can enhance understanding of factors that could enhance learners' motivational behavior and offer implications to assist EFL teachers in developing motivational teaching strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - The language load within mathematics test items can lead to inaccuracy in assessing Orang Asli pupils' mathematical ability due to their struggle in comprehending the academic language. This study aims to determine the validity of using test accommodations in the form of oral academic language and oral native language when administering mathematics computation and word problem test items among the Orang Asli pupils. Methodology - By employing a quantitative approach, this study utilised random equivalent group design to examine the validity of using oral test accommodations among 334 Grade Four Orang Asli pupils. Three testlets were constructed and used in this study: written test in the academic language (WAL), oral test in the academic language (OAL), and oral test in the native language (ONL). The three testlets comprised Paper 1 and Paper 2, each consisting of 20 mathematics computation and 20-word problem test items, respectively. One-way ANOVA was used to analyse and examine if there were differences in the mathematics performance between the three groups of tests administered to the Orang Asli pupils. Findings - The results indicated that the test scores of the pupils on the oral tests were higher compared to the written test administered to the pupils for both mathematics computation and word problem items. For computation items, the pupils performed better in the OAL testlet, followed by the ONL testlet. On the other hand, the pupils obtained the highest test scores in the ONL testlet compared to the OAL testlet for word problem items. Furthermore, the results illustrate that there is a difference in the mathematics performance of the Orang Asli pupils between the oral tests in both languages and written tests in the academic language. Significant - This study clearly shows that language plays a prominent role in affecting the Orang Asli pupils' mathematics performance. By utilising the oral test as a promising test accommodation, this measure could help address the language barrier faced by the Orang Asli pupils in mathematics testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - This study aims to conduct a thorough examination and bibliometric analysis of the scholarly articles on PjBL (Project-Based Learning) and 21st-century skills published from 2020 to 2023. The analysis will specifically concentrate on the global distribution of these articles and identifying any prevailing research patterns or trends. Methodology - Utilizing "PjBL" and "21st-century skills" as search terms, the Scopus database was employed for the analysis encompassing annual publications, nations, institutions, authors, journals, references, and keywords in the field. This analysis was facilitated by VOSviewer and Microsoft Excel 2019 software. Findings - There has been a significant increase in publication volume between 2020 and 2023. Among the 2,472 articles within the Scopus database by the end of October 2023, Indonesia emerged as the primary contributor of publications among all nations. The VOSviewer indicates that the key issues revolve around, project-based learning (PjBL), pedagogy, critical thinking, education, sustainability, higher education, and 21st-century skills. Significance - A comprehensive analysis of the global landscape concerning project-based learning (PjBL) and, between 2020 and 2023, aims to uncover pivotal trends, emerging issues, influential authors, and seminal works in educational research. The anticipated outcomes hold the potential to offer multifaceted insights into PjBL and 21st-century skills, contributing to the exploration of innovative educational methodologies. Additionally, this study's investigation of specific research inquiries aims to provide a holistic overview, further enriching the understanding of these crucial educational paradigms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective(s): Systematic reviews are a valuable resource for policy makers, managers and health workers for evidence-based policy making, planning and delivery of health services. However, some systematic reviews are poorly conducted and reported. This study aimed to explain the methodology of systematic review in the health system. Methods: This study was conducted using a scoping review method. Published articles on systematic review methodology in the health system until April 19, 2024 were searched in 3 databases, including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science and Google Scholar search engine. Overall, 109 articles were selected after screening and analysed using narrative analysis method. Results: A systematic review is "an explicit and systematic secondary study to identify, critically appraise, and synthesize primary research evidence to answer a specific research question." Systematic reviews help policymakers, managers, health workers, patients, and the public to apply the best current evidence to practice at a lower cost. Moreover, systematic review is used to develop a new theory or evaluate an existing theory. A simple and comprehensive protocol for conducting a systematic review was proposed. It includes seven steps of formulating research question, searching the literature, screening and selecting studies, appraising the quality of studies, extracting data from included studies, analysing and synthesizing data, and interpreting findings and presenting a conclusion. In addition, the structure of writing a systematic review article was explained and a checklist for evaluating systematic review articles was presented. Conclusion: Methodological limitations of systematic reviews affect the conclusions of these studies. In this study, a suitable model for conducting a systematic review was presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: One of the inherent duties of the Cultural and Social Affairs Department of Farhangian University is to extend the governance of cultural and social spheres across all dimensions of the university. In this regard, numerous and diverse plans and activities have been implemented in recent years. The aim of this article is to analyze the cultural and social activities conducted at the university level and to provide an optimal model in this context. Methodology: The Three-Branch Model was used as a theoretical framework. The method employed was mixed, comprising both qualitative and quantitative sections. The qualitative sample population included 30 cultural experts selected through purposive sampling. The quantitative sample population consisted of 194 active members of student organizations, chosen through stratified random sampling. Data collection techniques included in-depth interviews and questionnaires. Findings: The findings indicate that structural factors (0.195), behavioral factors (0.368), and contextual factors (0.312) play significant roles in the formation of issues and problems in cultural and social programs and activities. Additionally, the regression results show that 63% of the variance in the dependent variable is explained by these three variables: structural factors, contextual factors, and behavioral factors. Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that the structural, behavioral, and contextual factors play significant roles in shaping the outcomes of cultural programs and activities at Farhangian University. This section discusses the implications of these results, drawing on relevant literature to highlight the broader context and potential strategies for enhancing the effectiveness of cultural programs in higher education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Ética y Cine Journal is the property of Etica y Cine 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.)

United Theological College is one of the oldest and largest ecumenical institutions in Southern Africa. The institution brings together six Protestant churches in Zimbabwe. For years, the institution produced competent theologians. Unfortunately, these theologians drunk from some foreign theological calabashes whose contents are divorced from the Zimbabwean realities. The College had been clinging to the Western, far distant, and neighbouring African theologies and theologians for its curriculum forgetting to scratch where Zimbabweans are itching. This collection of different theologies into one combination was an attempt by the College to equip students with diversified theologies from different sociopolitical, economic, and religious environments, ignoring that the context is divorced from Zimbabwe's milieu. This paper sought to invoke the institution's continual addressing of contextual theological issues using borrowed theological epistemologies. Using a decolonial framework and qualitative research methodology, the paper challenged the institution to decolonise its curriculum by liberating it from armchair theories of foreign God talk. Structurally, the paper discussed the theoretical framework, methodology, and identity of the College and proceeded to present the curriculum of the institution and the findings from the interviews with special reference to four modules. The paper stressed that the perpetual pontification of foreign theological themes by the institution will continue to create theologians whose heads and the body are separated. The conclusion challenged the College to decolonise its curriculum and advocate for a theology that speaks with the language and idioms of the Zimbabwean milieu regardless of the challenges associated with the move. This paper contributes significantly to scholarship as it challenges United Theological College to use relevant resources to do theology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Terra: Revista de Desarrollo Local is the property of Terra: Revista de Desarrollo Local 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.)

Health professions educators often use social media to share knowledge; however, it is unclear what specific dissemination and knowledge translation (KT) processes are occurring and the implications of this sharing for health professions education (HPE). This study explored how educators have used social media as a mechanism of dissemination and KT in the literature. A critical scoping review methodology, informed by Engeström's Activity Theory, was employed. Twelve databases were searched and studies that: (a) addressed health professions educators; (b) described the use of social media for dissemination or KT; (c) focused on a regulated health profession; (d) focused on undergraduate or graduate education; and (e) were published in English or French between 2011 and 2021 were included. Data were analyzed using numerical and qualitative content analyses. Of the 4859 articles screened, 37 were eligible for inclusion. Social media may facilitate knowledge sharing in HPE, but there is a lack of conceptual clarity on what is meant by 'dissemination' and 'KT'. Who is responsible for sharing knowledge, what knowledge is being shared, and the target audiences are not always clear. Multiple factors (e.g., affordances, opportunity costs) influence how social media is used as a mechanism of dissemination, and it remains unclear whether and how it is used as a mechanism of KT. Concepts like KT and dissemination, which are often borrowed from other disciplines, must be critically evaluated for their relevance and suitability if they are to be appropriately applied to HPE and in particular to social media. Educators looking to use social media to teach students about KT should consider whether this use of technology truly aligns with their stated learning outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated stock market reaction and the effect of the implementation of Basel II and Basel III on stock returns of South African banks. In achieving this aim, this study focused on daily and annual data of six commercial banks from 3rd January 2004 to 31st December 2022. The event study methodology was employed to identify abnormal returns around the specified event dates. The effect of the changes in Basel capital requirements on stock returns was not uniform across the four events. The market reacted favourably to the implementation of the Basel II requirements in the country. There was a significantly negative market reaction to the subsequent full implementation of Basel III official. Finally, higher Basel capital requirements (CAR) was associated with lower bank stock returns. The findings implied that bank regulators increase capital to strengthen the banking system but constrain the maximisation of shareholders' values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enzymatic degradation of polyethylene terephthalic acid (PET) has been gaining increasing importance. This has resulted in a significant increase in the search for newer enzymes and the development of more efficient enzyme-based systems. Due to the lack of a standard screening process, screening new enzymes has relied on other assays to determine the presence of esterase activity. This, in turn, has led to various nomenclatures and methods used to describe them and measure their activity. Since all PET-hydrolyzing enzymes are α/β hydrolases, they catalyze a serine nucleophilic attack and cleave an ester bond. They are lipases, esterases, cutinases and hydrolases. This has been used interchangeably, leading to difficulties while comparing results and evaluating progress. This review discusses the varied enzyme nomenclature being adapted, the different assays and analysis methods reported, and the strategies used to increase PET-hydrolyzing enzyme efficiency. A section on the various ways to quantify PET hydrolysis is also covered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to understand the basics of strategic decisionmaking methodology based on the methodological implications of the Holy Quran and with the example of Surah Anfal. Method: This article is based on the combined mechanism of two methods of denotation research as well as the logic of denotation in the literature of fundamental science. In this regard,, theme analysis and content analysis were used in Atlas for data analysis. ti software, and some implications based on the fundamentals of strategic decision-making methodology were understood and explained. Findings: The result of this methodical process was the extraction of 120 primary codes,16 basic themes 120 primary codes,16 basic themes, and four organizing themes, which were formed under the Qur'an-based strategic decision-making methodology. Conclusion: Finally, the methodological implications of strategic decision-making are organized under the four general headings of strategic decision-making methodology system, effective components in the processing of strategic decisionmaking methods, location of evidence for strategic decision-making processing, quality and goodness of explanation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article addresses the ethical and methodological challenges encountered by researchers studying incarcerated individuals. It examines ethical issues such as informed consent, confidentiality, and voluntary participation, within the specific context of limitations imposed by detention conditions. The methodological difficulties discussed include restricted access to subjects and challenges in obtaining valid data. Based on a review of the literature and the researcher's direct experience, the article proposes solutions and best practices for improving the integrity of research in these sensitive environments. Specific ethical dilemmas, such as intellectual freedom and the concealment of research purposes, along with administrative obstacles and policies affecting the publication and dissemination of data are discussed. The article emphasizes the need for a balance between methodological rigor and adherence to ethical principles, thereby contributing to the development of more responsible and respectful research frameworks regarding the rights of the subjects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rules lie at the core of many disciplines beneath regulatory studies. Such a broad interest inevitably comes with fragmented understandings and technical choices that hinder knowledge cumulation and learning. This introduction tackles these limitations through an encompassing analytical blueprint from measurement theory. First, it addresses ambiguities to establish formal rules as a distinct research object. Then, it builds on legal, institutional analytic, and computational linguistic frameworks to pinpoint their constituting elements. Last, it revises strategies for assigning meaningful numbers to objects and outlines how the contributions to this Special Issue foster different aspects of the blueprint. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of educational robots is new in terms of their utilization for designing logistic systems. The current methodology for designing logistic systems is not directly oriented towards the use of educational robots. This indicates the need to develop a methodology is directly oriented toward the use of educational robots in logistic system design. The aim of this article is to highlight the possibilities of creating a new methodology for designing logistic systems applying using educational robots or small physical models in general. This article brings a new perspective on the possibilities of designing logistic systems. We consider educational robots, infinite conveyor belts, and so on, such as small physical models. From these elements, we can assemble a functional logistic system for study. This method is necessary solution for the accredited field of study industrial logistics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article extends the scholarly conversation on research within performing arts voice disciplines by exploring how "fully qualitative" research can help bridge the gap between rigorous and relevant research. Fully qualitative research is informed by a qualitative sensibility which values the subjectivity of researcher and participant, and encourages reflexivity, transparency, and criticality throughout the research process. Taking singing voice research as an example, the article presents a reflective review of trends in this field, identifying the dominance of the scientific approach. Fully qualitative research is presented as a way to gain new insights into singing which are unlikely to flow from research using the scientific method. The article outlines how a fully qualitative approach by singers to conducting rigorous research with singers can produce findings which are relevant for singers. While illustrative examples are presented from singing voice research, voice practitioners and researchers from other disciplines are encouraged to consider a fully qualitative approach in their research and to develop an awareness of quality indicators. Fully qualitative voice research complements existing scientific knowledge and has the potential to make significant contributions to our understanding of the role of voice in human life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article provides a first insight to practitioner-research for the vocal pedagogue interested in exploring their practice from a scientific perspective. It is intended to contribute to a growing field of methodological academic support for the voice practitioner interested in expanding their knowledge and skillset via research means. It acknowledges the ever-growing need for research-based practice in pedagogy—both freelance and institutional—and recognition of the rigor–relevance debate. The article then takes the reader through the process of refining research methodology suitable for a likely qualitatively based project. In doing this, a variety of paradigms, methodologies and methods are considered. Other lenses are explored as a framework within which to examine narrative data. Ethics and obstacles related to insider-research are examined, including the pros and cons of participant observation. The value of interdisciplinary collaboration is discussed, and the benefits of the practitioner-researcher's experiential and practical expertise is promoted, particularly regarding reflective practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this paper is to review how Science and Technology Studies (STS) has contributed to climate change mitigation research. We focus on large‐scale infrastructures as a key topic of both mitigation efforts and recent STS scholarship. The paper assesses the conceptual and methodological treatments in this field, uses literature evidence to identify research gaps, and suggests potential topics for future research. Our research firstly contributes to the use of STS approaches in the novel field of climate change mitigation infrastructure, asking how scholarship in the field has learned from STS and developed STS further. Second, we examine how infrastructures are approached in this literature and conclude that the reviewed works almost exclusively associate infrastructure with physical supply systems. This is paradoxical since several of them also advocate a socio‐technical perspective on infrastructures, which would require much more substantiation of the social aspects than they seem to provide. Third, we explore the fits between theoretical frameworks and methods in this field and discover a strong reliance on case studies, literature reviews, and theoretical‐conceptual discussions. This situation suggests that methodological advancements in STS infrastructure studies has still been untapped in this area. This article is categorized under:The Carbon Economy and Climate Mitigation > Decarbonizing Energy and/or Reducing Demand [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Idea, action, and outcome are identified as the three key objects of social sciences and are also explained as the key tasks of social sciences. Our failure to grasp the ontological differences between these three objects is shown and the fact that explaining them may require different epistemological stands and methodological tools has been a key cause of the sterility of many epistemological and methodological debates. Explicitly differentiating the three objects and understanding that an explanation is required for these different stands and tools therefore provides us with a better picture of the empirical challenges of social sciences and paves the way toward more scientific progress. This discussion also holds important pedagogical value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims at conducting a pragmatic analysis of speech acts expressing flattering in some selected literary texts (Hamlet). Flattering is used to express encouragement, which is false positive evaluation. Flattering assumes the effect of the listener's feelings, actions and thoughts via the speech acts of flattering. Flattery is a social phenomenon that treads a fine line between acceptable and unacceptable social behavior and brings forward the strategic element of language use. Although flattery was studied in different areas but pragmatic literature has not addressed the phenomenon, despite its potential to inform the interpretive process participants engage in when evaluating politeness strategies in interactions. A pragmatic methodology was used to collect the data. The results of this study show how the characters judge an action to be flattery, what (verbal) acts count as flattery, and the functions of flattery in interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the most advances made so far in terms of photocatalyst design and preparation (inorganic photoredox nanoparticles), researchers of different expertise joined together to address sustainable energy conversion. Despite notable advancements in creating exceptionally active photocatalysts, the practical scalability of these innovations is hindered by issues such as ineffective utilization of solar energy and mass transport, recombination reactions, catalyst instability, and photo corrosion of the catalyst. In this roadmap review, we brief the fundamentals, latest progress, outstanding challenges, and novel design methodology for anticorrosive photocatalysts favorable to large‐scale hydrogen production. To enable the effective scaling of photocatalysis, beyond the inherent activity of photocatalysts, a range of additional factors are considered, with a primary focus on the design of photocatalytic systems. This review underlines the significance of well‐structured photocatalyst design and evaluation for achieving reproducibility and using dependable research methodology for conducting rigorous experiments. The recommendations are directed at reducing the uncertainty surrounding the optimism presented in published research, and we spotlight our recent research advancements. Importantly, the synergistic integration of design principles and research methodologies to enhance the anti‐corrosion properties of photocatalysts may pave the way for a practical technology to utilize solar energy for large‐scale hydrogen production efficiently. This article is categorized under:Sustainable Energy > Solar Energy [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the second half of the 2012–13 theatre season, we mapped all then-existing educational theatre practices in Hungary against a standardized set of criteria. We contacted a total of 298 institutions and observed 118 programmes in person. We aimed to map the complete picture, so we involved every programme that fitted our low-threshold criteria and responded to our inquiry. Presumably, we covered the entire Hungarian educational theatre sphere. For each programme, we collected data from six sources: children or youth participating in the programmes; teachers accompanying the participants; organizational contact persons; creators/performers of the programmes; observing of the programmes by independent observers; and secondary research on the internet. In 2023, we repeated part of this data collection. In this article, we present the methodology used for the mapping in detail since we believe it can serve as a model for similar mappings in other countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental DNA (eDNA) monitoring, a rapidly advancing technique for assessing biodiversity and ecosystem health, offers a noninvasive approach for detecting and quantifying species from various environmental samples. In this review, a comprehensive overview of current eDNA collection and detection technologies is provided, emphasizing the necessity for standardization and automation in aquatic ecological monitoring. Furthermore, the intricacies of water bodies, from streams to the deep sea, and the associated challenges they pose for eDNA capture and analysis are explored. The paper delineates three primary eDNA survey methods, namely, bringing back water, bringing back filters, and bringing back data, each with specific advantages and constraints in terms of labor, transport, and data acquisition. Additionally, innovations in eDNA sampling equipment, including autonomous drones, subsurface samplers, and in-situ filtration devices, and their applications in monitoring diverse taxa are discussed. Moreover, recent advancements in species-specific detection and eDNA metabarcoding are addressed, highlighting the integration of novel techniques such as CRISPR-Cas and nanopore sequencing that enable precise and rapid detection of biodiversity. The implications of environmental RNA and epigenetic modifications are considered for future applications in providing nuanced ecological data. Lastly, the review stresses the critical role of standardization and automation in enhancing data consistency and comparability for robust long-term biomonitoring. We propose that the amalgamation of these technologies represents a paradigm shift in ecological monitoring, aligning with the urgent call for biodiversity conservation and sustainable management of aquatic ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]