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This paper reports on a five-day study exploring six middle school students’ developing understanding of algorithms and functions during the Building Algorithms challenge, an entrepreneurial Design & Pitch Challenge in STEM. Students proposed businesses and built automated spreadsheet algorithms to inform users’ decision making by assigning ratings to objects (e.g. videos, music, racetracks) based on their preferences. Part of a larger NSF study of students’ participation in entrepreneurial experiences with mathematical connections, the study used a design-based research methodology. Qualitative data (video of teams working, team interviews, and daily work samples) were analysed to answer the research question: How do students demonstrate functional reasoning as they build entrepreneurial solutions to the Building Algorithms challenge? Three themes emerged that describe how the challenge and its entrepreneurial framing enhanced students’ engagement with key processes of function building, including: (1) identifying personally meaningful functional relationships; (2) defining and operationalising authentic variables and function rules; and (3) making sense of writing, testing, and refining function rules. This study contributes to the field’s understanding of functions, demonstrating how entrepreneurship and a math-focused design challenge can elicit and enhance specific and targeted middle grades mathematics content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Attacks on healthcare have been committed throughout the Syrian conflict in violation of International Humanitarian Law (IHL), contributing to the devastation of the country's healthcare system. The conflict has also forcibly displaced over half of Syria's pre-conflict population, 7.2 million of whom are internally displaced. In this retrospective analysis, we aim to assess the relationships between (1) healthcare attacks and general conflict and (2) healthcare attacks and forced displacement between 2016 and 2022. Methods: Data on healthcare attacks, conflict events, and displacement were extracted from the Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS), Uppsala Conflict Data Project, and OCHA Türkiye, respectively. The analysis addresses three research questions: the associations between (1) healthcare attacks and conflict events, (2) healthcare attacks and conflict events in the week after an attack on a healthcare facility, and (3) healthcare attacks and forced displacement. For each, we used generalized additive models with a negative binomial distribution that also accounted for spatial and temporal factors. Results: SAMS recorded a total of 541 attack events, comprising 650 attack rounds over 235 facilities between 2016 and 2022. Conflict events were significantly associated with healthcare attacks in the same week (IRR: 1.14, 95% CI 1.12–1.17), and healthcare attacks in one week were associated with a maximum of 1.44 greater risk (95% CI 1.08–1.91) of conflict events in the following week, even when accounting for general conflict levels in the previous weeks. Healthcare attacks were also significantly associated with increased displacement up to three months following the attacks. Discussion: We find that healthcare facilities are not avoided during conflict (as obliged under IHL), and that healthcare attacks significantly precede an escalation of general conflict in the same area. Healthcare attacks are also significantly associated with displacement for months following the attacks, even when accounting for conflict levels. Based on these findings, we present a framework outlining one pathway through which healthcare attacks may contribute to larger conflict tactics. Our findings highlight the critical role of healthcare infrastructure in conflict and reaffirm calls to hold perpetrators of these attacks accountable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Systematic reviews (SRs) employ standardized methodological processes for synthesizing empirical evidence to answer specific research questions. These processes include rigorous screening phases to determine eligibility of articles against strict inclusion and exclusion criteria. Despite these processes, SRs are a significant undertaking, and this type of research often necessitates extensive human resource requirements, especially when the scope of the review is large. Given the substantial resources and time commitment required, we investigated a way in which the screening process might be accelerated while maintaining high fidelity and adherence to SR processes. More recently, researchers have turned to artificial intelligence-based (AI) software to expedite the screening process. This paper evaluated the agreement and usability of a novel machine learning program, Sciome SWIFT-ActiveScreener (ActiveScreener), in a large SR of mental health outcomes following treatment for PTSD. ActiveScreener exceeded the expected 95% agreement of the program with screeners to predict inclusion or exclusion of relevant articles at the title/abstract assessment phase of the review and was reported to be user friendly by both novice and seasoned screeners. ActiveScreener, when used appropriately, may be a useful tool when performing SR in a clinical context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractArtificial intelligence (AI) decision support systems are crucial in modern decision-making processes. Their increasing human-like adaptability introduces challenges, especially when their recommendations, for whatever reason, need to conflict with user preferences. This study examines the communication strategies AI systems should employ when their recommendations conflict with user preferences. We explored this research question through a hypothetical future interface where ChatGPT offers travel recommendations populated on a map. An online survey-based experiment was conducted, presenting 160 participants with ChatGPT-generated travel recommendations displayed alongside Bing map visuals. We employed a mixed-method experimental design, combining both between-subjects and within-subjects approaches, to investigate the impact of conflicting recommendations and the acknowledgment of user preferences on the acceptance of these recommendations. This effect is especially pronounced when the AI system acknowledges users’ preferences yet still offers conflicting recommendations to them. Contrary to the expectation that acknowledging users’ preferences could buffer the impact of such conflicts, our observations indicate the contrary. The presence of conflict following acknowledgment of users’ preferences, significantly causes a backfire effect, leading users to reject the recommendations. These findings underscore the need for consideration of recommendation delivery strategies in AI decision support systems and offer insights for designing future user interfaces and user experience research in the realm of recommendations provided by AI decision-support systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In an increasingly demanding and pressured work environment, employee resilience is acknowledged as a critical element to navigate adversity. There has been increased focus and interest in studying the nature of resilience in the workplace, however the mechanisms of developing and sustaining resilience are still under debate. Coaching is a promising method organisations use to improve employee resilience and provides employees with support to deal with the challenging working environment. There has been significant interest in coaching for resilience in recent years, however there is no overarching, consolidated view on the nature and dynamics of resilience coaching. This scoping review seeks to fill this gap by making three contributions. Firstly, we present details on various types of coaching approaches used to improve resilience. Secondly, we review the specific coaching elements and processes that lead to improved resilience and finally, we provide an overview on the efficacy of resilience coaching interventions. We conclude this scoping review with a roadmap for future research to help position and strengthen organisational coaching as a pillar of resilience development. This scoping review followed a five-stage PRISMA-ScR methodology which entails formulating research questions; identifying studies; choosing studies; extracting and charting data; and summarising the findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Concept inventories (CIs) have become widely used tools for assessing students' learning and assisting with educational decisions. Over the past three decades, CI developers have utilized various design approaches and methodologies. As a result, it can be challenging for those developing new CIs to identify the most effective and appropriate methods and approaches. This scoping review aimed to identify and map key design stages, summarize methodologies, identify design gaps and provide guidance for future efforts in the development and validation of CI tools. Methods: A preliminary literature review combined theoretical thematic analysis (deductive, researcher-driven) focusing on specific data aspects, and inductive thematic analysis (data-driven), using emerging themes independent of specific research questions or theoretical interests. Expert discussions complemented the analysis process. Results: The scoping review analyzed 106 CI articles and identified five key development stages: define the construct, determine and validate content domain; identify misconceptions; item formation and response processes design; test item selection and validation; and test application and refinement. A descriptive design model was developed using a mixed-method approach, incorporating expert input, literature review, student-oriented analysis, and statistical tests. Various psychometric assessments were employed to validate the test and its items. Substantial gaps were noted in defining and determining the validity and reliability of CI tools, and in the evidence required to establish these attributes. Conclusion: The growing interest in utilizing CIs for educational purposes has highlighted the importance of identifying and refining the most effective design stages and methodologies. CI developers need comprehensive guidance to establish and evaluate the validity and reliability of their instruments. Future research should focus on establishing a unified typology of CI instrument validity and reliability requirements, as well as the types of evidence needed to meet these standards. This effort could optimize the effectiveness of CI tools, foster a cohesive evaluation approach, and bridge existing gaps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the importance of engaging vulnerable populations, such as people with dementia, in participatory health research. It highlights strategies for involving people with lived experiences throughout the research process, including recruitment, communication, onboarding, flexibility, and adapting meeting structures. The authors emphasize the positive impact of these strategies on research outcomes and stress the need for adequate planning, open dialogue, and support when engaging vulnerable populations in research. The study received ethical approval and funding from various sources, with no conflicts of interest declared by the authors. [Extracted from the article]

This study examines the impact of an AI programming assistant on students' exam scores and their tendency to accept incorrect AI-generated information. The customized AI programming assistant was developed by the authors using GPT based Large Language Model (LLM). A one group pretest–posttest quasi-experimental design was utilized to answer research questions. Students were asked to take identical programming exams twice: once without AI assistance and once with the option to use the AI assistant. Results showed that the students' average exam scores significantly increased from 48.33 to 74.47 with a large effect size (d = 1.56) when they used the AI assistance. On the other hand, when student—AI interaction logs were analyzed for a specific question, it was found that AI generated incorrect answers to 36 students. Thirty-three of these students (92%) answered the question incorrectly. Even more interestingly, despite the AI-generated response containing an obvious error, 22 of them (61%) copied and pasted the AI's response directly into the answer field. Only 3 students (8%) ignored the incorrect response generated by the AI and answered the question correctly. A significant portion of students accepting incorrect information provided by AI underscores the need for careful integration of AI tools into learning environments. Moreover, our findings emphasize the importance of specially developed AI tools rather than free tools like ChatGPT in exploring the new type of interaction between students and AI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The literature has shown that cognitive and non-cognitive development before the age of three is associated with children's levels of development at later ages. However, the extent to which the different pathways of cognitive and non-cognitive development before age three (between 6–12 months and 22–30 months of age) are associated with developmental outcomes at primary school age remains unknown. This study aims to examine this research question using three waves of longitudinal data collected from 1087 children aged 9 to 10 years and their primary caregivers in rural China. Results demonstrated four pathways of cognitive and non-cognitive development between 6–12 months and 22–30 months of age. The four pathways include: "never delayed", "persistently delayed", "improving", or "deteriorating." Children that experienced either persistently delayed or deteriorating development had lower levels of cognitive and non-cognitive development and performed worse academically than children that were never delayed when they were 9–10 years old. Maternal education attainment, family assets, and whether the child was born prematurely all predicted the child's entry into different developmental pathways. Findings suggest that early childhood development screening and interventions that aim to facilitate healthy early development among children under three years old are needed for rural China's young children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the role of country-level and individual-level factors on climate change risk perception in 28 European countries. Based on the nature of the data and the research question, a multilevel ordered logit model is used. As individual observations are nested among countries, the data is hierarchical, justifying the use of a multilevel model. The analysis focuses on a dependent variable with ordered categories. Due to its inherent ordinal structure, the response levels convey a meaningful order. The ordered logit model explicitly considers this ordinal nature when modeling the dependent variable. On the country level, this study found that climate change risk perception rises with a higher level of income per capita and a lower level of regulatory quality. The positive effect of the national income level persists after controlling for whether the country had a communist regime past or not. On the individual level, this study found that a higher level of climate change risk perception is exhibited by more educated individuals, those with egalitarian and post-materialistic values, those with a higher interest in politics, and a lower level of personal economic worries. Overall, females express higher levels of climate change risk perception than males, but having younger children at home reduces females' risk perceptions. Similarly, climate change risk perception levels decrease with age only for women. A series of robustness checks validate the main findings. The research suggests that EU policymakers can enhance climate policies and public engagement by considering differences in income, regulatory quality, historical context, and gender-specific aspects. Insights from this study can guide targeted risk communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Randomised trials have long been recognised as the gold standard research tool for evidence‐based medicine. The past decade has seen the emergence of several innovative trial designs that are revolutionising how trials are conducted. These innovative designs enable more efficient, pragmatic trials that can address complex research questions which were previously not possible. In this paper, we provide an overview of the key innovative designs that are likely to be useful in the emergency medicine context, namely cluster crossover and stepped wedge designs, sequential multiple assignment randomised trial (SMART) designs, and platform trials. We describe the main features of each design, outline their pros and cons, and describe when they may or may not be useful. We also provide examples of these innovative designs in contexts that are relevant to emergency medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThis paper aims to address the following research question: How are agrifood companies configured in terms of sustainable performance? This study performs an exploratory quantitative analysis assessing the level of sustainable performance of 480 agrifood firms in Brazil (376) and Chile (104). A cluster analysis was performed to do this. We also compared the sustainable performance of companies in these two countries. This study answers calls for more focus on the sustainability of the agrifood systems in South America and more cross-country investigations, especially from developing economies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This systematic review explores the impact of deepfakes on the criminal justice system. Deepfakes, a sophisticated form of AI-generated synthetic media, have raised concerns due to their potential to compromise the integrity of evidence and judicial processes. The review aims to assess the extent of this threat, guided by a research question: (1) What threats do deepfakes pose to the criminal justice system? Methods: The review was conducted using databases such as Web of Science, ProQuest, Scopus, and Google Scholar, focusing on publications from 2021 to 2022. Search terms were optimised for sensitivity and specificity, and articles were chosen based on criteria including relevance to deepfake threats and deepfake detection research. The methodology included rigorous screening processes using tools like Zotero and Rayyan.ai, with an emphasis on inter-rater reliability to ensure objective selection of studies. Results: The search initially identified 1355 articles, with 1200 articles screened for eligibility after duplicates were removed. For the threat of deepfakes to the criminal justice system, 110 studies were selected for full-text review, and 44 were included in the final analysis. Key findings include identification of primary crime categories linked to deepfakes, such as pornography, fraud, and information manipulation, alongside challenges like trust erosion in institutions and evidence falsification issues. Conclusions: Deepfakes significantly threaten the criminal justice system, highlighting the necessity for advanced detection methods. These findings underscore the importance of continued research and development in deepfake detection technologies and strategies for legal safeguards and broader implications on policy, national security, and democratic processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents a discursive characterization of the Spanish construction haber + past infinitive, also known as the retrospective infinitive (Bosque, 1980), as a form used to convey reproach. To this end, several research questions are asked. First, what are the main characteristic attributes of haber + past participle? Is there a high degree of coincidence between the inherent features of this construction and the defining characteristics of reproaches in general? To what extent does context condition the relation between haber + past participle and reproach? Finally, and in relation to the latter question, what discursive patterns can be identified in the use of the construction? Examples will be drawn from five corpora, thus real data are used in support of the conclusions, which constitutes one of the main novelties of the study in relation to previous work in the area. Results reveal that there is a high degree of coincidence between the attributes that characterize the past infinitive and the criteria that typically convey the reproach itself. From a discursive perspective, three main patterns are observed to emerge when this structure is used: neutralization and mitigation of the reproach, the expression of rebuttal and disagreement, and the development of argumentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article responds to critiques by Dr. Graña et al. regarding the methodology and data handling in a study on COVID-19 prediction using a Black-Box Based Pearson Correlation Approach. The study aimed to compare COVID-19 cases and mortality between Israel and Greece, analyze vaccination rates' impact on COVID-19 fatalities in Israel, and predict COVID-19 cases in Israel using machine learning models. The dataset was sourced from Kaggle, and the study utilized ANN and MLR models for prediction, achieving results comparable to previous studies. The article also addresses concerns about AI-generated text, validation techniques, and the interpretation of correlations. [Extracted from the article]

Objectives: The present scoping review aims to provide a panoramic view of the current state of knowledge, highlighting the strengths, limitations, and future directions, on the use of CBCT in orthodontic practice. Methods: This study followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines to identify eligible studies from the following databases: PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. The research question was formulated as follows: "What is the scientific evidence concerning the preferential use of 3D CBCT over 2D radiography in orthodontics"? Results: Through database searching, 521 records were identified, and ultimately, 37 studies that compared 3D CBCT with 2D conventional radiography were included. Of these, 16 articles regarded the use of CBCT for cephalometric analysis, 5 papers analyzed the evaluation of root resorption, 10 studies evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of root angulation and determining tooth position, and the remaining 6 articles were conducted for miscellaneous applications: determining the size of the nasopharyngeal airway (n = 2), miniscrew positioning (n = 1), estimating cervical vertebrae maturity (n = 1), and evaluating the correctness of the root location when placing digital indirect brackets (n = 1). Conclusions: The choice between 3D CBCT or CBCT-generated radiography and conventional 2D radiography in orthodontics involves careful consideration of the specific clinical context, the complexity of the case, and the balance between the diagnostic advantages and the associated limitations. Future Directions: Future studies with a prospective design and standardized imaging protocols are encouraged to facilitate the development of a consensus on the best practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Engaged in longstanding debates over the impacts of education tracking on educational inequality, this paper aims to examine whether senior-secondary vocational tracking has contributed to socio-economic inequality in student educational performance in Taiwan. Furthermore, this paper goes one step further to compare if there is any difference between education tracks in the level of socio-economic inequality in student performance. Methodologically, ordinary least squares (OLS) multiple regressions, together with bootstrapped Sobel tests, are adopted to study the research questions, based on the data derived from the Taiwan Education Panel Survey (TEPS). This paper finds that vocational tracking could reinforce the influence of family socio-economic backgrounds and contribute to socio-economic inequality in student performance. In addition, compared to the vocational track, family socio-economic backgrounds are found to have larger impacts in determining student performance in the academic track. Such a track difference might be partially explained by the divergent pattern of parenting practices between tracks, including parent discipline and parental investment in private tutoring. To reduce socio-economic inequality in student performance, this paper proposes several policy suggestions that are tailored to the different circumstances of the two education tracks of Taiwan’s senior-secondary education system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractGovernment, organizational, and professional society policies are part of the complex system that underpins and influences the education of health professionals. Despite their significant influence, these policies rarely receive attention in scholarship examining the processes and outcomes of current health profession education systems. Policy analysis is a field of research that examines how and why policies are developed, the assumptions underpinning policies, and policies’ effects. Given the potential value policy analysis can offer health professions education research, our manuscript aims to 1) describe policy analysis as a field of research that draws on multiple disciplines and methodologies, and 2) demonstrate and discuss what policy analysis research can contribute to health professions education by sharing examples of two studies and discussing their value. To explain how policy analysis can be applied in health professions education research, we describe four key steps and considerations for using policy analysis– (i) assemble your research team; (ii) develop the research questions; (iii) select the methodology for the policy analysis; and (iv) select methods for data collection and analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aimed to contribute to a better understanding of the context, mechanisms and outcomes in the implementation process of an eHealth video consultation program in primary care. The study focused on how the program is normalized in the primary care setting. The primary research question for this study is "in what ways is the implementation of video consultation normalized in primary care?". Methods: The qualitative design and content analysis of primary data from the transcripts were based on in-depth interviews, complemented with free-text answers to open-ended survey questions and various documents. The study focuses on the large-scale implementation of the public eHealth program Närhälsan Online, which represents more than 100 health centers in Sweden's largest region of Västra Götaland. Multiagent perspectives on how the program is normalized were drawn from expressed perceptions by professions directly linked to both strategic and functional implementation, as well as administration and clinical operation. Results: This study both confirms and enhances the field with a theoretical contribution in six ways to the reviewed previous research, as well as showing practical implications. It also provides multi-agent perspectives on the rapid normalization of the implementation program studied. Conclusions: In relation to the rapid progression of different initiatives in eHealth, this study contributes to perspectives on specific challenges as expressed by professions directly linked to both strategic and functional implementation as well as administration and clinical operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quality of Experience (QoE) for mobile Web browsing is a complex and multidimensional concept. So far, the research community has addressed the influence of QoE perceptual dimensions on QoE and the impact of various influence factors on QoE perceptual dimensions for mobile Web browsing. In this study, we recognize the gap and need to analyze and gain a deeper understanding of the relationship between multiple influence factors and specific constructs of QoE perceptual dimensions. Utilizing a previously collected dataset, our goal is to fill the research gap in terms of investigating the impact of specific influence factors (loading time, aesthetics, number of taps, information quality) on various constructs comprising the user perception of usability, aesthetics, and information quality in the context of mobile Web browsing. A total of 14 research questions are raised: 7 addressing constructs comprising perceived usability (simplicity, effectiveness, quickness, efficiency, comfort, ease of use, organization), 3 addressing constructs comprising perceived aesthetics (perception of mobile Web site aesthetics, pleasance, clarity, systematicness), and 4 addressing constructs comprising perceived information quality (timeliness, clarity, conciseness, structuralism/completeness/spelling-correctness). Results of posed research questions provide indications on the strength and direction of the impact of considered QoE influence factors on the perception of studied constructs. This study contributes to the research community by being the first to address the impact of chosen QoE influence factors on individual constructs comprising QoE perceptual dimensions in the domain of mobile Web browsing, thus extending the knowledge on interplays and relations in this area. Furthermore, it contributes by revealing numerous new paradigms in the context of usability, aesthetics, and quality of information, such as: (i) beautiful and easy to reach is more simple, effective, efficient, and comfortable, (ii) easy to reach is more pleasant and clear, (iii) informative is more pleasant and clear, (iv) beautifully presented information has higher perceived quality, etc. Reported findings can be utilized by various stakeholders (mobile Web site designers, content providers, device designers, network providers) for indirect management of QoE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Objective Methods Results Discussion Conclusion Registration There is limited and conflicting data on the reduction of circulatory inflammatory mediators in patients with apical periodontitis (AP) following endodontic treatment.To answer the following research question: in adult healthy patients with AP [Population (P)], is there a difference before [Comparator (C)] and after various endodontic treatments (nonsurgical, surgical or retreatment) [Intervention (I)] on systemic levels of inflammatory biomarkers [Outcome (O)] in the follow‐up period [Time (T)]?An electronic literature search was conducted in the databases Scopus, PubMed, Clarivate Analytics' Web of Science, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and Grey literature from inception to July 2024 with no language restrictions. Observational studies examining changes in serum levels of inflammatory mediators were included. Two independent reviewers selected studies, extracted data and critically appraised the included studies. Qualitative and quantitative (meta‐analysis) data synthesis methods were employed. The Newcastle–Ottawa Scale was used to assess the quality of the included studies.Sixteen studies met the inclusion criteria, of which six were included in the meta‐analysis. These studies were published between 1992 and 2024, involving a total of 596 patients (54% females) aged between 16 and 75 years. The meta‐analysis of pooled data showed a significant decrease in high‐sensitive C‐reactive protein (hs‐CRP) levels in the serum of patients with AP 6 months after treatment [2.26 ± 1.76 versus 1.28 ± 1.06 mg/L, (Z = 2.03, p = .04)] and a decrease in interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β) levels 12 months after treatment [13.01 ± 5.95 versus 10.86 ± 3.52 pg/mL, (Z = 3.72, p < .01)]. One study was assessed as poor quality, while all others were considered high quality.Despite the differences in methodologies across the included studies, it has been established that effective endodontic treatment leads to a reduction in systemic inflammatory biomarkers in the body.Following effective endodontic treatment in patients with AP, the systemic levels of hs‐CRP and IL‐1β exhibit a significant reduction at 6 and 12 months, respectively. Further clinical studies should investigate whether effective endodontic treatment and reduced levels of investigated biomarkers may change the clinical presentation of systemic diseases.PROSPERO database (CRD42024559271). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We sought to quantify the fiscal impact of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ released time programme in the state of Utah, in the United States of America, on funding for American public education. The guiding research question for this study was: How much money does the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ seminary programme save public education in the state of Utah? We collected data from one school district in Utah and then extrapolated those findings, on a per pupil basis, to the entire state. Findings are reported in three approximates of the actual fiscal impact of the Church’s seminary programme in Utah: high, medium, and low. Our conclusion is that the actual fiscal impact of seminary on funding for public education lies within this reported range. We report that the Church’s seminary programme saves the state of Utah between $45,000,000 and $64,000,000 annually. While these figures only constitute 0.6% to 0.8% of the total funding for public education, this released time programme provides district officials with financial and scheduling flexibility. In addition, there are indirect fiscal benefits associated with seminary as well as direct and indirect costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the proliferation of cancer research based on large databases, misalignment of research questions and data set capabilities is inevitable. Nationally maintained databases are appealing to cancer researchers because of the ease of access to large amounts of patient data available for analysis and risk estimation. Data sets that are commonly used in cancer research include the National Cancer Database, the SEER (Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results) program of the National Cancer Institute, the SEER–Medicare database, the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program, and the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project databases, among others. Each data set has pros and cons with respect to variable availability and the ability to analyze cancer‐specific outcomes. It is critical for researchers to understand the strengths and limitations of each database. Changing variable definitions, the length of postoperative data collection, and the availability of patient‐reported outcomes or social determinants of health data are examples of factors that researchers must consider when selecting a data set for research purposes. For the current review, the authors summarized the advantages and disadvantages of various national data sets for cohort studies in cancer populations. The authors summarize the strengths and weaknesses of commonly used national databases in population‐based cancer research. The recommendations they offer for appropriate database use are based on cancer type and research question. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractFeedback research in higher education indicates teachers are required to support students in developing feedback literacy (ie the ability to make sense of feedback and use it). Emphasising the role of the teacher is problematic as students may develop feedback literacy outside the formal curriculum when sharing feedback with peers. Our study focuses on students’ situated learning within a community of practice (CoP), to answer two research questions: ‘Do students develop feedback literacy through being in a CoP?’ and ‘Does a CoP enable understanding of how students process and enact feedback?’ This qualitative study employs focus groups with 14 graduate entry medical students from a UK medical school. A thematic analysis of the interview transcripts occurred. We show: (1) students develop feedback literacy outside the formal curriculum. (2) Using a value creation cycle (VCC), we showed how students process and enact distributed feedback within a CoP. (3) We illustrate how knowledgeability, knowledge in person in practice, modulates participants’ identity, and hence their learning as they process and enact feedback. We advocate advancing the discussions on feedback literacy within higher education through a better understanding of the learning occurring within teacher and student communities of practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The import of hydrogen and derivatives forms part of many national strategies and is fundamental to achieving climate protection targets. This paper provides an overview and technical comparison of import pathways for hydrogen and derivatives in terms of efficiency, technological maturity and development and construction times with a focus on the period up to 2030. The import of hydrogen via pipeline has the highest system efficiency at 57–67 % and the highest technological maturity with a technology readiness level (TRL) of 8–9. The import of ammonia and methanol via ship and of SNG via pipeline shows efficiencies in the range of 39–64 % and a technological maturity of TRL 7 to 9 when using point sources. Liquid hydrogen, LOHC and Fischer-Tropsch products have the lowest efficiency and TRL in comparison. The use of direct air capture (DAC) reduces efficiency and TRL considerably. Reconversion of the derivatives to hydrogen is also associated with high losses and is not achievable for all technologies on an industrial scale up to 2030. In the short to medium term, import routes for derivatives that can utilise existing infrastructures and mature technologies are the most promising for imports. In the long term, the most promising option is hydrogen via pipelines. [Display omitted] • Comparison of 19 import routes for hydrogen and its derivatives. • Comparative overview of technical key performance indicators such as efficiencies, technology readiness level and time constraints of each pathway. • Identification of the most promising import options via pipeline and ship up to 2030. • Identification of remaining research questions for upscaling import technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Little is known about patient outcomes following treatment of malignant pleural effusions (MPE) in the real-world setting. Research question: We aimed to compare post-procedure all-cause mortality between individuals who received indwelling pleural catheter (IPC) insertion versus chemical pleurodesis for managing MPEs. Study design and methods: We performed a retrospective population-based study using provincial health administrative data (Ontario, Canada) of adults with a MPE who underwent IPC insertion or chemical pleurodesis between 2015 and 2019. Individuals were followed until death or March 31, 2021. Difference in post-procedure mortality was calculated using inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW)-adjusted Cox proportional hazard regression analysis to balance potential confounders at baseline. Results: We identified 4,790 (77.3%) individuals who received an IPC and 1,407 (22.7%) who had chemical pleurodesis for MPE. IPC insertions are increasing and chemical pleurodesis procedures are decreasing. The majority of IPCs were inserted in outpatients (61%), by pulmonologists (64.2%) and at sites with higher annual IPC volume, while chemical pleurodesis procedures were generally done by thoracic surgeons (74%) and at sites with higher annual pleurodesis volumes. In unadjusted comparison median time from initial cancer diagnosis to intervention was significantly longer in the IPC group (244 days, interquartile range [IQR]:33–903) compared to pleurodesis group (81 days, IQR:10–737; p < 0.0001). Unadjusted median time from index procedure to death was significantly longer in the pleurodesis group (165[IQR:48–457] days vs. 81[IQR:29–256] days, p < 0.0001), however the difference between groups became insignificant after the IPTW was applied (HR 1.27, 95%CI 0.95–1.69). 35% of IPCs were removed prior to death or end of follow-up. Interpretation: After adjusting for differences in baseline characteristics there was no difference in post-procedure mortality between IPC and chemical pleurodesis groups. In the real world, there are significant differences in the characteristics of patients who receive these two procedures and notable regional practice variation between procedure use. Future research should evaluate these variations in care and their effect on patient outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundPurposeMethodFindingsConclusionsAdolescents frequently struggle with body-related concerns, making Physical Self-Concept (PSC) a crucial component of their overall self-concept. Prior research in Physical Education (PE) has suggested various physical training programmes aimed at improving PSC. However, these studies often overlook the underlying sociocultural influences to PSC, such as social media or peers. Therefore, the present study examines the role of critical PE in addressing the sociocultural influences on PSC during adolescence.The purpose was to examine the effects of a critical PE unit designed to enhance students’ PSC and their critical consciousness of it. Research questions included the effects on students’ PSC, the relationship between PSC and their critical consciousness of it, and the students’ perceptions of the critical PE unit approach.The research design followed a mixed methods approach. A single-case intervention was conducted which involved 70 students aged 14–15 in a Spanish high school. The intervention comprised a 9-hour critical PE unit focused on fitness, emphasizing the exploration of body issues prevalent in social media and fitness culture. Data were generated before and after the unit using the Physical Self-Concept Questionnaire (PSCQ) to evaluate changes in PSC. Post-unit ad-hoc questionnaires offered insights into students’ perception of improvement in PSC and critical consciousness, reflections on the unit's content and overall evaluation. Qualitative insights came from ad-hoc questionnaires, a focus group, field notes and assessment activities. Reflexive Thematic Analysis was used for the qualitative data analysis.No significant changes were observed in PSC after the unit. However, students expressed heightened awareness of sociocultural influences on PSC, particularly concerning gender-based beauty ideals, though discussions were often limited to physical attractiveness. Many students did not critically examine how biomedical knowledge shapes cultural perceptions, as seen in their proposal of body mass index as a criterion for body validation. For a few students, learning new concepts was transformative, enabling them to challenge dominant body-related narratives. Despite this, many maintained neoliberal individualistic self-empowerment narratives without adopting a more politicized perspective on PSC. Moreover, the unit received positive feedback, especially from girls, with Instagram facilitating critical discussions and amplifying students’ voices. A supportive teacher created a safe space for meaningful dialogue, though some concerns were raised about the emphasis on reflection over physical activity.This study underscores the complexity of developing PSC in adolescence and highlights the need for critical PE to address it effectively. Future research should expand the focus of PSC beyond physical attractiveness to examine how biomedical discourses shape cultural perceptions of the body. Additionally, greater emphasis should be placed on encouraging students to challenge neoliberal narratives that influence body perceptions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Critical realism refers to a broad project to realize a post-positivist social science. At its best, it responds to the challenges thrown down by social constructionist critiques of positivist science, while also allowing us to make interrogable claims about reality—a priority for many working to expose and eradicate structural oppression. In the social sciences, interviews remain one of the foremost methods through which researchers generate data to inform our understanding of reality. In this article, however, we argue that for critical realism to deliver on its promise as a philosophy of science for critical social scientists, we need theoretically sound guidance on what a critical realist approach to research interviewing might look like. Currently, this guidance is lacking. Through a systematic analysis of prominent qualitative research interviewing textbooks, we found that critical realism is ignored, mischaracterized, and underdeveloped. In response, we offer five principles, rooted in critical realism's key tenets, that can guide researchers as they design, conduct, and evaluate critical realist interview studies. These principles are: (1) craft interview protocols to generate data that can inform answers to ontological research questions; (2) keep in view the interview as social practice throughout the study; (3) treat interview data as both interactively achieved co-constructions and as verifiable evidence for real phenomena; (4) be guided and informed by an aim to reduce suffering and promote social justice; and (5) demonstrate reflexivity as ongoing self-awareness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to answer the research questions of 'How did COVID-19 aggravate the uncertainties in geographical fieldwork, and how could the researchers cope with the challenges?' Referring to the case study method in scrutinising a fieldwork case that has been conducted by the researchers on Chinese rural-urban migrants in 2020–2021, this research explores the multi-layers of increased uncertainties amid COVID-19. It reveals that that recent COVID-19 pandemic and its knocking-on effects have profound impacts on fieldwork in Chinese context: not only aggravating the scale of uncertainties, but also extending the uncertainties through several dimensions, including harder access to the field, more severe surveillance, which lead to fragile trust between informants and field researcher. The article further posits the significance of researcher's resilience and reflectivity in fieldwork to address the emerging challenges, proposing adjusted positionality for researchers under the similar context of doing fieldwork in China amid COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The global burden of injury is huge, falling disproportionately on poorer populations. The benefits of qualitative research in injury care are recognised and its application is growing. We used a novel application of focus group discussions with photovoice to rapidly assess barriers at each of three delay stages; seeking (delay-1), reaching (delay-2) or receiving (delay-3) injury care in Northern Malawi. Methods: Three community Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) of individuals with (FGD1) and without (FGD2) recent injury experience and community leaders (FGD3) discussed barriers to seeking, reaching or receiving care following injury. Participants from FGD1 subsequently used a digital camera and, following training in photovoice, took photographs illustrating barriers to injury care. Participants reconvened to discuss images which they believed illustrated important barriers. A framework method analysis compared barriers generated to those identified by an earlier Delphi study. Results: Seven of eight invited adult community members attended each discussion group. Within the FGDs, all prior Delphi derived delay 1 barriers were described. Within delay 2, all but three were discussed by community participants. Those not covered were: 1) "communication" ;2) "prehospital care"; 3) "coordination". Within Delay 3, only "capacity"was not highlighted by participants during the study. Additional health system barriers not identified in the Delphi were inductively derived. Within Delay 1, these were labelled; "religious or other beliefs"; "indecision"; "fear or lacking courage"; and "community/bystander engagement". Within Delay 2, "lack of assistance" was derived. Within Delay 3; "alleged corruption"; "interfacility transfer"; and "police processes" were all identified during analysis. The photovoice group provided 21 photographs evidencing 15 barriers. Delay 1 was the most frequently captured by images (12/21).The individual barriers most frequently described were "transport" and "roads" (6/21 and 5/21, respectively). The photovoice group did not describe any additional barriers not covered in the prior FGDs. Conclusion: We identified several barriers within this health system. Participants illustrated how some barriers impact on multiple phases of delay. The method was quick, low cost and participants grasped the technique and research question effectively. We recommend this approach for future health system assessments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Family caregivers of people with dementia are a distinct group due to the particularly stressful and time-intensive care situation at home. Despite these challenges, involving them in research is crucial to better understand and address their specific needs. However, little evidence exists regarding a tailored approach for researchers for this group considering their situation at home. Methods: A scoping review will be conducted following the Joanna Briggs Institute methodological guidance, including the databases MEDLINE (PubMed), CINAHL, Scopus (Elsevier), and PsycINFO (EBSCO). The review will include family caregivers of people with dementia, regardless of age, gender, or ethnicity, who have been actively involved in research throughout the research process. Moreover, sources of evidence from any country in both English and German are eligible for inclusion. Sources will be screened by two independent reviewers. Results will be extracted using a tailored charting tool and presented in the final report according to the research questions and objectives. Discussion: Developing a tailored approach to involve family caregivers of people with dementia in research and development has profound importance to both the scientific community and the target group itself. Systematic review registration: Open Science Framework https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/PMZYV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pragmatic randomized controlled trials are getting more interest to improve trials' external validity. This study aimed to assess how pragmatic the design of the self-labelled pragmatic randomised controlled trials in the manual therapy field is. Methods: We searched MEDLINE and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials for self-labelled pragmatic randomised controlled trials in the manual therapy field until January 2024 were included. Two independent reviewers collected and extracted data related to the intention of the trial, the rationale for the intervention, and specific features of the trial and performed an assessment using the PRECIS-2 tool. Results: Of 39 self-labelled pragmatic trials, the mean PRECIS-2 score was 3.5 (SD: 0.6). Choice of outcome measures, how the interventions were performed, the follow-up of the participants and how all the available data were included in the statistical analysis were the domains rated as most 'pragmatic'. Participants' eligibility, recruitment, and setting obtained lower scores. Less than 25% of the trials claimed that the aim was to investigate an intervention under real-world conditions and to make clinical decisions about its effectiveness. In the 21% of the sample the authors described neither the proof-of-concept of the intervention nor the state of previous studies addressing related research questions. Conclusions: Self-labelled pragmatic randomised controlled trials showed a moderately pragmatic attitude. Beyond the label 'pragmatic', the description of the intention of the trial and the context of every PRECIS-2 domain is crucial to understanding the real pragmatism of a trial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractGuided by six research questions, this study adopted survey design to investigate the prevalence of unorthodox psychoactive substance use amongst students. 700 students were drawn from a population of 10,560 students. ‘Prevalence of Use of Unorthodox Psychoactive Substances Questionnaire’ (PUUPSQ) was used for gathering data, which was analyzed using frequency, percentage, bar charts and pie charts. The results showed, amongst others, that 57% of the respondents had taken at least one of the 20 investigated substances, which indicates high prevalence. It was recommended, amongst others, that adequate awareness on these substances should be created amongst the stakeholders in schools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Objective Overview Conclusion Clinical Significance To provide a guide for conducting systematic reviews and meta‐analyses in dentistry, with emphasis on translating research findings into clinical practice.Systematic reviews are essential tools for synthesizing research findings and translating evidence into clinical practice. These reviews help to identify the most effective treatment options and to determine areas requiring further research. A structured approach, including defining a concise research question, conducting comprehensive literature searches, and assessing the risk of bias, is critical for ensuring the review's trustworthiness. The GRADE approach facilitates the assessment of the certainty of evidence, which is crucial for formulating conclusions and making informed clinical decisions.Systematic reviews provide invaluable insights into clinical decision‐making by compiling, analyzing, and synthesizing multiple primary studies. Following a rigorous methodology ensures that systematic reviews are comprehensive, unbiased, and clinically relevant, ultimately contributing to better patient care and achieving better clinical outcomes.Methodologically sound systematic reviews and meta‐analyses provide clinicians with high‐quality, synthesized evidence, enabling informed clinical decisions and improved patient outcomes. They save time by consolidating research, informing treatment choices, and facilitating the translation of knowledge into clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) stands as an effective tool in preventing HIV transmission among individuals at risk of HIV infection. However, the effectiveness of daily oral PrEP is contingent on the adherence of its users, which can pose a challenge for many individuals. Various studies have explored different interventions aimed at bolstering PrEP adherence. One recurring type of intervention revolves around digital communication (e.g., SMS, mobile applications) to send reminders for PrEP usage. The objective of our systematic review and meta-analysis is to address the following research question: What is the effectiveness of digital communication interventions in enhancing daily oral PrEP adherence among individuals at a heightened risk of HIV infection? This paper presents our study protocol. Method and analysis: We will conduct searches across four health-related databases: Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, and PsycINFO. We will also explore other sources, including clinical trials registries and grey literature. Our search will be restricted to original randomized controlled trials published in English, French, and Spanish conducted since 2012, when PrEP was approved, to today. To ensure rigor, three reviewers will perform the systematic review and meta-analysis. This systematic review will adhere to the guidelines outlined in the 2020 Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). Our primary outcome of interest is proper daily oral PrEP adherence, which we will measure using association metrics (e.g., odds ratios). Discussion: This review will offer insights into the effectiveness of utilizing digital communication methods to assist individuals at risk of HIV in improving their PrEP adherence. Protocol registration number: International Prospective Register for Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) number CRD42023471269. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immune literacy garnered significant attention in recent years due to the threat posed by emerging infectious diseases. The pace of immunological discoveries and their relevance to society are substantial yet coordinated educational efforts have been rare. This motivated us to create a task force of educators to reflect on pedagogical approaches to teaching immunology and to draft, develop, and evaluate key competencies for undergraduate immunology education. The research questions addressed include: 1) Which competencies are considered important by educators? 2) Are the illustrative skills clear, accurate and well aligned with the core competencies listed in the Vision and Change report?; 3) What are the concerns of immunology educators about competencies and skills? We collected data on the draft competencies using surveys, focus groups, and interviews. The iterative revision phase followed the community review phase before finalizing the framework. Here, we report a hierarchical learning framework, with six core competencies, twenty illustrative skills, and companion immunology-specific example learning outcomes. Predominant themes from interviews and focus groups, which informed revisions of this framework are shared. With the growing need for immunology education across the sciences, the ImmunoSkills Guide and accompanying discussion can be used as a resource for educators, administrators and policymakers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Color terms show a remarkable variation in their possible lexicalization patterns across different languages. In the literature, the interest has been especially to describe the color lexicon of a certain language and to determine whether it may abide or not by Berlin and Kay’s universal evolutionary sequence, e.g., whether a certain color denomination may be considered as a basic color term, or whether a certain color category is lexicalized by more than one basic color term, by which criteria, etc. It has not been established, however, which are the most common lexical sources of basic color terms on a comparative basis, and which semantic changes are more common in this semantic field. On the basis of data drawn from 70 ancient and modern Indo-European languages, we aim at answering precisely these research questions concerning the origin and the development of basic color terms. We discuss the various lexical sources of the basic color terms for white, black, red, green, yellow, blue, brown, gray, orange, pink, and purple, and we show the most important semantic changes leading to these color meanings. We also discuss to which extent these terms are likely to be inherited or borrowed. All this aims at being a contribution to the study of diachronic semantics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: In spite of offering clear benefits and increased availability, relatively few service research studies rely on eye-tracking. Therefore, this paper aims to assist service researchers in harnessing the vast capabilities of eye-tracking technologies and methods for their own inquiries. Design/methodology/approach: In addition to systematically reviewing extant research in the service domain and the wider marketing field with respect to the fundamentals and practices of eye-tracking, this paper presents a concise, empirical eye-tracking demonstration. These contributions suggest future outlooks for how to incorporate eye-tracking more effectively in service research. Findings: The systematic literature review informs a comprehensive framework for integrating eye-tracking in service research that comprises research question focus regarding higher-order psychological constructs of interest, appropriate study settings, sample composition, optimal eye-tracking equipment and operationalization considerations. Research limitations/implications: By establishing a common ground and recommended uses of eye-tracking for service research, this study equips service scholars with the knowledge they need regarding eye-tracking fundamentals, common practices and future outlooks. A simple, empirical example further demonstrates some options for unlocking the unique capabilities of eye-tracking in service research and uncovering the complexities inherent to service experiences and other core service concepts. Originality/value: This paper compiles and contextualizes insights from existing eye-tracking research, which it uses to draw important lessons for deploying eye-tracking in service domains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using data from 27 OCDE countries from 1990 to 2021, the purpose of this article is to study empirically if the Kuznets' curve hypothesis exists on economic development and health, measuring the latter through tobacco consumption. We examine the relationship between tobacco consumption and income, the Gini coefficient, life expectancy, unemployment rate, and the population's age structure to analyse the research question given the relevance to economic development and costs of tobacco use. We hypothesize that tobacco consumption increases as income levels increase until a certain tipping point, after which tobacco consumption would start to fall. We provide evidence for the existence of a Kuznets Curve for tobacco consumption. Our results also verify that inequality, unemployment rates and life expectancy increase tobacco consumption, although increases in the youth and the elderly population reduce tobacco use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The paper aims to examine the dynamics of coopetitive relationships in a high level of environmental uncertainty caused by COVID-19 pandemic. We focus on three research questions: Does uncertainty influence coopetitive practices? What are the primary cooperation areas between competitors under uncertainty? Are the changes in coopetitive behaviour permanent or temporary? Design/methodology/approach: A qualitative, cross-case study design (n = 18) was used to explore this topic. We conducted semi-structured in-depth interviews with key informants (PAPI technique). Findings: Our findings suggest that pandemic-induced uncertainty had a neutral to positive effect on coopetitive behaviour. Most companies either maintained or increased their collaboration levels, often significantly. The main cooperative areas encouraged by the pandemic included open information exchange, joint lobbying efforts on legal issues, and subcontracting work among competitors. The durability of these changes is uncertain as many firms reverted to pre-pandemic cooperation levels. On the other hand, some managers reported the development of a collaborative rather than confrontational mindset what suggests potential for sustained coopetition. Research limitations/implications: This study is limited by its qualitative, case-study approach, which constrains generalisability and may include respondent subjectivity. Additionally, the research focused on a single country, meaning multinational studies are needed to verify universal applicability, as coopetitive behaviours can vary by national context. Originality/value: The main contribution of this paper is the identification of the main areas of coopetition and the examination of its dynamics and durability in the highly unpredictable environment during the pandemic. The study referred to pandemics and its consequences, however, the research results could be applicable to other highly uncertain environments, e.g. wars, natural disasters, political upheaval and other environmental shocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of the article is to obtain an answer to the research question "What is the level of impact of each of the eight selected aspects of the ISO 9001 QMS on three selected reference areas defined in relation to the tasks assigned to one of the sustainable development goals, which is Responsible Production and Consumption? Design/methodology/approach: The study was conducted on 26 enterprises of the food industry in the meat sector. The research tool was a questionnaire. Google Form was used for the study, while ensuring anonymity. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze the study results. The scope of the article includes the theoretical background, a description of the research methodology, presentation of the study results, analysis of the results and conclusions. Findings: The study confirms the importance of quality management systems in promoting sustainable development in companies. The study shows that implementing a quality management system has a significant impact on reducing food losses during production, promoting local products and using ecological waste management practices. Respondents emphasized the importance of top management involvement in the process of implementing a quality management system and measuring the results achieved by the company. Research limitations/implications: The directions of future research may be diverse and cover many areas in the field of responsible production and process standardization. Research limitations may be related to lack of trust, lack of knowledge about the structure of management systems, or employee concerns about management evaluation. High priority importance in the scope of the issues raised should be assigned to the topic of food safety culture. Originality/value: According to the Web of Science database the topic of "quality management systems and responsible food production", there are 108 publications (taken up indirectly) and none of the articles presents research results in the scope taken up in this study. The article may be addressed to entrepreneurs who are participants in the food chain and researchers who want to develop the subject. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of this article is to examine the relationship between the primary goals of family businesses and their financial performance. This study seeks to determine whether a focus on family-oriented or business-oriented goals has a significant impact on the financial outcomes of these enterprises, and, if so, which orientation yields superior results. Design/methodology/approach: To address the research objective, a survey was conducted among 300 managers of family businesses. The collected data was subsequently analyzed using statistical methods to answer the research questions posed. Findings: The findings indicate a considerable diversity among family businesses in terms of family versus business orientation. While no direct correlation was found between orientation (family or business-focused) and overall financial evaluation, specific financial metrics revealed notable effects. Analysis demonstrated that a business-oriented focus, rather than a family-oriented one, positively influenced turnover, profit, financial liquidity, market share, employee numbers, as well as sales and asset profitability. Research limitations/implications: The research was based on respondents' subjective evaluations of both the goals of their family business and its financial condition, including key financial metrics. Although subjective assessments are inherently prone to bias, they are likely a reasonable reflection of reality in this case. However, future studies could benefit from incorporating objective financial data from the enterprises. Originality/value: Both financial status and goal orientation are critical to the survival and growth of family businesses. However, there remains a gap in the literature concerning studies that combine these aspects, particularly with regard to family versus business-oriented goals. The insights provided by this study may assist family business managers in understanding the interactions between financial performance and goal orientation within their companies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research training stands out as a means to develop generic competencies, potentiate lifelong learning (LL), and integrate initiatives for compliance with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), contributing to the development of a resilient society. Therefore, the constant promotion of a research culture within higher education institutions is an essential task for reducing the gap between scientific productivity and industry challenges and proposing solutions to real-life challenges. One of the main stages involved in any research process is the proposition of a methodological design: a detailed plan conceived and later developed to answer the research questions. Nevertheless, within the engineering context, even though a wide range of methodological designs are considered, these are not always explicitly stated in research papers, so at the undergraduate level there is an absence of more precise guidelines that allow a more concise orientation. Consequently, at this level, a challenge in research training is perceived. This provided a motivation: the development of a framework for the actors involved in research training at the engineering undergraduate level so that they can easily define the methodological design. In this context, the present research proposes a framework organized upon the two main phases of every research process: design and execution. The framework is expected to promote the proper use of research methodology among engineering students. Furthermore, the methodological design from 140 selected civil engineering papers from seven different knowledge fields is analyzed. Results show that 94.29% of the papers did not explicitly present the methodological design. It was concluded that there is an absence of it within the engineering field. Thus, a methodological design framework proposal for engineering students was developed to overcome this situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Science identity impacts undergraduates' persistence in their science courses and careers. Here, we investigated science identity in learning assistants, undergraduate peer educators who provide academic and social support in science courses. Understanding learning assistants' science identities has particular value because of their dual role as science students and peer educators. While previous research has investigated disciplinary identity among physics learning assistants, we extend that work by investigating science identity among students who served as learning assistants in six different science courses, seeking to understand the ways in which they characterize their science identity and the experiences they describe as important in its development. Analysis of twelve interviews revealed three distinct groups of learning assistants: those with lower, intermediate, and high science identities. Recognition by important others, research experiences, and constrictive definitions of science were salient for science identity across all groups, while other experiences had varied salience. Notably, learning assistants with lower science identity described learning to use scientific language as critical for identity development, while learning assistants with the highest science identity found helping others to be an important contributor. Surprisingly, learning assistants with intermediate science identity cited uncertainty about their ability to develop research projects as important for determining their science identity. To communicate the variation in and factors relevant to science identity among learning assistants, we have developed three personas that can serve as tools to help programs and instructors develop robust support for learning assistants' science identity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractRandom-intercept cross-lagged panel models (RI-CLPMs) are increasingly used to investigate research questions focusing on how one variable at one time point affects another variable at the subsequent time point. Due to the implied temporal sequence of events in such research designs, interpretations of RI-CLPMs primarily focus on longitudinal cross-lagged paths while disregarding concurrent associations and modeling these only as residual covariances. However, this may cause biased cross-lagged effects. This may be especially so when data collected at the same time point refers to different reference timeframes, creating a temporal sequence of events for constructs measured concurrently. To examine this issue, we conducted a series of empirical analyses in which the impact of modeling or not modeling of directional within-time point associations may impact inferences drawn from RI-CLPMs using data from the longitudinal z-proso study. Results highlight that not considering directional concurrent effects may lead to biased cross-lagged effects. Thus, it is essential to carefully consider potential directional concurrent effects when choosing models to analyze directional associations between variables over time. If temporal sequences of concurrent effects cannot be clearly established, testing multiple models and drawing conclusions based on the robustness of effects across all models is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is estimated that disruptions to life caused by the COVID-19 pandemic have led to an increase in the number of children and young people suffering from mental health issues globally. In England one in four children experienced poor mental health in 2022. Social prescribing is gaining traction as a systems-based approach, which builds upon person-centered methods, to refer children and young people with non-clinical mental health issues to appropriate community assets. Recognition of social prescribing benefits for children's mental health is increasing, yet evidence is limited. Inconsistent terminology and variation of terms used to describe social prescribing practices across the literature hinders understanding and assessment of social prescribing's impact on children's mental health. This scoping review thus aims to systematically identify and analyse the various terms, concepts and language used to describe social prescribing with children and young people across the wider health and social care literature base. The scoping review will be undertaken using a six-stage framework which includes: identifying the research question, identifying relevant studies, study selection, charting the data, collating, summarising and reporting the results, and consultation. Electronic databases (MEDLINE, Embase, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health, PsychInfo, Social Policy Practice, Scopus, Science Direct, Cochrane library and Joanna Briggs), alongside evidence from grey literature, hand search, citation tracking, and use of expert correspondence will be included in the review to ensure published and unpublished literature is captured. Data extraction will be carried out by two reviewers using a predefined form to capture study characteristics, intervention descriptions, outcomes, and key terms used to report social prescribing for children and young people. No formal quality appraisal or risk of bias evaluation will be performed, as this scoping review aims to map and describe the literature. Data will be stored and managed using the Rayaan.ai platform and a critical narrative of the common themes found will be included. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT The growing demand for energy and the shift towards green energy solutions have led to the conversion of open spaces and agricultural fields into photovoltaic (PV) power plants, exacerbating the “food–energy–environment” trilemma. Agrophotovoltaics (APVs), a dual‐use system combining agriculture and energy production on the same land, presents a potential solution to this challenge. While the environmental impacts of ground‐mounted utility‐scale PV (USPV) power plants and the effects of APV systems on agricultural yields have been extensively studied and reviewed, the implications for wildlife and biodiversity remain largely unexplored. This knowledge gap is pressing, given the accelerated global adoption of APV systems and the urgency of understanding their broader ecological consequences. In this concise review, we synthesise existing literature on the impacts of USPV installations on biodiversity and the effects of APV on crop production. Building on these foundations, we propose novel hypotheses concerning the potential pathways and mechanisms through which APV systems may influence biodiversity. We explore the complex interactions between agroecosystems and natural ecosystems, examining both direct and indirect effects. Our review culminates in a set of key research questions designed to guide future studies on the biodiversity outcomes of APV deployment. Future research should comprehensively address factors such as habitat type, climate, spatial scale, technology, and agricultural practices, as well as the overarching impacts of climate change. By highlighting the importance of these variables, we aim to facilitate a nuanced understanding of how APV systems can either support or undermine biodiversity. This work not only underscores the critical need for empirical studies in this emerging field but also sets the stage for more informed and sustainable implementation of APV technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the policymaking role of the chief of cabinet, as head of the partisan political staff and a central actor within politico‐administrative relations. We focus on the local government level, where the role of political staff is understudied. While the added value of partisan political staff can be diverse and comprise advisory and non‐advisory activities, we do assume an active policymaking role for the chiefs of cabinet within the local policy advisory system. The research question is: “How do chiefs of cabinet conceive their own policymaking role at the local government level?” Adopting an actor‐centered approach, this research studies 20 chiefs of cabinet in cities in the Belgian region Flanders, where the amount of political staff has risen sharply. Q methodology is used for self‐assessment of the policymaking role (Van Exel & De Graaf, 2005), with statements based on Maley's three arenas (Maley, 2015). The results show that multiple types of chief of cabinet exist, revealing variation within one single institutional system. The resulting taxonomy consists of three types of chiefs of cabinet, each with a different role and impact on both policymaking and the civil service: “The Whip,” “The Negotiator,” and “The Streamliner.” [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article contributes expanded knowledge about parents’ difficulties in reconciling work and family and their work-family strategies by studying how these difficulties and strategies change over time, e.g. from the early childhood years to the school-age/preteen years. Drawing on qualitative, longitudinal interviews with Swedish parents of school-age children who were interviewed when their first child was about 1.5 years of age, and then later when that child was 11 years of age, the article addresses the following research questions: What are the main difficulties in the parents’ reconciliation of paid work and caring responsibilities, and how have these difficulties changed over time? What are the parents’ most important work-family strategies for reconciling paid work and caring responsibilities and how have these strategies changed over time? The article draws on theories of work-family conflict, gender and time, and the results indicate change and continuity concerning the work-family difficulties and work-family strategies. Time famine appears to be a central difficulty that is consistent throughout the years. The findings also indicate gendered aspects of some of the strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to shed light on the key role of digital repertoire in shaping participation forms, challenging internet as a flexible, dynamic, and pervasive platform that transcends reality in terms of sense and relationship construction processes. The research design traces the narration and performance patterns in the last decade of the No Tav movement case study. The work examines the concept of innovation as both an evolving repertoire and a set of users’ practices. The empirical analysis is conducted through digital content analysis using quantitative textual analysis techniques. The research questions aim to understand how activists produce and share knowledge, what mobilization patterns emerge and are enabled by digital media, and how organizational assumptions change due to the digital turn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]