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This research scrutinizes the instrumental contributions of public libraries in augmenting community resilience. The study deploys a methodological framework predicated on comprehensive literature examination and empirical investigation by focusing on the National Taiwan Library and the New Taipei City Library as paradigmatic instances. Employing a multi-layered approach of case studies and in-depth interviews with various library staff, the study aims to (1) formulate a nascent conceptual architecture of community resilience, (2) identify the multifaceted strategies public libraries employ to bolster resilience, and (3) articulate specific functional roles libraries execute in this resilience ecosystem. Empirical data coalesce into six salient categories: (1) Knowledge Curation, Skill Development, and Lifelong Learning; (2) Community Network Dynamics; (3) Human-Place Connections; (4) Infrastructure and Foundational Resources; (5) Innovation and Diversification; and (6) Public-Governmental Interface. Libraries surface as agile orchestrators in intricate socio-environmental nexuses, utilizing adaptive service models that leverage emergent community networks, enhancing intrinsic and extrinsic resilience. The roles libraries fulfill in community systems are manifold: they act as (1) Adaptive Sustainers in volatile conditions, (2) Socio-Organizational Mediators in community networking, (3) Stewards of Cultural Integrity, (4) Facilitators of Inclusive Information Access, and (5) Navigators in Collaboration with governmental and social entities. The findings contribute rich scholarly and practical perspectives on how public institutions fortify socio-ecological resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Institutions in the GLAM (galleries, libraries, archives, and museums) sector serve the public as institutions for cultural heritage, identity, education, experience, and leisure. The goals of these institutions are becoming more closely aligned and they have shared a turn from being collection-centred to a focus on users and visitors. When these institutions also face similar challenges brought on especially by digitalization, there is increasing discourse in scholarly literature and among GLAM professionals about the drivers, impacts and opportunities of convergence for the sector. There remains however, scant empirical examination of user/visitor perception and experience of such convergence. This research addresses this knowledge gap and investigates a converged GLAM case institution, Te Ara 'Atea in New Zealand through a user/visitor survey. The survey findings suggest that users/visitors perceive and experience fewer issues with convergence relative to benefits. A novel insight from this research is that the concept of GLAM convergence can positively contribute to cultural and community wellbeing. As for perceived issue within the convergence space, of particular interest is the concept of unsanctioned touch of displayed objects/artworks, and the alleged unclear behavioral norms in converged environments. The findings also point to further considerations and implications regarding GLAM disciplinary boundaries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article is devoted to the study of the legal nature of electronic auctions of seized property as a mechanism for ensuring the rights of participants in executive proceedings. As part of the scientific research, the author reveals the legal nature of electronic auctions of seized property based on the analysis of their legal regulation, formulating conclusions about the role of this institution in the system of executive proceedings. The author emphasizes that electronic auctions as a special mechanism of enforcement proceedings must have a clear, consistent and unambiguous legal regulation in national legislation, since this type of activity directly affects the property rights of participants in enforcement proceedings, in particular, the right to private property, which is guaranteed to a person by the Ukrainian and international law. The article examines the legal nature of electronic trading through the prism of institutions of public electronic services and administrative services, as well as the institution of entrepreneurship. The author substantiated the conclusion that the researched institute is not a form of providing electronic or administrative services provided by the state at the request of a certain subject, nor can it be considered a separate type of entrepreneurial activity, given the multi-subject nature of the goal. The article concludes that electronic auctions of seized property by their legal nature belong to the category of measures of administrative influence on the participants of executive proceedings in terms of their property rights. This measure has an electronic legal form of forced alienation of property or property rights, which is used to ensure full, timely and legally executed decisions of courts and other bodies in executive proceedings. The role of the investigated institute is determined by the provision of a compensatory function in the enforcement proceedings, which guarantees the debt collector the acquisition of the right of ownership of the sum awarded by the court, through the forced sale of the property belonging to the debtor through electronic auctions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A historical and legal study of the institutional and legal prerequisites for the formation of the highest authorities of the UPR during the Directory during the Hetmanate (May 21 – December 14, 1918) was carried out. The process of formation of bodies that have gone through the evolution from public to the highest state bodies of the UPR during the Directory, began during the functioning of the Ukrainian State. The struggle for the restoration of the UPR was carried out by: the Ukrainian National Union, the Directory, the Council of Heads of State Affairs, the Council of Commissars, the Revolutionary Committee. Of greatest importance in the struggle against the Hetman was the creation of party and trade union organizations on May 21, 1918. Ukrainian National-State Union, which in August 1918 was renamed the Ukrainian National Union – an alternative public body to the existing state apparatus, which claimed to be transformed into a constituent state power. The directory was created on November 14, 1918. Ukrainian National Union. Links of this public institution were: the head of the Directory and members of the Directory, one of whom was the Chief Ataman. At the beginning of December 1918 departments were established under the Directory. In the process of struggle for the creation of the UPR in December 1918 the Council of Commissars was created – a public authority, which in fact was a prototype of the executive body of the UNR. After the abdication of power by the Hetman of Ukraine on December 14, 1918 The Directory, the Council of Commissars acquired the legal status of the highest bodies of state power of the UPR. Soon, instead of the Council of Commissioners, the Directorate created the Council of People’s Ministers – the government of the UPR. The formation of the UPR during the Directory was facilitated by the revolution in Germany, the support of the Entente. The stage of the struggle between the supporters of the Directory and the Hetman (May 21 – December 14, 1918) can be considered as the preparatory stage for the formation of the highest authorities of the UPR during the Directory, which was imposed on the period of the existence of the Ukrainian State. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mexico's public security has suffered a militarization process for at least two decades. Although there is consensus on this trend at the national level in the specialized literature, little research has been conducted on its subnational impact. To amend this gap, this article inquires the way in which militarization has permeated the structure and operation of subnational security forces beyond the local autocratic dynamics that reinforce militarization. Specifically, this article focuses on police reconfiguration regarding interaction with military in the six most violent states in Mexico: Jalisco, Nuevo León, Guanajuato, Sonora, Sinaloa, and Zacatecas. The qualitative analysis presented is based on 15 interviews and 18 focus groups with police offices and public security officials of these states. We argue that military presence on the streets and the arrival of the military-to-executive positions in public security institutions contributed to the adoption of military operating modes by the state police during Felipe Calderón (Dec. 2006–Nov. 2012) and Enrique Peña Nieto's presidential terms (Dec. 2012–Nov. 2018). Additionally, this article aims to explain how the military has permeated the state's public security institutions at different levels and dynamics (management, training, and operation) that promote the adoption of formal or informal military features that enable state police institutions to behave alike and resemble the army in their everyday activities. From a theoretical and methodological perspective, this article calls for the construction of a research agenda that focuses on the local and subnational processes of the militarization of public security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We offer a novel conceptualization of government credibility and a new framework for analysing the institutions that governments constitute to enhance their credibility. While the literature commonly pertains to government credibility institutions as an apolitical instrument of 'good government,' we argue that there are 'varieties of government credibility' and therefore political trade-offs between different credibility-enhancing institutions. To demonstrate this, we introduce 'social credibility' as an additional type of government credibility alongside the widely-discussed 'market credibility.' Through historical cases, we show that social credibility institutions played a crucial role in constructing social security and point at fundamental tensions between market credibility institutions and social credibility institutions. Therefore, instead of focusing on the supposedly apolitical question of how to enhance government credibility, research should concentrate on the very political issue of how prioritizing certain types of credibility affects others and their associated institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organizational sensegiving is a framework that details influencing others in an organization's process of making meaning of new information. In this study, we examined sensegiving through performance-based funding (PBF) discourse of state actors to Ohio citizens. Utilizing critical discourse analysis, 14 media releases were analyzed, focusing on linguistic construction to examine discursive strategies used by public institution presidents and politicians implementing PBF. This study contributes to the existing literature by exploring how state actors are sensegivers to citizens, stating their responses to implementing PBF. We found two contrasting narratives, the crisis, and collective good narrative, at the core of sensegiving PBF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract\nPlain language summaryU.S. higher education is facing an ongoing assault via state legislation targeting divisive concepts, such as teaching critical race theory and initiatives supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion across campus. Although attacks to foundational aspects of postsecondary education in the U.S. are not new in the history of the sector, the current policy trend offers an opportunity to gain insights into how institutions and various stakeholders respond to these events and the ethical tensions these individuals may face. Using qualitative content analysis, this study examines publicly available statements and other responses by stakeholders of public 4-year institutions in the Southern United States, as defined by membership in the Southern Regional Education Board. This region of the country has become an epicenter for the introduction and adoption of these types of policies; the region also encompasses a diverse group of states politically and regarding institutional representation within public postsecondary sectors. Ultimately, this study seeks to understand how characteristics of higher education influence responses by institutional stakeholders in this regional context.Anti–higher education sentiment has been increasingly vocal across the United States, particularly from conservative politicians and media since President Trump’s Administration took office in 2017. While anti–higher education commentary is not a new phenomenon, the particular focus of this most recent wave centers on practices and programs aligning with critical race theory (CRT) and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and has resulted in a growing number of proposed and enacted state policies targeting these areas. A fundamental question, however, centers on how public institutions and their institutional stakeholders respond to these policies. This study reviews 82 publicly available responses by institutional presidents, faculty, staff, students, alumni, and trustees from public 4-year institutions located in the Southern United States. These data were systematically collected and analyzed through the theory of stakeholder saliency, and several themes emerged. For example, despite expectations that state contexts, such as partisan state politics or number of postsecondary institutions, might influence the number, content, or character of responses, findings suggest that the seriousness of these attacks may have superseded many of these differences, with many responses focused on reacting to active bills and adopted policies rather than proactively voicing concerns about national and regional trends. Students, faculty, and staff were often more vocal in their opposition to these policies, whereas presidents and other institutional leaders attempted to remain more neutral, potentially because of their role and position in relation to the policymakers. Given the use of publicly available responses, findings highlight the potential disconnect in media coverage of key stakeholders as well as the representative institutions included in the coverage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Housing informality in wealthy contexts is an overlooked phenomenon, particularly in the global South. This article addresses the role of public institutions in the production of housing informality among the wealthy. For this purpose, it analyses the operation of public institutions in relation to the proliferation of luxurious villas in the eastern hills of Bogotá. Three villas were selected as archetypes of informal urbanization among the elite in the eastern hills, and their stories—or informality pathways—were reconstructed through interviews, maps and policy documents. The article aims to unveil how public institutions have contributed to the creation of informal spaces, often in collusion with private entities. Specifically, public institutions demonstrated conflicting internal agencies and multi‐level fragmentation, resulting in flexible regulations tailored to fit the construction practices of the elite. These characteristics were instrumental in establishing spaces of exception for the wealthy in the eastern hills of Bogotá and will likely be mirrored in other informal settlements in the global South. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Postsecondary institutions such as public and private universities have a key role to play in the development of sustainable smart cities. This paper discusses aspects of this role in terms of historical contributions, examples of contributions from the standpoint of two universities, and potential future contributions. The treatment of these aspects from a system-oriented perspective is also addressed. Researchers working on leading edge technologies have resources that enable them to introduce disruptive solutions that enhance the well-being of society. On the other hand, it is clear that different university realities demand unique actions depending on whether they reside in developing or developed countries, although common social problems have also been identified. Overall, there is an opportunity for universities to test new ideas and implement them in communities, especially where they reside. We discuss the role of universities in a broad sense, where contributions are briefly described and acknowledged. The focus is on applications for sustainability and social good that have been or could be developed in universities as new research opportunities to improve the quality of life of the general population. We also argue that it is essential to consider university contributions to the creation of smart cities in the context of a system-oriented perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study empirically examines how employee compassion relates to job performance. Specifically, this study is a constructive replication and expansion of a previous study on the relationship between compassion and job performance using multiple sources of measurement. It investigates unexplored pathways within the public art sector in South Korea. Focusing on the mediating roles of positive work-related identity (PWRI) and positive psychological capital, we collected data from public art institutions in Korea, including galleries and museums, using a survey method. We tested the hypotheses using structural equation modeling and the PROCESS bootstrapping method. Our findings demonstrate a positive association between compassion and job performance, serially mediated by PWRI and positive psychological capital. Theoretically, by constructively replicating and expanding the previous findings, our study contributes to a robust understanding of how compassion could enhance employee performance. Practically, this study reinforces the value of fostering compassion and positive psychological resources to improve job performance, particularly within the public art sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Open science practices are now at the forefront of discussions in the applied linguistics research community. Proponents of open science argue for its potential to enhance research quality and accessibility while promoting a collaborative and equitable environment. Winke advocates integrating open science into language assessment research to enhance research quality, accessibility, and collaboration. This response introduces two additional perspectives to support open science practices. The first is a framework, which identifies five schools of thought on open science that emphasize understanding the various goals of open science and the scientific methods and tools that are used to pursue them. Second, I highlight two additional characteristics of open science: the need for community and the costs of open science. These additional perspectives underscore the significance of making research processes transparent and inclusive, extending beyond traditional academic boundaries to engage the public and industry stakeholders. By integrating these considerations, this response aims to offer a nuanced view of the challenges and opportunities that open science presents in the field of language assessment, suggesting ideas for how researchers outside and inside the language assessment industry can work toward improving open science practices in language assessment research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, distance learning became the predominant teaching method at most universities, exposing students and teachers alike to novel and unexpected challenges and learning opportunities. Our study is situated in the context of higher physics education at a large Swedish university and adopts a mixed-methods approach to explore how students perceive shifts to distance learning. Quantitative student survey responses comparing distance learning during the pandemic with previous in-person learning are analyzed with k-means cluster analysis and with a random-intercept multilevel linear model. Combined analyses produce a consistent picture of students who report having experienced the greatest challenges. They are on average younger, report being less autonomous in their learning, and find it harder than peers to ask questions to the instructor. They are also less likely to have access to a place where they can study without interruptions. Variation across courses is small with students being largely subjected to the same set of challenges. Qualitative data from semi-structured focus group interviews and open-ended questions supports these findings, provides a deeper understanding of the struggles, and reveals possibilities for future interventions. Students report an overall collapse of structure in their learning that takes place along multiple dimensions. Our findings highlight a fundamental role played by informal peer-to-peer and student-instructor interactions, and by the exchange of what we refer to as "structural information." We discuss implications for teachers and institutions regarding the possibility of providing support structures, such as study spaces, as well as fostering student autonomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Indian society, caste is assigned to us before birth. Caste positions individuals in a social, economic, and political hierarchy. This study explores the meaning of caste discrimination from the perspectives of individuals who experience it in their everyday lives. Many studies have focused on the causes and consequences of caste discrimination and the nature of caste discrimination in different settings. Still, very few have dealt with the "meaning" of caste discrimination and how that meaning-making occurs in the context of present-day academia. This paper adopts an ecological systems approach to explore individuals' interactions with different social settings. Grounded in the epistemological standpoint of social constructionism, the study explored the meaning of caste discrimination through semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions conducted with 22 students who belonged to reserved categories. Constructivist grounded theory was used for analysis to understand the process of meaning formation along with the meaning of caste discrimination. We found that students conceive caste discrimination as the maintenance of the social hierarchy, imposition of rigid identity, and invalidation of caste discriminatory practices. This conception of the meaning was influenced by multiple factors, such as interactions with peers, local cultural ideologies, and treatment received in the academia by teaching and non-teaching staff. The study's findings indicate the need for an integrative indigenous theory of caste discrimination to ensure equitable higher education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Formal rules define urban governance, yet in democratic systems like the United States, institutions governing public input shape decision-making. Governance literature needs more breadth on how civic engagement varies across types of nature and its implications for urban social-ecological systems. We analyzed five cities' ordinances within the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan region, identifying nature-based rules and civic engagement mechanisms. We found ten engagement mechanisms across six nature types, primarily discussed within zoning ordinances—farm animals being the exception. Public hearings were the most frequently mentioned engagement mechanism, yet they have documented biases toward elite perspectives. Despite codification of engagement opportunities, it remains unclear whether utilized mechanisms support substantive input and influence into urban nature governance. Our study not only lays groundwork for research on how to address the inequitable distribution of nature-related benefits and burdens felt by some urban communities, but also inspires further exploration into this crucial area of study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Between 2018 and 2022, 23 foreign higher education institutions established a campus in Uzbekistan, resulting in it becoming the nation with the third largest number of international branch campuses globally, behind China and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The purpose of this research is to understand the Uzbek government's and foreign institutions' rationales for engaging with transnational education (TNE) in Uzbekistan, as well as the founding and operational challenges, and the early outcomes. The data used in this study were obtained primarily from a range of expert stakeholders, who have expert and up-to-date knowledge on the development and operation of TNE institutions in Uzbekistan. Guided by our participants' views and the secondary data examined, an optimistic outlook is anticipated for higher education development in Uzbekistan. The paper concludes with sets of recommendations for local policy makers, TNE institutions, and host countries aspiring to elevate their higher education through TNE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Audiovisual collections in traditional private or public institutions are crucial for preserving and safeguarding natural recordings of biodiversity. These archives represent a snapshot of invaluable moments, behaviours, and interactions among species, often representing the last or only existing recordings. Therefore, animal vocalisation recordings are essential for future generations to understand the past and preserve the remaining biodiversity. In this study, we examined the largest Latin American sound archive, the Fonoteca Neotropical Jacques Vielliard, in search for anuran sounds that are not yet formally described. Herein, we describe the calls of eight species, the advertisement call of seven of them, and the release call of two of them. These species, belonging to three different families, were recorded in Brazil over the past six decades and have different conservation status. Notably, two of them are threatened by extinction and one is extinct. Our study fills important knowledge gaps about rare and declining anuran populations, highlighting the value of public scientific audiovisual collections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to explore how the shift from traditional to digital banking transforms the nature of trust between banks and their younger clients (aged 18–35) from the perspective of bank employees. Design/methodology/approach: Qualitative semi-structured interviews with representatives of Ukrainian classical banks and neobanks were conducted. The interviews were analysed using the theoretical approach of institution-based and social network-based trust to identify the key distinctions between the nature of trust in traditional and digital banking. Findings: The employees of the banks reported that digitalization processes have helped to mitigate trust issues; as a result, their banks have not experienced any difficulties in this regard among young people. Furthermore, social networks, particularly social approval, were found to be significant factors for establishing trust in digital banking among young people. Research limitations/implications: The results of this study could assist bank managers in adapting their strategies for cultivating trust among younger clients and aiding international law regulators and government institutions in preventing unintended circumstances in financial services. These contributions were shaped by the study's limitations, including its focus on only two concepts of trust building: institution-based and social network-based, as well as its specific Ukrainian context. Originality/value: This study highlights social approval as a valuable constituent of the trust-building process that influences trust in institutions. Furthermore, while gaining social approval – particularly through digital platforms – can promote trust-building among young people, this "easy way" may have negative societal consequences by endorsing unscrupulous institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The relationship between young people and public institutions has traditionally attracted a lot of attention. In particular, there has been much discussion about the idea of youth political disaffection. In recent years, the literature seems to agree that this disaffection of the new generations is fundamentally oriented towards the institutional political system. Studies on institutional disaffection have tended to look at the characteristics, transformations and situations experienced by young people themselves. However, the role that public institutions play in producing this distancing has hardly been examined. In this article, we aim to determine whether the theoretical tool of adultcentrism, as a hegemony that places young people in a peripheral position, helps us understand these processes. We use data from focus groups and participatory workshops in the city of Barcelona to analyse to what extent the distancing of young people from institutions is shaped by perceptions and discourses that assume or react to the marginal position that youth have in the institutional system. By basing this analysis on adultcentric forms of governance, we aim to understand both how such perspectives are constructed by young people through their interaction with institutions, and also how these perceptions become generalised discourses among youth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research aimed to assess the urban-rural gap in mathematics achievement among secondary education students in Peru using the ECE 2018 evaluation and the Oaxaca-Blinder method. Employing a retrospective observational design, the study analyzed data from the ECE to understand this disparity. It revealed a significant gap favoring urban areas, even after adjusting for socioeconomic factors and school contributions, with a difference of 63.28 points. Decomposition analysis showed that 82.58% of this gap is explained by differences in observable attributes (endowments), primarily socioeconomic variables and school inputs. These findings underscore the importance of public policies targeting improvements in both school resources and the living standards of impoverished populations to address educational disparities effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This text presents the Mexican experience regarding the process of transformation of health services based on the recovery of the leadership of the Mexican government in the health care of the population through the centralization of health care services in the IMSS-BIENESTAR; the new institution created by the Government of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador to provide protection to people without social security. First, the health's system historical background is presented. Indeed, the discussion about the balances and consequences left by the decentralization of the health system that began in 1980 decade is addressed. Then, the beginning of the fourth process of transformation develops the arguments based on the centralization of health services in Mexico, the institutional design, and legal reforms. The final section is focus on successes and challenges in the process of transforming the national health system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to analyze and explain the influence of organizational culture, work spirit and job satisfaction on employee performance at the public broadcasting institution TVRI South Sulawesi. This type of research is quantitative with data collection techniques using questionnaires through 140 respondents and analyzed using multiple linear regression techniques and partial hypothesis testing is carried out. The results of the study indicate that organizational culture, work spirit and job satisfaction each have a significant influence on employee performance at the Public Broadcasting Institution (LPP) TVRI South Sulawesi with a 95% confidence level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aquaculture development is a challenge for the economic growth of coastal territories and to promote the food security of their populations. Many efforts have been made by international, national, and local public institutions to develop this sector. Despite this political objective, the coastal zones of Europe and the Mediterranean in general are faced with problems that strongly limit this development. This is linked to several factors, including social opposition, which raises the question of the social acceptability of aquaculture development. Beyond understanding the factors that explain the social rejection of this sector or its products, the key question concerns the capacity of private and public institutions to deal with this social opposition in a practical way. Based on fieldwork and a participatory approach, this paper analyzes the constraints of aquaculture development in Monastir Bay, Tunisia, and in particular, those relying on social dimensions. Under this participatory approach, the authors propose a research–action framework allowing the building of bases for engaging stakeholders in a co-construction process of a shared vision of aquaculture development in Monastir, in accordance with the constraints and ambitions expressed by the local communities regarding territorial needs. This paper shows the value of building the transition from an individual or group vision to a collective vision through a participatory approach that is likely to form a consensus, as opposed to an aggregation of individual visions that can lead to social unacceptance. It also argues that involving citizens in the exploration of aquaculture development scenarios adapted to the territory is an essential prerequisite to exploring the conditions that question the social acceptability and its improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

What is the relationship between counterinsurgency and institution-building? When do wartime institutions persist once conflict has ended? Classic theories examine how war spurs new institutions within the central state, while extensive research on rebel governance examines how insurgent actors forge new rules to garner civilian compliance and cement control. However, the legacies of armed conflict for state institutions in the theater of war remain relatively neglected. We theorize the process of local counterinsurgent institution-building and the drivers of institutional endurance following counterinsurgency. By analyzing two local counterinsurgent institutions in Nicaragua and a shadow case drawn from Indonesia, we find that while state leaders may generate new institutional arrangements to elicit information and garner resources, institutional persistence is driven by local reappropriation as communities pursue their own postwar governance and development goals. Overall, this paper contributes a new understanding for the divergent postwar paths of local institutions generated amid counterinsurgency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trade is inherently risky, involving a commitment problem for both importers and exporters. The former must deal with ex ante uncertainty about whether exporters will deliver the goods or services as promised, while the latter has to identify an importer willing to trade a product. How, then, do firms establish trading relationships, especially in new markets? While both classical and newer trade theories tend to downplay the role of government in trade, we argue that government institutions play a crucial role in resolving this uncertainty. Specifically, export promotion agencies and embassies in foreign countries vet potential trade contacts and head off potential disputes before they get too serious, thus insuring against the basic risks of trade. We expect that this institutional backing will have stronger export-promoting effects on great powers' trade with economically developing and politically dissimilar countries. Using a large collection of U.S. State Department cables from the 1970s that concern export promotion, we find strong evidence that promotion efforts had the largest effect when economic trade barriers were high and in countries that were politically dissimilar to the U.S. Rather than passively participating in trade, government bureaucrats play a large role in helping firms establish trading relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is the first to examine the use of screen-capture video feedback on student assignments on a social science degree at a British university. It is based on qualitative, focus group, research with students who received one or more video recordings on their academic work over the period 2019–2021. The article first places video feedback in the wider context of research on the subject. Our literature review suggests that whilst video does not herald a pedagogic revolution, it is a considerable advance on orthodox written feedback. Our findings are that students prefer video recordings because they provide (1) an interpersonal aspect to feedback; (2) more extensive, detailed, nuanced and directed coverage of their work than with written comments; (3) a more credible appreciation of their grade. Our discussion ends with a summary of our findings and a breakdown of the benefits and constraints of video feedback. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On a worldwide scale, information and communication technologies are undergoing fundamental shifts, and research has been done to investigate the mechanisms between e-government and e-governance in light of these informational and technological shifts. There have been many discussions about different e-governance case studies, and the distinctions between e-governance and e-government, as well as their respective benefits, have been aptly investigated from the point of view of government implementation. This current paper also focuses on deploying an e-governance mechanism and addressing the difficulties and constraints involved. Finally, practical problems regarding the adoption of e-governance have been addressed by online administration and Internet legislation. Future research has to focus on legitimate challenges and how they statistically relate to e-governance and artificial intelligence in various public and commercial institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The EU has been confronted with novel global challenges ranging from economic, migration and security related crises, to an interstate war on its Eastern and Southern borders. Strategic partnerships have emerged as one of the key potential instruments to navigate these challenges, yet with contested debates over their impact on the EU's global standing as a foreign policy actor. This paper analyses how, if at all, EU strategic partnerships indicate a maturation of EU foreign policy in the global context. We argue that the utilisation of EU strategic partners emerges as an area with varied degrees of maturation. We identify three main indicators of these varied maturation degrees to assess the EU's use of strategic partnerships. First, we focus on the rationale behind the continuous tension between the EU's normative and strategic drivers for engaging in strategic partnerships. The second indicator of maturation is the EU's proactive role in adapting to its changing global environment, where a mature EU identifies other global players and presents them with cooperation opportunities. Finally, institutional maturity as a function of vertical coherence implies the proactive management of divisions among the EU institutions and member states over the modalities of these partnerships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China has endorsed the idea of 'ecological civilization' for over a decade. How has the Chinese making of the ecological civilization imaginary informed and been affected by on-ground practices? Inspired by insights into anticipatory politics, this study disentangles an officially intended ecological civilization pilot—the 'Great Yangtze River Protection Programme' (GYRPP)—to examine the interplay of China's ecological civilization imaginary, specific policies, and on-ground practices of environmental governance. Informed by fieldwork and documents of GYRPP, this study argues, first, the Chinese state has constructed the ecological civilization imaginary through rendering a concerted future of environmental protection and socio-economic development, which inherently strengthens the regime's legitimacy. Second, the ecological civilization imaginary has informed a set of policies and been used to coordinate specific local practices. Finally, people, institutions, and other resources are mobilized to serve multiple but sometimes conflicting goals, which in turn reconstitutes the ecological civilization imaginary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The importance of parent‐teacher relationships has been well‐discussed in Western contexts. It's still unclear whether and how parent‐teacher relationships affect students' academic development, especially in the context of China's uneven development between urban and suburban areas. Aims: This study examined the urban–suburban differences in the influence of the parent–teacher relationships on students' learning engagement during the last 3 years of primary school to contribute to related policy and practice. Sample and Methods: Data were collected annually during the summer period in three waves from Grades 4 to 6. The sample included 1408 students (Mage = 10.35, SD =.48; 49.1% boys) paired with their mothers (Mage = 38.82, SD = 3.54), with 643 pairs from urban areas and 765 pairs from suburban areas in China. In each wave, the parents reported the frequency of contact with their child's teacher during the previous school year as well as the quality of their relationship, and the students reported their learning engagement. Latent growth models were used to examine the hypotheses. Results: A statistically significant decline in learning engagement was seen only in suburban students, while the parent–teacher relationships seemed to increase for both suburban and urban participants. Latent growth modelling showed that the increasing levels of relationship quality reduced the decline in the suburban students' learning engagement, although the contact between parents and teachers did not play such a positive role for both urban and suburban students. Conclusions: The findings reveal a compensatory effect of the quality of the parent–teacher relationship on suburban students' learning engagement. Considering the difference in students' learning engagement between urban and suburban students, increased effort on high‐quality parent–teacher relationships for suburban students is required to better support their academic development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For students taking higher level mathematics courses, the transition from computational to proof-based courses such as analysis and algebra not only introduces a new format of writing and communication, but also a new level of abstraction. This study examines the affordances of one particular tool to aid students in this transition: a proof template. We highlight four cases based on interviews conducted at two universities, both from transition-to-proof classes in which templates were explicitly used and not. Results indicate that when introduced to this tool, students viewed these templates favourably. Two detailed cases provide evidence that templates can contribute to deep understanding and student ownership of learning by deconstructing the template structures for themselves. In settings where explicit templates were not introduced, two cases address possible concerns with templates as well as demonstrate that students may be intuiting this structure. Our work provides evidence for the benefits of templates as a learning aid to struggling and strong students alike that does not reduce creativity in proving, along with students' appreciation of templates for structure and as guidelines to make sense of the increased abstraction required for proof-writing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF or Hashd al-Shaabi in Arabic) presents an intriguing case study of rebel consolidation, in which pro-regime militias opportunistically seized the reins of a new and rapidly expanding government security institution. The organizational wrapper of the PMF Commission gave an illusory sense of instant consolidation, whereas the formation of the PMF was just the beginning of one of many cycles of armed actor consolidation that came close to overtaking the Iraqi state in 2018–2019. The partial consolidation achieved by the militias within the PMF was largely an organizational, competitive and coercive phenomenon, masquerading as an ideational, cooperative merger. The effort to further consolidate PMF's control over the Iraqi state became harder as it came close to achieving a near-hegemonic outcome, resulting in a factional field presently characterized as a multipolar distribution of power across militia factions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Integrated science is a ubiquitous school subject that is an amalgamation of science disciplines; its teaching allows topics to be sequenced in any order and given various degrees of coverage and emphasis in the classroom. Ensuring canonical coherence, which is the logical organization of subject matter for effective instruction is therefore necessary for meaningful student learning to occur. Purpose: We examine the coherence as well as closely related ideas of coverage and emphasis of the integrated science curriculum and textbooks from Singapore. Such an analysis has not been attempted before, which might shed light on strong student achievement reported from this region in this subject. Methods: Coherence was determined by finding buttress topics and upper triangular patterns based on a list of standard science topics––these inter-related curricular features aid in conceptual learning of a subject. We also investigated questions about coverage and emphasis from the number of learning outcomes, topics in curriculum and textbooks, and page surface area of textbooks following past TIMSS research. Results: Three buttress topics and two upper triangular patterns in life and physical science disciplines were found, but not among earth science topics. Two topics were strongly emphasised in the curriculum and textbooks––organs, tissues and physical properties of matter––and there was a close alignment between topics in the curriculum and textbooks. Integrated science here was relatively restricted compared to three other high-performing East-Asian regions, but there was a common strong emphasis on physical science topics. Conclusions: Integrated science in Singapore has shown some evidence of coherence in its curriculum and textbooks that have also emphasised physical science topics. Because learning outcomes here were intentionally trimmed due to past general educational reforms, the findings lend tentative support to arguments stating that a reduced, but well-designed science curriculum has benefits for learners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines how performance-based funding (PBF) for public four-year institutions in the U.S. is associated with the production of short-term certificates. Results indicate that high-dosage PBF is associated with increases in both the number of short-term certificate programs offered and the number of short-term certificates awarded, even though PBF's incentives for the four-year sector typically focus on bachelor's degree attainment. Given the challenges of improving performance on bachelor's degrees, particularly in the midst of insufficient resources and support, institutions may be turning to certificates as alternative sources of revenue to address the financial uncertainty induced by PBF. The findings shed light on the broader impact of PBF on institutional behavior, beyond those directly relating to formalized performance metrics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Academic research is currently undergoing a wave of contestation, ranging from violent attacks and life-threatening situations to public undermining of their research and online threats and harassment. A variety of actors engage in hostile behaviors, including ordinary people as well as state institutions, and address scholars working in diverse disciplines and on diverse topics, such as climate change, vaccination, gender studies, colonialism and Islam studies. Recent research shows that female scholars, sexual and racialized minorities, and precarious researchers are the most likely target of online attacks. This contribution presents the results of a research project on academics facing online harassment in times of populism, drawing on data from an original survey to explore the ambivalences of academics' public engagement, the public role of universities, and, more broadly, the impact of current attacks on academic knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While state culpability in compounding disasters is nothing new, in the aftermath of the recent earthquake in Turkey the extent of state dysfunction characterized by paralysis of the administrative institutions was unprecedented. Autocratization does not mesh well with effective disaster and crisis management, neither in theory nor in practice. Over the last two decades, rising competitive authoritarianism in the country has undermined accountability, participation, predictability, and transparency in Turkish governance structures, all of which are key factors that support risk reduction and disaster management. Relying on a conceptual and theoretical inquiry informed by the concepts of autocratic legalism and tailor-made laws, this case study argues that countries characterized by competitive authoritarianism are less effective in managing disasters, because they abuse state institutions for partisan goals, create disparities in access to public resources, and diminish accountability mechanisms. The elimination of democracy as a guiding principle in public-sector management is proving ever more disastrous as details concerning the response to the earthquake emerge. This analysis offers lessons and insights regarding the strategies that were used to sideline the bureaucracy and oversight processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amid a relative withdrawal of western, liberal states from the Middle East, the United Arab Emirates have taken over some of the burden of regional security assistance – doing so redefining norms and practices of security assistance. Unlike western counterparts, the UAE are investing into security assistance in Libya or Yemen, not so much as a means of state and nation-building overseas, but as means of building networks allowing the small state to project influence and power with few normative strings attached. More so, the UAE deliver security assistance via surrogates as discrete means of statecraft allowing Abu Dhabi to compete overseas with plausible deniability. Many of these surrogates do not only challenge the state's monopoly over violence but ultimately undermine legitimate government institutions by creating alternative forms of security sector-based governance. Ultimately, the UAE's approach to security assistance is based on divide-and-rule, ripening particularly potent networks of surrogates over others to ensure that competitors are unable to secure their interests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public participation in local governance is crucial for effective climate action and for ensuring that policies are designed in a way that respects the rights of communities. Policy developments and choices are shaped by the groups that participate, by the ideas that they hold, and by the institutions that enable and constrain their participation. This paper seeks to understand local climate change governance in Ireland by identifying the environmental interests and the ideas of the groups that participate, and by examining how they engage with institutionalised local policymaking processes and with the organisations that represent the officially recognised views of the country's national environmental movement. An analysis of survey data collected from the groups that are members of one of Ireland's Public Participation Networks shows that a majority of groups are small, rural, voluntary, interested in a wide variety of environmental issues and have a pro-ecological worldview. Most groups follow a pro-institutional advocacy strategy at the local level, while only a minority interact with the national environmental movement, mostly limiting their engagement to the acquisition of information. This paper contributes to the literature that examines how interests, ideas, and institutions shape public participation in local climate politics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Educational Academic Research is the property of Ataturk University Coordinatorship of Scientific Journals 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 Cuadernos.info is the property of Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Facultad de Comunicaciones 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 increasing expansion of information systems and the emergence of new sources of gathering data and information from the general public is inevitable. This situation creates responsibility for the government in two ways: firstly, the management and how to manage this level of data and information for maximum optimization, and secondly, the proper and easy sharing of governance data between government institutions and the private sector. In response to this issue, the Parliament passed the National Data and Information Management Law, which, considering the importance of the issue, needs to be analyzed to analyze the main reasons for the formation and approval of this law, along with the consequences and real effects of its implementation. This research was conducted with the method of qualitative content analysis and two antecedents of proponents and opponents of moderators, and two consequences of positive consequences and possible threats were extracted. Also, according to the calculated factors, suggestions have been made to avoid unintended consequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The purpose of this research was to analyze the factors and barriers affecting benefactors participation of benefactors in the contraction and equipment of public libraries in Eat Azerbaijan province. Method: The present applied research was carried out with a qualitative approach and conventional qualitative content analysis method. The participants of the study included all the benefactors partaking in the contraction and equipment of public libraries in Eat Azerbaijan province who had two conditions; participation within the years 1389 to 1400 and participation valued more than one hundred million Rials. The samples were purposefully selected for a semi-structured interview. The interview was conducted up to the theoretical saturation stage and a total of eleven benefactors were interviewed. In order to validate the findings, criteria such as credibility, transferability, dependability and confirmability were used. The findings were analyzed using conventional qualitative content analysis methods. Findings: Based on analyzing interview transcripts, 88 semantic codes, 20 sub-categories (regulations and statutes, activation of the Association of Library Benefactors, advertising, training and veneration, organizational support for employees, the ability to communicate with government officials, the skills of attracting benefactors, the skills of retaining benefactors, the function of country laws, the function of governance, benefactors' cultural contexts, benefactors' economic and social contexts, cultural beliefs, personality beliefs, religious and moral beliefs, bureaucratic obtacles, financial obstacles, lack of proper management, inefficient culture-making, governance shortcomings, and the shortcomings of the country's laws), seven general categories (the role of public libraries foundation in the motivation of benefactors, the role of library officials in the motivation of benefactors, the effect of governance and laws in the motivation of benefactors, impact of cultural, economic and social contexts on the motivation of benefactors, personal beliefs of benefactors, shortcomings of the public libraries foundation in the motivation of benefactors and shortcomings of governance and laws in the motivation of benefactors) and two main components (motivational factors in attracting benefactors and barriers to attracting benefactors) were identified. Based on the emphasis of the participating benefactors, it can be concluded that among the effective factors in benefactors' participation in the contraction and equipment of public libraries, the cultural, economic and social context as well as personal beliefs were the most two important motivational factors. Also, according to participating benefactors, the most important obstacle to non-participation of benefactors in the contraction and equipment of the library was the lack of sufficient enlightenment for the necessity of the library, which indicates a weakness in culture building. Originality/value: In order to expand library benefactors' participation, it is necessary that the Institution of Public Libraries (as the guardian of the expansion of public libraries) should pay special attention to the effective motivational factors in this participation and the obstacles in this path. The present study adopted a qualitative approach to identify the factors affecting the benefactors' participation in the contraction and equipment of public libraries from the viewpoint of participating benefactors. The findings of this research can provide the managers and experts of the Institution of Public Libraries with more accurate information and perspective for more precise planning and removing obstacles and shortcomings in this field. It can also provide a basis for conducting future research in this field and expanding its theoretical foundations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To enhance the security of medical data, the government and healthcare institutions must collect and analyze vast amounts of information, enabling the prompt detection of irregular patterns and timely issuance of accurate warnings. This is crucial for preventing and containing potential threats to medical data security. However, securely sharing and converting these data poses a significant challenge, particularly in open wireless access networks within healthcare settings. Proxy re-signature (PRS) offers not only signature conversion capabilities but also anonymity, safeguarding data reliability and authenticity. Nonetheless, current proxy re-signature techniques overlook the potential for algorithm substitution attacks (ASA). Therefore, we introduce a novel proxy re-signature scheme, leveraging cryptographic reverse firewall (CRF) technology, tailored specifically for the medical domain. Furthermore, we conducted rigorous security analysis and simulation experiments to validate the practical effectiveness of our scheme. This approach addresses the need for secure data sharing among various entities, including medical institutions, management centers, and research facilities, ensuring the integrity and confidentiality of critical medical information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current article talks about the activities of volunteers brought to practice when the institution of public safety is implemented during the organization and holding of mass sports events. We will look at the key functions of volunteers in the context of security at sporting events, as well as analyze the legal aspects of their work, including liability, insurance and regulatory issues. Discussing these issues will help us better understand how to effectively use volunteers to address safety issues and minimize potential risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Bylye Gody is the property of Cherkas Global University Press 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.)

Despite significant advances in technology and flood risk management, as well as the countless risk prevention initiatives undertaken by governments and institutions in recent decades, flood hazards persist in threatening human life and health, especially under the effects of climate change. To assess the effectiveness of the various programs or measures devised to protect human life and health from floods, it is crucial to measure and understand its impacts on society, establishing the capability to track indicators or metrics that reflect the spatial distribution and temporal progress of floods and their impacts. In this context, this study uses disaster loss data derived from international disaster databases adapted in regional context following the Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics level 2 (or NUTS2), to examine the spatial distribution and temporal evolution of deaths, directly attributable to flood disasters. In addition, we explore the potential of currently available datasets in understanding and monitoring flood-related mortality, an important standardized progress indicator of flood disaster impacts. This study is framed within the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), recently adopted by the European Union, and is focused on the Union's territories in the Mediterranean region, an area particularly sensitive to climate change. Results show interesting spatial patterns, and generally inconclusive temporal trends, although locally we see evidence of both an increase and a decline in flood mortality. In addition, this work discusses the currently available datasets potential, weaknesses and limitations, as well as the importance of tracking flood impacts on human life in a future increasingly influenced by extreme weather events and climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the Latinx student population grows in the United States, more public research-intensive institutions are becoming Hispanic-Serving Research Institutions (HSRIs). This exploratory qualitative study examines the experiences of Latinx students at an HSRI, particularly in STEM fields where they face underrepresentation and are pushed out. The objectives for this study were two-fold: (1) investigate the institutional factors contributing to Latinx student pushout in STEM at an HSRI and (2) develop recommendations for enhancing Latinx student retention in STEM at HSRIs. Through an investigation at a public four-year HSRI in California, three key themes emerged regarding institutional factors contributing to STEM pushout: (1) a disconnect in theory-based STEM courses, (2) unsupportive and busy research-focused environments, and (3) the psychological toll of a stripped STEM identity. The authors offer recommendations for targeted interventions to genuinely "serve" Latinx students in STEM fields at HSRIs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to the norm of policy equipoise, it is permissible to randomly assign participants to two or more interventions in a public policy randomised controlled trial (RCT) when there is meaningful uncertainty among the relevant expert community regarding which intervention is superior. While this norm is gaining traction in the research ethics literature, the idea of interventional superiority remains unclear. Is one intervention superior to another if it is reasonably expected to more effectively realise one outcome of interest, even though there is uncertainty regarding other outcomes of interest? Or, must an intervention be reasonably expected to more effectively realise all outcomes of interest? I address this question in this paper. My aim is to develop and defend an account of interventional superiority for policy RCTs that are authorised, funded, or conducted by government institutions. I defend the greatest value view, according to which one intervention is superior to another if and only if it is reasonably expected to more effectively realise a set of outcomes with greater value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]