Search

Cross reality laboratories are widely used in education, yet research on the usability/user experience (UX) of these laboratories is still lacking. This study wants to start the discussion about challenges for usability/UX by interviewing practitioners from a large project for cross reality laboratories spanning multiple institutes in Germany. A total of 18 challenges were discovered, together with three target groups, namely, developers, maintainers, and learners. In addition, the tension between developers and usability is discussed. Open questions include the need to conduct further research with different target groups and how to increase usability for laboratory developers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital solutions have been reported to provide positive psychological and social outcomes to childhood critical illness survivors, a group with an increased risk for long-term adverse psychosocial effects.

With the rapid advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in early childhood education (ECE), young children face the challenge of learning to use AI ethically and appropriately. Developing AI education programs requires an age- and culturally-appropriate AI literacy framework. This study addresses this fundamental gap by creating a Chinese framework for early childhood AI literacy through an expert interview study with a grounded theory approach. Seven Chinese experts, including ECE and AI professors, kindergarten principals, and Directors of ECE Information Departments, were purposely sampled and interviewed, representing scholars, policymakers, and practitioners. The synthesis of the transcribed evidence generated five dimensions of young children's AI literacy, namely Safety, Identity, Attitude, Cognition, and Capability, collectively forming a holistic framework titled the 'SIACC' framework. The Chinese definition of early childhood AI literacy was also reported. This study introduces the Chinese framework of AI literacy and provides a scientific basis for policymakers to establish AI literacy standards for young children. Additionally, it offers a conceptual structure for developing systematic indicators and scales within AI literacy in ECE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adoption of Lean Six Sigma (LSS) 4.0 has been recommended by researchers and practitioners as an effective strategy to enhance the operational excellence of companies, especially in highly competitive environments given the complementarity of LSS with Industry 4.0 (I4.0). Moreover, evidence suggests that companies commonly face difficulties and perceive the implementation process as challenging. To the best of our knowledge, there is currently no comprehensive global model available that offers a step-by-step approach for implementing LSS4.0. The purpose of this study is, therefore, to develop a structured framework that directs organizations to successfully implement LSS4.0. This study follows a combined approach including a systematic literature review to identify existing gaps in recent research and an expert panel to provide valuable insights and validation during the development of the framework. Additionally, a case study was conducted in an automotive manufacturing company to validate the findings. The proposed LSS4.0 framework is based on the DMAIC approach subdivided into fifteen steps. It permits managers to seamlessly integrate LSS4.0 into their processes and selectively choose the relevant tools as required, avoiding digitalization without a clear purpose. Also, it offers a comprehensive solution for managers addressing contemporary industry challenges and enhancing operational processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Even though plug-in electric vehicles can reduce the problem of greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector, externalities like congestion and road damage will exist. Therefore, state transportation agencies will need pricing mechanisms like a per-mile road user charge (RUC) to deal with these externalities while accounting for the transition to an EV-dominated fleet. Focusing on electronic toll collection (ETC) methods, this project aimed to conduct a thorough review of lessons learned from established tolling systems across U.S. states and the tolling system in Singapore and London. Post literature review and expert interviews, a multi-criteria performance framework of different tolling mechanisms was formulated based on criteria such as accuracy of data collection, complexity for regulators and users, compatibility across policy objectives (primarily RUC), and equity.

Abstract Objective The concept of lines of therapy (LOT) in cancer treatment is often considered for decision making in tumor boards and clinical management, but lacks a common definition across medical specialties. The complexity and heterogeneity of malignancies and treatment modalities contribute to an inconsistent understanding of LOT among physicians. This study assesses the heterogeneity of understandings of the LOT concept, its major dimensions, and criteria from the perspective of physicians of different specialties with an oncological focus in Germany. Semi-structured expert interviews with nine physicians were conducted and evaluated using qualitative content analysis. Results Most interviewees agreed that there is no single definition for LOT and found it difficult to explicate their understanding. A majority of experts stated that they had already encountered misunderstandings with colleagues regarding LOT and that they had problems with deciphering LOT from the medical records of their patients. Disagreement emerged about the roles of the following within the LOT concept: maintenance therapy, treatment intention, different therapy modalities, changing pharmaceutical agents, and therapy breaks. Respondents predominantly considered the same criteria as decisive for the definition of LOT as for a change in LOT (e.g., the occurrence of a progression event or tumor recurrence).

Objective: The concept of lines of therapy (LOT) in cancer treatment is often considered for decision making in tumor boards and clinical management, but lacks a common definition across medical specialties. The complexity and heterogeneity of malignancies and treatment modalities contribute to an inconsistent understanding of LOT among physicians. This study assesses the heterogeneity of understandings of the LOT concept, its major dimensions, and criteria from the perspective of physicians of different specialties with an oncological focus in Germany. Semi-structured expert interviews with nine physicians were conducted and evaluated using qualitative content analysis. Results: Most interviewees agreed that there is no single definition for LOT and found it difficult to explicate their understanding. A majority of experts stated that they had already encountered misunderstandings with colleagues regarding LOT and that they had problems with deciphering LOT from the medical records of their patients. Disagreement emerged about the roles of the following within the LOT concept: maintenance therapy, treatment intention, different therapy modalities, changing pharmaceutical agents, and therapy breaks. Respondents predominantly considered the same criteria as decisive for the definition of LOT as for a change in LOT (e.g., the occurrence of a progression event or tumor recurrence). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hot spring landscapes offer enticing development prospects for investors in China. However, due to mounting economic pressures and a lack of coordination among various authorities, inclusive governance has proven ineffective in overseeing development projects centered around hot spring landscapes. Consequently, this manuscript delves into the potential for implementing inclusive governance strategies to safeguard hot spring landscapes in China. This study selected Linyi City as its study site due to its location above a fault zone, which has resulted in the presence of numerous hot springs. Additionally, it has been officially classified as a 'hot spring city in China' by the Chinese Ministry of Land and Resources. This study employed a semi-structured expert interview to investigate the barriers that stand in the way of applying inclusive governance to hot spring landscapes. Moreover, the interview investigates the implications of the lack of utilization of inclusive governance strategies for hot spring landscapes. The analysis of the results indicates that experts believed that the current protection policies were ineffective due to the existence of a multitude of barriers, such as the existence of deficiencies in the current policies, the multiplicity of management authorities, differences in visions in decision-making, limited public participation, a lack of awareness and trust from the public, a lack of balance in development approaches, and a limited role of science and technology. This resulted in a lack of proper communication and delegation of responsibilities with regard to inclusive governance strategies for protecting hot spring landscapes. Furthermore, the analysis unveiled diverse implications arising from the non-application of inclusive governance strategies, encompassing aspects such as tourism, economics, environment, sociocultural, and sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Bundesgesundheitsblatt - Gesundheitsforschung - Gesundheitsschutz is the property of Springer Nature 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.)

In the domain of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), Simplified Vehicle Operations (SVOs) promise a reduction in handling complexity and training time for pilots. Designing a usable human–machine interface (HMI) for pilots of SVO-enabled aircraft requires a deep understanding of task and user requirements. This paper describes the results of two user research methods to gather these requirements. First, a traditional Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) mission was examined using a Hierarchical Task Analysis (HTA). The findings were used to formulate a theoretical HTA for a single-piloted electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) system in such a scenario. In the second step, qualitative interviews with seven subject matter experts (pilots and paramedic support) in HEMS operations produced vital user requirements for HMI development. Key findings emphasize the necessity of a simplified information presentation and collision avoidance support in the HMI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, the number of historic renovation and restoration projects in the US city of Detroit has been increasing to preserve the cultural heritage and to meet current needs. However, this type of project has distinct challenges from new construction projects. This paper reports the results of a qualitative study investigating challenges encountered during historic building renovations in Detroit. The objective is to fill a gap in the construction literature concerning practices for managing large domestic historic building renovation projects. Strong industry interest in the topic also motivated the completion of this study. The expert interview method was used. Semistructured interviews were conducted with six expert practitioners concerning their experiences. Data concerning common challenges, pitfalls, and other issues were gathered, analyzed, and grouped into seven categories (code compliance, historic status, organizational, design, construction, budget/schedule, and technology). The results corroborate many findings and general themes from the prior literature on historic building renovation while reporting several novel findings absent in the reviewed literature. In addition, this paper provides recommendations to avoid and mitigate such challenges. Primary recommendations include developing strong collaborative working protocols between the parties; selecting key team members based on successful past working relationships, not price or cost of service; and, if feasible, conducting hazardous material abatement and selective demolition activities prior to completion of the design to derisk the project. Additionally, 23 secondary recommendations focused on numerous tactical, management, and technical matters are provided. This study contributes to the body of knowledge in the quality and risk management research domain as well as the restoration and renovation construction domain. The practical contribution of this study is to allow industry practitioners to better understand this special type of construction project and strategize quality control and management plans by providing common challenges and recommendations. Challenges encountered during large historic renovations in Detroit were investigated to identify suggested practices for better management of this project type. In addition to verifying prior findings from historic renovations performed elsewhere, new information is presented concerning key knowledge and practice gaps, authority having jurisdiction interface issues, organizational/funding constraints, negligence and standard of care concerns, misaligned competing incentives surrounding hazardous material abatement, and detailed information about design and construction challenges for this project type in Detroit. Three primary recommendations and 23 secondary recommendations are provided for better management, including developing strong collaborative working protocols between the parties; selecting key team members based on successful past working relationships, not price or cost of service; and, if feasible, conducting hazardous material abatement and selective demolition activities prior to completion of the design to derisk the project. The findings will aid design and construction practitioners in making informed decisions about historic renovation projects, thereby improving project delivery and outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research conducted investigations of buildings equipped with radiant systems and expert interviews in 2021–2022 with manufacturers and mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) engineers in Japan who had experience designing radiant heating and cooling systems for non‐residential buildings. In total, interviews were conducted with 56 respondents from 16 companies. Results from the building investigation showed that 69% of the identified buildings had radiant ceilings, and 30% had radiant floors. In terms of working fluid, 56% were water‐based, and 43% were air‐based. For the expert interview, 79% of all respondents answered that the use of radiant systems will continue to increase in the future. In total, 54% of all respondents answered that it has become easier to design radiant systems at present compared to the 2010s. Based on the results, knowledge gaps and challenges in the design of radiant systems were summarized in terms of design method, room temperature control, auxiliary systems, and their relevance to building decarbonization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background In the last phase of their lives, people living with dementia often indicate restlessness, anxiety or pain. Further, their care is considered inadequate, as they are, for example, sometimes overtreated for curative care or undertreated for pain management. These patients also face multiple barriers in accessing palliative care. This qualitative study explores the perception of experts about how people living with dementia in Germany are cared for at home toward the end of their lives. Methods A total of 12 experts involved in outpatient/palliative care were recruited to constitute a purposive, heterogeneous sample. Interviews, which were structured using an interview guide, were conducted with physicians, nurses, representatives of health insurance funds, welfare associations, municipal counselling centres, scientists and coordinators of outpatient palliative care and voluntary work; the interviews were transcribed and analysed via thematic content analysis, based on Kuckartz’s method. Results The analysis of the results led to the establishment of four main categories that focused on formal care arrangements, the roles of relatives in care arrangements, the specifics of dementia, and restrictions on access to palliative care. Conclusions Suitable end-of-life care for people living with dementia and support for their relatives require resources and the conceptualisation of specific care arrangements to help minimise potential barriers that prevent access to palliative care.

With the rapid advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in early childhood education (ECE), young children face the challenge of learning to use AI ethically and appropriately. Developing AI education programs requires an age- and culturally-appropriate AI literacy framework. This study addresses this fundamental gap by creating a Chinese framework for early childhood AI literacy through an expert interview study with a grounded theory approach. Seven Chinese experts, including ECE and AI professors, kindergarten principals, and Directors of ECE Information Departments, were purposely sampled and interviewed, representing scholars, policymakers, and practitioners. The synthesis of the transcribed evidence generated five dimensions of young children’s AI literacy, namely Safety, Identity, Attitude, Cognition, and Capability, collectively forming a holistic framework titled the ‘SIACC’ framework. The Chinese definition of early childhood AI literacy was also reported. This study introduces the Chinese framework of AI literacy and provides a scientific basis for policymakers to establish AI literacy standards for young children. Additionally, it offers a conceptual structure for developing systematic indicators and scales within AI literacy in ECE.

Abstract This research conducted investigations of buildings equipped with radiant systems and expert interviews in 2021–2022 with manufacturers and mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) engineers in Japan who had experience designing radiant heating and cooling systems for non‐residential buildings. In total, interviews were conducted with 56 respondents from 16 companies. Results from the building investigation showed that 69% of the identified buildings had radiant ceilings, and 30% had radiant floors. In terms of working fluid, 56% were water‐based, and 43% were air‐based. For the expert interview, 79% of all respondents answered that the use of radiant systems will continue to increase in the future. In total, 54% of all respondents answered that it has become easier to design radiant systems at present compared to the 2010s. Based on the results, knowledge gaps and challenges in the design of radiant systems were summarized in terms of design method, room temperature control, auxiliary systems, and their relevance to building decarbonization.

In our study we investigate the differences between the views of Waldorf and Montessori teacher trainers (NWaldorf = 8, NMontessori = 8) on the basis of structured interviews. The narrower, national relevance of our study is the Hungarian higher education accreditation efforts of the two school models, while the more general relevance is that we empirically test the theoretical distance between the two school concepts on a Hungarian sample. The aim of the study is therefore twofold: to identify the main theoretical differences between the two pedagogical approaches and to empirically test the presence or absence of these differences through the views of teacher trainers. Our results show that the teacher trainers of the two pedagogical approaches have partly moved away from their theoretical background and are divided on certain issues: Montessori teacher trainers are moving towards a focus on the development of large movements, while Waldorf teacher trainers are moving towards a better appreciation of science. As there is no state accreditation of Waldorf and Montessori teacher training courses in Hungary, we are also looking at the scientific attitudes of the teachers involved in teacher training.

Forestry offsets, recognized for their diverse environmental and social co-benefits, are gaining a growing interest as nature-based solutions to combat climate change. Despite Canada's extensive forest resources, its potential for carbon credit remains largely untapped. This study aims to unveil the prevailing challenges in developing forestry offsets in Canada and propose potential solutions, drawing on insights from in-depth semi-structured interviews (SSIs) with 23 experts in the field. A qualitative thematic analysis highlighted 14 challenges under four major frequently discussed themes: methodological (37%), social (29%), economic (22%), and implementation challenges (12%). Our findings highlighted the urgency of addressing key obstacles, including the impermanent nature of forestry carbon offsets, substantial public knowledge gaps, uncertainties in the cost-effectiveness impacting financial viability, and the need for enhanced capacity for project implementation. Building on the discussions on the identified challenges, this study further presented a comprehensive analysis of the future directions for Canada, emphasizing the importance of addressing key methodological issues, enhancing public and Indigenous education and engagement, and leveraging advanced technologies and innovative approaches like ton-year accounting for economic viability. This paper delivers pivotal insights that have the potential to shape the direction and integrity of the forestry offset markets in both Canada and globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic led to changes in and modifications of the role of information and communication technologies in the digitalization of service provision. This paper aims to identify and summarize these changes in business operations, in the context of strategic management in the restaurant industry, triggered by COVID-19. Based on in-depth interviews with 16 key experts in the restaurant industry (CEOs of chain restaurants), this paper clarifies and concretizes the rapidly transforming problem of identifying the main changes in the restaurant market during the pandemic. These depend on a restaurant's adaptation level to the challenges that arose, using three dimensions (consumer demand, corporate strategy optimization, and the use of the company's innovative potential). The analysis shows that chain restaurants, which have sufficient resources to solve the problem of staff turnover, develop technological solutions, and build a brand and customer loyalty, were more resistant to problems arising from the spread of the coronavirus infection than other companies in the catering industry. The presence of serious problems associated with consumer demand and the optimization of the format of the offered dishes and service had a significant impact on the relationship between the impact of the spread of the coronavirus infection and the inability to adapt to the new reality of doing business. The findings reveal that companies need to expand their digital capabilities and adapt their management strategy to the post-pandemic conditions to adapt to the post-COVID-19 period. This paper serves as a framework for understanding the role of digital transformation in sustainable business development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In the last phase of their lives, people living with dementia often indicate restlessness, anxiety or pain. Further, their care is considered inadequate, as they are, for example, sometimes overtreated for curative care or undertreated for pain management. These patients also face multiple barriers in accessing palliative care. This qualitative study explores the perception of experts about how people living with dementia in Germany are cared for at home toward the end of their lives. Methods: A total of 12 experts involved in outpatient/palliative care were recruited to constitute a purposive, heterogeneous sample. Interviews, which were structured using an interview guide, were conducted with physicians, nurses, representatives of health insurance funds, welfare associations, municipal counselling centres, scientists and coordinators of outpatient palliative care and voluntary work; the interviews were transcribed and analysed via thematic content analysis, based on Kuckartz's method. Results: The analysis of the results led to the establishment of four main categories that focused on formal care arrangements, the roles of relatives in care arrangements, the specifics of dementia, and restrictions on access to palliative care. Conclusions: Suitable end-of-life care for people living with dementia and support for their relatives require resources and the conceptualisation of specific care arrangements to help minimise potential barriers that prevent access to palliative care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines how the impact of the coronavirus spread on business operations in the restaurant business varies depending on the level of restaurants adaptability to the challenges encountered during the pandemic, using three dimensions (analysis of consumer demand problems, optimization of corporate strategy and use of the company’s innovative potential). Through in-depth interviews with eight key food service industry experts in St. Petersburg, Russia, this study describes and fleshes out the rapidly transforming challenge of identifying major market changes in the restaurant business during the pandemic. The analysis showed that chain restaurants with sufficient resources to deal with employee turnover, technology development, brand building and customer loyalty are more resilient to the challenges resulting from the impact of the coronavirus spread than similar food service companies. While the presence of serious problems associated with consumer demand, the optimization of the offered dishes format and service had a significant impact on the relationship between the impact of the coronavirus spread and the inability to adapt to the new reality of doing business. The results of the research can be useful for entrepreneurs and managers of chain restaurants who develop marketing strategies to establish or adjust management decisions to adapt catering companies during a pandemic.

Many industries are coming under increasing pressure to replace their petrochemical plastics in products and packaging with biopolymers. Retailers have a key role here because they determine the products to be marketed, but there is little research on how change processes differ between sectors. To guide wholesalers with broad product portfolio on how to effectively plan a plastics transition, this study interviewed 48 experts from the food, pharmaceutical, automotive and technics retailing. From the answers, sector-independent context factors were derived and finally their individual transition strategy for bioplastics was compared. Packaging is the main object for transition and the food and automotive sectors prefer the greatest possible standardisation of the plastics change. Largest group differences are in the recovery method of bioplastics products and in the assessment of the innovation potential. The results guide wholesalers and policy makers for an effective technology change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Appropriate data models are essential for the systematic collection, aggregation, and integration of health data and for subsequent analysis. However, recommendations for modeling health data are often not publicly available within specific projects. Therefore, the project Zukunftslabor Gesundheit investigates recommendations for modeling. Expert interviews with five experts were conducted and analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Based on the condensed categories "governance", "modeling" and "standards", the project team generated eight hypotheses for recommendations on health data modeling. In addition, relevant framework conditions such as different roles, international cooperation, education/training and political influence were identified. Although emerging from interviewing a small convenience sample of experts, the results help to plan more extensive data collections and to create recommendations for health data modeling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite structural problems, Croatia indicates further expansion. The trend of increasing GDP has continued in recent years. The tourism sector significantly contributes to this development. To give a more detailed insight into this, the authors spoke to tourism industry officials to obtain their assessment and experiences via expert interviews. The methodological approach chosen from qualitative social research aims to identify future challenges, strengths and weaknesses for the Croatian tourism sector and to make recommendations. Preliminary results seem to suggest that, despite the increased tourist numbers, there is doubt as to whether Croatia's tourism industry will be able to stay competitive with other countries in the future. Clear strategic planning is one of the weaknesses of economic indicators, such as a lack of qualified personnel or tax policy imbalances. The work aims to provide a contribution to the empirical research of Croatian tourism and to advance findings in the geospatial field of future challenges. Sustainability aspects also play an important role in making the country fit for the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article, the third in a series of four, is based upon a research project to develop a simple Early Warning System (EWS) integrating both a quality management system (QMS) and controlling (CO) tools, specifically for German SMEs in the Food Industry sector. The previous two articles established the identity and requirements of an EWS, through literature review and then semi-structured interviews with experts. In this article, the research focuses on the examination and selection of Controlling and Quality Management tools for EWSs in the food production industry, which are appropriate for recognising risk factors of company failure. The toolkit of CO and QM is very large and it was necessary, with the help of two CO and two QM experts, independent of companies involved in the research's case studies, to identify the most appropriate of these, measurable by the company value, including shareholder value, market value, customer value, people value and future value (Töpfer, 2000), for EWSs, which match the requirements previously identified by turnaround experts. A matrix of categories equal to those identified and defined was shown to informants before interview. The selection criteria evaluated not only whether according to the established requirements, the tools are effective, but also whether the SMEs have the required resources and capabilities for their implementation (Rocha-Lona, Garza-Reyes, & Kumar, 2013). The CO and QM tools were explored with the help of the experts, and then defined and categorized in comparison with those identified in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research project on which this paper is based, deals with the development of a simple Early Warning System (EWS) integrating both a quality management system (QMS) and controlling (CO) tools, focusing specifically on German SMEs in the food production industry. An EWS can be defined as an information system designed to warn companies when problems arise. Most of the models designed to identify company risks/crisis are focused either on quantitative or qualitative factors. Several authors point out the need for a more holistic approach including both quantitative and qualitative factors. This paper, the second of a series of four, provides an Identification of the requirements for an Early Warning System for SMEs in the German Food Industry, by the use of Semi-structured Interview. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: Cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) is nowadays an indispensable treatment option for heart failure. Although the indication is subject to clear cross-national guidelines by the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), there is immense variation in the number of implantations per 100,000 inhabitants in Europe, especially in German-speaking countries (Germany, Austria and Switzerland). The aim of the present study was to identify possible factors for these differences using a qualitative research approach. (2) Methods: Semi-standardized interviews were conducted with 11 experts in the field of CRT therapy (3 experts from Germany, 4 from Austria and 4 from Switzerland) using a pre-prepared interview template and analysed according to Mayring's qualitative content analysis. (3) Results: The main factors identified were the costs of purchasing the devices and the financing systems of the respective healthcare systems, although cost pressure still seems to play a subordinate role in the German-speaking countries. Moreover, "lack of implementation of ESC guidelines", "insufficient training" and "lack of medical infrastructure" could be excluded as potential reasons. (4) Conclusions: Economic factors, but not a lack of adherence to ESC guidelines, seem to have a major influence on the fluctuating implantation figures in German-speaking countries, according to the unanimous assessment of renowned experts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present day, we need outstanding scientists, engineers, mathematicians, and medical science researchers more than ever to solve the world's most pressing issues, such as climate change, water contamination, and cyber security. Naturally, we ask the question: What does it take to develop eminence in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medical science (STEMM)? To answer this question, we interviewed two relevant groups of experts: 14 talent development researchers and 14 STEMM experts. The interview questions were developed based on the theoretical framework of the Actiotope Model of Giftedness and the related educational and learning capital approach that differentiates five types of exogenous resources (educational capital) and five types of endogenous resources (learning capital) that feed into talent development toward eminence. The results show that all types of capital were regarded as important by the experts for developing eminence in STEMM. However, there were also differences. We describe the educational and learning capital that talent development researchers and STEMM experts considered to be important for talent development in STEMM, as well as the similarities and differences between the two groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study tests the proposed Islamic framework for defining poverty and its dimensions. The study has adopted a qualitative method of expert interviews to validate the proposed Islamic multidimensional poverty framework. Eight global experts on poverty were interviewed. The study’s main findings show that spirituality has priority over other biological, psychological, social, knowledge and material dimensions regarding the definition and measurement of poverty. Hence, spirituality will be the dimension shaping the remaining domains. This finding implies a policy change to reduce poverty, mainly focusing on solutions including and prioritising spirituality, which can be subjects of future research. There is no consensus on a certain list of poverty dimensions and measures. The extant conventional literature has taken a reductionist approach to poverty and less emphasised the nonmaterial dimensions. Meanwhile, the literature on poverty from an Islamic perspective is mainly normative. In both cases, there is an absence of studies that have proposed encompassing dimensions of poverty and its measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

As global demand for animal products is projected to increase significantly by 2050, driven by population growth and increased incomes, smart livestock technologies are essential for improving efficiency, animal welfare, and environmental sustainability. Conducted within the unique agricultural context of Japan, characterized by small-scale, family-run farms and strong government protection policies, our study builds upon traditional theoretical frameworks that often oversimplify farmers' decision-making processes. By employing a scoping review, expert interviews, and a Modified Grounded Theory Approach, our research uncovers the intricate interplay between individual farmer values, farm management policies, social relations, agricultural policies, and livestock industry trends. We particularly highlight the unique dynamics within family-owned businesses, noting the tension between an "advanced management mindset" and "conservatism." Our study reveals that technology adoption is a sequential and iterative process, influenced by technology availability, farmers' digital literacy, technology implementation support, and observable technology impacts on animal health and productivity. These insights highlight the need for tailored support mechanisms and policies to enhance technology uptake, thereby promoting sustainable and efficient livestock production system. • Unveils complex factors influencing the adoption of smart livestock technologies • Highlights the unique dynamics in family-owned businesses • Demonstrates the sequential and iterative nature of technology adoption • Presents a pioneering methodology combining review, expert interviews, and Modified Grounded Theory Approach (M-GTA) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Co-creation in place branding is used as an umbrella term for the complex brand meaning emerging through stakeholders’ participation in place activities, their contribution, collaborations and interchange of ideas and resources. Co-creation is often an aspiration for places to create and promote their brands collectively. In this context, storytelling—an old technique used in corporate marketing to instigate brand stakeholders’ participation—serves as a method which facilitates place brand co-creation through shared place stories. With the rise of online interactions, the chances of place stakeholders’ participation in brand meaning creation increase, and place stories are effective in allowing diverse place meanings to emerge from various stakeholders. However, when storytelling emerges as a marketing tactic, mostly from a top-down campaign, the stories are not always accepted by all place stakeholders, and they create contrasting brand meanings. The paper aims to investigate the benefits and risks of participation in “Many Voices One Town” (2018), a top-down campaign from Luton, UK, which used storytelling to instigate place brand co-creation. The campaign was created by the Luton Council with an external advertising agency. The campaign attempted to tackle the town’s segregation issues and foster community cohesion through the promotion of seven selected Lutonians’ stories about their diverse and multicultural experiences of living in Luton. The study employs a qualitative methodology to analyse the MVOT case study. Interviews with the council and participants in the campaign and netnographic data from Twitter, Facebook and Instagram were used to gain an insight into residents’ participation in a top-down approach and examine the outcomes of co-creation. Residents’ participation in such a campaign shows numerous benefits but also risks for the place brand. The findings show that participation can sometimes intensify disputes about the town if people’s needs are not properly addressed. The study highlights the importance of open communication between all parties involved in the process, bringing into focus the need for careful coordination of top-down initiatives in line with stakeholders’ needs. It also demonstrates the ‘power of the people’ in the sense that stakeholder engagement with the shared stories led to negative outcomes that were not predicted by the Council.

While the importance of ecological conservation and encouraging public recreation in national parks is widely recognized, challenges to achieving these goals persist. With over a century of national park management experience, the institutional knowledge of national park systems in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States can offer a valuable insight into management best practices. Twelve open-ended semistructured interviews with national park experts representing the four systems revealed valuable lessons learned in major facets of national park management. Overall, our results suggest that effective and sustainable national park management requires federally-based organizational framework with deference to local institutions at park-level, stakeholder inclusion in park management decision-making, public engagement encouraged by information-sharing and education, clarity on boundaries to improve relations with adjacent land owners, and prioritizing improved indigenous relations. Interviews highlighted that better park governance is rooted in education to raise awareness of the importance of national parks and park systems to the public. Tourism and climate change were widely anticipated to increasingly pose challenges to park management, underscoring a shared urgency to address these issues.

Urban air mobility (UAM) is the idea of creating a future mobility market through the introduction of a new mode of aerial transport with substantial travel time advantages. A key factor diminishing travel time savings is vertiport processes. So far, vertiport throughput capacity has only been studied in a static manner using analytical methods, which has been found to be insufficient. This paper wants to increase the level of understanding of operational dynamics on vertiport airfields by being the first to apply agent-based simulation. For this purpose, an existing vertiport model consisting of pads, gates and stands was refined through two means. First, a sensitivity study with over 100 simulations was executed shedding light on the driving processes on a vertiport airfield. Second, an expert interview series with 17 participants was conducted, letting the experts evaluate the model and specify relevant parameter values. Three main results should find mention here: (1) Pad operations were identified to be most impactful on passenger delays. (2) Pad and gate processes have a threshold capacity beyond which delays increase exponentially. (3) A refined vertiport model is presented, including the 27 most relevant parameters and their value specification. In conclusion, this paper finds that optimized vertiport airfield design is crucial to UAM operations, and dynamic passenger and vehicle interactions cannot be neglected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Co-creation in place branding is used as an umbrella term for the complex brand meaning emerging through stakeholders' participation in place activities, their contribution, collaborations and interchange of ideas and resources. Co-creation is often an aspiration for places to create and promote their brands collectively. In this context, storytelling—an old technique used in corporate marketing to instigate brand stakeholders' participation—serves as a method which facilitates place brand co-creation through shared place stories. With the rise of online interactions, the chances of place stakeholders' participation in brand meaning creation increase, and place stories are effective in allowing diverse place meanings to emerge from various stakeholders. However, when storytelling emerges as a marketing tactic, mostly from a top-down campaign, the stories are not always accepted by all place stakeholders, and they create contrasting brand meanings. The paper aims to investigate the benefits and risks of participation in "Many Voices One Town" (2018), a top-down campaign from Luton, UK, which used storytelling to instigate place brand co-creation. The campaign was created by the Luton Council with an external advertising agency. The campaign attempted to tackle the town's segregation issues and foster community cohesion through the promotion of seven selected Lutonians' stories about their diverse and multicultural experiences of living in Luton. The study employs a qualitative methodology to analyse the MVOT case study. Interviews with the council and participants in the campaign and netnographic data from Twitter, Facebook and Instagram were used to gain an insight into residents' participation in a top-down approach and examine the outcomes of co-creation. Residents' participation in such a campaign shows numerous benefits but also risks for the place brand. The findings show that participation can sometimes intensify disputes about the town if people's needs are not properly addressed. The study highlights the importance of open communication between all parties involved in the process, bringing into focus the need for careful coordination of top-down initiatives in line with stakeholders' needs. It also demonstrates the 'power of the people' in the sense that stakeholder engagement with the shared stories led to negative outcomes that were not predicted by the Council. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a result of restrictive measures to combat COVID-19, new economic and social conditions have been formed. The pandemic has contributed to a major economic transformation, structural changes in lifestyles and health, and an opportunity to accelerate development and digital commerce. The scientific article analyzed the changes formed during the pandemic in the FMCG sector of Kazakhstan. The results of the sales structural transformation are reflected in the form of a trade turnover statistical interpretation in the pre-COVID and post-COVID period. Changes in individual FMCG categories and groups were analyzed in detail using statistical comparison and observation methods. In order to form a forecast for the application and change of strategies in the consumer goods market, an expert interview was organized and conducted. As a result of the primary research data systematization, key factors for the development of the trade market and a change in the strategic approach to managing these factors before, during and after the pandemic were identified. In conclusion, recommendations were made for focusing a trading strategy for online and offline retail businesses. The results of the study can be used by Kazakhstani FMCG and retail companies, online stores, marketplaces when building an online trade development strategy, studying modern consumer behavior, as well as formulating a trade marketing policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Esely: Journal of Social Policy is the property of Hilscher Rezso Alapitvany 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 article deals with the issues of the humanitarian nature and pedagogical attitudes of journalistic education, mainly in Russian universities. These topics have become more acute and sensitive in some relevant contexts. First, all over the world, and in Europe in particular, the contradictions between the traditional mission of universities as keepers of spiritual values and the concepts of entrepreneurial university have intensified. Second, the humanitarian traditions of higher education are under pressure from the rapid expansion of digital technologies. A new concept of humanitarian resistance has entered the teachers’ professional vocabulary. Journalism education in Russia feels the influence of these contradictory contexts in full measure. In order to clarify the attitude of the teaching community to the changes taking place in this regard, the authors of the article conducted an expert interview with the heads of educational departments and professors from different regions of the country. This is the methodological basis of the article. Full videos of the conversations are presented on the special page of the research project "Theoretical and Pedagogical Schools of Journalism in Russia" (2019-2021), part of which were expert interviews. The study confirmed the hypothesis that Russian journalism teachers are committed to humanitarian values and educational traditions, although they are not opposed to technological and methodological innovations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]