Algorithmic assimilation or digital sovereignty? AI writing tools and the negotiation of Arabic rhetoric in global science

This study examines how the EU’s Network and Information Security 2 (NIS2) Directive embodies principles of digital sovereignty. First, we address a significant gap in the literature by identifying five core principles of digital sovereignty through a literature review. While not exhaustive, these principles serve as a framework for examining the operationalization of digital sovereignty in policy. We apply this framework to analyze whether these principles are reflected in NIS2 Directive, employing a mixed-methods approach. Our methodology combines quantitative content analysis using advanced natural language processing techniques with qualitative interpretation. Our findings reveal a moderate overall reflection of digital sovereignty principles in the NIS2 Directive, with Digital Governance Authority emerging as the most prominently embodied principle. This analysis provides crucial insights into the EU’s approach to implementing digital sovereignty within its cybersecurity policy framework. Notably, we observe that the principle of Balancing Openness with Sovereignty received the lowest score among the identified principles, suggesting an area for potential further development in the EU’s approach to digital sovereignty. These findings contribute to the ongoing discourse on digital sovereignty by providing a concrete example of how it is being implemented in policy. The study’s significance extends beyond policy analysis, offering a foundation for assessing the economic implications of digital sovereignty initiatives, and evaluating regulatory impacts on market dynamics, investment strategies, and competitive landscapes in the digital economy.

This study aimed to understand the tensions in China’s national science system as China is becoming a central player in global knowledge production. Publishing patterns and international co-authorship patterns of Chinese universities were utilized to analyse the dynamics and tensions in the national science system. Findings show that China’s scientific publishing and collaboration behaviours are embedded in the ‘centre-periphery’ framework of the global science system, which stimulates conflicts between the rapid growth of English publishing and the need of developing China’s local indigenous research. The Chinese national science system is increasingly stratified as it moves from the ‘periphery’ towards the ‘centre’ of the global science system. Its integration into the global science system is reliant upon a handful of top research universities and disciplines in the natural sciences and engineering. A tension lies between the universal and open nature of science and the hierarchical global science network.

RETRACTED: The correlation between parental socioeconomic status (SES) and children’s academic achievement: The case of Eritrea

In this article, we discuss the need for and value of an integrated developmental intervention science in low‐ and middle‐income countries ( LAMIC s), and the extent to which this integration of basic developmental science has influenced research on child and youth development interventions in these countries. We also consider how a global developmental science can be advanced by capitalizing on the opportunities provided by cross‐cultural, interdisciplinary, experimental, and mixed methods approaches. We argue that designing and evaluating human developmental interventions in LAMIC s present an opportunity for both research and policy. Testing contextualized developmental approaches through rigorously evaluated interventions yields the promise of finding more powerful and scalable solutions that can reach more children and youth worldwide. Moreover, a theoretically rich and methodologically rigorous understanding of how interventions effect change in diverse countries and contexts can contribute to the development of a truly global developmental science.

Evaluating the quality of medical care. 1966.

<p class="0abstract"><span lang="EN-US">This brief article reports on an exploration of students’ adoption of smartphone technology and social media to promote m-learning in the context of a state polytechnic classroom. To this end, a mixed-methods approach was employed. A quantitative survey involved 221 students across education programmes in an Indonesian vocational higher education, and six of them were asked to write a reflection after a course. Findings of the current study have revealed that students’ attitude and connectedness to the smartphone and social media play prominent roles in determining their acceptance of smartphones and social media for m-learning. Specifically, the students’ connectedness, perceived ease of use and perceived playfulness of using social media for m-learning affected their attitude. Findings of the study also revealed that students’ mobile learning using the smartphone helped develop their learning motivation, facilitated learning activities and enabled interaction amongst the students, and between teachers and students. Students also benefited from the use of the smartphone by which means they could share information and materials about the learning, enabled peer-assessment and feedback. Two critical issues that were found included limited smartphone features and less space for interaction and explanation.</span></p>

Purpose Growth in scientific production and productivity over the 20th century resulted significantly from three major countries in European science – France, Germany, and the United Kingdom. Charting the development of universities and research institutes that bolster Europe’s key position in global science, we uncover both stable and dynamic patterns of productivity in the fields of STEM, including health, over the 20th century. Ongoing internationalization of higher education and science has been accompanied by increasing competition and collaboration. Despite policy goals to foster innovation and expand research capacity, policies cannot fully account for the differential growth of scientific productivity we chart from 1975 to 2010. Approach and Research Design Our sociological neo-institutional framework facilitates explanation of differences in institutional settings, organizational forms, and organizations that produce the most European research. We measure growth of published peer-reviewed articles indexed in Thomson Reuters’ Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE). Findings Organizational forms vary in their contributions, with universities accounting for nearly half but rising in France; ultrastable in Germany at four-fifths, and growing at around two-thirds in the United Kingdom. Differing institutionalization pathways created the conditions necessary for continuous, but varying growth in scientific production and productivity in the European center of global science. The research university is key in all three countries, and we identify organizations leading in research output. Originality/value Few studies explicitly compare across time, space, and different levels of analysis. We show how important European science has been to overall global science production and productivity. In-depth comparisons, especially the organizational fields and forms in which science is produced, are crucial if policy is to support research and development.

We present the collaborative efforts of NASA's Land Discipline Science Team and international partners to achieve dynamic continuity between MODIS Collection 6.1, VIIRS Collection 2, and Sentinel 3A/B land science products. MODIS (or Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer), which has been providing Earth observations of the Land, Cryosphere, Oceans, and Atmosphere for over two decades as the primary global imager on NASA's Earth Observing System's (EOS) Terra (c. 1999) and Aqua (c. 2002) platforms, is approaching its end-of-life. Thus, ensuring continuity in standardized products becomes imperative to enable the extension of long-term consistent climate data records. We discuss ongoing efforts by NASA's Land Science Investigator-led Processing System (SIPS) to seamlessly transition a suite of 25 global land science products from MODIS to the VIIRS (Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite) while addressing instrument specifications, performance, and observation characteristics such as overpass time, viewing conditions, and repeat frequency. The VIIRS instrument, currently operational on Suomi-NPP (c. 2012), NOAA-20 (c. 2018), and NOAA-21 (c. 2023), offers enhancements over MODIS such as uniform pixel size, higher spatial resolution for specific bands, and a Day/Night Band for night-light detection. We outline cross-calibration efforts to ensure VIIRS products provide continuity for Aqua-MODIS products and investigate quality control, validation, and assessment approaches for achieving consistency between MODIS and VIIRS. We also provide detailed information on the state of continuity for specific land products, including terrestrial essential climate variables such as Snow and Ice Cover, Active Fires, BRDF/Albedo, Land Surface Temperature, Fraction of absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation (fAPAR), and Leaf Area Index. We also present the results of a pilot study that explores the role of the Sentinel-3 instrument suites, specifically OLCI and SLSTR instruments, to support morning orbit continuity. Sentinel-3A/B, launched in 2016 and 2018 with observations planned through 2031, offers a significant overlap with MODIS Terra, allowing for product intercomparison. Collaborative efforts between NASA, EUMETSAT, and ESA, particularly as part of the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites Working Group on Calibration and Validation (CEOS-WGCV), are highlighted, including evaluating Sentinel-3 products to ensure continuity of near-real-time products and services, such as NASA's Fire Information for Resource Management System (FIRMS) and the Group on Earth Observations GLobal Agricultural Monitoring (GEOGLAM) Crop Monitor. While challenges remain, such as performance disparities between MODIS and Sentinel-3 products, ongoing initiatives aim to identify these gaps and inform the development trajectory needed to generate a reliable Land continuity data stream for NASA's Earth science and applications communities. This collaborative effort, the product of three cycles of competed NASA Earth Science Data System (ESDS) and Research and Analysis (R&A) program activities, furthers the pursuit of a seamless transition of global high-quality land science products, enabling long-term multi-instrument/multi-platform time series that have become crucial for addressing pressing environmental and societal challenges.

Purpose Although its contributions to global science date from 1980, Qatar embarked on an ambitious plan in 2009 to position itself as an important hub for global research production. This paper assesses Qatar’s contribution over the past three decades to global research output and science productivity in STEM+ fields, as measured by scientific journal article production. Design The core of the analysis is based on a specially coded dataset of all peer-reviewed journal articles in the STEM+ disciplines with at least one author whose primary affiliation was a Qatar-based research organization. The original data source is Thomson Reuters’ Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE). Analyzing trends between 1980 (the first year in which a paper with a Qatar-based author appeared in these selected leading journals) and 2011, the chapter documents how scientific journal article production in Qatar has developed over three decades. Findings Between 1980 and 2002, rates of journal article production were relatively low. From 2003, reflecting considerable investments in higher education and research, the annual number of journal article publications increased dramatically. Most publications were authored by university-based scientists (58%) and scientists based at research hospitals or other medical research facilities (30%). By 2011, over 83% of scientific journal articles published with at least one Qatar-based author were the result of collaboration with international partners. European, North American, and Middle Eastern research scientists and organizations were the most common international collaborators. Originality/value This is the first comprehensive empirical study of Qatar’s contributions to global scientific production in the STEM+ disciplines.

The MODerate resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) was launched on NASA's EOS-Terra spacecraft in December 1999. With 36 spectral bands covering the visible, near wave and short wave infrared, MODIS produces over 40 global science data products, including sea surface temperature, ocean color, cloud properties, vegetation indices land surface temperature and land cover change. The MODIS Data Processing System (MODAPS) produces 400 GB/day of global MODIS science products from calibrated radiances generated in the Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS.) The science products are shipped to the EOSDIS for archiving and distribution to the public. An additional 250 GB ofproducts are shipped each day to MODIS team members for quality assurance and use in validating their products. The authors describe the architecture of MODAPS, identify bottlenecks in system performance and describe how they were addressed.

With increasing public interest in wildlife watching, there is a need to develop methods to better inform management of quality viewing opportunities. In this study, normative methods using indicators and standards of quality are applied at two diverse parks/protected areas: a popular national park in Alaska and a lesser known wildlife refuge in New Hampshire. Three potential indicators of quality are identified that can be used to help define and manage wildlife viewing opportunities, and a range of potential standards of quality are developed for these indicator variables. In general, normative standards of visitors to the two study areas were salient and moderately to highly crystallized. Furthermore, study findings indicate that visitors are currently experiencing high-quality wildlife viewing at both sites. Wildlife viewing indicators and standards developed at these diverse study locations may be applicable at a wide range of parks and protected areas.

The purpose of this study is to explore faculty members’ experiences in internationalisation of the curriculum in higher education institutions at Zambia Open University (ZAOU). The study took a mixed method approach. The paradigm adopted for this study was pragmatism which embraces a mixed method approach. The study found that faculty members at ZAOU acknowledge and appreciate the presence of Internationalisation of the Curriculum (IoC) at the university. Faculty members' experiences in IoC has contributed positively to the development of IoC in the University by developing internationalized programs. Faculty members have contributed to the development of the IoC approaches at ZAOU by developing different approaches to teaching international students. The lecturers included inclusive curricular material and future-oriented viewpoints in their instruction. Still, they lack the skills, resources, and equipment necessary to modify their pedagogical approaches to a global, culturally diverse teaching and learning environment. The formation of a new program design culture supported by the institution with a focus on international and intercultural learning outcomes and assessment processes is thus required by IoC in Zambia. Based on the study findings, the University Administrators should create a strong relationship with foreign universities and provide capacity building workshops for faculty members to internationalise the curriculum effectively. University Administrators should adequately fund internationalisation programs and activities. Researchers should adequately document the experiences of faculty members because faculty members are the key to the full implementation of IoC.

The purpose of this study is to model the psychological factors affecting audit quality in the Iranian auditing community using a mixed-methods approach and grounded theory. This study is fundamental in terms of its objective and exploratory in nature. To collect data, in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted alongside library research and questionnaires. The statistical population includes experts, specialists, and university faculty members in the field of auditing. In the qualitative phase, participants were selected using purposive and snowball sampling methods. In the quantitative phase, the sample size was determined using Morgan's table, and a simple random sampling method was employed. Data analysis was carried out in three stages: open coding, axial coding, and selective coding, leading to the extraction of initial conceptual statements, categorical statements, and four main categories. The findings indicate that psychological factors affecting audit quality fall into four main categories: individual factors, interpersonal factors, environmental and organizational factors, and cognitive and decision-making factors. Path analysis results show that all these factors have a significant impact on audit quality. The study's findings suggest that the effect of psychological factors on audit quality is both direct and indirect, and the interaction of these factors can lead to either an improvement or deterioration in audit quality. Identifying, understanding, and properly managing these factors help organizations and auditors enhance their performance and improve audit quality.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had many reflections on teaching and learning. Competency-based learning (CBL) is outcome-based learning that supports students to focus on competencies and improve their learning skills. It was helpful for the universities during the pandemic to offer an effective online learning environment for computer science students. This study evaluated the CBL experience from the perspective of computer science students. The study used a mixed-methods approach and obtained data from 104 participants using an online questionnaire and in-person interviews. The study's findings indicated that the quality of the teacher, the learning environment, time management, and the expectations positively influenced student satisfaction, which in turn positively influenced students' performance. The investigation found statistically significant evidence that the CBL was helpful for students' skill improvement. Additionally, this study presented the challenges and limitations of CBL, which can inform universities and course developers to improve the standards of CBL. Using this study's implications, academic researchers can extend their research to develop innovative approaches for the CBL environment.

Chronic Non-Cancer Pain (CNCP) affects almost 20% of the UK’s population and has both individual and economic burdens. Opioids have been increasingly prescribed in primary care to help manage CNCP and given the inherent nature of chronic pain, are usually issued long term. Research over the last two decades has raised concerns regarding the efficacy of opioids for managing CNCP, and potential harm particularly in doses that exceed 120mg of Morphine Equivalent Dose (MED). There is an emerging public health priority therefore to reduce the risk of harm in those patients already established on high dose opioids. Opioid weaning has been recommended, however a caveat to this is the lack of evidence on how to best manage opioid withdrawal and patients’ continued experience of pain. This research sought to identify recommendations for an intervention designed to reduce high daily doses of opioids among CNCP patients in primary care. To achieve this the research investigated high dose opioid prescribing in primary care across Liverpool in the North West of England and explored behaviours influencing opioid treatment with Health Care Professional (HCP) and CNCP patients. A mixed-methods approach was used in the three studies of this research programme. Study 1 was a quantitative analysis of N=93,236 opioid prescriptions issued to N=30,474 patients for CNCP across Liverpool Clinical Commissioning group (LCCG) during 2016-2018. Study 2 was a thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with HCPs (n=16) and CNCP patients (n=13) to better understand the behaviours associated with treating, and being treated with, opioids for CNCP pain. Study 3 developed a set of recommendations for an opioid weaning intervention, based on the findings of studies 1 and 2, using the 3-stage framework of the Behaviour Change Wheel (BCW). This systematically and theoretically informed the intervention content to facilitate opioid weaning. Feasibility and acceptability consultations with HCPs(n=8) and CNCP participants(n=3) were subsequently conducted online to establish consensus and refinement of the proposed recommendations. The findings from study 1 revealed that 3.5% (n=1,060) of patients in Liverpool are prescribed opioids above 120mg MED/day. Most patients are female (66%), with an average age of 58 years, located in North Liverpool, and likely to receive n=3 opioids attributing to their total daily dose. This provides some indication of where and who an intervention of this kind might target in Liverpool. The findings of study 2 with contributions from the literature helped identify a range of behaviours (n=34) associated with opioid weaning. Guided by the BCW in study 3, these behaviours were prioritised and 3 were selected to target the change needed to reduce or discontinue opioids. These include 1) improving adherence to opioid weaning, 2) reducing patients fear and anxiety and 3) improving information and support for opioid weaning. Feedback from HCPs and CNCP participants revealed the need to also consider addressing issues of initially engaging patients and support available for HCPs delivering the intervention and carers of patients weaning. To trigger the change needed, 6 intervention functions and 24 unique BCTs delivered via a mixture of face-to-face, online, and individual and group methods are recommended. A small but significant proportion of CNCP patients are in receipt of opioids at doses eliciting little pain relief whilst increasing risk of harm. Given the economic and social impact of CNCP, reducing this risk of harm and optimising pain management is a public health priority. This study has proposed content for a behavioural change intervention that will target opioid weaning in a primary care setting.