Administrative Practices Research Articles

Teachers’ Interaction with Prescribed Teaching Materials: Evaluation, Adaptation and Exploitation

In recent years, material development in English language teaching has received growing attention, yet the interaction between English language teachers and prescribed teaching materials remains an under-researched area. This study aims to address this issue and contribute to the understanding of teachers’ agency in their interactions with prescribed textbooks. The study addresses this gap by exploring how five high school English teachers in two major cities in southern and southwestern China interact with prescribed textbooks within the curriculum policy context. Through in-depth semi-structured interviews and documentary analysis, the study investigates teachers’ evaluation, adaptation, and exploitation of materials, revealing that while teachers exercise agency in material development, both textbook structure and external factors contribute to the deprofessionalisation of teachers. The findings underscore the complex relationship between a standardised curriculum and teachers’ context-sensitive practices, highlighting the need for flexible textbook designs and more supportive administrative practices to better facilitate teacher agency in classroom material use.

‘In a village, everybody knows the stranger’: Constructing local belonging of refugees in rural areas in Germany

AbstractThis article explores the local belonging of refugees in rural areas in Germany from the perspectives of both migrants and local integration actors. It analyses the development of a personal sense of belonging and the construction of the politics of belonging, with the aim of understanding belonging as a socio‐spatial process. The analysis is based on 64 semi‐structured and semi‐narrative qualitative interviews conducted in eight rural communities and small towns in different regions across Germany. The findings indicate that the sense of belonging to rural localities among refugees is influenced not only by personal and biographical experiences but also by overarching policies and administrative practices. They also reflect the expectations of the receiving communities, which imply imaginaries of rural communities. In addition to convivial everyday experiences, the demarcation of boundaries in everyday life appears to be particularly powerful for a sense of belonging.

Концептуальні рамки управління борговим фінансуванням публічних бюджетів

Introduction. Overcoming the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and full-scale Russian aggression against Ukraine caused the destruction of a stable system of managing financial flows not only in our country, but also in many states. Market and regulatory mechanisms for mobilization and the use of financial resources were undermined. Fiscal consolidation measures were changed in favor of expansion. The need to increase the resource base on the basis of state debt has intensified. The use of standardized approaches in the field of fiscal policy did not make it possible to limit risks under new conditions. The task of implementing new conceptual approaches to the management of public budget financing based on the use of debt instruments has arisen. Problem Statement. An increase in debt financing of public budgets helps to expand the volume of resources for the implementation of state plans. At the same time, the pressure on the financial system is growing, which requires making significant changes to the formation of the structure of debt instruments, their placement on domestic and foreign financial markets, attraction of resources on preferential terms from foreign partners, fulfillment of repayment and servicing obligations, refinancing and restructuring of loans. Determining rational management decisions on these issues involves the development of a conceptual framework for public debt financing. The purpose is to study the formation of a conceptual framework for managing debt financing of public budgets and their use in the practice of public administration. Methods. Research methods are used: historical, logical, abstraction, description, generalization, comparison, grouping, analysis and synthesis. Results. The adoption of the debt framework guides the definition of debt strategy, debt management goals, indicators of its volume and structure, debt management tasks, as well as mechanisms and tools for their implementation. The debt strategy reflects the orientation of the debt policy, the goals of public debt management for long and medium-term periods, its indicators, the use of tools and mechanisms for achieving the adopted goals, the formation of the debt portfolio for the specified terms, the classification of risks of government debt management taking into account their impact on the performance of state budget, the application of refinancing and restructuring mechanisms for state liabilities. Conclusions. The conceptual framework for managing debt financing of public budget is an important guiding document aimed at taking into account the conditions for placing debt obligations among investors (state institutions, non-state depositors, non-residents), access to international financial markets, cooperation with international organizations and financial institutions, acceptance of debt portfolio (the structure of state budget financing), built according to types of debt instruments, sources of financing, currencies of loan repayment and servicing, repayment terms, loan servicing rates and debt refinancing. The development and implementation of the conceptual framework for the management of public debt transactions is important for Ukraine. In the conditions of overcoming the consequences of the war and post-war reconstruction, it is necessary to apply a comprehensive approach to the formation, distribution and use of resources raised on the basis of the use of public debt instruments.

Antenatal counselling at the cusp of viability and parental decision-making in the zone of parental discretion: A cohort study.

Safer Care Victoria updated a clinical guideline on extreme prematurity in 2020, reducing the threshold for offering resuscitation from 23 to 22 weeks gestation. The zone of parental discretion is the interval of shared decision-making between parents and doctors regarding resuscitation decisions. It is especially relevant at this periviable gestation. Our study aimed to establish current practices in antenatal counselling and steroid administration at this cusp of viability, and examine the decisions made during the zone of parental discretion. Single centre retrospective cohort study. Sixteen thousand three hundred fifty-four admissions and emergency department presentations between January 2021 and July 2023 were retrieved from Birthing Outcomes System (BOS) and patient details were imported and manually reviewed on Microsoft Excel, with particular note to the gestation at admission/emergency department presentation and duration of admission. Eighty-seven patients were identified as present in the hospital between 21 + 0 and 22 + 6 weeks gestation. These 87 scanned records on Clinical Patient Folder (CPF) were then manually reviewed to identify if antenatal counselling occurred during this window. Thirty-six patients were included who received antenatal counselling between 21 + 0 and 22 + 6 weeks gestation (the remaining patients did not receive antenatal counselling during this window), and relevant data was subsequently extracted from the scanned medical record and analysed using SPSS software (IBM SPSS Statistics 29). Thirty-six women received antenatal counselling between 21 + 0 and 22 + 6 weeks. 58% decided on full resuscitation and 39% opted for comfort care if their infant was to be born between 22 + 0 and 22 + 6 weeks. All but one baby born premature were exposed to steroids, with 83.3% receiving a full course. Twenty-eight infants (62.2%) were fully steroid loaded at the time of delivery. In those fully steroid loaded, 31.1% of the time steroids were initiated prior to transfer, 50% of the time deferred until neonatal review and a decision regarding the resuscitation status of the baby, and on one occasion requested by the neonatologist before counselling. Patients at risk for premature birth who attended our hospital at the cusp of viability were generally counselled about the opportunity for resuscitation between 22 + 0 and 22 + 6 weeks gestational age, and offered steroids. Further studies are required to establish whether the content of antenatal counselling, and the timing of steroids, are consistent in this population.

Public administration boundary crossing imperatives: A practitioner’s reflections on pathways toward improved relevance for public service contexts

As a practitioner with boundary spanning interests and roles, I take a reflexive posture to ponder the nature and significance of boundary crossing in public administration. Specifically, I consider how boundary crossing could provide pathways toward greater relevance for public service contexts in South Africa. By bricolage, I derive theoretical and methodological associations across social constructionist perspectives that include relational theory, critical theory and reflexivity. Building on how the boundary crossing imperative is expressed in programme purposes and on brief reviews of public administration interdisciplinarity, I reflect on my experiences in practitioner-academic interactions and inter-institutional projects. From this exploration, I draw provisional conclusions about constraints to and opportunities for beneficial boundary crossing. I incorporate examples of critical considerations to guide the furtherance of education outcomes through boundary interactions between academics and practitioners. The limitations of self-reflexivity in qualitative inquiry are mediated through different data sources and the transparency with which subjective experiences are interpreted. The paper’s contribution is in making explicit a critical inside-out perspective and placing this side by side other empirical endeavours. Amid calls for more relevant and reflexive practices in public administration, the paper provides an example of cross boundary reflections that are still underrepresented and are yet to gain sophistication in practitioner-academic engagement and scholarship.

A Phase 1 Assessment of the Safety, Tolerability, Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of (2R,6R)-Hydroxynorketamine in Healthy Volunteers.

(R,S)-Ketamine (ketamine) is a dissociative anesthetic that also possesses analgesic and antidepressant activity. Undesirable dissociative side effects and misuse potential limit expanded use of ketamine in several mental health disorders despite promising clinical activity and intensifying medical need. (2R,6R)-Hydroxynorketamine (RR-HNK) is a metabolite of ketamine that lacks anesthetic and dissociative activity but maintains antidepressant and analgesic activity in multiple preclinical models. To enable future assessments in selected human indications, we report the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics (PK), and pharmacodynamics (PD) of RR-HNK in a Phase 1 study in healthy volunteers (NCT04711005). A six-level single-ascending dose (SAD) (0.1-4 mg/kg) and a two-level multiple ascending dose (MAD) (1 and 2 mg/kg) study was performed using a 40-minute IV administration emulating the common practice for ketamine administration for depression. Safety assessments showed RR-HNK possessed a minimal adverse event profile and no serious adverse events at all doses examined. Evaluations of dissociation and sedation demonstrated that RR-HNK did not possess anesthetic or dissociative characteristics in the doses examined. RR-HNK PK parameters were measured in both the SAD and MAD studies and exhibited dose-proportional increases in exposure. Quantitative electroencephalography (EEG) measurements collected as a PD parameter based on preclinical findings and ketamine's established effect on gamma-power oscillations demonstrated increases of gamma power in some participants at the lower/mid-range doses examined. Cerebrospinal fluid examination confirmed RR-HNK exposure within the central nervous system (CNS). Collectively, these data demonstrate RR-HNK is well tolerated with an acceptable PK profile and promising PD outcomes to support the progression into Phase 2.

INTELIGÊNCIA ARTIFICIAL, ADMINISTRAÇÃO TRIBUTÁRIA E EFEITOS NA RELAÇÃO ENTRE O FISCO E OS CONTRIBUINTES

The text discusses how artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming various areas of society. In the public sphere, AI is used to perform repetitive tasks, improve decision-making, and increase the effectiveness of public policies through the analysis of large volumes of data in real time. In law, AI automates procedural acts and provides statistical analyses for lawyers and parties, aiding in the selection of procedural strategies. AI also brings challenges and requires adaptations in Public Administration and legal practice, such as the need to balance technology application with the protection of individual and collective rights. In the realm of Tax Administration, AI is used to modernize inspection and collection processes, detect fraud, and optimize taxpayer services, contributing to a significant increase in revenue collection. Despite the great opportunities for innovation and efficiency that AI presents, the use of intelligent systems in tax inspection and collection activities requires careful implementation to ensure respect for taxpayers' rights and constitutional limitations on the power to tax.

Greensill capital and the use of the administration process in UK company law: an incomplete case study

ABSTRACT This paper examines the Greensill collapse, with a central focus on the UK company administration procedure under the Insolvency Act 1986, exploring its broader implications for international corporate finance regulation. It analyses the events leading to Greensill’s collapse and the challenges encountered during the administration process, shedding light on stakeholder rights and the delicate balance between national and international legal frameworks. This case illustrates the intricacies of contemporary administration practices, demonstrating how administration can serve as both a rescue mechanism and as a tool for a more efficient liquidation, aimed at maximising asset value to provide better dividends for creditors. Ultimately, the paper underscores the risks inherent in financial innovation, offering lessons for the ongoing evolution as regards to the usage of administration. As the Greensill saga continues, the paper anticipates future developments, emphasising the need for systematic understanding and vigilance in complex financial scenarios.

GESTÃO EDUCACIONAL PÓS-PANDEMIA: DESAFIOS E SOLUÇÕES PARA O ENSINO- APRENDIZAGEM

This paper analyzes the challenges and strategies of educational management in the post-COVID-19 pandemic context, focusing on the teaching-learning process. The pandemic has had a profound impact on the educational sector, requiring a restructuring of pedagogical and administrative practices. The objective of the research is to investigate how school management can help students overcome the learning gaps generated during remote and hybrid teaching, adopting innovative and inclusive practices. The methodology employed consists of a literature review and a qualitative survey with school managers, where data were collected on the strategies implemented. The results indicate that flexible, collaborative, and technology-oriented management is essential for educational success in the post-pandemic period. It is concluded that educational management must adapt to new realities, promoting the integral development of students and the recovery of learning gaps.

Association of postoperative opioid type with mortality and readmission rates: multicentre retrospective cohort study.

Opioid treatment in postoperative pain management is crucial, but the impact of administration practices on outcomes is unclear. The hypothesis was that prescription trends remained stable over recent years, and that no difference in mortality and readmission risks is associated with prescription strategies. Electronic health records of surgical episodes in the Capital and Zealand Regions of Denmark from 2017 to 2021 were analysed. All opioids administered during postoperative admission were converted to oral morphine equivalents (OMEQs) and an average daily dose per patient was calculated. The opioid administered in the highest OMEQ dosages is considered the primary opioid strategy for the surgical case. Administration trends were analysed through linear regression, and Cox regression was used to calculate hazard ratios to assess dominant opioid strategies' association with 90-day mortality and readmission rates while controlling for confounders. A total of 183 317 patients met the inclusion criteria. Prescription trends remained steady during the study period. Multivariable analysis revealed increased readmission risk (HR 1.18, P < 0.001) of tramadol and tapentadol compared to morphine. They exhibited decreased 90-day mortality risk (HR 0.63, P < 0.001). Oxycodone had similar readmission risk (HR 1.009, P = 0.24) but lower 90-day mortality risk (HR 0.68, P < 0.001). Postoperative in-hospital opioid administration remained stable from 2017 to 2021. Tramadol/tapentadol had a higher risk of readmission but lower mortality risk. Oxycodone had comparable readmission but reduced mortality risk. This study provides a framework for future clinical trials assessing this potential impact of opioids in a targeted manner.

Institutional Examples of Applying the SHAPE Appropriate Instructional Practice Guidelines for Higher Education Physical Activity Programs

This educational brief provides examples of applications of the recently updated Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE) Appropriate Instructional Practice Guidelines for Higher Education Physical Activity Programs across several institutions (SHAPE America, 2022). Research has shown that movement and physical activity are essential for managing physical and mental health; therefore, the current low level of physical activity among college students is concerning (American College Health Association, 2024; Rodríguez-Romo et al., 2022). Academic instructional physical activity programs (IPAPs) provide students with quality learning environments that promote and support opportunities for lifelong physical activity and movement. Empowering physical activity instructors with appropriate instructional practices increases the likelihood of positive experiences for both students and instructors. The intent of this brief is to demonstrate how SHAPE IPAP Guidelines are incorporated in universities today. The institutional examples can serve as models to facilitate discussions within other colleges and universities. The information provided will assist program administrators and faculty in developing, better aligning, and supporting their respective IPAP with teaching, administrative, and instructional practices as identified in the SHAPE IPAP Guidelines document.

The Reform Dynamics of State Management Practices in the Healthcare Sector of the Republic of Kazakhstan: A Global and Local Perspective

ObjectiveThis study aimed to analyze the changes in public administration practices in this area in the Republic of Kazakhstan and to assess the general state of healthcare in the country. MethodsThe study used various methods, including analysis, historical research, deduction, and forecasting, to assess the current state and prospects for healthcare development in the Republic of Kazakhstan and some post-Soviet countries in Eastern Europe. ResultsThe findings indicate that although these countries have lower qualitative and quantitative healthcare characteristics than more developed nations, they still outperform Kazakhstan. This suggests that Kazakhstan should take a more proactive approach toward developing its healthcare system and prioritizing the well-being of its citizens, their standard of living, and their ability to combat diseases, including financially. ConclusionsThe article contributes new insights into the healthcare systems of developing countries, including post-Soviet nations.

Health Facility Capacity and Health-care Worker Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Hepatitis B Vaccine Birth-dose and Maternal Tetanus-Diphtheria Vaccine Administration in Nigeria: A Baseline Assessment.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and neonatal tetanus infections remain endemic in Nigeria despite the availability of safe, effective vaccines. We aimed to determine health facilities' capacity for hepatitis B vaccine birth dose (HepB-BD) and maternal tetanus-diphtheria (Td) vaccination and to assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices of HepB-BD and maternal Td vaccine administration among health facility staff in Nigeria. This was a cross-sectional study assessing public primary and secondary health facilities in Adamawa and Enugu States. A multistage sampling approach was used to select 40 facilities and 79 health-care workers (HCWs) from each state. A structured facility assessment tool and standardized questionnaire evaluated facility characteristics and HCW knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to HepB-BD and maternal Td vaccination. Frequencies and proportions were reported as descriptive statistics. The survey of 80 facilities revealed that 73.8% implemented HepB-BD and maternal Td vaccination policies. HepB-BD was administered within 24 h of birth at 61.3% of facilities and at all times at 57.5%. However, administration seldom occurred in labor and delivery (35%) or maternity wards (16.3%). Nearly half of the facilities (46.3%) had HCWs believing there were contraindications to HepB-BD vaccination. Among 158 HCWs, 26.5% believed tetanus could be transmitted through unprotected sex, prevented by vaccination at birth (46.1%), or by avoiding sharing food and utensils. 65% of HCWs knew HBV infection had the worst outcome for newborns. The limited implementation of national policies on HepB-BD and maternal Td vaccination, coupled with knowledge gaps among HCWs, pose significant challenges to timely vaccination, necessitating interventions to address these gaps.

Evaluation of Strategic Planning Practices of Managers in Primary Education Institutions

Purpose. Rapid changes that have affected the world from past to present have caused educational institutions to change in order to keep up with the times and raise people for the future. It has become important for educational institutions to turn to new approaches in order to keep up with the changes taking place, to overcome the problems they will encounter and to chart their future. What strategic planning, one of these approaches, can do in educational institutions has become more and more important day by day. One of the important factors in the applicability of strategic planning in educational institutions is the closeness of school administration and teachers to this concept. In this study, the strategic planning practices of administrators and teachers in primary education institutions in the Mesarya rural area, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus will be aimed and evaluated in order to shed light on the knowledge level of administrators and teachers in the country's educational institutions about strategic planning, whether they carry out these plans in their schools, and similar questions. Methodology. In this regard, in order to achieve the intended goal, semi-structured interview questions were prepared, and the collected data was finalized based on expert opinions and a pilot application. As a sample, 5 administrators and 5 teachers in the Meserya rural area of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus were selected, and content analysis was conducted based on the data collected through face-to-face interviews. Result. As a result of the research, it was underlined that the administrators and teachers mostly did not make strategic planning in the schools where they worked. In light of the results, it is recommended that administrators and teachers who lack knowledge on this subject receive in-service training. Conclusion. This study afforded us the opportunity to assess the perspectives, knowledge, and experiences of principals and teachers working in primary schools in the rural Mesarya region of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus regarding strategic planning in education.

State of Reciprocity: The “Looping Effect” in the Circular Production of Colonial Knowledge, Social Customs, and Tax Policy in Nineteenth- and Twentieth-Century Indonesia

Abstract This article traces Hacking's “looping effect” in colonial policies and practices of taxation, coerced labour, and governance in Indonesia. It argues that knowledge production for the purpose of taxation was a two-way, interactive process which was in particular influenced by complexes of local indigenous social organization, institutions, mentalities, and behaviour as expressed through adat (Indonesian systems of political-social norms and customary law). Such patterns and systems, the article reveals, were internalized into and started working reciprocally with colonial policy, knowledge production, and administrative practices. Taxation made up and changed people, but underlying strategies to categorize and “make known” subjects were also recognized and actively used, evaded, or influenced by these subjects and by local intermediaries. Consequently, colonial knowledge created an institutional framework that reoriented the self-perception of these subjects and intermediaries, which then changed and reconditioned popular responses to the colonial state. Systems of colonial knowledge were thus modified to eventually fit the realities they were supposed to describe, influence, and legitimize, creating a looping effect between colonial, “made up,” and actual social realities.

Research Trends in Educational Administration Studies in Japan under New Public Management

With the continuous development of global public management theories, New Public Management (NPM), as an important public management reform model, has profoundly influenced governments and their management practices worldwide. In Japan, the practice of educational administration has also been significantly influenced by the theories of New Public Management, driving the modernization and efficiency improvement of educational management. This paper aims to systematically explore the research trends in educational administration studies in Japan under New Public Management, analyzing its theoretical foundations, implementation effects, and its profound impact on educational management.

Legitimacy and Limits of Administrative Power in the Big Data Era

The advent of the big data era has profoundly transformed the exercise of administrative power, enhancing the efficiency and accuracy of administrative decisions while simultaneously posing challenges to legitimacy and the potential for abuse of power. This study examines the impact of big data technology on administrative power, systematically analyzing the foundations and limits of administrative power's legitimacy. It explores how to achieve a balance between legitimacy and limits of administrative power in the context of big data. By examining the intersection of traditional theories of power legitimacy and big data technology, the study proposes strategies for enhancing transparency in administrative decisions, strengthening public participation, and promoting inter-departmental cooperation. It also looks forward to innovative paths for exercising administrative power in the future. The results of this study are significant for both administrative management practices and theoretical development in the big data era.

Data Evidence Collection and Legal Norms in Administrative Law Enforcement

With the rapid development of data technology, data evidence collection has become a key means of improving efficiency and accuracy in administrative law enforcement. However, the widespread application of data evidence collection has introduced new challenges related to legal compliance and privacy protection. This paper analyzes the core role of administrative law enforcement in modern society and the practical challenges it faces, explores the specific application scenarios and operational processes of data evidence collection in administrative law enforcement, and evaluates the current legal norms related to data evidence collection. Drawing on international experience, this paper proposes recommendations for improving data evidence collection legal norms in China, aiming to provide legal support and technical assistance for administrative law enforcement practices. The study seeks to offer references and guidance for the reasonable application of data evidence collection in administrative law enforcement and the development of legal norms.

Neuromuscular monitoring: A tutorial for pharmacists.

In an effort to expedite the publication of articles, AJHP is posting manuscripts online as soon as possible after acceptance. Accepted manuscripts have been peer-reviewed and copyedited, but are posted online before technical formatting and author proofing. These manuscripts are not the final version of record and will be replaced with the final article (formatted per AJHP style and proofed by the authors) at a later time. To describe neuromuscular monitoring modalities and highlight the importance of neuromuscular monitoring to clinical pharmacy practice. A growing body of literature and clinical practice guidelines have highlighted the importance of neuromuscular monitoring practices to ensure patient safety during surgery and in the intensive care unit. Understanding neuromuscular monitoring modalities can allow pharmacists to enhance participation in institutional discussions and optimization of neuromuscular blocker administration and reversal practices. We have described the various modalities of neuromuscular monitoring and considerations for using different modalities. Neuromuscular monitoring should be performed whenever neuromuscular blocking agents are administered. This practice represents an evidence-based approach to minimizing the occurrence of residual neuromuscular blockade and its associated complications.

The Need to Reconnect Public Administration Education, Research, and Practice

How relevant is current public administration pedagogy to the discipline and to those working in public service? Public administration education prepared leaders during World War II and the New Deal and once was viewed as a critical subfield of political science. Over the years, and despite various Minnowbrook incarnations, public administration has become a self-standing but narrowly defined body of knowledge characterized as “the business of government,” without any relational emphasis on its historical, legal, and economic context. This diminished intellectual scope poses a serious challenge to its practical relevance.