Funding Applications Research Articles

Adapting Sunset Song: Authorial, Industrial, and National Discourses in the 2015 Film Adaptation of Sunset Song

This article traces the discourses shaping the 2015 film adaptation of Sunset Song, directed by Terence Davies. In doing so, it shows how both the film and Lewis Grassic Gibbon's original novel are involved in complex negotiations of ideas about Scottishness. In the case of the film, this is evident in its sophisticated and poetic visual engagement with some aspects of the novel's characterization of Chris Guthrie, its use of language, and its representation of landscapes. The same negotiations are apparent in paratextual materials that demonstrate the route taken by the producers and director when navigating the fraught economic terrain of feature-length filmmaking in Scotland, both in terms of funding applications to national funder Creative Scotland, and the way it mobilized particular discourses of arthouse and auteur cinema in its marketing and production materials. Finally, through a close look at the emphasis on militarism, femininity, and landscape in the film text, the article considers how the film performs a kind of Scotland that is amenable to the tastes of the filmmaker, the desires of the public funder, and the arthouse film festival circuit where it was primarily consumed.

Optimization of Financial Flows with the Help of Artificial Intelligence in Public Institutions

Abstract The only technology that is currently mature enough to help us quickly recover losses in agriculture is digital technology. Digital transformation is increasingly referred to as the fourth industrial revolution, aimed at merging the real world with the virtual one, bringing advantages even in traditional sectors such as agriculture. Artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms are used to analyze large amounts of data collected from various sources in the field, as well as from farmers or beneficiaries of European funds for agricultural sector development. Specifically, they can analyze information gathered from soil sensors, weather stations, satellite images, or European funding applications, among others. This analysis provides farmers with valuable information to make informed decisions regarding seed selection, optimal timing, planting techniques, and resource allocation decisions. At the same time, AI-powered systems can learn from historical data and identify patterns, enabling more accurate predictions and recommendations. Machine learning algorithms can anticipate managerial decisions, detect potential problems, and suggest appropriate interventions to improve financial performance for the successful implementation of projects funded by European funds.

User Experience, Ease of Transactions, and Consumers Trust Towards Decisions Use of the Fund Application (Study of Dana Application Users in Central Jakarta)

This study aims to find out how much user experience, ease of transactions and consumer trust influence on use decisions. This is a quantitative research with a descriptive approach. The population of this study is all Dana application users in Central Jakarta. The sample of this study is a random sample, where samples are taken from randomly with 50 respondents with criteria of residing in the Central Jakarta area and having used the Dana application for more than 3 months. The results of the study showed that the following variables: (1) User Experience had a positive effect on User Decision. (2) Ease of Transaction has a positive effect on the User's Decision. (3) Consumer trust has a positive effect on User Decisions. (4) User Experience, ease of transaction and consumer trust have a combined effect on the User's Decision.

Pengembangan Instrumen Investment Readiness Sebagai Pedoman Penilaian Kesiapan Pendanaan Start-Up Di Era Ekonomi Digital

Purpose: This research aims to develop instruments to measure start-up funding assessments. The dimensions of measuring funding and Investment readiness consist of eight dimensions adopted from the investment guide. Methodology/approach: This research is based on solving specific problems by improving the instructional design process and developing new models, tools and procedures regarding Investment readiness instruments as guidelines for assessing start-up funding readiness in the digital economy era. An investment readiness instrument is advanced by holding a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) with experts in start-up investment. Findings: The results of this study contribute to developing an investment readiness instrument as a guideline for assessing start-up funding readiness for the start-up. Practical implications: The practical implication of this research is that investment readiness instruments can assist start-ups in assessing financial and non-financial performance, which is helpful for funding applications and start-up financing. Originality/value: This research has social implications for investors and creditors in order to make relevant decisions regarding investment and funding for start-ups.

Från djävulsmusik till konstnärligt uttryck

From Devil's Music to Artistic Expression. The Korpela Movement, Black Metal, and Cultural PolicyThis text explores Korpelarörelsen, a Black Metal band that presents an audiovisual performance depicting a religious movement in Tornedalen during the early 20th century. In 2020 they received prolific funding from the Swedish Arts Grants Committee to conceive, rehearse and tour with the band. The article describes the band's unique portrayal of local history through the use of black metal music, while also discussing the boundaries between art and music, its implications for arts funding and the Black Metal genre's position in cultural hierarchies. The study draws on interviews, concert observations, and analysis of applications and documents outlining the funding decision from the Swedish Arts Grants Committee. The historic religious Korpela movement has been described as a doomsday cult, which believed that practicing music and dance, extrovert “childlike behavior” and even nudity and free sex, was the path to salvation. The band Korpelarörelsen depicts this through raw Black Metal, atmospheric elements, spoken word passages, and peculiar onstage-rituals. Visual aesthetics, including black robes, corpse paint, and blood-like smears, contributed to the atmosphere of mystique, darkness, and death. Korpelarörelsen’s application for cultural funding strategically positioned the project as a collaboration between various art forms and emphasized the interaction between Black Metal aesthetics and music industry methods. Korpelarörelsen's innovative approach and funding success might offer possibilities for extreme music within culturally funded systems. This case study demonstrates how a Black Metal band from Tornedalen could potentially have cultural and political impact and pave the way for other extreme music groups seeking recognition and support.

A short guide to addressing accessibility at scientific conferences.

Although encouraging progress to address issues of accessibility at scientific conferences has been made in recent years, further efforts are required to enact the comprehensive solutions necessary to accommodate the diverse needs of disabled scientists. This Opinion provides an easy-to-follow guide to ensuring that scientific conferences are accessible to disabled scientists and is aimed at conference organizers and funders in the field of cell biology. In this piece, I, a person who identifies as a disabled scientist, advocate for collective action within the cell biology community to promote the routine inclusion of accessibility officers on conference organizing panels and the use of accessibility checklists as part of applications for conference funding in order to build inclusive practices into conference planning and organization. I propose a move away from requiring personal disclosures of disability needs on a person-to-person basis towards community-agreed guidelines that ensure accessibility for scientists with a wide variety of needs. To that end, I detail a list of practical, cost-effective adjustments to standard conference activities that can enhance accessibility. Moreover, I suggest several long-term, high-impact changes - including guaranteeing the availability of wheelchair-accessible facilities and making hybrid meeting formats standard - aimed at enabling conference participation for all scientists.

Joint prioritization of best-management-practice projects to optimally improve agricultural-drain-outlet water quality

The judicious application of conservation funds to mitigate non-point source pollution from agricultural runoff continues to be a practical challenge, particularly when presented with multiple feasible types of best-management-practices. To address this challenge, we develop and demonstrate a joint prioritization of two best-management-practice types that are commonly implemented to reduce pollutant loads from agricultural activities: irrigation-system-efficiency-upgrades and sediment-retention-basins. The goal of the joint prioritization is to optimally apply conservation funds to maximize pollutant-load reductions at agricultural-drain outlets. We achieve large computational efficiencies in the joint prioritization by leveraging a novel, graph-based mixed-integer-nonlinear-programming model. The computational efficiencies allow the approach to be applied as a large-scale scoping analysis to identify sets of high priority projects for further investigation. We demonstrate the approach on an agricultural basin in southwestern Idaho which drains to the Snake River. For our demonstration site, the results indicate that while larger load reductions are possible using irrigation-system-efficiency-upgrades alone, including sediment-retention-basins can provide more cost-effective outcomes. We present the results in the form of cost curves that illustrate the Pareto-optimal trade-offs between load reductions and costs (i.e., multi-objective Pareto fronts). We compare solutions that only include irrigation-system-efficiency-upgrades against those that also include sediment-retention-basins. We do not consider solutions with sediment-retention-basins only due to the limited availability of potential sites compared to irrigation-system-efficiency-upgrades. In our demonstration example, the cost curves including sediment-retention-basins provide more cost-effective solutions than with irrigation-system-efficiency-upgrades alone. Therefore, the inclusion of sediment-retention-basins can increase the beneficial use of conservation funds to improve agricultural-drain-discharge water quality. Given that participation in irrigation-system-efficiency-upgrade programs is voluntary for landowners, we also explore the effect of recruitment uncertainty. We identify that as the recruitment percentage increases, the effect of sediment-retention-basin selection on project prioritization increases. The insights derived from this type of analysis can ensure that conservation funds are optimally applied to maximize benefits to water quality.

Big Lots Foundation accepting applications grants for health care, housing and more

The Big Lots Foundation, the charitable giving arm of national discount retailer Big Lots, was established with the mission to improve and enrich the lives of families and children in communities where the company has business operations. In support of that mission, the foundation is currently accepting applications for funding—which may come in the form of monetary gifts, gift cards and/or in‐kind merchandise—from nonprofits serving its communities and whose programming is focused on health care, housing, hunger relief or education.

Critical care nurses' role in rapid response teams: A qualitative systematic review.

To analyse the qualitative evidence on the role of critical care nurses in rapid response teams. Qualitative systematic review. This qualitative systematic review employed Bettany-Saltikov and McSherry's guidelines and is reported according to the Enhancing Transparency in Reporting the Synthesis of Qualitative Research checklist. Two pairs of blinded researchers screened the articles. The data were synthesised using a thematic analysis approach. A systematic literature search was conducted using the CINAHL, Embase and MEDLINE databases. Seven studies were included, and three main roles were identified: (1) balancing between confidence and fear in clinical encounters, (2) facilitating collaboration and (3) managing challenging power dynamics in decision-making. Critical care nurses possess extensive knowledge and skills in providing critical care to patients experiencing deterioration on general wards. They play a vital role in facilitating collaboration between team members and ward staff. Furthermore, within the rapid response team, critical care nurses assume leadership responsibilities by overseeing the comprehensive coordination of patient care and actively engaging in the decision-making process concerning patient care. Highlighting the central role of critical care nurses in rapid response teams as well such a team's benefits in healthcare organisations can promote applications for funding to support further quality assurance of rapid response teams and thus enhance patient safety. Health care organisations can assure the quality of rapid response team by providing economical resources and training. The education providers should facilitate and standardise curriculum for critical care nursing students to achieve necessary knowledge and skills as members in rapid response teams. No patient or public contribution.

Does digital transformation contribute to improving financing efficiency? Evidence and implications for energy enterprises in China

The high penetration of digitalization has emerged as a crucial driving force in enhancing financing efficiency across global enterprises. However, few studies have explored the potential effects of digital transformation on enterprises' financing efficiency, wherein the financing system is composed of fund procurement and application stages. Under such background, this study constructs a novel network DEA model with dominance probability and adjusted utility to analyze the multiple-dimensional performance of the financing system. Then an empirical econometric model is developed from the theoretical analysis and applied to Chinese energy enterprises for the period 2015-2021. The main findings are summarized as follows. First, our research demonstrates that digital transformation can significantly increase financing efficiency, with fund procurement identified as the lagging stage to efficiency improvement. Second, when considering the heterogeneous analysis, digital transformation is particularly effective in alleviating financing constraints and enhancing operating performance for clean energy enterprises. Finally, with regard to the mechanism's explorations, digital transformation increases enterprises' financing efficiency by reducing the ownership concentration and management expense rate. These findings provide an empirical foundation for the advancement of digital transformation, and also hold significant implications for narrowing financing efficiency gaps across energy enterprises.

Tales from the crick: The art of demo.

Equipment demonstrations (demos) play an important role in the evaluation of new systems. As well as the excitement of exploring emerging technologies, a well-organised demo can help guide procurement decisions and support funding applications. However, it is easy to underestimate the substantial effort required both before and following the demo to maximise its potential impact. Here, we discuss how our approach to demos at the Crick Advanced Light Microscopy Science and Technology Platform (CALM-STP) has evolved over the last few years, emphasising the importance of a documented approach that combines quantitative with qualitative comparisons and engages with your user base in order to build up support for any potential system purchase.

Transforming medical assistance fund application management: A business process reengineering approach

The application process for the Medical Assistance Fund (MAF) to help patients receive medical interventions at public hospitals has been plagued with delays due to the increasing number of applications, inefficient management, and manual tasks. This study aims to redesign the current application process through Business Process Reengineering (BPR) and to evaluate the effectiveness of a new process to be carried out by the Medical Social Work Unit (MSWU). A new methodology, B2Lean which is based on a combination of the BPR and Lean Thinking was proposed to help identify the processes requiring improvement and to remove inefficient ones. A new online application system, the Patient Assistance Management System was proposed as an IT enabler for this BPR initiative. This study was based on a qualitative research methodology involving a case study in which interviews and observations were used to collect data. The sample study consisted of seven MSWU officers and several supporting staff selected from a government hospital. In the interviews, the ‘5W 1H’ technique was used to elicit and analyze their feedback on issues relating to the existing processes. The findings of the analysis revealed that several manual tasks were inefficient, which had to be either removed or replaced, effectively helping to reduce the overall processing time by 52%. With the new and efficient processes, practitioners could certainly expedite patients’ applications for medical assistance, thus helping them to receive prompt medical interventions. The B2Lean methodology could be used as a guideline for organizations seeking improvement in their current practices.

Russell Sage Foundation seeking proposals for social science research

The Russell Sage Foundation was founded with the mission to strengthen the methods, data and theoretical core of the social sciences to better understand societal problems and develop informed responses. In support of that mission, the foundation is currently accepting funding applications for a number of programs involving one or more aspects of social science.

Research priorities for randomised controlled trials in chronic migraine preventive medication: A stakeholder consensus workshop

Background Chronic migraine is a disabling condition that can substantially impact on quality of life. People with chronic migraine have headaches on at least 15 days of every month. Preventative medications aiming to reduce number of days with migraine are available, but high-quality randomised evidence is lacking for many drugs, and it is unclear which medications should be prioritised for research. There is also no existing evidence about patient and clinicians’ priorities for research. Methods We undertook a consensus workshop with patient and healthcare professional stakeholders, using nominal group technique, to understand these stakeholders’ priorities for future randomised controlled trials. We reached a consensus on a set of research recommendations for the field. Results Eight people with chronic migraine and eleven healthcare professionals took part in an online workshop. Comparisons of calcitonin gene-related peptide monoclonal antibodies (CGRP MAbs) and OnabotulinumtoxinA (BTA) were a top priority for our group. Candesartan and Flunarizine were the top drugs the group wanted to compare against placebo. Conclusions These research recommendations should guide researchers in the field, and funders when prioritising commissioned research and assessing funding applications. Particular areas to explore further are Candesartan or Flunarizine versus placebo, and comparing and combining CGRP MAbs with other medications.

178 Pace and Pitch: Predictive Factors for Seed Funding and Development

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: Securing seed funding and external support can be a daunting process. Institutions are increasingly looks for quantitative assurance of impact and accountability. This study investigates factors predictive of seed funding selection, including pace of submissions as well as external support. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: Using Generalized Logistic Mixed Models (GLMMs), we model factors found to be predictive of researcher success, and model demographic factors as well, to understand the complex interplay of researcher background, professional networks and preparation, and researcher persistence. The following factors were modeled as potentially predictive of researcher success: faculty rank; co-PI; h-index; rate of application; prior award funding amounts; and research-focused social media posts. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: After effects are finalized, we expect that pace of seed fund applications and the strength co-PIs, as measured by h-indices, to be significant predictors of researcher success for both securing seed funding and external support. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE: This study identifies features associated with eventual research program success and can be used to support accountability and impact efforts at an institutional level. Research institutes strive to ensure equal access to these opportunities and train applicants to produce improved project proposals. Results from this study inform these efforts.

Grant Schemes and Pork-Barrel Politics in Local Government Funding in Hungary

The article investigates the extent of political favouritism in the central financing of local governments in Hungary between 2015 and 2018. An investigation of various transfers and the role of both mayor and member of parliament (MP) in the granting of funds enabled me to map how grant schemes relate to pork-barrelling. The rewarding of core supporters is observable with regard to discretionary intergovernmental transfers, while the political alignment affects the distribution of EU funds; thus, these constitute the primary mechanisms for acknowledging and sharing credit with local leaders. When a grant scheme requires municipalities to file an application for funding, local governments in opposition receive fewer grants.

The gendered structure of science does not transpire in an experimental vacuum

Abstract An article recently published in Quantitative Science Studies proposed an apparently elegant solution to go past the alleged limits of “observational approaches” and “simple statistical associations” when it comes to the study of gender disparities in scientific funding (Cruz-Castro & Sanz-Menéndez, 2023, p. 594). A randomized experiment, it was claimed, would finally allow us to “measure the effects of a cause,” that is “the effect of the gender of the principal investigator (PI) on the score of a research funding application” (Cruz-Castro & Sanz-Menéndez, 2023, p. 594). And the finding of this trial was as clear as its formulation: there was no indication whatsoever that women’s applications had been evaluated differently than that of men. Peer Review https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway/wos/peer-review/10.1162/qss_c_00300

Pengaruh Customer Experience, dan Customer Trust, Terhadap Kepuasan Konsumen Menggunakan Uang Aplikasi (E-Money) Dana

This research aims to determine the influence of customer experience variables and customer trust variables on consumer satisfaction in the context of the use of money for community study fund applications in the Medan Amplas sub-district. It is recommended that future research should consider expanding the respondent pool to include individuals from various locations, as there are numerous users of this digital wallet. This research utilizes quantitative methods with a questionnaire-based research design, involving 97 respondents in the Medan Amplas sub-district. Data collection techniques encompass observation, questionnaires, and documentation, while data analysis employs validity, reliability, and classical assumption tests. The data analysis method involves multiple linear regression using the SPSS 20 program. The t-test results demonstrate that both the customer experience variable and the customer trust variable influence consumer satisfaction when using Dana e-money. The F-test results show that the customer experience variable and the customer trust variable simultaneously affect consumer satisfaction among those using Dana e-money in the Medan Amplas sub-district, as indicated by the calculated F-value exceeding the critical F-table value. The adjusted coefficient of determination (R Square) indicates that 32.4% of the dependent variable can be explained by the independent variables, while the remaining 67.6% is attributable to other variables not examined in this study.

A qualitative investigation into perceived barriers experienced by European female agri-food entrepreneurs

PurposeAgri-food systems in Europe are predominantly male dominated. Female food entrepreneurs can play a key role in the development of novel, sustainable food products. The aim of the present study was to gain an increased understanding of the various barriers which female agri-food entrepreneurs situated in rural areas perceive as hindrances to their entrepreneurial growth and development and their opinions on mentorship programmes.MethodologySeven separate focus groups comprising of a total of 25 female participants were carried out with agri-food entrepreneurs throughout Europe (Ireland, Belgium, Poland, Italy). Discussions were semi-structured and revolved around individuals’ perceptions of the support received from their surrounding infrastructure and their opinions on barriers and enablers for entrepreneurship development. A reflective thematic analysis was conducted following verbatim transcription of the conversations from the focus groups.FindingsThree major themes were identified. Barriers to business development included the lack of adequate financial support and the frustrations experienced with the complexity of funding applications. Socio-cultural support was oftentimes lacking. Participants were aware of the benefits of an online presence to develop their business but lacked confidence in their digital abilities. Few female entrepreneurs were aware of mentorship programmes, and most were unsure what this practice would entail. These findings highlight a range of issues in need of addressing to improve the infrastructure surrounding female agri-food entrepreneurs throughout Europe.

Use of Registries and Large Databases for Toxicology Research.

The advancement of medical toxicology knowledge has traditionally relied on case reports and case series because of the ethical challenges involved in studying poisoned patients. The growing availability of several large databases and registries now allows researchers to describe and analyze patterns in poisoned patients who share a particular exposure, outcome, or condition. A large database or registry can be useful in generating hypotheses, supporting extramural funding applications, and planning more rigorous studies. Knowing how to access and interpret data in registries such as NPDS, NHAMCS, and HCUP is essential for all stakeholders engaged in medical toxicology research. This review describes the strengths and limitations of different toxicology-relevant registries and databases and how to leverage these powerful tools to advance the science in the field of medical toxicology.