Field Of Science Research Articles

Creative Pedagogy in Information Literacy

Creative pedagogy is not well defined and has not yet received much attention in the field of library and information science. This research employed constructivist grounded theory, through semi-structured interviews conducted with library information literacy instructors, to better understand the role of creative pedagogy in information literacy. The aim of the research was to synthesize findings into a theory to better understand how and to what extent creative pedagogy is being applied in the teaching of information literacy. The findings show that although they do not necessarily use the language of creativity, many library instructors are integrating elements of creative pedagogy into their teaching. Perceived challenges, such as being a guide or guest in someone else’s classroom and in connecting with students around information, as well as opportunities in both the physical and virtual classroom spaces, seem to require a shift in the way information literacy engagement takes place. Library instructors recognize the need for these shifts but many struggle to implement an alternative approach in the information classroom. At the same time, library instructors face several barriers, including a lack of preparation for their teaching role and the limitations of the one-shot instruction session.

Examination of the mentally ills in the Samara province in the 1860-ies

The article examines the dynamics of perception of the mentally ill by the Russian society and the state authorities with the help of comparative-historical method and analysis of sources. The chronological framework of the work covers the period from the first attempts to help the insane with the help of spiritual healing in monasteries to the large-scale reforms of the 1860-ies and the revolution in the organization of public medicine. The author is most interested in the changes caused by the formation of psychiatry as a separate branch of medical science, including the emergence of expert psychiatrists and the introduction of psychiatric trials procedures by the middle of the XIX century. For a detailed study of such innovations in psychiatric practice, the procedure of examination of the mentally ill, carried out in the Samara province in the 1860-ies, was chosen. The source base for the research is archival materials from the funds of the Central State Archive of the Samara Region, as well as scientific and published written sources. These include the first Russian textbooks and manuals on psychiatry. There is a growing interest in the study of the phenomenon of «madness» in modern historiography. However, there was practically no large-scale systematic research on the history of the origin of psychiatry in the Samara province in the middle of the XIX century. The findings obtained in the course of the study give an idea of the changing perception of the insane by society and the authorities. There is a transfer of the main role in the trials of the mentally ill and, accordingly, the right to make a conclusion about their condition from representatives of the administrative authorities to psychiatrists. An attitude towards insanity is being formed and consolidated not as a social danger, but as a disease requiring specialized medical care. Thus, madness is transformed from a social phenomenon into a medical one.

IMLS Early Career Research: A Dialogue with Program Officers and Awardees

External funding presents an opportunity for early career scholars to jumpstart their research agenda post-PhD. One funding opportunity available in the library and information science (LIS) field is the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian (LB21) Early Career Research award. What is the IMLS LB21 Early Career Research (EC) award? Learn more in this 90-minute interactive session that will include five primary activities: IMLS Funding Overview, Panelist Presentations, Attendee Breakout Discussion, Panel Discussion, and Reporting Back. Attendees will gain a better understanding of the EC funding opportunity available at IMLS; learn about first-hand experiences from EC awardees; reflect on their own career trajectories with peers; and evaluate potential next steps for funding their research agenda.

Positioning LIS Students for Career Success

There is an assumption that students enter graduate programs with a certain level of knowledge and awareness about the field they have chosen to study and their career plans post-graduation. However, the literature shows that even graduate students benefit from services and programming related to career exploration and preparation. This is especially true in the library and information science (LIS) field, which offers myriad career paths and settings for graduates. Despite resources such as the ALISE Statistical Report, San José State University iSchool’s Career Trends report, and research on the core knowledge and skills desired of information professionals, extant literature examining career services provided to and desired by LIS graduate students is lacking. This project examined career planning services and programming in LIS graduate programs using a descriptive research approach. Data was collected via surveys of current LIS program administrators and enrolled graduate students. As LIS job seekers report such long and frustrating job search experiences that they consider leaving the field entirely, insights from this research will inform the creation or improvement of career services for LIS students, advance discussion of career services for graduate students, and identify exemplars that can be used to guide programming efforts. This paper will share preliminary findings from surveys completed by 25 program administrators and 400 current students.

Methodological Implications for Video-Based Research in the Library and Information Science

The use of video has been popular in psychology and educational research (Erickson, 2011), but still is relatively new to the Library and Information Science (LIS) field. Video technology is a powerful tool for documenting events, allowing them to be preserved permanently and viewed un unlimited number of times for collaborative data analysis (Jordan & Henderson, 1995). In addition, it is important to consider that video recordings start with a choice of the recorder on which part to capture and follow with a deliberate and selective choice on which recordings to focus on analytically. Thus, researchers who choose to employ video-based research need to be reflexive of the affordances and limitations of using certain video technology and be cognizant of the ways in which we can be closer to capturing the phenomenon itself. In this poster, we will demonstrate two cases of family programming at public libraries where video-based research was used for research and explore the methodological implications of video-based research in LIS. We aim to discuss the opportunities and challenges of capturing in-situ data in addition to participants’ retrospective perspectives after their participation in library programming.

A framework of data curation competencies

Over the last decade, the library and information science (LIS) field has driven data curation education, research, and practice. As the field continues to grow and new techniques and technologies are developed, there is a need to evaluate current data curation practices to understand the important data curation competencies that should be taught to LIS students. This research expands our understanding of data curation competencies, skills, and technical tools and provides a data curation competencies framework. This data curation competencies framework was developed through 1) a systematic literature review and 2) focus groups with strategic stakeholders. For the systematic literature review, over 1,400 documents were reviewed, with 43 deemed relevant. Relevant documents described the competencies needed to conduct data curation activities, and from these findings, the initial competencies framework was created. The framework consists of twenty specific competencies organized into data curation activities, technical skills, and soft skills related to data curation. Secondly, focus groups were held with strategic stakeholders (educators, practitioners, and community organizations) to provide feedback on the overall structure of the competencies framework and input on the competencies necessary to working with community data. As this framework extends our current understanding of data curation competencies, it can also be utilized in both research and curriculum development. Currently, this framework is being utilized to create and test a pilot community data curation curriculum with LIS students and will be disseminated for LIS educators to incorporate into their curriculum.

Science and Medicine

Abstract The works reviewed here explore a broad range of topics within the field of science, medicine, and technology studies. We have divided the chapter into three sections organized around a conceptual link. In the first section, Anna K. Sagal reviews two monographs that employ oceanic studies to explore novel forms of community and connection: Michele Currie Navakas’s Coral Lives: Literature, Labor, and the Making of America, and Hannah Freed-Thall’s Modernism at the Beach: Queer Ecologies and the Coastal Commons. In the second section, William J. Ryan examines two monographs that forcefully interrogate Western definitions of cognition and intellect: Sara E. Johnson’s Encyclopédie Noire: The Making of Moreau de Saint Méry’s Intellectual World and Abigail Williams’s Reading It Wrong: An Alternative History of Early Eighteenth-Century Literature. In the final section, Leah Benedict reviews an edited anthology that explores numerous exchanges between technology and culture: Kristen M. Girten and Aaron R. Hanlon’s British Literature and Technology, 1600–1830.

Student-created videos in online STEM education: a large, interdisciplinary, randomized control study

Student-created videos engage students’ interests, creativity, and content knowledge and enrich collaborative learning in STEM education. These videos enhance critical thinking and analytical skills, which are essential tools in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). This study presents the results of such an assignment across several STEM areas (biology, chemistry, exercise science, information technology, and mathematics) at a minority-serving, liberal arts higher education institution in the southeast region of the United States. Undergraduate students (n = 557) across varied, online course modalities (synchronous and asynchronous) were required to create four problem-solving videos 3–8 min in duration. Assessment tools included a self-assessment of learning gains survey given to control and experimental groups and a post-video creation survey given only to experimental groups. Grade data was also collected from all sections. Comparing the experimental and control groups, students showed a statistically significant gain in their ability to give oral presentations, create videos, and edit videos. Qualitative data from free-response questions corroborate these gains and suggest that students also grew in content knowledge and conceptual understanding through these assignments. Our study implements a multimedia theoretical framework which suggests students learn more effectively from consuming presentations with both auditory and visual components. Our results suggest students see similar gains from producing presentations with both auditory and visual components. Further our results suggest that multimedia production enhances students’ presentation skills. From a practical perspective, this study suggests that faculty should incorporate student-created videos in online classes, which typically require oral presentations in person. Faculty are also advised to require oral and visual components within these videos to maximize learning gains from the perspective of a multimedia theoretical framework.

Human Anthropometric Indicators for the Preparation of Simulation Models

Normal human anthropometric parameters are used in the development of medical rehabilitation techniques, in the performance of surgical techniques used for normal human functioning. In order to perform these operations successfully, it is necessary to model normal human physical characteristics and, based on these models, perform the operations correctly. Normal anatomical characteristics have a positive effect on the physiological state of the person. The relevance of the research stimulates the development of the science of valeology and increases the relevance and practical significance of the topic. Prosthetics of organs lost in wars and accidents are also performed on the basis of computer models. The science of digital anthropology is modeling human anthropometrics, and practically important predictions are being made based on this modeling. Digital anthropology is based on the research of modern technology to compile a database of the most diverse anthropological indicators of people. Anthropology occupies a special place in the system of scientific knowledge about the world, because it is a field of science that studies the origin, development and role of humans in nature and society. In modern medicine, mathematical and graphic modeling of human anatomical and anthropological indicators is required in all fields. Anthropometric indicators of humans are taken as the basis in surgery, military science, sports. The structure of shoulders, diaphragm, hips, face, and the age of a human being can also be defined by these anthropometric indicators.

Confidence Interval Estimating the Mean of Normal Distribution and Skewed Distribution

The confidence interval is an important statistical estimator of population location and dispersion parameters. The purpose of this paper is to comprehend CI utilising various techniques. This includes classical CI, percentile bootstrap method, bootstrap-t and proposed bootstrap-t decile mean method. Distributions that are skewed and normal are used to generate data. The efficiency of the proposed method is evaluated on the basis of an extensive simulation study. The simulation findings show that the performance of the Student-t and three bootstrap approaches varies dramatically depending on sample size and skewness type. The coverage probability and length of the proposed confidence interval are compared with certain existing and widely used confidence intervals. For illustrative purposes, two real-life data sets are analysed, which, to some extent, support the simulation study conclusions. This paper's findings will be useful to a variety of researchers with practical experience in the fields of science and social sciences.

The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Project Management

Over the past decade, artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformative technology, particularly in project management. This study examines its impact in Latin America, with a focus on Ecuador. There is significant interest in AI adoption in Ecuador, driven by favorable policies, economic conditions, and technological advancements. Most respondents are educators, scientific researchers, and department heads, highlighting the relevance of AI in educational and scientific fields (Fernández & Fernández, 2019; Hassan, Khairudin, & Nasir, 2019). Large organizations, with more than 200 employees, are better positioned to adopt AI due to their greater financial and technical resources (Chui, Henke, & Miremadi, 2020). However, significant barriers persist, such as technological limitations, budgetary constraints, and a lack of managerial support, which complicate its implementation (Smith & Lazarus, 2021). Despite these barriers, most respondents anticipate a significant increase in AI adoption over the next five years, although doubts and challenges remain that must be addressed to ensure successful and sustained implementation (Jones, Patel, & Smith, 2019). This analysis underscores both the opportunities and challenges that AI faces in project management in Ecuador, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive approach to maximize its benefits.

Influence of School Working Conditions of Teachers’ Turnover on Learning Achievement in Biology in Public Secondary Schools in Garissa County, Kenya

The modern propensity toward multi-disciplinary research and the alignment of scientific knowledge from different fields has led to significant overlap of the field of Biological sciences with other scientific disciplines. Modern principles of other fields such as Chemistry, Medicine, and Physics are integrated with those of Biology in areas such as Biochemistry, Biomedicine, and Biophysics, making Biology a valuable subject to humankind. However, the government’s inability to retain qualified and experienced teachers in some schools due to high turnover impacts negatively on the students’ learning achievement in this subject. This paper looks into the influence of school working conditions of teachers’ turnover on learning achievement in Biology in public secondary schools in Garissa County. The study was conducted using pragmatic worldview and adopted a convergent mixed-methods design. With a target population of 2786 respondents from 40 public secondary schools, a sample size of 387 respondents was obtained. Using stratified random sampling, 27 schools were selected from which 336 students and 51 teachers of Biology were randomly and purposively drawn respectively. Data collection was done using Biology teacher questionnaire and document analysis guide. The quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics while qualitative data was analyzed thematically. The study findings showed that school working conditions (r=0.73, p<0.05) had a positive significant correlation with students’ learning achievement in Biology. Qualitative data findings revealed that majority of the teachers intended to transfer from rural to urban schools on the basis of unsuitable working conditions and insecurity. The study concluded that school working conditions of teachers’ turnover influenced low learning achievement in Biology in the study area. The study therefore, recommended strategies that should lower teacher turnover and increase learning achievement in Biology as follows; school principals should provide good leadership and adequate instructional resources for effective teaching of Biology while the government should post security officers to every learning institution in Garissa County to safeguard the non-local teachers’ safety and security

Robust and accurate numerical framework for multi-dimensional fractional-order telegraph equations using Jacobi/Jacobi-Romanovski spectral technique

This paper presents a novel spectral algorithm for the numerical solution of multi-dimensional fractional-order telegraph equations, a critical model used to capture the combined effects of diffusion and wave propagation. The core innovation of this work is the application of Jacobi-Romanovski polynomials as the basis functions for spectral discretization. These polynomials offer unique advantages, including the ability to handle nonstandard domains and boundary conditions, making them particularly suitable for partial differential equation (PDE) applications. A comprehensive error analysis is conducted, providing deep insights into the convergence rates and factors affecting the accuracy of the numerical solutions. Extensive numerical experiments further demonstrate the superior performance of the proposed spectral algorithm in solving a wide range of multi-dimensional fractional-order telegraph equation models. The results show a significant improvement in accuracy and computational efficiency compared to traditional numerical methods, such as finite difference or finite element techniques. This research advances the field of computational science by offering a robust, efficient, and versatile numerical framework for the precise solution of complex multi-dimensional PDEs.

Methodological Approaches in Military Science Research

Scientific research is a prerequisite for progress in all areas of society, and military science is no exception. However, its specificities require careful analysis in order to identify specific methodological approaches to ensure the added value of the results obtained. Moreover, the need for continuous transformation and adaptation of military structures to the operating environment and to the specific characteristics of contemporary armed conflicts leads to an increased interest in identifying innovative solutions in this field. Academic research is the approach to provide feasible and viable solutions to these challenges. However, there are relatively few works that address the methodological peculiarities specific to the field of military science. For this reason, the present article analyses how to organize and conduct scientific studies in the military field, proposing a structured framework of methodological approach in 14 steps to ensure the logical coherence of the approach, while highlighting the specificities of the field under analysis.

The case study– a useful research strategy in the field of military sciences

This article argues for the usefulness of adopting the case study as an effective and sufficient strategy from the perspective of developing research papers in the field of Military Science. In the first stage, using Saunders’ model, I showed the logical course of a researcher’s reasoning up to the moment of establishing a suitable research strategy according to his object of study, the topic of interest or the problem formulated at the initiation of the scientific approach. Afterwards, I justified the motivation for choosing the case study as a research strategy, bringing to attention the main advantages and disadvantages that it entails. I thus had two objectives in writing this article: to emphasize the importance of clarifying and establishing certain research design, exemplified by going through the layers of Saunders’ model, and subsequently to highlight the versatility and flexibility of the case study as a research strategy, as it is accepted and used in all fields of scientific research.

Improving the classification of rock samples with diffusion probabilistic machine learning

Machine learning is a powerful data-driven technology for regression and classification tasks in numerous branches of science and technology. With probabilistic machine learning, we can approximate the probability density function of a given digital data set, unlocking the sampling of new and realistic data. We implement probabilistic machine learning as a statistical-based data augmentation tool to effectively improve the performance of a classifier on scarce data sets. Limited data are the norm in most practical situations, as is the case with core samples retrieved from unconventional oil and gas reservoirs. Obtaining and properly labeling rock sample images is a manual and time-consuming task. This leads to scarce data sets that make the lithologic classification of rock samples challenging. We illustrate the technology on images taken from well cores from the Argentinean Neuquén and Austral basins, where by introducing generated samples in the training stage of a machine-learning classifier, we achieve a 5% higher accuracy with respect to the baseline obtained using the same number of samples from the original data set. We reach these results by proposing a lightweight workflow that can be run on very limited hardware. Our workflow is an alternative to classical data augmentation strategies for dealing with incomplete information, such as geometric transformations.

Designing Semantic Tutoring Maps for Enhancing Peer Learning through Lesson Preparation

Advancements in Natural Language Processing technology present significant opportunities to enhance student learning through peer tutoring. While there is substantial research on the effectiveness of peer tutoring in learning science, few studies focus on the lesson preparation stage of peer tutoring. This study utilizes Semantic Web technologies to organize tutoring maps, aiming to develop an innovative learning artifact to address this research gap. Adopting a design-based research methodology, this study first provides a literature review regarding the application of semantic technology in education and peer tutoring preparation. Subsequently, a tutoring map application based on a semantic database is developed, encompassing the organization and storage of tutoring lesson plans using Resource Description Framework (RDF) technology, and the querying and feedback on lesson plan quality based on SPARQL Protocol and RDF Query Language (SPARQL) technology. This paper describes the theoretical basis and design rationale by which student tutors’ learning is improved through structured tutoring preparation. This includes enhancing cognitive and meta-cognitive abilities in designing learning activities, raising questions, anticipating answers, and providing guidance responses to incorrect answers. The paper concludes with recommendations for educational researchers and practitioners. Future research will focus on empirical studies of peer tutoring in scientific fields to verify the validity and adaptability of the design, further facilitating peer learning by tutoring and collective knowledge building.

Tallaqi Learning Model at Madrasah Tsanawiyah Tahfidz Quran

The Quran memorization program in formal educational institutions such as schools and madrasas is something new that is very unique and attracts the attention of the public. This is due to the general school label, which focuses on pure science fields, even though there are religious lessons in it, maybe only two to four hours a week. This study aims to describe the Tallaqi learning model at the Al Barokah Purwantoro Qur'an memorization Madrasah. This study uses a qualitative method with a case study approach where data and research involve the principal, vice principal for curriculum, person in charge of the Quran memorization program, Quran memorization teachers and students, which are collected through observation and interviews, the collected data are analyzed using thematic analysis. The results of the study showed that the Tallaqi learning model at Madrasah Tsanawiyah Tahfidzul Quran Al Barokah was used in the learning process with teacher arrangements, student arrangements, time and place of study arrangements and the design of Quran memorization learning using the Tallaqi method

The Essential Jesús Huerta de Soto: An Analysis of His Contributions to Economics and Social Thought

Professor Huerta de Soto’s name has achieved great recognition among Spanish-speaking Austrians in recent times. Nevertheless, his thought and conclusions remained mostly unknown to English-speaking Austrians. This article focuses on his thought and contributions over a wide career in economics, law, history, and all the social science branches. We will have the opportunity to introduce his conclusions about central banking, entrepreneurship, history of economic thought, and political philosophy. As we can see, his conclusions encompass many disciplines of social science in a clear application of the Austrian method. We conclude by describing how he has created a living branch of the Austrian school, one of the most important in Europe currently.

Development of Science Diplomacy in the MENA Region: Priorities and Prospects for Cooperation with Russia on the Example of Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates

Introduction. The development of science diplomacy is aimed at promotion of a state’s interests in the international arena. Russia is striving to strengthen cooperation in the field of scientific and technological development, humanitarian exchange with such MENA countries as Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates. These countries are of significant interest to Russia due to the long-standing forms of cooperation with them. The main purpose of this study is to identify science diplomacy actors, visually present them taking into consideration the process of science development in these countries and determine prospects of cooperation with Russia. Materials and Methods. In their study, the authors used data from open sources, Russian Federal State Statistics Service reports, UNESCO Science reports, World Bank database. The analysis of development of international science and technology cooperation in the three MENA countries was carried out. The authors used the descriptive method to present the main actors of science diplomacy and visually provide the science diplomacy systems. The developed models of science diplomacy of Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates enable Russia to identify the priorities in the field of science diplomacy in the context of geopolitical challenges. Results. The study identified the potential partners of Russia in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt to strengthen international science and technology cooperation. The prospects for cooperation with these countries are fixed in the mutual agreements with Russia. The authors studied the policy of these countries in the field of international scientific and technical cooperation, considered strategic directions for the development of science diplomacy. The created models of science diplomacy reflect the main actors of science diplomacy, as well as the current interrelationship between the three MENA countries and Russia in the field of science and technology. The value of this research lies in the preparation of an extensive analytical base that helps to identify potential partners for Russia among the MENA countries, as well as identify key strategies and directions to stimulate the growth of cooperation and knowledge exchange. Discussion and Conclusion. The research has shown that in the studied Arab countries, there is an active development of scientific diplomacy. The governments of these countries are increasingly turning to science to solve political problems. The MENA region has extensive resources and scientific potential, which makes it attractive for scientific cooperation. The analysis of cooperation with these countries made it possible to identify key strategies and priorities to stimulate the growth of cooperation and knowledge exchange between the MENA countries and Russia.