Collaborative Research Research Articles

Vascular Placental Pathology and Cardiac Structure in Stillborn Fetuses.

Adverse pregnancy outcomes, including preterm birth and preeclampsia, are associated with worse cardiovascular outcomes for offspring. Examination of the placenta is important for understanding how the prenatal period shapes long-term cardiovascular health. We sought to investigate the association between placental vascular malperfusion and fetal cardiac structure. Data obtained from the Stillbirth Collaborative Research Network included stillbirths with placental pathology and autopsy. Stillbirths were classified in two ways: based on severity of placental maternal vascular malperfusion (MVM) and based on cause of death (MVM, fetal vascular malperfusion (FVM), or acute infection/controls). Organ weight and heart measures were standardized by gestational age (GA) and compared across groups. We included 329 stillbirths in the analysis by MVM severity and 76 in the analysis by cause of death (COD). While z-scores for most organ weights/heart measures were smaller when COD was attributed to MVM as compared with FVM or controls, heart weight and brain weight z-score did not differ by COD (p>0.05). In analyses accounting for body size, the difference between heart and body weight z-score was -0.05 (SD: 0.53) among those with MVM as a COD and -0.20 (SD: 0.95) among those with severe MVM. Right and left ventricle thicknesses and tricuspid, pulmonary, mitral, and aortic valve circumferences were consistently as expected or larger than expected for GA and body weight. In analysis investigating severity of MVM, those with the most severe MVM had heart measures that were as expected or larger than expected for body weight while those with only mild to moderate MVM had heart measures that were generally small relative to body weight. When assessed as COD or based on severity, MVM was associated with heart measures that were as expected or larger than expected for GA and body weight, indicating that possible heart sparing.

Creative research with indigenous women: challenging marginalisation through collective spaces and livelihoods practices

PurposeIn this paper we ask: “What are the opportunities and challenges that creative methods pose in terms of conducting research processes with indigenous peoples impacted by emergencies and disasters?” To do that, we critically examine the creative and collaborative methodological approaches applied in the research project, Moving with Risk: Forced Displacement and Vulnerability in Colombia. This project sought to understand the trajectories of risk of families who were forcibly displaced as a result of the armed conflict in Colombia and resettled in areas at risk of disaster.Design/methodology/approachThis article is intentionally written from the perspective of the researchers’ positionality. In doing so, we embrace writing that is situated and embodied in the researcher’s experiences and positionalities. This reflexive writing allows us to question the methodological experience of the research project we are analysing and, at the same time, ourselves, “the researchers” be questioned by it.FindingsIn this paper, we show how creative methods and participatory research can foster awareness and become the basis for inclusive and reciprocal research processes with indigenous communities in disaster studies. Specifically, we show that the use of creative methods helped us recognise that agency needs to be framed in collective spaces with the indigenous women we were working with and in relation to their livelihoods needs. We argue that finding spaces to conduct collaborative research and recognize agency is inextricably related to how the researchers reflect on their positionality.Originality/valueThis article contributes to critical perspectives in Disaster Studies and to an overall understanding of the role that creative methodologies play in research processes with people affected by disasters. It provides a novel perspective on the opportunities and challenges of applying arts-based methods in disaster risk studies with indigenous communities in Latin America.

Comparative analysis of factors and barriers intervening in research participation among romanian and international medical graduates from one romanian medical faculty across three generations

Abstract Objectives This study focuses on the factors that encouraged engagement in research activities, as well as the barriers that restricted their involvement, until the final year of study at Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy Cluj-Napoca, Faculty of Medicine. The main objectives of this study are to investigate potential disparities in research culture and student engagement in various research opportunities between Romanian and international medical graduates, as well as to conduct an examination of the observed patterns across various graduating years (2021–2023). Materials and methods A cross-sectional investigation was conducted among graduate students of the Faculty of Medicine at the Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Cluj-Napoca, Romania. From 2021 to 2023, all graduate students from the Romanian and international programs of the faculty were asked to participate in the study by filling out an anonymous online questionnaire. The final sample included 572 participants, of whom 392 were students from the Romanian section and 180 were students from international programs. Results Motivation and personal interest drive research engagement, according to over half of graduates. For over one-third of graduates, institutional elements like financial support and education also play a major role, as does the desire to enhance their curriculum vitae. More than 25% of graduates value community influence, 70% of graduates attended medical congresses, 12–15% presented papers at medical conferences, 23% wrote medical articles, 10–15% published at least one scientific paper in medical journals, and 20% participated in medical school research projects. Comparative analysis showed that Romanian students start research earlier, attend more medical conferences, present posters, collect data for studies, and are more interested in publishing graduation thesis data in scientific journals. To encourage international students to participate in research, the study found that colleagues’ examples were more important, and both time and funds were key barriers. The research also shows that 2022 and 2023 graduates will organize more scientific conferences. According to the study, 2022 graduates began their research earlier than others. Conclusions To increase student engagement in research activities, medical schools should prioritize the promotion of positive factors, minimize common barriers, offer customized support and resources, encourage collaborative research activities, and facilitate cross-cultural learning.

External Environment, Social Exchange, and International Research Collaboration: A Study of China’s State Key Laboratories

External Environment, Social Exchange, and International Research Collaboration: A Study of China’s State Key Laboratories

On the limited damp-proofing of residential buildings: do social norms matter?

PurposeThis study draws on neoclassical and behavioural economics theories to provide an empirical insight into the effect of knowledge, costs, and social norms on damp-proofing residential buildings in Ghana.Design/methodology/approachThis study used the quantitative approach involving survey data. A sample size of 242 participants was involved in the study. Applying principal component analysis on the responses from the participants, an index for damp-proofing, cost, knowledge, and social norms was derived. After generating the indexes, the ordinary least squares (OLS) regression was applied to estimate the impact of knowledge, costs, and social norms on damp-proofing.FindingsThe results from the OLS regression revealed that knowledge has a significant positive effect on damp-proofing while costs and social norms have significant negative effect on damp-proofing in Ghana. This study, therefore, concludes that although neoclassical economic factors such as knowledge and cost affect behaviour (damp-proofing), behavioural factors such as social norms also matter.Practical implicationsThe outcome of this study calls for policymakers to consider putting in place measures that increase knowledge and promote the use of damp-proofing techniques during the construction of buildings. In addition, the study calls for scholars to partake in collaborative research amongst disciplines such as economics, psychology, and the construction industry in order to provide more innovative solutions, the key of which is finding innovative ways to damp proof buildings.Originality/valueThis study is original in its context as it draws on neoclassical and behavioural economics theories to provide an empirical insight into the effect of knowledge, costs, and social norms on damp-proofing of residential buildings in Ghana. This is an area that has received less attention in the areas of building biology and building pathology globally.

“Letting the ancestors speak”: collaborative archaeology at the Hastings Natural History Reservation

Since 2021, collaborative research at the University of California (UC), Berkeley's Hastings Natural History Reservation between the Esselen Tribe of Monterey County, UC-Berkeley, and the University of Oregon has demonstrated the mutual benefits of a co-created and Indigenous-centered archaeological research program within North America. While initial archaeological studies on the Hastings Reservation occurred over five decades ago, our project represents one of the first Tribal-centered archaeological field programs within the UC Natural Reserve System and, therefore, a model of collaborative research in the post-NAGPRA and CalNAGPRA era. The broader purpose of our research is to work with the Esselen Tribe to collect historical ecological information about the legacies of Native people and their relationship with the environment to help inform contemporary stewardship goals in their Tribal territory. Our archaeological research has confirmed the Indigenous occupation at the Hastings Reserve before, during, and after the Spanish Colonial period (1769–1821) in central California. By weaving archaeology, ethnobotany, ethnohistory, historical documents, ethnography, and Indigenous knowledge, this project documents the critical role of maintaining a connection to cultural landscapes despite three successive waves of European and Euro-American colonialism in the region. These findings provide an alternative narrative of cultural persistence, survivance, and resilience contrary to the narratives of culture loss and erasure espoused by 20th-century California anthropology regarding the Indigenous societies that occupied the central California coast.

Electroconvulsive therapy and cognitive performance from the Global ECT MRI Research Collaboration

The Global ECT MRI Research Collaboration (GEMRIC) has collected clinical and neuroimaging data of patients treated with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) from around the world. Results to date have focused on neuroimaging correlates of antidepressant response. GEMRIC sites have also collected longitudinal cognitive data. Here, we summarize the existing GEMRIC cognitive data and provide recommendations for prospective data collection for future ECT-imaging investigations. We describe the criteria for selection of cognitive measures for mega-analyses: Trail Making Test Parts A (TMT-A) and B (TMT-B), verbal fluency category (VFC), verbal fluency letter (VFL), and percent retention from verbal learning and memory tests. We performed longitudinal data analysis focused on the pre-/post-ECT assessments with healthy comparison (HC) subjects at similar timepoints and assessed associations between demographic and ECT parameters with cognitive changes. The study found an interaction between electrode placement and treatment number for VFC (F(1,107) = 4.14, p = 0.04). Higher treatment was associated with decreased VFC performance with right unilateral electrode placement. Percent retention showed a main effect for group, with post-hoc analysis indicating decreased cognitive performance among the HC group. However, there were no significant effects of group or group interactions observed for TMT-A, TMT-B, or VFL. We assessed the current GEMRIC cognitive data and acknowledge the limitations associated with this data set including the limited number of neuropsychological domains assessed. Aside from the VFC and treatment number relationship, we did not observe ECT-mediated neurocognitive effects in this investigation. We provide prospective cognitive recommendations for future ECT-imaging investigations focused on strong psychometrics and minimal burden to subjects.

Turning the tables or business as usual? COVID-19 as a catalyst in North–South research collaborations

Since February 2020, we have witnessed COVID-19 profoundly disturb ongoing research dynamics – including research collaborations between the Global North and the Global South. Reduced international and regional mobility obliged research collaborations to reinvent their modalities. The role of field-based researchers (those physically ‘there’) has never been more crucial. This article draws on the testimonies of researchers from the African Great Lakes region to reflect on the positionality of field-based researchers in North–South research collaborations throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Their embeddedness in the field foregrounded their complementary strengths in interactions with scholars from the Global North. We also illustrate how vulnerabilities – both unstable employment and field-related risks – were unevenly shared by partners in the Global South and the Global North. In conclusion, the COVID-19 experience inspired us to adhere to new collaboration modalities that move beyond post-colonial dynamics in North–South research collaborations.

Enhancing innovation in aviation: Applying the Triple Helix Model and PMBOK in the UAE-Sweden partnership

To sustain economic growth and generate new ideas for innovation, academia, industries, and governments should cooperate to develop successful research and development ecosystems. Indeed, the collaboration between these parties is required to extend beyond the basic funding provided by industries to research projects conducted by universities. Hence, collaboration must occur in an integrated environment so that each party plays its role including problem identification, setting the regulations, funding, conducting the research, etc. On the other hand, due to globalization, collaboration in research and development has become international where teams from different countries or continents collaborate in various ways. Indeed, the integrated collaboration between industry, governments, and academia improves the impact of the research outcome on society by addressing problems of interest to society while involving all the concerned parties. One of the known frameworks in this context, the Triple Helix Model (THM), has been used in this study to foster international collaboration in aviation. The international collaboration involved two universities representing academia, civil aviation authorities, public funding bodies, and air navigation services representing the government bodies, in addition to aviation industries from Sweden and the United Arab Emirates. The focus of the collaboration was the development of knowledge-based open innovation in the form of a traffic management tool that optimizes, simulates, and visualizes delivery scenarios of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).This paper aims to formalize the collaborative framework that has been used in the international collaboration mentioned above, and that combines the THM and PMBOK models so that it can be used for managing innovation projects of similar nature throughout their lifecycle. Moreover, the challenges that have been encountered by the teams involved in the collaboration are discussed in this paper in addition to the mitigation strategies that have been used to overcome them which can be beneficial for other similar collaborations. Finally, the study results encourage industries, governments, and universities to establish further projects based on the same framework to spur and maximize knowledge-based innovation for social and financial growth.

Bibliometric Insights into Research Hotspots and Trends in Obesity and Asthma from 2013 to 2023

Introduction: Obesity and asthma are closely linked, but the current state of research on this topic and future research directions have yet to be comprehensively explored. This study aims to provide an up-to-date overview of the research landscape in the field of obesity and asthma. Methods: A bibliometric analysis was conducted using the Web of Science Core Collection database to identify papers published on obesity and asthma between 2013 and 2023. VOSviewer software was utilized for statistical analysis and visualization of collaborative networks, research trends, literature sources, citation analysis, co-citation analysis, and keyword analysis. Results: A total of 3,406 records from 1,010 journals authored by 17,347 researchers affiliated with 4,573 institutes across 117 countries and regions were retrieved. The number of publications and citations increased annually. The USA and China contributed the majority of records. Major nodes in the collaboration network map included Harvard Medical School, Johns Hopkins University, University of Newcastle, Karolinska Institution, University of Toronto, and Seoul National University. Prolific authors included Anne E. Dixon, Erick Forno, Lisa G. Wood, Deepa Rastogi, and Fernando Holguin. Research trends and hotspots focused on metabolism studies, Mendelian randomization, gut microbiome, inflammation response, gene, biomarker research, and comorbidities were identified as potential future research frontiers. Conclusion: This study provides a comprehensive overview of the current research status and trends in the field of obesity and asthma. Our findings highlight the importance of understanding collaboration patterns, research hotspots, and emerging frontiers to guide future research in this area.

Prevalent Metformin Use in Adults With Diabetes and the Incidence of Long COVID: An EHR-Based Cohort Study From the RECOVER Program.

Studies show metformin use before and during SARS-CoV-2 infection reduces severe COVID-19 and postacute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC) in adults. Our objective was to describe the incidence of PASC and possible associations with prevalent metformin use in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This is a retrospective cohort analysis using the National COVID Cohort Collaborative (N3C) and Patient-Centered Clinical Research Network (PCORnet) electronic health record (EHR) databases with an active comparator design that examined metformin-exposed individuals versus nonmetformin-exposed individuals who were taking other diabetes medications. T2DM was defined by HbA1c ≥6.5 or T2DM EHR diagnosis code. The outcome was death or PASC within 6 months, defined by EHR code or computable phenotype. In the N3C, the hazard ratio (HR) for death or PASC with a U09.9 diagnosis code (PASC-U09.0) was 0.79 (95% CI 0.71-0.88; P < 0.001), and for death or N3C computable phenotype PASC (PASC-N3C) was 0.85 (95% CI 0.78-0.92; P < 0.001). In PCORnet, the HR for death or PASC-U09.9 was 0.87 (95% CI 0.66-1.14; P = 0.08), and for death or PCORnet computable phenotype PASC (PASC-PCORnet) was 1.04 (95% CI 0.97-1.11; P = 0.58). Incident PASC by diagnosis code was 1.6% metformin vs. 2.0% comparator in the N3C, and 2.1% metformin vs. 2.5% comparator in PCORnet. By computable phenotype, incidence was 4.8% metformin and 5.2% comparator in the N3C and 24.7% metformin vs. 26.1% comparator in PCORnet. Prevalent metformin use is associated with a slightly lower incidence of death or PASC after SARS-CoV-2 infection. PASC incidence by computable phenotype is higher than by EHR code, especially in PCORnet. These data are consistent with other observational analyses showing prevalent metformin is associated with favorable outcomes after SARS-CoV-2 infection in adults with T2DM.

Action Research for Developing Teachers’ Pedagogical Skills in the ‘Out of School Children Education Program’

This study aimed to investigate the potential influences of action research on the professional development of teachers involved in the ‘Out of School Children (OSC) Education Program’ in Bangladesh. The qualitative approach was used with an action research component. Seventeen teachers from seventeen non-formal schools (learning Centers) from eight divisions were selected purposively. Semi-structured interviews, class observations, reflective diaries, and field notes were used to gather data. The thematic technique of qualitative data analysis was utilized. The results show that although every teacher from the seventeen learning centers engaged in very impromptu activities, their teaching-learning strategies were restricted to a few common exercises like group work, peer work, storytelling, reading aloud to each other while adhering to the teacher's instructions, and Club Day activities. The usual pedagogies of the learning centers were reciting the Quran together, singing the national anthem, and taking oaths. The results also show that teachers could reflect on their current pedagogical practices and create professional development strategies through a well-run collaborative action research project. The action research also revealed some noteworthy modifications of pedagogical practices. Numerous obstacles have been discovered and discussed. The results have implications for non-formal education research, practice, and policy. Even if the results of this qualitative research cannot be broadly applied because of its nature, there are instances where the process of implementing changes via an adaptable and tailored kind of action research could serve as a powerful model in a non-formal education setting. The results will also add to the body of knowledge in the fields of non-formal education, teacher preparation, and, more especially, the development of pedagogical skills in non-formal school teachers. Teacher’s World: Journal of Education and Res arch, 50(1): 61-78

Parsimonious immune-response endotypes and global outcome in patients with traumatic brain injury

The inflammatory response in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) offers opportunities for stratification and intervention. Previous unselected approaches to immunomodulation in patients with TBI have not improved patient outcomes. Serum and plasma samples from two prospective, multi-centre observational studies of patients with TBI were used to discover (Collaborative European NeuroTrauma Effectiveness Research [CENTER-TBI], Europe) and validate (Transforming Research and Clinical Knowledge in Traumatic Brain Injury [TRACK-TBI] Pilot, USA) individual variations in the immune response using a multiplex panel of 30 inflammatory mediators. Mediators that were associated with unfavourable outcomes (Glasgow outcome score-extended [GOS-E]≤4) were used for hierarchical clustering to identify patients with similar signatures. Two clusters were identified in both the discovery and validation cohorts, termed early-inflammatory and pauci-inflammatory. The early-inflammatory phenotype had higher concentrations of interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-15, and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP1). Patients with the early-inflammatory phenotype were older and more likely to have an unfavourable GOS-E at 6 months. There were no differences in the baseline injury severity scores between patients in each phenotype. A combined IL-15 and MCP1 signature identified patients with the early-inflammatory phenotype in both cohorts. Inflammatory processes mediated outcomes in older patients with moderate-severe TBI. Our findings offer a precision medicine approach for future clinical trials of immunomodulation in patients with TBI, by using inflammatory signatures to stratify patients. CENTER-TBI study was supported by the European Union 7th Framework Programme. TRACK-TBI is supported by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.

Evolving intellectual property landscape for AI-driven innovations in the biomedical sector: opportunities in stable IP regime for shared success.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has revolutionized the biomedical sector in advanced diagnosis, treatment, and personalized medicine. While these AI-driven innovations promise vast benefits for patients and service providers, they also raise complex intellectual property (IP) challenges due to the inherent nature of AI technology. In this review, we discussed the multifaceted impact of AI on IP within the biomedical sector, exploring implications in areas like drug research and discovery, personalized medicine, and medical diagnostics. We dissect critical issues surrounding AI inventorship, patent and copyright protection for AI-generated works, data ownership, and licensing. To provide context, we analyzed the current IP legislative landscape in the United States, EU, China, and India, highlighting convergences, divergences, and precedent-setting cases relevant to the biomedical sector. Recognizing the need for harmonization, we reviewed current developments and discussed a way forward. We advocate for a collaborative approach, convening policymakers, clinicians, researchers, industry players, legal professionals, and patient advocates to navigate this dynamic landscape. It will create a stable IP regime and unlock the full potential of AI for enhanced healthcare delivery and improved patient outcomes.

A Scopus-Based Bibliometric Analysis of the Journal of Craniofacial Surgery From 1990 to 2023.

This study aims to conduct a Scopus-based bibliometric analysis of the studies published in the Journal of Craniofacial Surgery, which has a very important place in its field. In this bibliometric study, all articles in the Journal of Craniofacial Surgery in the Scopus database on 7 July 2024 were listed. The information of the listed articles was exported in CSV file format. When exporting these articles, the citation information, bibliographic information, abstract and keywords, funding details, and other information options were all selected. These exported CSV data were analyzed with VOSviewer software (version 1.6.18). The bibliometric analysis of the Journal of Craniofacial Surgery from 1990 to 2023 included 15,271 articles listed in the Scopus database. The majority (84.7%) of these articles were original studies. The top 5 countries with the highest number of publications were the United States (4004 articles), Turkey (2124 articles), China (2111 articles), South Korea (1597 articles), and Italy (1109 articles). This comprehensive bibliometric analysis demonstrates the Journal of Craniofacial Surgery's increasing prominence and impact in the field over the years. The diverse international contributions highlight the journal's role in fostering global collaboration and knowledge dissemination in craniofacial and maxillofacial research. While the use of a single database (Scopus) is a limitation, the study provides a detailed overview of the journal's scholarly contributions, influential authors, and publication trends. These findings underscore the journal's pivotal position in advancing craniofacial surgery research and education.

NeuroBooster Array: A Genome-Wide Genotyping Platform to Study Neurological Disorders Across Diverse Populations.

Commercial genome-wide genotyping arrays have historically neglected coverage of genetic variation across populations. We aimed to create a multi-ancestry genome-wide array that would include a wide range of neuro-specific genetic content to facilitate genetic research in neurological disorders across multiple ancestral groups, fostering diversity and inclusivity in research studies. We developed the Illumina NeuroBooster Array (NBA), a custom high-throughput and cost-effective platform on a backbone of 1,914,934 variants from the Infinium Global Diversity Array and added custom content comprising 95,273 variants associated with more than 70 neurological conditions or traits, and we further tested its performance on more than 2000 patient samples. This novel platform includes approximately 10,000 tagging variants to facilitate imputation and analyses of neurodegenerative disease-related genome-wide association study loci across diverse populations. In this article, we describe NBA's potential as an efficient means for researchers to assess known and novel disease genetic associations in a multi-ancestry framework. The NBA can identify rare genetic variants and accurately impute more than 15 million common variants across populations. Apart from enabling sample prioritization for further whole-genome sequencing studies, we envisage that NBA will play a pivotal role in recruitment for interventional studies in the precision medicine space. From a broader perspective, the NBA serves as a promising means to foster collaborative research endeavors in the field of neurological disorders worldwide. Ultimately, this carefully designed tool is poised to make a substantial contribution to uncovering the genetic etiology underlying these debilitating conditions. © 2024 The Author(s). Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society. This article has been contributed to by U.S. Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.

Global distribution and career outcomes of international fellows trained in Canadian gynecologic oncology programs

ObjectiveWe assessed the global distribution and academic, administrative and research outcomes of international fellows (IFs) trained in Canadian gynecologic oncology (GO) programs. MethodsA web-based survey was sent to IFs who completed GO training in Canada. Using the Web of science database, we identified the publication list, citation record and H-index of IFs and classified them according to their region of practice: high-income countries (HIC), middle income countries (MIC), and low-income countries (LIC). ResultsFrom 1996 to 2020, 81 IFs from 23 countries were trained in English-speaking (62,9%) and French-speaking Canadian universities (37,1%). Most IFs came from HIC (87,6%) and none from LIC. Only 12 IFs (14,8%) are now practicing in Canada. Of the 55 IFs who completed the survey (response rate: 67,9%), the majority (58,2%) reported working in an academic hospital and 29,1% were holding an executive position in a national scholar organization. IFs participated in mentoring residents (96.4 %) and medical students (83,6%) and 36,3% initiated a GO fellowship program in their home country. 67,3% of IFs were involved in international research collaboration and 52,7% participated in international clinical trials. The mean number of publications (22,36 vs 7,75, p = 0.007), citations (369,15 vs 45,12 p = 0.0006) and H-Index (6,88 vs 2,37 p = 0.0001) were significantly higher among IFs working in HIC compared to those in MIC. Most IFs (98,2%) recommended their Canadian GO fellowship program to a colleague from their home country. ConclusionMost IFs trained in Canadian GO fellowship programs returned to their home countries and achieved important milestones in terms of academic, clinical and research accomplishments.

Understanding teacher research: benefits and misconceptions

Teacher research (TR) has various forms such as action research, collaborative action research, exploratory action research, exploratory practice, evaluative research, and lesson study. Teacher research plays a crucial role in enhancing best classroom practices and empowering teachers to continue their professional development. This article defines TR, discusses its common types, its benefits for teacher educators, practitioners, teacher-researchers as well as student-teachers. It also addresses common misconceptions about TR and highlights its importance as an effective CPD activity.

Evidence‐based practices and US state government civil servants: Current use, challenges, and pathways forward

AbstractLeveraging a three‐state survey of 323 civil servants and 36 interviews, representing blue and red states, this university‐government‐nonprofit collaborative research project aims to better understand how civil servants access and use evidence in their decision‐making process. Our findings show that 54% of respondents find evidence‐based practices (EBPs) useful in making budget, policy, and contracting decisions, with 68% of civil servants anticipating future benefits from evidence use. Our hypothetical funding choice experiment indicates that civil servants prefer programs that are more recent and in their state, identify outcomes over outputs, demonstrate effectiveness for diverse demographic groups, and are evaluated by independent research entities. The main challenges in using EBPs include time constraints, resource limitations, decision‐making fragmentation, and lack of evidence for certain communities. Qualitative interviews provide valuable strategies for overcoming these challenges. We conclude this article by offering practical insights for improving the integration of EBPs in state government decision‐making processes.

Application of the Project-Based Learning Model to Increase Students Interest in Learning the Material Between Colonialism and Imperialism in Class XI - 8 SMA Negeri 5 Medan

This research aims to increase the learning interest of students XI - 8 SMA Negeri 5 Medan. This research is Collaborative Class Action Research, carried out in 2 cycles. The sample in this research were students in class XI – 8 odd semester 2024/2025 academic year with 35 students. The data collection techniques used are Observation and documentation. Based on the research results in cycles 1 and 2, students can complete the project assignments given and present them. So, it can be concluded that there was an increase in students' interest in learning from Cycle I and Cycle II by 20% after implementing the Project Learning learning model on the material Between Colonialism and Imperialism.