Development Paradigm Research Articles

Affinity spaces

This poster (Padlet ‘Collaborative reflection on AI’) showcases a professional development approach that uses Padlet as an affinity space (Gee, 2004; Honeychurch, 2023) for educators to collaboratively explore and reflect on their experiences with Generative AI (GenAI) in education. Following Vallor’s distinction between ease of creation (a key affordance of AI) and challenges of creative expression (a solely human capacity), we found that Padlet was an accessible tool for creating virtual affinity spaces, and that the Padlet format offers a visual representation of a collaborative method of co-creating that ASCILITE attendees can interact with, using a range of multimodal creation tools, including AI-based features available in Padlet (image creator, text-to-speech, and a poll creator). This poster may function as a catalyst for conference attendees to reflect on their own position in this rapidly developing space, and as a model of practice that educators can adapt to their own contexts to design GenAI-integrated learning experiences. Educators need novel ways to make sense of the changing nature of education with GenAI (Vallis et al., 2023) and advance both research and practice in technology-enabled learning. Drawing on a paradigm for academic development that is centred on the notions of construction and co-construction as a process of learning (Pimmer et al., 2016, p. 495), this inquiry used Padlet to provide an affinity space for this sense-making. Affinity spaces differ from communities of practice in having a flat hierarchy instead of a periphery of less experienced practitioners around a core of experts; people enter an affinity space as interactants (“affines”), rather than members (Gee, 2005). In this inquiry, a Padlet provides a “portal” (Calder et al., 2021, p. 448) to an affinity space, a space where contributors who have varying levels of (GenAI) expertise can bond around a shared endeavour (for a comparable use of Padlet to house a ‘thinktank’ for a scholarly project in teaching and learning, see Coleman, 2023). The Padlet serves as both an interactive platform for educators to engage with various perspectives on generative AI in higher education and a model for future learning activities. The aim is to facilitate knowledge sharing and community building around GenAI in education: as Timperley (2008, p.19) states, “participation in a professional community with one’s colleagues is an integral part of professional learning that impacts positively on students”. The collaborative aspect of this inquiry sparked conversations, introduced collaborators to new tools, and stimulated reflection. It encouraged a patchwork of contributions in a variety of formats to provoke more perspectives. It allowed expression of sociotechnical imaginaries about GenAI (Costello, 2024; Dishon, 2024), including themes of “overwhelm to excitement”; “creative potential to concerns of control”; and perceptions of GenAI from “uncanny to real”, and demonstrated that sharing creative practices in a virtual space allows educators to develop new knowledge about their experiences, concerns, and insights about integrating AI into their educational practices.

From national park to cultural park an Algerian experience

The status of National park was adopted in Algeria in 1921, during French colonisation, within the framework of the forestry law in force. It was renewed as is, after 1962 by independent Algeria and placed under the supervision of the Ministry of Agriculture, in its general forestry directorate. In 1983, it was redefined in the first national law on the environment, then, from 2011, in that of protected areas, within the framework of sustainable development. All Algerian national parks are created under the forestry regime and agricultural administration, with the exception of a single case where they are attached to the cultural sector: that of Tassili and Ahaggar, both located in the extreme south of the Sahara, including the Tuareg customary domain of Kel Ajjer and Kel Ahaggar. A particular case, linked to the process of administrative construction of the Saharan space. It is following the adoption of paradigm of sustainable development and a new law on the protection of cultural heritage , that this particularism has disappeared, with the introduction of a new legal category of protection, called “parc culturel”, based on the principle of “indissociability” between culture and nature, an innovative notion which has not yet acquired the conceptual force necessary to achieve the required stabilization and social appropriation, hence the difficulty of its translation into operational tools.

Preparation of Higher Education Students in Ecuador: An Analysis Based on the Knowledge Economy

The knowledge economy has emerged as a key paradigm in global socioeconomic development, highlighting the importance of higher education in the formation of human capital capable of generating, applying and disseminating innovative knowledge. This study aims to evaluate the preparation of higher education students in Ecuador, considering critical variables such as soft skills, perception of the knowledge economy, university-business linkage and internationalization, and their impact on academic training. The methodology employed was quantitative, using a multiple linear regression model to analyze the relationship between the independent variables and the academic formation of a sample of 205 students from two Ecuadorian universities. Advanced statistical techniques were applied to evaluate the significance and impact of each variable. The results indicate that soft skills (r = 0.713, p < 0.01), perception of the knowledge economy (r = 0.602, p < 0.01) and internationalization (r = 0.594, p < 0.01) have a significant and positive impact on academic training. However, university-business linkage showed a lower and non-significant correlation (r = 0.407, p < 0.01). In conclusion, academic training in Ecuador benefits significantly from the development of soft skills, a positive perception of the knowledge economy and internationalization. However, the lack of significant impact of university-business linkages suggests the need for future studies to explore barriers and improve these collaborations. These findings underscore the importance of educational policies that integrate these factors to improve the preparation of students in a global knowledge economy. Received: 16 June 2024 / Accepted: 30 October 2024 / Published: 05 November 2024

Belief Formation: A Cultural Evolutionary Lens

This paper investigates changes in belief and their evolution in relation to the paradigm of cultural evolution. It underlines the interaction of the environmental factor with the social dynamic. The model proposed herein is extremely widespread and involves the creation, maintenance, and diffusion of beliefs that afford a perspective on how such processes influence individual and collective psychological constructs. By synthesizing theories in the fields of biology, anthropology, and psychology, this research will argue that cultural evolution is one key mechanism able to explain both diversity and variability in human belief. The examination suggests that beliefs cannot be cast solely as some sort of passive variant of personal cognition; instead, they are actively generated by cultural dynamics and social learning techniques such as imitation and instruction. It is a book that places more emphasis on the role of political ideology in accepting scientific evidence and shows how directed reasoning leads to the perpetuation of noxious beliefs. It then investigates transfer biases supporting the reproduction of cultural traits across successive generations, hence affecting social structure and any effort of cooperation. This may lead to a nuanced grasp of how beliefs can be advantageous or disastrous, considering the prevailing social structures and ecology within which they live. Based on the wealth of research regarding under what circumstances beliefs arise and spread, this paper examines from a critical perspective psychological processes of belief systems and what they might portend for human behavior and social organization.

Ambiguous AI: Lossy Compression, Model Collapse, and Intercultural Sensitivity

This paper examines the intersections of artificial intelligence (AI), cultural representation, and intercultural sensitivity, critiquing the impact of lossy compression and model collapse on cultural expression in AI systems. The study introduces “intentional patiency” as an alternative framework, conceptualizing AI not merely as an active agent but as a cultural receptor, and in turn, producer. AI systems often rely on compression algorithms that strip away cultural complexities, rendering nuanced traditions as simplified, stereotypical artifacts. Drawing on frameworks from Ted Chiang’s metaphor of lossy compression to Wendy Chun’s critique of noise, the essay explores how AI’s data optimization selectively filters cultural diversity, perpetuating dominant narratives while silencing marginalized voices. Model collapse in generative systems demonstrates while also exacertabting the pitfalls of homogenous data to reduce cultural representations to monolithic “single stories,” echoing concerns raised by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. To address this issue, this essay advocates for an interculturally sensitive AI development paradigm, incorporating cultural expansion and ethical safeguards to mitigate cultural erasure. Through the concept of “ambiguous AI,” a paradigm rooted in probabilistic engagement and intentional patiency, the essay seeks to reframe AI’s role as a nuanced participant in cultural discourse, promoting culturally adaptive architectures.

Ambient Moisture-Induced Self Alignment of Polarization in Ferroelectric Hafnia.

The discovery of nanoscale ferroelectricity in hafnia (HfO2) has paved the way for next generation high-density, non-volatile devices. Although the surface conditions of nanoscale HfO2 present one of the fundamental mechanism origins, the impact of external environment on HfO2 ferroelectricity remains unknown. In this study, the deleterious effect of ambient moisture is examined on the stability of ferroelectricity using Hf0.5Zr0.5O2 (HZO) films as a model system. It is found that the development of an intrinsic electric field due to the adsorption of atmospheric water molecules onto the film's surface significantly impairs the properties of domain retention and polarization stability. Nonetheless, vacuum heating efficiently counteracts the adverse effects of water adsorption, which restores the symmetric electrical characteristics and polarization stability. This work furnishes a novel perspective on previous extensive studies, demonstrating significant impact of surface water on HfO2-based ferroelectrics, and establishes the design paradigm for the future evolution of HfO2-based multifunctional electronic devices.

Spatial Pattern Analysis of Rural Development Success Rates Based on the New Rural Development Paradigm (NRDP) Indicators: A Case Study of Cimenyan District

Spatial Pattern Analysis of Rural Development Success Rates Based on the New Rural Development Paradigm (NRDP) Indicators: A Case Study of Cimenyan District

Il progetto di paesaggio come teatro di coesistenza tra specie. Parc Martin-Luther-King a Parigi

Landscape architecture plays a crucial role in defining new paradigms for urban development, capable of implementing environmental quality and favouring biodiversity. In this sense, Parc Martin-Luther-King in Paris constitutes a sophisticated device with a high ecological value as well as a surprising catalyst of social aggregation, able of regenerating the urban area of Clichy-Batignolles. The articulate plant palette, the use of water in several forms and the application of differentiated management regimes help defining a collection of heterogeneous ecosystems where various forms of controlled interaction between human and non-human users are configured. The strong spatial dynamism and ecological variety favour the coexistence of different species, allowing the park to accommodate spaces for biodiversity alongside a rich functional programme.

Passive accumulation of alkaloids in inconspicuously colored frogs refines the evolutionary paradigm of acquired chemical defenses.

Comprender los orígenes de fenotipos novedosos y complejos es un objetivo central en biología evolutiva. Las ranas venenosas de la familia Dendrobatidae han desarrollado una novedosa habilidad para adquirir alcaloides de su dieta como defensas químicas, al menos tres veces. Sin embargo, el muestreo de taxones en busca de alcaloides ha estado sesgado hacia las especies coloridas, sin prestar atención similar a las poco conspicuas que a menudo se presume, no tienen defensas. Como resultado, nuestra comprensión de cómo evolucionan las defensas químicas en este grupo es incompleta. Aquí, proporcionamos nuevos datos que muestran que, en contraste con estudios anteriores, las especies de cada clado de ranas venenosas no defendidas tienen cantidades bajas pero cuantificables de alcaloides. Confirmamos que los dendrobátidos no defendidos consumen regularmente ácaros y hormigas, que son fuentes conocidas de alcaloides. Por lo tanto, nuestros datos sugieren que la dieta es insuficiente para explicar el fenotipo defendido. Nuestros datos respaldan la existencia de un fenotipo intermedio entre consumo y secuestro de toxinas (acumulación pasiva), que difiere del secuestro en que no implica formas derivadas de mecanismos de transporte y almacenamiento, pero da lugar a bajos niveles de acumulación de toxinas. Discutimos el concepto de acumulación pasiva y su potencial rol en el origen de defensas químicas en ranas venenosas y otros organismos que secuestran toxinas. Considerando ideas de farmacocinética, incorporamos datos nuevos y antiguos de ranas venenosas dentro de un modelo evolutivo que podría ayudar a explicar los orígenes de defensas químicas adquiridas en animales, y proporcionar una visión de los procesos moleculares que regulan el destino de las toxinas ingeridas.

Test Case Automation: Transforming Software Testing in the Digital Era

Purpose: This research aims to explore the limitations of manual software testing, the effectiveness of test case automation in addressing these challenges, and the strategies for successful implementation of automation. It also examines the broader impact of adopting test automation on the quality, speed, and efficiency of software delivery. Methodology: The study investigates the challenges of manual testing in agile and DevOps environments and explores the role of automation as a solution. By analyzing various automation tools, frameworks, and best practices, the research provides insights into successful implementation strategies for test case automation. Additionally, it reviews the associated benefits and potential challenges organizations may face when transitioning to automated testing. Findings: Test case automation significantly mitigates the shortcomings of manual testing, particularly in fast-paced development cycles. The findings reveal that automation not only enhances the quality of software by catching defects earlier but also accelerates the testing process, improving overall efficiency. However, the study also identifies challenges, such as the initial investment in tools and skills required for automation, as well as the ongoing need for maintenance of automated test cases. Unique Contribution to Theory, Policy and Practice: This research contributes to the theoretical understanding of software testing (Tom Badgett, Corey Sandler & Glenford J. Myers, 2011) by highlighting the essential role of automation in modern software development methodologies like agile and DevOps. It bridges the gap between traditional manual testing and contemporary automated practices, providing a framework for understanding how automation fits within these rapid development paradigms. In practice, the study encourages organizations to adopt test case automation as a critical policy for improving the quality and speed of software delivery. It offers practical insights into the implementation of automation, including tool selection, training, and process integration, which can guide companies in transitioning to automated testing. Additionally, it highlights the long-term benefits of automation, making it a valuable policy consideration for organizations aiming to optimize their development and testing processes.

New approaches to standard of care in early-phase myeloproliferative neoplasms: can interferon-α alter the natural history of the disease?

The classical BCR::ABL-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) include Polycythemia Vera (PV), Essential Thrombocytemia (ET), and Primary Myelofibrosis (PMF). They are acquired clonal disorders of the hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) leading to hyperplasia of one or several myeloid lineages. MPN are caused by three main recurrent mutations, JAK2V617F and mutations in the calreticulin (CALR) and the thrombopoietin receptor (MPL) genes. Here, we review the general diagnosis, the complications, and the management of MPN. Second, we explain the physiopathology of the natural disease development and its regulation, which contributes to MPN heterogeneity. Thirdly, we describe the new paradigm of the MPN development highlighting the early origin of driver mutations decades before the onset of symptoms and the consequence on early detection of MPN cases in the general population for early diagnosis and better medical management. Finally, we present the interferon alpha (IFNα) therapy as a potential early disease-modifying drug after reporting its good hematological and molecular efficacies in ET, PV and early MF in clinical trials as well as its mechanism of action in pre-clinical studies. As a result, we may expect that, in the future, MPN patients will be diagnosed very early during the course of disease and that new selective therapies under development, such as IFNα, JAK2V617F inhibitors and CALRmut monoclonal antibodies, would be able to intercept the mutated clones.

Social Inclusion for People with Intellectual Disability and on the Autism Spectrum through Assistive Technologies: Current Needs and Future Priorities

Context Contemporary technologies, such as mainstream and specialised Assistive Technologies (ATs), are seen as effective. However, there is a noticeable gap between technological progress and the ability to customise these technologies to meet the unique needs and characteristics of neurodivergent individuals, particularly those on the Autism Spectrum and people with Intellectual Disability (pwID). Purpose The goal of this study is to investigate the present requirements and future priorities acknowledged by specialists in the field regarding the progress of social inclusion for this population, making use of ATs. Methods and results A qualitative survey involving 24 international experts, and its respective thematic analysis reveals challenges in social inclusion, emphasizing communication and physical accessibility, awareness gaps, and stigma. Concurrently, issues surrounding ATs include limited access, insufficient training, and a lack of awareness and skills, with individuals, and families being inadequately involved. Conclusion and implications The study proposes strategies for overcoming these challenges, with a focus on accessibility, awareness, skills, family involvement, and customization. Identified research needs encompass scientific development, inclusive approaches, and changes in technological development paradigms.

Machine Learning Applications in Salesforce CPQ Transforming Sales

This paper aims to understand the innovative disposals of machine learning applications on Salesforce Configure, Price, Quote (CPQ) applications more precisely how these innovations are revolutionizing software development. Salesforce CPQ is an ideal solution for organizations that want a modern tool to help them with their sales processes, and adding machine learning elements significantly improves the system. For example, the study analyses different cases where and how machine learning algorithm is utilised in the application of the following areas: pricing strategy, product configuration and sales forecasting. Upon collection of historical data, machine learning models are able to make computations of patterns that enables businesses to make quick analysis of the best strategies to use in an offer of various prices to the customers in an effort to enhance customer satisfaction. Furthermore, the application of I/A in the context of CPQ decreases the time engaged in manual configurations, liberating software development teams to work on other priorities essentially. These difficulties and strategies are enumerated in the paper: data quality issues and the impossibility of the Machine learning successful implementation without cooperation with other departments, specifically with Salesforce CPQ teams. In addition, it shares its vision on the tendencies in application of machine learning in CPQ systems with reference to software development paradigms. Finally, the scope of this research is as follows: The study will examine how the utilization of machine learning applications in Salesforce CPQ has changed traditional software development practices in today’s dynamic market environment by increasing efficiency and accuracy effectively, improving competitiveness within the market.

Software codesign between end users and developers to enhance utility for biodiversity conservation

Abstract Creating software tools that address the needs of a wide range of decision-makers requires the inclusion of differing perspectives throughout the development process. Software tools for biodiversity conservation often fall short in this regard, partly because broad decision-maker needs may exceed the toolkits of single research groups or even institutions. We show that participatory, collaborative codesign enhances the utility of software tools for better decision-making in biodiversity conservation planning, as demonstrated by our experiences developing a set of integrated tools in Colombia. Specifically, we undertook an interdisciplinary, multi-institutional collaboration of ecological modelers, software engineers, and a diverse profile of potential end users, including decision-makers, conservation practitioners, and biodiversity experts. We leveraged and modified common paradigms of software production, including codesign and agile development, to facilitate collaboration through all stages (including conceptualization, development, testing, and feedback) to ensure the accessibility and applicability of the new tools to inform decision-making for biodiversity conservation planning.

Current constraints to reconcile tropical forest restoration and bioeconomy

AbstractLarge-scale forest restoration is vital for delivering a broad array of ecosystem services benefits to society. However, it is often perceived as an economically noncompetitive land use choice. Integrating economic opportunities into restoration aligns socioeconomic and environmental goals, reducing conflicts between forest production and conservation-oriented management decisions. Supply chains focusing on high-value goods can enhance the reach of forest restoration efforts and unite ecological and economic benefits in a multifunctional manner. The bioeconomy has emerged as a potential but critical driver for attracting investments in restoration. We outline the challenges and solutions to reconcile forest restoration and bioeconomy, specifically about (i) native timber production, (ii) non-timber forest products, (iii) biotechnological products, and (iv) intangible ecosystem services. This requires collaborative and multidisciplinary efforts to improve investment in large-scale projects. The intricacies of these issues intersect with research development, market dynamics, legal frameworks, and regulatory paradigms, underscoring the necessity for nuanced and tailored public policy interventions. These integrated approaches should enable tropical countries to lead the global forest-based economy and usher in a new era of forest restoration. Graphical abstract

Building on the successes of patient-focused drug development: a call for new policies to maintain momentum.

Since its commencement as part of the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) V in 2012, patient-focused drug development (PFDD) has become an integral part of the drug development paradigm. FDA encourages the development and use of Patient-Experience Data (PED) as it provides important information on the patients' needs and perspectives and inform regulatory decision-making. While the FDA is required to fill out a table which includes a list of various types of Patient Experience Data (PED) and if such data was reviewed by FDA as part of a drug application, there is still a need to understand how FDA uses PED in its regulatory decision-making. This article examines whether new policies are needed to ensure the full potential of PFDD.

APPROACHES TO DEFINING THE SOCIOECONOMIC PARADIGM AS A CONCEPTUAL MODEL OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

The relevance of the topic is linked to the fact that socialization remains a global trend in economic development. However, in the context of the VUCA and BANI world, the task is not only to recognize changes and adapt to shifting circumstances, but also to make rational decisions, set new goals, and apply new algorithms. In such conditions, the socio-economic paradigm acts as a conceptual model of economic development. It represents a paradigmatic framework for studying socio-economic processes through the application of methodological approaches from disciplines such as economic sociology, economic theory, economic psychology, institutional economics, behavioral economics, and others. Therefore, the task of clarifying its content becomes relevant. The aim of the article is to identify and characterize the conceptual foundations of the socio-economic paradigm and the methodological approaches to its substantiation. The article outlines the content of the socio-economic paradigm as a conceptual model of economic development. It describes its substantive premises, reveals the cause-and-effect relationships between economic and social processes, defines the methodological approaches for studying and comparing socio-economics with other paradigms of economic development, and highlights the need to study the degree of influence of social sciences on the economy and the economy on social processes. It is proven that the economic version of socio-economics assumes that the social sphere, as well as various social processes, not only affect the economy but are also dependent on it, and this dependence requires economic evaluation. Socio-economics represents a scientific field that studies the patterns of modern economic life in the context of moral imperatives and criteria of social justice. The object of socio-economics is defined as economic activity carried out at different territorial and organizational levels, while its subject is economic relations regulated by moral and ethical requirements, attitudes, and prescriptions.

Unveiling the role of the state in Istanbul’s urban transformation: Insights from Galataport redevelopment

In recent decades, the redevelopment of waterfronts in global cities has become a focal point for large-scale real estate investments, often driven by neoliberal policies. These projects, characterized by the increasing involvement of state agencies, aim to transform obsolete industrial areas into lucrative spaces for tourism, commerce, and luxury living. This article scrutinizes the intricate dynamics of state-led waterfront re-development, through the lens of Istanbul’s Galataport project. It analyzes the multifaceted dimensions of the transformation process, shedding light on the historical backdrop, socio-political underpinnings, and economic imperatives that have shaped the development of Galataport from 2002 to 2022. Through a comprehensive analysis of primary sources, including governmental reports, policy documents, and scholarly literature, the article accentuates the pivotal role of the state and state actors in orchestrating the transformation of Istanbul’s urban landscape. Furthermore, it examines the implications of the Galataport project on urban governance and socio-cultural and spatial dynamics. It concludes that the central government pursued a speculative entrepreneurial approach in the Galataport project, clearing various legal obstacles while neglecting public interest. This case study takes the first step towards a comprehensive critical re-evaluation of the recent urban development/governance model to contribute to a nuanced understanding of contemporary urban/waterfront development paradigms in Türkiye and similar geographies.

The Power of Words in Agile vs. Waterfall Development: Written Communication in Hybrid Software Teams

Software development is constantly evolving, adapting to emerging technologies and development paradigms while leveraging advancements in communication technologies and work modes. We conduct an exploratory case study in a large software organization to investigate how the development paradigm and the formality of communication channels affect written communication within hybrid teams. We perform statistical and content analysis of written conversations from 20 projects involving two software products that use industry adaptations of the Waterfall model and of Scrum, respectively. We found that in agile-developed projects, communication related to the execution-monitoring-control phase of the Project Management Life Cycle is more prevalent, and communication related to the initiation phase occurs more frequently in informal channels. For both project types, communication primarily pertains to the software construction phase of the Software Development Life Cycle. After annotating communication contents using speech acts, representatives are found to be prevalent in informal channels for agile-developed projects, directives are more prevalent in informal channels for waterfall-developed projects, and expressives are more frequent in informal channels for both project types. We provide empirical evidence that development paradigms and communication channel formality impact written communication, with agile-developed projects showing more collaborative interactions in informal channels compared to waterfall-developed projects.Editor’s note: Open Science material was validated by the Journal of Systems and Software Open Science Board.

NEXUS BETWEEN THE ABSENCE OF A SOCIAL COMPACT, SOCIETAL POLARIZATION AND ITS IMPACT ON SERVICE DELIVERY IN SOUTH AFRICAN LOCAL GOVERNMENT

South Africa, a nation marked by profound disparities, is deeply entrenched in the painful historical legacies of its past. The discourse on socio-economic transformation has been ongoing since the African National Congress (ANC) came into power in 1994, aiming to foster a social compact and reconcile the polarized society. Despite these efforts, black communities continue to face discrimination in service delivery. Daily reports of protests in impoverished, predominantly black communities emphasize the absence of a social compact in South Africa. This paper, primarily conceptual in nature and relying on secondary data, seeks to explore the nexus between the absence of a social compact, societal polarization, and its impact on service delivery in South African local government. It contends that addressing issues of poor service delivery, public protests and anti-government sentiment must start with acknowledging the absence of a social compact. This recognition should serve as the foundation for pursuing new paradigms for effective development and good governance practices at the local government level. The findings of this study suggest that the absence of a social compact is not only a result of human actions but also reflects structural issues. This absence exacerbates societal divisions, erodes trust in governance structures and hampers collaborative efforts crucial for effective service provision. Furthermore, societal polarization compounds challenges related to resource allocation and perpetuates disparities in service access, particularly impacting marginalized communities. In conclusion, the paper proposes policy recommendations aimed at fostering social cohesion, addressing structural inequalities, and promoting inclusive governance practices.