Development Status Research Articles

Green Supply Chain Technology Innovation and Enterprise Synergy in the Context of Sustainable Development: Challenges and Strategie

This study explores the synergistic development between technological innovation and enterprises in green logistics supply chains from the sustainable development perspective. The study first introduces the latest progress of China's environmental policies and technological innovation and analyses the importance and necessity of green logistics supply chain management. Subsequently, through case studies and theoretical research, this paper discusses the policies and regulations of green supply chain management, collaborative management among enterprises, and the development path of technological innovation. It further analyses the contents of policies and regulations, enterprise collaboration management, and technological innovation in green logistics supply chain management. It proposes strategies and suggestions to solve problems by combining cases and theories. Finally, this study summarises the development status of green logistics supply chain management. It looks forward to future development trends, emphasizing that more enterprises should strengthen cooperation to jointly promote green logistics supply chains, environmental protection, and sustainable economic and social development.

Research on the Development Path of Rural E-Commerce in Supporting Rural Revitalization

With the rapid development of information technology, rural e-commerce is playing an increasingly important role in promoting rural economic growth, increasing farmers' incomes, and driving rural revitalization. This paper begins by defining rural e-commerce and analyzing its characteristics, current development status both domestically and internationally, and exploring the close connection between e-commerce and rural revitalization. By investigating multiple development paths through which rural e-commerce supports rural revitalization-including industrial structure optimization, market expansion for agricultural products, development of rural human resources, and improvement of information infrastructure—this paper reveals the critical role of rural e-commerce in achieving the goals of rural revitalization. Additionally, it presents relevant policy recommendations and solutions to the challenges faced by rural e-commerce development while forecasting future trends in rural e-commerce.

Development Status, Challenges, and Countermeasures in the 'Smooth Trade' Mode of China's Belt and Road Initiative

The "the Belt and Road" is a bridge and link connecting economic and trade exchanges between Asia, Africa and Europe. It concerns billions of people around the world. It is also one of the largest comprehensive development planning projects in the big world. In 2013, the General Secretary put forth the vision of collaboratively building the “Belt and Road” Initiative. Over the ensuing 11 years, this concept has transitioned from being a mere idea to being actively implemented, evolving from broad strokes into intricate details. It grounded in the principles of joint consultation, contribution, and shared benefits, has forged friendly cooperation with numerous nations. This paper delves into the current developmental progress of the “unimpeded trade,” “financial connectivity,” aspects within this Initiative. By examining their practical applications in exemplary collaboration cases, we seek to identify underlying challenges and offer well-considered strategies, thereby laying a theoretical foundation for future cooperative endeavors.

Exploring carbon footprints and carbon intensities of Indonesian provinces in a domestic and global context

Within Indonesia, the structure of consumption and production differs significantly across provinces. This implies that carbon footprints and intensities between provinces are also diverse. This paper calculates historical consumption- and production-based carbon emissions at the provincial level using a multi-scale input-output (IO) database for 2010, in which an environmentally extended multi-regional IO (EE MRIO) table for 34 Indonesian provinces is integrated in the global EE MRIO EXIOBASE with data for 43 countries and 5 rest of the world regions. Emissions from consumption are detailed by product and their points of origin, while emissions from production are detailed by industry and their destinations. Our results show the heterogeneity of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions under both sides. The Java region is a net importer of carbon emission, while Sumatra and Kalimantan are net exporters. In the global context, the Asia Pacific region plays important role in national GHG emissions. Services product contributed 57.1% of national consumption-based GHG emissions, followed by manufacture (30.6%), and agriculture (12.3%). On the national level, 63.5% of national GHG emissions are related to household consumption. There is a high disparity across provinces in Indonesia in carbon footprints. Provincial average per capita carbon footprints vary from 2 t CO2e/capita in East Nusa Tenggara to 13.84 t CO2e/capita in East Kalimantan. Carbon intensity also varies from 0.83 kt CO2e/M Euro in Jakarta to 2.37 kt CO2e/M Euro in North Kalimantan. Agriculture and food products dominate household carbon footprints, while construction leads in government carbon footprints. Utilities and transportation services play important roles on national carbon intensities. We further correlated the Human Development Index (HDI) with per capita carbon footprints and expenditure, and find that provinces with similar GHG emissions and expenditure per capita income as Java, tend to have a lower HDI. Understanding development status and province-level characteristics is important for selecting policy strategies.

Development status and challenges of anti-spoofing technology of GNSS/INS integrated navigation

The threat of spoofing interference has posed a severe challenge to the security application of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS). It is particularly urgent and critical to carry out in-depth defense research on spoofing interference. When combined with the inertial navigation system (INS), the GNSS/INS integrated navigation system offers distinct advantages in the field of anti-spoofing technology research, which has garnered significant attention in recent years. To summarize the current research achievements of GNSS/INS integrated navigation anti-spoofing technology, it is necessary to provide an overview of the three core technical aspects of spoofing attack principles and implementation strategies, spoofing detection, and spoofing mitigation. First, the principles and implementation strategies of spoofing interference attacks are introduced, and different classifications of spoofing interference attacks are given. Then, the performance characteristics and technical points of different spoofing detection and spoofing mitigation methods are compared and analyzed, and the shortcomings and challenges in the current development of GNSS/INS anti-spoofing technology are pointed out. Finally, based on the summary and shortcomings of the existing technology, a prospect for the future development of GNSS/INS integrated navigation anti-spoofing technology is discussed.

Assessing your Observatory’s Impact: Best Practices in Establishing and Maintaining Observatory Bibliographies

Observatories need to measure and evaluate the scientific output and overall impact of their facilities. An observatory bibliography consists of the papers published using that observatory’s data, typically gathered by searching the major journals for relevant keywords. Recently, the volume of literature and methods by which the publications pool is evaluated has increased. Efficient and standardized procedures are necessary to assign meaningful metadata; enable user-friendly retrieval; and provide the opportunity to derive reports, statistics, and visualizations to impart a deeper understanding of the research output. In 2021, a group of observatory bibliographers from around the world convened online to continue the discussions presented in Lagerstrom (2015). We worked to extract general guidelines from our experiences, techniques, and lessons learnt. The paper explores the development, application, and current status of telescope bibliographies and future trends. This paper briefly describes the methodologies employed in constructing databases, along with the various bibliometric techniques used to analyze and interpret them. We explain reasons for non-standardization and why it is essential for each observatory to identify metadata and metrics that are meaningful for them; caution the (over-)use of comparisons among facilities that are, ultimately, not comparable through bibliometrics; and highlight the benefits of telescope bibliographies, both for researchers within the astronomical community and for stakeholders beyond the specific observatories. There is tremendous diversity in the ways bibliographers track publications and maintain databases, due to parameters such as resources, type of observatory, historical practices, and reporting requirements to funders and outside agencies. However, there are also common sets of Best Practices.

Pre- and Postnatal Vitamin A Deficiency Impairs Motor Skills without a Consistent Effect on Trace Mineral Status in Young Mice

Pregnant women and children are vulnerable to vitamin A deficiency (VAD), which is often compounded by concurrent deficiencies in other micronutrients, particularly iron and zinc, in developing countries. The study investigated the effects of early-life VAD on motor and cognitive development and trace mineral status in a mouse model. C57BL/6J dams were fed either a vitamin A-adequate (VR) or -deficient (VD) diet across two consecutive gestations and lactations. Offspring from both gestations (G1 and G2) continued the same diets until 6 or 9 weeks of age. Behavioral assays were conducted to evaluate motor coordination, grip strength, spatial cognition, and anxiety. Hepatic trace minerals were analyzed. A VD diet depleted hepatic retinoids and reduced plasma retinol across all ages and gestations. Retracted rear legs and abnormal gait were the most common clinical manifestations observed in VD offspring from both gestations at 9 weeks. Poor performance on the Rotarod test further confirmed their motor dysfunction. VAD didn’t affect hemoglobin levels and had no consistent effect on hepatic trace mineral concentrations. These findings highlight the critical role of vitamin A in motor development. There was no clear evidence that VAD alters the risk of iron deficiency anemia or trace minerals.

From Patents to Progress: Unraveling Gout's Journey Through Clinical Trials and Advancements.

Gout, an inflammatory arthritis form, is renowned for its historical association with affluence. This review delves into its pathophysiology, exploring hyperuricemia, urate crystal formation, and the ensuing inflammatory response. The epidemiology of gout is examined, focusing on its rising prevalence and impact on public health. In this study, progress in gout management is discussed, involving pharmacological interventions, dietary changes, and emerging therapies. Genetic predisposition and triggers like alcohol, temperature, and diet are highlighted in this study. Prevention strategies, including serum urate-lowering therapy and lifestyle modifications, aim to reduce recurrent flares and complications. The inflammatory response in acute gout attacks is elucidated, involving immune cells, cytokines, and the NLRP3 inflammasome. Chronic gout manifestations, such as gouty tophus formation, are explored for their destructive impact on surrounding tissues. Recent advancements in gout treatment, including nanotherapies and novel compounds, are discussed, along with promising urate-lowering drugs. Cutting-edge research on zinc ferrite nanoparticles, dimethyl fumarate, and myricetin/nobiletin hybrids addresses oxidative stress and inflammation in gout. Additionally, the potential therapeutic role of methanolic leaf extract of Euphorbia milii and tip-loaded CLC-Soluplus® MAPs is explored as natural and transdermal alternatives for gout management. The review also covers the development status of new urate-lowering drugs, providing insights into promising candidates and their mechanisms. Patents on gout and recent diagnostic advancements using techniques like laser confocal micro Raman spectrometer, FTIR, and THz-TDS offer a more accurate approach for gout stone analysis, enabling early detection and targeted treatment.

Ionomer and Membrane Designs for Low-Temperature CO2 and CO Electrolysis.

Low-temperature electroreduction of CO2 and CO (CO(2)RR) into valuable chemicals and fuels offers a promising pathway to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and achieve carbon neutrality. Today's low-temperature CO(2)RR technology relies on the use of ionomers, polymers with ionized groups, primarily as catalyst layer (CL) additives. In the meantime, ionomers can assemble into ion-exchange membranes (IEMs), serving as important components of electrolyzers. According to the ion-exchange functions, ionomer additives are classified as cation-exchange ionomers (CEIs) and anion-exchange ionomers (AEIs); similarly, IEMs are divided into cation-exchange membranes (CEMs) and anion-exchange membranes (AEMs), as well as the multilayer polymer electrolytes (MPEs). Recent studies show that ionomer additives can regulate the catalytic microenvironment and thereby enhance performance towards desired products. This Review discusses the roles of ionomer additives and IEMs in CO2 and CO reduction reactions, highlighting the latest mechanistic insights and performance advances. It outlines challenges in designing ionomer additives and IEMs to improve product selectivity, energy efficiency (EE), and operational lifetime of CO(2)RR electrolyzers, while also providing perspectives on future research directions. The aim is to connect the current status of ionomer and membrane development with performance metrics analysis, offering insights for the advancement of commercially relevant low-temperature CO(2)RR electrolyzers.

Research on the Development of Piano Education Based on Bibliometric and Visualization Analysis

This paper aims to employ bibliometrics and visualization analysis to investigate the current development status and research hotspots in the field of piano education. The literature data is obtained from the Web of Science Core Collection database, analyzing publication years, core journals, courtiers/regions distribution, keyword co-occurrence maps, and highly cited papers in this research area. The results indicate that the number of relevant publications began rapidly growing in 2015. The United States and China are identified as the core countries for publications; however, the level of international collaboration remains relatively low. Major research hotspots include the innovative application of artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented reality (AR) technologies in piano education, online education, cross-cultural education, etc.

A comprehensive index for assessing the sustainable blue economy: A Japanese application

The sustainable blue economy is crucial for coastal regions. It not only fosters economic development along the coastlines but also reduces their impact on marine environments and ecosystems. This will be a significant economic growth point for coastal areas in future decades. However, comprehensive research on assessing the blue economy is currently limited; existing evaluation methods are few and may not be applicable to all contexts. This study introduces the Blue Economy Index (BEI), a novel framework for evaluating the sustainable blue economy, and applies it in Japan's 39 coastal prefectures. Grounded in multi-dimensional analysis, the BEI includes four sectors: Ocean Resources and Marine Industry, Environmental and Ecological Sustainability, Socio-Economic Stability, and Risk Management. Utilizing Japan's prefectural data and addressing regional disparities, the index applies four weighting scenarios—Equalitarianism, Preservationist, Sustainable Use, and Extractive Use—to reflect different developmental strategies. The result indicates a significant imbalance in blue economy development across prefectures, with leading regions like Hokkaido, Tokyo, and Okinawa vastly outpacing others such as Ibaraki and Tottori. Additionally, the development status in 39 coastal prefectures in Japan demonstrates the cluster phenomenon and exhibits a '2 high, 3 middle, 1 low' development pattern, which comprises two extraordinary clusters and four distinctive clusters. We propose to implement zonal management for Japan's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and establish a National Ocean Agency. Promoting committee-based regional management, provide corresponding subsidies to enhance capacity building. Additionally, and drive the digital transformation in the marine sector through quantifiable indicators as BEI. The study underscores the necessity for improving current policy and regulation, as well as promoting inter-prefectural collaboration to boost the development of the blue economy. The BEI's comprehensive approach offers an example of global sustainable blue economy assessments. Policymakers and stakeholders in other countries can flexibly use and adjust the BEI method to conduct appropriate regional assessments and develop quantifiable strategies to improve the potential of marine sectors.

Prophylaxis of respiratory syncytial virus infection: current status and prospects for vaccine development

INTRODUCTION. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is one of the most widespread pathogens that typically cause acute upper and lower respiratory tract infections in children and adults. Monoclonal antibody products have long been used for passive immunoprophylaxis in premature infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia. However, vaccines have recently been licensed for the prophylactic immunisation of older adults with various risk factors for severe RSV infection (primarily, chronic cardiovascular and respiratory diseases and diabetes mellitus).AIM. This study aimed to review the current status of the development of vaccines for active immunisation against RSV infection, including the epidemiological rationale for their development, clinical trial results for licensed vaccines, recommendations for vaccination, and promising pipeline vaccines for RSV prevention.DISCUSSION. Initially hindered by the unique immunopathogenesis of RSV infection and the genetic hypervariability of RSV for a long time, attempts to develop an RSV vaccine succeeded when international researchers managed to identify a conservative neutralising antibody target capable of inducing specific immunity against RSV. This target, the RSV capsid protein stabilised in its prefusion (pre-F) conformation, can mediate viral entry into the cell following a conformational change. Several subunit vaccines based on recombinant pre-F proteins have successfully passed clinical trials and have been approved for the immunisation of older adults. In addition, one of these vaccines has been recommended for use during pregnancy to prevent RSV infection in newborns and infants. Currently, programmes are being implemented to develop novel RSV vaccines based on messenger RNA (mRNA) and non-replicating attenuated influenza vectors. This article examines and summarises the efficacy and safety parameters of two RSV vaccines approved in multiple countries around the world. Both vaccines have satisfactory safety profiles and comparable prophylactic efficacy parameters.CONCLUSIONS. Prelicensure clinical trials of novel RSV vaccines, including those being developed in the Russian Federation, should include prophylactic efficacy assessments in target patient populations. For vaccines approved by leading international regulators, clinical trials required for approval in the Russian Federation will be limited to bridging studies confirming the immunogenicity and safety of the vaccines.

Strong versus weak sustainable development in the blue economy: a study of 15 EU coastal countries

One of the European Union’s environmental and sustainable development objectives is to achieve sustainable marine development, combining the objectives of ocean health and the blue economy. Developing, implementing, and monitoring marine policies requires information on the status and evolution of marine development at the country level, including the extent to which strong sustainable development (i.e., balanced development across socio-economic and environmental dimensions) is being achieved. Here, we provide a comprehensive assessment of progress towards marine development for 15 European Union coastal countries in the Baltic, North, and Atlantic Seas, covering the period 2012–2022 and using information from Sustainable Development Goal 14 to derive our indicator framework. We show that the EU is achieving sustainable marine development, but not comprehensively in all countries. While seven countries achieved sustainable development under both weak and strong sustainability, seven countries developed only under weak sustainability, and one country made no progress under either concept.

Sugarcane Response to Two Different Application Methods of Nano-Iron and Nano-Zinc

AbstractThere are many publications over the past 20 years comparing nano-nutrients with their traditional forms. Differently, this study examined the effect of applying nano-Fe and nano-Zn—in two different ways (foliar and soil application)—on sugarcane development, yield, and mineral status using a greenhouse experiment at the National Research Centre. The study results of first yield (plant cane crop) showed that nano-Fe caused an increase in plant height, number of leaves, fresh weight (FW) of leaves, FW of stalk, and total FW by 5.3%, 20.3%, 38.0%, 27.4%, and 33.3%, respectively, compared to nano-Zn. Despite the majority of growth metrics showed to be improved by using either of the two nano-sources, both nano-Fe and nano-Zn have been demonstrated to negatively impact nutrient ratios. The foliar application method was found to be superior, and the second application of nano-Zn to soil effectively halted the growth of all treated replicates. The data of the first ratoon (second yield) showed that FW of leaves, FW of stalk, total FW, and dried weight (DW) of stalk followed one trend line (nano-Fe–soil > control-foliar (sprayed distilled water) > nano-Zn-foliar > nano-Fe-foliar > control-soil (distilled water added to soil)). In conclusion it can be noticed that using nanoparticles as a fertilizer could be a weapon with double-edges, since this may induce unexpected harmful effects. It is recommended to conduct additional research to comprehend the mechanisms underlying why a nano-source that benefits plants may harm them after the second addition.

Research on Innovation Mechanism and Realization Path of Carbon Finance under the Goal of “Double Carbon”

On a global scale, climate change has become a serious problem that cannot be ignored. Carbon finance, as a key means to deal with climate change and promote sustainable development, is gradually receiving attention from the international community. The innovation of financial technology (Fintech) has injected new vitality into traditional financial business, and also brought new opportunities and challenges to the development of carbon finance. Starting from the basic concept of carbon finance, this paper reviews the current development status of carbon finance, analyzes the promotion role of financial technology to the development of carbon finance, and on this basis, looks forward to the future development path of the combination of financial technology and carbon finance.

Efficiency evaluation of electricity demand prediction models in lower-income countries: a case study of panama

Abstract Electricity plays a crucial role in the development of countries, serving as the foundation for the functioning of modern societies and as a key indicator of a nation’s level of modernization and overall strength. Predicting a country’s electricity demand provides valuable insights into the evolving patterns of electrical energy provision and usage and helps to improve the flexibility of the energy distribution network. In addition, it provides early warnings and decision support for governments, businesses, and individuals about future electricity consumption. This plays a pivotal function in optimizing power distribution, adjusting the proportion of power generation sources, and ensuring a continuous and secure electricity supply. This paper uses the example of electricity demand in Panama and uses the LSTM model and Prophet model to compare their predictions for electricity demand in lower-income countries, with the aim of improving accuracy. Furthermore, it introduces a data set representing the electricity demand of higher-income countries, using the United Kingdom as a representative, to compare the forecast results between the two countries. The results indicate that within the Panama data set, the Prophet model exhibits better accuracy than the LSTM model. On the contrary, in the data set representing higher-income countries with the United Kingdom as a representative, the LSTM model outperforms the Prophet model. This leads to the conclusion that the selection of a predictive model is specific to each country, influenced by factors such as development status, geographic location, policies, energy markets, and more. A specific model may not be universally applicable due to these unique conditions, requiring tailored-modeling approaches for precise and efficient allocation and scheduling of electricity resources. This approach ensures the improvement of residents’ living standards and quality of life while meeting the typical demands of a country’s economic and social development.

Microbes: Drivers of Chenpi manufacturing, biotransformation, and physiological effects

Chenpi holds a rich history of both edible and medicinal applications worldwide, garnering increased attention from researchers in recent years due to its diverse physiological effects. While current research predominantly explores its chemical composition and physiological effects, there remains a notable gap in knowledge concerning its manufacturing, characteristic chemical substances, and the underlying mechanisms driving its physiological effects. This paper encompasses a systematic review of the effects of microbes on the manufacturing, biotransformation, and physiological effects of Chenpi, as well as the present status of product development. Furthermore, the paper engages in an in-depth discussion highlighting the challenges and shortcomings in recent research, while proposing potential directions and prospects. Additionally, this review marks the first attempt to critically evaluate the claim that Chenpi is “The longer the aging, the better the quality” from a scientific standpoint, which provides a solid theoretical foundation for advancing the Chenpi industry.

Longitudinal follow-up of hearing, speech, and language skills in 6-year-old children with congenital moderate hearing loss

ObjectivesChildren born with moderate hearing loss present with speech and language outcomes at both ends of the spectrum. To explore reasons for this, the objective of this study was to follow up a group of children born with moderate sensorineural hearing loss at 6 years of age (n=7) by investigating their outcomes in hearing, speech, and language development from time point of hearing aid fitting at 6 months. Another objective was to investigate the relationship between earlier outcomes on precursing variables to the current status in auditory, speech and language development. MethodEarlier data from a project with the same participants of auditory variables, speech, and language development were compared to the current study outcomes at 6 years of age. Children in this study performed standardized tests of phonology (SVANTE), expressive vocabulary (BNT), and speech-in-noise test (Hagerman´s sentences). Parents reported on their child´s functional auditory performance in everyday life (PEACH), and demographics and general development (questionnaire). Etiology and frequency of speech and language-directed intervention from time point of diagnosis to 6 years of age were collected through medical journals. ResultsHearing levels were stable over time in all children but one, who had received bilateral cochlear implants. Performance on speech-in-noise testing varied in aided condition (-0.8 to 8, mean 2.65, SD 3.09) and unaided condition (7.2 dB to 21.2 dB, mean 12.06, SD 4.82). Scores on the PEACH indicated further review in four of the seven children. Mean group score on consonant proficiency had increased from 3 to 6 years of age and were within age norms. Vocabulary scores were below the norms of children with typical hearing. Outcomes on vocabulary measures at 2.5 years years showed strong correlations that were significant to scores on the BNT at 6 years of age (r = 0.87, p = 0.05). Correlations between hours of hearing aid use and vocabulary was not significant at 6 years of age. The frequency of intervention sessions in the first 6 years varied between participants (4 to 55, mean 19.1, SD 17.1). ConclusionDespite homogeneous hearing and other background variables in the participants from birth, large individual variations in speech and language outcomes at 6 years of age were found. Considering the many factors involved that impact the development of children with moderate hearing loss, the results suggest that monitoring early precursors in auditory, speech and language development may be helpful in setting commensurate goals for each child. Detecting additional conditions that may pose challenges in future speech and language as early as possible is important. There is ample room for improvement in terms of increasing the frequency of intervention for children with moderate hearing loss and their families.

The L-type calcium channel CaV1.3: A potential target for cancer therapy.

Cancer remains a prominent cause to life expectancy, and targeted cancer therapy stands as a pivotal approach in contemporary therapy. Calcium (Ca2+) signalling plays a multifaceted role in cancer progression, such as proliferation, invasion and distant metastasis. Otherwise, it also exerts an important influence on the efficacy of clinical treatment, including cancer therapy resistance. In this review we discuss the role of the L-type calcium channel CaV1.3 (calcium voltage-gated channel subunit alpha1 D) in different types of cancers, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target for certain cancer types. The development of selective blockers of the CaV1.3 channel has been of great interest and is expected to be a new option for the treatment of cancers such as prostate cancer and endometrial cancer. We present the pharmacological properties of CaV1.3 and the current status of selective blocker development, and analyse the challenges and possible directions for breakthroughs in the development of tailored medicines.

The development and status of self-evaluation as a component of school inspection and quality assurance: A comparison across four countries

Objective and rationaleThe increasing prominence of school self-evaluation (SSE) as a pivotal element in global quality assurance practices is attributed to its cost-effectiveness, relevance to school contexts, empowerment of schools in managing and leading the school self-evaluation processes and holding them accountable for achievement standards. This paper aims to explore various approaches and SSE practices through the evolution and current status of school self-evaluation within the realms of school inspection and quality assurance in Dubai, Ireland, New Zealand and Pakistan. The paper emphasises a comparative perspective to showcase SSE models from these countries as pioneering initiatives for quality assurance in educational improvement, especially for nations where SSE practices are still evolving. MethodsThis study employs literature review, document analysis, and semi-structured interviews with school leaders (n = 32) to offer insights into current school self-evaluation practices in these four countries through a comparative analysis. These methods were chosen in line with the specific aims and research questions of the paper which are to provide an overview from the research literature of the development and current status of SSE as an element of school evaluation in each country studied. To analyse, compare and contrast policy in the area in each case and to obtain, through interviews, rich deep data and findings on the attitude and opinions of key personnel in each country on SSE as a policy and practice. ResultsSchool self-evaluation (of varying types) is being built into each school evaluation system and becoming an integral part of inspection and quality assurance, and it is argued here, broadly moving along a similar spectrum in each case. However, for now, SSE practices are different in all four countries, usually due to the stage of development of the school inspection system and, above all, the overall structure of their respective educational landscapes— that is to say, whether it is a centralised, controlled and hierarchical education system or a decentralised and autonomous system. ConclusionThe study suggests that it is possible to integrate school self-evaluation into a wide range of educational systems and philosophies, eventually leading to educational improvement in any country following the case study countries discussed as models.