Research Experience Research Articles

Developing and Gathering Validity Evidence for an Instrument to Measure How High School Students Identify as Researchers

AbstractThe authentic research experience, which provides students with meaningful collaborative research opportunities designed to promote discovery and innovation under the guidance of mentors, is increasing as a way to attract and engage students in STEM fields. However, despite the increase in authentic research experiences offered to students, there has been little research, particularly at the high school level, investigating students’ attitudes about themselves as researchers. To address this need, we developed a theory (or construct) for how high school age students self-identify as researchers and a companion survey to measure their identity. After three iterative development cycles, 823 high school students from diverse backgrounds were administered the 12-item survey, the Researcher Identity Survey—Form G (RISG). The partial credit Rasch model (1960/1980) was used to analyze the survey data. The results indicate that the survey identifies and locates high school age students as researchers validly and reliably along an easy to use and interpret scale. The survey holds promise as an important element for use in programs designed to broaden the entryway for students into the STEM disciplines.

Advanced biology students' individual conceptions of scientific researchers after participating in biomedically relevant CRE.

While undergraduate research has been shown to be a high-impact educational practice, it is logistically impossible for all undergraduate biology majors to have long-term faculty-mentored research experience. Therefore, biology educators and researchers must devise opportunities to engage more students in undergraduate research outside of working directly in their labs. Course-Based Research Experiences (CREs), structured as authentic research experiences, are one such opportunity. In this work, we describe the effects of a CRE with biomedical relevance on students' research skills, attitudes toward science, and perceptions of scientific research and scientific researchers. Results demonstrate that students gained experience in independent research skills including designing their own research project, being accountable for part of a project, and writing a research proposal. Students' perceptions of scientific research and researchers, assessed by the Draw-A-Researcher Task, did not show changes among the whole group, but individual analysis yielded meaningful results related to students' personal changes in how they perceived research and researchers, including their perception of themselves as researchers. This work demonstrates the substantial impact of CREs on upper-level biology undergraduate and graduate students.

Redefining chronic mountain sickness: insights from high-altitude research and clinical experience

Abstract Chronic Mountain Sickness (CMS), characterized by increased red blood cells above average values traditionally attributed to chronic hypobaric hypoxia exposure, is being redefined in light of recent research and clinical experience. We propose a shift in perspective, viewing CMS not as a singular entity but as Poly-erythrocythemia (PEH), as the Hematocrit/Hemoglobin/Red Blood Cells (Ht/Hb/RBCs) increase constitutes a sign, not a disease reflecting a spectrum of oxygen transport alterations in multiple diseases in the chronic hypoxia environment in high-altitude populations. Drawing on over five decades of experience at the High Altitude Pulmonary and Pathology Institute (HAPPI-IPPA) in Bolivia, we advocate for altitude-specific blood parameter norms and emphasize the importance of correct etiological diagnosis for effective management. This updated understanding not only aids in managing chronically hypoxemic patients at various altitudes but also offers valuable insights into global health challenges, including the recovery from COVID-19.

Interplays between relational and instrumental values: insights from research experiences on human–nature relations

AbstractRelational values have become increasingly recognised within the field of social–ecological systems as an innovative and in-depth approach to uncovering the value of human–nature relationships around the world. As an emerging concept within mainstream Western academia, there is still much to learn about the potential challenges of working with relational values and how to navigate them in applied research. Drawing on empirical research from Colombia, Fiji, Germany, Romania and South Africa, this paper explores the key themes which emerged when working with human–nature relationships. We reveal complex interconnections between relational and instrumental values, livelihood practices and power and politics. We conclude by highlighting the importance of acknowledging the fluidity of relational values and their potential to bridge different worldviews and knowledge systems between researchers and communities.

The Development of Personal Letter Material Through Flipbook to Enhance Students Reading Comprehension

In this sophisticated era, the learning process is very minimal using books. Most students are more interested in learning by using applications as learning media, because it is fun and not boring. One of the applications that can be used as learning media is the Flipbook application. This Flipbook application can enter data in the form of images, videos, music, keys, animations, and also links to other sources into one. Based on the researcher's experience while teaching, the researcher found the problem that occurred in students, namely the low interest in reading students in English lessons. This research was conducted to find out whether this Flipbook application can improve students' reading skills in English lessons about personal letters to 11th grade students of PGRI Pekanbaru High School. The researcher took samples in class XI IPS with a total of 32 students. After conducting the research, the researcher found an increase that has been seen from the t-test. The t-test score obtained is 29.62%, while the p-value is 0.000 <0.05. Based on the results of the research, it can be concluded that there is an increase in reading comprehension ability regarding personal letters in grade XI IPS of SMA PGRI Pekanbaru.

Evolutionary computation for unmanned aerial vehicle path planning: a survey

Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) path planning aims to find the optimal flight path from the start point to the destination point for each aerial vehicle. With the rapid development of UAV technology, UAVs are required to tackle missions in increasingly complex environments. Consequently, UAV path planning encounters more challenges, causing traditional deterministic algorithms to struggle to find the optimal path within a certain time. Evolutionary computation (EC) is a series of nature-inspired methodologies and algorithms, which have shown effectiveness and efficiency in solving many complex optimization problems in real-world applications. Recently, EC algorithms have been effectively applied in UAV path planning and have shown encouraging performance in obtaining high-quality solutions. Therefore, it is crucial to review the related research experience and literature in the field of using EC for UAV path planning. This paper presents a comprehensive survey to showcase the existing studies on EC in UAV path planning, especially in complex environments. The paper first proposes a novel taxonomy to categorize the relevant studies into three different categories according to the complex environmental properties of the application scenarios. These environmental properties include complex search space, complex time control, and complex optimization objectives. Then, the EC algorithms for UAV path planning in these complex environments are further systematically surveyed as constrained search space and large-scale search space in complex search space, dynamic UAV path planning and multi-UAV concurrent path planning in complex time control, and expensive objective and multiple objectives in complex optimization objectives. Finally, some potential future research directions for applying EC algorithms to UAV path planning are presented and discussed.

Consumer involvement in health service research: a cross-sectional survey of staff in an Australian public hospital and health service.

ObjectiveConsumer involvement is when patients (their families, friends, and caregivers) work with researchers on research projects. While health services are expected to support consumer-researcher collaborations, conducive environments still need to be developed, with limited research into how Australian health services support this practice. This study explores current consumer involvement in research activity and staff perceptions at an Australian tertiary hospital and health service.MethodsResearch-active employees at a health service were invited to participate in an online cross-sectional survey. It assessed experience with and confidence in involving consumers in research, the perceived value of consumer involvement, and considerations related to challenges, facilitators, and solutions to enhance consumer involvement in health service research.ResultsAmong 83 respondents, including medical, nursing, and allied health professionals, 54 completed the survey. Approximately half had experience with involving consumers in research. Over 80% recognised that involving consumers enhanced research relevance. Identified barriers included challenges in finding (46.6%) and compensating (59.3%) consumers, as well as deficiencies in researcher skills, knowledge (32.2%), and time constraints (39%). Facilitators comprised access to experienced researchers and educational opportunities. Moreover, 87% advocated for increased support to involve consumers within health services, with the appointment of a designated consumer involvement officer deemed the most beneficial solution by 92.5% of respondents.ConclusionsWhile individual barriers inhibit consumer involvement in research, more prominent institutional factors such as financial and technical support may determine successful and meaningful collaborations. As health services evolve towards co-design models in research, the outcomes of this study will guide initiatives aimed at enhancing consumer involvement in the research process within Australian health services.

Application of Machine Learning and Multi-Dimensional Perception in Urban Spatial Quality Evaluation: A Case Study of Shanghai Underground Pedestrian Street

The exploitation of urban subsurface space in urban inventory planning is closely connected to the quality of urban environments. Currently, the construction of underground pedestrian streets is characterised by inefficiency and traffic congestion, making them insufficient for fulfilling the demand for well-designed and human-centred spaces. In the study of spatial quality, traditional evaluation methods, such as satellite remote sensing and street maps, often suffer from low accuracy and slow updating rates, and they frequently overlook human perceptual evaluations. Consequently, there is a pressing need to develop a set of spatial quality evaluation methods incorporating pedestrian perspectives, thereby addressing the neglect of subjective human experiences in spatial quality research. This study first quantifies and clusters the characteristics of underground pedestrian spaces using spatial syntax. It then gathers multidimensional perception data from selected locations and ultimately analyses and predicts the results employing machine learning techniques, specifically Random Forest and XGBoost. The research results indicate variability in pedestrians’ evaluations of spatial quality across different functionally oriented spaces. Key factors influencing these evaluations include Gorgeous, Warm, Good Ventilation, and Flavour indicators. The study proposes a comprehensive and applicable spatial quality evaluation model integrating spatial quantification methods, machine learning algorithms, and multidimensional perception measurements. The development of this model offers valuable scientific guidance for the planning and construction of high-quality urban public spaces.

Equal Ground: Meaningful Collaboration with Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Families of Children with Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities

ABSTRACT Despite increased attention and research during the past three decades, systemic barriers continue to hamper meaningful collaboration between school personnel (e.g. teachers, consultants) and culturally and linguistically diverse families of children with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (I/DD). In this critical review of recent research, we address both the ideal of culturally responsive family-professional partnerships and the frequent reality of persistent systemic barriers, adversarial interactions, and the expectation of advocacy (rather than participation) by families. We highlight the cultural mismatch and inherently hierarchical nature of formal interactions with school personnel. Framed by a life span approach and drawing from our research and first-hand experiences shared as testimonios, we provide descriptive examples and make recommendations for structural change to improve family-school collaboration and outcomes for children with I/DD.

Prehistoric Recycling Explained in a Playful Way: The Pfahlbauten Wimmelbild—An Interactive Digital Mediation Tool Designed by Young People

With the “Talents Internship program” established by the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG, Österreichische Forschungsförderungsgesellschaft), 14- to 17-year-old students from various school types visited the Natural History Museum and the Kuratorium Pfahlbauten in summer 2022 to gain practical experience in research. The internship focused on a sustainability approach, discussing recycling methods, the sustainable use of resources and the circular economy in prehistory. The UNESCO World Heritage “Prehistoric Pile Dwellings around the Alps” was used as a research area for the project. The project also aimed to make the content developed by the students available to the public as a digital media tool. The pupils brought an illustration of a prehistoric lake shore settlement to life and created an interactive image available at the website of Kuratorium Pfahlbauten. Various scenes of the illustration have been augmented with animations created by the students of HTL Spengergasse in Vienna. Students from federal secondary schools from Vienna (Stubenbastei) and Upper Austria (Traun) researched the information about the objects and wrote texts that, as a description of the animated videos, introduce the users to the prehistoric artifact and explain the recycling process behind it. The students worked independently using the scientific literature, 140-year-old inventory books and 6000-year-old objects from the collection of the Natural History Museum Vienna. The activities and the supporting program within the internship were recorded by the students in blog posts, available at the Pfahlbauten-Blog. The co-creative approach of the FFG Talent Internship made it possible to introduce a group of school students to the process of scientific work and the communication of results. It was honored with the Creative App Award at CHNT 2023.

Exercises in ethically engaged work in biological anthropology.

An ethical paradigm shift currently taking place within biological anthropology is pushing scholars to envisage and develop paths toward more ethical futures. Drawing from case studies in our own teaching, research, and fieldwork experience, we reflect on the complex, diverse, and dynamic nature of ethical considerations in our field. We discuss the acquisition and institutional narrative of a human osteological teaching collection at the University of Louisville as an embodiment of structural apathy turned structural violence, and the need for professional guidance in the potential retirement of deceased individuals from our classrooms. In documented collections (i.e., the Robert J. Terry Collection), we share our process and scholarly reemphasis of the humanity of a deceased individual through contextualized analysis (i.e., osteobiography and archival history) and postmortem agentive acts. Lastly, we present an archeological site in the U.S. Virgin Islands, which poses ethical concerns as biocultural bioarcheologists and archeologists attempt to negotiate the possible wishes of the deceased with the cultural value of reconstructing the community's otherwise undocumented past, all amidst the immediate threat of anthropogenic climate change. We offer these exercises and discussion in ethically engaged projects transparently and with an overarching admission that none are models for replication. Rather, at various stages in our careers and engagement with ethics, we acknowledge that progress is worthwhile, albeit challenging, and that proceeding forward collectively as biological anthropologists should be deliberate, reflexive, and compassionate for deceased individuals and their descendant communities, as well as among and between colleagues.

Research Progress and Prospects of “Urban Memory” Renewal Planning Paths — Based on International Comparative Perspective

Urban memory is preserved not only in the collective consciousness of residents but also through tangible and intangible heritage, such as old streets, ancient buildings, and historical sites. Protecting urban memory helps maintain the city’s authentic historical character and enhances its sense of belonging. This paper systematically collects and organizes research materials on urban memory planning from both domestic and international sources, categorizes and analyzes the relevant literature, and reviews the perspectives, content, methods, and planning practices in urban memory research worldwide. By summarizing these research experiences, the paper aims to deepen the understanding of urban memory theory and offer new recommendations for renewal planning practices guided by urban memory.

A case report of plasma exchange in imidacloprid poisoning: A promising therapeutic approach for acute toxicity

Abstract: Imidacloprid, a neonicotinoid insecticide, is commonly used in agricultural and urban settings for pest control. However, its toxic effects on both target and nontarget organisms, including humans, have raised concerns. Imidacloprid poisoning can result in a wide range of symptoms, including neurological, gastrointestinal, and cardiovascular manifestations, and may even be fatal in severe cases. In recent years, plasma exchange has emerged as a potential therapeutic approach in cases of imidacloprid poisoning, with promising outcomes reported in a few published case reports. This article reviews the role of plasma exchange in imidacloprid poisoning, highlighting its mechanism of action, clinical indications, technical aspects, and potential benefits. The article also discusses the current evidence supporting the use of plasma exchange in imidacloprid poisoning, including relevant case reports and studies. While plasma exchange appears to be a promising adjunctive therapy in managing imidacloprid poisoning, further research and clinical experience are needed to establish its effectiveness and safety. This article emphasizes the importance of early recognition and management of imidacloprid poisoning, including considering plasma exchange as a potential treatment modality in severe cases.

BRUSH Summer Research Program: Promoting Science Identity in Underrepresented Veterinary and Undergraduate Students.

While all facets of the health care workforce need to diversify, the veterinary profession lags behind in training students from underrepresented populations. The need to increase diversity among health care professionals is not limited to clinicians but extends to those generating new information through biomedical research. To address demographic disparities within the biomedical research community, we provide a summer research program for veterinary and undergraduate students from populations historically underrepresented in the biomedical workforce that is explicitly designed to foster science identity and subsequently increase participants' interest and success in pursuing biomedical research-related educational and career paths. We hypothesized that participation in this program would enhance science identity, confidence, and pursuit of research-related education and subsequent careers. Three validated survey instruments containing qualitative ordered rating scales were administered to program participants (N = 57) over the course of the summer in which they participated (2018-2022). Questions asked at two time points were analyzed with a repeated-measures linear mixed-effects model. Significant growth was reported in most topics surveyed over time. Many queries within gains, confidence, and science identity modules displayed significant increases over time or scored high in surveys at both time points. In addition, post-graduate educational and career outcomes were obtained for alumni (N = 130) of program years 2011-2023; their post-graduate enrollment rates (78%) markedly exceeded national norms. This multidimensional experiential research program, which holistically fosters professional networking and student confidence in research-related endeavors, provides quantifiable growth in research skills and science identity. These gains support students' persistence in research and biomedical-related educational and career paths.

Research involving the recently deceased: ethics questions that must be answered

Research involving recently deceased humans that are physiologically maintained following declaration of death by neurologic criteria—or ‘research involving the recently deceased’—can fill a translational research gap while reducing harm to...

Researchers as actors: using vignettes to understand how researcher-facilitators negotiate their roles in collaborative research in physical education

ABSTRACT A significant number of studies have shown that collaborative research can enable practitioners to solve practical issues while simultaneously allowing researchers to study the process of change. However, knowledge about the roles of researcher-facilitators and how these role(s) are experienced, is scarce. In this study, we explore how researchers experience and negotiate their role(s) in a collaborative research project working closely with teachers over three years. We draw on theoretical concepts from Goffman, E. [(1959). The presentation of self in everyday life. Doubleday Anchor Book] and Goffman, E. [(1961). Encounters: Two studies in the sociology of interaction. Bobbs-Merril] to better understand how being a researcher can be compared to doing role-playing and performing in the theatre. Guided by an analysis of researchers’ reflective diaries, teacher interviews and data collected from Shut-up-n-write sessions, we represent our findings through three vignettes. In the first vignette, Negotiating and serving multiple roles and unexpected scenarios we discuss how the facilitator takes on and is given, different roles that need to be appropriately performed over the course of a project. In the second vignette, Negotiating emotions front- and backstage, we problematise how the unpredictable nature of collaborations elicits a broad range of emotions that need to be negotiated. In the third vignette, Creating spaces for on-stage performances, we discuss how researchers must sometimes reflect on their performances and address situations that occur in the heat of the moment. Altogether, these three vignettes highlight various aspects of the complexity of being a facilitator, and underscore how the facilitator role is something that needs to be practised and refined over time.

Using a Structured Research Framework to Improve Mentoring Capacity in a Biophysics Research Lab

ABSTRACT Undergraduate research experiences (UREs) cultivate workforce skills, such as critical thinking, project management, and scientific communication. Many UREs in biophysical research have constraints related to limited resources, often resulting in smaller student cohorts, barriers for students entering a research environment, and fewer mentorship opportunities for graduate students. In response to those limitations, we have created a structured URE model that uses an asynchronous training style paired with direct-tiered mentoring delivered by peers, graduate students, and faculty. The adaptive undergraduate research training and experience (AURTE) framework was piloted as part of the Brown Experiential Learning program, a computational biophysics research lab. The program previously demonstrated substantial increases and improvements in the number of students served and skills developed. Here, we discuss the long-term effectiveness of the framework, impacts on graduate and undergraduate students, and efficacy in teaching research skills and computational-based biophysical methods. The longitudinal impact of our structured URE on student outcomes was analyzed by using student exit surveys, interviews, assessments, and 5 years of feedback from alumni. Results indicate high levels of student retention in research compared with university-wide metrics. Also, student feedback emphasizes how tiered mentoring enhanced research skill retention, while allowing graduate mentors to develop mentorship and workforce skills to expedite research. Responses from alumni affirm that workforce-ready skills (communicating science, data management, and scientific writing) acquired in the program persisted and were used in postgraduate careers. The framework reinforces the importance of establishing, iterating, and evaluating a structured URE framework to foster student success in biophysical research, while promoting mentorship skill training for graduate students. Future work will explore the adaptability of the framework in wet lab environments and probe the potential of AURTE in broader educational contexts.

Evaluation of a Multi-Site Cancer Health Disparities Research Training Program for Underrepresented Undergraduate and Medical Students.

Diversifying the biomedical research workforce is crucial for eliminating cancer health disparities. To address this need, Moffitt Cancer Center and Louisiana State University Health Sciences formed the Southeast Partnership for Improving Research and Training in Cancer Health Disparities (SPIRIT-CHD). A key component of SPIRIT-CHD is the Cancer Research Education Program (CREP), designed to train underrepresented undergraduate and medical students in biomedical science research. The CREP featured an 8-week summer internship with a web-based curriculum, community outreach, and mentored research experiences. Three cohorts (n = 39) completed the CREP. Students were evaluated before and after the internship using the Goal Attainment Scale (GAS), Science Teaching Efficacy Belief Instrument (STEBI), and Research Appraisal Inventory (RAI), modified to assess CREP outcomes. These scales measured students' intentions to pursue cancer research careers, self-efficacy in communicating scientific information, and perceived research abilities. Paired test results showed significant increases (p < 0.001) in scores across the scales (GAS, STEBI, RAI) pre- and post-training. Trainees reported heightened intentions to pursue cancer research careers (GAS; mean increase of 5.3, p < 0.001) and greater self-efficacy in relaying scientific information (STEBI; mean increase of 9.2, p < 0.001). They also showed increased self-confidence in conducting research (RAI; mean increase of 58.2, p < 0.001). These findings demonstrate the program's success in fostering interest in cancer research careers and enhancing research confidence. Results support the development of programs like CREP to positively impact the academic and professional trajectories of underrepresented students, ultimately creating a more diverse and inclusive biomedical research workforce equipped to address health disparities.

Nationwide Survey to Characterize and Compare the Research Experiences of American Society of Health-System Pharmacists-Accredited Postgraduate Year One Pharmacy Residency Programs.

Background: Many Postgraduate Year One (PGY1) Pharmacy residencies provide research training however, details of this training are not well described. Publication rates have been utilized to assess residency research learning experiences. Higher publication rates have been reported by programs that have implemented a structured research learning experience. Objective: The primary objective was to identify differences in the research learning experiences for American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) accredited PGY1 Pharmacy residencies with reported resident publication rates of ≥20% vs <20%. Methods: This survey was distributed to PGY1 Pharmacy residency program directors (RPDs). Seven sections were analyzed to identify research learning experience differences between programs with reported publication rates of ≥20% vs <20%: (1) program characteristics/research outcomes; (2) involved individuals; (3) requirements; (4) learning experience structure; (5) educational methods; (6) formal education; (7) barriers/RPD perceptions. Variables with P < 0.05 on logistic regression were considered statistically significant. Results: The survey response rate was 31.3% (308/984). Significant positive predictors for reported publication rates of ≥20% were: involved individuals: research director/coordinator, individuals trained in statistics, non-pharmacy medical staff; requirements: Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative training, research seminars/training courses, research manuscript; learning experience structure: research committee; educational methods: didactic residency-led lectures/courses, formal workshops, self-taught online modules; and formal education: manuscript preparation. Conclusion: This study suggests there are differences in the research learning experiences at PGY1 Pharmacy residencies with reported resident publications rates of ≥20% vs <20%. We encourage PGY1 Pharmacy residency programs to consider implementing elements associated with reported resident publication rates of ≥20%.

Специализированные топографические карты: становление, тенденции развития научного направления, технология создания

The prerequisites for dividing topographic maps and plans into basic and specialized ones are highlighted. The trends of specialized maps improvement as a scientific direction of topographic mapping influenced by accumulated experience of production work and scientific research were established. Increasing relevance and demand for making specialized maps of environment-forming objects with great natural and ecological potential is shown. The concept of 'type of specialized maps' is substantiated; it determined the structure and sequence of map-making technological stages. A technology for mapping environmental protection is proposed using the example of wetlands with unique biospheric functions. Its specific features at different stages of the process are revealed