External Research Research Articles

External affairs and trusted family businesses: A research agenda

In the past two decades, the Journal of Public Affairs has solidified corporate public affairs as a legitimate leadership skillset vital to driving future business growth. Yet, more work at a persistently overlooked gap in the Journal, the intersection of public affairs and family businesses, might shed new light on thriving, trusted, and sustainable business practices. This paper examines the unique contributions of family businesses as trusted influencers. As one of the most prominent forms of business, worldwide, family businesses persistently enjoy unusually high levels of public trust while collectively employing millions of wage earners yet their contributions to corporate external affairs research ostensibly have been largely overlooked. These “silent” community and social influencers offer a potentially new perspective on effective public outreach given their persistent and unique trust advantage. Family business' trust‐based capabilities can potentially bring new insights to understanding effective stakeholder engagement, credible communications, and issues management—the sweet spot of corporate public affairs functions. Future research opportunities based on relational‐ and locational‐ advantages of trusted family businesses are identified.

국내 농촌 이주민의 사회통합을 위한 국·내외 연구 동향 분석 - 계량서지학적 방법론을 중심으로 -

This study aimed to understand the driver change of recent research in relation to rural and migrant and draw overarching issues as well as to provide implications to contribute to migrants’ social integration in Korean rural areas. As for the scope and method of the study, data through quantitative bibliographic analysis (quantitative data) and research keywords by period were derived. To address the aim this study employed bibliometric analysis utilising netwok mapping interface analysis by VOSviewer and topic modeling analysis by Netminer. The findings were revealed that firstly mental health issues in abroad research and employment and discrimination in domestic research both derived from migrant mobility constituted staple key issues, secondly internal and external research differed two issues in health and violence where Korea has overlooked the issues seriously. Therefore this study presented implications which are about first, health and violence-related sections for migrants should be specified into domestic law, second domestic-focused MIPEX index should be developed in which the two issues are over-weighted and last such newly emerging approach ‘inclusive formation of social psychological mechanisms should be widely spread. Concluding remark is that delivering the implications can be foster to migrants’ integration in rural area underlining that this will ultimately contribute to migrants’ quality of life.

Transforming Primary Care: Developing Health Precincts as Models for Sustainable Integrated Community-Based Healthcare

Holistic healthcare precincts are an emerging service model to address the growing health service demands of ageing consumers and an increasing prevalence of chronic diseases. In Australia and similar countries with universal publicly funded Medicare systems, the first point of access to healthcare is provided by general medical practitioners. This case report focuses on successful components of a private, integrated, patient-centred primary care model located in a low socioeconomic population in North Brisbane, Queensland. Successful components included a focus on sustainability, general practice as an anchor tenant in the health precinct, the integration of multiple services, team-based care for shared clinical services, flexible expansion options, the use of MedTech, support for small businesses and a cluster structure. The Morayfield Health Precinct (MHP) offers appropriate, safe and individualised healthcare to residents across their life continuum. Its success was built on a foundation of pre-planning, to ensure the design/build, anchor tenant and collaborative ecosystem were sustainable in the long term. MHP planning was based on an adaptation of the WHO-IPCC framework supporting true patient-centred, integrated care. Its shared vision and collaborative care are supported by its internal governance structure, tenant selection, established and emerging referral networks and partnerships. Evidence-based and informed care is further supported by internal and external research and education partnerships.

Comparison of the LigaSure™ bipolar vessel sealer to monopolar electrocoagulation for thoracoscopic lobectomy and lymphadenectomy: a prospective randomized controlled trial

BackgroundHigh-energy devices allow better vessel sealing compared with monopolar electrocautery and could improve the outcomes of surgical operations. The objective of the study was to compare tissue dissection by the LigaSure™ device with that by monopolar electrocoagulation for thoracoscopic lobectomy and lymphadenectomy.MethodsThis pragmatic, parallel group, prospective randomized controlled trial was funded by the Medtronic External Research Program (ISR-2016–10,756) and registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03125798). The study included patients aged 18 years or older, who had undergone thoracoscopic lobectomy with lymphadenectomy at the Department of Thoracic Surgery of Poznan University of Medical Sciences between May 3, 2018, and November 4, 2021. Using simple randomization, the patients were assigned to undergo tissue dissection with either the LigaSure device (study group) or monopolar electrocautery (control group). Participants and care givers, except operating surgeons, were blinded to group assignment. The primary outcome was postoperative chest drainage volume. Secondary outcomes were change of the esophageal temperature during subcarinal lymphadenectomy and C-reactive protein level 72 h after surgery.ResultsStudy outcomes were analyzed in 107 patients in each group. We found no differences between the study and control groups in terms of chest drainage volume (550 vs. 600 mL, respectively; p = 0.315), changes in esophageal temperature (− 0.1 °C vs. − 0.1 °C, respectively; p = 0.784), and C-reactive protein levels (72.8 vs. 70.8 mg/L, respectively; p = 0.503). The mean numbers of lymph nodes removed were 12.9 (SD: 3.1; 95% CI, 12.4 to 13.5) in the study group and 11.6 (SD: 3.2; 95% CI, 11.0 to 12.2) in the control group (p < 0.001).ConclusionsThe use of the LigaSure device did not allow to decrease the chest drainage volume, local thermal spread, and systemic inflammatory response. The number of lymph nodes removed was higher in patients operated with the LigaSure device, which indicated better quality of lymphadenectomy.

Increasing impact of quantitative methods and modeling in establishment of bioequivalence and characterization of drug delivery.

Increasing impact of quantitative methods and modeling in establishment of bioequivalence and characterization of drug delivery.

Determinants of union strategies towards the twin digital and green transitions in the German and Belgian automotive industry

This article examines union strategies towards the twin digital and green transitions, comparing the German and Belgian automotive industries. The drive towards net-zero and more digital economies is manifested through the move from fossil fuel-powered cars to electric cars, engendering a reorganisation of production, work and employment among car manufacturers. We identified two strategic union response patterns. While German unions are developing proactive strategies and proposals to influence and shape the ongoing transition of the automotive industry, Belgian unions are more passive, reacting primarily to management proposals and focusing narrowly on employment and working conditions without a broader strategy on how to influence the transformation of the automotive industry. We explain the observed cross-national differences by two factors: the importance of national institutions, i.e., the varying integration of labour into management decision-making, and the role of union knowledge regimes. The latter refers to internal union organisations and structures such as research departments, research institutes and foundations tasked with providing own research and funding external research on change topics from a union perspective, publishing studies and developing programmatic agendas, and disseminating the knowledge to union members through training, workshops and conferences.

Raising the value of research studies in psychological science by increasing the credibility of research reports: the transparent Psi project.

The low reproducibility rate in social sciences has produced hesitation among researchers in accepting published findings at their face value. Despite the advent of initiatives to increase transparency in research reporting, the field is still lacking tools to verify the credibility of research reports. In the present paper, we describe methodologies that let researchers craft highly credible research and allow their peers to verify this credibility. We demonstrate the application of these methods in a multi-laboratory replication of Bem's Experiment 1 (Bem 2011 J. Pers. Soc. Psychol. 100, 407-425. (doi:10.1037/a0021524)) on extrasensory perception (ESP), which was co-designed by a consensus panel including both proponents and opponents of Bem's original hypothesis. In the study we applied direct data deposition in combination with born-open data and real-time research reports to extend transparency to protocol delivery and data collection. We also used piloting, checklists, laboratory logs and video-documented trial sessions to ascertain as-intended protocol delivery, and external research auditors to monitor research integrity. We found 49.89% successful guesses, while Bem reported 53.07% success rate, with the chance level being 50%. Thus, Bem's findings were not replicated in our study. In the paper, we discuss the implementation, feasibility and perceived usefulness of the credibility-enhancing methodologies used throughout the project.

Proposed Solution of Operational Strategy to Improve Coal Production: A Case Study of Sambarata Mine Operation

PT. Berau Coal is one of the largest coal companies in Indonesia and Sambarata Mine Operation (SMO) is one of the concession areas of PT. Berau Coal. In 2022, the government approved Annual Work Plan and Budget (RKAB) for company’s coal production of 33,000,000 tons However, based on production parameters, Berau Coal is only able to accommodate as much as 26,000,000 tons. The purpose of this study is to identify and analyze operational strategies that could impact coal production in the Sambarata Mine Operation with the current production parameter plan, that suitable for current and future conditions, and determine the implementation plan and strategy performance indicator of the strategy. According to external research analysis, coal prices will remain high in 2022, the global economic recovery will lead to an increase in coal demand, and external parties will have a significant impact on the coal industry. The internal resources of the Sambarata Mine Operation show that there are huge additional coal reserves to improve coal production with support from engineers and contractors. The findings are, the SO and WO strategies are consistent with the economic situation, which predicts that the global economy's recovery will result in high prices and increased demand. The ST and WT strategies are consistent with the global coal industry condition, in which external parties will have a significant impact on the coal industry, requiring PT. Berau Coal must plan for the worst-case scenario. The strategy will be implemented by prioritizing the strategy with the greatest impact on increasing coal production while also being the easiest to implement. In general, the indicator of the strategy's performance will be measured by the actual production in the Sambarata Mine Operation and refer to the actual global economic condition in 2022 and the coal industry demand, especially in the Chinese market.

Evolution of Ecotourism in Coastal Indigenous Communities: Comparison of the Case Studies of La Ventanilla and La Escobilla in Oaxaca, Mexico

The state of Oaxaca is one of the most economically depressed in Mexico, and this has been recently aggravated by various geopolitical and ecological events that make the lives of its inhabitants even more precarious. There is a strong interest in accelerating the state’s development with sustainable alternatives. Within the neighbouring communities of La Ventanilla and La Escobilla in the Coast of Oaxaca, the promotion of the protection and productive use of sea turtles through ecotourism has been introduced. However, the two communities have observed different socio-economic development rates. This article aims to analyse these two case studies and why La Ventanilla has made ecotourism its livelihood, whereas, in La Escobilla, it has been a source of problems. The objective is, therefore, to analyse the evolution of their ecotourism initiatives and draw a comparison between both communities to understand the differences. This objective was evaluated through surveys, expert observation, and subsequent SWOT analyses (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats). In the next step, TOWS Optimum Strategic Alternative matrices were created to establish strategies for future proposals. The authors found a clear disparity between the two communities in terms of Strengths—La Ventanilla is 55% higher than La Escobilla— and Weaknesses—La Escobilla is 43% higher than La Ventanilla. The possible suggested causes could be “sanctuary status”, “urban planning”, “different origins of the problems”, “diversification of the ecotourism product”, and “external focus”. Consequently, community empowerment, sustainable urban planning, the creation of a diversification plan for ecotourism activities, or a dissemination strategy, in addition to project proposals with external research organisations and NGOs, are considered essential strategies for the success of the ecotourism plan and thus for the sustainable development and conservation of sea turtles.

Weak Homegrown Research Proves an Obstacle to Middle East Security

Developing an effective security architecture for the Middle East region is a complex problem that is facilitated by the production of pertinent scholarly research. Homegrown research is especially important, as it is more likely to feature the requisite nuanced understanding of local issues than is external research. Based on a small dataset, this paper makes the suggestive argument that at present, the academic literature on Middle East security is dominated by external research, and the limited volume of homegrown research is of lower quality than that produced externally. This state of affairs constitutes an obstacle to the formulation of a sustainable and effective Middle East security architecture. Consequently, policymakers should consider ways of boosting homegrown research on Middle East security.

T1 Map-Based Radiomics for Prediction of Left Ventricular Reverse Remodeling in Patients With Nonischemic Dilated Cardiomyopathy.

This study aimed to develop and validate models using radiomics features on a native T1 map from cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) to predict left ventricular reverse remodeling (LVRR) in patients with nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (NIDCM). Data from 274 patients with NIDCM who underwent CMR imaging with T1 mapping at Severance Hospital between April 2012 and December 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. Radiomic features were extracted from the native T1 maps. LVRR was determined using echocardiography performed ≥ 180 days after the CMR. The radiomics score was generated using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator logistic regression models. Clinical, clinical + late gadolinium enhancement (LGE), clinical + radiomics, and clinical + LGE + radiomics models were built using a logistic regression method to predict LVRR. For internal validation of the result, bootstrap validation with 1000 resampling iterations was performed, and the optimism-corrected area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was computed. Model performance was compared using AUC with the DeLong test and bootstrap. Among 274 patients, 123 (44.9%) were classified as LVRR-positive and 151 (55.1%) as LVRR-negative. The optimism-corrected AUC of the radiomics model in internal validation with bootstrapping was 0.753 (95% CI, 0.698-0.813). The clinical + radiomics model revealed a higher optimism-corrected AUC than that of the clinical + LGE model (0.794 vs. 0.716; difference, 0.078 [99% CI, 0.003-0.151]). The clinical + LGE + radiomics model significantly improved the prediction of LVRR compared with the clinical + LGE model (optimism-corrected AUC of 0.811 vs. 0.716; difference, 0.095 [99% CI, 0.022-0.139]). The radiomic characteristics extracted from a non-enhanced T1 map may improve the prediction of LVRR and offer added value over traditional LGE in patients with NIDCM. Additional external validation research is required.

A Bibliometric analysis of tourism discourse research articles published between 2012 and 2021

Bibliometric article analysis is considered to be important in tourism as a outcome of external research quality evaluation, the demonstration of prestige and influence rate, and also study for further development. A bibliometric article review may be applied to different type of publication, yet the main focus is on journals. Working on the mixed judicious use of literature review and bibliometric and content analysis, we examined a sample of 1268 studies by their year, country, affiliation and their source from the Scopus database on the subject of ‘tourism discourse’ between 2012 and 2021 which aims to define the dominating trends and find out the prevailing and prestigious articles in the given period of time. During the research, multiple methods of literature review and bibliometric analysis are applied including keyword analysis, descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. We identify the most influential authors and articles based on their publications and citations. Additionally, we also present potential directions for further research.

Wisdom of Worthy for Madhesh Province

The GS WOW: Wisdom of worthy research journal, published from Gaurishanker Campus, Nijgadh, is a valuable platform for sharing knowledge and experiences, promoting development, addressing challenges, and fostering economic growth in Madhesh Province and the globe at large. The commitment to continuous improvement and the focus on providing high-quality education at an affordable cost make it a preferred choice for higher education in Nepal and the surrounding area. The journal's emphasis on wisdom and worthy research can contribute to the economic growth of Madhesh Province by promoting industrial expansion, agricultural development, and the creation of employment opportunities. The proposed Second International Airport in Nijgadh and ongoing Tarai Fast Track are promising developments that are expected to enhance connectivity and play a pivotal role in the economic development of the province and the country as a whole. The journal's focus on research activities, academic industry discourse, and conferences can facilitate collaboration between students, faculty members, and external research organizations, promoting research activities at the college. The GS WOW: Wisdom of Worthy research journal holds great significance for the overall growth of Madhesh Province. By promoting development, addressing challenges, fostering economic growth, and promoting tourism and cultural development, the journal can play a crucial role in shaping the future of Madhesh Province and the world at large and contributing to the prosperity of its people. Hope you join your hands in creating history. Keyword: Madhesh, Opportunity, worthy, action, Acknowledgment

Risk of primary osteoporosis score (RPOPs): an algorithm model for primary osteoporosis risk assessment in grass-roots hospital

BackgroundThis study aimed to develop and validate a lasso regression algorithm model which was established by correlation factors of bone mineral density (BMD) and could be accurately predicted a high-risk population of primary osteoporosis (POP). It provides a rapid, economical and acceptable early screening method for osteoporosis in grass-roots hospitals.MethodsWe collected 120 subjects from primary osteoporosis screening population in Zhejiang Quhua Hospital between May 2021 and November 2021 who were divided into three groups (normal, osteopenia and osteoporosis) according to the BMD T-score. The levels of three micro-RNAs in the plasma of these people were detected and assessed by qRT-PCR. At the same time, the levels of β-CTX and t-P1NP in serum of the three groups were determined. Based on the cluster random sampling method, 84 subjects (84/120, 70%) were selected as the training set and the rest were the test set. Lasso regression was used to screen characteristic variables and establish an algorithm model to evaluate the population at high risk of POP which was evaluated and tested in an independent test cohort. The feature variable screening process was used 10-fold cross validation to find the optimal lambda.ResultsThe osteoporosis risk score was established in the training set: Risk of primary osteoporosis score (RPOPs) = -0.1497785 + 2.52Age − 0.19miR21 + 0.35miR182 + 0.17β-CTx. The sensitivity, precision and accuracy of RPOPs in an independent test cohort were 79.17%, 82.61% and 75%, respectively. The AUC in the test set was 0.80. Some risk factors have a significant impact on the abnormal bone mass of the subjects. These risk factors were female (p = 0.00013), older than 55 (p < 2.2e-16) and BMI < 24 (p = 0.0091) who should pay more attention to their bone health.ConclusionIn this study, we successfully constructed and validated an early screening model of osteoporosis that is able to recognize people at high risk for developing osteoporosis and remind them to take preventive measures. But it is necessary to conduct further external and prospective validation research in large sample size for RPOPs prediction models.

Biobank for Translational Medicine: Standard Operating Procedures for Optimal Sample Management

Biobanks are key research infrastructures aimed at the collection, storage, processing, and sharing of high-quality human biological samples and associated data for research, diagnosis, and personalized medicine. The Biobank for Translational and Digital Medicine Unit at the European Institute of Oncology (IEO) is a landmark in this field. Biobanks collaborate with clinical divisions, internal and external research groups, and industry, supporting patients' treatment and scientific progress, including innovative diagnostics, biomarker discovery, and clinical trial design. Given the central role of biobanks in modern research, biobanking standard operating procedures (SOPs) should be extremely precise. SOPs and controls by certified specialists ensure the highest quality of samples for the implementation of science-based, diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic personalized strategies. However, despite numerous efforts to standardize and harmonize biobanks, these protocols, which follow a strict set of rules, quality controls, and guidelines based on ethical and legal principles, are not easily accessible. This paper presents the biobank standard operating procedures of a large cancer center.

Collaborative Assessment of Molecular Geometries and Energies from the Open Force Field.

Force fields form the basis for classical molecular simulations, and their accuracy is crucial for the quality of, for instance, protein-ligand binding simulations in drug discovery. The huge diversity of small-molecule chemistry makes it a challenge to build and parameterize a suitable force field. The Open Force Field Initiative is a combined industry and academic consortium developing a state-of-the-art small-molecule force field. In this report, industry members of the consortium worked together to objectively evaluate the performance of the force fields (referred to here as OpenFF) produced by the initiative on a combined public and proprietary dataset of 19,653 relevant molecules selected from their internal research and compound collections. This evaluation was important because it was completely blind; at most partners, none of the molecules or data were used in force field development or testing prior to this work. We compare the Open Force Field "Sage" version 2.0.0 and "Parsley" version 1.3.0 with GAFF-2.11-AM1BCC, OPLS4, and SMIRNOFF99Frosst. We analyzed force-field-optimized geometries and conformer energies compared to reference quantum mechanical data. We show that OPLS4 performs best, and the latest Open Force Field release shows a clear improvement compared to its predecessors. The performance of established force fields such as GAFF-2.11 was generally worse. While OpenFF researchers were involved in building the benchmarking infrastructure used in this work, benchmarking was done entirely in-house within industrial organizations and the resulting assessment is reported here. This work assesses the force field performance using separate benchmarking steps, external datasets, and involving external research groups. This effort may also be unique in terms of the number of different industrial partners involved, with 10 different companies participating in the benchmark efforts.

LungMAP Portal Ecosystem: Systems-level Exploration of the Lung.

An improved understanding of the human lung necessitates advanced systems models informed by an ever-increasing repertoire of molecular omics, cellular imaging, and pathological datasets. To centralize and standardize information across broad lung research efforts, we expanded the LungMAP.net website into a new gateway portal. This portal connects a broad spectrum of research networks, bulk and single-cell multiomics data, and a diverse collection of image data that span mammalian lung development and disease. The data are standardized across species and technologies using harmonized data and metadata models that leverage recent advances, including those from the Human Cell Atlas, diverse ontologies, and the LungMAP CellCards initiative. To cultivate future discoveries, we have aggregated a diverse collection of single-cell atlases for multiple species (human, rhesus, and mouse) to enable consistent queries across technologies, cohorts, age, disease, and drug treatment. These atlases are provided as independent and integrated queryable datasets, with an emphasis on dynamic visualization, figure generation, reanalysis, cell-type curation, and automated reference-based classification of user-provided single-cell genomics datasets (Azimuth). As this resource grows, we intend to increase the breadth of available interactive interfaces, supported data types, data portals and datasets from LungMAP, and external research efforts.

Evaluating the determinative factors driving patents and foreign technologies acquisitions in Visegrád countries

PurposeThis paper aims to empirically examine the factors driving the acquisition of patents and foreign technologies in 2,198 firms spanning multiple industries in Visegrád countries.Design/methodology/approachTo fulfil the research objectives, the authors used the binary logistic regression models for the empirical specifications to analyse the various hypotheses to ascertain the factors contributing to patents, foreign technologies and international quality certificate acquisitions in Visegrád countries.FindingsThe results show that technological innovations, in-house and external research and development, intense competition from the informal sector and external knowledge search positively influence firms to acquire patents, foreign technologies and international quality certificates. The study further showed that certain firm characteristics, such as size, having a board of directors, female top managers and top managers’ experience, positively influenced firms’ ability to obtain patents, foreign technologies and international quality certificates.Originality/valueThe authors provide new insights into understanding the factors contributing to international technological linkages in the context of transitional countries such as the Visegrád four group. The authors have shown that international technology linkages through foreign technology licences and international quality certifications are vital for innovations in transition economies.

A Survey of Cyber Crime Awareness Among Netizens of Higher Education Institutions: A Case Study of Zetech University

Protecting the integrity and confidentiality of information in sophisticated network systems is becoming increasingly vital and difficult. The computer may have been used in order to commit the crime and in other cases the computer may have been the target of the crime. The purpose of this research was to determine the level of awareness of cyber-attacks among students and staff of higher education institutions and to propose mechanisms to overcome cybercrimes attacks. A mixed technique approach was utilized in the study. The study was conducted at Zetech University with a purposively randomly selected population of 260 staff and students, and a sample of 150 was obtained. The descriptive statistics was used in the quantitative design to show the distribution of scores using a few indices. According to the findings, 63.4 percent of the participants had no cyber security awareness training, whereas 36.6 percent had. It is impossible to exaggerate the value of workplace cyber security awareness. The majority of participants (91.1%) were aware of the many sorts of cybercrimes, whereas 8% were unsure. 58.9% of respondents strongly concurred that they had never trusted websites that asked for their bank card information. Focusing on cyber security awareness reduces cybercrimes by more than 50%, according to 65.2 percent of participants. 72.3 percent firmly agreed that using encryption techniques to safeguard sensitive information was a good idea. The study's findings demonstrate that a rise in cybercrime is causing physical harm to individuals, with the majority of respondents saying that hackers had stolen their data and harmed them. Based on our research, we advise higher education institutions to invest in cutting-edge research facilities, place more emphasis on internal and external cyber security research and development, and emphasize that top management allocates sufficient financial resources to IT infrastructure and cyber security awareness trainings. Higher education institutions should regularly host conferences and training sessions for all staff and students on cyber security. The team in charge of overseeing the networks and IT infrastructure must make sure that email filtering and intrusion detection systems have been put in place to detect harmful assaults on university networks and systems.

Advancing DEI in research publishing – putting strategy into practice

In September 2021, Springer Nature made a formal commitment to Diversity, Equity &amp; Inclusion (DEI) across our external Research &amp; Solutions activities. Since then, our journals, books and magazines are elevating issues of diversity, representation, equity, justice and much more in both their content and their processes. From launching the industry’s first guide to content that may be harmful to human population groups, a new approach to ethics dumping and helicopter research, a transgender name change policy and Nature’s first ever guest edition on racism in science: we’ve taken steps to integrate DEI into the way we work and the content we create. This poster will talk about our experience so far turning strategy into practice, and the projects we’re planning for the near future from language guides to data collection.