Level Of Expertise Research Articles

Artificial intelligence-derived left ventricular strain in echocardiography in patients treated with chemotherapy

Global longitudinal strain (GLS) is an echocardiographic measure to detect chemotherapy-related cardiovascular dysfunction. However, its limited availability and the needed expertise may restrict its generalization. Artificial intelligence (AI)-based GLS might overcome these challenges. Our aims are to explore the agreements between AI-based GLS and conventional GLS, and to assess whether the agreements were influenced by expertise levels, cardiac remodeling and cardiovascular diseases/risks. Echocardiographic images in the apical four-chamber view of left ventricle were retrospectively analyzed based on AI-based GLS in patients treated with chemotherapy, and correlation between AI-based GLS (Caas Qardia, Pie Medical Imaging) and conventional GLS (Vivid E9/VividE95, GE Healthcare) were assessed. The agreement between unexperienced physicians (“GLS beginner”) and experienced echocardiographer were also assessed. Among 94 patients (mean age 69 ± 12 years, 73% female), mean left ventricular ejection fraction was 64 ± 6%, 14% of patients had left ventricular hypertrophy, and 21% had left atrial enlargement. Mean GLS was − 15.9 ± 3.4% and − 19.0 ± 3.7% for the AI and conventional method, respectively. There was a moderate correlation between these methods (rho = 0.74; p < 0.01), and bias was − 3.1% (95% limits of agreement: -8.1 to 2.0). The reproducibility between GLS beginner and an experienced echocardiographer was numerically better in the AI method than the conventional method (inter-observer agreement = 0.82 vs. 0.68). The agreements were consistent across abnormal cardiac structure and function categories (p-for-interaction > 0.10). In patients treated with chemotherapy. AI-based GLS was moderately correlated with conventional GLS and provided a numerically better reproducibility compared with conventional GLS, regardless of different levels of expertise.

Digital competence analysis to inform current pedagogy and curricula

The importance of DCs (digital competences) at all levels of education is evident, given the extensive literature, international legislation, projects, and pedagogical resources emerging and developing over the past decade. Therefore, DC frameworks for different types of educational contexts have been proposed. For example, DigCompEdu (“European Framework for the Digital Competence of Educators”, Punie &amp; Redecker, 2017) has been widely accepted and adapted to different academic areas and geographical regions (e.g., in Spain, see Mora-Cantallops et al., 2022). According to these guidelines, DC formation in education includes various developmental sections and aspects (e.g., digital creation, online assessment, student empowerment, and so on), which teachers can check for self-reflection and critical thinking. Given the criteria established, different levels of expertise can be inferred according to competence variables, and, based on these, educators can work towards improving one aspect or another in the DC spectrum. Nonetheless, despite this established framework of digital skills in education, there is a need for more contrastive analyses of actual DC developments in cross-disciplinary and cross-curricular ecologies: How current pedagogical approaches may vary within an exponentially growing digital world is, in fact, a key issue deserving further scholarly attention at various research dissemination levels. [1] A fair question, then, to ask is whether the post-pandemic era is witnessing significant DC developments and changes across the curriculum, and if so, to what extent. Also, related to this concern, is the lingering question of how digitally competent educators and learners really are in formal and informal teaching/learning scenarios? Further, how may pedagogy-informed decisions be made and integrated into current policies, projects, and planning in an era where technology should have become so familiar that it is invisible (cf. Bax, 2003)? During the pandemic, an increased use of digital resources was seen, leading pedagogy experts to focus on educational policies and programmes for DC integration in curricula across geographical areas (e.g., Ganimian et al., 2020; McGarr et al., 2021; Selfie for teachers, 2022; Arcón &amp; Monje, this special issue). This implementation of digital practices, often attempting to quell rising anxiety and fears related to decreased educational levels due to COVID, resulted in both successful and failed scenarios for learning, whereas it could also contribute to the ever-increasing digital divide between regions and social classes / groups (e.g., see Gómez Trigueros &amp; Yáñez, 2021; Castelo Branco et al., 2022; Viscarret et al., 2022). As a result, a re-consideration of DCs, their definition, and description for curriculum design, are manifestly important nowadays. A recent case is the need for regulating and framing GenAI resources and practices in all types of academic / educational environments, entailing a (re)formulation of DC mechanics, objectives, purposes, and implementation (e.g., see Dwivedi et al., 2023; Fleckenstein et al., 2024; Lan &amp; Chen, 2024). [1] Despite an increase in pedagogy-focused investigations, the reality is that a wide gap still exists between researchers’ reflections and the teaching community’s actual practices, as observed in different meta-analyses (e.g., Sato &amp; Lowen, 2022; Boulton &amp; Vyatkina, 2024).

Evaluation and Management of Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Multidisciplinary Indian Consensus Statements from a Delphi Panel

Background India, like many parts of Asia, likely faces a high burden of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), though large-scale data on etiology, presentation, and outcomes are lacking. There appears to be a predominance of unresectable, advanced-stage HCC at presentation in India with variable level of expertise in India to manage these scenarios. This publication summarizes the latest evidence with cognizance of the unique challenges faced in India by treating clinicians. Methods A multidisciplinary panel of medical oncologists, gastroenterologists, hepatologists, interventional radiologists, and hepatobiliary surgical oncologists held a meeting in June 2022 and reviewed the evidence available for management of HCC. The meeting concentrated on the recognition and management of HCC not amenable to surgical approaches in the Indian context. A literature review of these aspects of management was conducted and consensus statements with level of evidence and grades of recommendation were prepared by individual specialists in each field. Statements were evaluated by the modified Delphi method. Key Content and Findings The panel comprising 22 experts formulated 40 consensus statements with regard to defining unresectable HCC, optimization of underlying conditions prior to management, rationale use of various liver-directed therapies (LDTs) in unresectable HCC, and systemic therapeutic options in this group of patients. Conclusion Our consensus statements offer practical, yet evidence-based management guidelines for treating unresectable HCC in the Indian context. There is an emphasis on the crucial need for combining available approaches for LDT, even if less well studied though possibly effective, with standard systemic therapy.

Real-Time Spatial Mapping in Architectural Visualization: A Comparison among Mixed Reality Devices.

Recent advancements in communication technology have catalyzed the widespread adoption of realistic content, with augmented reality (AR) emerging as a pivotal tool for seamlessly integrating virtual elements into real-world environments. In construction, architecture, and urban design, the integration of mixed reality (MR) technology enables rapid interior spatial mapping, providing clients with immersive experiences to envision their desires. The rapid advancement of MR devices, or devices that integrate MR capabilities, offers users numerous opportunities for enhanced entertainment experiences. However, to support designers at a high level of expertise, it is crucial to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the data provided by these devices. This study explored the potential of utilizing spatial mapping within various methodologies for surveying architectural interiors. The objective was to identify optimized spatial mapping procedures and determine the most effective applications for their use. Experiments were conducted to evaluate the interior survey performance, using HoloLens 2, an iPhone 13 Pro for spatial mapping, and photogrammetry. The findings indicate that HoloLens 2 is most suited for the tasks examined in the scope of these experiments. Nonetheless, based on the acquired parameters, the author also proposes approaches to apply the other technologies in specific real-world scenarios.

Eye-Tracking Analyses of a Coach's Pointing Gestures Timed With Speech: Implications for Players' Recall of Basketball Tactical Instructions.

Coaches often use pointing gestures alongside their speech to reinforce their message and emphasize important concepts during instructional communications, but the impact of simultaneous pointing gestures and speech on learners' recall remains unclear. We used eye-tracking and recalled performance to investigate the impact of a coach's variously timed pointing gestures and speech on two groups of learners' (novices and experts) visual attention and recall of tactical instructions. Participants were 96 basketball players (48 novice and 48 expert) who attempted to recall instructions about the evolution of a basketball game system under two teaching conditions: speech accompanied by gestures and speech followed by gestures. Overall, the results showed that novice players benefited more from instructional speech accompanied by gestures than from speech followed by gestures alone. This was evidenced by their greater visual attention to the diagrams, demonstrated through a higher fixation count and decreased saccadic shifts between the coach and the diagrams. Additionally, they exhibited improved recall and experienced reduced mental effort, despite having the same fixation time on the diagrams and equivalent recall time. Conversely, experts benefited more from instructional speech followed by gestures, indicating an expertise reversal effect. These results suggest that coaches and educators may improve their tactical instructions by timing the pairing of their hand gestures and speech in relation to the learner's level of expertise.

Diagnosing Solid Lesions in the Pancreas With Multimodal Artificial Intelligence

Diagnosing solid lesions in the pancreas via endoscopic ultrasonographic (EUS) images is challenging. Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to help with such diagnosis, but existing AI models focus solely on a single modality. To advance the clinical diagnosis of solid lesions in the pancreas through developing a multimodal AI model integrating both clinical information and EUS images. In this randomized crossover trial conducted from January 1 to June 30, 2023, from 4 centers across China, 12 endoscopists of varying levels of expertise were randomly assigned to diagnose solid lesions in the pancreas with or without AI assistance. Endoscopic ultrasonographic images and clinical information of 439 patients from 1 institution who had solid lesions in the pancreas between January 1, 2014, and December 31, 2022, were collected to train and validate the joint-AI model, while 189 patients from 3 external institutions were used to evaluate the robustness and generalizability of the model. Conventional or AI-assisted diagnosis of solid lesions in the pancreas. In the retrospective dataset, the performance of the joint-AI model was evaluated internally and externally. In the prospective dataset, diagnostic performance of the endoscopists with or without the AI assistance was compared. The retrospective dataset included 628 patients (400 men [63.7%]; mean [SD] age, 57.7 [27.4] years) who underwent EUS procedures. A total of 130 patients (81 men [62.3%]; mean [SD] age, 58.4 [11.7] years) were prospectively recruited for the crossover trial. The area under the curve of the joint-AI model ranged from 0.996 (95% CI, 0.993-0.998) in the internal test dataset to 0.955 (95% CI, 0.940-0.968), 0.924 (95% CI, 0.888-0.955), and 0.976 (95% CI, 0.942-0.995) in the 3 external test datasets, respectively. The diagnostic accuracy of novice endoscopists was significantly enhanced with AI assistance (0.69 [95% CI, 0.61-0.76] vs 0.90 [95% CI, 0.83-0.94]; P < .001), and the supplementary interpretability information alleviated the skepticism of the experienced endoscopists. In this randomized crossover trial of diagnosing solid lesions in the pancreas with or without AI assistance, the joint-AI model demonstrated positive human-AI interaction, which suggested its potential to facilitate a clinical diagnosis. Nevertheless, future randomized clinical trials are warranted. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05476978.

A systematic review and meta-analysis on TPACK-based interventions from a perspective of knowledge integration

Designing effective interventions that foster (pre-service) teachers' knowledge to teach with technologies is paramount in education research. Researchers have prominently relied on the TPACK-model as theoretical foundation to design such interventions. However, a myriad of distinct TPACK-based interventions emerged, which likely targeted the different knowledge components of TPACK to varying extents. Given this diversity and the lack of performance-based measures to estimate competence growth, little is known about the effectiveness of respective interventions. In the present synthesis study, we therefore sought to systemize TPACK-based interventions regarding targeted knowledge domains across various contexts. Accordingly, we scrutinized which of the TPACK-components were explicitly targeted in TPACK-based interventions within the framework of a systematic review. Further, we conducted a subsequent meta-analysis based on studies applying performance-based measures to investigate whether the targeted knowledge domains affected the effectiveness of interventions. Based on a set of N = 163 primary intervention studies and one theoretical contribution, our analyses suggest that Technological Knowledge was the most prominent targeted TPACK-component. Interestingly, in more than 20% of the interventions, specific training on Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (i.e., TPCK) was absent although TPCK is considered crucial for successful technology integration. Results further revealed that researchers do not seem to have adapted the design of interventions on instructional contexts (such as the expertise level of the target audience). The results of the subsequent meta-analysis (N = 8) further provided no clear evidence that targeted TPACK-components affected the effectiveness of interventions.

Ranking the benefits of drone-based last-mile delivery due to adoption of its enablers

PurposeStrategic integration of enablers and the realization of drone delivery benefits emerge as essential strategies for business organizations to enhance operational efficiency and stay competitive in last-mile logistics. This paper aims to explore the benefits of drone-based last-mile delivery in the Indian logistic sector by providing a framework for ranking drone delivery benefits (DDBs) due to the adoption of its enablers.Design/methodology/approachThis study proposes a novel hybrid framework applied in the Indian logistic sector by integrating a sentence boundary extraction algorithm for extracting benefits from literature, a spherical fuzzy analytical hierarchy process (SF-AHP) for evaluating primary enablers, unsupervised fuzzy C-means clustering (FCM) for clustering benefits and a spherical combined compromised solution (SF-CoCoSo) for ranking benefits with respect to primary enablers.FindingsThe results reveal that technological and infrastructure enablers (TIE), government and legislation enablers (GLE) and operational and service quality enablers (OSE) are the most significant enablers for drone implementation in logistics. Top-ranked benefits increase the efficiency of last-mile delivery (DDB10), foster supply chain management and logistic sustainability (DDB16) and increase delivery access to rural area and vulnerable people (DDB17).Practical implicationsThis research assists scholars, entrepreneurs and policymakers in the sustainable deployment of drone delivery in the logistics sector. This study facilitates the use of drones in delivery services and provides a foundation for all stakeholders in logistics.Originality/valueThe assessments involve considering judgment from a highly knowledgeable and experienced group in India, characterized by a large volume of inputs and a high level of expertise.

LapBot-Safe Chole: validation of an artificial intelligence-powered mobile game app to teach safe cholecystectomy.

Gaming can serve as an educational tool to allow trainees to practice surgical decision-making in a low-stakes environment. LapBot is a novel free interactive mobile game application that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to provide players with feedback on safe dissection during laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). This study aims to provide validity evidence for this mobile game. Trainees and surgeons participated by downloading and playing LapBot on their smartphone. Players were presented with intraoperative LC scenes and required to locate their preferred location of dissection of the hepatocystic triangle. They received immediate accuracy scores and personalized feedback using an AI algorithm ("GoNoGoNet") that identifies safe/dangerous zones of dissection. Player scores were assessed globally and across training experience using non-parametric ANOVA. Three-month questionnaires were administered to assess the educational value of LapBot. A total of 903 participants from 64 countries played LapBot. As game difficulty increased, average scores (p < 0.0001) and confidence levels (p < 0.0001) decreased significantly. Scores were significantly positively correlated with players' case volume (p = 0.0002) and training level (p = 0.0003). Most agreed that LapBot should be incorporated as an adjunct into training programs (64.1%), as it improved their ability to reflect critically on feedback they receive during LC (47.5%) or while watching others perform LC (57.5%). Serious games, such as LapBot, can be effective educational tools for deliberate practice and surgical coaching by promoting learner engagement and experiential learning. Our study demonstrates that players' scores were correlated to their level of expertise, and that after playing the game, most players perceived a significant educational value.

Dual-task costs in speed tasks: a comparison between elite ice hockey, open-skill and closed-skill sports athletes.

Ice hockey is a high pace sports game that requires players to integrate multiple skills. Players face perceptive, cognitive, and motor tasks concurrently; hence, players are regularly exposed to dual- or multi-task demands. Dual-tasking has been shown to lead to decreased performance in one or both performed tasks. The degree of performance reductions might be modulated by the exhaustion of cognitive resources. Literature on dual-task paradigms that combine sport-relevant elements is scarce. Therefore, a novel paradigm combining cyclical speed of the lower extremities and concurrent visuo-verbal speed reading was tested and validated. Additionally, to understand the nature of dual-task costs, the relationship between these costs and cognitive performance was assessed. We hypothesized occurrence of dual-task costs in all athletes without relationship to single task performance. Differences in dual-task cost were expected between open-skill and closed-skill sports, as well as differing expertise levels. Level of cognitive function was expected to explain some variance in dual-task cost. A total of 322 elite athletes (120 ice hockey, 165 other team sports, 37 closed-skill sports) participated in this study. Each athlete performed a tapping task, a visuo-verbal speed-reading task, and both tasks simultaneously. All ice hockey athletes performed additional cognitive tests assessing processing speed, spatial working memory, sustained attention, two choice reaction time, and motor inhibition. The results of paired-sample t-tests confirmed significant dual-task costs for all sport groups (p < 0.001). Single-task performance and dual-task costs correlated weakly in a positive direction. A one-way ANOVA revealed significantly greater costs in closed-skill sports athletes than in ice hockey and other sports athletes. No significant differences in dual-task costs were found between teams of differing expertise levels. Lastly, no significant regression model was found to predict dual-task costs from cognitive test performance. Our study suggests that this novel dual-task paradigm was successful in inducing dual-task costs for all elite athletes. Since it distinguishes between closed-skill and open-skill sports athletes, it might be a valuable diagnostic tool for performance and for talent development of open-skill athletes. Dual-task costs could not be relevantly predicted via cognitive performance measures, questioning cognitive resource theories as an explanation for dual-task costs.

Innovative Mitral Valve Repair Using a Novel Automated Suturing System: Preliminary Data.

(1) Background and Objectives: Mitral regurgitation is a common valve disease requiring surgical repair. Even with satisfactory results, repair techniques may underlie subjectivity and variability and require long learning curves. A novel approach, the "Roman Arch" technique, may ease the technical burden. This study assessed an automated suturing device's feasibility and time efficiency for a proposed simplified technique. (2) Materials and Methods: Using the MiStitch™ and MiKnot™ devices (LSI Solutions, Inc., Victor, NY, USA), the suture pattern was performed in a cadaver model. Three surgeons with different expertise levels conducted the procedures. Repair and suture placement times were recorded and analyzed. (3) Results: The modified "Roman Arch" repair was completed on all ten human heart specimens with an average total repair time of 3:01 ± 00:59 min and a trend toward reduced times as experience increased. The study confirmed the technical feasibility with 90% of the attempts rated as rather satisfactory or very satisfactory. (4) Conclusions: The MiStitch™ system effectively facilitated the modified "Roman Arch" repair in an ex vivo setting, suggesting its potential to reduce the technical complexity of mitral valve repairs. Further studies are needed to confirm its efficacy and safety in clinical practice.

In the Eye of the Beholder-Visual Search Behavior in Equestrian Dressage Judges.

This study investigated the visual search behavior of equestrian dressage judges at different expertise levels during the assessment of Grand Prix horse-rider combinations. Twenty judges (11 foundational level, 9 advanced level) participated in the study, with their eye movements recorded using Tobii Fusion Eyetracker as they evaluated video recordings of dressage tests. Fixation metrics, namely Total Duration of Fixation (TDF), Average Duration of Fixation (ADF), and Total Number of Fixations (TNF), were analyzed across four Areas of Interest (AOIs): front, back, rider, and horse's feet. Statistical analysis utilized linear mixed-effects models. Results demonstrated that judges consistently focused more on the front of the horse, with additional differences in fixation duration and frequency based on judge experience and specific movements. Advanced judges focused more on the horses' feet, suggesting they draw meaning from specific areas indicative of performance quality. Conversely, foundational level judges focused more on the rider, reflecting different evaluative priorities at lower levels of the sport. These findings suggest that judges focus on a limited number of highly relevant areas, differing across movements and expertise levels. The study underscores the necessity of understanding both gaze behavior and subsequent interpretations of visual information to increase judging transparency, fairness, and equine welfare.

Understanding the visual search strategies of expert and novice coaches in futsal set pieces.

This study aimed to describe the fixation location and the time of the longer fixation of expert and novice futsal coaches before the ball was in play in futsal set pieces. A total of 10 experts (ages 48 ± 5) and 10 novice coaches (ages 40 ± 7) participated in the study. They observed that 38 video clips were created to mimic the attack and defensive set-piece moments of the game. Data were collected in a standardized video analysis task using the pupil invisible eye tracker and processed through the pupil cloud platform. The Mann-Whitney test was conducted to evaluate differences in gaze duration between game moments (attack and defense set pieces) and groups (expert vs. novice). Gaze duration was also compared for gaze location between groups. For further comparisons, the game moments (attack and defense set pieces) and the gaze location were summarized in two-dimensional graphics using correspondence analysis. The results revealed higher values of gaze duration for attack and defense set pieces for the group of experts than for novices. When considering gaze duration, expert coaches had higher values than novices for the attacker 3, defender 3, barrier 1st, and barrier 2nd gaze locations. The correspondence analysis showed different strategies of visual search and, consequently, gaze locations for attack and defense set pieces. In particular, there was different correspondence for free kicks between the level of expertise and gaze location, while corner and sideline kicks revealed some correspondence between the groups and the gaze location. In free kicks, coaches should be particularly concerned about the relationship between attacker and defender three and the barrier 1st and 2nd line positions. In corner and sideline kicks, coaches should be particularly aware of the relationship between attackers' and defenders' positions.

Reproducibility of c-Met Immunohistochemical Scoring (Clone SP44) for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Using Conventional Light Microscopy and Whole Slide Imaging.

Emerging therapies for non-small cell lung cancer targeting c-Met overexpression have recently demonstrated promising results. However, the evaluation of c-Met expression can be challenging. We aimed to study the inter and intraobserver reproducibility of c-Met expression evaluation. One hundred ten cases with non-small cell lung cancer (40 biopsies and 70 surgical specimens) were retrospectively selected in a single laboratory (LPCE) and evaluated for c-Met expression. Six pathologists (4 seniors and 2 juniors) evaluated the H-score and made a 3-tier classification of c-Met expression for all cases, using conventional light microscopy (CLM) and whole slide imaging (WSI). The interobserver reproducibility with CLM gave global Cohen Kappa coefficients (ƙ) ranging from 0.581 (95% CI: 0.364-0.771) to 0.763 (95% CI: 0.58-0.92) using the c-Met 3-tier classification and H-score, respectively. ƙ was higher for senior pathologists and biopsy samples. The interobserver reproducibility with WSI gave a global ƙ ranging from 0.543 (95% CI: 0.33-0.724) to 0.905 (95% CI: 0.618-1) using the c-Met H-score and 2-tier classification (≥25% 3+), respectively. ƙ for intraobserver reproducibility between CLM and WSI ranged from 0.713 to 0.898 for the c-Met H-score and from 0.600 to 0.779 for the c-Met 3-tier classification. We demonstrated a moderate to excellent interobserver agreement for c-Met expression with a substantial to excellent intraobserver agreement between CLM and WSI, thereby supporting the development of digital pathology. However, some factors (scoring method, type of tissue samples, and expertise level) affect reproducibility. Our findings highlight the importance of establishing a consensus definition and providing further training, particularly for inexperienced pathologists, for c-Met immunohistochemistry assessment in clinical practice.

Clinical applications of telemedicine services using a regional telemedicine platform for cancer treatment: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundTelemedicine is beneficial for improving treatment efficiency and reducing medical expenses of cancer patients. This study focuses on cancer patients participating in teleconsultations through a regional telemedicine platform in China, analyzes the consultation process, and provides references for the clinical application of telemedicine.MethodsWe collected information on teleconsultations of cancer patients conducted from 2015 to 2022 through the regional telemedicine platform. Utilizing SPSS 23.0 software, we conducted descriptive analysis to summarize the distribution of patient gender, age, region, and disease types. The ordinal logistic regression analysis was adopted to analyze the factors influencing the waiting time and consultation duration for teleconsultations.ResultsFrom 2015 to 2022, a total of 23,060 teleconsultations were conducted for cancer patients via regional telemedicine platform, with an average growth rate of 11.09%. The main types of consultations were for lung cancer, liver cancer, and breast cancer, accounting for 18.14%, 10.49%, and 9.46% respectively. 57.05% of teleconsultations had a waiting time of less than 24 h, while patient age, consultation expert level, and disease type were the main factors influencing the waiting time. 50.06% of teleconsultations had a duration of more than 20 min, and the inviting hospital level and the title of invited consultant were the main factors influencing the consultation duration.ConclusionsIn China, telemedicine has been widely employed in the clinical diagnosis and treatment of cancers, covering various types of oncological diseases. However, the waiting time for teleconsultations was generally more than 12 h, indicating the need to enhance consultation scheduling and allocate more expert resources to further optimize the efficiency of teleconsultations. Additionally, further exploration is required for remote health management of outpatients with cancers outside the hospital.

Exemplification and reformulation in expert linguists’ writings: Elaborative metadiscourse between disciplinarity and individuality

Exemplification and reformulation are key elaborative strategies that empower clarity and argumentation in academic writing. Most research investigating their use in academic writing argues that writers’ choices in terms of frequency and marker type are conditioned by disciplinary variations and the level of expertise of the writers. This has led to an understanding of discourse communities as being homogeneous groups of novice versus expert writers and of separate soft versus hard disciplines. Through the analysis of 90 research articles and book chapters single-authored by six leading linguists, this study shows that these successful authors deviate from the common practices in linguistics and their choices deviate from each other significantly. However, the data does not reveal any steady increasing or decreasing frequencies in the use of exemplification and reformulation throughout their career stages, which makes it hard to claim that the frequency of using the two discourse functions evolves with experience. The study argues that individuality and style preferences within the same discourse community should be acknowledged as an additional variable affecting discursive choices and calls for a more nuanced understanding of disciplinarity and writing expertise.

Intergenerational transfer of engineering expertise: knowledge continuity management in storm surge barrier engineering

PurposeEngineering knowledge continuity is crucial for the life cycle management of long-lived and complex assets, such as nuclear plants, locks and storm surge barriers. At the storm surge barriers in the Netherlands, engineering knowledge continuity is not yet fully assured, despite long-standing efforts. This study aims to explore the relationship between system characteristics, the organizational demarcation of maintenance and operation and the challenges in achieving engineering knowledge continuity and provides suggestions for improvement of theory and policy.Design/methodology/approachTen semi-structured interviews were conducted with professionals from various backgrounds in construction, engineering and asset management of the Dutch storm surge barriers, augmented with visits to barriers and barrier teams. A thematic analysis was used to identify and describe the challenges to engineering continuity, their origins and potential solutions. We reviewed knowledge management policy documents and asset management consultancy reports to validate the findings. Additionally, we engaged in frequent interactions with professionals at the barriers. We achieved saturation and validation once no new issues were raised during these discussions.FindingsThe thematic analysis developed multiple themes describing the challenges to engineering continuity, their origins and potential solutions. The key findings are that expert engineers are critically important to deal with redesigns induced by obsolescence. Moreover, due to barrier uniqueness, long redesign cycles and reliability requirements, conventional knowledge continuity tools are insufficient to enable new engineers to reach expert level. Finally, the thematic analysis shows that, in some cases, outsourcing should be reduced to facilitate internal learning.Originality/valueThe study introduces the application of the knowledge-based view of the firm and the concept of requisite knowledge redundancy to the long-term management of complex assets. It calls for more attention to long gaps in the use of unique knowledge and the effect on knowledge continuity.

Integrating 3D Technology in Sculpture Courses: Challenges, Strategies, and Recommendations

The integration of 3D technology into sculpture courses presented both opportunities and challenges for students and educators alike. This research investigated the current landscape, challenges, strategies, and recommendations associated with incorporating 3D technology in sculptural courses. Through a comprehensive review and analysis, key challenges emerged, including the complexity of technology, inadequate educational resources, varying levels of instructor expertise, and practical issues such as equipment maintenance and material properties. These challenges highlighted the need for targeted interventions to enhance educational effectiveness and accessibility. Strategies proposed included curriculum enhancements to integrate 3D technology, professional development programs for educators, improvements in technology interfaces, and collaborations between industry and academia. These strategies aimed to address identified challenges and optimize learning experiences in sculpture courses. Recommendations emphasized the development of centralized educational platforms, increased funding for 3D research, advocacy for regulatory standards, and the establishment of peer learning networks. These initiatives sought to foster a supportive environment conducive to innovation and creativity in sculptural arts education. By addressing these technological complexities, enhancing educational resources, improving instructor proficiency, and overcoming practical barriers, this study advocated for a comprehensive approach to integrating 3D technology effectively into sculpture courses, ultimately empowering students and educators to use their full potential in artistic expression and professional practice.

Literasi Membaca dan Menulis Dalam Mencegah Perundugan Pada Mahasiswa Kedokteran Universitas Negeri Gorontalo

Literacy is an individual's ability and skills in language i.e. reading, writing, speaking, calculating and problem solving at a certain level of expertise required in daily life. Bullying is as unwanted aggressive behaviour of another young person or group of young people who are not siblings or current dating partners involving an observed or perceived imbalance of power and repeated several times or very likely to be repeated. To prevent bullying, efforts are made to conduct reading and writing literacy activities. The purpose of this study is to see how often students of the Faculty of Medicine, Gorontalo State University do literacy reading and writing, especially about bullying. This study uses a qualitative method, namely an observational survey conducted on the management of the Student Executive Board of the Faculty of Medicine, Gorontalo State University. The results obtained from 15 respondents who were interviewed found that all respondents knew about bullying. Only 2 people have never read about bullying, while 13 have. Writing literacy there are only 2 people who have done about bullying and 13 others never. From the results of the research conducted, it was concluded that all respondents knew about bullying, most had done reading literacy about bullying, and only a small proportion had done writing literacy about bullying.

Peran Kepala Sekolah dalam Mengelola Sumber Daya Manusia untuk Meningkatkan Mutu Pendidikan di SMAN 5 Payakumbuh

Efficient human resources management is essential for the effective functioning of educational institutions. Therefore, it is essential for the head of school to have a clear approach to managing human capital effectively within educational institutions. It is essential to improve educational standards and enable institutions to effectively compete with others in the field of technological advances and contemporary developments. The study uses descriptive qualitative methodology, specifically using case study research design. The location of this research is in SMAN 5 Payakrasuh. The analysis revealed that the head of school carefully implemented a series of actions to establish a human resource management strategy for teachers. The first step involves developing a strong character, understanding the purposes and objectives of the institution, enhancing the expertise of the instructor, encouraging partnerships with other institutions, and building efficient communication with student guardians. One measure involves enhancing human resource development by conducting workshops and courses, both inside and outside the institution. The main emphasis lies on the methodology used by the head of school in overseeing instructors to improve the caliber of secondary education institutions. Quality education strategies in educational institutions are developed by involving instructors and implementing internal and external initiatives. The main challenge faced by school administrators in implementing their strategy is the existence of instructors who are satisfied with their existing level of expertise and resist to acquire new knowledge. Therefore, teachers must have strong motivational abilities to inspire these educators to enhance their talents, along with a deep understanding of their psychological conditions to optimize their performance.