Long-term Project Research Articles

‘The Ball of Cooperation Rolls on’: Some Personal Reflections on My Experiences as a Researcher

People with disabilities are increasingly actively involved within research projects. For many of them this is a temporary role, but some work on longer-term projects and even build a career out of it. This is the case for the first author of this paper. He has worked as a researcher for almost six years. He is involved in various projects, all highly diverse in terms of subject, design, scope and collaboration with fellow researchers. In this paper, he looks back on his experiences in recent years. Together with colleagues, he reflects on his contribution to the various projects, his own development as a researcher and the impact of the work on his personal life. He finds that the essence of the motto ‘Nothing about us, without us’ has become increasingly intertwined with his life and identity through his work.

A revised interpretation of signal-to-noise ratio paradox and its application to constrain regional climate projections

The signal-to-noise ratio paradox is interpreted as the climate model’s ability to predict observations better than the model itself. This view is counterintuitive, given that climate models are simplified numerical representations of complex earth system dynamics. A revised interpretation is provided here: the signal-to-noise ratio paradox represents excessive noise in climate predictions and projections. Noise is potentially reducible, providing a scientific basis for improving the signal in regional climate projections. The signal-to-noise ratio paradox was assessed in long-term climate projections using single-model and multi-model large ensemble climate data. A null hypothesis was constructed by performing bootstrap resampling of climate model ensembles to test its ability to predict the 20th-century temperature and precipitation trends locally and compare it with the observations. The rejection of the null hypothesis indicates the existence of a paradox. The multi-model large ensemble does not reject the null hypothesis in most places globally. The rejection rate in the single-model large ensemble is related to the model’s fidelity to simulate internal climate variability rather than its ensemble size. For regions where the null hypothesis is rejected in the multi-model large ensemble, for example, India, the paradox is caused by a smaller signal strength in the climate model’s ensemble. The signal strength was improved by 100% through ensemble selection and based on past performance, which reduced uncertainty in India’s 30-year temperature projections by 25%. Consistent with previous studies, precipitation projections are noisier, leading to a paradox metric value 2–3 times higher than that of the temperature projections. The application of ensemble selection methodology significantly decreased uncertainty in precipitation projections for the United Kingdom, Western Australia, and Northeastern America by 47%, 36%, and 20%, respectively. Overall, this study makes a unique contribution by reducing uncertainty at the temporal scale, specifically in estimating trends using the signal-to-noise ratio paradox metric.

Outlook for Offshore Wind Energy Development in Mexico from WRF Simulations and CMIP6 Projections

This study presents a comprehensive assessment of the offshore wind energy potential in Mexico across 40 years (1979–2018) of numerical simulations using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model and data from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6). The WRF identifies three regions with moderate to good wind potential: off the north coast of Tamaulipas (Zone I), the northwest coast of Yucatan (Zone II), and the Gulf of Tehuantepec (Zone III). The analysis involves comparing 47 CMIP6 climate models with the WRF results and selecting the best performing models to obtain future projections for the short term (2040–2069) and the long term (2070–2099). Two ensemble-based strategies were implemented. The first one, which uses an intersection approach from which four CMIP6 models were considered, reveals positive percentage differences in Zone II for both future projections, especially for the long-term one. In Zones I and III, positive values are also observed near the coast, mainly for the long-term projection, but they are considerably lower compared to those in Zone II. The second ensemble strategy uses weight assignment through the Mean Absolute Percentage Error, so that a greater weight is given to the model that performed better in each particular zone, potentially providing more accurate results. The findings suggest the likelihood of increased offshore wind energy in these three zones of Mexico, for both short- and long-term future projections, with positive percentage differences of up to 10% in certain areas.

Survival of red knots in the northern Gulf of Mexico

Highly migratory shorebirds are among the fastest declining avian guilds, so determining causes of mortality is critically important for their conservation. Most of these species depend on a specific geographic arrangement of suitable sites that reliably provide resources needed to fuel physiologically demanding life histories. Long-term mark-resight projects allow researchers to investigate specific potential sources of variation in demographic rates between populations. Red Knots (Calidris canutus) occur in three relatively distinct regions across the northern Gulf of Mexico, and two of these areas have been experiencing episodic harmful algal blooms (red tide) with increased frequency in recent decades. Since knots are mostly molluscivorous during the nonbreeding season in the Gulf, they are potentially exposed to red tide toxins at high concentrations via their filter-feeding prey. We used long-term mark-resight data from Texas, Louisiana, and Florida (USA) to estimate apparent survival, and to assess the effects of red tides on survival of Red Knots. We also assessed effects of tracking devices deployed in conjunction with the projects over the years. While overall apparent annual survival rates were similar across the three locations (0.768 – 0.819), several red tide events were associated with catastrophically low seasonal (fall) survival in Florida (as low as 0.492) and Texas (as low as 0.510). Leg-mounted geolocators, but not temporary glued-on VHF tags, were associated with a reduction in apparent survival (~8%/year). Movement of knots between the three areas was rare and site fidelity is known to be high. Harmful algal blooms are predicted to increase in frequency and severity with climate change and increased anthropogenic degradation of coastal habitats, which may further endanger these as well as other shorebird populations around the world.

Stock Price Prediction and Stock Behaviour using GA and LR with NIFTY50 index Based on Daily Charts

The price of a company's stock, which can increase in lockstep with the price of a single share, is the one of the indicator to measure its performance. Clients or stockholding companies find it challenging to make long-term projections regarding the value of specific stocks due to the unpredictable nature of stock prices. Consequently, there is no business-related subject more talked about than stock market predictions. It is crucial to resolve this issue in a way that benefits buyers and investors because they frequently experience investment losses. Machine learning is useful in developing model for stock value predictions. We are utilizing Python and Linear Regression, one of the Machine Learning statistical techniques for predictive analysis, to create a stock price prediction website in order to address this issue. Our study primarily focuses on the NIFTY50 index's performance in distributed lag with the purpose of predicting stock prices in the Indian stock market. Several useful characteristics of the NIFTY50 lag index were extracted by means of a genetic algorithm. After that, we uncovered hidden correlations between the stock index and a given stock's trend by using the linear regression classifier. For the purpose of testing our approach, we used it to forecast the future of three distinct equities. In comparison to state-of-the-art forecasting methodologies, our experimental results demonstrated an accuracy of 82.55%. For the purpose of predicting daily changes in stock prices, the NIFTY50 stock index proved to be useful.

Pan-Canadian Survey of Radiation Oncology Professional Involvement in Global Oncology Initiatives in Low- and Middle-Income Countries.

Canadian radiation oncology professionals have a strong history of involvement in global oncology initiatives worldwide. This pan-Canadian survey-based study was conducted to determine the current level of engagement of Canadian radiation oncologists (ROs) and medical physicists (MPs) in global oncology initiatives and broaden the development of these activities. This was a cross-sectional study. The survey was designed to characterize current levels of engagement of Canadian ROs and MPs in global oncology initiatives. The survey was open from March 2019 to April 2020. It was disseminated to all Canadian Association of Radiation Oncology and Canadian Organization of Medical Physicists members with two subsequent email reminders. Survey responses were received from 40 (93%) of the 43 Canadian cancer treatment centers that offer radiotherapy. At least one RO responded at 34 centers (79%) and one MP from 34 centers (79%) with some overlap. A response was received from a total of 93 participants, 47 ROs and 46 MPs. Of all survey participants, 58% reported some experience with global oncology. Nineteen percent of the participants surveyed were currently directly involved in short- or long-term projects, more than half of which have opportunity for additional staff involvement. The projects spanned 26 countries in South America, Africa, and Asia. Quality improvement and capacity building accounted for 27% and 20% of initiatives, respectively. The most common area of engagement was in direct treatment care, accounting for 56% of the projects. This study demonstrates the landscape of involvement of Canadian ROs and MPs in global oncology initiatives. The study also highlights areas of opportunity for broadening international participation and collaboration as it relates to global oncology for Canadian radiation oncology professionals.

The Role of ESG Performance in the Nexus Between Economic Policy Uncertainty and Corporate Investment

In an era of economic globalization, the stability and sustainability of investment decisions have gained paramount importance. In view of this, the main focus of this study is to investigate how environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance moderates the connection between economic policy uncertainty (EPU) and corporate investment (CINV). To achieve this objective, a comprehensive dataset spanning 13 years, from 2010 to 2022, covering BRICS nations, were employed. The findings reveal a negative impact of EPU on corporate investment. EPU-induced uncertainties create a climate of risk aversion, leading firms to delay or reduce their investment in long-term projects. In contrast, the analysis highlights a positive and significant relationship between ESG performance scores and corporate investment. Firms with strong ESG performance are more inclined to invest, driven by factors such as enhanced reputation, cost reduction, and sustainable market access. The research unveils a crucial aspect of ESG performance as it plays a moderating role in the EPU-investment relationship. This research contributes to the existing literature by addressing a critical gap, focusing on the moderating role of ESG performance in the EPU-investment relationship. The novelty of study lies in its holistic approach to examining the interconnected dynamics between EPU, CINV, and the moderating influence of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance. The findings offer practical guidance for investors and corporate managers.

Urban revitalization: Enhancing quality of life through mixed-use developments

Urban deterioration, economic stagnation, and social disintegration are complicated issues that can be effectively addressed through mixed-use development and urban rejuvenation. This paper looks at how mixed-use development might improve metropolitan regions' overall quality of life. It examines the various advantages of mixed-use development, such as enhanced walkability, accessibility to facilities, social interaction, economic vibrancy, and environmental sustainability, based on real data and case studies. The study also addresses important implementation guidelines and tactics and emphasizes how community involvement and cooperation are critical to the success of long-term urban renewal projects.

Developing a Project-Expectancy Inventory for the Construction Industry from the Owner’s Perspective

Although current research recognizes the importance of the Expectancy Theory in the construction industry, a standardized project expectancy (PE, hereafter) inventory is still an area for further exploration, especially from the owner’s perspective. This inventory is essential to identify the owner’s expectancy priorities and help select partners aligned with their long-term and sustainable project goals. Based on the Expectancy Theory, a PE inventory is proposed after conducting a comprehensive literature review. It incorporates dimensions like goal difficulty, perceived control, and self-efficacy. The reliability of the inventory is confirmed by analyzing data from 197 construction-project openers through partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM, hereafter). The findings indicate that perceived control is the most crucial dimension in PE, followed by self-efficacy and goal difficulty. A tunneling construction megaproject in Southeast China is presented as a case study. It suggests that when selecting partners for construction projects, the project owner should prioritize those amenable to control, thereby enhancing teamwork and collaboration quality. This strategy emphasizes the importance of the owner’s command over project operation, rather than merely focusing on the partners’ capabilities.

Life course studies – conceptual and methodological approaches and solution

Studies of the life course address the fundamental issue of social sciences – understanding the social change, its directions, reasons and perspectives, the interaction of micro- and macro levels of social reality. Studies of life course developed independently in different social sciences and scientific traditions cover a broad range of topics, issues and methodological approaches. These variety of studies were grouped into few major research frameworks: psychological within the studies of personality development; longitudinal sociological focused on life course of different cohorts and comparative studies of generations, social groups, countries and regions; domain-based – studies of trajectories in different life domains; demographic studying the timing of life events; studies of stability and transformation of values and biographical research. The multiple methodological approaches to study the life course are suggested to group in two main categories – concurrent and retrospective which differ by the time distance between the occurrence of an event and the reporting about the event. Concurrent approach is characterized by relatively high reliability of the measurement, but low flexibility in selecting research indicators, long time for the organization of data collection and large financial investments. Retrospective approach provides high flexibility in organization and design of the survey, allows free selection of indicators to test research hypotheses, but the reliability of the data is hampered by the memory errors and context effect. None of these approaches alone can satisfy the needs and requirements of studying the life course and collecting dynamic multi-level data. The possible solution is to design and test the multimodal approach combining the advantages of different research methods and mitigating their drawbacks. The new long-term longitudinal project “Life course, values and expectations of the generation of 1990s” (G90) included the test of an autobiographical method of data collection for random samples of the general population in quantitative design. The testing revealed high sensitivity of the method to the format (handwritten, printed or oral), high differentiation between respondents in completeness of information and the selection of events included in the autobiography. Supplementing autobiographies by in-depth interviews increased the data standardization, completeness and comparability. The drawbacks of this method found during the survey are high demand for resources for data analysis, individual approach to each autobiography, low respondents’ cooperation in highly demanding tasks, and ethical issues. The future of the life course studies can be found in the convergence of different research frameworks, multidisciplinary research projects, and the application of mixed-model integrated methodology.

CIS Cross-Border Libraries: Updating the Concept Paper to Strengthen Co-Operation

The experience of the Russian State Library in cooperation with the libraries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) member states in developing a document regulating cross-border co-operation is presented. It shows the stages of updating the “Concept of Information and Library Space Formation on the Basis of Cross-border Libraries of the CIS Member States” (2009) within the framework of the long-term interstate project of the Eurasia Library Assembly on creation of the normative and conceptual basis of interlibrary cooperation in the CIS. The “Concept...” is harmonised with the universally recognised principles and norms of international law. It reflects the process of inclusion of libraries of border regions of CIS member states in co-operation with libraries of neighbouring countries. Specialists of CIS libraries took an active part in the development of the document. The Concept of Development of Library and Information Space on the Basis of Cross-Border Libraries of CIS Member States (2023) clarifies the purpose and some basic concepts related to the activities of libraries in cross-border cooperation. The definition of “library and information space on the basis of cross-border libraries of the CIS member states” was developed, which is considered as a system of interacting subjects — libraries, library networks, library associations, library staff. The aim of library and information space development is to provide conditions for strengthening interregional and cross-border co-operation. Libraries create and promote various information resources, organise library and information services for the multinational population of border areas to enhance intercultural and professional communication. In the document 2023 the possibilities of subjects of interlibrary cooperation are expanded at the expense of interregional cooperation. The following are defined as subjects of the library and information space: publicly accessible border libraries of the CIS member states, central universal libraries of the border regions, national libraries of the CIS member states. The updated “Concept...” shows the tasks and principles of development, mechanisms and expected results of its implementation. The role of the CIS coordinating bodies in the formation of legislative and regulatory framework for the libraries of the CIS member states is important. Prospects for improving this base lie in the regulation of interregional and cross-border co-operation. To strengthen cooperation it is necessary to reveal the intercultural potential of the CIS member states, to provide scientific and methodological support to cross-border libraries, etc.

The Rurapolis Platforms:

A possible reimagining of the phenomenon of urban sprawl is presented here, with a view to exploring and projecting a model of territorial development adapted to present and future societal and climatic contingencies: this involves rethinking the urban landscape on the basis of fragmented and neglected rural typologies. The Rurapolis platforms are anchored in the cross-border territory of the Pyrenees – between Navarre in Spain and the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in France. A collective process of rammed earth construction combined with contemporary dance, brought to the abandoned village of Egulbati for a few days, will be used to address the issue of rural depopulation in a region where there are more than a hundred abandoned villages. These ruins, which run like fissures through the landscape, are seen here as potential clusters to activate a Rurapolis adapted to the ecological transition. The aim here is to show how a small-scale cultural initiative such as the Rurapolis platforms would allow us to take action in the context of the climate and health crisis, assess the viability of a larger-scale, long-term territorial project, and ultimately give visibility to a possible renaissance of the rural environment and its ruins on the back of a collective experience that revives a forgotten place.

Catalyzing Change in Engineering Pedagogy

This paper presents the implementation of a professional development program that aims at enhancing instructional practices to foster student-centered teaching approaches among engineering faculty at two universities in Pakistan. The program was guided by the theoretical perspective of enactivism and involved an initial three-day workshop, online modules, and reflective implementation assignments. The paper provides a detailed account of the program’s framework, design, and evaluation. The research questions addressed are: What are the perceptions of faculty members regarding (a) the benefits of the program topics and (b) changes in their actions as a result of the program? Likert-item survey instruments with retrospective items were analyzed using descriptive statistics and paired t-tests. As the program moved from being required to voluntary, participation was declined. Faculty who participated in this engineering pedagogy project reported positive attitudes and significant growth in utilizing student-centered strategies. The three-day workshop was perceived as the most beneficial of the components. The module was perceived to be of the highest benefit when focused on writing effective questions for high-level thinking. All the pre-to-post retrospective items showed statistically significant increases, with the two largest being the use of student response systems (SRS) and the focus on big ideas in teaching. The combined approaches show promise for faculty who persist in long-term professional development projects, catalyzing changes in perceived value and the implementation of active learning techniques.

Relation between Polygenic Risk Score, Vitamin D Status and BMI-for-Age z Score in Chinese Preschool Children.

Both genetics and vitamin D deficiency are associated with childhood obesity. However, the role of vitamin D status between polygenic and childhood obesity has been unknown. The current study aimed to determine the relation between genetic factors, vitamin D status, and BMI-for-age z score (zBMI) in Chinese preschool children. A total of 1046 participants aged 3.7 to 6.6 years old from the Long-term Health Effects Assessment Project of Infants and Toddlers Nutritional Pack (LHEAPITNP) were included in this study. The polygenic risk score (PRS) was established based on 55 BMI-related single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) derived from a published genome-wide association study (GWAS) for BMI. Serum 25(OH)D was used as an index of vitamin D status and measured with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS-MS) assay. The Wilcoxon test or Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare the differences of variables between different groups and Spearman correlation analysis was used for analyzing the correlations between the PRS, 25(OH)D levels, and zBMI. The PRS showed a positive relation to zBMI (rs = 0.0953, p = 0.0022) and 25(OH)D showed a negative relation to zBMI (rs = -0.1082, p = 0.0005) in the full-adjustment model. In addition, the differences in zBMI at different vitamin D statuses in the low-risk PRS group and the intermediate-risk PRS group were both statistically significant (plow = 0.0308, pintermediate = 0.0121), the median zBMI was both higher at vitamin D insufficiency status. And the difference in zBMI between different genetic risk groups was also statistically significant at vitamin D sufficiency status (p = 0.0077). Furthermore, genetic risk showed a positive relation to zBMI at vitamin D sufficiency status, and the p for trend was 0.0028. Our findings suggested that vitamin D was related to zBMI negatively in Chinese preschoolers and maintaining adequate vitamin D levels may only contribute to lower the zBMI in preschoolers with low and intermediate genetic susceptibility.

Future of hydrogen in the U.S. energy sector: MARKAL modeling results

Hydrogen is an attractive energy carrier which could play a role in decarbonizing process heat, power or transport applications. Though the U.S. already produces about 10 million metric tons of H2 (over 1 quadrillion BTUs or 1 % of the U.S. primary energy consumption), production technologies primarily use fossil fuels that release CO2, and the deployment of other, cleaner H2 production technologies is still in the very early stages in the U.S. This study explores (1) the level of current U.S. hydrogen production and demand, (2) the importance of hydrogen to accelerate a net-zero CO2 future, and (3) the challenges that must be overcome to make hydrogen an important part of the U.S. energy system. The study discusses four scenarios and hydrogen production has been shown to increase in the future, but this growth is not enough to establish a hydrogen economy. In this study, the characteristics of hydrogen technologies and their deployments in the long-term future are investigated using energy system model MARKAL. The effects of strong carbon constraints do not cause higher hydrogen demand but show a decrease in comparison to the business-as-usual scenario. Further, according to our modeling results, hydrogen grows only as a fuel for hard-to-decarbonize heavy-duty vehicles and is less competitive than other decarbonization solutions in the U.S. Without improvements in reducing the cost of electrolysis and increasing the performance of near-zero carbon technologies for hydrogen production, hydrogen will remain a niche player in the U.S. energy system in the long-term future. This article provides the reader with a comprehensive understanding of the role of hydrogen in the U.S. energy system, thereby explaining the long-term future projections.

Pärlugglans Aegolius funereus häckningsekologi i en jämtländsk population 1976–1985

A long-term Boreal Owl Aegolius funereus nest box project ran 1976–1985 in central Sweden. Average occupancy among 200 nest boxes was 16% (range 0–54%) with average clutch size 6.0 eggs and number of fledged per successful breeding 4.6, while 41% of breeding attempts failed, primarily due to predation by pine marten Martes martes or desertion by the female. The highest observed breeding density was 0.9 breedings/km2. Five cases of bigamy were observed. Females weighed 50% more than males during egg laying and incubation, probably because of pre-emptive weight gain to compensate for the risk of subsequent changes to food availability. The male provisioned both the female and chicks for most of the breeding period, mainly with small rodents (87%). Population sizes of small rodents fluctuated in 3–4-year cycles. Reproduction was successful during phases of increasing rodent density (1977–1978, 1980–1981, and 1984–1985), while almost no breedings were initiated during nadir years (1976, 1979, and 1982–1983). Ringing recoveries suggested that juveniles recruited into the local population in years with abundant food resources, but dispersed if food availability was declining. Adult females were often nomadic, while most males were resident.

Engaging Citizen Scientists in Biodiversity Monitoring: Insights from the WildLIVE! Project

The growing public interest in biodiversity monitoring has led to a significant increase in initiatives that unite citizen scientists, researchers, and machine learning technologies. In this context, we introduce WildLIVE!, a dynamic biomonitoring and citizen science project. In WildLIVE!, participants analyze a vast array of images from a long-term camera trapping project in Bolivia to investigate the impacts of shifting environmental factors on wildlife. From 2020 to 2023, more than 850 participants registered for WildLIVE!, contributing nearly 9,000 hours of voluntary work. We explore the motivators and sentiments of participant engagement and discuss the key strategies that have contributed to the project’s initial success. The findings from a questionnaire highlight that the primary motivational factors for our participants are understanding and knowledge, as well as engagement and commitment. However, expressions of positive and negative sentiments can be found regarding involvement. Participants appeared to be driven primarily by a desire for intellectual growth and emotional fulfillment. Factors crucial to the success of this digital citizen science project include media exposure, creating emotional connections through virtual and in-person communication with participants, and visibility on public citizen science portals. Moreover, the project’s labeled dataset serves as a valuable resource for machine learning, aiding the development of a new platform that is compliant with the FAIR principles. WildLIVE! not only contributes to outcomes in science, society, and nature conservation, but also demonstrates the potential of creating a collaborative bridge between the general public, scientific research, biodiversity conservation, and advanced technological applications.

Enhancing seasonal influenza projections: A mechanistic metapopulation model for long-term scenario planning

In temperate regions, annual preparation by public health officials for seasonal influenza requires early-season long-term projections. These projections are different from short-term (e.g., 1–4 weeks ahead) forecasts that are typically updated weekly. Whereas short-term forecasts estimate what “will” likely happen in the near term, the goal of scenario projections is to guide long-term decision-making using “what if” scenarios. We developed a mechanistic metapopulation model and used it to provide long-term influenza projections to the Flu Scenario Modeling Hub. The scenarios differed in their assumptions about influenza vaccine effectiveness and prior immunity. The parameters of the model were inferred from early season hospitalization data and then simulated forward in time until June 3, 2023. We submitted two rounds of projections (mid-November and early December), with the second round being a repeat of the first with three more weeks of data (and consequently different model parameters). In this study, we describe the model, its calibration, and projections targets. The scenario projection outcomes for two rounds are compared with each other at state and national level reported daily hospitalizations. We show that although Rounds 2 and 3 were identical in definition, the addition of three weeks of data produced an improvement to model fits. These changes resulted in earlier projections for peak incidence, lower projections for peak magnitude and relatively small changes to cumulative projections. In both rounds, all four scenarios presented conceivable outcomes, with some scenarios agreeing well with observations. We discuss how to interpret this agreement, emphasizing that this does not imply that one scenario or another provides the ground truth. Our model's performance suggests that its underlying assumptions provided plausible bounds for what could happen during an influenza season following two seasons of low circulation. We suggest that such projections would provide actionable estimates for public health officials.

FlepiMoP: The evolution of a flexible infectious disease modeling pipeline during the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic led to an unprecedented demand for projections of disease burden and healthcare utilization under scenarios ranging from unmitigated spread to strict social distancing policies. In response, members of the Johns Hopkins Infectious Disease Dynamics Group developed flepiMoP (formerly called the COVID Scenario Modeling Pipeline), a comprehensive open-source software pipeline designed for creating and simulating compartmental models of infectious disease transmission and inferring parameters through these models. The framework has been used extensively to produce short-term forecasts and longer-term scenario projections of COVID-19 at the state and county level in the US, for COVID-19 in other countries at various geographic scales, and more recently for seasonal influenza. In this paper, we highlight how the flepiMoP has evolved throughout the COVID-19 pandemic to address changing epidemiological dynamics, new interventions, and shifts in policy-relevant model outputs. As the framework has reached a mature state, we provide a detailed overview of flepiMoP’s key features and remaining limitations, thereby distributing flepiMoP and its documentation as a flexible and powerful tool for researchers and public health professionals to rapidly build and deploy large-scale complex infectious disease models for any pathogen and demographic setup.

Practice Recommendations or Not? The LoGeT Model as Empirical Approach to Generate Localized, Generalized, and Transferable Evidence

In educational research, there is the general trade-off that empirical evidence should be generalizable to be applicable across contexts; at the same time, empirical evidence should be as specific as possible to be localizable in subject-specific educational interventions to successfully transfer the empirical evidence to educational practice. This trade-off is further increased by the fact that the diverse instructional contexts, such as school or student characteristics constrain the applicability of empirical evidence. Several approaches have been proposed to address this issue, however, emphasized the different problems (i.e., localization, generalization, transferability) rather in an isolated manner. To this end, in this article, we introduce a synergistic approach, the LoGeT (localize, generalize, transfer) model, which systematically integrates co-design (localization strategies) and ManyClasses principles (generalization strategies) with co-constructive transfer activities, to generate empirical evidence that may be applicable in educational practice. To illustrate the LoGeT model, we present three long-term projects, covering different granularities and durations of educational interventions across different fields of education (teacher education, adaptive teaching, non-interactive teaching) that successfully applied the LoGeT approach. Finally, we outline further directions for future iterations of the LoGeT model. We hope that the LoGeT approach may be a stimulus to guide researchers as well as practitioners alike to design generalizable and evidence-based educational interventions that are rooted in localized instructional contexts.