Methodological Tools Research Articles

Recommendations for the Application of Sex and Gender Medicine in Preclinical, Epidemiological and Clinical Research.

Gender medicine studies how health status and diseases differ between men and women in terms of prevention, therapeutic approach, prognosis, and psychological and social impact. Sex and gender analyses have been demonstrated to improve science, contributing to achieving real appropriateness and equity in the cure for each person. Therefore, it is fundamental to consider, both in preclinical and clinical research, the different clinical and biological features associated with sex and/or gender, where sex differences are mainly influenced by biological determinants and gender ones by socio-cultural and economic matters. This article was developed to provide knowledge and methodological tools for the development of studies/research protocols in which sex and gender should be taken into account.

Urban Polycentricity and Architectural Heritage: A PROMETHEE-Based Multicriteria Approach

Polycentricity is a multiscalar concept referring to the interconnections of neighboring spatial areas in search of synergies. More specifically, urban polycentricity has lately gained increasing momentum in academic research and strategic planning as urban polycentric structures could stimulate urban and regional performance in a sustainable way. Architectural heritage, with its connotative meanings, is among the indicators of incorporation in polycentric networking. The present paper investigates the challenges of implementing urban polycentricity methodological approaches to highlight new polycentric networks based on built architectural heritage. In this study, appointed architectural assets are considered as nodes of the potential networks. As a new research strand, the MCDA PROMETHEE method is applied to compile and assemble all indicators (namely, rank size and node hierarchy, accessibility, transportation, and digital promotion). The ultimate research goal is to build a new polycentricity index as an innovative methodological tool to highlight polycentric networking synergies on interurban and intraregional scales. The region of Thrace in Northern Greece is chosen to apply the proposed methodology. Research on ways to couple polycentricity and PROMETHEE methods is limited, and thus, the proposed methodological approach is expected to contribute to the field of urban and regional strategies for researchers and practitioners.

PRESCHOOL PEDAGOGY AND TEACHING PRACTICES IN THE INCLUSIVE CLASSROOMS: A RESEARCH STUDY ACCORDING TO THE CURRICULUM PROGRAM IN GREECE

<p>The Curriculum forms the common framework for organizing learning in kindergarten based on certain principles. Preschool education, in the light of the development of basic abilities, is aligned with the principles of holistic development and learning adopted by the Curriculum. It is important that preschool teachers understand the core knowledge areas, concepts, and skills that are sought to be developed so that they can approach them holistically and dynamically. The purpose of this study is to investigate the views and educational practices of kindergarten teachers regarding the teaching plans and learning situations they organize in their inclusive classrooms in order to respond to the needs and capabilities of kindergarten children. It is a qualitative research, with the methodological tool of semi-structured interviews, in a sample of forty (40) kindergarten teachers from the regional unit of Epirus. Kindergarten teachers answered questions regarding: investigations, errors as a pedagogical tool, the learning situations they organize taking into account characteristics of the game, inclusive education in kindergarten, differentiated teaching and learning and the opportunities they create for intercultural communication. From the analysis and interpretation of the interviews, it is clear that the kindergarten teachers wish to harmoniously combine theory with practice and that inclusive education in kindergarten is a practical approach to diversity as an element that unifies and enriches the learning experience. However, the findings of the research also highlighted the need for teachers for training and further information on teaching methodology and practical application as well as the need to reframe and redefine the goals of the Analytical Study Programs in the direction of forming a high-quality modern school.</p><p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/soc/0770/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>

Integration of Artificial Intelligence in Foreign Language Teaching: Exploring Views and Beliefs of Greek Foreign Language Teachers

The present quantitative research investigates attitudes and perceptions of Greek foreign language teachers regarding the issue of the use, implementation and pedagogical exploitation of AI in foreign language teaching. A total of 150 foreign language teachers in the public sector of primary and secondary education (permanent and contractual teachers) participated in the survey and the methodological tool used was an electronic questionnaire. The survey took place between March and May 2024. The research questions, which are the main axes of the survey, were the following: a) How do teachers define AI? b) Have they used AI tools in foreign language teaching and if so, why and how often? c) what do they consider to be the positive aspects of AI in teaching? d) what do they consider to be its negative aspects and what concerns do they have? e) to what extent do they feel competent in the use and pedagogical exploitation of AI applications? The results show that teachers perceive AI as something new that they are not well informed about and wish to be trained to be able to integrate it into their teaching. Among the positives, the speed of creating digital content is listed and among the negatives is the fear that there will be no need for foreign language teaching in the future and therefore no need for jobs for foreign language teachers. As far as their competence is concerned, the majority feel that support and training are needed in order to provide a valid framework for foreign language teaching.

What should communities stipulate in their (macro)social contract with business? Updated CSR commandments for corporations

AbstractThis article relies on two major business ethics books to propose a decalogue of corporate behavior. Notably, both Donaldson and Dunfee's Ties That Bind (1999) and Kerr et al.'s CSR: A Legal Analysis (2009) tried to avoid the sinuous and inconclusive normative quest for hypernorms of business social responsibility: the former proposed an integrated social contract between business and community, while the latter adopted a positivist approach, looking at existing law of all sorts, national and international, to decant eight principles of CSR. Using a methodological tool from the first book, namely, the macrosocial contract between business and communities, this article updates the list proposed in the second book. As societal expectations evolve in time, emerging principles are included in the amended list, such as meeting tax obligations, refraining from taking advantage of disaster‐struck communities, and prioritizing the human in the age of artificial intelligence. The mixed approach (ethical, contractarian, and positivist) allows introducing the 10 principles as “commandments”: initial reasonable content of a macrosocial for business, informed by undisputed ethical principles (hypernorms) and potentially implemented through positive law.

Conspiratorial narratives as cultural repertoires and methodological tools.

This article builds on data and field work notes from two ethnographic studies conducted in two cities: Istanbul and Trabzon, Turkey. It examines the socio-political dynamics behind the prevalence and impact of conspiratorial narratives. We explore the emergence, circulation, and effects of these narratives and how they shape political orientations and mobilisation. We raise methodological questions about these narratives and propose researchers closely scrutinise them rather than dismissing them as illogical or incoherent. Our research reveals three novel relational and methodological insights derived from conspiratorial narratives. First, these narratives serve as sense-making tools during times of uncertainty. They provide accessible explanations for abrupt changes, and they rely and draw upon 'cultural repertoires'. Second, by challenging the mainstream narratives, they shape subjectivities; empowering narrators to act as agents. Third, how conspiratorial narratives circulate has implications for the dynamics of state-public relationships, often following the neoliberal logic, they portray political leaders as central figures in navigating complex decision-making processes. Our case studies demonstrate that actors, even in less powerful positions, may not necessarily antagonise the state. We underscore the methodological significance of these narratives for researchers, to examine actors' agency, group dynamics, and responses to everyday injustices.

Higher-Order Null Models as a Lens for Social Systems

Despite the widespread adoption of higher-order mathematical structures such as hypergraphs, methodological tools for their analysis lag behind those for traditional graphs. This work addresses a critical gap in this context by proposing two microcanonical random null models for directed hypergraphs: the directed hypergraph degree model () and the directed hypergraph JOINT model (). These models preserve essential structural properties of directed hypergraphs such as node in- and out-degree sequences and hyperedge head- and tail-size sequences, or their joint tensor. We also describe two efficient Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithms, - and -, to sample random hypergraphs from these ensembles. To showcase the interdisciplinary applicability of the proposed null models, we present three distinct use cases in sociology, epidemiology, and economics. First, we reveal the oscillatory behavior of increased homophily in opposition parties in the U.S. Congress over a 40-year span, emphasizing the role of higher-order structures in quantifying political group homophily. Second, we investigate a nonlinear contagion in contact hypernetworks, demonstrating that disparities between simulations and theoretical predictions can be explained by considering higher-order joint degree distributions. Last, we examine the economic complexity of countries in the global trade network, showing that local network properties preserved by explain the main structural economic complexity indexes. This work advances the development of null models for directed hypergraphs, addressing the intricate challenges posed by their complex entity relations, and providing a versatile suite of tools for researchers across various domains. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Tourism Application Development with a Recommendation System based on Fuzzy Logic

The article addresses issues related to the breadth and multifaceted aspects of the tourism industry. It discusses the practical benefits of using recommendation systems based on mobile devices. Mobile applications with recom­mendation systems play an important role in the tourism planning process, offering users personalized suggestions that enhance their travel experience. The main focus of this work is on the use of fuzzy logic as the basis for the rec­ommendation system, which allows for a more flexible and accurate suggestion mechanism that takes into account uncertainties and the diversity of user preferences. The methodology proposed by the authors is based on applying a fuzzy content model to the described problems as an effective extension of the collaborative model. The article describes a method for implementing the recommendation system algorithm, lists the technical tools used to imple­ment the application, presents an activity diagram of the working application, describes the process of searching, preparing, and annotating data used in the working application. The presented software and methodological tools help to solve problems associated with the clear categorization of tourist objects within traditional types of tourism, arising from the broad classification of tourist objects, thereby improving the quality of the tourist experience.

Using Of Artificial Intelligence In The Cultural And Creative Industries: A Public Administration Perspective

The purpose of this article is to explore the specific aspects of implementing artificial intelligence (AI) in the cultural and creative industries from a public administration perspective. The article analyses the main opportunities and directions for incorporating AI into public management for the development of these sectors in Ukraine. It highlights that digital transformation, facilitated by AI technologies, requires adherence to structural-functional, informational-communicative, and organizational-technological approaches. These approaches ensure decentralization, modernization of information infrastructure, and optimization of management processes. The article outlines the prospects and directions for AI integration into public administration in the cultural and creative sectors in Ukraine. It identifies the main benefits of AI, such as the ability to analyse large volumes of data, predict trends, automate routine processes, and support informed decision-making. These benefits can enhance the quality and accessibility of cultural products and create new channels and consumption models. This includes applications like the digitization of cultural heritage, management of cultural institutions, and the creation of personalized experiences for visitors. The article also identifies potential risks associated with implementing AI in public administration for the cultural and creative industries in Ukraine. These risks include issues related to copyright protection, ethics, and transparency in decision-making. Despite the significant potential, the integration of AI in public administration is still in its early stages. It faces numerous challenges, such as a lack of clear methodological approaches and practical tools, as well as risks related to privacy, algorithm transparency, and employment impacts. The article emphasizes that using AI in creating creative products raises important considerations regarding the value-based foundations of the cultural and creative sectors. It transforms creativity from an individual to a collective endeavor, where the role of machine systems becomes comparable to that of humans. Additionally, the article proposes a refined definition of «creative industries» in Ukrainian legislation, considering the specificities of creating creative products with AI.

Transnational Analysis of ESG Information Disclosure: Environmental Concerns among Listed Companies in China and the United States

This research provides a transnational analysis of the environmental concerns embedded within the ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) information disclosure practices of listed companies in China and the United States. By examining 10 representative firms from each country, the study aims to highlight the variances in environmental awareness and subsequent actions undertaken by entities in these two major economies. However, as some argue, Nonpecuniary factors, such as ESG considerations, should never take precedence over investment returns, risk or lowering fees. Despite this perspective, our investigation adopts a cross-border lens, offering a more holistic perspective. The primary methodological tools involve evaluating ESG report ratings based on MSCI scoring rules and analyzing word frequencies related to environmental topics in Q4 2022 conference call transcripts. Preliminary findings indicate that the predictive effect of the MSCI score does not significantly differ between the two regions, and the attention to environmental issues, as evidenced by word frequencies, is comparable. The study acknowledges limitations arising from the limited dataset and the temporal scope of the research. Nevertheless, this research presents significant implications for international ESG policymaking, potentially guiding more effective strategies to attain Sustainable Development Goals. It also suggests avenues for further research, particularly in expanding the dataset and refining keyword sentiment analysis methodologies.

Current issues of assessing and increasing the digital maturity of Russian enterprises

The unfolding fourth industrial revolution involves increasing the innovative activity of Russian economic entities with the aim of producing high-tech products that replace foreign analogues and ensure the achievement of independence and accelerated development of enterprises. Digital maturity in this aspect is the main factor contributing to their transition to a digital path of development and accelerating innovative growth through the introduction of modern software and the subsequent use of emerging digital capabilities for effective functioning in the face of ongoing changes. A scientifically based approach to assessing digital maturity and managing the digitalization of domestic enterprises is a guarantee of increasing their competitiveness in the market. The purpose of the study is to develop tools for assessing and improving the digital maturity of Russian enterprises to ensure effective implementation of digital renewal strategy and independence from Western developers provision. In the process of achieving this goal, methods of structural analysis and synthesis, system analysis, generalization and description were used. Based on the results of the study, a set of recommendations was developed that are of high importance for the development of methodological management tools and acceleration of economic growth of enterprises in the Russian Federation. The study is based on modern works of leading domestic and foreign economists. The digital transformation of enterprises contributes to their resilience to risks and uncertainty, which inevitably manifest themselves in the conditions of economic restructuring.

Methodology for evaluation of complex school-based health promotion interventions.

There is a need for careful examination of large volumes of collected (structured and unstructured) information related to school-based evaluation. There is also no published, comprehensive framework/s for evaluating complex interventions in Irish primary schools. The aim of this paper is to outline a methodology for process evaluation of an Irish primary school-based physical activity (PA) and nutrition intervention. Evaluation followed the three themes outlined by the British Medical Research Council: implementation, context, and mechanism of impact that we further divided into six dimensions. Methodological tools included questionnaires, PA logs, reflective journals, write and draw, and semi-structured interviews. We triangulated findings across these multiple tools to assess each dimension. We designed a unique framework to enable comparisons and offer researchers a template for evaluating complex health promotion interventions in primary schools. We present a methodology for evaluating a complex school-based health promotion intervention. The framework we propose integrates process and outcome data. It aims to enhance future result interpretation and facilitate informed comparisons among intervention schools.

Propagation and molecular analysis in Dioscorea: a bibliometric review

Species of the genus Dioscorea, popularly called yams, are notable primarily for their nutritional value and the production of bioactive compounds. Considering the importance of this genus for the food and pharmaceutical industries, the present study aimed to understand the state of the art in the area of propagation and molecular characterization of the genus, based on bibliometric analysis. Bibliometrics was the basic methodological tool used, and the data were sourced from the Scopus® and Web of ScienceTM databases. A total of 69 publications on the propagation of the Dioscorea genus were analyzed. The average number of publications per year was 4.69, with the highest number of publications observed in 2011 and an annual growth rate of 4.25%. The most developed themes were those related to propagation through in vitro cultivation. Regarding molecular characterization, 44 publications were analyzed. The average number of publications was 5.37, with the highest number of publications observed in 2017 and an annual growth rate of 7.11%. The most important themes were related to the genetic diversity of species of the genus. This review maps the existing studies and identifies gaps in the research field on the propagation and molecular characterization of species of the genus Dioscorea.

DIRECTIONS AND MECHANISM FOR STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT OF GRAIN PRODUCTION IN NIZHNY NOVGOROD REGION

The strategic development of grain production is a very relevant area, since in order to remain competitive in the long term, it must be transformed into a high-tech branch of the national economy. The purpose of the study: justification of directions and development of a mechanism for strategic development of grain production in the Nizhny Novgorod region. Within the framework of this goal, a critical analysis of studies on this problem was carried out. Based on the use of methodological tools such as SWOT analysis and the BSC method, the directions of strategic development of grain production in the Lower Rod region were scientifically substantiated, and thanks to the empirical modeling method, the Ministry of Management of Strategic Development of Grain Production in this region was developed. As a result, the author highlighted and specified the following areas of strategic development of grain production: a breakthrough strategy, strategies aimed at qualitative renewal of production technologies in conditions of production instability and a survival strategy. The directions were drawn up in the form of a map of the strategic development of grain production in the Nizhny Novgorod region. The mechanism proposed by the author to manage the strategic development of grain production in the region includes such subsystems as goal setting, strategy, control and implementation of the developed areas of strategic development. As a result, the implementation of the proposed directions on the basis of the mechanism for strategic development of grain production will contribute to its transformation into a high-tech industry.

(Re)making Scales: Communicative enfranchisement in Women’s Narrative Discourses About Health Dismissal

ABSTRACT Dismissal of women’s health concerns is a discursive phenomenon with social and material consequences. A burgeoning literature documents how women experience dismissal through various forms of disenfranchising talk. Yet, women are not only subjected to disenfranchising talk; they are called to respond to it. Meaning, analyses of disenfranchisement should also examine efforts toward enfranchisement. One process by which scholars can study communicative (dis)enfranchisement is through people’s scalar activity, or how they contextualize experiences at different levels of social reality. Studies of scale demonstrate that the language people use to narrate their personal experiences has meaning for how they position themselves in relation to other social actors, as well as how they make statements about what matters, how much, and to whom. Drawing on 36 interviews with women whose health issues have been dismissed, we apply scale as a theoretical lens and methodological tool to study how women use language in particular, meaningful, and patterned ways in narratives about health dismissal. Our findings suggest that women’s narrative discourse is enfranchising in so much as women critique, resist, and transform the contexts of their dismissal. We document how they and others scale “realness” and “normality” across narrated and narrating events. We also note how women scale up from their own experiences to women’s experiences writ large, asserting truth claims about issues borne of the broader U.S. healthcare system. Findings have implications for how critical health communication researchers study how women’s health issues are constructed in talk.

Adapting and extending multimodal (inter)action analysis to investigate synchronous multimodal online language teaching

Abstract Multimodal (inter)action analysis offers a powerful and robust methodology for the study of action and interaction between social actors, their environment, and the objects and tools within. Yet its implementation in the analysis of synchronous multimodal online data sets, e.g. (inter)actions via videoconferencing, is limited. Drawing on our research in understanding teacher-learner (inter)actions in instruction-giving fragments in synchronous multimodal online language lessons, we describe and illustrate the ways in which we adapted and extended some of the methodological and analytical tools. These include (1) the use of a grounded theory approach in delineating and identifying higher-level actions, (2) the embodiment and disembodiment of frozen actions, (3) electronic print mode, (4) semiotic lag, (5) semiotic (mis)alignment, (6) modal density (mis)alignment, and (7) how modal density can be achieved by brisk modal shifts in addition to through modal intensity and complexity. We conclude by a call for further educational research in online teaching platforms using the framework to have richer understandings of the (inter)actions between social actors with particular roles and identities (teachers-learners), their environment, and the objects and tools within, which bring their “own material properties, feel and techniques of use, affordances and limitations” (Chun, Dorothy, Richard Kern & Bryan Smith. 2016. Technology in language use, language teaching, and language learning. The Modern Language Journal 100. 64–80: 65).

Variations in the intensity of the securitization narratives at the EU level: securitizing the European refugee crisis

This paper examines the narratives of the European Council, European Commission, and European Parliament regarding the European refugee crisis. Although the relevant scholarly research suggests that the EU Institutions held different perspectives about the refugee crisis, this paper argues that there was no such a clash of perspectives. This paper builds on the Copenhagen School’s securitization framework as complemented with subsequent methodological tools to support the author’s arguments. The findings suggest that despite the similarity in the views held by the main EU Institutions considering the refugees’ influx, there was a variation in the intensity of their securitizing narratives. Theoretically, this study develops an understanding of the importance of the securitization narratives’ intensity. Methodologically, this study introduces the Securitization Narratives Continuum, a research tool that facilitates the assessment of securitization. Empirically, this is the first study to interview and take into account the opinions of the securitizing actors.

Оценка приоритетов использования программных бюджетных расходов в регионах Российской Федерации

This article is devoted to the search for an answer to the question whether the promotion of socio-economic development is among the key priorities of using the budget potential of the subjects of the Russian Federation. To solve this problem, the study has developed methodological tools for assessing the use of the budget potential of the region. Mainly, it includes justification of priorities and directions of using the budget potential of the region, determination of the proportion of priorities and its dynamics, calculation of the importance of priorities based on a modified formula of their elasticity according to the maximum achieved budget potential of the region. In practice, the application of the developed methodological tools will make it possible to measure and adjust the ratio of directions and priorities for the use of the budget potential of the region, depending on the goals and conditions of the development of the social sphere and the economy. According to the developed tools, as well as on the basis of official reporting data from the Federal Treasury, the Federal State Statistics Service, and the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation, an approbation diagnosis of the use of budget potential was carried out on the example of 85 subjects of the Russian Federation over a 15-year period from 2006 to 2020. It was determined that 7/10 of the realized budget potential of the subjects of the Russian Federation was used for the current priority, 2/10 — for transfer, 1/10 — for investment. The empirical results obtained in the work confirmed the hypothesis that the use of budget resources of regions for short-term stabilization purposes is more important than financing longterm stimulation of socio-economic development of territories. According to the results of the approbation, ways to increase the efficiency of using the budget potential of the region to stimulate its socio-economic development are identified.

Transformation of theoretical approaches to enhancing the effectiveness of preferential policies

The article presents the results of many years of research by the authors on the evolution of theoretical and methodological approaches to substantiate the prerequisites and conditions for the creation of preferential regimes in various countries and regions. Based on a generalization of a large array of information sources, it was concluded that the applied forms of these regimes (free and special economic zones, free ports, territories of rapid socio-economic development, etc.) are components of regional systems in which special conditions for the functioning of entrepreneurial enterprises are legally established. structures to achieve strategic goals of economic growth. The above study notes the negative experience of creating free economic zones in the Russian Federation in the 90s of the last century due to organizational and economic omissions in the ongoing state policy, with an emphasis on the need for a more informed approach to managing the effectiveness of the implementation of such national projects in the current conditions of stagnation of the Russian economy. Paying special attention to the specifics of the stages of development of preferential regimes, the authors of the article propose a systematization of numerous factors influencing their effectiveness based on the characteristics of spatial localization, level of management, and degree of distribution. The theoretical and practical significance is represented by the author's approach to the formation of a system for managing the effectiveness of preferential regimes, starting with its main component — setting goals for their creation, consistent with the strategic goals of the development of regions and the country. Recognizing the existing imperfection of the holistic system for assessing the effectiveness and efficiency of preferential regimes that are in the process of formation in Russia, the authors emphasize the timeliness and importance of developing appropriate methodological tools, especially taking into account modern external challenges.

Spoken and signed languages hand in hand: parallel and directly comparable corpora of French Belgian Sign Language (lsfb) and French

Linguistics as a discipline only began to consider signed languages as legitimate, fully fledged linguistic systems from the 1960s onwards. However, comparative work on signed and spoken languages made so far has struggled to draw on similar methodologies. In this paper, we seek to fill in this gap by presenting a recently built set of multilingual corpora, allowing scholars to conduct comparative studies on French Belgian Sign Language (lsfb), and its ambient spoken language, Belgian French. This paper outlines the theoretical developments which have led to the creation of these corpora, highlighting two breakthroughs in the understanding of human communicative practices (i.e., the emergence of signed language linguistics and the development of comparative semiotics). We show that combining these recent theoretical insights with the new methodological tools holds potential for future research avenues that could broaden and improve our understanding of language use.