Phase Of Research Project Research Articles

Academic Casualization, Precarity, and Information Practices: A Scoping Review

ABSTRACTIn the first phase of a larger research project exploring the information practices of contract academic staff, a review of the wider literature around academic casualization was conducted. This research begins to address the need for greater understanding of the experiences of these workers in the information‐intensive environments of higher education. A scoping review methodology was applied, and both academic and grey literature from multiple disciplines was reviewed. The literature points to casualization in academia as a growing phenomenon that has important consequences for staff, students, and universities themselves. This poster discusses the initial themes emerging from the literature, including: the precarity and marginalization of academic staff, the unrecognized emotional labor shaping information practices, and the impacts of multiple temporalities on the work, careers, and lives of such staff. The findings suggest the need for empirical research to address the lack of knowledge around the information environments of contract academics and set the stage for the next phases of the research project.

Synergetic Temporary Use for the Enhancement of Historic Centers: The Pilot Project for the Naples Waterfront

The paper reports the results of a phase of the research Project “Urban Eco-efficiency,” developed by the Architecture Department at the University of Naples Federico II, in collaboration with the regional section of the CeNSU. The thesis is the efficiency of incremental processes through temporary installations and uses in order to insert in historic centers innovative architectures and functions that are aimed at eco-efficient transformations. The experimentation conducted through the program for the enhancement of the historic Naples waterfront, in which the research group participated, allowed us to verify the thesis, in areas where the temporary dimension and bottom-up processes that typically characterize it are adequately coordinated in a unitary plan, with a sensitive de-escalation of the infighting, both institutional and between stakeholders.

Climate change risks and environmental design for resilient urban regeneration. Napoli Est pilot case

The paper shows the results of the first phase of the research project “METROPOLIS - Methodologies and Technologies for integrated and sustainable adaptation and security of urban systems” developed by STRESS Scarl - High Technology District for Sustainable Building of the Campania Region. The project is aimed at the development of innovative strategies for a resilient urban system and design guidelines for appropriate choices of urban regeneration based on the assessment and mitigation of natural and man-made hazards. The paper describes the results concerning the definition of innovative methodologies for the knowledge and mapping of urban vulnerability to climate risks in the East Naples area. The cross-disciplinary and multi-scale approach integrates knowledge and technology from university and industrial partners to develop a decision support tool in the field of urban regeneration. The study of the impacts of extreme weather events, based on the simulation of climate change scenarios in the area of East Naples, includes the data management in a GIS environment from satellite remote sensing, direct surveys and simulation software, focusing on the environmental and technological performance of urban spaces and elements. The research results report risk scenarios for pluvial flood and heat waves hazards according to both climatic variables, both aggravating phenomena arising from the characteristics of urban settlements. The complex reading of the buildings-open spaces system and its response to climate change conditions has allowed to define the vulnerability of elements at risk, as well as adaptation and mitigation solutions to be implemented within urban regeneration interventions, identifying critical issues in relation to comfort and environmental risk conditions, consumption and efficient use of resources, compliance of the technological choices to specific requirements.

Implementation of Electronic Patient Records in two Rural District Hospitals and one Urban University Hospital in Cameroon

Background and objectives: The health system in Cameroon has to deal with several health problems which increasingly affect the economically active population (e.g. AIDS, Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, increasing rate of diabetes, nephrology, cardiovascular and other chronic diseases). It is globally recognized that care processes of these health problems can be efficiently and effectively managed in care facilities with electronic patient records. In addition, the work of research organizations and strategic institutions such as the Ministry of Health and research or international institutions reply partly on the quality of data and the reports of locally operating facilities. Experience gathered on AIDS and tuberculosis in other developing countries has proven that innovative locally appropriate implementation of cost-effective electronic patient records (EPR) can lead to considerable improvement. For this reason, we implemented and evaluated an already validated innovative eHealth-based solution with EPR in two rural district hospitals and one urban university hospital of Cameroon, in order to contribute to the improvement of the situation presented here, compare and evaluate implementation challenges (difference between rural and urban facilities), measure the impact on the local care process, and identify success and sustainability factors for future projects. Methods: A review of the relevant research literature and project report has been performed. A Stakeholder analysis was conducted using qualitative methods. Process and infrastructure analysis were performed and key requirements identified. Based on these, an implementation plan and evaluation indicators were formulated. Agile methods (SCRUM and KANBAN) and quality management based on continuous improvement processes were applied for the project management (including software development and change management). Result and discussion: The 22 indicators evaluated indicated that 5 activities were realized within the planed timeslot, 14 activities have been partially realized with an average delay of about 7 months, and some activities were postponed for the second phase of the project. The qualitative evaluation conducted at the end of the first phase of this research project showed a clear satisfaction of the stakeholders with the achieved results and specially the methods approach. This enhanced the local ownership which is a key requirement for the project sustainability. The agile methods and the availability for volunteer experts however led often to an extension of the activities deadlines.

ICONE11-36180 CURRENT PRODUCTS AND FUTURE PLAN OF REGULATORY RESEARCH FOR RISK-INFORMED REGULATION IN KOREA

The first phase of a regulatory research project for risk-informed regulation (RIR) and applications (RIA) was finished in March of 2002. Various results that could be useful for preparing Korean RIR system have been developed. One of the remarkable outputs is development of reactor safety goals and acceptance criteria for RIR and RIA in Korea. The Safety Goal has a 4-tier hierarchical structure and each tier has specified goals classified for their usage. Regulatory review guides for probabilistic safety assessment (PSA) including level-1,level-2 and low power and shutdown PSA have been updated by reflecting new information obtained from not only the overseas documents but also experience and insights from regulatory review in Korea. In addition, draft regulatory guides for risk-informed in-service inspection, in-service testing, importance ranking of motor-operated valves, and AOT/STI change of Technical Specifications have been developed for preparing ongoing and future licensing work. Risk-based inspection guides with inspection items selected from a viewpoint of risk importance have been suggested for Korean standard NPPs as well. In the second phase of a research project (April of 2002 to March of 2005), two regulatory research projects on RIR were initiated. One is a study on institutionalization of risk-informed and performance-based regulation. Main topics of this project are evaluation of benefit and characteristics of RIR, development of optimized Korean RIR model, impact analysis for the change of current regulation framework, and suggestion techniques of risk information to the significance determination of plant performance indicators and inspection findings. It is expected that a concrete scheme and detailed regulatory techniques for embodiment of RIR system in Korea will be produced through the second phase projects.

Effect of animation in enhancing descriptive and procedural texts in a multimedia learning environment

This article reports the third and final phase of a research project to investigate the role of animation in enhancing recall and comprehension of text by grade 6 primary school students. This phas...

A Breast and Cervical Cancer Project in a Native Hawaiian Community: Wai′anae Cancer Research Project

Background. This article describes a breast and cervical cancer control project in a Native Hawaiian community and presents preliminary findings from its first year, The project is community driven, with Native Hawaiian community investigators and advisors involved in all phases of the research project, Its purpose is to test the effectiveness of a culturally appropriate intervention as a means of increasing breast and cervical cancer screening practices among Native Hawaiian women. Methods. This article discusses the process of community participation in the development of a baseline survey as well as selected findings from that survey. A baseline telephone survey was conducted to obtain an initial assessment of community knowledge, attitudes, and behavior related to cancer, Community representatives were an integral part of the research team that planned and implemented the survey. Results. A total of 1,260 women drawn equally from the study and the control communities participated in the survey. A majority of those surveyed in both communities indicated adherence to cancer screening recommendations. Seventy-three percent of the women reported having obtained a Pap test during the past 2 years. Fifty-nine percent of women over 40 years of age reported having had a mammogram during the past 2 years. Twenty-eight percent reported having used Hawaiian remedies within the past year. Thirty-six percent of the women reported encouraging others to obtain cancer screening services. Discussion. Though a majority of the target population are following cancer screening guidelines, a significant minority are not, While the project intervention aims to change the screening behavior of women not currently getting cancer screening, it plans to do so by enlisting the women already in compliance to reach others in their social networks who are currently not getting cancer screening. The involvement of community representatives, working alongside researchers, in baseline survey planning helped assure the survey was acceptable to the participants and the community as a whole, This process is illustrative of a participatory research commitment which underlies success in the early phase of this Native Hawaiian research project.

Documentation in evaluation research: Managerial and scientific requirements

Documentation in evaluation research consists of written material, in human- or machine-readable form, pertaining to the plans, activities, and results of the project. It is argued here that good documentation is essential for effective management of evaluations, and for responsible reporting of the research procedures and findings. Documentation relating to electronic data processing activity is especially important. The purpose of this paper is to stimulate consideration and discussion of documentation, and to emphasize its importance in evaluation research. The role of documentation in the planning and control functions of project management is reviewed, and the importance of documentation in the assessment of research quality with respect to objectivity, validity, and replicability is discussed. Reasons for poor documentation are considered. An outline of documentation required in different phases of research projects is provided, and recommendations for improving the quality of documentation are presented.