Pilot Research Project Research Articles

Teaching mindfulness to ELL students as a social-emotional learning wartime coping strategy: a multimodality perspective

This article focuses on exploring the pressing issue of teaching armed conflict affected English language learning (ELL) Ukrainian students to be mindful to better cope with wartime stressors for the sake of their psychological, physical health, intellectual and emotional well-being, enhanced resilience and ethical sustainability. Within the methodological framework of social emotional learning and linguocognitive paradigms, the authors have substantiated the status of the time-tested practice of mindfulness as a coping tool kit to be integrated in teaching English to students in conflict settings. As a result of the study conducted, it has been concluded that consistent practices of teaching mindfulness to students who suffer from war (post)-traumatic stress disorders, depression, anxiety, lack of hope, fear, have promising linguodidactic and psychological implications that result in students’ language performance improvements. On the basis of analytically summarizing methods to implement (non-)verbally represented mindfulness as a coping mechanism in the corresponding EFL environment, the authors have come up with a four-dimensional mindfulness developing model of multimodal coping strategies for war affected ELL students. The matrix model suggested includes problem-focused, emotion-focused, avoidance and faith-based linguodidactic activities with an emphasis on the multimodal nature of mindfulness. The most efficient exercises are presented in the paper. It has been pointed out that mindfulness can be taught through listening, speaking, writing, reading practices, as well as through stimulating verbally and non-verbally actualized visual, auditory, olfactory, haptic, and gustatory types of perception, The pilot research project carried out, whose outcomes are to be perspectively refined, interculturally enriched and amalgamated into a coursebook, has proved that helping ELL students with wartime experience to be more mindful through adaptive coping strategies can mediate and moderate the negative impact of armed conflict trauma on their mental health and well-being.

The importance of a World Health Organization international pharmacovigilance database (VigiBase): novel methods for safety monitoring and surveillance of medical products

Pharmacovigilance and medical product safety issues are important for all global citizens. Previous studies have analyzed the disaster caused by thalidomide in 1961. In 1963, the 16th World Health Assembly was determined to create the World Health Organization (WHO) Pilot Research Project for International Drug Monitoring in order to develop and understand adverse effects of medical products. In 1968, this pilot research project developed into the WHO Programme for International drug Monitoring (earlier versions of VigiBase) coordinated by the Uppsala Monitoring Center (Uppsala, Sweden) which expanded in scale to include 153 member countries, 22 associates, and many regional reporting centers as of March 2022. The main goal of the WHO Global ICSR Database System (VigiBase) is detecting, understanding, assessing, and preventing adverse effects of medical products (herbals, complementary medicines, biologic products, blood products, medical devices, and vaccines). This article aims to provide appropriate and strong reference of adverse reactions in specific drugs and novel method to identify specific features of adverse drug reactions through data and information achieved by VigiBase.

Internal factor analysis of cleanliness, health, safety, and environment sustainability implementation in food and beverage services

The Covid-19 pandemic has triggered the journey of life with a new order, in order to adapt to the situation in dealing with disruptions caused by the pandemic. The government, through the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, implements standards and guidelines for the protocol for Hygiene, Health, Safety, and Environmental Sustainability in the tourism sector. Of course this must be applied to all business actors in the tourism industry, including service and beverage providers, which is one of it is bakery. As a tourism owner or entrepreneur and employer, it is important to participate in implementing the CHSE protocol in the business environment. For this purpose, it is important to evaluate the application of the CHSE. In order to achieve that purpose, it is necessary to conduct a research by analyzing the internal factors, the strengths and weaknesses, in the implementation of CHSE, as the objective of this research. This research is a pilot research project. The sample of this research is a brand of bakery business with some branches in the city of Palembang. Data collection was carried out using a questionnaire distributed to employees and employers during the fourth quarter of 2021. The results of this study indicate that in the bakery business it can be said that in the implementation of CHSE, the business has more strength factors compared to the weakness factor, which means that the CHSE implementation activities that have been carried out are good, by employees and employers.

Development of an Evaluation Methodology for Loss of Large Area induced from Extreme Events with malicious origin

Event of loss of large area (LOLA) induced from extreme external event at multi-units nuclear installation has been emerged a new challenges in the realm of nuclear safety and regulation after Fukushima Dai-Ichi accident. The relevant information and experience on evaluation methodology and regulatory requirements are rarely available and negative to share due to the security sensitivity. Most of countries has been prepared their own regulatory requirements and methodologies to evaluate impact of LOLA at nuclear power plant. In Korea, newly amended the Nuclear Safety Acts requires to assess LOLA in terms of EDMG (Extended Damage Mitigation Guideline). Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety (KINS) has performed a pilot research project to develop the methodology and regulatory review guidance on LOLA at multi-units nuclear power plant since 2014. Through this research, we proposed a methodology to identify the strategies for preventive and mitigation of the consequences of LOLA utilizing PSA techniques or its results. The proposed methodology is comprised of 8 steps including policy consideration, threat evaluation, identification of damage path sets, SSCs capacity evaluation and identification of mitigation measures and strategies. The consequence of LOLA due to malevolent aircraft crash may significantly susceptible with analysis assumptions including type of aircraft, amount of residual fuel, and hittable angle and so on, which cannot be shared overtly. This paper introduces a evaluation methodology for LOLA using PSA technique and its results. Also we provide a case study to evaluate hittable access angle using flight simulator for two types of aircrafts and to identify potential path sets leading to core damage by affected SSCs within damaged area.

Multi-Tiered Culturally Responsive Behavior Support: A Qualitative Study of Trauma-Informed Education in an Australian Primary School

There is growing awareness of the impact of intergenerational trauma and community disadvantage on the educational achievement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (First Nations) children in Australia. Scholars have identified the need for culturally responsive and trauma-informed approaches to complement existing disciplinary and behavior support practices utilized in schools. This pilot research project explored the experiences of primary school teachers who were supported to implement trauma-informed practices in a regional primary school with a large number of First Nations students. Qualitative interviews with eight teachers were conducted after a 3-year (2017–2020) implementation of the Trauma-Informed Behavior Support (TIBS) program. Using a thematic analysis approach, the study identified the following themes: changes in teacher knowledge about the impact of intergenerational trauma, acknowledgment of the multi-systemic influences on student behavior difficulties, increased self-efficacy in providing culturally safe learning environments and strategies for building relationships with First Nations students. The findings offer insights into factors that support the successful and sustainable implementation of culturally responsive and trauma-informed practices in primary school settings.

Warming up: The potential of community radio for climate change communication in Australia

Climate change is already dramatically affecting the Australian landscape and way of life. These impacts are experienced locally, therefore responses must also be local, at least in part. There is an opportunity for Australia’s vibrant community radio sector to play a leading role in building community resilience around the effects of climate change. The importance of the sector in climate change communication is well-known: from emergency broadcasting during bushfires, to disaster preparedness and recovery work in cyclone season, as well as the activist role some stations take on local environmental issues. While important work is taking place, many stations lack the resources and the confidence to discuss how climate change is affecting their communities. This article details the findings of Warming Up, a pilot research project that aims to support community radio stations by amplifying local stories of climate change and building confidence and capacity to engage in meaningful community conversations.

Narcystyczna ciężkość życia i „nieznośna lekkość bytu” w aspekcie pedagogiki współczesnej młodzieży

The article aims to indicate the contradiction of lightness and heaviness that permeates the culture of narcissism and tangibly affects the lives of young people, becoming problematic for future generations. Questions: Does cultural narcissism determine contemporary young people’s attitudes full of contradictions, the antinomy of lightness and heaviness? If so, how does narcissism affect the understanding of community and relationships? The meeting places and relational spaces of young people, mediated by the media, spread the virus of adoration, self-admiration and privilege; this is a direct result of cultural narcissism. I observe this and many other determinants of dissociation resulting from the influence of the culture of egoism in the self-destructive attitudes and choices constructed by young people. Self-indulgence and adoration very often lead to a sense of emptiness, little worth and loneliness. This article will defend theses on visible dissociation in selected areas of youth’s existence. I will refer to the analyses of interviews with selected students conducted within the pilot research project on “Ego Addicts”. The background for the considerations is also examples from the life of characters from the prose of Milan Kundera; inspirational, they are both unbearably light and heavy. The narcissistic lightness of being can become a direction indicator for educators in diagnosing the heaviness, i.e. low value and loneliness and other dilemmas of youth.

Investigating the different facets of student engagement during augmented reality use in primary school

AbstractThis paper presents the results of a study into the different facets of student engagement during interactive augmented reality experiences presented on individual tablet computers to students in early primary school. The study was conducted as part of a pilot research project “SCOLLAm,” researching various approaches to learning with tablets in primary school in Croatia. To explore engagement in such an environment, an experimental approach based on an innovative digital lesson platform is taken, comparing augmented reality‐based digital lessons and multimedia‐based ones. In both approaches the contents are being shared, but presented differently, thus isolating augmented reality effects versus general technological intervention effects, an approach so far not explored in the early primary school context, but important, per existing literature. The data is analysed via video coding based on accepted engagement observational techniques and qualitative analysis. The results show that the AR‐based interactive learning experiences are in general more cognitively and overall engaging in the early primary school context, while having less non‐engagement or disengagement of the students than interactive learning experiences in multimedia digital lessons. Those findings are triangulated via teacher interviews and student focus groups, identifying likely reasons for such a difference, and examining how to best apply the results in everyday educational practice. Practitioner notesWhat is already known about this topic The effects of Augmented Reality Learning Experiences (ARLEs) on students’ knowledge and achievement are a common field of research interest by educational AR researchers. Student engagement is often used as proxy for student achievement as it has shown correlations with it, both generally and in ARLEs, and is thus also commonly of interest. It is difficult to isolate the effects of AR versus the effects of the fact that a technological intervention occurred in general; often requested in recent literature, it has so far been only done in two studies, in early childhood learning and university‐level education contexts. What this paper adds The paper presents an experimental study on engagement of students during ARLEs in early primary school (ages 7–8), one of the contexts most interesting to researchers, comparing lessons using the same contents in ARLEs and multimedia digital lessons, thus isolating AR effects from general technological intervention effects. The study shows ARLEs in this context providing more cognitive and overall student engagement, while having less non‐engagement or disengagement. Student focus groups, composed of students exposed to both AR and non‐AR lessons on tablets, explain this engagement by their perception of ARLEs as educational play. Implications for practice and/or policy With the building up of the corpus confirming engagement benefits, researchers and teachers can more confidently assume their presence when preparing ARLEs in primary school contexts, making for a stronger case for the use of ARLEs in this context. The findings, triangulated with teachers’ and students’ focus group feedback, support deploying ARLEs for review and reinforcement of learned contents. Not originally targeted, the findings give underlying empirical support for further research into AR Game‐based Learning, a developing field.

Review of Blockchain Potential Applications in the Electricity Sector and Challenges for Large Scale Adoption

Blockchain technology applications in the electricity sector are getting considerable attention from both academia and industry. It is expected that blockchain will play an important role in the transition to the smart grid. The blockchain applications in the electricity sector can be classified to optimizing existing processes like metering and billing or grid management and using blockchain for emerging applications such as creating new platforms for value exchange like peer-to-peer (P2P) energy trading. This paper briefly introduces the fundamentals of blockchain technology, such as different types of blockchain networks and consensus mechanisms, in addition to introducing a few blockchain platforms that are widely used in current studies, projects, and startups or may have future potential in the electricity sector applications. The contribution of this paper is to provide a review of potential applications of blockchain in many electricity sector use cases, and they are categorized into eight categories such as P2P energy trading, wholesale markets, retail markets, metering and billing, trading of renewable energy certificates (RECs) and carbon credits, electric mobility, enhancement of power system cyber security, investments in renewable energy sources (RESs), and power system operation and management. Moreover, examples of research studies, pilot projects, industrial projects, startups, or companies investigating the blockchain capabilities at each potential application are introduced. Furthermore, the studies presented in each use case are compared to clarify and highlight the blockchain functions and involved actors. Finally, the paper discusses the challenges that blockchain technology is facing that obstruct large-scale adoption in different sectors and in the electricity sector specifically and potential solutions to these challenges that are being developed.

Saving Senior Smiles: A Community Outreach Educational Program and Pilot Research Project

Globally, poor oral health has been evidenced more frequently among older adults. Thus, it is imperative to develop strategies for improving the oral health knowledge and access to dental care amongst the older adult population. The Saving Senior Smiles (S3) pilot outreach program was launched as an oral health education and awareness program for community-dwelling older adults across senior centers in the greater Boston area (Massachusetts, USA). The outreach consisted of oral health educational seminars presented by pre- doctoral dental students from three dental schools in the Boston area. The presentations highlighted the significance of oral health, and the importance of seeking routine dental care. Pre and post-test surveys were administered to assess the participants’ utilization of oral health services and oral health knowledge. The surveys were completed by 85 older adults (Female= 58.8%) across five senior centers. Questions pertaining to utilization of dental services revealed that 78.8% of the participants had a dentist. Expectedly, the center that reported the greatest number of missing teeth (Fenway center= 70.6%) had the least number of individuals who had a dentist (58.3%). With regard to oral health knowledge, before the seminars, less than half of the participants (42.2% ) across all the senior centers were aware of the common oral conditions that affected older adults ( dry mouth, gum recession and changes in oral bacteria) and after the presentation over 60% of the participants responded correctly to these knowledge questions. Overall, these findings emphasize the value of simple community-based interventions for older adults.

Involving Users in Infrastructure Development: Methodological Reflections From the Research Pilot Projects Using the CLARIAH Media Suite

In this contribution we introduce a compilation of articles that reflect on the use of the CLARIAH Media Suite and its impact on research methods, as they were conducted during the CLARIAH research pilot projects (2017-18). The pilot projects fit in a co-development approach in which users are involved in infrastructure development from the start. We discuss how feedback of the pilot researchers was incorporated in the iterative development and testing of the Media Suite.

Starting from scratch: Developing and sustaining a rural research team lessons from a nutrition and dietetics case study.

To describe the development of and key factors for sustaining a rural-based research team focussed on nutrition and dietetics. A longitudinal embedded case study approach with data sourced from publicly available records and observations. Case study sub-units were developed into 3 phases with analysis using theoretical propositions and pattern matching. Quantitative data were descriptively analysed. University of Newcastle Department of Rural Health across 4 rural sites. Publicly available data sources from existing team members. Staffing levels, research supervision, internal and external grant outcomes and peer-reviewed journal publications. Academic staffing has increased by 4 full-time equivalent positions over 18years, with 6 current higher-degree research students. Key factors identified in the development of a discipline-specific research workforce included staff higher degree by research completions, longevity of staff in research-active roles, immersive rural placements with a research component and collaborations with nationally competitive researchers. Rural pilot research projects, community connections, understanding of the local context and research networks were fundamental to establishing a viable team. Systematically investing in research that is embedded in local communities will ensure sustainability and relevance, capacity building of existing staff and an ability to problem solve at the local level. Sustained and focussed investment is needed if the current rural research workforce is to develop towards a capacity that meets current demand.

Methodological Innovation in Industry-based Journalism Research: Opportunities and Pitfalls using Psychophysiological Measures

ABSTRACT Since the media industry, due to a constantly developing media landscape, demands rapid and regular innovation of empirical methods, methodological innovation become a more compelling problem in industry compared to academic journalism research. This paper exemplifies methodological innovation in industry journalism research by means of a case study: NeuroJour, an industry pilot research project focusing on brain processing of digital journalism. The NeuroJour project involved testing four different psychophysiological methods: Primarily EEG, and eye tracking supplemented by EDA and facial coding – all of which are viewed as promising, innovative approaches to studying the complex and dynamic ways in which audience effects occur. Based on NeuroJour, this paper offers insight into the opportunities and pitfalls of applying psychophysiological measures in industry research on digital journalism, but also into how methodological innovation in industry and academic journalism research can cross-fertilize.

Electronic Paper Displays in Hospital Operations: Proposal for Deployment and Implementation.

BackgroundDisplay signage is ubiquitous and essential in hospitals to serve several clerical, operational, and clinical functions, including displaying notices, providing directions, and presenting clinical information. These functions improve efficiency and patient engagement, reduce errors, and enhance the continuity of care. Over time, signage has evolved from analog approaches such as whiteboards and handwritten notices to digital displays such as liquid crystal displays, light emitting diodes, and, now, electronic ink displays. Electronic ink displays are paper-like displays that are not backlit and show content by aligning microencapsulated color beads in response to an applied electric current. Power is only required to generate content and not to retain it. These displays are very readable, with low eye strain; minimize the emission of blue light; require minimal power; and can be driven by several data sources, ranging from virtual servers to electronic health record systems. These attributes make adapting electronic ink displays to hospitals an ideal use case.ObjectiveIn this paper, we aimed to outline the use of signage and displays in hospitals with a focus on electronic ink displays. We aimed to assess the advantages and limitations of using these displays in hospitals and outline the various public-facing and patient-facing applications of electronic ink displays. Finally, we aimed to discuss the technological considerations and an implementation framework that must be followed when adopting and deploying electronic ink displays.MethodsThe public-facing applications of electronic ink displays include signage and way-finders, timetables for shared workspaces, and noticeboards and bulletin boards. The clinical display applications may be smaller form factors such as door signs or bedside cards. The larger, ≥40-inch form factors may be used within patient rooms or at clinical command centers as a digital whiteboard to display general information, patient and clinician information, and care plans. In all these applications, such displays could replace analog whiteboards, noticeboards, and even other digital screens.ResultsWe are conducting pilot research projects to delineate best use cases and practices in adopting electronic ink displays in clinical settings. This will entail liaising with key stakeholders, gathering objective logistical and feasibility data, and, ultimately, quantifying and describing the effect on clinical care and patient satisfaction.ConclusionsThere are several use cases in a clinical setting that may lend themselves perfectly to electronic ink display use. The main considerations to be studied in this adoption are network connectivity, content management, privacy and security robustness, and detailed comparison with existing modalities. Electronic ink displays offer a superior opportunity to future-proof existing practices. There is a need for theoretical considerations and real-world testing to determine if the advantages outweigh the limitations of electronic ink displays.

An Optimal Primary Frequency Control Based on Adaptive Dynamic Programming for Islanded Modernized Microgrids

In many pilot research and development (R&D) microgrid projects, engine-based generators are employed in their power systems, either generating electrical energy or being mixed with the heat and power technology. One of the critical tasks of such engine-based generation units is the frequency regulation in the islanded mode of modernized microgrid (MMG) operation; MMGs are microgrids equipped with advanced controls to address more emerging scenarios in smart grids. For having a stable and reliable MMG, we need to synthesize an optimal, robust, primary frequency controller for the islanded mode of MMG of the future. This task is challenging because of unknown mechanical parameters, occurrence of uncertain disturbances, uncertainty of loads, operating point variations, and the appearance of engine delays, and hence nonminimum phase dynamics. This article presents an innovative primary frequency control for the engine generators regulating the frequency of an islanded MMG in the context of smart grids. The proposed approach is based on an adaptive optimal output-feedback control algorithm using adaptive dynamic programming (ADP). The convergence of algorithms, along with the stability analysis of the closed-loop system, is also shown in this article. Finally, as experimental validation, hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) test results are provided in order to examine the effectiveness of the proposed methodology practically. <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">Note to Practitioners</i> —This article was motivated by the problem of primary frequency controls in modernized microgrids (MMGs) using engine generators, which are still one of the prime sources of regulating frequency in pilot research and development (R&D) microgrid projects. Although MMGs will be integral parts of the smart grid of the future, their primary controls in the islanded mode are not advanced enough and not considering existing theoretical challenges scientifically. Existing approaches to regulate frequency using industrially accepted methods are highly model-based and not optimal. Besides, they are not considering the nonminimum phase dynamics. These dynamics are mainly associated with the engine delays—an inherent issue of mechanical parts—for islanded microgrids. This article suggests a new adaptive optimal output-feedback control approach based on the adaptive dynamic programming (ADP) to the abovementioned problem under consideration. By using the proposed methodology, MMGs can deal with the issues mentioned earlier, which are challenging. The proposed approach is optimally rejecting uncertain disturbances (considering the load uncertainty and operating point variations) and reducing the impacts of nonminimum phase dynamics caused by the engine delay. Based on our currently available hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) device’s capability of modeling power systems’ components in real time, our HIL-based experiments demonstrate that this approach is feasible.

Young People's Reading and Information Use at the End of the Century

This paper presents a pilot research project carried out in five schools in a specific district in a province of South Africa, the survey methodology followed, as well as some of the key findings. This survey is based on a similar survey of young people's reading and information use carried out in the United Kingdom in 1995 and 1996. It provides information on young people's reading which is useful for publishers, librarians, writers, illustrators, teachers, and parents.

Advanced regenerative rehabilitation technologies. Successful use of autologous adipose tissue in a patient with cutaneous tracheal fistula

To develop the minimally invasive technology for postoperative fistulas treatment and describe the real-world experience of its use in terms of hospital stay reduction and patients' quality of life improvement. Patients were selected as part of a pilot research project (Development of Personalized Approaches to Regenerative Rehabilitation for Surgical Patients, # 0394-2020-0011). Patients' quality of life was assessed using the Russian version of the EQ-5D-5L questionnaire (Russian version for Russia). This article presents a clinical example of successful repair of a cutaneous tracheal fistula by autografting of adipose tissue three months after fistula formation. In one month after autografting of adipose tissue, the tracheobronchial secretion through the fistula has stopped. According to the follow-up computed tomography of the neck and tracheobronchoscopy, the fistulous passage is not observed. The presence of a fistula worsens the patient's quality of life and increases the risk of secondary infection. When treating patients with tracheal fistulas of high and extremely high surgical risk, the method of autografting of adipose tissue can be a safe and effective alternative to conventional surgery. Further study of this method of regenerative rehabilitation is required.

Migrant experiences of living with type 2 diabetes in Western Sydney, Australia: a multilingual pilot research project.

Migrant experiences of living with type 2 diabetes in Western Sydney, Australia: a multilingual pilot research project.

Strategije u stvaranju naslova vesti informativnih onlajn portala u Srbiji

Online media are assuming greater role when it comes to informing public in Serbia, currently holding second place, after Television, which is still the main source of information. The article is based on empirical pilot research project which gave us basis for better understanding of how much the leading Serbian online media use the approach which can be described as "fake news" or "clickbait" strategy when it comes to creating News headlines, and how this can influence quality of their reporting. We have monitored all articles from "News" section of three News portals in Serbia: Blic.rs, Kurir. rs and Telegraf.rs. Using the content analysis method, the headlines of the news were classified as "fake news", "clickbait" or "appropriate". The additional research examined the headline as for their potential biased formulation, as well as usage of inappropriate wording. Research has shown that media in question are mostly using appropriate headlines, but there is also certain number of "fake news" headlines, as well as a significant number of "clickbait" headlines. It's been noticed that these approaches were used for news that are most important for public information such as: politics, public health and general safety, what is a worrying tendency. The majority of biased headlines were related to political issues, which can imply undesirable lack of media objectivity. Inappropriate language (wording) has mostly been found in headlines covering Crime section, which can imply "tabloid" approach in those media.

The influence of LDL-C levels on anaerobic performance of young healthy adults

Background and Aims: The importance of regular physical activity for CVD risk reduction is well established. The same beneficial effect of sport trainings on blood lipids (total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides reduction) are described. On the contrary the lack of data about the influence of cholesterol levels on physical performance is available. In this pilot research project, the relationship between LDL-C levels and physical performance was investigated. The research population was performed by young healthy adults in order to assess the early impact on the low-risk population.