Research Process Research Articles

Strategic integration of cyber security in business intelligence systems for data protection and competitive advantage

In the current world, business intelligence systems play a crucial role in guiding organizations on the best strategies to adopt depending on the analytical information and results obtained (Ahmad et al., 2020). Nonetheless, they are being used frequently and, hence, are vulnerable to ransom attacks, requiring appropriate security measures. This study examines the opportunities for BI solution providers to implement cybersecurity, mitigate risks, and gain competitive advantage. The study adopts a mixed-methods approach to the research involving a literature review study, self-complete questionnaires, interviews, and case studies among a variable of industry professionals. The observation in this research process shows that incorporating enhanced encryption methods, two-factor verification, monitoring, and security culture advancements leads to increased data security levels. Furthermore, apart from defending an organization from cyber-threats, properly implementing cyber security in BI systems ensures that an organization acquires better customer trust, compliance with regulations, and a competitive edge in the market. This paper outlines vital tactics and best practices businesses can apply to enhance, design, and implement robust cybersecurity strategies for organizational benefit. This research aims at the following question; How can cybersecurity be integrated in Business Intelligence (BI) systems considering the facts that businesses are adopting data-driven strategies in the current century? Since more organizations opt for BI systems to collect pertinent information and generate strategic decisions, the systems named remain vulnerable to grabs and threats. Similarly, the research on the role of cyber security is a prime example to show how it need not to be a risk factor but in fact could be a key strength.

The Influence of an Individual Teaching Method on the Development of Performing Skills of Musicians-Instrumentalists

The originality of instrumental musical interpretation is a distinctive feature of each musician, influencing and reflecting their artistic style and worldview ideas. The study aims to determine the peculiarities of the influence of an individual teaching method on the development of instrumental musicians’ performance skills. General theoretical analysis, comparison and observation techniques were used to achieve this goal. The final results were also based on the skill level coefficient, quality coefficient, and Mann-Whitney test calculations. The research process provided for developing individualized training for future instrumental musicians, focusing on developing interpretive and technical skills, artistic interpretation and improvisation. The practical significance of the work lies in the possibility of using the developed individual approaches to teaching musicians-instrumentalists, taking into account their capabilities. Prospects for further research can be to compare the effectiveness of an individual approach to teaching musicians-instrumentalists of primary school age and students. Keywords: students’ capabilities; interpretive and technical skills; musicians’ skills; piano improvisation; artistic expression; musical form

Assessing dual use risks in AI research: necessity, challenges and mitigation strategies

This article argues that due to the difficulty in governing AI, it is essential to develop measures implemented early in the AI research process. The goal of dual use considerations is to create robust strategies that uphold AI’s integrity while protecting societal interests. The challenges of applying dual use frameworks to AI research are examined and dual use and dual use research of concern (DURC) are defined while highlighting the difficulties in balancing the technology’s benefits and risks. AI’s dual use potential is discussed, particularly in areas like NLP and LLMs, and the need for early consideration of dual use risks to ensure ethical and secure development is underscored. In the section on shared responsibilities in AI research and avenues for mitigation strategies the importance of early-stage risk assessments and ethical guidelines to mitigate misuse is emphasized, accentuating self-governance within scientific communities and structured measures like checklists and pre-registration to promote responsible research practices. The final section argues that research ethics committees play a crucial role in evaluating the dual use implications of AI technologies within the research pipeline. The need for tailored ethics review processes is articulated, drawing parallels with medical research ethics committees.

Behavioural interventions to treat anxiety in adults with autism and moderate to severe intellectual disabilities: The BEAMS-ID feasibility study.

The aim of this feasibility study was to adapt and model a behavioural intervention for anxiety with autistic adults with moderate to severe intellectual disabilities. Twenty-eight autistic adults with moderate or severe intellectual disabilities, 37 carers, and 40 therapists took part in this single-group non-randomised feasibility study designed to test intervention feasibility and acceptability, outcome measures, and research processes. The intervention was judged as feasible and acceptable by autistic adults with intellectual disabilities, carers, and therapists. Minor intervention revisions were suggested. Carers completed 100% of outcome measures and the missing data rate was low. Complying with legislation governing the inclusion of participants who lack capacity to decide whether they wanted to take part in this study led to an average 5-week enrolment delay. The intervention and associated study processes were judged to be feasible and acceptable and should now be tested within a larger randomised trial.

Creative Problem Solving and Communication in Entrepreneurship

This abstract introduces a plug and play set of materials designed for teachers to use as flipped learning tasks in the context of proposal writing and persuasive presentations. These materials were developed based on interview videos featuring young local entrepreneurs, who provided valuable insights and perspectives into the importance of research, creative problem solving, communication and language skills. PolyU students in discipline-specific subjects engage in project-based learning, where they write proposals and deliver persuasive presentations based on their unique understanding and ideas within their respective disciplines. Given the constraints of a tight 13-week schedule, flipped discovery and consolidation materials based on the interview videos have been developed, covering a range of topics related to research, proposal writing, and presentation skills. This submission centers around two plug-and-play sets: Creative Problem Solving and Communication, which can be seamlessly integrated into existing teaching and learning materials as flipped warmer and consolidation activities. Students have expressed in focus group interviews how these materials have made their learning experience more authentic and transferable. By incorporating relatable real-world examples and practical insights, these plug-and-play sets offer teachers a convenient and effective way to introduce engaging warm-up activities into their existing materials. Students are guided to reflect on their research process, creative problem-solving skills and communication skills which are essential for successfully communicating their discipline knowledge and ideas in proposal writing and persuasive presentations.

Ethical committee frameworks and processes used to evaluate humanities research require reform: Findings from a UK-wide network consultation

ABSTRACT Background Qualitative Humanities research is perturbed by ethical review processes that routinely invoke epistemological assumptions skewed towards positivistic or deductive research, giving rise to several concerns, including increased risk aversion by University Research Ethics Committees (URECs) and the evaluation of qualitative research designs according to STEM standards. Methods/Materials This paper presents findings from an AHRC-funded research network built to better understand how research ethics frameworks and processes might be reformed to more appropriately fit ethically challenging qualitative methodologies. Results There remains dissatisfaction with the current processes for awarding ethical approval and the subsequent management of ethical dimensions of projects. In spite of recent developments, UREC frameworks remain seriously flawed, with a wide divergence in the quality of expertise, procedures, and practices, leading to inconsistency in ethical approval awards. Conclusions These factors downgrade UK Higher Education research power in the Humanities and undermine our commitments to the researched. We propose a series of recommendations for reform.

Relationships, Reflection, and Response: An Iterative Collaborative Research Process to Address Mental Health inequities.

Relationships, Reflection, and Response: An Iterative Collaborative Research Process to Address Mental Health inequities.

State of the Art of Coupled Thermo–hydro-Mechanical–Chemical Modelling for Frozen Soils

AbstractNumerous studies have investigated the coupled multi-field processes in frozen soils, focusing on the variation in frozen soils and addressing the influences of climate change, hydrological processes, and ecosystems in cold regions. The investigation of coupled multi-physics field processes in frozen soils has emerged as a prominent research area, leading to significant advancements in coupling models and simulation solvers. However, substantial differences remain among various coupled models due to the insufficient observations and in-depth understanding of multi-field coupling processes. Therefore, this study comprehensively reviews the latest research process on multi-field models and numerical simulation methods, including thermo-hydraulic (TH) coupling, thermo-mechanical (TM) coupling, hydro-mechanical (HM) coupling, thermo–hydro-mechanical (THM) coupling, thermo–hydro-chemical (THC) coupling and thermo–hydro-mechanical–chemical (THMC) coupling. Furthermore, the primary simulation methods are summarised, including the continuum mechanics method, discrete or discontinuous mechanics method, and simulators specifically designed for heat and mass transfer modelling. Finally, this study outlines critical findings and proposes future research directions on multi-physical field modelling of frozen soils. This study provides the theoretical basis for in-depth mechanism analyses and practical engineering applications, contributing to the advancement of understanding and management of frozen soils.

Treating wartime injuries amidst attack: insights from a medical facility on the edge of combat

BackgroundProviding emergency care during conflict poses unique challenges for frontline hospitals. Barzilai Medical Center (BUMCA) in Ashkelon, Israel is a Level I trauma center located close to the Gaza border. During the November 2023 escalation of conflict, BUMCA experienced surging numbers of civilian and military trauma patients while also coming under rocket fire.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective review of BUMCA operational records and 827 de-identified patient records from October 7–14, 2023. Records provided data on daily patient volumes, injury patterns, resource constraints, and impacts of rocket attacks on hospital function. Basic demographic data was obtained including age, gender, injury severity scores, and disposition.ResultsOf the 827 patients brought to BUMCA, most (n = 812, 98.2%) presented through the emergency department. Tragically, 99 individuals were pronounced dead on arrival. Injury severity assessments found nearly half (47%) had minor injuries such as lacerations, contusions and sprains, while 25% exhibited moderate injuries like deep lacerations and fractures. 15% sustained severe or critical injuries including severe head injuries. The largest age group consisted of adults aged 19–60 years. No pediatric patients were admitted despite proximity to residential neighborhoods. The majority of cases (61%) involved complex polytrauma affecting multiple body regions. BUMCA served as both the primary treatment facility and a triage hub, coordinating secondary transports to other trauma centers as needed. Patient volumes fluctuated unpredictably from 30 to an overwhelming 125 daily, straining emergency services. Resources faced shortages of beds, medical staff, supplies and disruptions to power from nearby missile impacts further challenging care delivery.ConclusionDespite facing surging demand, unpredictable conditions and external threats, BUMCA demonstrated resilience in maintaining emergency trauma services through an adaptive triage approach and rapid surges in capacity. Their experience provides insights for improving frontline hospital preparedness and continuity of care during conflict through advance contingency planning and surge protocols. Analysis of patient outcomes found a mortality rate of 15% given the complex, multi-region injuries sustained by many patients. This study highlights the challenges faced and strengths exhibited by medical professionals operating under hazardous conditions in minimizing loss of life.Patient and public involvement in researchGiven that the study analyzed patient data from a hospital treating casualties of an ongoing armed conflict, directly engaging patients or the public during the sensitive research process could have posed risks. The volatile security situation and restrictions and protections in place amidst the crisis made it not feasible or appropriate to involve them in the study’s design, methods, reporting of results, or dissemination plans. Our aim was to conduct this retrospective analysis in a way that did not endanger those affected or compromise the hospital’s emergency response operations.

Challenges and Barriers to Commercialization of Health Sciences Research Results: A Qualitative Study

Background: In today's world, due to intense competition and the rapid pace of production, exploiting knowledge and converting it into economic returns has become a critical management issue for academics and capital owners. Commercialization activities can impact the educational and research programs of universities, potentially leading to resistance against them. Objectives: The current study was conducted to identify the challenges of the commercialization process in health science research. Methods: This qualitative study was conducted between June and December 2022 in Tehran province, Iran. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews with 22 key individuals, including university management and technology experts, as well as CEOs and experts from knowledge-based companies, selected through purposive sampling. The interview guide was designed based on four in-depth interviews, theoretical foundations, and comparative study findings. The obtained data were analyzed using the conventional content analysis method in MAXQDA 10 software. Results: The challenges of the commercialization process for health sciences research results were categorized into six main themes and 16 sub-themes. The main themes identified in this study were rules and regulations, societal culture, university management and infrastructure, human resources, financial systems, and organizational cooperation with industry. Conclusions: Policymakers, especially senior health managers, can create a suitable platform for the optimal use of resources and the expansion of targeted relationships between universities and industries by incorporating economic insight into academic services. By compiling relevant laws and guidelines, optimizing resource management, achieving financial independence for universities, and increasing the productivity of health research, the high costs associated with the commercialization of academic research projects can be reduced.

An interdisciplinary framework of youth participatory action research informed by curricula, youth, adults, and researchers.

Rarely are youth voices incorporated into program and policy development. Youth participatory action research (YPAR) is an opportunity for adolescents to develop research skills by completing projects relevant to their lives and allows participation and decision-making at systems and organizational levels. Attention to YPAR implementation detail, especially a curricular focus, is lacking in the literature. Specifically absent is an all-encompassing YPAR framework, a gap the current study addresses. The current study includes a review of existing YPAR curricula to develop the Youth Researcher Empowerment Framework, including research components, social emotional competencies, and assumptions necessary for completing a YPAR project that centers youth voice and shared power. The study includes a quantitative assessment of the YPAR curricula and qualitative reviews by adult practitioners. In addition, focus group data from youth and teacher audiences across multiple settings confirmed and clarified terms and concepts related to the framework. The study provides empirical evidence to support a revised framework for YPAR curricular implementation. Implications are discussed in terms of aspects of the research process needed for YPAR projects, attention to specific youth developmental skills as outcomes, and underlying principles needed to create a welcoming, contextual space allowing for empowerment, youth voice, and choice.

The Role of Philosophical Tools in Nursing Research.

The objective of this article is to illustrate the importance of the role philosophy and its tools play in the designing and undertaking of nursing research and its importance to be understood by the practicing researcher to ensure the selected methodology and the tools used provide the framework for obtaining reliable and valid answers to their research questions. The article discusses the three major paradigms (Positivism, Interpretivism, and Pragmatism) which have characterized much of health-related research together with a set of essential and practical tools with no metaphysical assumptions that will hopefully provide an explicit framework and a nomenclature which can be applied as we proceed through the research process.

A Comprehensive Bibliometric Analysis of Business Process Management and Knowledge Management Integration: Bridging the Scholarly Gap

In the ever-evolving landscape of organisational optimisation, the integration of business process management (BPM) and knowledge management (KM) emerges as a critical challenge. Beyond the opportunity to expedite the improvement of the organisation’s operations, this integration serves as a gateway to unlocking the full potential of organisational knowledge and digital transformation. With its comprehensive evaluation of the dimensions of research on BPM and KM, this article aims to unveil predominant topics and evolving trends within this intersection. By doing so, it seeks to catalyse meaningful advancements in organisational management practices, underscoring the relevance and importance of this topic to the audience. The authors conducted a rigorous research process. Using bibliographic analysis, they selected 359 publications from the Scopus database. They employed performance analysis and scientific mapping methods to extract meaningful insights facilitated by MS Excel and VOSviewer applications. Additionally, they conducted an in-depth analysis of 37 publications chosen through bibliographic coupling analysis. The findings highlight a significant gap in the scholarly discourse on BPM and KM, which is evident in the limited research outcomes and minimal influence on decision-making processes. This study reiterates the need for increased dedication to this research realm, particularly in areas identified in the future research agenda recommendations, to stimulate significant advancements in organisational management practices. This paper stands out from the up-to-date reviews by offering a unique contribution to the BPM and KM integration field. While these reviews often focus on specific niches within the broader domain, this study takes a holistic approach. It provides a comprehensive overview of the existing literature on integrating BPM and KM, delving into the quantity and quality of existing research. It also identifies emerging themes and potential directions for future scholarship, ensuring a robust understanding of the integrative landscape of BPM and KM.

Analysis of Manual and Automated Methods Effectiveness in Website Penetration Testing for Identifying SQL Injection Vulnerabilities

This research aims to identify vulnerabilities to SQL Injection attacks on websites through penetration testing using quantitative and descriptive methods. In the current digital era, data and information security has become a crucial aspect. One of the frequent threats is SQL Injection attacks, where attackers insert malicious SQL commands into queries executed by web applications. This study utilizes tools such as Burp Suite to identify and exploit vulnerabilities in a login form created by the researchers. The research process begins with the Pre-Engagement Interactions phase, which includes information gathering and setting the testing scope. Subsequently, Vulnerability Testing is conducted to evaluate existing weaknesses. The exploitation of vulnerabilities is performed using the 'OR'1'='1 technique, which successfully demonstrates that the website is vulnerable to SQL Injection attacks. The results of this study indicate that the login form on the website is susceptible to SQL Injection due to insufficient input validation and the use of dynamic SQL queries without prepared statements. Implementing stricter input validation techniques and using prepared statements has proven effective in enhancing website security. This research makes a significant contribution to the field of information system security, particularly in the prevention of SQL Injection attacks. The results of this study can serve as a practical guide for web developers in improving the security of their applications and provide a deeper understanding of the threats and mitigation techniques for SQL Injection.

Strengthening Youth Emotional and Behavioral Well-Being Through Community-Academic Partnership: The EMPOWER Project.

The onset of mental health issues frequently starts during adolescence, where one third of adolescents who are 14 years and younger receive a mental health diagnosis. The state of youth mental health is a major public health concern. The EMPOWER project was developed during the COVID-19 pandemic to address youth mental health. The EMPOWER project is a partnership between two after-school programs and an academic mental health hospital in Toronto, Canada, that aims to bolster youth mental well-being. In this Practice Note, we share our community-based participatory research process of how we built the EMPOWER partnership and highlight our lessons learned so far. Through EMPOWER, we aim to codesign, deliver, and evaluate a scalable, evidence-based, and community-informed youth mental wellness curriculum that will be implemented in after-school programs.

Evaluation of the Malignancy Risk in Nodules Expanding the Thyroid Gland Capsule.

There has been an increase in the diagnosis of thyroid nodules in recent years. In addition to the well-known criteria, features that are likely to increase the risk of malignancy are in the research process. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the malignant potential of nodules that expand the thyroid capsule ultrasonographically. A total of 109 patients with thyroid capsule-expanding nodules and 288 patients with non-expanding nodules were included in the study. Demographical data, ultrasonography features, and cytology results were noted, and histopathological findings were determined in operated patients. While malignant cytology was detected in 5.5% of capsule-expanding nodules in FNAB results, this rate was 0.7% in the non-capsule expanding group (p<0.001). According to the histopathological results, the incidence of malignancy was 15.6% in the capsule-expanding nodule group, while it was 3.1% in the other group (p=0.001). As a result of logistic regression analysis, it was determined that the risk of malignancy increased by 4.44-fold (95% CI 1.4-13.8, p=0.01) in patients with capsule-expanding nodules. Other features that increased the risk of malignancy were hypoechogenicity, microcalcification, and irregular margin presence. In this study, we found that the risk of malignancy increased in nodules expanding the thyroid capsule. Based on the increasing study data on this subject, monitoring thyroid capsule expansion in nodules may take its place among the criteria for malignancy in future evaluations.

Environmental culture in primary basic students and teachers: characterization in educational institutions of Santa Marta (Magdalena, Northern Colombia)

The environmental culture in students and teachers of primary school educational institutions in the municipality of Santa Marta, Magdalena, Colombia was characterized. The study presents a descriptive analytical field approach, with a non-experimental design. The population was made up of 450 students and 15 teachers, from three primary educational institutions in the municipality of Santa Marta, Magdalena, Northern Colombia. Likewise, to collect the information, a questionnaire was used aimed at the students with two dichotomous response alternatives (yes-no), and another with scale-type multiple alternative responses. Teachers do not always lead the student to carry out research regarding the environment; the strategies applied are sometimes planned without taking into account the importance of generating environmental values in the student and a positive change in environmental behavior. Strategies must be established in the classroom that force students to carry out research processes in each of the tasks assigned by the teacher.

‘‘We don’t really know how it’s going to work’’: The front-end and back-end processes of action-led research at Tate

‘‘We don’t really know how it’s going to work’’: The front-end and back-end processes of action-led research at Tate

Intellectual capital through decarbonization for achieving Sustainable Development Goal 8: a systematic literature review and future research directions

PurposeThe aim of this study is to review the literature on how intellectual capital (IC) contributes to the decarbonization efforts of firms. It explores how carbon accounting can measure the components of IC in decarbonization efforts to balance profitability with environmental and social goals, particularly in promoting decent work and economic growth (Sustainable Development Goal [SDG] 8 and its targets [2, 5, 6, 8]). Moreover, it emphasises the importance of multi-stakeholder partnerships for sharing knowledge, expertise, technology, and financial resources (SDG17-Target 17.G) to meet SDG8.Design/methodology/approachAs a consolidated methodological approach, a systematic literature review (SLR) was used in this study to fill the existing research gaps in sustainability accounting. To consolidate and clarify scholarly research on IC towards decarbonization, 149 English articles published in the Scopus database and Google Scholar between 1990 and 2024 were reviewed.FindingsThe results highlight that the current research does not sufficiently cover the intersection of carbon accounting and IC in the analysis of decarbonization practices. Stakeholders and regulatory bodies are increasingly pressuring firms to implement development-focused policies in line with SDG8 and its targets, requiring the integration of IC and its measures in decarbonization processes, supported by SDG17-Target 17.G. This integration is useful for creating business models that balance profitability and social and environmental responsibilities.Originality/valueThe integration of social dimension to design sustainable business models for emission reduction and provide a decent work environment by focusing on SDG17-Target 17.G has rarely been investigated in terms of theory and practice. Through carbon accounting, IC can be a key source of SDG8-Targets 8.[2, 5, 6, 8] and SDG17-Target 17.G. Historically, these major issues are not easily aligned with accounting research or decarbonization processes.

Implementation of Peer Instruction Method on Teaching of Acids and Bases to 12th Grade Students: An Action Research

This study aims to investigate the applicability and effectiveness of the peer instruction method on teaching the subject of acids and bases at the 12th grade level. In addition, it is aimed to determine the effect of peer instruction on students’ attitudes towards chemistry and in-class discussion, and to examine opinions of students to peer instruction after implementation. The sample of the study consists of 21 12th grade students in a private high school. During the research process, the unit of acids and bases was covered by the researcher with the peer teaching method and implementation was completed in 5 weeks. In this study, which was designed as an action research, qualitative and quantitative data were used together. Quantitative data were collected through acids-bases concept test (ABCT), chemistry attitude scale (CAS), argumentativeness scale (AS), concept questions, and qualitative data were collected through method opinion scale (MOS), semi-structured interview, and observation. The analysis of the data was carried out using quantitative and qualitative methods. The results showed that there was a notable increase in the academic achievement of the students after the implementation. Furthermore, the results obtained from ABCT and semi-structured interviews indicated that peer instruction improved students’ conceptual learning, and also it is effective in eliminating misconceptions. Although the pretest-posttest scores of CAS and AS did not demonstrate a considerable statistical difference, observation and semi-structured interview data pointed out that students’ attitudes towards chemistry and in-class discussion increased positively. At the end of the implementation, it was observed that students’ attitudes towards the peer instruction method are positive and students found it very useful and effective.