Professor Of Science Research Articles

A modular inquiry-based semester theme that integrates data science education and bioinformatics in protein structure function courses.

With an exponential growth in biological data and computing power, familiarity with bioinformatics has become a demanding and popular skill set both in academia and industry. There is a need to increase students' competencies to be able to take on bioinformatic careers, to get them familiarized with scientific professions in data science and the academic training required to pursue them, in a field where demand outweighs the supply. Here we implemented a set of bioinformatic activities into a protein structure and function course of a graduate program. Concisely, students were given hands-on opportunities to explore the bioinformatics-based analyses of biomolecular data and structural biology via a semester-long case study structured as inquiry-based bioinformatics exercises. Towards the end of the term, the students also designed and presented an assignment project that allowed them to document the unknown protein that they identified using bioinformatic knowledge during the term. The post-module survey responses and students' performances in the lab module imply that it furthered an in-depth knowledge of bioinformatics. Despite having not much prior knowledge of bioinformatics prior to taking this module students indicated positive feedback. The students got familiar with cross-indexed databases that interlink important data about proteins, enzymes as well as genes. The essential skillsets honed by this research-based bioinformatic pedagogical approach will empower students to be able to leverage this knowledge for their future endeavours in the bioinformatics field.

Intrinsic and instrumental care in pen pal letters: Recognizing care in STEM classrooms

AbstractStudies of both professional science practice and children's science learning show that care is not merely ancillary to disciplinary work but a core and generative constituent of science practice. In science education research, however, students' care is often overlooked. In this paper, we describe the expression of care across two STEM classrooms (6th and 9th grade) studying biology and ecology and participating in a pen pal exchange. We analyze artifacts from the pen pal exchange as well as students' retrospective interviews and written reflections. Two ways of expressing care surfaced in students' letters: caring for guppies and caring for pen pals. We describe each form of care using examples from our data. We find that students' care for guppies and pen pals was both instrumental (in service of their investigations) and intrinsic (positioning guppies and pen pals as inherently valuable). We then connect these findings to studies of care in children's science learning and in professional science. We discuss methodological and practical implications for recognizing and analyzing how students' care manifests in classrooms and for designing learning activities that cultivate care.

Bee monitoring by community scientists: comparing a collections-based program with iNaturalist.

Bee monitoring, or widespread efforts to document bee community biodiversity, can involve data collection using lethal (specimen collections) or non-lethal methods (observations, photographs). Additionally, data can be collected by professional scientists or by volunteer participants from the general public. Collection-based methods presumably produce more reliable data with fewer biases against certain taxa, while photography-based approaches, such as data collected from public natural history platforms like iNaturalist, can involve more people and cover a broader geographic area. Few efforts have been made to quantify the pros and cons of these different approaches. We established a community science monitoring program to assess bee biodiversity across the state of Pennsylvania (USA) using specimen collections with nets, blue vane traps, and bowl traps. We recruited 26 participants, mostly Master Gardeners, from across the state to sample bees after receiving extensive training on bee monitoring topics and methods. The specimens they collected were identified to species, stored in museum collections, and the data added to public databases. Then, we compared the results from our collections to research-grade observations from iNaturalist during the same time period (2021 and 2022). At state and county levels, we found collections data documented over twice as much biodiversity and novel baseline natural history data (state and county records) than data from iNaturalist. iNaturalist data showed strong biases toward large-bodied and non-native species. This study demonstrates the value of highly trained community scientists for collections-based research that aims to document patterns of bee biodiversity over space and time.

Data-driven prediction on critical mechanical properties of engineered cementitious composites based on machine learning

The present study introduces a novel approach utilizing machine learning techniques to predict the crucial mechanical properties of engineered cementitious composites (ECCs), spanning from typical to exceptionally high strength levels. These properties, including compressive strength, flexural strength, tensile strength, and tensile strain capacity, can not only be predicted but also precisely estimated. The investigation encompassed a meticulous compilation and examination of 1532 datasets sourced from pertinent research. Four machine learning algorithms, linear regression (LR), K nearest neighbors (KNN), random forest (RF), and extreme gradient boosting (XGB), were used to establish the prediction model of ECC mechanical properties and determine the optimal model. The optimal model was utilized to employ SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) for scrutinizing feature importance and conducting an in-depth parametric analysis. Subsequently, a comprehensive control strategy was devised for ECC mechanical properties. This strategy can provide actionable guidance for ECC design, equipping engineers and professionals in civil engineering and material science to make informed decisions throughout their design endeavors. The results show that the RF model demonstrated the highest prediction accuracy for compressive strength and flexural strength, with R2 values of 0.92 and 0.91 on the test set. The XGB model outperformed in predicting tensile strength and tensile strain capacity, with R2 values of 0.87 and 0.80 on the test set, respectively. The prediction of tensile strain capacity was the least accurate. Meanwhile, the MAE of the tensile strain capacity was a mere 0.84%, smaller than the variability (1.77%) of the test results in previous research. Compressive strength and tensile strength demonstrated high sensitivity to variations in both water-cement ratio (W) and water reducer (WR). In contrast, flexural strength exhibited high sensitivity solely to changes in W. Conversely, the sensitivity of tensile strain capacity to input features was moderate and consistent. The mechanical attributes of ECC emerged from the combined effects of multiple positive and negative features. Notably, WR exerted the most significant influence on compressive strength among all features, whereas polyethylene (PE) fiber emerged as the primary driver affecting flexural strength, tensile strength, and tensile strain capacity.

Thermal spray coatings on high-temperature oxidation and corrosion applications – A comprehensive review

In high-temperature boiler operations, conventional steels and alloys grapple with the formidable challenges posed by oxidation and corrosion. Prolonged exposure to extreme thermal conditions exacerbates these issues, progressively diminishing operational efficiency. Surface treatment emerges as a pivotal strategy for safeguarding materials against deterioration while optimizing component performance cost-effectively. Recent attention has honed on surface coatings as a means to combat hot corrosion in boiler steels. Thermal coating, electroplating, and other metallurgical techniques are widely embraced for surface modification, with composite coatings gaining traction for bolstering metallurgical, mechanical, and corrosion resistance properties. This review, unlike any other, takes a comprehensive approach to exploring various thermal spraying methods and their applications, ensuring a robust understanding of the subject matter. Beyond a mere compilation of existing literature, this review identifies emerging trends and technologies, offering fresh insights and interpretations. In this work, 84 articles were critically evaluated for current research, discerning strengths, weaknesses, and avenues for future research on thermal spray coatings on high-temperature oxidation and corrosion. This incisive approach promises to enrich the knowledge base of researchers, scholars, and professionals in materials science, metallurgy, and industrial engineering, facilitating advancements in the field. By pinpointing research gaps in thermal spray coating, this study directs attention toward areas ripe for further investigation, fostering continued innovation and progress.

Evaluating the role of library science professionals in open access publishing: A systematic review of opportunities and challenges

Evaluating the role of library science professionals in open access publishing: A systematic review of opportunities and challenges

Library and Information Science Professionals’ Awareness, Competencies, Institutional Support, and Application of AI-Powered Tools in Research Writing in South-South, Nigerian Universities

This study investigates Library and Information Science professionals’ awareness, competencies, institutional support, and application of AI-powered tools in research writing in South-South Nigerian universities. Four research questions guide the investigation. The study adopted a mixed (two-step) approach, combining both quantitative and qualitative methods in a sequential exploration design. A 55-items researcher-developed structured questionnaire titled: Library and Information Science Professionals’ Awareness, Competences, Institutional Support and Application of AI Powered Tools in Research Writing Questionnaire (LISPACIAAIPTRWQ) with a reliability index of .804 determined using Cronbach’ reliability coefficient and semi-structured interview schedule were used for data collection. The questionnaire was designed using Google Doc platform and administered through major Nigerian Library Association (NLA) WhatsApp groups of the six states in South South zone of Nigeria – Akwa Ibom State, Bayelsa State, Cross River State, Delta State, Edo State and Rivers State. The interview was conducted through private WhatsApp calls to 20 respondents within the study area. A total of 133 targeted participants from twelve university libraries, one federal and one state university per state were involved in the study. The professional librarians considered in this study were those with at least LS/LIS degree and a year of work experience. This group of participants were purposively considered taking into account that they are professionals and expected to conduct cutting-edge research and publish findings in reputable journals for personal and professional growth. The collected data, analyzed descriptively using frequency counts, mean, and standard deviation were used to answer research questions. The interview responses were qualitatively analyzed using the narrative method in order to deeply understand the respondents’ experiences with AI-powered tools and to also reduce the impact of individual bias. The findings revealed a low awareness level and a relatively high level of competencies of LIS professionals towards AI and its applicability to research writing. It also revealed low institutional support and high application index of AI-powered tools to mostly library services but not research writing by LIS professionals. The study recommended that the university administration should encourage more research on AI and formulate a workable policy to guide its applicability, among others.

Psychometric Properties of a Persian Version of the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) in Iranian Soldiers.

Objective: Suicide is an important health issue nearly all over the world. The Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) is a well-known instrument for suicide risk assessment. Our purpose in this study is to provide a Persian version of the C-SSRS and evaluate its psychometric properties in the Iranian military population, particularly suicide risk leveling characteristic of the C-SSRS. Method : For linguistic adaptation, we gathered opinions of an expert panel consisting of 23 professionals in mental health sciences. Furthermore, this version was administered to two groups of soldiers, one representing a sample of normal population (N = 338), while the other group comprised a sample of clinical population from a referral psychiatric hospital (N = 348) in Tehran, capital of Iran, from July 2021 until one year later. Besides the C-SSRS, the Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation (BSSI), Beck Hopelessness Scale (BSS), and General Health Questionnaire 28 (GHQ28) were obtained from the participants. Correlation coefficients, internal consistency, and factor analysis were evaluated using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (version 23) software. Results: All items of the Persian version of the C-SSRS had acceptable content validity and face validity. This tool demonstrated high correlation coefficients with the BSSI (r = 0.73, P < 0.001) and BHS (r = 0.64, P < 0.001), but a low correlation coefficient with the GHQ28 (r = 0.22, P < 0.001). Specifically, the suicide risk level based on the C-SSRS had a high correlation with both the BSSI and BHS. Also, its internal consistency was satisfactory (Cronbach's alpha = 0.89). Furthermore, factor analysis revealed two factors that is consistent with suicidal ideation and suicidal behavior factors. Conclusion: Our results indicated acceptable validity and reliability for the Persian version of the C-SSRS, demonstrating its capability to classify suicide risk. It can be concluded that the ordinal suicide risk level (as red, orange, yellow and green) is a valid index for the application of the C-SSRS.

Research on Project-based Learning Approach with Local Characteristics in Electronic and Information Science Courses

The promulgation of the outline of the 14th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development of the People’s Republic of China and the Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035 has clarified the focus of work and put forward new requirements for the training of electronic and information science professionals. The teaching methods and levels can be optimized by focusing on the problems existing in the teaching process of electronic and information science courses, carrying out teaching reform, and putting forward the project-based learning approach with local characteristics.

Design Enhancement of Grid-Connected Residential PV Systems to Meet the Saudi Electricity Regulations

Distributed grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) generation explores several methods that produce energy at or near the point of consumption, with the aim of reducing electricity losses among transmission networks. Consequently, home on-grid PV applications have garnered increased interest from both scientific researchers and industry professionals over the last decade. Nevertheless, the growing installation of intermittent nature residential PV systems (R-PV) in low-voltage distribution networks is leading to more cautious considerations of technology limitations and PV design challenges. This conservative perspective arises from the standpoint of grid quality and security, ultimately resulting in the revocation of PV connection authorization. Hence, the design of R-PV systems should consider not only the specifications of the PV panels and load profiles but also the characteristics and requirements of the connected power grid. This project therefore seeks to enhance the design considerations of grid-connected PV systems, in order to help the end-users meet the grid codes set out by the Saudi Electricity Regulatory Authority (SERA). Since the maximum amount of generated power is essential for PV system optimization, the ratio of grid strength to maximum transmitted power was employed to ascertain the suitable capacity of the PV system, while the assessment of PV power output was utilized to specify the system size. Furthermore, a battery energy storage system (BESS) with a small size (~10% of the PV capacity) is employed to enhance the PV power quality for a dependable grid interconnection. The BESS is equipped with a versatile power controller in order to achieve the designed objectives. The obtained results show an essential advancement in terms of power quality and reliability at the customer’s connection point. Moreover, with the design assessment process, the low-voltage ride-through (LVRT) and power factor requirements can be met, in addition to the total harmonic distortion (THD) and frequency transient limitations. The proposed solution assists end-users in efficiently designing their own R-PV systems while ensuring quality and sustainability for authorized grid interconnection.

Talent management of library and information science professionals: A review of research and future directions

Background This study aims to review the extant literature on talent management with the objective of influencing library and information management by addressing the key facets of talent management, such as talent management strategies, importance of career development, evaluation of talented employees, and organizational resilience. Methodology Literature on the development of talent and career management was retrieved from various scholarly papers indexed in Scopus and Web of Science to have a meticulous literature review serving as the platform of the present study. In light of the authors’ observations, two models were developed. The extant literature provides precise information that talent management plays a decisive role in promoting organizational excellence invariably in all kinds of organizations in general and libraries in particular. Results This study provides constructive recommendations for the implementation of effective talent management and retention policies for library and information professionals. Moreover, this study adds immense value to the corpus of existing literature to set a platform for the augmentation of library management in futuristic vision. Conclusion This study provides constructive recommendations to policy makers and library administrators to foster talented employees for excelling library and information services for the next several decades.

Axiological Relevance of the Tadek Dance of the Tingguians of Nueva Era, Ilocos Norte

The evolution of the tadek dance as art of the post-burial rites of the Tingguians of Nueva Era is a result of the family influence and the age of foundational learning of the identified performers of the tadek. Along with the death practices of the Tingguians during wake and burial is that the tadek dance is also performed as part of their post-burial rites. Also, the tadek dance strictly observes steps, movements and choreography in its performance as there are implications of the tadek dance on post-burial rites. Lastly, the Tingguians of Nueva Era puts so much importance and value to the tadek dance as this serves as a part of their cultural identity and cultural heritage as indigenous people .This study aims to explore the post-burial rites of the Tingguians and to document the steps, movements and choreographies observed during the performance of the tadek. This study also aims to explore the cultural relevance of the tadek dance among the Tingguians. Hence, A focused group discussion (FGD) with the participants was administered to be able to acquire the necessary data needed in the study. The participants was chosen as they are identified performers of the dance. Prior consent was secured from the National Commision on Indigenous Peoples, Office of the Mayor and a courtesy call among the tribe’s chieftain and all IP laws were observed before the conduct of the study. An interview guide formulated by the researchers which was validated by three IP members from Ilocos Norte and one professor in the Social Sciences was used during the focused group discussion (FGD). Data gathered was analyzed through a thematic analysis. To be able to analyze and interpret the data gathered, the researchers sought help from a native of the locality to translate the responses of the respondents.

What Do We Know about Age Management Practices in Public and Private Institutions in Scandinavia?—A Public Health Perspective

In view of global population ageing and of policies that support longer working lives, especially in developed countries, it is important to achieve diversity in organisations through age management. Age management is the “management of human resources, [often] with an explicit focus on the requirements of an ageing workforce.” Through age management practices, organisations will be better able to change their human resource management policies and practices towards accommodating their ageing workforce. Little is known about age management practices in Scandinavian organisations, considering the region’s high prevalence of workers beyond the age of 50 across both private and public organisations. There are indications that Scandinavian business organisations are already practicing age management for all ages, including older workers. Their age management practices include the dimensions of job recruitment, training, lifelong learning, development, and promotion. However, there is a dearth of knowledge on how the health and well-being of workers is ensured in the context of age management practices in these organisations. Given the current and future importance of age management for all organisations globally, public health and other health science professionals need to collaborate with other disciplines, such as management and sustainability science, to better understand how they can contribute to an aged and healthier workforce as well as workplace health promotion. This paper aims to contribute to the discussion concerning age management in public and private institutions in Scandinavia through the public health lens.

Shall the twain ever meet?

ABSTRACT There is ongoing debate about the function and value of quality management (hereinafter: QM) for the different actors within the forensic science environment. In this commentary we identify adopters and sceptics. Adopters, more likely in management roles, seek comfort in standards and standard operating procedures (SOPs) and sceptics, often in the role of science professionals, seek flexibility and choice in the way they do business without being slaves to standards and SOPs. Is this a case of the twain never meeting? It could be argued that the perceived gap between adopters and sceptics can be narrowed so long as there is flexibility for the sceptics, for example, to put science into forensic science (e.g. critical thinking) in a way that is sufficiently transparent to satisfy the adopters and the prevailing standard(s).

Libraries and Citizen Science Projects: Foreign Practice

Citizen science (CS) is a set of practices for organizing scientific research in a wide range of thematic areas using volunteers at various stages of the research process, them being not professional scientists. The article analyzes the activities of foreign libraries in order to implement CS projects. Both academic, research and public libraries abroad are involved in CS. Libraries (as well as archives and museums) are implementing crowdsourcing projects to create digital collections. Libraries help their readers who have decided to become volunteers navigate CS information resources on the Internet; create on their websites guidelines for using the necessary equipment and software to carry out CS projects; advertise, discuss, visualize and place in repositories the data collected by volunteers for such projects.

“Two Sides of the Same Coin”: Benefits of Science–Art Collaboration and Field Immersion for Undergraduate Research Experiences

This study examined how incorporating art into an upper-level undergraduate field-based ecology research course influenced students’ communication and collaboration skills, their career goals, and how they conceptualized the scientific method. Student pairs designed an independent research study that used artwork and a scientific research poster to disseminate their findings at an end-of-term exhibit. Students enrolled in either a local or a (subsidized) travel abroad section of the course. Students in both sections found new or deeper connections between art and science, developed a more sophisticated understanding of the science method, became more confident with their science skills, and reported an expanded perspective on their future careers (often including field work and a wider geographic job search). Science–art student teams indicated they wanted more opportunities for collaborative work in the future, and that their final products were more professional due to their collaborations, as compared to science–science teams. Additionally, the travel abroad students benefitted from experiencing new ecosystems and cultures, from working with science and art professionals from other countries, and from working in an isolated field station without distractions.

NLP Essentials: A Practical Guide for Data Science Professionals

NLP Essentials: A Practical Guide for Data Science Professionals

Нейросети как актор социально-эпистемических арен: этические проблемы

The article is devoted to the consideration of ethical problems related to the use of neural networks and artificial intelligence systems in scientific research. The authors consider neural networks as one of the actors of socio-epistemic arenas, which are understood as communication platforms for developing new knowledge in the process of distributed cognition. The acquisition of knowledge within the framework of socio-epistemic arenas occurs as a result of the interaction of three equally ranked actors: professional scientists, masses of non-professional Internet users and digital technologies. The emergence of the GPT4 neural network has made it obvious that digital tech­nologies are actively involved not only in natural science, but also in humanitarian scientific re­search. It began to be used both for commercial purposes and for entertainment purposes in civil science projects and independent research of Internet users seeking to obtain the necessary in­formation using a neural network. The neural network has also become part of the working tools of professional scientists, which has generated a lot of scientific and public discussions on the ethics of writing and publishing texts authored by ChatGPT. The use of a neural network for writing scientific articles is considered by part of the scientific community as plagiarism and copyright infringement, but the widespread use of GPT4 by the masses of Internet users is chang­ing the attitude towards this tool in the scientific community as well. There are scientific papers in which ChatGPT is positioned as a co-author of the study, acquiring scientific subjectivity. This state of affairs aggravates the ethical problems associated with the possibility of falsification of re­search results, and raises the question of automating the processes of marking and detecting the authorship of the neural network in the publications of scientists. Meanwhile, it becomes obvi­ous that neural networks, providing huge opportunities for the intensification of cognition pro­cesses, have expanded the socio-epistemic practices of scientists and the masses of Internet users, which it is impossible not to take into account when understanding science in society.

국내 과학기술인의 주도적 경력행동 연구: 조직 맥락 요인, 기관 유형, 인재개발 결과와의 구조적 관계 탐색

Not only is there an ever-growing need for career development among science and technology professionals, but the focus of individual career development has also shifted towards one’s proactive career behaviors. Yet, scholarly efforts to investigate the means to promote such behaviors among professionals in the field of science and technology and the potential outcomes of proactive career behaviors remain scarce to date. The current study aims to elucidate science and technology professionals' proactive career behaviors and how their outcomes vary depending on contextual factors within the organization in which they are employed by drawing on the social information process theory. Specifically, we examined the effects of organizational context, categorizing it into role-related factors(jobcontent and structural career plateau) and sociocultural factors(person-supervisor fit and organizational culture). Furthermore, we explored whether these effects differ based on the type of institutions(public institutions and private enterprises), and also whether organizational context factors influenced the professionals' personal development outcomes(career satisfaction and task performance) through proactive career behaviors. We analyzed the 2022 survey data of 2,066 science and technology professionals, provided by the Korea Institute of Human Resources Development in Science &amp; Technology (KIRD). Results revealed that structural career plateau had a negative impact on proactive career behaviors, while personsupervisor fit and innovation-oriented culture had a positive effect. Additionally, both innovation-oriented and task-oriented cultures were found to have a stronger impact on proactive career behaviors in private enterprises. Structural career plateau, person-supervisor fit, and innovation-oriented culture had significant effects on science and technology professionals' career satisfaction and task performance through proactive career behaviors. These findings not only contribute to the expansion of research in the field of science and technology professionals' career development but also provide valuable insights for supporting effective career development for science and technology professionals.

Core elements of excellent hospital leadership: lessons from the five top-performing hospitals in China.

Substantial evidence indicates that leadership plays a critical role in an organization's success. Our study aims to conduct case studies on leadership attributes among China's five top-performing hospitals, examining their common practices. A semi-structured interview was conducted with 8 leaders, 39 managers, 19 doctors, and 16 nurses from the five sample hospitals in China. We collected information from these hospitals on the role of senior leadership, organizational governance, and social responsibility, aligning with the leadership assessment guidelines in the Baldrige Excellence Framework. Qualitative data underwent interpretation through content analysis, thematic analysis, and comparative analysis. This study adhered to the consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research guidelines for reporting qualitative research. Our study revealed that the leaders of the five top-performing hospitals in China consistently established "Patient Needs First" as the core element of the hospital culture. Striving to build world-renowned hospitals with Chinese characteristics, the interviewees all believed strongly in scientific vigor, professionalism, and cooperative culture. The leaders adhered to a staff-centered approach, placing special emphasis on talent recruitment and development, creating a compensation system, and fostering a supportive environment conducive to enhancing medical knowledge, skills, and professional ethics. In terms of organizational governance, they continuously enhanced the communication between various departments and levels of staff, improved the quality and safety of medical care, and focused on innovative medical and scientific research, thereby establishing evidence-based, standardized hospital management with a feedback loop. Meanwhile, regarding social responsibility, they prioritized improvements in the quality of healthcare by providing international and domestic medical assistance, community outreach, and other programs. To a large extent, the excellent leadership of China's top-performing hospitals can be attributed to their commitment to a "Two-Pillared Hospital Culture," which prioritizes putting patient needs first and adopting a staff-centered approach. Furthermore, the leaders of these hospitals emphasize hospital performance, operations management, and social responsibility.