Practical Questions Research Articles

A Theory of Dynamic Inflation Targets

Should central banks’ inflation targets remain set in stone? We study a dynamic mechanism design problem between a government and a central bank. The central bank has persistent private information about structural shocks. Firms learn the state from the central bank’s reports and form inflation expectations. A dynamic inflation target implements the full-information commitment allocation. The central bank is delegated the authority to adjust the target’s level and flexibility one period in advance. A declining natural interest rate and a flattening Phillips curve imply opposite optimal target adjustments. Our results speak to practical policy questions of inflation target design. (JEL D82, E12, E31, E52, E58)

Assessment for Enteral Feeding Intolerance by Critical Care Nurses: A National Survey.

Enteral feeding intolerance (EFI) occurs in more than one-third of mechanically ventilated patients, yet the cause of this gastrointestinal dysfunction remains unclear. Assessment and diagnostic criteria are often vague and subjective leading to inaccurate recognition or diagnosis of EFI. Nurses are often unsure or unaware of appropriate assessment methods. The objective of this descriptive study was to determine current practice for assessment of EFI among critical care nurses. A national survey to explore EFI assessment practices was conducted with critical care nurses at the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses National Teaching Institute conference in 2022. Nurses completed a 19-item survey to determine assessment practices for EFI among critical care nurses. A total of 344 nurses completed the survey. The majority of nurses practiced direct care at the bedside for adult critical care patients, held a bachelor's degree, had 6 to 15 years of nursing experience, and held specialty certification. There was variability among responses to the practice questions in the survey. Seventy-eight percent of the nurses were aware of and had cared for patients with EFI. EFI was assessed by 84% of participants. The most common assessment criterion for EFI was nausea and vomiting. The majority (81%) of respondents measured gastric residual volume routinely or sometimes. This study shows assessment of EFI is not standardized among nurses. This study identifies a need for education about EFI given the lack of understanding of EFI. Findings from this study can be used to inform future research to develop best methods for assessing the presence of EFI.

P-2071. 2023-2024 COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake, Knowledge, and Attitudes among Individuals enrolled in a Household Transmission Study, Tennessee, New York, and Washington, January-April 2024

Abstract Background The updated 2023-2024 Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine became available on September 11, 2023 for persons ≥ 6 months old. Understanding the targeted populations’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding this latest vaccine may identify areas to improve future vaccine uptake.Table 1:Participants Characteristics Stratified by Age and Receipt of the 2023-2024 COVID-19 Vaccine Methods Persons enrolled in a household transmission investigation of respiratory viruses in Tennessee, New York, and Washington from January–April 2024 were asked to complete an enrollment survey, which included patient demographics and clinical history, and knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) questions about recent COVID-19 vaccine recommendations. Surveys for children < 13 years old were completed by their parent or guardian. All persons who answered at least one KAP question and who had verified COVID-19 vaccination information were included in this analysis (Figure 1). Characteristics and responses of recipients and non-recipients of the updated COVID-19 vaccine were described.Table 2:Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Stratified by Age and Receipt of the 2023-2024 COVID-19 Vaccine Results Of 204 individuals included in the analysis, 130 (64%) were adults (≥18 years) and 74 (36%) were children/adolescents (< 18 years) (Figure 1). Ninety-three (72%) adults and 72 (97%) children/adolescents (including everyone aged ≤4 years and 12-17 years) did not receive the 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine. Of 93 adults who were non-recipients, those aged 18-49 years (n=63, 68%) represented the most common age group, and 39 (42%) believed they had received the updated vaccine (Table 1 and Table 2). Of the 40 adult non-recipients who responded to the question of why they did not get vaccinated, 13 (33%) stated COVID-19 was not a problem in their community and 8 (20%) adults did not believe the vaccine would prevent COVID-19 or its complications. Of the 40 children/adolescent non-recipients who responded to the same question, 14 (35%) had safety concerns listed as the reason for not receiving the vaccine (Table 2).Table 2:Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Stratified by Age and Receipt of the 2023-2024 COVID-19 Vaccine (continued) Conclusion Uptake of the 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine was particularly low in persons aged < 18 years and 18-49 years. Education on the updated vaccination recommendations, the safety of the vaccine, and its effectiveness in preventing complications may improve uptake among these groups. More vaccine uptake and KAP data will be collected with further enrollment.Figure 1:Participant 2023-2024 COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility and Receipt Disclosures Carlos G. Grijalva, MD, MPH, AHRQ: Grant/Research Support|CDC: Grant/Research Support|FDA: Grant/Research Support|Merck: Advisor/Consultant|NIH: Grant/Research Support|SyneosHealth: Grant/Research Support Jonathan Schmitz, MD, PhD, D(ABMM), Biofire/Biomerieux: Grant/Research Support|Genmark/Roche: Grant/Research Support|Pfizer: Honoraria|Vela: Grant/Research Support Helen Y. Chu, MD, MPH, Abbvie: Advisor/Consultant|Merck: Advisor/Consultant|Vir: Advisor/Consultant Janet A. Englund, MD, Abbvie: Advisor/Consultant|AstraZeneca: Advisor/Consultant|AstraZeneca: Grant/Research Support|GlaxoSmithKline: Advisor/Consultant|GlaxoSmithKline: Grant/Research Support|Meissa Vaccines: Advisor/Consultant|Merck: Advisor/Consultant|Pfizer: Board Member|Pfizer: Grant/Research Support|Pfizer: Speaker at meeting|SanofiPasteur: Advisor/Consultant|Shinogi: Advisor/Consultant

Correlation between Legal Institutions of Patent Law and Regulation of Medicinal Products Circulation

Due to the specifics of the industry, pharmaceuticals belongs to one of the areas where patent protection of the results of intellectual activity is most in demand and has received the greatest development. However, patent law and legal regulation of the circulation of medicines are developing in fact in parallel, which raises many questions in practice. The paper examines the problems of incoordination of these areas of law, in particular on issues of terminology, specifies the points of intersection between the legal mechanisms established in them. The author elucidates the features of prolongation of patent protection of the invention relating to the drug as a product, as well as the relationship of this prolongation with the state registration of the drug under consideration. Particular attention is paid to discussion issues on the advisability of introducing into the Russian legal system the so-called patent linkage and the Bolar provisions in the legal regulation of the circulation of medicines commonly applied in foreign law. The author makes proposals on the basis of an analysis of judicial practice, foreign and domestic experience in finding a legal compromise between the interests of generic companies and patent holders — manufacturers of original drugs — to facilitate appropriate changes to Russian law.

Correction to “Susceptibility to violent extremism and cognitive rigidity: Registered replication, corroboration and open questions for criminological research and practice”Zmigrod, L. (2022). Susceptibility to violent extremism and cognitive rigidity: Registered replication, corroboration and open questions for criminological research and practice. Legal and Criminological Psychology, 27, 170–176. https://doi.org/10.1111/lcrp.12225

Correction to “Susceptibility to violent extremism and cognitive rigidity: Registered replication, corroboration and open questions for criminological research and practice”Zmigrod, L. (2022). Susceptibility to violent extremism and cognitive rigidity: Registered replication, corroboration and open questions for criminological research and practice. Legal and Criminological Psychology, 27, 170–176. https://doi.org/10.1111/lcrp.12225

Development, review, and activation of thoracic oncology investigator-initiated trials.

Investigator-initiated trials (IITs) may address important biological and clinical questions that may not be prioritized by pharmaceutical sponsors. However, little is known about the process by which IIT proposals are evaluated and activated. We performed a retrospective study of IIT concepts submitted through the Academic Thoracic Oncology Medical Investigators Consortium (ATOMIC), which comprises 13 institutions in the U.S. and Canada, from 2014 (consortium inception) to 2024. We compared approved and disapproved concepts using chi-squared tests, Fisher's exact tests, and Wilcoxon Rank-Sum tests. Among a total of 68 presented IIT concepts, 60 (88%) received consortium approval a median of 30 days (interquartile range [IQR] 31-59 days) after submission. Concepts submitted by junior faculty were more likely to be approved than those from full professors (P=0.003). Of the 60 concepts subsequently submitted to pharmaceutical sponsors, 15 (25%) were approved, 43 (72%) were disapproved, and 2 (3%) remain under review. The median time between concept submission to a sponsor and the sponsor's decision was 61 days (IQR 31-183 days). Concepts with shorter projected durations were more likely to be approved by the pharmaceutical sponsor (P=0.05). For sponsor-approved IIT concepts, median overall time from initial submission to trial activation was 18 months. Only a small proportion of proposed investigator-initiated cancer clinical trials are successfully activated following a prolonged development process. Given the importance of IITs in addressing real-world, practical questions and the growing professional challenges facing clinical research physician faculty, further attention to IIT development facilitators and barriers is warranted.

Robust public health evidence should concede multifactorial causation

The recent controversy surrounding Covishield vaccine and its rare side effects reported by AstraZeneca raises an important ethical question in public health practice. Public health ethics has not been perceived as distinct from medical ethics and by default, evidence in medicine is at times interpreted as being the same as public health evidence, when the context of practice of the two disciplines is distinct. There is a tendency in public health practice to opt for those interventions with maximum benefit to the maximum number, guided by utilitarian ethics, whereas in medical ethics the focus is on benefits vs risks. It is important to examine whether the side effects of any public health intervention can be justified against the risk it can pose to even a single healthy individual?

Innovation of Writing Skills Assessment Instrument at the Creating Level in Arabic Language Textbooks

The form of writing skills questions has the same pattern so that students easily and comfortably search for answers on the internet with instant alternatives. Even though practice questions are very important to measure students' abilities and creativity levels. Therefore, this study aims to examine and innovate the instrument for assessing writing skills at the creation level in Arabic textbooks for class VIII MTs published by the Ministry of Religious Affairs. This research uses library research. Primary data sources come from Arabic textbooks and secondary data sources come from articles, proceedings, and books that have the theory of Arabic writing skills assessment and HOTS creation level. The results of this study indicate that the writing skills assessment instruments used in Arabic textbooks for class VIII MTs do not yet contain HOTS elements, thus it requires innovation in the creation level thinking skills instruments and seven new creation level instruments are available, namely: make perfect sentences, describe serialized pictures, compose procedure texts, compose paragraphs based on questions, compose invitation letters, and compose descriptive essays. The assessment instrument is explained with an overview of the implementation by containing the cognitive domain of the creation level so that it can be understood and used in the development of Arabic writing skills assessment instruments.

The Signaling Effect of Biophilic Job Posts: Do Applicants Trade Green for Green?

ABSTRACTContemporary job postings increasingly rely on visual content to attract applicants through social media platforms, calling for scholarly attention to organizational aesthetics in recruitment. This study accordingly examines the signaling function of biophilic workspace design conveyed in job posts. We integrate theorizing on organizational aesthetics and biophilia with signaling theory to posit that biophilic job posts serve a dual signaling role as both a stimulus of signal attention by eliciting a visceral response and as a signaled source of credible information by evoking an evolutionary disposed cognitive interpretation. More specifically, we model pleasure and arousal as an indicator of stimulated attention, organizational attraction and the willingness to trade pay as evaluated responses to the signal, and attributions of communal organizational traits as an intervening interpretation of the signal—consistent with the role of symbolic attributes in prospective applicant evaluation of organizations. Three primary experiments largely support our predictions. Overall, this research extends the function of aesthetic signals to organizational signaling, validates organizational aesthetics as a stimulus of directed evaluation, and expands the scope of biophilic theory in organizational research. Findings also inform the practical question of whether biophilic job posts function as a non‐pecuniary differentiator in recruitment.

Taking pleasure seriously: Should alcohol research say more about fun?

This paper invites discussion on whether pleasure should receive more attention in public health-oriented research on alcohol. While there is a history of sociological and anthropological literature exploring alcohol and pleasure, this is much less common in public health-oriented alcohol research, and associated advocacy. We propose three broad reasons why more extensive engagement with issues of pleasure may be important for public health-oriented research. The first is epistemological: because overlooking pleasure risks leaving a gap in knowledge of a key component of, and motive for, drinking. The second is ethical: because the prioritisation of long-term health over shorter-term pleasures is not uncontested, and needs to be explicitly justified. The third is pragmatic: because ceding the discourse on pleasure to other actors (including commercial ones) risks undermining effective engagement with target populations. There is strong case for more attention to pleasure in public health-oriented alcohol research. Key to this is the further development of interdisciplinary perspectives and mixed-methods research. This brings both conceptual and methodological challenges, many of which remain unresolved; however, bringing these issues to the surface may enable greater clarity on both normative principles (including arguments against research engaging with pleasure) and practical questions concerning the design of research and analysis in this area.

Introduction: The international political economy of green finance

From IPCC reports to global asset managers and governments, calls for more green finance to fuel the sustainability transition are ubiquitous. Concurrently, the critiques of a benign embrace of financial techniques, products, and flows as solutions to the climate crisis are growing louder. As a field of inquiry, IPE has the right tools to address such controversies productively. Yet, we diagnose a lack of what we call a deep engagement of IPE with epistemic and practical questions of what green finance is, how it operates, and its outcomes. The ambition of this special issue is to develop a research agenda that examines the contemporary global and concrete forms of green finance and its governance in order to better understand the following dynamics: first, how political and economic power relations within global finance shape environmental governance outcomes, and second, how the climate crisis itself influences the governance of global finance. To facilitate such thinking, we propose to understand green finance as an evolving ecosystem in the broader web of global finance instead of a specific instrument, asset class or concept. We hold this to be a fruitful approach to engage questions of green finance in both a global and concrete manner across different sectors, geographies, actors, and structures. By acknowledging the global nature and implications of green financial flows, we can push forward thinking not only on climate change and environmental governance in IPE, but also turn attention to the ongoing contestations, contingencies, and crises of finance in the global political economy.

Equity-Related Ethical Questions in Evaluation Practice: Examples From Interviews With Evaluators in New England, U.S.

Amid calls for evaluations to advance equity, there are ongoing debates, varied guidance, and limited empirical research on how evaluators practically attend to equity in their work. This article identifies ethical questions—about the right thing to do when there are multiple options—that arise when evaluators attend to equity and factors that influence how evaluators interpret and address these questions. Our identification of questions and factors comes from a qualitative analysis of semi-structured individual interviews with 21 evaluators based in New England, U.S., predominantly White women representing multiple practice areas. Ethical questions address evaluators’ expertise, negotiation with funders, methodological norms, use of data about disparities, and influence of evaluators’ worldviews in cross-cultural settings. The ways evaluators navigate these questions are influenced by their workplace, professional roles, interpersonal relationships, power differences, and available time. Findings pose implications for evaluator training and future directions for research on equity and ethics.

Pelatihan Kemampuan Percakapan Sehari-Hari Menggunakan Simple Tense Pada Siswa Kelas V SD Islam Bandar Kidul

The purpose of this project is to assess students' proficiency with the Simple Present Tense in everyday speech. This activity was intended for 35 Bandar Kidul Islamic Elementary School fifth graders. A pre-test, material discussion, games, practice questions, and a post-test are all part of this English language proficiency exercise. This exercise was conducted in accordance with the findings of earlier observations and pre-tests. The exam results indicate that most pupils are still struggling to learn how to use the Simple Present Tense. With a fresh learning environment and enjoyable teaching strategies, students may comprehend Simple Present Tense sentence structures as a consequence of this practice. Additionally, pupils are able to apply

Exploring the Application of High-Road Transfer in the Teaching of “Double Angle Bisector Modeling” Problem Solving

In the current teaching practice of junior middle school mathematics, teachers tend to directly teach the conclusion of geometric models, focusing on the training of low-road transfer, which leads to students’ difficulty applying the model flexibly to solve problems. In order to change this situation, the teaching of geometric model problem solving should be optimized based on the law of high-road transfer. Specific measures include: digging deep into the principles behind the model to help students identify the general principles and logical structure; establishing a model thinking framework by sorting out the internal logic of the mathematical model; and designing variations of practice questions to consolidate and deepen students’ understanding and to achieve the ability of high-road transfer. In this paper, for the problem-solving teaching of “double angle bisector modeling”, we give a high-road transfer path, refine the core ideas of the model and establish the solution ideas of related problems, so as to provide reference for the optimization of junior high school mathematics problem-solving teaching.

BINGO! Elevating Medical Physiology Tutorials Through Gamification.

We introduced a BINGO game as an active learning strategy for pulmonary, renal, and endocrine physiology, aiming to enhance student engagement and application of physiology knowledge. Each BINGO tutorial utilized a template featuring 50-60 questions aligned with prior learning events, was delivered to 90 second-year medical students, and lasted 50-80 minutes. Iterative improvements, including revealing correct answers and a polling system, were implemented based on student feedback. Sessions required BINGO materials, prizes, and, in one iteration, polling software. Postsession surveys assessed perceptions and engagement via a 5-point Likert scale (1 = strongly disagree, 5 = strongly agree). Thematic analysis of feedback informed iterative improvements while t tests compared responses across sessions. Of the 90 students participating, between 31 and 47 (34%-52%) responded to each postevent survey. Students reported high engagement (average: 4.4) and perceived effectiveness of time spent (average: 4.1) across BINGO games. The games were rated as effective educational tools (average: 4.2) and valuable for applying physiology knowledge (average: 4.4) on diverse topics (average: 4.4). Students expressed a desire for continued BINGO use in future tutorials (average: 4.2). Statistical analysis revealed no significant differences among the three iterations. Students valued iterative changes based on their feedback, such as revealing correct answers after questions. The pulmonary survey led to implementing this change in the renal BINGO tutorial, and the renal survey prompted further improvements in the endocrine tutorial, addressing the need for sufficient explanation of correct answers. Students also appreciated the abundance of practice questions provided.

소크라테스의 선의 추구와 선험적 정당화

In the dialogue Laches, Plato addresses the issue of justification of Educational content in the language of today’s curriculum researchers. Plato’s view on the issue can be summarized as follows: the value of educational content should be judged not from the perspective of utility, but in light of whether or not it helps to care for the soul. Here, ‘care for the soul’ is possible through the ‘life of reflection’, which Socrates recommended throughout his life. In his view, human life is a process of purifying the soul through reflection. And for him, the life of reflection and purification of the soul is a command from God and the destiny of humans, and no one can be an exception to it. In the researcher’s view, this view of Plato reappears in R. S. Peters’ discussion of the transcendental justification. According to Peters, humans are born into a civilized life in which it is valuable to use reason to ask questions about the current situation and find answers. Of course, this question also includes the practical question of why we should do this and not that. Education is an activity that initiates children into a civilized life by using the accumulated results as educational content. Therefore, the demand to justify educational content is meaningful only when its value is already accepted. Peters’ discussion of the transcendental justification can be more fully formed by Plato’s view on the problem of the source of knowledge, which is implied in ‘the purification of the soul’.

Pengembangan Lembar Kerja Peserta Didik Pada Materi Virus Untuk Kelas X SMA/MA

The use of appropriate teaching materials is a very important factor in improving students' ability to understand a lesson. However, there are still lessons that use LKPD which only contain a collection of questions, so they are not able to increase student activity in learning activities. Therefore, teaching materials such as LKPD are needed that can meet students' needs. The aim of this research is to create an LKPD accompanied by practice questions on Class X SMA/MA virus material that is valid and practical. This type of research is research and development with a 4D development model. At the development stage, validation is carried out by validators and questionnaires regarding readability and practicality are given to teachers and students. The research instruments used were validity questionnaires, readability questionnaires and practicality questionnaires. The results of the study showed that the resulting LKPD has very valid criteria with a validity score of 95.66%, very readable with a readability score of 96.69% and very practical with practicality scores obtained from teachers and students of 90.19% and 94, respectively. 47%. Thus it can be concluded that the LKPD developed can be used in learning.

The battle of question formats: a comparative study of retrieval practice using very short answer questions and multiple choice questions

BackgroundRetrieval practice is a highly effective learning strategy that enhances long-term retention by encouraging the active recall of information. However, the optimal question format for maximizing knowledge retention remains uncertain. In this study, we compared the effect of very short answer (VSAQ) versus multiple-choice question (MCQ) practice tests on students’ knowledge retention. By analyzing these two formats, we aim to identify the most effective approach to retrieval practice, thereby helping to optimize its implementation and improve learning outcomes.MethodsIn this randomized within-subjects study, students (n = 45) practiced with both VSAQs and MCQs in an extracurricular lifestyle course, without receiving feedback. The final retention test consisted of identical questions in both formats. A 2 × 2 repeated measures ANOVA was used to determine the effect of question format in practice testing and final test on final test score. Additionally, digital questionnaires were used to explore students’ test-taking experiences.ResultsThe VSAQs were answered incorrectly more frequently on the practice tests and final test. There was no main effect of practice question format on final test performance, and no interaction effect between question format on the practice and final test. Regardless of question format, most students thought the practice tests were beneficial for learning.ConclusionsWe found no evidence indicating that either MCQ or VSAQ is more effective for knowledge retention during retrieval practice. The lower initial retrieval success in the VSAQs, indicated by the higher degree of incorrect answers on the practice tests, might have limited their effectiveness during retrieval practice. To optimize the use of VSAQs in retrieval practice, it seems important to improve initial retrieval success to maximize learning outcomes.Clinical trial numberNot applicable.

The Contributions of Strategic Knowledge Partnerships in Enhancing Knowledge Marketing: A Case Study at the University of Mosul

Universities are markets of knowledge; they are social organizations that are influenced by society and, in turn, influence it, as they are products of society and tools for creating scientific, technical, professional, and political leadership, responsible for driving change and progress. Thus, they open their doors to everyone, allowing them to find knowledge, culture, and scientific solutions to problems within their halls. One way to open these doors is through establishing knowledge partnerships, which enhances their performance quality first, strengthens their relationships with other parties second, and activates the marketing of their knowledge to beneficiaries in particular and society in general, as it is one of their most valuable assets third. Hence, the problem of the study emerges, represented by a number of theoretical and practical questions. The study aims to answer these questions by clarifying the intellectual implications, as it is considered one of the important topics in the Iraqi environment. Therefore, correlation and influence relationships were tested using statistical programs (SPSS) and (Amos). The study was conducted on a purposive sample of (administrative leaders and senior academic ranks), which was set at (262) individuals, using a checklist as the primary tool for collecting data and information from the study sample. The study reached a number of conclusions, based on which the researcher proposed important recommendations for the organization under investigation.

What's Left of Moral Bioenhancement? Reviewing a 15-Year Debate.

Should we implement biomedical interventions like psychopharmaceuticals or brain stimulation that aim to improve morality in society? Since 2008, moral bioenhancement (MBE) has received considerable attention in bioethics, generating wide scholarly disagreement. However, reviews on the subject are few and either outdated or not structured in method. This paper addresses this gap by providing a scoping review of the last 15years of debate on MBE (from 2008 to 2022). To enhance clarity, we map the debate into three key areas: the conceptual foundations of MBE (foundational questions), the practical feasibility of MBE (practical questions), and the normative legitimacy of MBE (normative questions). Beyond identifying specific research gaps within these domains, our analysis reveals a general lack of empirical evidence either supporting or opposing MBE, as well as a shift in the literature from a universal interpretation of MBE to a more pragmatic one, targeting specific groups.