Research Association Research Articles

The Perils Unveiled: Discourse on Cancer; A CDA of Research Articles and Medical Associations

Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) is an interdisciplinary approach to studying the relationship between language, power, and society. The study discussed the medical discourse in research journals and associations in their recommendation sections for prescribing diets for cancer patients. A total of 10 research articles and 8 associations’ recommendations were made part of this mixed-method research by using the random sampling technique. The research provided discourse analysis of the recommendation sections by applying Van Dijk’s macrostructure model so that discourse could be observed by observing selection, deletion, and generalisation in the research journals and associations.AntConc and Excel were also used for the analysis of data obtained from articles and other web documents. Text from the articles was entered into a notepad file and then AntConc was used to generate a keyword list for the research. Microsoft Excel was used for the analysis of the data and the graphical representation of the data by drawing graphs. The results of the study showed that the discourse was manipulated in journals and associations, but the frequency and intensity of the manipulation varied among journals and associations. The results also provided details about the methods used for manipulating discourse in the recommendations of journals and associations for cancer patients and the reasons for doing so by the responsible organisations.

The policy-research-practice triangle in New Zealand early childhood education: Complexities, impossibilities and silences

ABSTRACT Inspired by the New Zealand Association for Research in Education (NZARE) Conference 2022, entitled ‘The Mighty Triangle: The strength of the research-policy-practice triangle for addressing local, national, and global challenges’ (https://www.nzare.org.nz/events/te-aonui-the-mighty-triangle/), this article examines some of the relational complexities and specificities within the Aotearoa New Zealand early childhood education and care policy-research-practice triangle. This article problematises the notion of the ‘mighty’ triangle as a ‘durable’ structure by examining how each corner, side and angle is produced in the context of prevailing global neoliberal discourses. We argue that making sense of the complex dynamics within the Aotearoa ECE policy-research-practice triangle requires understanding the politics, relationships and dynamics of conflict and the struggle of those, directly and indirectly, involved in (and excluded) and influenced by the triangle. Therefore, the article critically engages with the ‘impossibilities’ and complexities of the ECE policy-research-practice triangle and takes a closer look at those impacted and/or marginalised by ‘beautiful durable structures’ of ECE triangle politics, particularly the voices of teachers.

A “life of optimism” in curriculum, teaching, and teacher education: the legacy of Miriam Ben-Peretz

ABSTRACT In 2020, Miriam Ben-Peretz, the Israel Scholar of 2006 and a member of the U.S. National Academy (in addition to being a recipient of Israel’s EMET Prize for Research in Education and an American Educational Research Association Fellow) passed away. Ben-Peretz, whose life patterned Israel’s contested history (including its wars), was equally well known worldwide and at home. This intellectual biography captures her career trajectory, her abridged academic family tree, her research interests, and how her scholarship spread at home and abroad. Her knowledge creations: curriculum making, curriculum potential and curriculum encounters, are spotlighted. Her longstanding relationship with, and support of MOFET (Institute for Research and Curriculum Development in Teacher Education), which was founded Israel’s Ministry of Education, formed a seedbed for her knowledge utilization, knowledge mediation, and knowledge dissemination. Ben-Peretz’s career illuminates how she, as a pioneering female and founding citizen of Israel, made headway so that others, could follow in her footsteps. How to live optimistically, despite encountering barriers that would break others, is the legacy that Miriam Ben-Peretz left.

Doing community-based research during dual public health emergencies (COVID and overdose)

Meaningful engagement and partnerships with people who use drugs are essential to conducting research that is relevant and impactful in supporting desired outcomes of drug consumption as well as reducing drug-related harms of overdose and COVID-19. Community-based participatory research is a key strategy for engaging communities in research that directly affects their lives. While there are growing descriptions of community-based participatory research with people who use drugs and identification of key principles for conducting research, there is a gap in relation to models and frameworks to guide research partnerships with people who use drugs. The purpose of this paper is to provide a framework for research partnerships between people who use drugs and academic researchers, collaboratively developed and implemented as part of an evaluation of a provincial prescribed safer supply initiative introduced during dual public health emergencies (overdose and COVID-19) in British Columbia, Canada. The framework shifts from having researchers choose among multiple models (advisory, partnership and employment) to incorporating multiple roles within an overall community-based participatory research approach. Advocacy by and for drug users was identified as a key role and reason for engaging in research. Overall, both academic researchers and Peer Research Associates benefited within this collaborative partnerships approach. Each offered their expertise, creating opportunities for omni-directional learning and enhancing the research. The shift from fixed models to flexible roles allows for a range of involvement that accommodates varying time, energy and resources. Facilitators of involvement include development of trust and partnering with networks of people who use drugs, equitable pay, a graduate-level research assistant dedicated to ongoing orientation and communication, technical supports as well as fluidity in roles and opportunities. Key challenges included working in geographically dispersed locations, maintaining contact and connection over the course of the project and ensuring ongoing sustainable but flexible employment.

Social Sciences in Brazil: From a Broad Interdisciplinarity to a Restricted Interdisciplinarity

In this work, we will analyze how the transition from an expanded conception of social sciences to a more restricted notion of social sciences, centered on the disciplines of anthropology, political science, and sociology, took place in Brazil. In the first part of this article, we will contextualize the creation process of the first undergraduate courses of social sciences in Brazil in the 1930s, as well as their transformations over time; in the second part, we will carry out an analysis of the social sciences programs existing in Brazil, starting from the courses that are currently in operation and grant master’s and/or doctoral degrees in this area. Finally, we demonstrate how the creation of the national graduate system between the 1960s and 1970s was essential to consolidate this institutional arrangement and the creation of the National Association for Research and Graduate Studies in Social Sciences in the 1970s.

The International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer Thymic Epithelial Tumors Staging Project: An Overview of the Central Database Informing Revision of the Forthcoming (Ninth) Edition of the TNM Classification of Malignant Tumors

IntroductionIn 2014, a TNM-based system for thymic epithelial tumors was proposed. The TNM stage classification system was published as a result of a joint project from the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer and the International Thymic Malignancy Interest Group for the eighth edition of the American Joint Commission on Cancer and the Union for International Cancer Control stage classification system. The Thymic Domain of the Staging and Prognostic Factors Committee of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer received the mandate to make proposals for the ninth edition of the TNM stage classification. MethodsA central thymic database was collected by the Cancer Research And Biostatistics with the contribution of the major thymic associations in the world. ResultsA total of 11,347 patients were collected. Submitting organizations were the following: Japanese Association for Research in the Thymus, European Society of Thoracic Surgeons, Chinese Alliance for Research in Thymoma, Korean Association for Research in the Thymus, International Thymic Malignancy Interest Group, and Réseau tumeurs THYMiques et Cancer. Additional contributions came from centers in the United States, United Kingdom, Turkey, Australia, Spain, and Italy. A total of 9147 cases were eligible for analysis. Eligible cases for analysis came from Asia and Australia (5628 cases, 61.5%), Europe (3113 cases, 34.0%), and North America (406 cases, 4.4%). ConclusionsThis report provides an overview of the database that has informed the proposals for the updated T, N, and M components and the stage groups for the ninth TNM of malignant tumors.

Impacts organisationnels et budgétaires de la mise en place des thérapies CAR-T cells au sein d’un centre hospitalier académique français

Belonging to the family of advanced therapy medicinal products, CAR-T cells have changed the management of hematological malignancies. These treatments are known to involve many actors in a complex process. The quotation of hospital stays associated with this therapeutic strategy is also unusual since there is currently no specific quotation. From November 2021 to May 2022, a study was conducted at the Nancy University Hospital to evaluate the organizational impact of CAR-T cell therapy on hospital actors and the budgetary impact of stays in care centers. Through this study, we have shown significant and variable organizational impacts: from 3.12% of an additional full-time equivalent for an administrative manager to 41.5% for a clinical research associate. These times, when compared to the hourly rates of the actors, generated high costs: 6582.81 € per patient, i.e. 15.60% of the total cost of hospitalization. Taking into account the current refund of hospital stays and the costs calculated above, the balance of an average hospital stay is a deficit of 674.10 € [±10,224.79] with a median of 1334.97 €. This study highlighted the workload generated by the management of these new therapies, as well as the fragile balance of financing hospital stays. To date, it seems necessary and even essential to adapt the quotations of the acts dedicated to CAR-T cells activity and to provide adequate funding through an adapted pricing system.

Panel: safeguarding nuclear waste management

Abstract. When the world's first encapsulation plant and geological repository (EPGR) for spent nuclear fuel disposal will start operations in Finland in a few years, this will also be the first facility of this kind for which international safeguard measures (e.g. Niemeyer et al., 2021) will be implemented. This two-part panel takes this as an opportunity to focus on the approaches, concepts, methods and technologies for safeguarding nuclear waste management. The first part discusses the current state and challenges in safeguarding spent fuel storage facilities, encapsulation plants and geological repositories and elaborates on the recent progress of safeguard developments and implementation, as well as existing gaps. Panellists will address the following questions. (i) Which safeguards approaches are currently developed for or implemented at spent fuel storage facilities, encapsulation plants and geological repositories? (ii) How do we make best use of safeguards concepts, such as safety–security–safeguards (3S) and safeguards by design (SBD), in nuclear waste management? (iii) Lastly, what are the most important research and development (R&D) activities regarding safeguards methods and technologies in nuclear waste management (related to the technical readiness levels (TRL) 4–8)? The second part then looks at future challenges of safeguarding nuclear waste management in the medium and long term and develops some priorities in order to meet these challenges, based on the following questions. (i) Which challenges are on the horizon regarding safeguards implementation at spent fuel storage facilities, encapsulation plants and geological repositories in the medium and long term? (ii) What are medium- and long-term challenges of safeguards implementation from the operator's point of view? (iii) What are the most promising methods and technologies for safeguarding nuclear waste management in the medium- and long-term future (related to the technical readiness levels (TRL) 1–4)? Both parts will include panellists from safeguards inspectorates, national safeguards authorities, the nuclear industry and research entities. The panel will be held with the Final Disposal Working Group of the European Safeguards Research and Development Association (ESARDA) (https://esarda.jrc.ec.europa.eu/working-groups/final-disposal-fd_en, last access: 24 August 2023).

For a better understanding of the profile of nurses working in France who hold or are working toward a Ph.D: A quantitative descriptive study

In 2009, the French Association de recherche en soins infirmiers (Nursing Research Association) counted fifty-four nurses holding a doctorate or working toward one. Recent developments in this area include the creation of section 92, for nursing sciences, in the National Council of Universities, making it possible for nurses in France to become professors with teaching and research responsibilities. To update and complete the 2009 data by identifying the grades, fields of activity, and disciplines of nurses holding a doctorate or studying for one. A quantitative descriptive study was carried out using an online questionnaire between December 1, 2021 and March 22, 2022. the study involved 147 nurses working in France: seventy-five with a doctorate and 72 doctoral students. The majority of the respondents were women, held a supervisory position, and were working in the field of education. Among the doctorates obtained, education sciences accounted for the largest share. However, this disciple was less well represented among the doctoral candidates. This study shows a change in the characteristics of nurses who are also doctoral candidates and in the disciplines in which they have obtained or are currently obtaining a doctorate, and an increase in the value of the degree, particularly in research, but little access to academic posts.

Biobank Education for Future Physicians: Training Medical Students Through Student Research Association Networks.

Research biobanks have become crucial collaborators in a variety of basic and clinical research projects with comprehensive biological sample collection and associated data storage. Medical students, who are the most important stakeholders of biobanks as future physicians, need to be trained in biobanking; however, there is no consensus on how to include it in formal education. This study aimed to determine and increase awareness among medical students regarding biobanks through peer training organized online by medical student research association networks. Volunteer medical or graduate students were trained by biobank professionals at the Izmir Biomedicine and Genome Center (IBG) biobank for 6-9 months. Then, a biobank event was planned by these trainees, the Ege Scientific Research Team (ESRT), and IBG-Biobank with the support of The Biobanking and BioMolecular Resources Research Infrastructure (BBMRI) Turkey. The study reached students of 46 different medical faculties. Before the event, students' level of knowledge about biobanks was identified using a pre-event questionnaire (n = 239). Following 2 days (4 main sessions) of online events, a post-event questionnaire was administered to event participants (n = 110) and 80.9% of them answered (n = 89). The pre-event survey revealed that only 34.3% of the medical students had heard of the term "Biobank" in Turkey. After the event, medical students were significantly more enthusiastic about putting effort into biobanking and using and sharing stored biobank samples of their patients compared with the pre-event (p < 0.0001). Moreover, 92% of the students stated that they would consider attending an advanced course in biobanking. In conclusion, the current study demonstrates that extracurricular courses with peer learning methods coordinated with medical student associations can be valuable in increasing future physicians' awareness and knowledge of biobanking.

Translation, cultural adaptation and validation of the General Medication Adherence Scale (GMAS) in moroccan patients with type-2 diabetes

BackgroundThe objective of the study was to cross-culturally adapt and validate the General Medication Adherence Scale (GMAS) in patients with type-2 diabetes in Morocco.MethodsThe study was a cross-sectional study conducted between September 12 and October 12, 2022, and included patients with type-2 diabetes from a primary health care network. To measure the different psychometric parameters of the construct, data analysis was performed using SPSS v20. The study was approved by the Moroccan Association for Research and Ethics.ResultsA total of 284 patients were included in the study; the results of the different psychometric parameters were largely acceptable. Indeed, the improvement of the goodness-of-fit of the model in relation to the independence model was evaluated by the comparative fit index (CFI), which was higher than 0.95, as well as the normalized fit index (NFI), which expresses the percentage of the general covariance between the variable demonstrated via the tested model when the null model is taken as reference and was also higher than 0.95 in this study. Additionally, the Tucker Louis Index (TLI) or Unstandardized Fit Index, which measures the increase in goodness of fit when moving from the reference model to the model under study, had a value of > 0.95. The correlations between the items were good; indeed, the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) index was > 0.7. The translated tool presents good internal consistency; thus, Cronbach’s α had a value of approximately 0.804 (> 0.7).ConclusionsThe version of the GMAS tool adapted to the Moroccan context has very acceptable psychometric values. This means that Moroccan researchers and health professionals can use it as an instrument to measure adherence among individuals with type-2 diabetes.

Imaging evaluation of thymic tumors.

An integral part of managing patients with thymoma and thymic carcinoma is imaging. At diagnosis and staging, imaging helps demonstrate the extent of local invasion and distant metastases which allows the proper stratification of patients for therapy. For decades, the predominant staging system for thymic tumors was the Masaoka-Koga staging system. More recently, however, the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer, the International Thymic Malignancies Interest Group (ITMIG), the European Society of Thoracic Surgeons, the Chinese Alliance for Research on Thymomas, and the Japanese Association of Research on Thymus partnered together to develop a tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) staging system specifically for thymic tumors based on a retrospective database of nearly 10,000 patients. The TNM 8th edition defines specific criteria for thymic tumors. Imaging also serves to assess treatment response and detect recurrent disease after various treatment modalities. The Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) version 1.1 is currently used to assess response to treatment. ITMIG recommends certain modifications to RECIST version 1.1, however, in thymic tumors due to unique patterns of spread. While there is often overlap, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) characteristics can help differentiate thymoma and thymic carcinoma, with newer CT and MRI techniques under evaluation showing encouraging potential.

Peer Review Statement

All papers published in this volume have been reviewed through processes administered by the Editors. Reviews were conducted by expert referees to the professional and scientific standards expected of a proceedings journal published by IOP Publishing.• Type of peer review: Double Anonymous• Conference submission management system: Morressier• Number of submissions received: 54• Number of submissions sent for review: 53• Number of submissions accepted: 29• Acceptance Rate (Submissions Accepted / Submissions Received × 100): 53.7• Average number of reviews per paper: 2• Total number of reviewers involved: 14• Contact person for queries: Name: Fengxin Cen Email: alan.cen@gsrassn.org Affiliation: Global Scientific Research Association

Protocol for a 2-year longitudinal study of eating disturbances, mental health problems and overuse injuries in rock climbers (CLIMB)

IntroductionRock climbing is a rapidly growing sport in which performance may be affected by participant’s weight and leanness, and there may be pressure on athletes with respect to their eating...

일본의 한국 지역연구 동향

This paper aims to analyze the trends of Korea area studies in Japan, with a focus on the Korean Regional Research Association. Firstly, examining the current status of regional research-related conferences in Japan, such conferences were established in the 1980s and continued until the 2000s, but their numbers sharply declined in the 2010s. The Modern Korean Chosun Society, founded in 2000, is a relatively new society comprising members from various academic disciplines, including law, politics, international relations, economics, business administration, sociology, social welfare, journalism and communication research, pedagogy, cultural anthropology, ethnography, folklore, history, literature, and language. Korean political research tends to describe political dynamics based on different regimes, while political history often focuses on individual figures. Much of the Korean economic research has centered on analyzing the impact of the IMF economic crisis on Korean society. Additionally, Korean social research has examined various topics, such as changes in employment structures resulting from job insecurity in the labor market, the rapid aging of the population, and shifts in population and family structures due to trends like unmarried and late marriage.

Pharmaceutical Care Network Europe definition of quality indicators for pharmaceutical care: a systematic literature review and international consensus development

BackgroundOver the past 40 years, the tasks of pharmacists have shifted from logistic services to pharmaceutical care (PhC). Despite the increasing importance of measuring quality of care, there is no general definition of Quality Indicators (QIs) to measure PhC. Recognising this, a working group in a European association of PhC researchers, the Pharmaceutical Care Network Europe (PCNE), was established in 2020.AimThis research aimed to review existing definitions of QIs and develop a definition of QIs for PhC.MethodA two-step procedure was applied. Firstly, a systematic literature review was conducted to identify existing QI definitions that were summarised. Secondly, an expert panel, comprised of 17 international experts from 14 countries, participated in two surveys and a discussion using a modified Delphi technique to develop the definition of QIs for PhC.ResultsA total of 182 QI definitions were identified from 174 articles. Of these, 63 QI definitions (35%) cited one of five references as the source. Sixteen aspects that construct QI definitions were derived from the identified definitions. As a result of the Delphi study, the panel reached an agreement on a one-sentence definition of QIs for PhC: “quality indicators for pharmaceutical care are validated measurement tools to monitor structures, processes or outcomes in the context of care provided by pharmacists”.ConclusionBuilding upon existing definition of QIs, an international expert panel developed the PCNE definition of QIs for PhC. This definition is intended for universal use amongst researchers and healthcare providers in PhC.

Continued support for teachers; growing support for four-day school week: Findings from the 55th annual PDK poll

The 55th Annual PDK Poll finds that a wide majority (66%) of adults say teachers should have a substantial say in what’s taught in public schools, more than say so about school boards, local residents, or lawmakers. Support for teachers also is apparent in another result from the 2023 PDK Poll: 67% of respondents support increasing local teacher salaries by raising property taxes. That result reflects the public’s broad sense that public school teachers are undervalued, underpaid, and overworked. At the same time, more than half of Americans support shifting to a four-day school week in their community, nearly twice as many as said so two decades ago. And structurally, beyond a four-day week, the poll finds that about six in 10 adults support other changes in how schools operate — longer school days and/or a longer school year — as ways to try to improve student learning outcomes. On another topic, results show widespread support for schools conducting mental health assessments of students. The survey was produced by Langer Research Associates for PDK International, with data collected June 16-25, 2023, in English and Spanish, among a representative, random national sample of 1,002 adults.

Expert consensus to optimize the management of older adult patients with advanced EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer

Lung cancer (LC) is associated with ageing, with the average age of affected individuals being approximately 70 years. However, despite a higher incidence and prevalence among older people, the older adult population is underrepresented in clinical trials. For LC with Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) mutations, there is no clear association of this mutation with age. Geriatric assessments (GAs) and a multidisciplinary approach are essential for defining the optimal treatment. In this consensus, a group of experts selected from the Oncogeriatrics Section of the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology (Sección de Oncogeriatría de la Sociedad Española de Oncología Médica—SEOM), the Spanish Lung Cancer Group (Grupo Español de Cáncer de Pulmón—GECP) and the Association for Research on Lung Cancer in Women (Asociación para la Investigación del Cáncer de Pulmón en Mujeres—ICAPEM) evaluate the scientific evidence currently available and propose a series of recommendations to optimize the management of older adult patients with advanced LC with EGFR mutations.

Geological and geochemical characteristics of shallow-buried ferromanganese crusts from Weijia Guyot and their resource potential

Numerous buried ferromanganese (Fe-Mn) crusts covered by surface sediments, such as foraminifera ooze, were found on the platforms of certain guyots in the Western Pacific Ocean. To examine the origin of these shallow-buried (<100 cm below the seafloor) Fe-Mn crusts and evaluate their resource potential, we conducted mineralogical and geochemical studies on seven drill cores from the Weijia Guyot(Ita Mai Tai Guyot), which is in the Co-rich Fe-Mn crust contract area of the China Ocean Mineral Resources Research and Development Association (COMRA).The buried Fe-Mn crusts exhibit multilayer structures and are composed of disordered vernadite, similar to the exposed Fe-Mn crusts. Moreover, they show comparable contents of major metallogenic elements (e.g., Mn, Cu, Co, and Ni) and platinum group elements when compared to exposed Fe-Mn crusts. However, they have much higher contents of rare earth elements (REEs) than those of exposed Fe-Mn crusts, indicating a comparable resource potential. The high P contents and collophanite observed in the petrographic microscope indicate that an evident phosphatization event occurred. Based on the tectonic evolution and sedimentation rate, we infer that the phosphatization event mainly took place before the crusts were buried. The phosphatization of shallow-buried Fe-Mn crusts results in an enrichment of REEs and their fractions. This process can also modify the sedimentary environment for Ce precipitation, which may, in turn, alter the diagenetic microenvironment of the shallow-buried Fe-Mn crusts. The mineralogical and geochemical results reveal that burial doesn't cause a significant difference between shallow-buried and exposed Fe-Mn crusts from Weijia Guyot, and they are still of hydrogenetic origin. The findings and research on shallow-buried Fe-Mn crusts indicate that they have comparable resource potentials with exposed Fe-Mn crusts. These results will influence future decisions related to the exploration, exploitation, and utilization of Co-rich Fe-Mn crusts in the contract area of COMRA. Furthermore, it could provide valuable insights for other contractors investigating the platform.

SAARMSTE’s role in building and connecting Early Grade Mathematics research: A review of SAARMSTE Proceedings 2003–2022

This paper focuses on the Southern African Association for Research in Mathematics, Science and Technology Education’s (SAARMSTE’s) role as a platform supporting research dissemination and connecting researchers in early grades mathematics (EGM) in the Southern African region. A review of the Long Papers in SAARMSTE over the last 20 years supports the finding of the other review papers in this Special Issue: that there has been substantial growth of attention to EGM since 2013. However, two distinctions are marked when looking at conference papers rather than journal papers. Firstly, there is a particularly large expansion of work in the last 5 years, with a broadening base of participation in this work. Second, looking across all the formats of conference presentations indicates SAARMSTE’s role in supporting and building EGM as a key focus of research attention, and bringing together regional and international groups with interests in this area. Given that conference proceedings usually offer a broader picture of emerging interests than journal papers, we reflect on the range of foci of attention within EGM in the SAARMSTE Proceedings, and trends within this. These trends also help us to point to areas that are likely to be of key interest in the next decade.