Sector Research Research Articles

ADVANCING HEALTHCARE DATA SOLUTIONS: COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF BUSINESS AND RESEARCH MODELS IN THE U.S

In the dynamic landscape of healthcare, data-driven solutions play a pivotal role in enhancing patient outcomes, optimizing processes, and steering strategic decision-making. This review presents a comprehensive comparative analysis of the business and research models underpinning healthcare data solutions in the United States. By examining the distinctive characteristics, challenges, and advancements within these models, this study aims to elucidate critical insights for stakeholders navigating the complex intersection of healthcare and data analytics. The American healthcare ecosystem is marked by a diverse array of entities engaged in harnessing data for various purposes, ranging from improving patient care to driving operational efficiencies. This analysis delves into the contrasting approaches adopted by businesses and research institutions in leveraging healthcare data. Businesses predominantly focus on profit-driven initiatives, emphasizing efficiency, scalability, and commercial viability. In contrast, research models prioritize scientific rigor, innovation, and academic collaboration, often with a primary focus on advancing medical knowledge. Key components of the comparative analysis include examining the regulatory frameworks governing healthcare data, the utilization of cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, and the ethical considerations surrounding data privacy and security. Furthermore, this study investigates the impact of socioeconomic factors, such as disparities in access to healthcare and disparities in data availability, on the development and implementation of data solutions. The comparative analysis also highlights notable case studies and best practices from both business and research sectors, illustrating successful approaches to overcoming common challenges and driving innovation in healthcare data solutions. Additionally, emerging trends, such as the integration of wearables and Internet of Things (IoT) devices, are explored for their potential to revolutionize data collection and analysis in healthcare settings. Ultimately, this review underscores the imperative for collaborative efforts between business entities and research institutions to harness the full potential of healthcare data solutions, fostering advancements that benefit patients, providers, and society at large.
 Keywords: Healthcare Data Solutions, Comparative Analysis, Business Models, Research Models, United States, Innovation.

An Analysis of Optimal Decision on Capital Structure

Achieving optimal financial performance is the ultimate objective for enterprises when crafting their capital structure. This pursuit, however, is far from one-size-fits-all, as the intricacies of various industries and the idiosyncrasies of host countries contribute to the diversity in capital structure configurations. Leveraging the foundational concepts of the Modigliani and Miller (M&M) theorem, this article delves into a comprehensive exploration of the intricacies surrounding capital structures in distinct industry segments. Capital-intensive industries, labor-intensive industries, and research and development (R&D) sectors are scrutinized under the analytical lens to decipher the unique considerations at play. Moreover, this study extends its purview to encompass the dichotomy between the financial markets of developing and developed nations. By doing so, it unveils key distinctions in capital market dynamics, risk profiles, and financing opportunities. These insights offer enterprises a roadmap for making well-informed decisions pertaining to their optimal capital structure. In essence, this article provides a valuable reference point, enabling companies to align their financial strategies with the precise needs of their industry and the nuances of their operating environment.

Greening, climatizing, and decarbonizing: an inquiry into the transformation of productive sectors and activities

The new post-COP21 climate regime is ushering in a range of reorientations and transformations of productive activities and economic sectors, based on their place in the global carbon cycle and carbon flows. This introductory article to the special issue on “The Politics of Decarbonization” explores how a focus on the promises of decarbonization observed in various productive sectors can contribute to our understanding of the current transformations of these sectors, their practices, and their production models in the face of climate change. We begin by (I) situating the special issue’s project in relation to the works on greening and ecological modernization published since the 1990s and particularly in relation to the critique of climate capitalism, so as to emphasize the continuities as well as the specificities that a focus on decarbonization policies entails. We then outline (II) the aims of the special issue in relation to the recent literature on climatization: far from seeking to standardize the treatment of the climate issue within a specific social science discipline, we feel it is important to contribute to a multidisciplinary and critical approach to the revival of productivism and the depoliticization of change often associated with decarbonization policies. This issue develops a range of perspectives anchored in different social science fields and disciplines, particularly looking at the forestry, energy, mining, agriculture, research, and bio-economy sectors.

The Port Sector in Italy: Its Keystones for Energy-Efficient Growth

Italy has been defined as the “logistics platform” of the Mediterranean Sea. The Italian port system, with 11.6 million TEUs handled and 61.4 million passengers in 2022 (Assoporti data January–December 2022), is the key to fulfilling this title through adequate levels of reliability, safety, and sustainability. This contribution addresses port logistics and shipping, focusing on primary issues related to the energy sector with a specific focus on what can be observed in the Italian context. Specifically, the decarbonization of the maritime sector and related infrastructural problems (e.g., cold ironing or alternative fuels, where the uncertainty about resource availability and related costs do not allow for easy strategic planning by both the ship owner and the port authority), as well as policies such as the Emission Trading System (ETS), will be analyzed. All these issues, hereafter addressed with a systematic critical review of the existing literature and other relevant sources, could represent the driving force of the growth of the national port sector toward its competitiveness at a global scale. The review was performed through a wide search and analysis of studies published in well-known online research databases (Scopus, Web of Science, IEEE Xplore, ScienceDirect), sector studies, or specialized technical magazines. The review focuses on the results of each analyzed contribution rather than on the analysis method adopted with the final aim to identify useful hints and innovative ideas for further studies on the topic.

THE IMPACT OF CAPITAL STRUCTURES ON FIRM PERFORMANCE: EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE FROM BIST BASIC METAL INDEX

Numerous different components should be evaluated together and separately, and processes should be managed in this way, to enhance the financial performance of companies, to produce more accurate future projections, and to assist decision-making processes. The main objective of the research in this condition is to ascertain the effects of the capital structure variables (financial leverage, long-term Liabilities/ total assets, short-term Liabilities /total assets, and equity/total assets) on firm performance measures (return on assets, return on equity, and Tobin's q). In this manner, panel data analysis was employed to construct predictions employing data from 17 companies that maintained data continuity over the allotted time. The primary driving forces behind this sector's research are its leading position in Türkiye’s production activities, its profound influence on other industries, and its strategic significance for the nation's economy. Huber, Eicker and White resistive estimator was employed to provide more consistent findings after basic assumption tests were applied to assess the validity of the models described in the research. The findings demonstrate that the Equity/Total Assets Ratio demonstrates statistically significant values in each of the three models. Other factors' effects on performance metrics were found to be insignificant. As a consequence, it has been suggested that market participants might include this information set in their decision-making even if it is noted that there is a link between the performance criteria of the companies and their capital structure preferences.

The Military Research Library of Imperial Engineering Academy and School

The comprehensive studies on the history of military research libraries are scarce. The authors discuss the history of the library of Imperial Engineering Academy and School; analyze the development of library collection of this institution. The authors chronologize t he h istory o f t he A cademy a nd i ts l ibrary. The relevant regulatory and legal documents that defined the library operation and development, as well as the Academy’s and School’s annual reports, made the basis of the study. The key collection development sources are specified, namely purchase, funded subscriptions to periodicals, free copies of publications by the General Headquarters Military Typography, gifts, and exchange with other institutions. For the first time, the list of employees for the years 1869–1915 is compiled with the specification of their contribution to the library and teaching activities. The authors argue that the Academy’s book collection is the largest research sector library preserving the best military engineering and academic literature of 15th – early 20th centuries

Pragmatic co-design methodology: a tale of university and retirement village friendship

ABSTRACT Co-authored by academic staff and older adult community members, this paper reports on an incidental and pragmatic co-design model grounded in a round table friendship-informed approach. Interdisciplinary academics met with residents of a proximate retirement community, sharing open discussions with no agenda, including improving engagement between the two communities. The ensuing co-designed programme of outreach activities was of myriad mutual benefits: the retirement community benefited through opportunities for meaningful engagement via inter-generational knowledge-sharing, social connection, and access to expertise and equipment, whilst the University benefited across Learning and Teaching, Research, Engagement, and Commercialisation sectors. This pragmatic co-design approach described resulted in equitable contributions to knowledge generation, exchange, and translation in an interdirectional way. We argue that future research can adopt such an approach, exhibiting potential across all forms of community engaged research.

Development of the State Scientific Certification System in Russia within the Independent Academic Degree Award Principles: Tools, Outcomes, and Future Steps

Introduction. In Russia, 2023 has been declared the Year of the Educator and Mentor, emphasizing the need for systematic measures in the field of personnel development for the research and development sector, primarily through postgraduate education. The necessity to ensure the stability of the research and development sector arises due to new objectives of the government policy on scientific and technological development, including training personnel in priority fields and enhancing science management. Over the past decade, scientific periodicals have extensively discussed ways to improve the effectiveness of postgraduate studies, given the decline in researcher numbers and dissertation defense rates, stricter requirements for dissertation councils, and their evolving operational forms. This article attempts to explore the role of mentorship in science within the context of the scientific and technological development objectives set by the country's leadership. The study highlights trends in scientific mentorship development and defines its functions based on survey data from research advisors working in Russian universities and research organizations. The study identifies contradictions that need to be addressed and proposes ways to improve the work and status of research advisors. Methods. The empirical foundation of this study is based on a sociological survey of postgraduate students and applicants' research advisors with a candidate or doctoral degree — academic, scientific, and administrative and managerial personnel of universities and research organizations (N = 3000). The survey included representatives from all broad scientific fields (natural, technical, humanities, social, medical, agricultural). The survey was conducted in 2023. Results and Discussion. The study results reveal that the main challenges research advisors face when working with applicants for academic degrees are organizational and competence-related, tied to the high level of bureaucratization in scientific personnel training, lack of flexibility, insufficient time allocation, and poor competencies of the participants in this process, especially those responsible for scientific and technological development. The study notes an increase in the complexity of the functional roles of research advisors due to an outdated workload distribution system that hinders full participation in scientific personnel training to meet current demands. Research advisors believe they require specialized training and describe the current state of scientific personnel training as being in crisis, necessitating significant changes. The study identifies several directions for modernizing higher qualification personnel training to address scientific and technological development challenges: aligning postgraduate training with practical experience (transitioning to professional and industrial postgraduate education in experimental mode for certain fields); creating individualized tracks for dissertation preparation (implementing individual programs); conducting internships at enterprises oriented at knowledge-driven economy and academic mobility improvement; appointing consultants from companies alongside research advisors, etc. The study results are discussed in terms of gender, age, job differences, and affiliation to a specific field of science. Conclusion. The study suggests that adopting a hybrid model of scientific mentorship, which combines elements of the traditional model (the research advisor being the sole mentor) and other models (developmental mentorship, multiple mentors, supportive mentorship) prevalent in international practice, could help address certain organizational and competence-related issues. To enhance the benefits of postgraduate studies for the high-tech sector, special attention should be paid to natural and technical sciences, interdisciplinary research, dissertations commissioned by the industry, organizations, or companies, joint supervision models, and strengthening ties between universities, research organizations, and the economy sector itself among others.

Psychological Capital and Work Stress Mediated by Authentic Leadership and Moderated by Gender

The purpose of this study was to validate a model that examines the effect of psychological capital on work stress, the mediation of authentic leadership, and the moderating effect of gender on this relationship. The study used a structural equation analysis to validate the research hypotheses in a sample of firms from different industries. The results confirm that psychological capital has a negative impact on work stress, as well as a positive relationship with authentic leadership, and the latter has a negative impact on work stress. The mediating effect of authentic leadership on the relationship between psychological capital and work stress was also confirmed. In addition, gender moderation shows that the impact of psychological capital on reducing work stress is stronger for women than for men. The findings provide conceptual information for improving employee performance by empirically validating the relationship between three constructs that have not previously been studied in an integrated manner. It also takes into account the differences between men and women in coping with work stress, which is very important for organizations. The surveys of the constructs studied are a potential source of information for managers because they help identify factors that contribute to improved employee performance. As with all research that examines psychological constructs, the present study has limitations related to the operationalization of these constructs. Future studies could replicate and extend the research in other economic sectors and with other demographic and cultural variables. The influence of other contexts on the relationships studied could be identified.

Factors Affecting the Capacity of Millennial Farmers to Maintaining Business Existence in the Agricultural Sector, East Java Indonesian

Millennial farmers are the main actors in Indonesia's future agricultural development. Therefore, these millennial farmers need to increase their capacity to survive in doing agriculture business. This study aims to describe the characteristics of millennial farmers; describe the capacity level of millennial farmers in maintaining their existence in the agriculture business; analyse factors that influence the capacity of millennial farmers in maintaining the existence in the agriculture business; and developing a Millennial Farmer Capacity Building model. The method used is the sector research method. The study results show that millennial farmers can identify opportunities in farming. They could be more vital to access quality assurance, such as certification of agricultural products to increase the added value and competitiveness. Factors significantly affecting millennial farmers' capacity are the sociocultural environment, support from private institutions, and personal characteristics. The capacity of millennial farmers also substantially affects the existence of their businesses in agriculture. The role of extension agents only significantly influences the presence of millennial farmer businesses. The capacity of millennial farmers to maintain the existence of businesses in the agricultural sector can be increased through the sociocultural environment, support from private institutions, and personal characteristics.

Анализ инновационного развития отраслей российской экономики

The coming decade in Russia has been declared the decade of science and technology, the goal of which is to achieve leading positions in a number of breakthrough industries. It is known that before the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia was a leader in space, nuclear energy, electronics, and certain types of high-tech industries. With the collapse of the USSR, Russian science, despite the adoption of the Federal Law “On Science and State Scientific and Technical Policy” [12], entered a ten-year period of destruction, which resulted in the loss of leading global positions in the field of science and an almost fourfold reduction in the areas of scientific research: so, if before 1992 the Russian Federation had a backlog of 95% of the world’s scientific areas, then by 2005 our country had a backlog of 23-25% of the world’s scientific areas. Since the mid-2000s. with the adoption of a number of laws and the beginning of the implementation of a package of new initiatives [11; 10; 13] managed to ensure positive dynamics in a number of innovation-oriented sectors of the economy and science. Active government policy and significant investments in the science and research sector allow Russia to maintain the fifth largest number of scientific personnel in the world. In turn, the developed human potential of science will contribute to achieving the goals of the Concept of Technological Development for the period until 2030 [7]. The article shows the features of the current stage of innovative development in the context of types of activities, identifies negative trends in reducing the level of competitiveness of innovative activities in the science and development sector, and substantiates the conclusion about the need to restore the planned parameters of scientific and technological development for the purpose of technological modernization of sectors of the Russian economy.

A Model for Describing the Management Processes in the Scientific Sector. Verification

The model of management in the scientific sector presented in the previous article, as well as some alternative models applied to the organization of science management are used to interpret various statistical data. The article also considers intersectoral comparisons of science financing in countries of different levels of economic development, including the costs of basic research. It is shown that the correlation between science costs and gross domestic product (GDP) is 32.9% in more than 120 countries of the world and GDP per capita is 50.9%. They are not statistically significant. On average, the share of basic study costs in domestic research and development expenses does not depend on the level of wealth of countries. This allows us to conclude in favor of a mutually consistent management model in the scientific sector. The author analyzes the dynamics of the number of researchers and small enterprises in the sector of science and scientific services, as well as the dynamics of the number of academic employees in the sectors of science in the 1990s. It is demonstrated that the decrease in their number mainly occurred in the applied sectors and to a lesser extent in the fundamental research sector. These data are described more fully by the proposed mutually consistent model of science than by the alternative models. Possible adjustments in the organization of the scientific sector management system are examined, including in terms of changes in input impacts on the science sector, output indicators characterizing its effectiveness, as well as changes in the organization of the scientific sector and management bodies, which follow from the considered mutually agreed management model in this sector of the economy.

Performance of gender diversity on board of directors: The case of Indonesia

This study further explores women’s role in top management in Indonesia, where men still dominate that position. This study underlines the role of women’s boards of commissioners in producing better financial performance in the specific sectors, manufacturing and service sectors, where the power of women to lead these sectors is more optimal. The sample is selected from the Indonesia Stock Exchange for the period 2009–2018. The final sample is 780 observations. This study applies panel data, which is more robust when controlling heterogeneity. Data panel regression is applied to analyze data. This study finds that gender diversity harms market-based performance, while from accounting-based measures, gender diversity has a significant positive effect. This study is applied explicitly in the manufacturing and services industrial sectors; therefore, carefully generalizing the results is necessary. Research in other specific sectors is very open to obtaining specific results in various industries, including developing countries other than Indonesia. The market has not trusted the role of women in top management; there is still a kind of ‘hidden distrust’ about the capabilities of women in running the top leadership captain. The market needs more substantial evidence to believe in women’s performance on the board of directors. Therefore, it is necessary to provide wider opportunities for women to sit on the board of commissioners, as much as men have.

Cost performance analysis of green chemical industrial buildings using blockchain-BIM

ABSTRACT Blockchain technologies have recently garnered substantial attention in research and industry sectors due to their potential advantages across various industries. Blockchain provides an effective solution to address challenges by offering distributed, secure, and permissioned transactional ledgers. This paper introduces an innovative conceptual framework that integrates blockchain technology with building information modeling, specifically designed for digital transactions and smart contracts in the retrofitting of green buildings within the chemical industry. The core objectives include enhancing cost efficiency, fortifying cybersecurity measures, improving information management and sharing, simplifying payment transactions, and promoting sustainability in this specific context. The research, conducted at a chemical facility in Cilegon, Banten, Indonesia, utilizes Structural Equation Modeling-Partial Least Squares (SEM-PLS) to analyze questionnaire data and identify influential factors. Results indicate that incorporating Blockchain-BIM leads to cost savings of 4.42%, 4.45%, and 4.40% for low-level, medium-level, and high-level retrofitting categories, respectively, highlighting the significant role of Blockchain-BIM in enhancing cost efficiency throughout the retrofitting process.

Pathology of the Research Sector in Iran's Health System with a Focus on Future

Background: Strengthening the functions of health research and taking a systematic approach to the development of science and technology are essential for overcoming current challenges in health sector. Therefore, the functional pathology of current research plays a crucial role in highlighting the gap between what is and what should be, thereby illuminating the path of scientific development in health sector with a focus on current challenges.
 Methods: This study utilized qualitative exploratory approaches, regarding interviews with experts and expert panel formation, to complement the authors' experiences in the field of research. In this process, relevant national upstream documents, experiences from other countries, and reviews of other documents were used to reinforce and analyze the findings. To adopt a future-oriented approach, the Future Triangle framework was employed to depict the tension between future images, the weight of past experiences, and the pressure of the current time.
 Results: The research functions were categorized into seven groups: leadership and guidance, research coordination and policy-making, translating upstream documents policies into operational programs, resource management, performance evaluation and monitoring, empowering the workforce and policy-making based on evidence and pathology. Under each category, strategies for moving away from the current situation were provided.
 Conclusion: The main solutions to address the current challenges in the country's health research system include agreement on concepts, a unified vision and stable procedures, strengthening the relationship between different levels of management (inter-ministerial, ministerial, and university), enhancing education and research at the level of medical ministry and universities, establishing appropriate structures for knowledge translation, strengthening national funds supporting the research, reforming the evaluation system, and undertaking a fundamental review of human resource empowerment model.

Development of the national consensus statement on ear health and hearing check recommendations for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children aged under 6 years attending primary care: systematic scoping review and e-Delphi

BackgroundEarly detection of long-term, often asymptomatic, middle ear infection in young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children is more likely to be achieved when ear health and hearing checks are routinely undertaken in primary healthcare. Evidence consistently demonstrates the adverse impacts of this condition on the development and wellbeing of children and their families. We aimed to develop feasible, evidence- and consensus-based primary healthcare recommendations addressing the components and timing of ear health and hearing checks for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children aged under 6 years, not already known to have, nor being actively managed for, ear and hearing problems.MethodsA 22-person working group comprising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous members from the primary healthcare, ear, hearing, and research sectors provided guidance of the project. A systematic scoping review addressed research questions relating to primary health ear health and hearing checks for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and other populations at increased risk of persistent ear health problems. Twelve primary studies and eleven guidelines published between 1998 and 2020 were identified and reviewed. Quality and certainty of evidence and risk of bias ratings were completed for studies and guidelines. In the absence of certain and direct evidence, findings and draft recommendations were presented for consensus input to a 79-member expert panel using a modified e-Delphi process. Recommendations were finalised in consultation with working group members and presented to expert panel members for input on considerations relating to implementation.ResultsOverall, the quality, certainty, and directness of evidence in the studies and guidelines reviewed was low. However, the findings provided a basis and structure for the draft recommendations presented during the consensus-building process. After two e-Delphi rounds, seven goals and eight recommendations on the components and timing of Ear Health and Hearing Checks in primary healthcare for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children were developed.ConclusionsThe systematic scoping review and consensus-building process provided a pragmatic approach for producing strong recommendations within a reasonably short timeframe, despite the low quality and certainty of evidence, and paucity of studies pertaining to primary healthcare settings.

Digital taxation, artificial intelligence and Tax Administration 3.0: improving tax compliance behavior – a systematic literature review using textometry (2016–2023)

PurposeThis paper aims to analyze the impact of tax digitalization, focusing on artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning and blockchain technologies, on enhancing tax compliance behavior in various contexts. It seeks to understand how these emerging digital tools influence taxpayer behaviors and compliance levels and to assess their effectiveness in reducing tax evasion and avoidance practices.Design/methodology/approachUsing a systematic review technique with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses method, this study evaluates 62 papers collected from the Scopus database. The papers were analyzed through textometry of titles, abstracts and keywords to identify prevailing trends and insights.FindingsThe review reveals that digitalization, particularly through AI and blockchain, significantly enhances tax compliance and operational efficiency. However, challenges persist, especially in emerging economies, regarding the adoption and integration of these technologies in tax systems. The findings indicate a global trend toward digital Tax Administration 3.0, emphasizing the importance of regulatory frameworks, capacity building and simplification for small and medium enterprises (SMEs).Practical implicationsThe findings provide guidance for policymakers and tax administrations, underscoring the necessity of strategic planning, regulatory backing and global cooperation to effectively use digital technologies in tax compliance. Emphasizing the need for tailored support for SMEs, the study also calls for expanded research in less represented areas and specific sectors, such as SMEs and developing economies, to deepen global insights into digital tax compliance.Originality/valueThis study has attempted to fill the gap in the literature on the comprehensive impact of fiscal digitalization, particularly AI-based, on tax compliance across different global contexts, adding to the discourse on digital taxation.

An apparatus to measure thermal conductivity of ceramic pebble beds under uniaxial compressive stress

Pebble beds have various applications in many industrial and research sectors. Lithium ceramic pebble beds have specific application in fusion reactors as one of the most promising candidates for tritium breeding material. During the operation of the fusion reactor, these pebble beds will have to sustain various thermal and mechanical stresses. Therefore, it is necessary to do thermal characterisation of these pebble beds under different stress conditions and generate sufficient data on their thermal properties, which is essential for designing breeder units of fusion reactors. In this work, an apparatus has been designed to evaluate the thermal conductivity of ceramic pebble beds under compressive stress. It can be mounted to any standard universal testing machine with the necessary adjustments. The apparatus is based on the transient hot-wire method, widely used to evaluate the thermal conductivity of porous materials. A platinum wire with a diameter of 0.5 mm was used as a hot-wire. Instead of utilising a thermocouple, the 4-wire approach was used to obtain the temperature. The transient temperature response of the hot-wire was obtained by applying a 7A constant current to it and monitoring the voltage drop along its 40 mm length. The thermal conductivity of the water gel was measured to assess the accuracy of the apparatus; the results showed a less than 1.5 % variation from the reference value. In this study, the thermal conductivity of Li2TiO3 pebbles was measured in an air and helium environment in different stress conditions. In an air environment, measurements were done at atmospheric pressure, whereas in a helium gas environment, they were performed at gauge pressures of 0.05 bar, 0.5 bar, and 1 bar. The measurements were conducted in two scenarios: (i) constant stress condition at 0, 3, and 6 MPa, and (ii) Cyclic loading-unloading of 0.037–3 MPa and 0.037–6 MPa. It was found that the pebble bed's thermal conductivity rose in tandem with increased compressive stress in both the helium and air environments. Pebble bed’s thermal conductivity was found to be higher in a helium gas environment than in air. The thermal conductivity of the pebble bed increased slightly with rising helium gas gauge pressure from 0.05 bar to 1 bar. This work provides a design to incorporate 4-wire temperature measurement in the hot-wire method for thermal conductivity measurement of compressed pebble beds. It also contributes to the thermal conductivity data of Li2TiO3 pebbles in cyclic stress conditions in helium and air environments.

Delineating Neighborhoods: An Approach Combining Urban Morphology with Point and Flow Datasets

Although neighborhoods are a widely used analytical concept in urban geography, they are often proxied using grids or statistical sectors in empirical research. The rationales underlying these proxies are often separated from the theoretical considerations of what makes a neighborhood a neighborhood, casting shadows over their relevance and applicability. In this article, we identify two specific challenges separating empirical operationalizations from theoretical considerations in neighborhood delineations: (1) not incorporating key built environment elements and (2) monodimensional approaches. We develop a method that addresses this double challenge by (1) creating morphological basic spatial units (BSUs) and (2) aggregating them into neighborhoods using multilayer community detection (MLCD) drawing on datasets used in both formal and functional regionalization approaches. We illustrate this method for the case of Leuven, Belgium, by (1) using street blocks as BSUs and (2) focusing on proximity, land use, and social interactions. Through a comparative analysis, we show that our results align with theoretical considerations and perform as well as, and perhaps better, than statistical sectors and grids as neighborhood representations. We therefore argue that this flexible method can bridge formal and functional regionalization approaches making the case for its adoption in neighborhood delineation exercises.

Government + research + philanthropy: How cross‐sector partnerships can improve policy decisions and action

AbstractResearchers often lament that government decision‐makers do not generate or use research evidence. People in government often lament that researchers are not responsive to government's needs. Yet there is increasing enthusiasm in government, research, and philanthropy sectors for developing, investing in, and sustaining government‐research partnerships that focus on government's use of evidence. There is, however, scant guidance about how to do so. To help fill the gap, this essay addresses (1) Why government‐research partnerships matter; (2) Barriers to developing government‐research partnerships; (3) Strategies for addressing the barriers; (4) The role of philanthropy in government‐research partnerships. The momentum to develop, invest in, and sustain cross‐sector partnerships that advance government's use of evidence is exciting. It is especially encouraging that there are feasible and actionable strategies for doing so.