Set Of Best Practices Research Articles

Financing marine conservation from restructured debt: a case study of the Seychelles

In the face of the threats posed to the oceans by a changing climate, the need for marine conservation programs grows rapidly. Scaling with this need demands sufficient funding to support ambitious conservation projects. This funding must be obtained from increasingly varied and innovative sources since private grants and government allocated funds has proved insufficient. Debt-for-nature swaps are a financial mechanism seeking to improve debt burden while setting up environmental programs. This method of debt restructuring has existed for decades, but is seeing a resurgence of use and interest in recent years. Here we present an exploratory case study of a Seychelles debt-for-nature swap which examines this financial mechanism’s ability to fund impactful conservation projects, particularly in marine Economic Exclusion Zones (EEZ) of Small Island Developing States (SIDS). The Seychelles finalized a conversion of their sovereign debt with Paris Club creditors and The Nature Conservancy as a broker in 2015 with the goal of creating a robust marine spatial plan (MSP). They received notable recognition for multiple novel aspects of this deal as well as the sheer scale of the marine space protected (400,000 sq. km), and thus serves as a robust case study to analyze if debt-for-nature swaps have evolved since its theoretical conception in 1984. Our research favors qualitative data by employing a case study approach which draws on semi-structured interviews with key informants, content analysis of online resources, and a literature review. This research suggests that while the model has yet to be cemented, the Seychelles case study is representative of a coming evolution in debt-for-nature swap practices. By examining the critical governance factors that were employed in the Seychelles, this research reveals key takeaways for future implementation and establishing national candidacy. The findings highlight debt status relative to the economy, political willpower, funding streams utilized, and the use of co-production practices. We show how the Seychelles case study demonstrates marked progress from the historical standard regarding sovereignty concerns and governance, but not concerning timescales and low converted sum. However, we note that this innovative debt-for-nature swap suggests that a new standard is possible and provides a new framework and set of best practices. In doing so, the Seychelles MSP can potentially lead the way for additional marine debt-for-nature swaps.

Session-based cyberbullying detection in social media: A survey

Cyberbullying is a pervasive problem in online social media, where a bully abuses a victim through a social media session. By investigating cyberbullying perpetrated through social media sessions, recent research has looked into mining patterns and features for modelling and understanding the two defining characteristics of cyberbullying: repetitive behaviour and power imbalance. In this survey paper, we define a framework that encapsulates four different steps session-based cyberbullying detection should go through, and discuss the multiple challenges that differ from single text-based cyberbullying detection. Based on this framework, we provide a comprehensive overview of session-based cyberbullying detection in social media, delving into existing efforts from a data and methodological perspective. Our review leads us to proposing evidence-based criteria for a set of best practices to create session-based cyberbullying datasets. In addition, we perform benchmark experiments comparing the performance of state-of-the-art session-based cyberbullying detection models as well as large pre-trained language models across two different datasets. Through our review, we also put forth a set of open challenges as future research directions.

Teachers’ Use of Spanish in the Classroom: Implications for Hispanic Dual Language Learners’ Classroom Engagement

ABSTRACT Research Findings: As the population of Hispanic children grows within U.S. preschools, it is increasingly important to understand how these classrooms facilitate school readiness, such as positive engagement with teachers, peers, and tasks, for Spanish-speaking Dual Language Learners (DLLs). A growing literature base indicates that DLL students’ exposure to their native language in the classroom provides deeper access to academic content, and can foster development of essential cognitive, social-emotional, and language skills. Therefore, the current study used an observational measure to examine how teachers’ Spanish language use was related to Hispanic DLLs’ classroom engagement across the academic preschool year. Separate regression models were run for teacher, peer, task, and negative engagement. As expected, results indicated that teachers’ Spanish use was significantly associated with children’s positive engagement to peers. Teachers’ Spanish use was also significantly associated with children’s negative engagement, though the direction of the effect was counterintuitive, as more Spanish use was related to greater negative engagement. Teachers’ Spanish use was not significantly associated with children’s engagement to teachers or tasks. Practice or Policy: The findings of this study are discussed within the context of identifying a set of best practices for facilitating inclusive early learning environments for language-minority students.

Google Discover: uses, applications and challenges in the digital journalism of Spain, Brazil and Greece

PurposeThis paper constitutes the first academic study to be made of Google Discover as applied to online journalism.Design/methodology/approachThis paper constitutes the first academic study to be made of Google Discover as applied to online journalism. The study involved conducting 61 semi-structured interviews with experts that are representative of a range of different professional profiles within the fields of journalism and search engine positioning (SEO) in Brazil, Spain and Greece. Based on the data collected, the authors created five semantic categories and compared the experts' perceptions in order to detect common response patterns.FindingsThis study results confirm the existence of different degrees of convergence and divergence in the opinions expressed in these three countries regarding the main dimensions of Google Discover, including specific strategies using the feed, its impact on web traffic, its impact on both quality and sensationalist content and on the degree of responsibility shown by the digital media in its use. The authors are also able to propose a set of best practices that journalists and digital media in-house web visibility teams should take into account to increase their probability of appearing in Google Discover. To this end, the authors consider strategies in the following areas of application: topics, different aspects of publication, elements of user experience, strategic analysis and diffusion and marketing.Originality/valueAlthough research exists on the application of SEO to different areas, there have not, to date, been any studies examining Google Discover.Peer reviewThe peer-review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/OIR-10-2022-0574

A Proposed Framework of Knowledge Management for COVID-19 Mitigation based on Big Data Analytic

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of effective knowledge management in mitigating the impact of public health crises. Big data analytics can play a critical role in providing insights and informing decision-making during a pandemic. However, the challenges associated with collecting, analyzing, and managing the data, especially with privacy and security concerns, make it a complex task. This paper proposes a knowledge management framework for COVID-19 mitigation using a big data analytics approach. The framework includes a systematic process for data collection, analysis, and dissemination, as well as a set of best practices for knowledge management. Additionally, the framework complies with data protection and privacy regulations. The proposed framework aims to support public health officials and other stakeholders in effectively managing the COVID-19 pandemic by providing timely and accurate information. It can also be adapted and applied to other public health crises and be a useful tool for addressing the challenges associated with big data analytics in the context of public health. The paper presents the proposed framework in detail and provides components of how the framework can be applied to COVID-19 in Indonesia. Doi: 10.28991/ESJ-2023-SPER-015 Full Text: PDF

Best Practices to Promote Field Science Safety.

Interventions are necessary to address the ongoing epidemic of sexual harassment and assault in field settings. An evidence-based approach to identifying specific interventions will be most effective at promoting the safety of scientists. We present the results of a workshop conducted by experts in field biology and the study of sexual harassment and assault that identified a comprehensive set of best practices for individuals and organizations. These recommendations are grounded in peer-reviewed scholarship and are separated into four topics: culture change, accountability, policy development, and reporting. The resulting report of the workshop recommends 44 practices, categorized by the resources required for implementation, the time frame of implementation, and the level of organization responsible for implementation. The best practices that we present are designed to support individuals and organizations in the development of field safety plans.

MAVEN mission perspectives and approaches to inclusion

The Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution mission (MAVEN) is a NASA spacecraft that has been orbiting Mars since 2014. The Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution mission team has established a current set of best practices to strengthen Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) initiatives; there are numerous axes of diversity, and this paper does not focus on one specific aspect of diversity but rather focuses on mission-specific approaches to inclusion. We present the past and present approaches as well as future initiatives and areas of improvement to continuing our efforts towards maximizing inclusion and engagement on the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution mission team and its working environment. The approaches presented in this paper are applicable to the space physics and planetary science communities, as well as any large-scale science or mission teams.

Test development, optimization and validation of a WGS pipeline for genetic disorders

BackgroundWith advances in massive parallel sequencing (MPS) technology, whole-genome sequencing (WGS) has gradually evolved into the first-tier diagnostic test for genetic disorders. However, deployment practice and pipeline testing for clinical WGS are lacking.MethodsIn this study, we introduced a whole WGS pipeline for genetic disorders, which included the entire process from obtaining a sample to clinical reporting. All samples that underwent WGS were constructed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-free library preparation protocols and sequenced on the MGISEQ-2000 platform. Bioinformatics pipelines were developed for the simultaneous detection of various types of variants, including single nucleotide variants (SNVs), insertions and deletions (indels), copy number variants (CNVs) and balanced rearrangements, mitochondrial (MT) variants, and other complex variants such as repeat expansion, pseudogenes and absence of heterozygosity (AOH). A semiautomatic pipeline was developed for the interpretation of potential SNVs and CNVs. Forty-five samples (including 14 positive commercially available samples, 23 laboratory-held positive cell lines and 8 clinical cases) with known variants were used to validate the whole pipeline.ResultsIn this study, a whole WGS pipeline for genetic disorders was developed and optimized. Forty-five samples with known variants (6 with SNVs and Indels, 3 with MT variants, 5 with aneuploidies, 1 with triploidy, 23 with CNVs, 5 with balanced rearrangements, 2 with repeat expansions, 1 with AOHs, and 1 with exon 7–8 deletion of SMN1 gene) validated the effectiveness of our pipeline.ConclusionsThis study has been piloted in test development, optimization, and validation of the WGS pipeline for genetic disorders. A set of best practices were recommended using our pipeline, along with a dataset of positive samples for benchmarking.

The European Federation for Medicinal Chemistry and Chemical Biology (EFMC) Best Practice Initiative: Hit Generation

Hit generation is a crucial step in drug discovery that will determine the speed and chance of success of identifying drug candidates. Many strategies are now available to identify chemical starting points, or hits, and each biological target warrants a tailored approach. In this set of best practices, we detail the essential approaches for target centric hit generation and the opportunities and challenges they come with. We then provide guidance on how to validate hits to ensure medicinal chemistry is only performed on compounds and scaffolds that engage the target of interest and have the desired mode of action. Finally, we discuss the design of integrated hit generation strategies that combine several approaches to maximize the chance of identifying high quality starting points to ensure a successful drug discovery campaign.

Influencer relations: Establishing the concept and process for public relations

Despite the recent influx of studies examining the role of influencers in a campaign, most studies examine influencer marketing, leaving the public relations approach to influencers underdeveloped. Through in-depth interviews with professionals who work with influencers, this study establishes the concept and process of influencer relations. Results illustrate key relational and dialogic factors of influencer relations. This study also provides a set of best practices for working with influencers in public relations.

Marketing de influência: uma relação tridimensional entre influenciadores digitais, marcas e accounts

Research goal: To explore the perception gaps of three key players regarding the design and implementation of influencer marketing strategies: brands, digital influencers and accounts, in the fashion, beauty and lifestyle sectors. Methods: Qualitative approach using 11 in-depth interviews with triads of participants involved in fashion, lifestyle and beauty influence marketing campaigns. Originality/Relevance: Study of the three-dimensional relationship between digital influencers, brands and accounts, and the role of each in influencer marketing strategies. Results: The perception gaps in the views of the different stakeholders are notorious. Brands, IDs and accounts are different actors in influencer marketing. It is precisely due to the role of each actor that the perception gaps are denoted, as their views are essentially centred on their role and not on the influential action as a whole. Theoretical contributions: The study allowed us to characterize the relationships between brands and digital influencers and to understand the role of accounts in the mediation of the relationship. It is, therefore, the analysis of a three-dimensional relationship, and not just the Digital Influencer – Brand dyad. In terms of management Contributions, the study provides a set of best practices in the management of a complex relationship between Digital Influencers, Brands and Accounts which has not be found in previous literature, highlighting the importance of understanding the evolutionary trajectory of IDs, and the fundamental role of the briefing in the success of marketing campaigns of influence. Keywords: Influencer Marketing, Digital Influencers, Relationship, Evolutionary Trajectories, Personal Brands

Veterans, PTSD, and Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy: Perspectives of Licensed Mental Health Therapists

Veterans returning home after deployment and active military personnel have been members of a highly vulnerable population for whom trauma, suicide, domestic issues, substance abuse, crime, and homelessness have been complicating factors. Equine-assisted psychotherapy (EAP) has gained in popularity as a treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental illnesses Veterans experience. It has drawn attention from federal agencies, but the literature pertaining to the best and most effective techniques and practices is unclear or nonexistent. We conducted this study to (a) analyze licensed equine-assisted mental health therapists’ (LMHT) observations regarding the relative efficacy of EAP in mitigating or eliminating PTSD symptoms in Veterans, and (b) help LMHTs adopt and implement a set of best practices with respect to EAP for U.S. Veterans who suffer from PTSD. We hoped the answers to both of those inquiries would improve understanding and practices associated with using EAP as a treatment for PTSD. The 31 LMHTs who participated reported that EAP worked best for PTSD (as a stand-alone therapy) when compared to 10 other mental health disorders. They did not think EAP worked as well for clients whose diagnosis included schizophrenia. Typically, sessions consisted of one client (although the size of the treatment group did not impact EAP’s effectiveness). The sessions typically ran from one to two hours. We recommend the establishment of a clearing house that provides information on the relative effectiveness of different practices, and that other researchers examine the long-term effects of preferred treatments on Veterans.

Trait-dependent diversification in angiosperms: Patterns, models and data.

Variation in species richness across the tree of life, accompanied by the incredible variety of ecological and morphological characteristics found in nature, has inspired many studies to link traits with species diversification. Angiosperms are a highly diverse group that has fundamentally shaped life on earth since the Cretaceous, and illustrate how species diversification affects ecosystem functioning. Numerous traits and processes have been linked to differences in species richness within this group, but we know little about their relative importance and how they interact. Here, we synthesised data from 152 studies that used state-dependent speciation and extinction (SSE) models on angiosperm clades. Intrinsic traits related to reproduction and morphology were often linked to diversification but a set of universal drivers did not emerge as traits did not have consistent effects across clades. Importantly, SSE model results were correlated to data set properties - trees that were larger, older or less well-sampled tended to yield trait-dependent outcomes. We compared these properties to recommendations for SSE model use and provide a set of best practices to follow when designing studies and reporting results. Finally, we argue that SSE model inferences should be considered in a larger context incorporating species' ecology, demography and genetics.

Increasing the UX maturity level of clients: A study of best practices in an agile environment

While multiple studies have attempted to define and measure User Experience (UX) Maturity — i.e., how familiar organizations are with UX concepts or strategies— more practice-based insight is needed to examine how UX practitioners maneuver in their relationships with low UX Maturity organizations and help these clients become more ‘UX Mature’. This study evaluates how UX practitioners work with low UX Maturity clients, what obstacles they face, and how they cope with these obstacles. From these insights, a set of best practices are identified for UX practitioners who work with low UX Maturity clients and wish to increase their clients’ UX maturity in an agile environment. These best practices were collected in the form of case studies, involving a total of 20 case studies based on interviews with 22 UX practitioners. The case studies reflect on past projects that were conducted for clients with a low UX Maturity level. Data was obtained through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using a grounded theory approach combined with elements of a thematic analysis. The results help to identify frequently experienced obstacles in working with low UX Maturity organizations, as well as six best practices for increasing the UX Maturity of these clients. The study results demonstrate that UX practitioners indeed fulfill a significant role in overcoming organizational UX boundaries. A Low UX Maturity Best Practice model was developed, which summarizes how UX practitioners can optimize their impact in working with low UX Maturity clients, while simultaneously contributing to a more user-centered focus on the part of their clients.

Tight-Rock RTA: Global Band of Shale Producers Joins Forces To Improve Crucial Diagnostic

More than three dozen oil and gas producers are working together to solve one of the grand challenges faced by all in the increasingly global unconventional sector. That is the ability to better predict tight-oil and -gas production using rate transient analysis (RTA). Considered an “unconventional diagnostic” when first introduced in the 1970s, RTA relies on fluid rates and flowing pressures to inform engineers on what their reservoirs will ultimately yield. Unfortunately, the low permeability of tight rocks and a myriad of dynamics stemming from hydraulic fracturing have undercut the simplicity of the tool. This has given rise to arguments that RTA is not a fit for unconventional reservoirs. But a joint industry project with 37 operators from around the world is betting against that notion. Those taking part represent the biggest and most active shale plays in the US—a list that includes Apache Corp., BP’s shale unit BPx. Devon Energy, EQT, Hess Corp., and Ovintiv. Others hold assets in Canada’s Montney and Duvernay formations, Argentina’s Vaca Muerta Shale, and the emerging Jafurah tight-gas basin that Saudi Aramco is in the early stages of developing. The organizer behind the joint project is petroleum engineering software and consultancy Whitson. The Trondheim-based firm said the client consortium is likely the largest of its kind to focus squarely on improving RTA for tight reservoirs. In October, the multinational group wrapped up its first phase of study with a set of best practices and the release of new add-ons for Whitson’s software service. Why this might evolve into a notable development is because the deliverables are all designed to help standardize a recently debuted alternative called the numerically enhanced RTA workflow. Introduced by reservoir experts at Houston-based Apache and IHS Markit, this “enhanced” version of numerical RTA has caught the industry’s attention for its ability to account for the effects of multiphase flow in tight wells. The first details about the approach were shared with the industry in 2020 in URTeC 2967. Whitson reports that a newly established workflow for numerical RTA created with operator clients delivers consistent well analysis in seconds to a few minutes, and importantly, was proven to work across their disparate geologies. Mathias Carlsen is a general manager at Whitson and has been at the center of the joint industry project from the beginning. Here, he helps explain what the industry should know about the RTA joint project and where it is heading. Assembling a Trifecta Carlsen, a reservoir engineering expert, described the overarching goal of the joint project not as a mission to discover a panacea for RTA but one designed to fill in its big gaps with some recent innovations. “What we’ve been successful at through the joint industry project is getting the new tools ready so that the workflows can be easily used and in standardizing them for a wide range of wells found in every single unconventional basin in the world,” he said.

American Society of Transplant Surgeons recommendations on best practices in donation after circulatory death organ procurement.

The American Society of Transplant Surgeons supports efforts to increase the number of organs that are critically needed for patients desperately awaiting transplantation. In the United States, transplantation using organs procured from donation after circulatory death (DCD) donors has continued to increase in number. Despite these increases, substantial variability in the utilization and practices of DCD transplantation still exists. To improve DCD organ utilization, it is important to create a set of best practices for DCD recovery. The following recommendations aim to provide guidance on contemporary issues surrounding DCD organ procurement in the United States. A work group was composed of members of the American Society of Transplant Surgeon Scientific Studies Committee and the Thoracic Organ Transplantation Committee. The following topics were identified by the group either as controversial or lacking standardization: prewithdrawal preparation, definition of donor warm ischemia time, DCD surgical technique, combined thoracic and abdominal procurements, and normothermic regional perfusion. The proposed recommendations were classified on the basis of the grade of available evidence and the strength of the recommendation. This information should be valuable for transplant programs as well as for organ procurement organizations and donor hospitals as they develop robust DCD donor procurement protocols.

Lessons from the Field. Continuous Quality Improvement: A multiyear HMRF case study of best practices in outreach program excellence

AbstractObjectiveWe describe the process and outcomes of developing continuous quality improvement (CQI) procedures for a multiyear, multimillion‐dollar healthy marriage and responsible fatherhood (HMRF) relationship enhancement education program. We present lessons learned, including adaptations used to move all programming online due to the COVID‐19 pandemic.BackgroundContinuous quality improvement (CQI) is a set of best practices that are often neglected in outreach programming due to challenges associated with funding, available expertise, and fear of underwhelming results. However, this practice provides valuable insight and benefits to programs and participants and can be implemented without interrupting program delivery.MethodWe developed a “living” CQI plan over the course of 5 years using three sources of data to track, evaluate, and inform CQI high‐performance decision‐making: program data, fidelity data, and outcome data.ResultsA sample of the preliminary descriptive quantitative results is presented including program registrations and show rates, facilitator effectiveness scores, intervention outcomes, and participant responses to online delivery to illustrate how the three types of data collected are used in the SMART Couples Project to support CQI efforts.Conclusions and ImplicationsOur study demonstrates the benefits of using CQI as a powerful tool for program improvement, with staff and participants alike. It is the nature of the CQI process to be amenable to changes, including unforeseen disruptions in program delivery. Implementing an intentional formative and summative CQI strategy provides benefits to social outreach and family life education programs across delivery formats and contexts.

ChatGPT and Works Scholarly: Best Practices and Legal Pitfalls in Writing with AI

Recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI) have raised questions about whether the use of AI is appropriate and legal in various professional contexts. Here, we present a perspective on how scholars may approach writing in conjunction with AI and offer approaches to evaluating whether or not such AI-writing violates copyright or falls within the safe harbor of fair use. We present a set of best practices for standard of care with regard to plagiarism, copyright, and fair use. As AI is likely to grow more capable in the coming years, it is appropriate to begin integrating AI into scholarly writing activities. We offer a framework for establishing sound legal and scholarly foundations.

Advancing best practices for assessing trends of ocean acidification time series

Assessing the status of ocean acidification across ocean and coastal waters requires standardized procedures at all levels of data collection, dissemination, and analysis. Standardized procedures for assuring quality and accessibility of ocean carbonate chemistry data are largely established, but a common set of best practices for ocean acidification trend analysis is needed to enable global time series comparisons, establish accurate records of change, and communicate the current status of ocean acidification within and outside the scientific community. Here we expand upon several published trend analysis techniques and package them into a set of best practices for assessing trends of ocean acidification time series. These best practices are best suited for time series capable of characterizing seasonal variability, typically those with sub-seasonal (ideally monthly or more frequent) data collection. Given ocean carbonate chemistry time series tend to be sparse and discontinuous, additional research is necessary to further advance these best practices to better address uncharacterized variability that can result from data discontinuities. This package of best practices and the associated open-source software for computing and reporting trends is aimed at helping expand the community of practice in ocean acidification trend analysis. A broad community of practice testing these and new techniques across different data sets will result in improvements and expansion of these best practices in the future.

TUTORIAL-STYLE EDUCATION FOR UNDERGRADUATES IN AGING

Abstract At almost every university, there is an option for undergraduates to enroll in directed readings or research, independent studies, or some other form of tutorial-style education, although not much is known about them or best practices associated with them for undergraduate students interested in aging. This project reviews available literature about tutorial-style education and describes the multidimensions involved in these learning experiences. Search phrases such as “history of Oxford tutorials”, “tutorial classes”, and “student traits in tutorials” were used in Google Scholar to find literature, returning 142 articles. Articles were included if the literature was published in a periodical, findings were not redundant, and measures connected to the objectives of this project, and, by these criteria, ten articles comprised the final sample for review. Student characteristics, instructors, and other factors, like the time intensity of the tutorial course and the student’s connection to the subject area, have been found to impact tutorial-style education. The review is the first of its kind to use its findings to propose a set of best practices to enhance the experience for students interested in aging, including the fit of student and instructor, skillsets of successful students, and modalities, and advance a research agenda to better understand and communicate practices in tutorial-style education for undergraduates in aging.