Submission Policy Research Articles

What impact has the Centre of Research Excellence in Digestive Health made in the field of gastrointestinal health in Australia and internationally? Study protocol for impact evaluation using the FAIT framework

IntroductionThe need for public research funding to be more accountable and demonstrate impact beyond typical academic outputs is increasing. This is particularly challenging and the science behind this form of...

Implementation of Online Single Submission Policy at One-Stop Investment and Integrated Services in East Java

This study aims to analyze innovation governance in the Surabaya Teacher Application Information System (SIAGUS). Surabaya Teacher Application Information System (SIAGUS) is a web-based application designed for teachers and education personnel. This research uses Innovative Governance theory according to the United Nations (2015) which consists of several indicators, namely: Institutions, Policy Actors and Society. This research uses Innovative Governance theory according to the United Nations (2015) which consists of several indicators, namely: Institutions, Policy Actors and Society The method used in this study is descriptive qualitative with a case study approach. The informant determination technique is purposive sampling and choosing the informant key. Data collection techniques are observation, interview and documentation. The results showed that managing innovation is supported by various aspects such as institutional analysis, employee discipline, attitudes to serve the community, culture, and community participation. There are also those that have not been supported, such as regulations governing overall innovation, teacher knowledge and the process of utilizing technology. So that regulations are needed that regulate the Surabaya Teacher Application Information System (SIAGUS) and assistance to teachers.

Commercial lobbying and political contributions: an Australian scoping review

ObjectiveMany of the most effective and equitable policies to reduce the burden of non-communicable diseases threaten the interests of powerful corporations. A first step for public health advocates seeking to challenge powerful corporate interests is to understand the nature and extent of corporate political practices. This scoping review explored public health research on two political practices in Australia: lobbying and political donations. MethodsWe searched six databases, two Google Advanced searches and 11 Australian public health websites. We screened 2866 documents in total, and extracted information about political practices, industry actors and datasets. Results62 studies published between 1980 and 2021 were identified, analysing public health advocacy, policy submissions, direct engagement with government representatives and political donations. We extracted data from 14 studies that focused on direct engagement and/or political donations. Most focused on ‘unhealthy commodity industries.’ ConclusionsAnalysis of lobbying and political contributions in Australia is a nascent but expanding area of public health research. We discuss opportunities for future research to strengthen the evidence base and support public health advocacy to counter harmful corporate practices and promote and protect population health. Implications for Public HealthCountering powerful commercial interests requires greater investment in understanding corporate political activities.

‘What if it rains? What if there are bushfires?’: Extreme weather, climate change and music festivals in Australia

Increasingly, music festivals in Australia are being cancelled, postponed or otherwise impacted by extreme weather events, including floods throughout 2022 and bushfires in 2018–2019. These and other forms of extreme weather, such as dangerous heat and drought, are predicted to increase in frequency and severity due to climate change. However, relative to the size of the problem, there is a lack of attention in both public discussion and scholarly literature to the impacts of extreme weather and climate change on the festival sector, and the need to adapt in response. This study explores this issue in the context of Australian music festivals. The threat of extreme weather to the Australian music festival sector and its benefits is outlined, with reference to climate science predictions as against known festival activity, as well as a detailed overview of recent impacts. This is followed by an examination of how music festival stakeholders in industry and government are responding to this challenge, through the analysis of policy submissions, media comments and changes of practice. This article concludes by proposing a set of questions and issues for research, policy and action concerning the escalating impact of extreme weather on music festivals in Australia, with relevance to other places.

Evaluation of Submission Limits and Regression Penalties to Improve Student Behavior with Automatic Assessment Systems

Objectives . Automatic assessment systems are widely used to provide rapid feedback for students and reduce grading time. Despite the benefits of increased efficiency and improved pedagogical outcomes, an ongoing challenge is mitigating poor student behaviors when interacting with automatic assessment systems including numerous submissions, trial-and-error, and relying on marking feedback for problem solving. These behaviors negatively affect student learning as well as have significant impact on system resources. This research quantitatively examines how utilizing submission policies such as limiting the number of submissions and applying regression penalties can reduce negative student behaviors. The hypothesis is that both submission policies will have a significant impact on student behavior and reduce both the number of submissions and regressions in student performance. The research questions evaluate the impact on student behavior, determine which submission policy is the most effective, and what submission policy is preferred by students. Participants . The study involved two course sections in two different semesters consisting of a total of 224 students at the University of British Columbia, a research-intensive university. The students were evaluated using an automated assessment system in a large third year database course. Study Methods . The two course sections used an automated assessment system for constructing database design diagrams for assignments and exams. The first section had no limits on the number of submissions for both assignments and exams. The second section had limits for the exams but no limits on assignments. On the midterm, participants were randomly assigned to have either a restriction on the total number of submissions or unlimited submissions but with regression penalties if a graded answer was lower than a previous submission. On the final exam, students were given the option of selecting their submission policy. Student academic performance and submission profiles were compared between the course sections and the different submission policies. Findings. Unrestricted use of automatic grading systems results in high occurrence of undesirable student behavior including trial-and-error guessing and reduced time between submissions without sufficient independent thought. Both submission policies of limiting maximum submissions and utilizing regression penalties significantly reduce these behaviors by up to 85%. Overall, students prefer maximum submission limits, and demonstrate improved behavior and educational outcomes. Conclusions . Automated assessment systems when used for larger problems related to design and programming have benefits when deployed with submission restrictions (maximum attempts or regression penalty) for both improved student learning behaviors and to reduce the computational costs for the system. This is especially important for summative assessment but reasonable limits for formative assessments are also valuable.

Impact of green finance and fintech on sustainable economic growth: Empirical evidence from India

This research study analytically investigates the influence of green finance and financial technology on sustainable economic growth. The analysis is based on data from Indian states from 2010 to 2021. The research paper uses the panel regression method to examine the association between fintech, green finance and economic growth by applying a two-step GMM (generalized model of moments) to determine the endogeneity issues of the variables. This paper reveals that green finance widely helps quality economic growth by significantly impacting finance structure, financial effectiveness, and environmental quality protection development. Furthermore, fintech enhances the significant effect of green finance in the finance structure and environmental quality protection while lacking consequences on the association between green finance and economic effectiveness. Based on the results, the current research paper offers policy submissions for policymakers and the Government of India, including strengthening the consolidation of fintech growth with green finance, structuring a quality environmental revelation outline to control state governments in refining the effectiveness of green finance, and emerging prolonged satisfactory protocol as an outside involvement proceeding to encourage green finance in the non-public sector.

Perspective on the Role of Academic Journals on Scientific Colonialism in Paleontology

ABSTRACT Academic journals have developed policies that globally regulate the specific protocols that must be followed when using sensitive medical, biological, chemical, and genetic data in research. Yet, paleontological material seems to be excluded. We performed a submission policy search to test the extent of this legal gap in light of colonialism. Results show that, even though most journals adhere to broad ethical guidelines, they do not systematically provide information regarding fossil permits and specifications on their collection and storage, as well as other relevant data (N = 108, > 80% in Asia and North America, > 65% in Europe and Latin America). This problem impacts educational, economical, and scientific development, perpetuates illegal trafficking, and boosts scientific colonialism. It is necessary to implement a mandatory policy for fossil handling, including ethical and legal management in the submission guidelines of journals, and to request that this information is included in materials and method sections.

Two-year review of firearm-related DNA casework evidence: A triage process to improve quality and efficiency

A two-year casework review of 617 firearm-related submissions representing 119 cases has provided a DNA testing triage template for prioritizing and processing touch evidence associated with firearms and firearm accessories. The evidence consisted of swabbings from various locations of a firearm or a firearm-related item, and each submission was assigned to one of the following descriptive groups: Body, Magazine, Trigger Area, Rifles, Gun Accessories, Barrel, Miscellaneous, or Revolvers. Ultimately, there were 543 submissions analyzed from DNA extraction through electrophoresis, and interpretable profiles evaluated to determine eligibility for entry into The Combined DNA Index System (CODIS). All samples were subjected to the same validated DNA technologies and methodologies used in the laboratory during the study’s February 2020 through February 2022 time period, allowing for direct comparison of data. A DNA profile, defined as the detection of at least one allele above the analytical threshold, was detected in 478 samples (88%). Interpretable profiles, defined as a DNA profile that, as a whole or in part, is deemed to be of sufficient quality that it is suitable for comparison to known DNA standards for the purpose of inclusion or exclusion, were observed in 287 samples (53%). In this sample set, there were 12 DNA profiles generated from nine different cases that were uploaded into CODIS, resulting in three CODIS hits. Additionally, there were 163 standards associated with these cases that were entered into CODIS. As a result of this extensive review, the data strongly supported modifications to both the Forensic Biology Unit’s firearm-related Case Submission Policy and the laboratory’s DNA process for triaging samples from firearms.

Join us on an amazing journey towards next-generation treatments for CNS disorders: Launch of Neuroprotection, a new high-quality journal in translational neuroscience.

Join us on an amazing journey towards next-generation treatments for CNS disorders: Launch of Neuroprotection, a new high-quality journal in translational neuroscience.

The extent of building and managing local contents in institutional repositories: a survey of tertiary institution libraries in Nigeria

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to investigate the development of institutional repositories (IR) in tertiary institution libraries in Nigeria.Design/methodology/approachThe study adopted a survey research method. Online questionnaire and IR site investigation methods were used to collect data from 25 university libraries in Nigeria.FindingsThe study revealed that only 25 (14.7%) universities out of the 170 universities in Nigeria have successfully developed IRs and registered their presence in OpenDOAR. Other tertiary institutions such as Polytechnics and Colleges of Education investigated in Nigeria are yet to develop IRs. Contents such as theses and dissertations, conference proceedings and journal articles ranked highest being the most popular contents in the various IRs. The results showed that the development of IR saves space in the library, increases readership, increases access to local contents, minimizes damage to the original material, facilitates the dissemination of scholarly research and assists in globalization of Nigerian research findings. The IRs site investigation revealed that only few IRs have clearly defined access policy, content policy, submission policy and digital preservation policy. The study identified challenges such as inadequate facilities, unstable internet connectivity, lack of fund, irregular power supply, challenge of collecting materials for the IR, lack of skilled ICT personnel, copyright issues and absence of IR policies.Practical implicationsThe results from the study will provide important data and insight into the development of institutional repositories in tertiary institution libraries in Nigeria, and generate suggestions for University Librarians, College Librarians, Polytechnic Librarians, tertiary institutions management and policy makers for developing institutional repositories in Nigeria and other developing countries.Originality/valueThe study investigated IR development in tertiary institutions in Nigeria. The findings will inform other tertiary institutions in developing countries that the development of IR provides an opportunity for the visibility of local contents emanating from institutions and make them see the reason to embrace this laudable development.

Book Review Submission Policy

Book Review Submission Policy

Analysis of Policy Implementation on The Duties and Functions of the Cabinet Secretariat (Case Study: Function of Policy Recommendation)

The implementation of the duties and functions of government institutions in the President's closest circle is an interesting thing to research. Its strategic position does not necessarily make its role carried out optimally. This can be seen from the function of providing policy recommendations carried out by the Cabinet Secretariat. Problems such as the disobedience of stakeholders to the flow of policy submissions, as well as problems on administrative matters such as supporting rules, communication strategies, information technology support, the effectiveness of policy monitoring, and the implementation of sanctions, have made the implementation of such functions not run optimally. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the implementation of the function of providing policy recommendations by the Cabinet Secretariat. The analytical framework used in this study is Policy Implementation Theory, particularly the Administrative Implementation Model by Matland (1995). This research uses the qualitative method that is descriptive analysis, with the focus of the research is the Cabinet Secretariat in the period 2015 until now. The result of this study is the implementation of the function of providing policy recommendations in dealing with various challenges and problems. However, improvement efforts have been made so that the performance of the function of providing policy recommendations, which is the main performance of the Cabinet Secretariat, can be more optimal.

Peer Review as an Evolving Response to Organizational Constraint: Evidence from Sociology Journals, 1952–2018

Double-blind peer review is a central feature of the editorial model of most journals in sociology and neighboring social scientific fields, yet there is little history of how and when its main features developed. Drawing from nearly 70 years of annual reports of the editors of American Sociological Association journals, this article describes the historical emergence of major elements of editorial peer review. These reports and associated descriptive statistics are used to show that blind review, ad hoc review, the formal requirement of exclusive submission, routine use of the revise and resubmit decision, and common use of desk rejection developed separately over a period of decades. The article then argues that the ongoing evolution of the review model has not been driven by intellectual considerations. Rather, the evolution of peer review is best understood as the product of continuous efforts to steward editors’ scarce attention while preserving an open submission policy that favors authors’ interests.

Industry Actor Use of Research Evidence: Critical Analysis of Australian Alcohol Policy Submissions

Governments' limited adoption of evidence-based policies to reduce alcohol-related harm has been partly attributed to alcohol industry influence. A better understanding of industry political strategy may help protect public policy against vested interests. We examined how industry actors used scientific evidence in their submissions to government alcohol policy consultations. We conducted a content analysis of 214 submissions from industry actors in 21 Australian public consultations between 2013 and 2017. Represented industry actors included alcohol producers and retailers, trade associations, licensees, and associated entities that derive commercial benefit from alcohol (e.g., advertising companies). Adapting an existing framework, we classified industry practices into two categories: (a) misuse of evidence and (b) denial of the effectiveness of evidence-based strategies. Almost all submissions (91%) denied the effectiveness of evidence-based strategies; the most common denial practices were making unsubstantiated claims about adverse effects of policies (76%) and promoting alternatives without evidence (71%). The misuse of scientific evidence was apparent in 66% of submissions. Trade associations, producers, and retailers were most likely to use such practices. The extent to which the examined industry actors misused scientific evidence in their submissions to a wide range of alcohol policy consultations in Australia suggests the need for governments to consider excluding the industry from consultation on the regulation of alcohol.

First Nations Peoples' Participation in the Development of Population-Wide Food and Nutrition Policy in Australia: A Political Economy and Cultural Safety Analysis.

Background: Healthy and sustainable food systems underpin the well-being of Indigenous peoples. Increasingly governments are taking action to improve diets via population-wide policies. The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People states that Indigenous peoples have the right to participate in all decisions that affect them. We analysed Australian national food and nutrition policy processes to determine: (i) the participation of Aboriginal organisations, (ii) the issues raised in Aboriginal organisations’ policy submissions, and (iii) the extent to which Aboriginal organisations’ recommendations were addressed in final policy documents. Methods: Political economy and cultural safety lenses informed the study design. We analysed publicly-available documents for Australian population-wide food and nutrition policy consultations occurring 2008-2018. Data sources were policy documents, committee reports, terms of reference and consultation submissions. The submissions made by Aboriginal organisations were thematically analysed and key policy recommendations extracted. We examined the extent to which key recommendations made by Aboriginal organisations were included in the subsequent policy documents. Results: Five food and nutrition policy processes received submissions from Aboriginal organisations. Key themes centred on self-determination, culturally-appropriate approaches to health, and the need to address food insecurity and social determinants of health. These messages were underrepresented in final policy documents, and Aboriginal people were not included in any committees overseeing policy development processes. Conclusion: This analysis suggests that very few Aboriginal organisations have participated in Australian population-wide food and nutrition policy processes and that these policy development processes are culturally unsafe. In order to operationalise First Nations peoples’ right to self-determination, alternative mechanisms are required to redress the power imbalances preventing the full participation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in population-wide food and nutrition policy decisions. This means reflecting on deeply embedded institutional structures and the normative assumptions upon which they rest.

The high resource impact of reformatting requirements for scientific papers.

BackgroundMost research manuscripts are not accepted for publication on first submission. A major part of the resubmission process is reformatting to another journal’s specific requirements, a process separate from revising the scientific content. There has been little research to understand the magnitude of the burden imposed by the current resubmission process.MethodsWe analyzed original research article submission requirements from twelve randomly selected journals in each of eight scientific and clinical focus areas from the InCites Journal Citation Reports database. From the 96 journals selected, we randomly identified three recently published manuscripts and sent surveys to those first and/or corresponding authors (288 total) to solicit information on time spent reformatting resubmissions and opinions on the process.FindingsThere was significant variation in manuscript submission requirements for journals within the same scientific focus and only 4% of journals offered a fully format-free initial submission. Of 203 authors responding (71.5% response rate), only 11.8% expressed satisfaction with the resubmission process and 91% desired reforming the current system. Time spent on reformatting delays most publications by at least two weeks and by over three months in about 20% of manuscripts. The effort to comply with submission requirements has significant global economic burden, estimated at over $1.1 billion dollars annually when accounting for a research team’s time.InterpretationWe demonstrate that there is significant resource utilization associated with resubmitting manuscripts, heretofore not properly quantified. The vast majority of authors are not satisfied with the current process. Addressing these issues by reconciling reformatting requirements among journals or adopting a universal format-free initial submission policy would help resolve a major subject for the scientific research community and provide more efficient dissemination of findings.

The politics of voluntary self-regulation: insights from the development and promotion of the Australian Beverages Council's Commitment.

To analyse the evolution of the soft drink industry's use of self-regulation as a response to obesity and examine the motivations driving its development and the strategies used to promote it to policy makers. We used a data set of industry documents published by the Australian Beverages Council (ABC) between 1998 and 2016. We analysed how the ABC voiced its political motivations about self-regulation and what internal nutrition policies it developed prior to its public launch of self-regulation. We also analysed two promotional strategies: funding research and writing policy submissions. Australia. Between 1998 and 2006, the ABC shifted from a defensive strategy that denied the role of its products in obesity to more conciliatory strategy that emphasised the role of the soft drink industry in solutions to obesity. The ABC deliberately timed the launch of its self-regulation to coincide with an international public health congress. Following its launch, the ABC funded research demonstrating the efficacy of self-regulation and wrote submissions to government nutrition policies arguing that further regulation was unnecessary. The soft drink industry uses self-regulation to bolster its reputation and influence nutrition policy. Strategic timing plays a key role in the political influence of self-regulation.

“Too Broad and Deep for the Small Screen”: <em>Doctor Who</em>'s New Adventures in the 1990s

“Too Broad and Deep for the Small Screen”: <em>Doctor Who</em>'s New Adventures in the 1990s

Towards a format-free submission policy: Let's put science first

Towards a format-free submission policy: Let's put science first

A community-led, harm-reduction approach to chemsex: case study from Australia's largest gay city.

Rates of drug use remain substantially higher among gay and bisexual men (GBM) and people living with HIV (PLHIV) in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The use of drugs to enhance sexual pleasure within cultures of Party and Play creates opportunities to discuss sexual health, mental health, consent and wellbeing. Community organisations with a history of HIV prevention, care, treatment are well-placed to respond. ACON's (formerly the AIDS Council of New South Wales) multi-dimensional response to 'chemsex' includes: direct client services support for individuals seeking to manage or reduce their use; health promotion activities that support peer education; partnerships with research institutions to better understand cultures of chemsex; and policy submissions that call for drug use to be approached as a health, rather than a criminal, issue. The approach speaks the language of Party and Play subcultures; employs culturally relevant terminology and imagery; uses content designed, created and delivered by peers; and operates within a pleasure-positive, harm-reduction and community-led framework. These interventions have led to increased service uptake, strong community engagement, robust research partnerships and the recognition of GBM as a priority population in relevant strategies.