Theoretical Elaboration Research Articles

La manzana y la vivienda en la construcción del espacio urbano

The logic of production of residential fabric in intermediate cities, from private interventions in independent lots that make up the block, delimit the framework of research presented, in order to enhance the possibility of generating a quality urban space, in its programmatic, spatial and morphological aspects. It is proposed, from project research, a double approach to the problem, from rethinking the typology of the block and its relationship with semi-public and private public spaces, and to investigate the forms of collective housing production that are articulated with the construction logics of the urban form. It is an ordering system of general structures and parts, where the result of everything is more important than that of each part, respecting the subdivision of the existing land in each chosen city. The methodology enables theoretical elaboration and the study of cases, with the project as a generator of verification instances and as a tool for validating the working hypotheses. The study is given in relation to the existing city and based on case studies in different intermediate cities in the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Filling literary gaps of convention

ABSTRACT This article is an interrogation of gaps which hide sex in literature. Avoiding the narration of sex is a persistent narrative convention in much literary fiction, and these gaps offer an opportunity for creative writing to intervene. My critical enquiry is grounded in my creative writing practice, which is further grounded in lived experience of disability. As an embodied orientation to the world and a critical concept, disability can be productively used as a methodology which challenges ingrained attitudes to embodiment and capacity, thereby, according to Siebers, ‘defamiliariz[ing] how we think currently about sex’, and how we write it. Following a theoretical elaboration of the presence of absence in narrative, I present an original story ‘How to be an Other’, which plays with Lorrie Moore’s ‘How to be an Other Woman’ and which offers a practical application of how gaps can be generative of new ways of thinking.

Ecogothic Interpretations of the Anthropocene

The so-called nonhuman turn has a great role to play in theoretical elaborations of the Anthropocene. This broad tendency of thought incorporates contemporary non-anthropocentric schools of thought such as Actor-Network-Theory (ANT), Object-Oriented Ontology (OOO) and posthumanism. These various sociological and philosophical directions have one thing in common: the rejection and transcendence of anthropocentrism, as well as a new sensitivity to the heterogeneous, irreducible and multiple nature of reality. Openness to post-anthropocentrism is a general characteristic of authors who work in Anthropocene theory today. However, posthumanist philosophy, while it decenters and deconstructs the human, is also committed to an aesthetic of uncertainty, fear, and even horror. Simon C. Estok, in his highly important article “Theorising the EcoGothic,” shows that during the ecological crisis philosophical thought must traverse unknown terrain, while also emphasizing the darker aspects of sociocultural constructs. Posthumanism must, by its very nature, prepare for the unthinkable in a quite literal sense according to Stefan Herbrechter. The Anthropocene constitutes an opening to what Nick Land calls “Outsideness”. A future condition “after” the human can be understood as a condition that opens onto a dark, monstrous, threatening or, in a word, hybrid future beyond any anthropic measure.

Multilateral analysis of stakeholder integration, project complexity and project performance on information technology (IT) projects

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine the influence of stakeholder integration and project complexity on information technology (IT) projects in Kenya. The following research question guided our inquiry: what is the influence of project complexity and stakeholder integration on the performance of IT projects in Kenya?Design/methodology/approachTo advance the current understanding of the effect of stakeholder integration and project complexity on IT projects, multiple regressions were used to predict how project complexity and stakeholder integration influence project performance. Both government-funded and privately funded IT projects from a developing country were examined.FindingsThe study found that any project’s complexity and stakeholder integration levels offer a distinctive contribution to its success. Theoretically, the study contributes to linkages between stakeholder integration and project complexity concerning IT project performance. Through the adoption of actionable research and theoretical elaboration, we have shown that the successful execution of IT projects is driven by the successful integration of stakeholders and monitoring the level of complexity at each phase of the project.Originality/valueThe findings of this study add to the burgeoning literature on the performance of IT projects and come with several managerial implications as well. It brings to the fore the concept of stakeholder integration as an essential element of project success. The findings suggest that the inclusion of stakeholder integration into corporate decisions, strategies and policies can be an asset to the production of sustainable competitive advantages needed during the implementation of IT projects in government entities and organisations. As shown in this study, all the above require a collaborative platform allowing for data sharing among diverse stakeholders to ameliorate distrust or lack of information.

Why might animals remember? A functional framework for episodic memory research in comparative psychology.

One of Clayton's major contributions to our understanding of animal minds has been her work on episodic-like memory. A central reason for the success of this work was its focus on ecological validity: rather than looking for episodic memory for arbitrary stimuli in artificial contexts, focussing on contexts in which episodic memory would serve a biological function such as food caching. This review aims to deepen this insight by surveying the numerous functions that have been proposed for episodic memory, articulating a philosophically grounded framework for understanding what exactly functions are, and drawing on these to make suggestions for future directions in the comparative cognitive psychology of episodic memory. Our review suggests four key insights. First, episodic memory may have more than one function and may have different functions in different species. Second, cross-disciplinary work is key to developing a functional account of episodic memory. Third, there is scope for further theoretical elaboration of proposals relating episodic memory to food caching and, in particular, future-oriented cognition. Finally, learning-related functions suggested by AI (artificial intelligence)-based models are a fruitful avenue for future behavioural research.

Investment Value Analysis of Enterprise: Taking ZARA as an Example

This paper mainly expounds some financial problems encountered in the analysis of corporate investment value by taking the Spanish clothing and accessories brand ZARA as an example. As a leading brand in the field of fast fashion, ZARA will inevitably be affected by social and economic factors such as funds, distribution and development background during its development. This paper uses the very common SWOT analysis method to carry out a very detailed analysis of ZARA company, and at the same time uses the relevant financial indicators and market value analysis method to analyze the internal and external value development process of the company. Finally, as the first generation of fast fashion brand, ZARA's development in the market is not very stable. Although this paper has carried out a more detailed analysis, it contains a lot of theoretical elaboration, so it does not rule out the possibility of other influencing factors.

The Fundamental Rights Impact Assessment (FRIA) in the AI Act: Roots, legal obligations and key elements for a model template

What is the context which gave rise to the obligation to carry out a Fundamental Rights Impact Assessment (FRIA) in the AI Act? How has assessment of the impact on fundamental rights been framed by the EU legislator in the AI Act? What methodological criteria should be followed in developing the FRIA? These are the three main research questions that this article aims to address, through both legal analysis of the relevant provisions of the AI Act and discussion of various possible models for assessment of the impact of AI on fundamental rights.The overall objective of this article is to fill existing gaps in the theoretical and methodological elaboration of the FRIA, as outlined in the AI Act. In order to facilitate the future work of EU and national bodies and AI operators in placing this key tool for human-centric and trustworthy AI at the heart of the EU approach to AI design and development, this article outlines the main building blocks of a model template for the FRIA. While this proposal is consistent with the rationale and scope of the AI Act, it is also applicable beyond the cases listed in Article 27 and can serve as a blueprint for other national and international regulatory initiatives to ensure that AI is fully consistent with human rights.

Critical Rural Theory: A Decade of Influence on Rural Education Research☆

AbstractRural education researchers have long been interested in the impact of increasing urbanization, with its attendant shifts in policy, culture, and capital mobility, on rural people and communities, but their findings have existed largely to the side of “mainstream” research examining urban and suburban populations. With the publication in 2011 of Critical Rural Theory: Structure, Space, Culture, scholars acquired a new theoretical tool for inquiring into processes of place‐making, identity formation, curricular design, and policy implementation. This article establishes key elements of the theory as they have been applied in both K‐12 and higher education research, giving attention to current gaps in the literature as well as future directions for theoretical elaboration. Essential areas of focus include critical rural theory's applications in K‐12 curricula and policy studies as well as research on community capitals, college transitions, and intersectional identity in higher education contexts.

Higher education: mercantilism, citizenship formation and interdisciplinarity

This text was written based on the current importance of higher education, with a universal view and from an epistemological perspective focused on the relationships between what is and what should be. It was carried out with the objective of helping to counteract mercantilism in higher education and the positivist theoretical positions that serve as its theoretical support. Consequently, it is made up of reflections on these topics and, at the same time, of theoretical elaborations around citizen education, complex thinking and interdisciplinarity because they are fields where there are ways and means to advance in achieving the objective. The inclusion of the humanities in the deployment of interdisciplinarity between disciplines of other types is emphasized. This study was carried out through classic bibliographic research and with the use of a varied bibliography, but that responds to the topic discussed, which, for the most part, is recently published.

Understanding no fault found event risk in military aircraft MRO planning: A step towards robust bidding and contract finalization

No fault found (NFF) is a reported fault for which the root cause cannot be found. An NFF event not only reduces the availability of the equipment to customers but also results in financial losses to the manufacturer. To date, risk due to NFF events is not considered separately in aircraft Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) planning. In this paper, we have studied the NFF event risk identification, distribution, and optimization in an aircraft MRO process based on data collected over three decades of aircraft maintenance. For framework development and formulating the critical NFF risk drivers, this paper applies soft system methodology with detailed semi-structured interviews of industry experts. For NFF risk distribution and optimization, we have used agent-based simulation modeling. The quantitative assessment of more than 5000 NFF cases in an aircraft MRO organization shows that NFF events are significantly non-deterministic during the life cycle of an aircraft. The three identified critical NFF risk drivers in the research are the MRO process stage, aircraft life cycle stage, and human working skills. The MRO process stage is the time of the NFF event during repair activity. The life cycle stage represents the timeline of the NFF event in useful aircraft life. Human working skill represents the role of manpower in the NFF event solution. Further theoretical elaborations of the research lead to the optimized NFF risk break-up at the contract preparation stage and risk driver's sensitivity analysis by the aircraft assembler, operator, and sub-contractor at the commercial bid submission stage.

Ensuring a smooth landing for starting VET teachers: integrating induction and HRM practices

PurposeThe goal of the current paper is to explore how induction of STs in VET schools can be improved by embedding induction in the broader human resources management (HRM) system. To this end, we will present and discuss the theoretical underpinning and the quantitative and qualitative outcomes of an online reflection instrument “Startwijzer,” developed in the Netherlands and which is based on literature on induction on one hand and on HRM literature on the other. In doing so the paper aims to contribute to induction theory and to formulate suggestions as to how provide STs with a smooth landing.Design/methodology/approachIn the period 2018–2023, the Startwijzer was filled out by starting teachers (STs), their coaches, HRM officers, team leaders and managers working in various VET schools. Descriptive analyses were done on respondents” (n = 629) scores on 13 indicators, with a three-point-Likert-scale (where 1 = “in order”, 2 = “doubt” and 3 = “in order”) in SPSS. Also differences among stakeholders were examined. Respondents’ explanations of their scores were analyzed thematically, within and across indicators, to reach a deeper understanding of how STs can be provided a smooth landing.FindingsWith AMO-theory of performance (Appelbaum et al., 2001) – stating that performance is a function of: abilities (A); motivation (M) and opportunities offered to exert expertise (O) – as conceptual model, 13 indicators relevant for effective induction were distinguished. (A): Timely Recruitment; Lesson Observations; Individual Coaching; Personal Development Plan; Reflection on Teaching Practice; Development of Professional Identity; (M): Exchange of Mutual Expectancies; Distinction among Performance Assessment and Guidance; Differentiation among STs; (O) Provision of Practical Information; Enculturation; Appointment of Coaches; Workload reduction. Respondents were generally very positive about the help and care provided informally by colleagues but less satisfied with the formal procedures.Originality/valueThe paper bridges the literature on induction and that of human resources management (HRM). While the positive impact of HRM on employee outcomes such as performance, commitment and well-being has been attested by numerous studies (e.g. Combs et al., 2006), it is only recently that the potential benefits of HRM for teachers have been acknowledged (e.g. Runhaar, 2017). The theoretical elaboration as well as the empirical evidence discussed in the current paper suggest that unless induction activities are embedded in school HRM policy, STs already start their careers 1–0 down and it might be difficult for them to catch up.

Training Model Designed to Strengthen and Improve the Pass for Juniors 10 – 12 Years

The purpose of this study is represented by the theoretical and methodical elaboration of a material intended for continuous use by coaches and teachers working with groups of juniors aged between 10 and 12 years. We propose an intervention in the training plan, starting with the study of specialized literature in the field of football and aiming to improve the methodology for teaching specific means but also the evaluation process of a model to be used. Also, the intervention in the training plan has as a general objective the consolidation of the procedures and technical elements specific to the football game, but also the development of all motor qualities. The study is based on collaboration with coaches in this area who work with children aged 10 to 12 years, the goal being to conduct a theoretical analysis of the content of the passing game, to model the content of the training, and to verify the effectiveness of a model intended to strengthen and perfect the passing game at the aforementioned age.

LEVERAGING BIG DATA TECHNOLOGIES FOR ENHANCED PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN PUBLIC FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

The article is devoted to the topical issues regarding the implementation of Big Data technologies in public finance management. The application of Big Data has the potential to enhance transparency and accountability in the use of budgetary resources, increase trust in government, improve the efficiency of budget resource utilization, better understand citizens' needs, and engage the public in public finance management. The purpose of the study is to explore theoretical, methodological, and practical aspects, as well as to develop recommendations for the implementation of Big Data processing and analysis technologies to enhance public participation in public financial management. The article examines traditional methods of civil engagement in the budgetary process, identifies their disadvantages, and explores Big Data technology potential based on Computational Linguistics and Machine Learning to strengthen public participation. Developments in sentiment analysis and opinion mining have been adapted to the field of public finance. A generative model for analyzing public sentiment on social networks regarding public finance management has been constructed and tested. The approaches developed for using Big Data technologies can be implemented in the field of public finance to enhance public participation in their management as advisory tools for the realization of representative democracy and require further theoretical elaboration and practical application to improve the analysis of alternative sentiments, prevent manipulation of public opinion, and abuse within the network.

Effect of AI counsellor’s nonverbal immediacy behaviour on user satisfaction: serial mediation of positive expectancy violation and rapport

ABSTRACT The aim of this study is to verify the causal relationship between the nonverbal immediacy behaviour (NIB) of an artificial intelligence (AI) agent for mental health counselling and user satisfaction through an experiment. We explored whether the anthropomorphism of the AI agent moderated the effect of the AI agent. A 2 (NIB: absent vs. present) × 2 (anthropomorphism: low vs. high) between-subjects experiment was conducted. The participants answered questionnaires after having a conversation about their daily stress with an AI counsellor, which was implemented according to the experimental conditions in the metaverse counselling room. The results showed that the NIB of the AI agent had a positive effect on user satisfaction, which was serially mediated by positive expectancy violations and rapport. However, anthropomorphism was not found to moderate the effects of NIB on user satisfaction. This study contributed to theoretical elaboration by providing empirical evidence that the effect of NIB is significant in AI counselling and by revealing that this effect occurs through a serial mediation path of positive expectation violation and rapport.

Bryson of Heraclea and Polyxenus, Megarian Philosophers

Abstract Bryson of Heraclea and Polyxenus have received little attention from scholars. Sources on these philosophers are few and difficult to interpret. However, they present interesting dialectical arguments that concern some of Plato’s and Aristotle’s most important theoretical elaborations: Bryson’s arguments on the issue of semantic ambiguity were explicitly discussed by Aristotle, and Polyxenus is credited with a particular version of the Third Man argument. My purpose in this paper is to reconstruct the historical background of these two philosophers and to analyze the philosophical implications of the arguments that the ancient tradition ascribes to them.

ОБУЧЕНИЕ КИТАЙСКИХ СТУДЕНТОВ В ЯЗЫКОВОЙ И НЕЯЗЫКОВОЙ СРЕДЕ: ПЕДАГОГИЧЕСКИЕ ОСОБЕННОСТИ

The object of the study of this work is the peculiarities of teaching students from China in various conditions. The chosen topic of the article is explained by the relevance of the problem under study, its insufficient theoretical and practical elaboration. The novelty of the work lies in the study of the peculiarities of teaching Chinese students at the initial stage both in a language environment (using the example of VSTU) and in conditions outside the language environment (using the example of the Shenzhen MSU-BIT University). The article describes a pedagogical experiment that determines the feasibility of teaching Chinese students not in mononational, but in international groups. The results of comparing learning systems in the Chinese classroom and different approaches to the organization and content of the educational process are presented in the table, the content of which may be useful for practical teachers working with Chinese students in both countries.

Utopia and climate change education: modes of utopian knowledge in times of climate crisis

ABSTRACT High expectations are placed on Climate Change Education (CCE), ranging from emotionally and practically preparing young people for the changes ahead, to supporting them in becoming climate-friendly actors. To address these challenges and inspire new approaches, this paper introduces a typology of utopian knowledge into the practice of CCE. It starts by linking utopia and the climate crisis noting that both are oriented to complex futures which are uncertain and simultaneously open to desires for alternatives. We describe forms in which learners can get to know themselves and their worlds in utopian ways – in ways that are informed by the desire for a better way of living. To render the theoretical elaboration more vivid, we present exemplary reflections on how the modes of utopian knowledge might be practiced in CCE. The result are new perspectives on living in the climate crisis, and, hopefully, new ways of being.

The local governance of Swedish schools in light of a new educational policy landscape empirical exploration and theoretical elaboration

ABSTRACT In the Nordic curriculum theory (CT) tradition, questions linked to educational change and school governance have long been a crucial research issue. However, despite several decades of decentralized school systems, local school governance has been a highly neglected field of research. Considering the changing landscape of school governance in terms of re-centralization, where the state’s aim is to take stronger control of school outcomes, the conditions for local school governance have changed. Based on results from two research projects in two Swedish municipalities, and from a neo-institutional theoretical perspective, the aim of this article is to contribute to the CT research field by exploring and theorizing on local school governance. Four management strategies that local educational authorities (LEAs) employed to manage the schools could be distinguished: local school management via i) data use, ii) the standardization and formalization of schools’ quality assurance processes and routines, iii) quality dialogues, iv) professional learning and best practices. These management strategies and activities were mostly organized, and conducted within the scope of the LEAs’ quality assurance systems and were primarily built on normative and cultural – cognitive elements. A way to conceptualize this form of governance is through the concept of ‘local quality management’.

Stabilizing Diluted Active Sites of Ultrasmall High-Entropy Intermetallics for Efficient Formic Acid Electrooxidation.

The poisoning of undesired intermediates or impurities greatly hinders the catalytic performances of noble metal-based catalysts. Herein, high-entropy intermetallics i-(PtPdIrRu)2FeCu (HEI) are constructed to inhibit the strongly adsorbed carbon monoxide intermediates (CO*) during the formic acid oxidation reaction. As probed by multiple-scaled structural characterizations, HEI nanoparticles are featured with partially negative Pt oxidation states, diluted Pt/Pd/Ir/Ru atomic sites and ultrasmall average size less than 2 nm. Benefiting from the optimized structures, HEI nanoparticles deliver more than 10 times promotion in intrinsic activity than that of pure Pt, and well-enhanced mass activity/durability than that of ternary i-Pt2FeCu intermetallics counterpart. In situ infrared spectroscopy manifests that both bridge and top CO* are favored on pure Pt but limited on HEI. Further theoretical elaboration indicates that HEI displayed a much weaker binding of CO* on Pt sites and sluggish diffusion of CO* among different sites, in contrast to pure Pt that CO* bound more strongly and was easy to diffuse on larger Pt atomic ensembles. This work verifies that HEIs are promising catalysts via integrating the merits of intermetallics and high-entropy alloys.

РЕСОЦИАЛИЗАЦИЯ ОСУЖДЕННЫХ: НЕКОТОРЫЕ ТЕОРЕТИКО-ПРАВОВЫЕ АСПЕКТЫ

When considering various aspects of the re-socialization of convicts, its inadequate theoretical elaboration and insufficient focus on post-penitentiary prevention of the commission of new crimes were established. The article reveals numerous shortcomings of criminal, penal enforcement and other legislation regulating the institution of resocialization of convicts. It is concluded that even with the participation of the court deciding on the early release of a convicted person from serving imprisonment (parole, release from punishment due to a serious illness of the convicted person or replacement of the unserved part of the deprivation of liberty with a milder type of punishment), post- penitentiary issues are not sufficiently taken into account. The article substantiates the provision that when making such a decision, the court should take into account the possibility (not) of achieving the goals of penal enforcement legislation, the forecast of post-penitentiary behavior of a person, the likelihood of committing a new crime or other offense, as well as the need to provide him with appropriate assistance.