University Research Research Articles

Development of research agenda of a teacher education institution in Central Luzon, Philippines

This collaborative-participatory research aimed to develop the research agenda of the college of teacher education (CTE) of a state university in Zambales, Philippines from 2017 to 2021. The research involved the core research group, faculty researchers, campus and university officials, and stakeholders such as students, alumni, and partner agencies (department of education (DeEd) faculty and administrators). The study was carried out in the first quarter of 2017 to develop the CTE research agenda framework, identify the key research areas, and present to the stakeholders. During the third quarter of 2018, the developed research agenda was revisited and reformulated as the university was converted into a more comprehensive university. A total of six themes were included in the final CTE research agenda framework with corresponding theme descriptions and research topics. The use of participatory-collaborative research effectively develops a college research agenda of the CTE. The processes involved in research agenda setting can serve as a basis for other teacher education institutions (TEIs) in coming up with their respective research agenda geared towards uplifting the quality of teacher education. The study could also serve as a guide for other colleges in formulating and revisiting their research agenda.

Clinical implications of dual therapy of acarbose plus myo-inositol on the thyroid profile in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Context: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and thyroid are the most common endocrine disorders affecting women of childbearing age, causing anovulation and infertility. There is an increased prevalence of thyroid dysfunction reported among PCOS women. Aims: To evaluate the benefits of acarbose plus myo-inositol therapy on the thyroid profile of PCOS. Methods: An open-labelled, parallel randomised clinical trial on 80 PCOS women based on inclusion and exclusion criteria was performed at the Department of Gynaecology, SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Kattankulathur. Institutional ethics committee approval and prior informed consent were obtained. The trial was registered in CTRI (No: CTRI/2022/04/041877). Group A (n = 38) received metformin 500 mg TID, and group B (n = 39) received acarbose 50 mg TID along with myoinositol 1000 mg BID. Assessment of metabolic and hormonal profile was done at baseline and at the end of six months. Results: Both groups showed significant reductions in luteinising hormone (p <0.0001), total testosterone (p<0.05), thyroid stimulating hormone (p<0.05), fasting insulin (p<0.05), and homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (p<0.0001). The follicle-stimulating hormone was increased only in the metformin group. No significant changes in body mass index, free triiodothyronine, free tetraiodothyronine, and fasting glucose were observed in any group. Both therapies were safe, and no side effects or hypoglycaemia were recorded. Conclusions: In consideration of the beneficial effects of the study, we conclude that the administration of acarbose plus myo-inositol exerts positive effects on the thyroid and other endocrinological profiles in PCOS women.

Determinants of knowledge transfer activities among university researchers: a systematic review

Purpose This systematic review aims to identify the key determinants of knowledge transfer (KT) activities among researchers. Design/methodology/approach This study systematically reviewed KT literature in academic settings from 1995–2023. The authors searched Web of Science and Scopus using predefined keywords, following PRISMA guidelines for screening and eligibility assessment. From 158 selected articles, the authors extracted data and conducted a descriptive analysis to map KT activities’ evolution. A narrative synthesis approach categorized determinants of researchers’ KT activities. Findings The systematic review findings revealed a general conceptual framework that categorizes the identified determinants of KT into four categories. At the individual level, the factors are related to the sociodemographic characteristics of the researcher (e.g. gender, age, experience), their psychological aspects (e.g. attitude, intrinsic motivation, intention) and personal characteristics (e.g. self-efficacy, communication skills). At the research team level, leadership style and team dynamics. At the organizational level, the findings emphasize university characteristics (e.g. size, structure and ranking), KT culture installed and university resources. At the inter-organizational level, the key determinants were funding sources, network strength and trust. Research limitations/implications The studies included in our database were different in terms of contexts, country of the study, the disciplines of KT and the types of KT activities examined. This variety restricts the direct comparison of research findings thus the generalizability of our conclusions. Future research should focus on specific contexts, disciplines, countries or types of KT activities to provide generalizable findings. Practical implications A better understanding of all the factors influencing KT among university researchers is essential for several reasons. First, it will enable the government to develop effective policies to promote KT ecosystems. Second, universities can create strategies, policies and programs to support researchers’ engagement in KT activities. Finally, researchers can be more strategic in their KT efforts. Originality/value This systematic review contributes to the literature by providing a comprehensive conceptual framework that identifies KT determinants at different levels and fills a gap in the existing literature that only addresses specific aspects of KT determinants. This framework can be a theoretical reference for future empirical studies. Furthermore, it practically provides recommendations for different actors including, government, universities and researchers.

Extensiveness of Teachers’ Workload in Determining the Acquisition of Kiswahili Reading Skills Among Pupils in Public Primary Schools in Tanga City Council, Tanzania

The study investigated the extensiveness of teachers’ workload in determining the acquisition of Kiswahili reading skills among public primary school pupils in Tanga City Council, Tanzania. The study employed a convergent design under mixed methods research approach to collect both quantitative and qualitative data simultaneously and compare the results to obtain a more complete understanding of the research problem. The study targeted 80 public primary schools, 80 head teachers, 264 Kiswahili subject teachers, 24 Ward Education Officer and 1 City Council Primary Education Officer. Both probability and non-probability sampling techniques were employed to obtain respondents who participated in this study. The study involved 8 public primary schools, 8 head teachers, 88 Kiswahili reading skills teachers, 8 WEO and 1 CCPEO. Data were collected using questionnaires, and interview guide. Data collection instruments were validated by Mwenge Catholic University research experts. A pilot study was conducted in two public secondary schools. The reliability of questionnaires for Likert scale items was determined using Cronbach's Alpha Coefficient where reliability coefficient r= 0.892 for Kiswahili subject teachers questionnaire was obtained. The reliability for qualitative data was established through peer debriefing and triangulation. The study adhered to research ethical principles throughout the research process. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics particularly using frequencies, percentages and mean with the aid of SPSS Version 22. The study concludes that due to their overwhelming responsibilities, teachers find it challenging to give students timely and insightful feedback on their reading progress. Teachers find it challenging to plan and implement enjoyable reading activities that would greatly enhance their pupils Kiswahili reading skills. Teachers are unable to give each pupils the individualized support and attention they need to improve their reading skills in Kiswahili, leaving them with little time and energy. The study recommends that heads of public primary schools can support teachers in working less by making sure that teachers have enough time to plan, organize, assign reading tasks, and help pupils who are failing with learning. The administration of public primary school should make sure that the school has enough teaching and learning resources for Kiswahili reading instruction.

Exploring the long-term effects of dapagliflozin in patients with stable acute myocardial infarction and preserved ejection fraction through a propensity score matching study

Abstract Background and Aims The recent Emmy trial underscored notable improvements in cardiac structure and function among post-acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients treated with Empagliflozin, compared to those receiving a placebo. However, limitations such as a small sample size and a short follow-up period hindered the assessment of potential differences in actual clinical events between the groups. Consequently, our study aimed to evaluate the long-term outcomes, survival rates, rates of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), and heart failure (HF) incidence in patients with preserved ejection fraction (EF) who experienced AMI and underwent successful percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), comparing those who received early initiation of Dapagliflozin with those who did not. Methods Data from the Taipei Medical University Research Database in Taiwan identified 7,081 inpatients who met the criteria of AMI status post successful PCI, with a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) greater than 50% and absence of clinical symptoms indicative of heart failure. Exclusion criteria included individuals with a pre-existing diagnosis of heart failure before the index AMI episode and those with an LVEF below 50%, resulting in the exclusion of 357 patients from our study. The study subjects were then divided into two groups: those treated with Dapagliflozin and those not treated with Dapagliflozin, with matching for age, diabetes mellitus, and chronic kidney disease in a 1:2 ratio. Results The cohort study included of 756 patients who met the criteria of this study, among whom 252 were Dapagliflozin users and 504 were not. Over a 7-year follow-up period, Kaplan-Meier survival analyses revealed a significant reduction in cardiovascular mortality and all-cause mortality among Dapagliflozin users compared to non-users (p < 0.01). However, no significant differences were observed in heart failure, recurrent AMI, or stroke during the follow-up. Multivariate Cox analysis indicated the use of Dapagliflozin (hazard ratio = 0.310, 95% confidence interval = 0.188-0.510, p < 0.001) and age of diagnosis (hazard ratio = 1.063, 95% confidence interval =1.045-1.081, p < 0.001) were both independent predictors of all cause death. Conclusions In patients with stabilized AMI, the use of Dapagliflozin was associated with a decreased risk of all-cause death, especially cardiovascular mortality. However, there were no significant differences observed in the rates of heart failure, recurrent AMI, or stroke over the seven-year follow-up period.Baseline characteristicsKaplan–Meier curves of all cause death

Listening Practices in a Synodal Church: Interim Reflections from a Symposium in Rome

Listening is at the heart of Pope Francis’s synodality project. Where does scholarship addressing themes of listening, encounter, and lived experience of Catholicism sit within this project as both a subject addressed by synodality and critical agent of it? This special issue publishes the outcomes of an eighteen-month project, commissioned by members of the Synod’s methodology commission, undertaken independently under university research auspices. The project culminated in a symposium in Rome in March 2023. The project aimed to model a form of academic service to the listening phase of the Synod, rooted in a collaboration between scholars and synodal practitioners; that is, to provide a small-scale contribution of what we have outlined above as somewhat missing in the process so far. This introduction provides background context on the research question and an overview of the articles as well as reflection on the implications of the synodal process for moral theology.

Screening of Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates reveals the spread of strong biofilm formers and class 1 integrons.

Klebsiella pneumoniae is a Gram-negative bacterium that can colonize, penetrate, and cause infections at several human anatomical locations. The emergence of hypervirulent K. pneumoniae and its ability to evade the immune system and develop antibiotic resistance has made it a key concern in the healthcare industry. The hypervirulent variants are increasingly involved in community-acquired infections. Therefore, it is pertinent to understand the biofilm formation potential among the clinical isolates. We acquired 225 isolates of K. pneumoniae from the Department of Microbiology, Symbiosis University Hospital and Research Centre (SUHRC), Pune, India over 1 year from March 2022- March 2023, and evaluated antimicrobial susceptibility, hypermucoviscous phenotype, virulence, and antimicrobial-resistant gene distribution in K. pneumoniae isolates and established a correlation between antimicrobial resistance and integrons. Most isolates were strong biofilm formers (76%). The isolates harbored one or more carbapenemase/ beta-lactamase encoding gene combinations. Hypermucoviscous (HMKP) isolates had considerably greater positive rates for iutA, magA, K2 serotype, rmpA, and rmpA2 than non-HMKP isolates. Isolates carrying integrons (43%) showed significantly more antibiotic resistance. The study reveals spread of strong biofilm formers with extensive virulence and antimicrobial-resistant genes, and integrons responsible for multi-drug resistance among the clinical isolates of K. pneumoniae in Pune, India, posing a threat to the public health and necessitating close surveillance, accurate diagnosis, control, and therapeutic management of infections.

The Components of Cepheid Systems: The FN Vel System* * Based on observations with the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope obtained at the Space Telescope Science Institute, which is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc. under NASA contract NAS5-26555.

Cepheid masses continue to be important tests of evolutionary tracks for intermediate-mass stars as well as important predictors of their future fate. For systems where the secondary is a B star, Hubble Space Telescope ultraviolet spectra have been obtained. From these spectra a temperature can be derived, and from this a mass of the companion M 2. Once Gaia DR4 is available, proper motions can be used to determine the inclination of the orbit. Combining mass of the companion, M 2, the mass function from the ground-based orbit of the Cepheid and the inclination produces the mass of the Cepheid, M 1. The Cepheid system FN Vel is used here to demonstrate this approach and what limits can be put on the Cepheid mass for inclination between 50° and 130°.

Technology adoption at scale: the success of USAID’s agriculture diversification project in Malawi

Abstract Dr. Fenton Sands, USAID’s new contract representative, faced some challenges. His office, USAID-Malawi over many years showed great commitment to the country, yet there seemed to be insufficient progress in poverty reduction, agricultural yield improvement, and smallholder farmer incomes. Now in 2017, the mission managed 25 different multimillion-dollar projects that touched on agriculture, the economy, resilience, gender, and nutrition, with little sustainability evident. Dr. Sands’ task was twofold, specifically, how to depart from past practice and actually achieve sustainable impact at scale here in Malawi, as he launched the new $60m Ag Div activity and more generally, if successful, how should USAID scale the success across the region. This case study provides unique insights into how Dr. Sands and his team jettisoned traditional development approaches and builds sustainable economic impact at scale through a novel private sector platform. USAID Malawi’s brave new venture successfully leveraged university research via the Soybean Innovation Lab to assure sound science and evidenced based decision making. Dr. Sand’s novel approach, presented here as a teaching case study, provides an explicit pathway for development officers, university researchers, program implementers, and leaders in the donor community to build sustainable impact in partnership with the private sector.

Support Carbon Neutral Goal with a High-resolution Carbon Monitoring System in Beijing

Abstract China has committed to peak its carbon emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060, known as the Dual Carbon Goals (DCG). To support the DCG, monitoring and assessment of progresses in emissions reduction have become a central research focus. Here we describe the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (JJJ) Carbon Monitoring System, established over the last six years through a collaborative effort of 16 research institutions and universities. The monitoring capability includes ground-based high-precision reference stations, a dense network of medium-accuracy low-cost sensors, carbon satellites, vertical profile samplers, and mobile platforms. Observations using the network have shown CO2 variations from diurnal, synoptic to seasonal-interannual timescales, as well as dramatic on-road changes during the COVID-19 lockdown. High-resolution modeling and data assimilation at km-scale reveal major deficiencies in global carbon emissions datasets at regional/city scale. The inversion found the total fossil fuel CO2 emissions of the City of Beijing to be 117 megatonne (Mt), but much lower than the national-data-based inventories (152 MtCO2). The results have been used in emissions assessment by national and local environmental protection agencies. Similar systems are now being developed in other Chinese cities.

Investigation of students repeating calculus-based introductory physics courses by gender, ethnicity and race

Abstract We analyze institutional data from large introductory calculus-based physics courses at a large public research university in the US in which the students enrolled in these courses majored in engineering, chemistry, physics, and mathematics. The data was analyzed from two introductory physics courses that are required for most of these students and they are often considered “weed out” courses in that a poor performance in these courses can severely hinder students’ long term career goal achievement. In particular, these courses can act as gatekeepers for many students and those who do not perform to their satisfaction the first time often repeat these courses, particularly if they aspire to remain in their major. We present findings by analyzing data from different demographic groups based upon gender, ethnicity and race for how likely were the students from different demographic groups to repeat these introductory calculus-based physics courses and we compared outcomes of students who repeated with those who did not. We also analyzed and found similar patterns in the calculus courses that are co-requisites for the physics courses. However, the students who failed and repeated physics courses were not necessarily those who failed and repeated the calculus courses. These findings can help physics departments contemplate strategies for providing support to help all students excel in these calculus-based physics courses so that students do not have to repeat these courses, which are pivotal for accomplishing their long-term career goals.

Exploring the Application of Refined Management in University Financial Management

The refined management of university finances primarily involves optimizing management methods and continuously improving financial management levels. This process helps enhance fund utilization efficiency, optimize resource allocation, ensure the rational use of educational funds, and provide solid financial support for the development of teaching, research, and other university undertakings. This paper explores the application of refined management in university financial management.

Serious Games for Serious Business: Unravelling Trends and Distribution Dynamics

Objective: To analyse the impact and applications of Serious Games in the corporate realm, evaluating both benefits and challenges associated with their adoption. Methodology: A literature review is conducted through a descriptive bibliometric analysis. The distribution of publications and citations of studies by year, affiliations and authors with the highest productivity rate, and most cited articles are analysed. Results: A marked increase in publications on Serious Games is observed, indicating a growing interest in research. Citation analysis shows an upward trend, with the year 2022 standing out as the most prolific. INRAE and Wageningen University Research are leading institutions in this field, and prominent authors include Mayer, Dumont, and Russell-Bennett. Limitations: There is potential bias in article selection and a narrow focus on the benefits and challenges of Serious Games in enterprises, overlooking long-term sustainability. This could be addressed by comparing the effectiveness of Serious Games in employee training versus customer interaction and evaluating their applicability across different sectors. Practical implications: Serious Games are useful for simulating business creation, developing entrepreneurial skills through a playful approach, as well as citizen decision-making and its impact on carbon emissions. In the tourism sector, the effectiveness of gamification through Serious Games is evidenced by increased brand loyalty. The article provides an understanding of the landscape of Serious Games and their implementation in companies across different sectors. It observes the practical implications of this learning tool and its interaction with consumers, to enhance their experience.

Public Services in the Field of Basic Health for Mothers and Children in Talawaan District, North Minahasa Regency, North Sulawesi Province

Maternal mortality rate and infant mortality rate are an indication of the low level of population welfare. Likewise, the high disparity in socio-economic levels - rich and poor, between regions and between urban and rural areas. Therefore, health services for mothers and children are the main priority in health development. The government at all levels of government has established and implemented health programs for mothers and children. However, it has not provided a good impact on the aspect of basic public services. Health services for mothers and children through integrated service posts are more visible at the village level and require serious attention from the government because they are very far from health service centers such as regional hospitals. Therefore, this study was conducted to describe and explain basic public health services for mothers and children in Talawaan District, North Minahasa Regency. This study is considered important from the aspect of public health and related to strengthening social capital in the superior fields of social humanities, arts and culture as well as the development and strengthening of institutional systems, health policies, and community empowerment in the superior fields of health and medicine in the Sam Ratulangi University research strategy plan. Data were collected through interviews with the Head of the Health Service and Health Center, Posyandu officers and pregnant mothers and those with toddlers. Observations were made by looking directly at basic health services in Talawaan District. Secondary data were collected during health service activities and conducting electronic searches on Google Scholar and ResearchGate. The analysis was carried out based on the stages of reduction, interpretation, drawing conclusions and verification/triangulation. The research findings that public services in the field of basic health are accessible, acceptable, fair and safe for mothers and children but are not yet fully efficient and effective in their implementation. The concept found from this study is that the community needs basic health services for mothers and children that are easy to access and accept, fair to all levels of society and medically safe. While the principles of efficiency and effectiveness are more about the interests of the organization in the use of resources and achieving goals.

Dynamic and Stable R&D Strategies for Green Technology Based on Cooperative Differential Games

As the “carbon neutrality” strategy is implemented, green technology R&D, a core competitive strength for sustainable enterprise development, is an essential pathway for China’s transformation and green growth. Green technology, a breakthrough over traditional production technologies, involves lengthy and costly R&D processes with high risks typically beyond the reach of a single enterprise. It requires the heterogeneous functions of enterprises, universities, and research institutions to complement each other’s advantages and establish an “industry–university–research” collaborative innovation alliance for green technologies. This paper constructs differential game models for non-cooperative and cooperative green technology R&D involving a green manufacturer and a research institution. We solve and compare the profits for both parties under these scenarios, apply a time-consistent payment distribution mechanism to allocate cooperative profits, and ensure that neither party deviates from the optimal cooperative trajectory over a prolonged period, achieving Pareto improvement and enhancing social welfare.

Effect of supplementation with lutein, zeaxanthin, and omega-3 fatty acids on macular pigment and visual function in young adults with long-term use of digital devices: study protocol for a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study

BackgroundGrowing evidence emphasizes the importance of xanthophyll carotenoids and omega-3 fatty acids in eye health. However, the beneficial effects of such supplementation have not been thoroughly discussed among adults with high screen exposure. Current trial evidence on lutein bioavailability is contradictory, and the interactions of dietary intervention with host-related factors remain elusive. This study aims to investigate the comparative effectiveness of supplementation with macular xanthophylls and omega-3 fatty acids on macular pigment optical density (MPOD) and visual function, access the bioavailability of free lutein and lutein ester, and explore the complex interplay between genetic variations, intestinal microbiota, and the dietary intervention in Chinese adults with long-term exposure to digital devices.MethodsThe Lutein, Zeaxanthin, and Omega-3 (LZO) clinical trial is a 24-week multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 600 participants recruited from research centers, universities, and communities. Individuals are eligible to participate if they are aged over 18 years and use digital devices for over 8 h daily in the last 2 years, and will be randomized to six arms. A total of three visits will be scheduled at baseline, 12 and 24 weeks. The primary outcome is the change in MPOD over the 24-week intervention. The secondary outcomes are changes in visual function (visual acuity, best-corrected visual acuity, contrast and glare sensitivity, critical flicker fusion, reaction time, visuognosis persistence, symptoms and signs of dry eye, retinal thickness, and optical quality), and changes in serum lutein and zeaxanthin concentrations, and erythrocyte membrane omega-3 fatty acids. Genetic variations will be determined using genome-wide genotyping at baseline. 16S rRNA gene sequencing will be utilized to assess microbiome compositional changes before and after intervention.DiscussionThe trial is anticipated to establish early interventions to prevent photochemical ocular damage and delay the onset of vision impairment in young adults with long-term repeated exposure to screen-based electronic devices, and provide valuable insights for the development of precision nutrition strategies for maintaining eye health.Clinical trial registrationwww.clinicaltrials.in.th, Identifier, TCTR20220904002.

Training for transformation: examining food systems courses at US land-grant universities

Higher education institutions can play an essential role in preparing students to participate in movements for just and sustainable food systems change. For the past two decades, many United States land-grant universities (LGUs) have developed food systems education (FSE) courses. This study examined the extent to which FSE courses employ four capacities deemed crucial by the FSE literature: multidimensional approaches, interdisciplinarity, centering equity, and training students to take action in food systems. The syllabi of 171 undergraduate courses at 20 LGUs were obtained by contacting instructors, and their course descriptions and learning outcomes were analyzed. This subset of LGUs were identified from the membership list of the Menus of Change University Research Collaborative (MCURC), a nationwide network of colleges using campus dining halls and classrooms as living laboratories for food systems change. Most course descriptions and learning outcomes exhibited multidimensional approaches and interdisciplinarity. However, many failed to incorporate teaching content and practices that help students critically examine equity and social justice issues in food systems, or engage in transformative change. LGUs have both the resources and urgent responsibility to empower students to be part of movements to transform unjust, unsustainable food systems. The findings of this study, and an accompanying open-access syllabus website, aim to accelerate the development of FSE curricula that prepare students to change food systems.

Basic or applied research in university–industry collaborations? An analysis of research orientations in knowledge creation partnerships

AbstractIn a knowledge‐based economy, university–industry collaborations play a pivotal role in driving innovation and economic growth. This study investigates the research orientations of these collaborations, focusing on the balance between basic and applied research. Using data from 631 collaborative projects funded by the French Cifre PhD programme, we find that most projects emphasize basic research (61%), contradicting the common expectation that industry‐led partnerships primarily focus on applied research. Importantly, our analysis reveals that this preference for basic research is not contingent on traditional contextual factors such as scientific discipline, company size or university type. These findings challenge established assumptions in the literature and suggest that even in industry‐sponsored research, fundamental inquiry is critical in supporting long‐term innovation strategies. This paper contributes to the understanding of research orientations in university–industry collaborations and offers practical suggestions for enhancing these partnerships and informing research policy. Additionally, we outline a research agenda for further exploration of the factors influencing research orientations, the impact of early‐stage industry engagement and the role of policies in shaping collaboration outcomes.

The costs of open access publication

This article explores the financial dynamics of open access (OA) publication in Catalan universities by combining four data sources: publication data coupled with article processing charge (APC) estimates; information on journal subscriptions, transformative agreements and APC payments made by universities; acknowledgements of APC funding sources in OA scholarly outputs; and a survey of authors. The findings reveal a consistent increase in OA publication across Catalan universities, with 60% of the articles indexed in the Web of Science being published in either gold or hybrid OA in 2022. In parallel, investment in the research publishing system shows an upward trend. Resources allocated to journal subscription licenses have been redirected towards transformative agreements, leading to a rise in hybrid OA publications. Additional budget allocations have been made to accommodate APCs for gold OA journals. Authors employ varied funding sources for gold and hybrid OA, with university funding programmes and research grants commonly facilitating gold OA, while transformative agreements often support hybrid OA. Authors associated with Catalan universities frequently benefit from funding schemes and transformative agreements that are accessible to their coauthors. However, survey responses underscore the multifaceted nature of researchers’ financial support, including personal assets and waivers. Authors express frustration with the evolving OA landscape, particularly concerning the exorbitant publication fees. Nevertheless, the allure of high-impact journals and expedited peer review processes continues to incentivize authors towards gold OA. Researchers voice concerns regarding the lack of equitable funding programmes and potential conflicts of interest within gold OA models, which signals the risk of compromising peer review integrity to prioritize profits. This study underscores the need for further research to deepen our understanding of scholarly publishing expenditure and inform strategies for fostering a sustainable, equitable OA ecosystem.

Big Research Data Management Needs of Researchers at a Research- Intensive University - A Qualitative Study

Big Research Data Management (BRDM) infrastructure is a complex socio-technical system. The design and provision of effective BRDM services at research universities require a multipronged examination of individual, social, technical, and larger contextual (i.e., campus, state, and national context) aspects of the BRDM infrastructure needs and uses of their users. Although there is a significant body of literature on BRD already, an in-depth, theory-driven examination of researchers’ needs for BRDM services on university campuses and the challenges and hurdles they face in using and managing BRD is lacking. Furthermore, there is a dearth of research on university administrators’ motivation for providing BRD services on their campuses and the hurdles and barriers they face in providing those services.This study aims to contribute to the literature by investigating the BRD-related needs of researchers from different fields and the barriers and challenges to designing and providing such support at a research university. The ongoing Health Data Science Initiative (HDSI) of Florida State University and user interviews are used as the data sources of this study. The study is guided by activity theory to investigate the complex structure of activities and factors that make BRDM infrastructure successful on university campuses.When completed, the study will inform the design of BRDM infrastructure and services on university campuses by providing an evidence base for the perspectives and needs of BRD creators, users, curators, and policymakers. In particular, by understanding the BRDM requirements of researchers, university administrators can provide effective and user-centered BRDM solutions to them.