Utility Of Research Research Articles

Social Sciences in the Arab World Special Collection: Introduction

In the Middle East and North Africa, where most states have their origins in colonial regimes that supplied research for their own imperial purposes, the utility of university-based social research in informing public policy has never been uncontested. Continuing ambiguity about the status of the region and of its constituent units in global affairs both reflects and shapes the conduct of social science research. The absence of a widespread notion of the public, the public interest, or the public good as a reference for governments—the absence, in other words, of citizenship rights and democratic accountability—contributes to the confusion about the audience for the research that is conducted. This collection showcases novel interpretations and approaches that transcend persistent challenges to social research in the Middle East and North Africa

CAGI, the Critical Assessment of Genome Interpretation, establishes progress and prospects for computational genetic variant interpretation methods

BackgroundThe Critical Assessment of Genome Interpretation (CAGI) aims to advance the state-of-the-art for computational prediction of genetic variant impact, particularly where relevant to disease. The five complete editions of the CAGI community experiment comprised 50 challenges, in which participants made blind predictions of phenotypes from genetic data, and these were evaluated by independent assessors.ResultsPerformance was particularly strong for clinical pathogenic variants, including some difficult-to-diagnose cases, and extends to interpretation of cancer-related variants. Missense variant interpretation methods were able to estimate biochemical effects with increasing accuracy. Assessment of methods for regulatory variants and complex trait disease risk was less definitive and indicates performance potentially suitable for auxiliary use in the clinic.ConclusionsResults show that while current methods are imperfect, they have major utility for research and clinical applications. Emerging methods and increasingly large, robust datasets for training and assessment promise further progress ahead.

Interaction Assessment of a Social-Care Robot in Day center Patients with Mild to Moderate Cognitive Impairment: A Pilot Study

As dementia-induced impairments of daily functioning escalate, novel cognitive stimulation techniques utilizing technological advances, like social robots, have surfaced. This study examines the interaction level of the EBO social-care robot with day center patients in Cáceres, Extremadura, Spain. The study uses systematic video analysis as a method of interaction assessment. This observational pilot study was performed on patients above 65 with mild to moderate cognitive impairment (Minimental State Examination ≥\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\ge $$\\end{document} 21) receiving cognitive therapy at the AZTIDE social and health center. Two individualized 10–15 min sessions, replicating the Wizard of Oz technique, were conducted per participant, with the human operator’s commands being unnoticeably executed by the EBO robot. Of the six participants involved, all maintained complete eye contact with the robot, with 83.3%\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\%$$\\end{document} of the interactions recording maximum attention. Participants felt comfortable and calm, rating conversational factors such as attentiveness and naturalness as ’good’ or ‘excellent’. The high interaction level with the EBO robot suggests it as a promising tool for cognitive stimulation in patients with mild to moderate cognitive impairment. The systematic video evaluation also appears effective in assessing user–robot interaction, thus underscoring its potential utility in future social robotics research.

Speech and communication classification of children with cerebral palsy: Novice rater agreement and clinical utility

Purpose To examine novice inter-rater agreement and clinical utility perspectives for speech and communication classification of children with cerebral palsy (CP). Method Twenty-one clinicians (speech-language pathologists [SLPs] n = 11; physiotherapists [PTs] n = 5; occupational therapists [OTs] n = 5) novice to the Viking Speech Scale (VSS), Functional Communication Classification System (FCCS), and Communication Function Classification System (CFCS) rated eight unfamiliar children with CP (8–16 years) following classification orientation. Inter-rater agreement was examined between (a) novices, (b) novice SLPs vs. PTs and OTs, and (c) novice vs. expert (kappa statistics). Utility perceptions were scored regarding classification terminology, ease of use, assistive decision-making resources, and construct validity and were analysed using Kruskal–Wallis H-tests. Result Rating agreement between novices was substantial (VSS, k = 0.72, 95% CI [0.53–0.92]) to moderate (FCCS, k = 0.44, 95% CI [0.23–0.65]; CFCS, k = 0.45, 95% CI [0.18–0.71]), and almost perfect between novice and expert ratings (VSS, kw = 0.89, 95% CI [0.86–0.92]; FCCS, kw = 0.89, 95% CI [0.86–0.92]; CFCS, kw = 0.86, 95% CI [0.82–0.91]). Statistically significant differences, presented highest to lowest, were found for clinical utility: terminology (VSS, FCCS, CFCS; p = 0.02), assistive decision-making resources (FCCS, VSS, CFCS; p = 0.009), and construct validity (FCCS, CFCS, VSS; p < 0.001). Conclusion Novice raters achieved substantial agreement for speech classification, supporting utilisation in clinical, research, and CP register activities. Orientation to communication classification constructs, content, and instructions is recommended for novice raters.

Artificial Intelligence Versus Human Focus Group Rating of Facial Attractiveness.

Background: Many open-access artificial intelligence (AI)-based websites that rate facial attractiveness are available, but none have been compared with human focus group outcomes. Objective: To compare human and AI-based websites scoring of facial attractiveness of adult female white faces. Methods: A 40-photograph database of AI-generated adult, white, female, expressionless, and frontal-view facial images were scored by otolaryngology residents and five AI-based facial rating websites: prettyscale.com, attractivenesstest.com, face-score.com/en, hotchat3000.com, and beautyscoretest.com. Sample t-test and bivariate correlation were performed for statistical analyses. Results: The focus group of 24 otolaryngology residents consisted of 62.5% males and 58.3% white participants. There was a strong positive correlation between average human score and average AI score for each photo (Pearson's correlation 0.84, p < 0.01). The average human raters' scores were significantly lower than the average AI scores (5.0 ± 1.8 vs. 6.9 ± 0.9, p < 0.01). Thirty images (75.0%) had statistically higher scores from the AI websites versus the focus group. On correlation analysis, all AI-based websites individually had scores that positively correlate with the human scores (all p < 0.05). Conclusion: AI-based websites and human focus-group scoring of facial attractiveness of adult white female faces were significantly correlated with the AI ratings biased toward higher values, encouraging their cautious utilization in future research.

Mapping doctoral dissertations in an educational leadership programme: A longitudinal examination of knowledge construction in the last two decades

AbstractThis paper offers a meta‐analysis scoping study of doctoral dissertations completed in the last 20 years in one doctoral programme of Educational Leadership (EL) at a higher education institution in Texas, aiming at identifying topical foci, epistemology, methodology and main themes. Therefore, we systematically collected, documented, securitised and analysed completed dissertations following the steps identified by PRISMA guidelines. The review aimed to answer the following four questions: (1) What are the general trends of doctoral dissertations in the studied programme? (2) What is the topical foci of these dissertations? (3) What are the prevailing epistemological constructs and genres informing this work? (4) What are the gaps in this research focus within the scope of educational leadership and policy? Based on our analysis, four main key themes were identified: educational leadership and policy, public education, equity and social justice, and race and ethnicity. Further implications, utility of research and future dissertations in educational leadership in this programme and other similar programmes are fully discussed.

Trismus in head and neck cancer: translation and validation of the Chinese version of the Gothenburg Trismus Questionnaire-2 (C-GTQ-2).

Trismus, marked by restricted mouth opening, significantly affects patients with temporomandibular disorder (TMD) and head and neck cancer (HNC). Despite its prevalence, specialized questionnaires for trismus assessment are scarce. This study aims to fill this gap by translating and validating the Gothenburg Trismus Questionnaire version 2 (GTQ-2) into Chinese (C-GTQ-2), enhancing the evaluation of trismus in HNC and TMD patients. The study involved 78 HNC patients, 75 TMD patients, and a control group of 150 individuals without trismus symptoms. Participants were asked to complete the C-GTQ-2 and other health-related quality of life (HRQL) instruments. A subset of 30 individuals retook the questionnaire within two weeks to assess test-retest reliability. The C-GTQ-2 demonstrated remarkable reliability, with Cronbach's alpha values exceeding 0.70 in three of the four domains, indicating high internal consistency. The instrument also showcased high intra-class correlations in the test-retest, affirming its reliability. Furthermore, it exhibited strong convergent validity, aligning well with other HRQL instruments, and effectively discriminated between patients with and without trismus, establishing its discriminant validity. The C-GTQ-2 emerges as a valid and reliable tool for assessing trismus in HNC and TMD patients, promising to significantly enhance both clinical and research approaches to managing trismus-related complications in the Chinese-speaking demographic. C-GTQ-2 proves effective for trismus assessment in head and neck cancer and temporomandibular disorder patients, offering enhanced clinical and research utility.

RESEARCH AND EXTENSION PARTICIPATION OF PHYSICAL THERAPY FACULTY MEMBERS IN THE PRESENCE OF INTRINSIC-EXTRINSIC MOTIVATORS AND RELATED CRITERIA IN PERFORMANCE APPRAISALS

Introduction: The three thrusts of the Commission on Higher Education revolve around instruction, research, and extension. Performance appraisals (PA) have been utilized in various forms in different organizations, with the expected outcome of excellent employee performance. However, despite its utilization in universities, research and extension-related criteria seem to be limited in the appraisals. The study aimed to determine the following: (1) the likelihood of research and extension participation if related criteria are included in the PAs of physical therapy faculty members; (2) the relationship between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation and research or extension participation; (3) factors that are implemented or not by HEIs to enhance faculty engagement. Methods: A mixed method design was utilized, with dominance of quantitative over qualitative data. Seventy-five full-time faculty members of Physical Therapy programs responded to the survey. Data were collected for six months using the Google Form online questionnaire. Spearman Rho and descriptive statistics were used to examine the results. Responses to open-ended questions were manually grouped into categories using thematic analysis. Results: The research showed that physical therapy faculty members are more likely to participate in research and extension activities if related criteria are included in the appraisals. Further, the study revealed a significant relationship between the intent to participate in research and extension-related activities and intrinsic motivation, but it did not indicate an association when correlated with extrinsic motivation. Professional development is a strong intrinsic motivator. Discussion: The inclusion of research and extension-related criteria in performance appraisals and consideration of intrinsic motivators must be considered by academic institutions to encourage faculty members to participate in research and extension activities. The author recommends maximizing the positive effects of performance appraisals by providing clear expectations to faculty members. Furthermore, intrinsic factors may serve as powerful motivators and, therefore, should be thought of to encourage participation. A strong, robust, well-supported policy centered on the organization’s vision, mission, and goals is necessary for successful implementation.

Bibliometric analysis of machine learning trends and hotspots in arthroplasty literature over 31 years

BackgroundArtificial intelligence has demonstrated utility in orthopedic research. Algorithmic models derived from machine learning have demonstrated adaptive learning with predictive application towards outcomes, leading to increased traction in the literature. This study aims to identify machine learning arthroplasty research trends and anticipate emerging key terms. MethodsPublished literature focused on machine learning in arthroplasty from 1992 to 2023 was selected through the Web of Science Core Collection of Clarivate Analytics. Following that, bibliometric indicators were attained and brought in to perform an additional examination using Bibliometrix and VOSviewer to identify historical and present patterns within the literature. ResultsA total of 235 documents were obtained through bibliometric sourcing based on machine learning applications within the arthroplasty literature. Thirty-four countries published articles on the topic, and the United States was demonstrated to be the largest global contributor. Four hundred-five institutions internationally contributed articles, with Harvard Medical School and the University of California system as the most relevant institutes, with 75 and 44 articles produced, respectively. Kwon YM was the most productive author, while Haeberle HS and Ramkumar PN were the most impactful based on h-index. The Thematic map and Co-occurrence visualization helped identify both major and niche themes present in the scientific databases. ConclusionsMachine learning in arthroplasty research continues to gain traction with a growing annual production rate and contributions from international authors and institutions. Institutions and authors based in the United States are the leading contributors to machine learning applications within arthroplasty research. This research discerns trends that have occurred, are presently ongoing, and are emerging within this field, aiming to inform future hotspot development.

Awareness of ChatGPT Among Medical Students and Trainee/Residents

Objectives: This study aims to assess the awareness of ChatGPT among medical students and postgraduate trainees.Study Design: Descriptive cross-sectional study Place and duration of study: Study was conducted for a period of three months from May to July 2023 at BMY Health. Methodology: Our study targeted 370 medical students and postgraduate trainees from reputable institutions across Punjab using a convenient sampling technique. The data collection tool was a structured online questionnaire that assessed the participant'sfamiliarity with ChatGPT, perceived usefulness, and intentions to use it in the future. Results: Most of the respondents (78%) were from the age group 20-30yr. Among the respondents 54.7% (204) were females. Study reveals that males are more active users (27.2% using once weekly) as compared to females (19.2% using once weekly). 41.5% (39) of male MBBS students reported having full knowledge of ChatGPT compared to 30% (18) of female MBBS students. 28.6% (16) of male postgraduate trainees said they have full knowledge of ChatGPT compared to 10.3% (7) of female postgraduate trainees. 31.6% (6) of male BDS students have full knowledge of ChatGPT as compared to 9.1% (7) of female BDS students. Conclusion: Medical students and trainees have moderate awareness of ChatGPT but positively perceive its utility in clinical decision-making, research, and education.

Bricolage – a systematic review, conceptualization, and research agenda

ABSTRACT The practice of bricolage, predominantly regarded as a strategy for innovation and overcoming constraints in resource-scarce environments, has garnered increased scholarly attention in recent years. This paper aims to consolidate the fragmented field by conducting a literature review of bricolage-focused research, offering an integrated perspective based on prior contributions. This serves to conceptualize and advance theory building on the subject, while simultaneously pinpointing gaps in the literature and proposing a roadmap for future research. A systematic literature review of 126 articles was carried out, utilizing the Web of Science as the primary data source. The focus was on clarifying the concept and its subtypes and examining common themes in existing literature to establish a cohesive conceptualization of bricolage. The primary finding is the conceptualization of a multi-level framework encompassing the who-when-how-what dimensions of bricolage, which can serve as a foundation for future research. Furthermore, we consolidate and present bricolage subtypes while questioning their utility in research and practice. Additionally, we analyse research trends over time and summarize the ongoing practical and conceptual discourse aimed at distinguishing bricolage from related, overlapping concepts. Finally, we provide recommendations for future research, facilitating the continued growth of the bricolage field in a harmonious manner.

Therapeutic advances in atrial fibrillation based on animal models.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most prevalent sustained cardiac arrhythmia among humans, with its incidence increasing significantly with age. Despite the high frequency of AF in clinical practice, its etiology and management remain elusive. To develop effective treatment strategies, it is imperative to comprehend the underlying mechanisms of AF; therefore, the establishment of animal models of AF is vital to explore its pathogenesis. While spontaneous AF is rare in most animal species, several large animal models, particularly those of pigs, dogs, and horses, have proven as invaluable in recent years in advancing our knowledge of AF pathogenesis and developing novel therapeutic options. This review aims to provide a comprehensive discussion of various animal models of AF, with an emphasis on the unique features of each model and its utility in AF research and treatment. The data summarized in this review provide valuable insights into the mechanisms of AF and can be used to evaluate the efficacy and safety of novel therapeutic interventions.

Exploring allelochemicals for cleaner and sustainable agriculture: A bibliometric review on research trends, challenges and future prospective.

Allelopathic research is not getting the intended consideration because of the complexities involved in their isolation, identification, understanding their modes of action, interactions with other environmental factors, impacts on non-target organisms and exploration of their utility in diverse fields. Additionally, their variability and trace availability have presented hurdles in establishing future research utilities and their field applications. Exploring the historical context of allelopathic research is essential for obtaining a more profound understanding of the progression in this research domain and to identify the research gaps and potential future prospectives. Therefore, the current bibliometric review aims to examine the research advancements, trends, hotspots, research gaps and to identify future prospectives in allelopathic research. A Scopus database search was carried out to collect the bibliometric data using the combination of multiple search strings in advance search option. The outcomes of this study revealed a total of 5427 published articles, with an average of 19.12 citations per article. Despite the increasing trend in research and publications on allelopathy/allelochemicals over the last decade, the majority of allelopathic research remains focused on investigating novel allelochemicals and their potential for weed management. Other crucial considerations like their phytotoxicity and ecotoxicity, selectivity for crop growth, interactions with herbicides and their derivatives, biochemical signalling, identification of germplasm in allelopathic plants, inducing allelopathic trait into enhanced cultivars, their ultimate fate in the open environment are sparsely investigated. It is anticipated that this review will draw greater attention to some overlooked domains within allelopathic research.

Hubungan Luas Lahan Dan Tingkat Pendidikan Dengan Peningkatan Pendapatan Usahatani Padi Di Desa Topore Kecamatan Papalang

This research intent for example to : 1) Knowing relationship among farm extent with paddy farming revenue enhancement, and 2) Knowing relationship among level education with paddy farming revenue enhancement. Meanwhile this research utility is 1) As material as information for farmer deeping to bring off paddy farming, 2) Can be consideration divide policy take in arrange program that concern farmer revenue enhancement effort, and 3) Literature material for further researcher.This research was performed at Topore Village Papalang district Mamuju Regency, on august until September 2017. Topore silvan elect as region of research at goes upon on that judgment Topore Village constitutes one of village which have acreage of rice filed extent that enough extensive. Population in observational is all paddy farmer that gets location at Silvan Topore Papalang district Mamuju Regency. Meanwhile sample in observational it is chosen at Simple Random Sampling with farmer amount as much 432 person taken by respondents as big as 10 percents which is as much 43 respondents. Result observationaling to point out that : Far ranging ala ascendant farm signifikan to paddy farming revenue enhancement which is as big as 84,7 percents, meanwhile Zoom education not signifikan's ala ascendant to paddy farming revenue enhancement which is just as big as 0,7 percents.

Assessment of the Application Status of Transcutaneous/Percutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Musculoskeletal Pain: A Scoping Review for Utilization in Korean Medicine and Subsequent Research

Assessment of the Application Status of Transcutaneous/Percutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Musculoskeletal Pain: A Scoping Review for Utilization in Korean Medicine and Subsequent Research

Researching Playfully? Assessing the Applicability of LEGO® Serious Play® for Researching Vulnerable Groups

Although in recent years plenty of work was published on LEGO® Serious Play®, there are only a manageable number of publications about its applicability in a research context. Undoubtedly, LEGO® Serious Play® can be a methodological enrichment particularly for participatory research with people in vulnerable conditions. However, its utilization in research should always be well reflected and adapted to the specific research context. Based on experiences gained in the H2020 project “MIMY – EMpowerment through liquid integration of Migrant Youth in vulnerable conditions”, the following article depicts the potentials and limitations of LEGO® Serious Play® and critically assesses its value for research purposes.

Rethinking trauma-related psychopathology in the Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology (HiTOP).

Research on trauma exposure and its consequences has made tremendous progress in elucidating the role of traumatic life events in the development and maintenance of psychopathology as well as in evaluating interventions aimed at addressing the personal and public burden of trauma-related psychopathology. However, there is growing concern that problems with predominant definitions of posttraumatic syndrome (e.g., content coverage and scope, within-category heterogeneity, excessive diagnostic comorbidity) limit further efforts to fully conceptualize trauma-related psychopathology and deliver appropriate, personalized interventions. As demonstrated by an impressive body of research over the past several years, the Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology (HiTOP) presents a compelling alternative to traditional nosologies in terms of empirically based characterizations of psychopathology phenotypes, with evidence of strong utility for research and clinical applications. However, HiTOP's primary focus on descriptive psychopathology has resulted in an unacceptable gap regarding the conceptualization of trauma-related psychopathology from a dimensional, transdiagnostic perspective. We see an important opportunity to clarify what HiTOP can offer the field of traumatic stress research and articulate a future for trauma-related psychopathology within HiTOP. We argue for disaggregating psychopathology symptoms from their purported causes and, instead, developing a detailed taxonomy of traumatic events alongside an ever-evolving HiTOP model. Doing so will help identify empirically based phenotypes of trauma-related psychopathology that (a) go beyond the traditional PTSD criterion sets and (b) allow for the possibility that different features of traumatic experiences (e.g., type, duration, subjective meaning) may be associated with different symptom sequelae across different psychopathology spectra.

The Utility of the Validated Intraoperative Bleeding Scale in Thoracolumbar Spine Surgery: A Single-Center Prospective Study.

Prospective, single-center study. To evaluate the clinical relevance of the validated intraoperative bleeding severity scale (VIBe) in thoracolumbar spine surgery. Adult patients aged 18 through 88 undergoing elective decompression, instrumentation, and fusion of the thoracolumbar spine were prospectively enrolled after informed consent was provided and written consent was obtained. Validated intraoperative bleeding severity scores were recorded intraoperatively. Univariate analysis consisted of Student T-tests, Pearson's χ2 Tests, Fisher's Exact Tests, linear regression, and binary logistic regression. Multivariable regression was conducted to adjust for baseline characteristics and potential confounding variables. A total of N = 121 patients were enrolled and included in the analysis. After adjusting for confounders, VIBe scores were correlated with an increased likelihood of intraoperative blood transfusion (β = 2.46, P = .012), postoperative blood transfusion (β = 2.36, P = .015), any transfusion (β = 2.49, P < .001), total transfusion volume (β = 180.8, P = .020), and estimated blood loss (EBL) (β = 409, P < .001). Validated intraoperative bleeding severity scores had no significant association with length of hospital stay, 30-day readmission, 30-day reoperation, 30-day emergency department visit, change in pre- to post-op hemoglobin and hematocrit, total drain output, or length of surgery. The VIBe scale is associated with perioperative transfusion rates and EBL in patients undergoing thoracolumbar spine surgery. Overall, the VIBe scale has clinically relevant meaning in spine surgery, and shows potential utility in clinical research. Level II.

Relationship of self-reported pica and avoidant restrictive food intake disorder symptomology with dimensions of impulsivity, perceived stress among Pakistani University students.

Pica and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder are two of the three new eating and feeding disorders introduced in the DSM-5, this inclusion has drawn attention to the immediate need for research into their prevalence, diagnostic assessment, underlying risk factors and optimal treatment. There are very few studies available that explored the predictors or causes of these eating disorders specifically in Pakistani context. The objectives of the current study include (a) to estimate the presence of pica and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder symptomology among young adults in Pakistan, (b) to examine the relationship between dimensions of impulsivity, stress and presence of pica and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder, (c) to explore the mediation role of stress. The sample consisted of 660 young adults with age range 18-25years, recruited through convenient sampling. The respondents were provided with a questionnaire comprising of an informed consent, a demographic information sheet and self-report measures including PARDI-AR-Q to assess symptomology of pica and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder, UPPS-P Impulsive Behaviour Scale to assess dimensions of impulsivity and Perceived Stress Scale to measure perceived stress. The findings show that 28 participants (4.2%) reported Pica symptomology, of which eleven participants indicated that they currently consume more than one non-food item. 19 respondents (2.8%) reported avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder symptomology. 13 respondents reported varying degrees of all three symptom clusters namely sensory based food avoidance, lack of interest in food, and fear of negative consequences of eating. Additionally, each of the dimensions of impulsivity was found to be positively correlated to the presence of pica and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder. Perceived stress was identified as a mediating factor between each of the dimensions of impulsivity and presence of pica and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder. Although current study focused on a particular age range, it has drawn attention to the necessity of screening and investigating other strata of Pakistani population for pica and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder. The clinical utility of the present research resided in the identification of factors associated with pica and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder, an information which can be used to tailor psychological interventions, modify existing ones, and inform the future research on evidence-based treatment.

Evaluating global vegetation products for application in heterogeneous forest-savanna landscapes

ABSTRACT While satellite-derived global vegetation structure products are powerful and easy to use, their utility for studying spatial patterns within heterogeneous landscapes such as forest-savanna mosaics has not been extensively evaluated. We explored the application of global vegetation structure products in heterogeneous landscapes by comparing them with Airborne Laser Scanning. Specifically, we assessed the accuracy and bias of two fractional cover products, MODIS Vegetation Continuous Fields (VCF) and Hansen Global Forest Change (GFC), and one global canopy height model, Global Forest Canopy Height Model (CHM), in comparison with the same variables derived from local ALS point clouds. We found that there were limitations to all three products. MODIS VCF was less accurate than its reported accuracy by at least 3%, and GFC was 10% less accurate than MODIS VCF. While Global CHM had a similar magnitude of error to its reported product accuracy, product agreement was much lower (R2 0.19 vs. R2 0.61). We also found that the context of the analysis is important when choosing whether to use one fractional product over the other. Global products should be applied with caution in heterogeneous landscapes. Increased training and validation from these landscapes could improve the performance of these products and their utility for landscape-scale ecological research.