Analysis of conductive olfactory dysfunction using computational fluid dynamics

Conductive olfactory dysfunction (COD) is caused by an obstruction in the nasal cavity and is characterized by changeable olfaction. COD can occur even when the olfactory cleft is anatomically normal, and therefore, the cause in these cases remains unclear. Herein, we used computational fluid dynamics to examine olfactory cleft airflow with a retrospective cohort study utilizing the cone beam computed tomography scan data of COD patients. By measuring nasal–nasopharynx pressure at maximum flow, we established a cut-off value at which nasal breathing can be differentiated from combined mouth breathing in COD patients. We found that increased nasal resistance led to mouth breathing and that the velocity and flow rate in the olfactory cleft at maximum flow were significantly reduced in COD patients with nasal breathing only compared to healthy olfactory subjects. In addition, we performed a detailed analysis of common morphological abnormalities associated with concha bullosa. Our study provides novel insights into the causes of COD, and therefore, it has important implications for surgical planning of COD, sleep apnea research, assessment of adenoid hyperplasia in children, and sports respiratory physiology.

Towards more inclusive metrics and open science to measure research assessment in Earth and natural sciences

Science's success and effect measures are built on a system that prioritizes citations and impact factors. These measurements are inaccurate and biased against already under-represented groups, and they fail to convey the range of individuals' significant scientific contributions, especially open science. We argue for a transition in this out-of-date value system that promotes science by promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion. To achieve systemic change, it will necessitate a concerted effort led by academic leaders and administrators.

The use of bibliometrics in assessments of social scientists

The paper is focused on practical advice for the use of bibliometrics in research assessment in the social sciences. Guidelines are presented from three official sources of advice with a particular focus on individual-level assessments of applications for positions, promotions, and external funding. General problems with applying bibliometrics in evaluations of the social sciences are also discussed, as well as the specific problems with using the Journal Impact Factor and the H-Index. The conclusion is not that bibliometrics should be avoided in research assessment of social scientists. Used with care and competence, bibliometrics can be a valuable extra source of information, but not replace judgement in research evaluation.

There is more than what meets the eye: university preparation for the socio-economic impact requirement in research assessment exercise 2020 in Hong Kong

PurposeThis paper aims to examine how Hong Kong universities have responded to a newly included assessment element of socio-economic impact in a government-implemented research evaluation system – Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) 2020 – within the context of tightening audits and forceful knowledge economy objectives.Design/methodology/approachThis paper reports an institutional case study of the institutional-level response to the RAE 2020 impact requirement at a top-ranked comprehensive university in Hong Kong. A qualitative inquiry approach was adopted. The data sources mainly include university documents related to the RAE 2020 socio-economic impact policy, interview data with nine RAE-eligible academics at the case university, documents on the RAE exercises issued by the University Grants Committee (UGC) and field notes taken during the RAE information sessions.FindingsThe institutionalisation process of the RAE socio-economic impact agenda could be considered as establishing an indicator-oriented reward and recognition regime for knowledge transfer and knowledge exchange (KT/KE). Overall, two major institutional strategies were identified in operating the RAE 2020 impact agenda at the case university: (1) launching various policy initiatives: driven by the RAE-defined socio-economic impact; (2) incorporating socio-economic impact into faculty evaluation: premised upon the 16 KT performance indicators laid down by the UGC.Originality/valueThis article adds to the theoretical debate on the local reproduction of the global in studies of neoliberalism in higher education by describing a Hong Kong case study, supported by empirical data, of an actual university's responses to the newly included impact requirement in RAE 2020. More specifically, this study reveals that (1) the policy for socio-economic impact might be designed in a neutral or even benevolent manner, but has taken on a neoliberal and managerial dimension in its actual implementation; and (2) the neoliberal discourse underpinning the university's operation can be accounted for and explicated by the local factors embedded in the specific academic environment.

Implementation of Simple Additive Weighting Method in Evaluating Employee Performance for Job Promotion Recommendations

The implementation of decision support system tools in providing decision support for management is absolutely necessary. In its application, this aims to make the decision effective so that the decisions produced can be objective. This research discusses employee performance appraisal by implementing a decision support system. Many methods of decision support systems that can be used to rank, but in this study, the authors use the ranking method known as Simple Additive Weighting (SAW). The SAW method works by summing the weighted attributes that are interrelated. This method is quite simple and is able to provide the right decisions for employees who have the best performance to be recommended in job promotions. In this research, assessment attributes are used, namely education, experience, expertise, collaboration, work quality, and discipline. The final results show that employees on behalf of Ferdinal have the highest value with a value of 0.850.

Pedagogical framework for poly multicultural education of foreign language students seeking a degree in teaching

The research aims to explore and establish the ways of creating pedagogical framework for (i) popularizing the idea of poly-/multiculturalism, and (ii) forming relevant students' skills and abilities in foreign language instruction; to determine the extent to which the engaging mentoring teacher in the educating role may influence their poly-/multicultural competence. To this end, poly-/multicultural competence is seen prerequisite of a foreign language teacher's professional competence. Experiment is the main method of the research. Assessment of the experiment effectiveness was carried out with the involvement of surveys/questionnaires, conducted in stages, along with observation as a method applied. The obtained data confirmed the key research hypothesis: the pedagogical framework for the formation of poly-/ multicultural competence with students seeking their bachelor’s degree to become teachers of a foreign language connects with mastering two or more foreign languages while intensifying the poly-/multicultural component of education. The main findings result in the contemporary need for formation of a FL teacher’s poly-/multicultural competence regarded as the improvement in foreign language proficiency, basic communication skills in a poly-/multiethnic environment, following the proactive positioning of such teacher.

استخدام التخطيط و البحوث العلمية في المؤسسات الإعلامية : دراسة وصفية تحليلية على عينة من المؤسسات الإعلامية الاتحادية بولاية الخرطوم في الفترة من أول يناير 2009م إلى 31 ديسمبر 2010م

استخدام التخطيط و البحوث العلمية في المؤسسات الإعلامية : دراسة وصفية تحليلية على عينة من المؤسسات الإعلامية الاتحادية بولاية الخرطوم في الفترة من أول يناير 2009م إلى 31 ديسمبر 2010م The study deals with the use of planning scientific research in some information institutes at Khartoum state in the period 2009- 2010. The study concentrated on the use of planning in this institutes and do the information instates use the scientific concept of planning , in adition to the institutes information how to use the planning to collect information , data on the scientific research. For their more the difficulties which face the planning and scientific research in the information in states. The study summarizes that planning used by these institution sometimes is bsed on scientific research. These institutions do not use planning continuously, with planner in their general policies, and the use of scientific in bases in their researches one reflected. The study suggested the necessity of using planning in information institution through scientific principles. The researches implemented by the information institution must present solution the problems and difficulties they faced , and which are assist and facilitate in using the planning process , in addition to the existence of scientific research assessment and valuation for researches of communication used by these information institution

SDGs: A Responsible Research Assessment Tool toward Impactful Business Research

An alternative research assessment (RA) tool was constructed to assess the relatedness of published business school research to the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The RA tool was created using Leximancer™, an on-line cloud-based text analytic software tool, that identified core themes within the SDG framework. Eight (8) core themes found to define the ‘spirit of the SDGs’: Sustainable Development, Governance, Vulnerable Populations, Water, Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Food Security, Restoration, and Public Health. These themes were compared to the core themes found in the content of 4576 academic articles, published in 2019, in journals that comprise the Financial Times (FT) 50 list. Their relatedness to the SDGs was assessed. Overall, 10.6% of the themes found in the FT50 journal articles had an explicit relationship to the SDG themes while 24.5% were implied. Using themes generated from machine learning (ML), augmented by researcher judgement (to account for synonyms, similar concepts, and discipline specific examples), improved the robustness of the relationships found between the SDG framework and the published articles. Although there are compelling reasons for business schools to focus research on advancing the SDGs, this study and others highlight that there is much opportunity for improvement. Recommendations are made to better align academic research with the SDGs, influencing how business school faculty and their schools prioritize research and its role in the world.

The role of contextual factors on participation in the life area of work and employment after rehabilitation: A qualitative study on the views of persons with chronic pain

BACKGROUND: A deeper understanding of how contextual factors affect the ability to participate in the life area of work and employment despite chronic musculoskeletal pain is needed as a basis for interprofessional rehabilitation programs. OBJECTIVE: To investigate which contextual factors influence rehabilitation program clients’ ability to participate in the life area of work and employment, and how they do this. METHODS: Nested case study using a realist evaluation framework of interprofessional interventions. Qualitative content analysis of problem-centered interviews to identify influential context-mechanism-outcome configurations. RESULTS: We identified several important context-mechanism-outcome configurations. In the pre-interventional phase, socioeconomic and environmental factors affected two mechanisms, “exhaustion” and “discrimination”. In the intra-interventional phase, the social skills of health professionals and opportunities for discussion with peers affected the ability of program participants to engage with program content. In the post-intervention phase, volitional competences of the social system affected the sustainable application of program content in everyday life. CONCLUSION: The identified context-mechanism-outcome configurations shows that the ability to participate in the life area of work is interdependent with the ability to participate in other areas of life. In practice and research, assessment and treatment should be carried out based on this understanding.

The PROactive Cohort Study: Rationale, Design, and Study Procedures

Children with a chronic condition face more obstacles than their healthy peers, which may impact their physical, social-emotional, and cognitive development. The PROactive cohort study identifies children with a chronic disease at high risk of debilitating fatigue, decreased daily life participation and psychosocial problems, as well as children who are resilient and thrive despite the challenges of growing up with a chronic condition. Both groups will teach us how we can best support children, adolescents and parents to adapt to and manage a disease, as well as tailor interventions to their specific needs. This cohort follows a continuous longitudinal design. It is based at the Wilhelmina Children's Hospital (WKZ) in the Netherlands and has been running since December 2016. Children with a chronic condition (e.g. cystic fibrosis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, chronic kidney disease, or congenital heart disease) as well children with medically unexplained fatigue or pain in a broad age range (2-18 years) are included, as well as their parent(s). Data are collected from parents (of children between 2-18 years) and children (8-18 years), as well as data from their electronic health record (EHR). Primary outcome measures are fatigue, daily life participation, and psychosocial well-being, all assessed via patient- and proxy-reported outcome measures. Generic biological/lifestyle, psychological, and social factors were assessed using clinical assessment tools and questionnaires. In the PROactive cohort study the research assessment is an integrated part of clinical care. Children are included when they visit the outpatient clinic and are followed up annually.