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What happened next? A survey of review clients evaluating impacts of rapid reviews
No full textObjectives: End-user evaluation of the impact of evidence syntheses is critical to demonstrating value. This study presents results of a survey evaluating the impact of rapid reviews undertaken by two teams based in Melbourne, Australia, and Hamilton, Canada. Methods: Clients were invited to participate in a short written survey following delivery of a rapid review. Survey items encompassed reach, usefulness and format; interactions with the review teams; and overall satisfaction. Results: Twenty-five completed surveys from 53 invitations were received pertaining to 19 rapid reviews conducted between September 2021 and October 2023. Topics encompassed COVID-19, health and behavior change; reports were an average of 31 pages; and were delivered over an average of 62 days. Evaluation findings were positive, with high satisfaction with reports and service delivery; very high satisfaction with report structure and length; good evidence of reach (reports read by decision makers and cited in other documents); and evidence that the rapid reviews made contributions to strategic planning, policy and program funding decisions. Conclusion: Rapid reviews are making impactful contributions, alongside other inputs, to policy and practice. Further research is required to build this evaluation dataset; examine the balance between timeliness and methodological rigor in evidence synthesis; and explore models of delivery and capacity within and outside of government. It is also critical to promote implementation efforts to harness the full potential of rapid reviews and other evidence syntheses to impact the lives of citizens.</p
New directions for theories for why employees stay or leave
No full textWe critically review classic and contemporary theory and research on employee turnover and retention and frame a future research agenda that generates new directions for these theories. We first review first- and second-generation turnover models that shaped conventional understanding of why employees voluntarily quit, classifying reasons as representing perceived desirability of movement or ease of movement. We next review the more contemporary unfolding model and its derivatives (i.e., shocks research, leader-departure effect, turnover event theory) that upended traditional explanations of how and why employees quit. After reviewing classic and contemporary turnover models, we shift our focus to job embeddedness, which over the past 20-plus years has taught us a great deal about why employees stay. We synthesize original job embeddedness research before appraising its extensions and recent developments. We conclude with a discussion of how organizations can cultivate the "right"kind of staying.</p
What language should we use when talking about children with specific learning disorders? A study exploring the preference of australian parents, professionals and adults who have a specific learning disorder
No full textIn Australia, a broad range of terms are used when discussing children and young people with a specific learning disorder (SLD). However, little is known about how SLD-related terminology is perceived by adults with an SLD, parents of children with an SLD and the professionals who support them. The purpose of this study was to identify any SLD-related preferred terms and explore factors which may influence these preferences. Data were collected from 177 participants via an online survey which asked them to rate how much they liked each term from a provided list and why. Results showed that clear language preferences do exist amongst dyslexic adults, parents and professionals, with dyslexia/dysgraphia/dyscalculia, dyslexic/dysgraphic/dyscalculic, person with dyslexia/dysgraphia/ dyscalculia and challenges being the most liked terms whilst learning disability, learning disabled, impairment, deficit, weakness and person with a learning disability were amongst the least liked terms. A narrative synthesis revealed that participants' language preferences are largely dependent on the context and intent of communication, generating six key themes. This research offers clear implications on how society embraces strengths and diversity, including language use, and the impact this can have on individuals with SLDs.</p
Relational symmetries of disaster resilience explored through the Sendai Framework’s guiding principles
No full textThe Mid-Term Review of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030 (SFDRR) recognizes the “interconnections and interdependencies” of disaster resilience. Conceptual and empirical research suggests that the field currently lacks innovative methodologies to enhance associated policy and practice that actively harnesses these relational dimensions. To help address these gaps, we apply Paul Ricœur’s concept of being in the world (“Oneself as Another”) to explore what a relationally-focused understanding might offer for the operationalization of the SFDRR’s 13 Guiding Principles. Our article outlines discursive, concrete, and practical benefits when relational approaches are fostered, including: (1) addressing shortcomings of structuralist, instrumentalist, and rationalist approaches; and (2) achieving more cohesive, ethical, and meaningful disaster resilience outcomes. Our analysis also reveals the particular risks of continuing to focus on the structural organizing of the constituent elements of the SFDRR’s disaster resilience policy and practice instead of attending to relational dimensions and processes. These risks include limiting ourselves to an instrumentally-driven, disconnected discourse and narrative of responses to disaster that favor the Self gaining resilience “through” Another. Thus, the alternative we illustrate, and advocate for, is a relational style of building resilience through prioritizing a robust sense of Oneself “with” Another. It is through this sense of “with” that can enable a shift from asymmetrical to symmetrical forms of policy and practice for future disaster resilience.</p
Difference-in-differences with a misclassified treatment
No full textThis paper studies identification and estimation of the average treatment effect of a latent treated subpopulation in difference-in-difference designs when the observed treatment is differentially (or endogenously) mismeasured for the truth. Common examples include misreporting and mistargeting. We propose a two-step estimator that corrects for the empirically common phenomenon of one-sided misclassification in the treatment status. The solution uses a single exclusion restriction embedded in a partial observability probit to point identify the latent parameter. We demonstrate the method by revisiting two large-scale national programs in India: one where pension benefits are underreported and second where the program is mistargeted.</p
Integrating dance and language education:a creative response to social diversity and equity in and through a time of crisis
No full textThe ability to interact and communicate with people in international contexts is increasingly viewed as a vital social asset. Linked to the notion of social diversity and equity, the acquisition, learning, and maintenance of varied languages enhances people’s intercultural capability and is important in multicultural societies, like Australia. The arts can enhance students’ skills, learning, and appreciation of a second language but dance has received significantly less attention. In this article, we posed the question, how do stakeholders in one large community language school situated in suburban Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, understand the role that dance plays in the context of language acquisition, learning, and teaching? This qualitative single case study sought to understand the experiences of stakeholders including school leadership, students, parents, and teachers using semi-structured interviews. We identified three overarching themes: dance as supporting culture; dance as reinforcing language acquisition; and dance as nurturing learning. We offer insights into the inclusion of dance in community/heritage language programs. We assert that dance has the potential to be a powerful teaching and learning technique and that it has a place in programs for the learning and teaching of a second language
Blockchain for Smart Logistics:Enhancing Identity Security, Bidding Transparency and Goods Tracking
No full textLogistics Management Systems (LMS) are crucial to global supply chains, ensuring efficient planning, data analysis and control of various logistics management processes. However, traditional LMS face complex challenges in mitigating cyber threats and data breaches. Blockchain technology emerges as a revolutionary solution, equipping LMS with traceability, immutability, and anonymity. While previous solutions focus on blockchain's theoretical potential or its application to singular aspects of logistics such as goods tracking or auction facilitation, our proposed Decentralized Logistics Management System (DLMS) distinguishes itself in two ways: first, driven by practical insights, we investigate the concurrent challenges and the advantages of blockchain that can be integrated into industrial LMS; second, we design a blockchain-based Decentralized Logistic Management System (DLMS) that includes comprehensive functional modules, including identity authentication, fair bidding mechanisms, and goods tracking. Finally, we implement a prototype of our proposed system and deploy the prototype on the Ethereum testnet to evaluate the performance of the proposed architecture. The experimental findings demonstrate the efficiency of our system and its potential as an effective solution to the identified challenges.</p
DNA methylation biomarker analysis from low-survival-rate cancers based on genetic functional approaches
No full textIdentifying cancer biomarkers through DNA methylation analysis is an efficient approach toward the detection of aberrant changes in epigenetic regulation associated with early-stage cancer types. Among all cancer types, cancers with relatively low five-year survival rates and high incidence rates were pancreatic (10%), esophageal (20%), liver (20%), lung (21%), and brain (27%) cancers. This study integrated genome-wide DNA methylation profiles and comorbidity patterns to identify the common biomarkers with multi-functional analytics across the aforementioned five cancer types. In addition, gene ontology was used to categorize the biomarkers into several functional groups and establish the relationships between gene functions and cancers. ALX3, HOXD8, IRX1, HOXA9, HRH1, PTPRN2, TRIM58, and NPTX2 were identified as important methylation biomarkers for the five cancers characterized by low five-year survival rates. To extend the applicability of these biomarkers, their annotated genetic functions were explored through GO and KEGG pathway analyses. The combination of ALX3, NPTX2, and TRIM58 was selected from distinct functional groups. An accuracy prediction of 93.3% could be achieved by validating the ten most common cancers, including the initial five low-survival-rate cancer types.</p
Religiosity and crime:evidence from a city-wide shock
No full textThis paper estimates the impacts of religiosity on criminal activity using a city-wide shock to religious sentiment from a 2015 Papal visit. Using daily data on all reported offenses between 2010 and 2015 in Philadelphia at the census tract level and a difference-in-differences approach, we demonstrate significant reductions in less serious crimes in the week of the visit and for several weeks following. Reductions are particularly pronounced for drug offenses and in historically Christian areas. Notably, similar crime effects are not found for President Obama's 2015 visit, suggesting changes in police deployment do not drive results.</p
Predation by stock price manipulation
No full textWe develop a model in which feedback effects from equity markets allow uninformed traders to profit by short selling a firm's stock while going long on its product market competitor. As this strategy distorts the investment of the firm targeted by short selling to the benefit of its rival, we label it predation by stock price manipulation. A short selling ban does not prevent manipulation since the speculator can still induce a firm to underinvest by establishing a long position in its rival. Our analysis unveils how competitive interactions among firms expand the scope of manipulation, providing new insights into equity markets and short sales regulation.</p