bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Retzius Koruyucu Robot Yardımlı Radikal Prostatektomi ile Konvansiyonel Robot Yardımlı Radikal Prostatektominin Cerrahi Sınır Pozitifliği Açısından Karşılaştırılması
Authors: Yıldız Ali Kaan , Bayraktar Arif Bedirhan , Demir Demirhan Örsan , Kaçan Turgay , Gökkurt Yusuf , Keseroğlu Buğra Bilge , Karakan Tolga
Published: September 2024

Amaç: Prostat kanserinin cerrahi tedavisinde Retzius koruyucu robot yardımlı radikal prostatektomi (RK–RYRP) ile konvansiyonel robot yardımlı radikal prostatektomi (K-RYRP)’yi cerrahi sınır pozitifliği açısından karşılaştırmayı amaçladık.
Materyal ve Metod: Ocak 2022 – Eylül 2023 tarihleri arasında lokalize prostat kanseri tanısı konmuş, RK-RYRP ve K-RYRP yapılan 57 hastanın erken dönem onkolojik sonuçları (ISUP derecesi, T evresi, mesane boynu invazyonu, ektrakapsüler yayılım, seminal vezikül invazyonu, lenf nodu invazyonu ve cerrahi sınır pozitifliği) incelendi.
Bulgular: RK-RYRP grubundaki hastalar, K-RYRP grubundaki hastalar ile karşılaştırıldığında yaş, VKİ, preoperatif PSA, prostat hacmi ve preoperatif ISUP dereceleri açısından anlamlı bir farklılık izlenmedi (hepsi p>0.05). Ortalama operasyon süresi açısından her iki grup arasında fark görülmedi (p=0,06).
Cerrahi sınır pozitifliği; RK-RYRP grubundaki hastaların %34,6’sında, K-RYRP grubundaki hastaların %25,8’inde saptandı ve her iki grupta anlamlı farklılık saptanmadı (p=0,4). Cerrahi spesmenin ISUP dereceleri ve T evreleri benzerdi (hepsi p>0,05). Lenf nodu invazyonu, ekstrakapsüler yayılım, seminal vezikül invazyonu ve mesane boynu invazyonu açısından da her iki grupta istatistiksel olarak anlamlı fark görülmedi (hepsi p>0,05).
Sonuç: Retzius koruyucu robot yardımlı laparoskopik radikal prostatektomi, prostat kanseri cerrahisi için erken onkolojik sonuçlar açısından konvansiyonel yöntemle karşılaştırıldığında uygulanabilir bir yöntemdir. Ancak, uzun dönem onkolojik sonuçlar (özellikle biyokimyasal rekürrens açısından) için daha fazla veriye ihtiyaç vardır.
Retzius Koruyucu Robot Yardımlı Radikal Prostatektomi ile Konvansiyonel Robot Yardımlı Radikal Prostatektominin Cerrahi Sınır Pozitifliği Açısından Karşılaştırılması
Authors: Yıldız Ali Kaan , Bayraktar Arif Bedirhan , Demir Demirhan Örsan , Kaçan Turgay , Gökkurt Yusuf , Keseroğlu Buğra Bilge , Karakan Tolga
Published: September 2024

Amaç: Prostat kanserinin cerrahi tedavisinde Retzius koruyucu robot yardımlı radikal prostatektomi (RK–RYRP) ile konvansiyonel robot yardımlı radikal prostatektomi (K-RYRP)’yi cerrahi sınır pozitifliği açısından karşılaştırmayı amaçladık.
Materyal ve Metod: Ocak 2022 – Eylül 2023 tarihleri arasında lokalize prostat kanseri tanısı konmuş, RK-RYRP ve K-RYRP yapılan 57 hastanın erken dönem onkolojik sonuçları (ISUP derecesi, T evresi, mesane boynu invazyonu, ektrakapsüler yayılım, seminal vezikül invazyonu, lenf nodu invazyonu ve cerrahi sınır pozitifliği) incelendi.
Bulgular: RK-RYRP grubundaki hastalar, K-RYRP grubundaki hastalar ile karşılaştırıldığında yaş, VKİ, preoperatif PSA, prostat hacmi ve preoperatif ISUP dereceleri açısından anlamlı bir farklılık izlenmedi (hepsi p>0.05). Ortalama operasyon süresi açısından her iki grup arasında fark görülmedi (p=0,06).
Cerrahi sınır pozitifliği; RK-RYRP grubundaki hastaların %34,6’sında, K-RYRP grubundaki hastaların %25,8’inde saptandı ve her iki grupta anlamlı farklılık saptanmadı (p=0,4). Cerrahi spesmenin ISUP dereceleri ve T evreleri benzerdi (hepsi p>0,05). Lenf nodu invazyonu, ekstrakapsüler yayılım, seminal vezikül invazyonu ve mesane boynu invazyonu açısından da her iki grupta istatistiksel olarak anlamlı fark görülmedi (hepsi p>0,05).
Sonuç: Retzius koruyucu robot yardımlı laparoskopik radikal prostatektomi, prostat kanseri cerrahisi için erken onkolojik sonuçlar açısından konvansiyonel yöntemle karşılaştırıldığında uygulanabilir bir yöntemdir. Ancak, uzun dönem onkolojik sonuçlar (özellikle biyokimyasal rekürrens açısından) için daha fazla veriye ihtiyaç vardır.
Can the Neutrophil/Lymphocyte Ratio and Platelet/Lymphocyte Ratio Be Used to Predict the Risk of Ureteral Stricture Following Ureteroscopy?
Authors: Ordulu Reha , Aydın Mustafa , Küçük Emrah , Yıldız Hakan , Ulubay Mahmut , Akdeniz Ekrem , Atilla Mustafa Kemal
Published: September 2024

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR) can be used to predict the development of ureteral stricture or difficult ureter in patients who had previously undergone endoscopic upper urinary tract surgery.
Material and Methods: This observational study was performed between April 2022 and April 2023 at the Samsun Training and Research Hospital Urology Department, Türkiye. One hundred thirty patients who had undergone prior endoscopic upper urinary tract surgery were included. These were divided into two groups, with (Group 1) and without (Group 2) ureteral stricture. The diagnosis of ureteral stricture was based on direct endoscopy or retrograde pyelography. The groups’ sociodemographic characteristics, clinical data, and NLR and PLR values were then compared.
Results: The patients’ mean ages were 49.89±14.40 years in Group 1 and 48.92±14.60 in Group 2 (p = 0.704). No statistically significant differences were observed between the groups in terms of sex, body mass index, or comorbidity. However, significant differences were determined in terms of passage of kidney stones and numbers of surgical procedures performed (p = 0.001 and p
The Phenomenon of Difficult Enforcement in the Circuit Trial System in China from the Perspective of Power Operation
Authors: Peng Yujie
Published: September 2024

The phenomenon of "difficulty in enforcement" is prevalent in the judicial practice of China and poses similar challenges to circuit trials. This paper, based on Su Li's premise of the shifting local power dynamics in rural China, utilizes Foucault's theory of micro-power and Geertz's theory of local knowledge to explore how these misalignments in local power relationships affect the enforcement work in circuit trials in China, and provides suggestions on how to alleviate this issue. In the power relationship of enforcement within circuit trials, the relatively weaker state power struggles to support the compulsory execution of judgments, while the relatively stronger individual power resists the enforcement of judgments. This leads to a reliance on the recognition and cooperation of the judgment debtor, as well as the assistance of local power as a third party. However, the lack of local knowledge among judges makes it difficult for "legally sound but unreasonable" judgments to gain the recognition and cooperation of the parties involved, resulting in challenges to enforcement. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen cooperation with local powers and other state agencies, seeking a multi-faceted approach.
Legal and Economic Analysis of Fair Use in the Process of Artificial Intelligence Creation in Data-Driven Era
Authors: Mai Jiehui
Published: September 2024

In the era of digitalization, AI-generated content has emerged as a pivotal component within the creative industries, thereby instigating extensive deliberations concerning copyright protection and fair use. This study aims to scrutinize and analyze the equitable use of AI-generated content from both a legal and economic standpoint. This paper does a thorough review of the literature to introduce basic ideas about AI content creation and fair use. It then divides existing research into four separate areas: technical analysis, legal case analysis, economic impact analysis, and policy adaptation research. Despite notable advancements in both technological capabilities and legislative frameworks surrounding AI-generated content, there remains a dearth of comprehensive understanding, particularly with regard to its economic implications and policy implementation. Consequently, this study posits a significant research question on how to strike a balance between the fair usage of AI-generated content and upholding copyright protection in order to foster sustainable development within the creative industries. The findings presented herein offer novel perspectives and insights that can inform future policymaking endeavors as well as academic investigations.
Research on the Evolution of the United States in the 20th and 21st Century
Authors: Zhang Jiaqi
Published: September 2024

The United States, as a global power, has consistently demonstrated remarkable resilience when confronted with challenges in the 20th and 21st centuries. This research delves into the critical factors such as technological innovation, democratic governance, cultural diversity, and abundant resources that have propelled America's ascent. By acknowledging both strengths and challenges, the study offers a comprehensive view of how these elements have shaped U.S. dominance, from economic prosperity to military strength. It also discusses internal polarization, global competition, and strategic adjustments that present potential threats but underscore the United States' capacity to navigate these complexities deftly. Ultimately, the essay contends that the future trajectory of the United States is promising as it adapts to its evolving role in a rapidly changing world, instilling a sense of confidence in its ability to overcome future challenges.
Mechanisms of Smartphone Addiction in University Students and Intervention Methods
Authors: Zhang Naiyuan
Published: September 2024

With the widespread use of smartphones among university students, smartphone addiction has become increasingly severe, negatively impacting mental health and social adaptation. This paper analyzes the emotional, behavioral, and cognitive characteristics of smartphone addiction among university students, exploring the roles of emotional motivation factors such as depression, anxiety, and loneliness, as well as cognitive-behavioral factors like sense of life meaning and core self-evaluation in the formation of addiction. It summarizes intervention measures related to emotions and motivation, as well as cognition and behavior. Future research should further explore the effectiveness of psychological measurement tools, the interaction between emotional and cognitive factors, and intervention methods incorporating modern technology to more comprehensively understand and address smartphone addiction among university students
Research on the Two-Pillar Solution and Its Implication
Authors: Yuan Jiaxin
Published: September 2024

With the rapid development of economic globalization and digitalization, new business models are activating the world economy while exacerbating the remaining problems of base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS). In the face of intensifying international tax avoidance, The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has announced its Two-pillar solution to the international community, proposing a global minimum tax regime, which is effectively a coordination of global anti-tax avoidance measures. At present, Pillar 2 has come into effect, and Pillar 1 has also been opened for signature, marking the implementation stage of the two-pillar solution. In this paper, the two-pillar solution is the main research object. Firstly, from the perspective of large-scale tax avoidance by multinational corporations, this paper systematically analyzes the historical background of the introduction of the two-pillar solution of the OECD. After a detailed analysis of the provisions of the two-pillar solution, the existing institutional deficiencies and obstacles to its implementation are proposed. Finally, in response to the issues raised, practical recommendations are made that the elements of the two-pillar solution should aim to achieve general equity, balance the interests of developing countries and be in harmony with existing international tax policies. The governments should also optimize the structure of tax incentives.
The Harm and Countermeasures of Transnational Commercial Bribery
Authors: Zhao Siyu
Published: September 2024

In today's era of globalization, international exchanges are increasingly close, and transnational bribery cases are frequent. Therefore, combating commercial bribery by multinational corporations and strengthening the compliance system of transnational corporations are of great significance in promoting healthy economic development and social justice. At present, all countries have various legal provisions on corporate anti-bribery, but due to factors such as incomplete consistency of regulations in various economies, the governance effect is limited and it is challenging to fully credit the law's deterrence effect. Meanwhile, as the largest importer of foreign capital, commercial bribery in China is even more rampant, but due to the lack of domestic attention and the dispersion and ambiguity of the relevant laws and regulations, the bribe-takers are seldom sanctioned by the law.Through the analysis of the concept, causes and related cases of commercial bribery, as well as the comparative analysis of the relevant laws of Britain and the United States, this paper seeks to solve the problem of transnational bribery in China.
Accountability for Environmental Human Rights Responsibilities of MNEs: The Case of Enterprises in China
Authors: Fang Fei
Published: September 2024

In recent years, the role of MNEs in China's economic development has been significant, yet their activities have also led to environmental degradation and human rights abuses. This paper delves into the intricate issue of environmental human rights accountability of multinational enterprises (MNEs) operating in China and examines the theoretical underpinnings and practical challenges in holding MNEs accountable for their environmental human rights impacts. It begins by outlining the basic concepts of MNEs' environmental human rights responsibilities, drawing upon international and domestic legal frameworks. Subsequently, it analyzes the common areas of environmental degradation and human rights violations committed by MNEs in China, highlighting the complexities of jurisdiction and enforcement. The article further explores the difficulties in determining accountability and selecting appropriate jurisdictions for legal redress. Through a comparative analysis of existing legal mechanisms and international practices, the paper proposes recommendations for China and the international community to strengthen accountability mechanisms and enhance regulatory frameworks. Ultimately, the paper aims to contribute to the discourse on ensuring that MNEs operating in China fulfill their environmental human rights responsibilities.
A Review of Factors Influencing Syntactic Priming in Chinese English Learners Over the Past Decade
Authors: Zhai Yibiao
Published: September 2024

Syntactic priming plays a crucial role in language teaching and learning. This paper reviews studies on syntactic priming among Chinese English learners over the past decade, highlighting the various research paradigms employed, such as picture-description paradigm, sentence-fragment completion paradigm and continuation paradigm, as well as their respective advantages and disadvantages. It also delves into three key factors that influence syntactic priming: learner characteristics, material features, and test task, examining these factors from multiple perspectives, including working memory, repetitive words, and task intensity. By comparing different studies, the paper points out how these factors function and discusses whether they have a positive relationship with syntactic priming. Also, possible reasons for the contradictory findings in some studies have been explored. The paper concludes by summarizing current research finding, putting forward problems existing in present studies, and identifying gaps for future exploration, aiming to offer insights and directions for ongoing research in this area.
Research on the Influence of Human Language on the Formation and Development of Thinking
Authors: Liu Yaqi
Published: September 2024

The SapirWhorf Hypothesis has aroused great interest among anthropologists, linguists, and psychologists since its proposal. This article delves into the important role of human language in the formation, development, and application of thinking through the literature review and questionnaire survey. The main target of the study is the 0-50 year-old population whose native language is Chinese. An electronic questionnaire survey was conducted to reveal the close relationship between language and thinking. Research has found that language not only serves as a carrier of thinking but also plays a crucial role in shaping and driving the development of thinking. In this context, this article aims to systematically analyze the impact of language on thinking, in order to provide new perspectives and thoughts for research in related fields.
The Current Situation of Educational Equity Between Urban and Rural Areas in China: An Analysis of Literature Review
Authors: Zheng Yangyi
Published: September 2024

Since the fifth plenary session of Chinas 19th Five-Year Plan introduced the objective of "promoting educational equity and driving the balanced development in compulsory education, as well as urban-rural integration", the unequal development of compulsory education between urban and rural areas has been widely discussed by Chinese scholars as a crucial topic of educational equity. This study found through a literature review that the rate of urbanization among students during their compulsory education years surpasses that of the general population, which is related to the uneven distribution of educational resources between city and countryside, namely the phenomenon of "underdeveloped rural regions and overcrowded urban regions". Numerous scholars have analyzed the influencing factors of this disparity and proposed relevant policies and solutions, broadening public awareness about issues related to fairness in rural-urban compulsory education and promoting research work in this field. However, there are still unsolved difficulties in optimizing the urban-rural educational pattern and achieving educational equity, which are problems that China needs to address in its economic-social development processes and educational reform.
The United States Abortion Controversy in the Context of Institutional Rivalry: The Interweaving of Justice, Politics, and Policy
Authors: Yuan Zheng
Published: September 2024

This paper delves into the decades-long debate on abortion rights in United States, pointing out that its roots lie in the contradictions within the United States system. These contradictions manifest themselves through three main conflicts: judicial, political, and policy. Judicial conflicts revolve around the question of whether constitutional privacy rights should extend to abortion, with typical cases encompassing the pivotal rulings of Roe v. Wade and Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization. At the political level, the debate has been further exacerbated by bitter opposition between Republicans and Democrats, with opposing ideological positions on reproductive rights. Finally, the conflict between law and policy is reflected in the increasing polarization of abortion laws at the state level, leading to fragmentation of the national legal landscape. By analyzing these interrelated conflicts, this paper argues that the inherent contradictions within the United States system make the issue of abortion rights an ongoing and unresolved social issue.
The Environmental Impact of Hydroelectric Power Generation
Authors: Qiu Jingtian
Published: September 2024

Hydroelectricity is daily elements that appears everywhere in human societies. It is a clean and renewable resources that is produced by fast speed of water. The effective way of generating energy feasibly prompted to different countries that have rivers. The construction of dams boosted tourists, fishing industries, timbering, and hunting. Expanded more leisure activities for people. The increases of dams also impacted on local economies such as jobs and selling electricity. However, this paper also highlights that these dams also damaged local ecosystem, deforestation, and pollution. They generate electricity by spinning the blades. As a consequence, fishes can smash and crewed into those machines and killed, including some endanger animals. Dams destroyed their biomes. Some weak dams still depend on burning coals and fuels. Waste gases get absorbed by water and algae, and finally pollute water. The polluted water can kill plantations and crops, hence causing economic losses and damaging the ecosystem. Deforestation is also caused by those waste chemicals and gases. The waste absorbed by soils caused acidic soil, and waste gases will cause climate change, which is the main reason of biome shift or deforestation. Poor soil availability conducted by acidic soil step forward decreasing of plants. Generally, dams directed and undirected caused environmental damage, that humans can never affords.
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Authors: withdraw withdraw
Published: September 2024

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Research on Art Classification Based on the Improved Resnet50 Network
Authors: Liang Yingkai , Ren Hangxi , Wan Ziwei , Zhou Rui
Published: September 2024

In the field of computer vision, deep learning technology has made breakthroughs in image classification. ResNet50, an efficient deep residual network architecture, has demonstrated excellent performance in many image classification tasks. However, In the task of classifying artworks, ResNet50, still shows some limitations. It has difficulty identifying different artistic styles and is lacking in capturing the delicate details of the artwork. This article proposes an improved resnet50 model. By introducing SE blocks and extended convolution parameters, this article have made a deep revamp to ResNet50 to enhance its performance in art classification tasks. SE blocks increase the sensitivity of the network to differences in art styles by dynamically adjusting the dependencies between channels. Concurrently, the enhanced convolutional operation expands the model's sensory scope, so that the network can capture more delicate artistic details. The experimental results show that the improved model has achieved significant performance improvement on wikiart artwork classification datasets. In upcoming research, the paper plan to enhance art classification by broadening the dataset to encompass diverse art movements and forms, and by optimizing convolutional neural networks for large-scale data. This aims to improve the model's generalization and applicability across various visual arts, ensuring practical effectiveness and reliability.
Review of GAN-Based Image Super-Resolution Techniques
Authors: Feng Huining
Published: September 2024

The objective of Image Super-Resolution (ISR), a significant area of study in computer vision and image processing, is to produce high-resolution images from low-resolution images. The main objective of this paper is to explore the Image Super-Resolution methods based on Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs), especially SRGAN and ESRGAN. In the experimental part, the performance of SRGAN and ESRGAN will be evaluated by using PSNR (Peak Signal-to-Noise Ratio) and SSIM (Structural Similarity Index) as evaluation metrics, and the results demonstrate the great potential of Generative Adversarial Networks in Image Super-Resolution tasks, especially in improving the quality of the generated images, and both SRGAN and ESRGAN perform well in recovering image details. Facing the current challenges, researchers can explore new methods and techniques to promote the development and application of image super-resolution technology. The prospect of wide application of GAN models in the field of image processing provides rich opportunities and possibilities for future research and innovation.
Research on house price prediction in UK based on linear regression model
Authors: He Mengxuan
Published: September 2024

This paper aims to analyze the factors that affect housing prices and predict the trend of housing prices through a linear regression model. This article will use a linear regression model to analyze data on UK house prices from 1952 to 2022. And selected 12 different factors that affect housing prices, using a linear regression model to predict the fluctuations of housing prices. At the same time, a multiple prior regression model was used to explore the importance of each factor in affecting house prices. And the significance of these variables was also compared. The results show that the location of the house, per capita income, housing environment, immigration rate, actual deposit rate and actual loan rate have a significant linear relationship with house price changes, while per capita productivity and house type after the epidemic do not have a significant linear relationship with house price changes. Therefore, UK house prices can be predicted based on the above factors.
A Survey on Variants of Thompson Sampling
Authors: Yang Junqing
Published: September 2024

Thompson Sampling has become a prominent algorithmic approach in recent years. This review focuses on the evolution of TS and its variants, showing the innovative aspects of Neural Thompson Sampling (NeuralTS) and Meta-Thompson Sampling (Meta-TS), explaining the aggressive strategy used by Feel-Good Thompson Sampling (FGTS) and the introduction to Safe-LTS for Linear Thompson Sampling (LTS) problem. The survey first systematically review the literature, then examine the theoretical underpinnings, algorithmic frameworks and innovations of those TS variants, in the end provide our insights in future directions. In short, NeuralTS handles high-dimensional reward functions through deep learning integration, Meta-TS takes advantage of meta-learning for adapting to unknown prior distributions, FGTS applies an aggressive exploration strategy to handle pessimistic scenarios. In the end, this paper suggests that future research should emphasis on enhancing generalizability, bridging the gap between theory and practice, and improving adaptability to complex and dynamic environments.
Rekonstruksi Konsep Syaż Dalam Kajian Hadis: Telaah Pemikiran Syaikh Abdullah Al-Ghumari
Authors: Afriza Nugraha Andri , Nasution Khairul Bahri
Published: October 2024

This research is based on the opinion of several Ulama who stated that researching the syaż of a hadiṡ is not an easy activity. The implication is that studies on syaż in the treasury of hadiṡ science have not experienced encouraging developments. This causes books that discuss hadiṡ containing syaż to be very difficult to find. Until finally the work of Sheikh Abdullah al-Ghumari appeared, which became the antithesis of this opinion. The purpose of this study is to determine the concept of syaż and the steps taken by Sheikh Abdullah Al-Ghumari in determining the syaż of a hadiṡ. This research is a descriptive qualitative type that compiles and explains the results of the study through words and sentences, not numbers. This study uses a library research method in data collection. The main source of information for this study is Sabil al-Tawfiq fi Tarjamati Abdullah bin al-Siddiq al-Ghumari. The data analysis used in this study is the thematic analysis. The results of this study, related to the steps taken by Sheikh Abdullah al-Ghumari in criticizing the hadiṡs that are considered syaż in general, are as follows: 1) Mentioning the mukharrij of the Hadiṡ; 2) Mentioning the status of the Hadiṡ as syaż and not allowed to be practiced; 3) Mentioning the reasons for its syaż either because it contradicts the mutawatir Hadiṡ, verses of the Qur'an, ijma', valid rules in the science of hadiṡ,, the weakness of the narrator, or because the Hadiṡ is munqathi' or mursal.
Where have all the students gone? They are all on Facebook Now
Authors: Landgrebe Dennis , Sørensen Mia Thyrre , Ryberg Thomas
Published: October 2024

This paper reports and discusses findings from a study carried out amongst a subset of 5th semester students (app. 80) in the programme CDM, Aalborg University (AAU). The purpose of the study was to uncover what networked technologies students use to support their studies and their problem and project based group work. We also wished to explore their rationales and motives for employing those particular tools. While there is much research into the technologies students use we understand too little about students' motives for using or choosing particular technologies (Henderson, Selwyn, & Aston, 2015). In the paper we therefore discuss the technologies they use and their motives for doing so. The study has however unearthed some deeper questions and concerns. For one thing it became apparent that students' uses of networked technologies were heavily reliant on commercial mainstream solutions. Services such as Facebook, Dropbox and Google Docs were the dominant choices of technology and students chose these - without much reflection - as they were the easiest and most widely used. Secondly, it became apparent how these services formed a completely parallel or alternative technological infrastructure to the ones offered by the institution (Moodle). These points have led us to questions such as: Should we promote more critical and reflexive discussion of technologies for learning in higher education, and what is the role of higher education institutions in relation to technological infrastructures i.e. does it make sense to maintain a learning management system if students are not using it. These are issues we raise in the final discussion.
Designing for Dialogue and Digitality in Higher and Continuing Education
Authors: Sorensen Elsebeth Korsgaard , Kjærgaard Thomas
Published: October 2024

This study investigates and contrasts three scenarios of further education; presence lessons and two types of blended learning. It addresses the conceptual challenge of creating learning designs for online learning communities of practice (COPs) with a focus on 'collaborative digital dialogue as the curriculum' (CDDC). The aim of the study is to identify the mechanisms that spawn and maintain collaboration and dialogue in digital/online discussions. Emphasis is put on locating the essential pedagogic-didactic elements giving rise to peer-to-peer dialogue, collaborative knowledge building (CKB) and reflection. As a basis for exploring, identifying, assessing and discussing pertinent elements in pedagogic design of online learning in COPs, we apply as the analytical optic a framework of Critical Realism (CR). In exploring the notion ‘nexus of cognition' (NOC) and the emergence of an ‘open source learning stream' (OSLS) in digital dialogue (DD), unfolding in virtual learning environments (VLEs), the paper further investigates the appropriateness in this respect of diverse scaffolding mechanisms, reaching from phatic teacher comments to academic, scaffolding video-clips. The empirical basis for studying these design aspects is constituted by learning designs from, both a University context and a University College context. The findings and discussion resulting from the analysis suggest that a meta-communicative learning-to-learn (L2L) approach to dialogue in the pedagogic aspects of the learning design may be fruitful in highlighting and promoting the establishment and maintenance of a collaborative digital dialogue that is conducive to deep learning in digital CoPs unfolding in VLEs. Consequently, we suggest development of hybrid designs that synthesise the dialogical advantages of online dialogue, the convenience of teacher-produced videos and the intensity of being together in actual reality.We acknowledge the deleuzean point that the virtual is just as real as the actual and in this context the virtual is even more real than the actual. The online dialogue becomes 'a pure place' while the conversation in the presence lesson becomes 'polluted'. The online dialogue achieves a virtual purity of 'one discourse' whereas the presence lesson contains multiple discourse of which some are relevant to the learning process and other have a more private character. We promote a hybrid design that put the students in the centre of the dialogue, which means that only when they engage in the dialogue will they be engaged in learning.
In praise of community
Authors: Hammond Michael
Published: October 2024

This paper considers the idea of community in networked learning. Community is a contested concept both in terms of definition and in the ways in which we perceive the consequences of belonging to communities. While community is generally valued this has not always been the case.  One particularly compelling example of a critique of online community was offered by Hodgson & Reynolds (2005). This critique was underpinned by three key arguments: we read technology naively; community is uncritically ‘privileged’; we overstate the importance of consensus. These three propositions are analysed in detail. First, there is considerable support for the idea that we have an overly determinist view of technology with, for example, some literature routinely shifting from statements as to what technology can do to statements as to how technology is likely to be used. This is naïve as in practice technology use is likely to be differentiated and shaped by wider social cultural factors. Second, while there is some support for the idea that community is privileged, there is always a balance to be made between the opportunities provided by community (for example enabling a social life and building a social identity) with the constraints of community (for example, a bias towards conformity and suppression of counter cultural thinking). Third, there is, again, support for the idea that consensus can be forced and that it may be more desirable for learners to explore positions in counter-cultural sub groups, or to strike looser forms of association, rather than experience the tensions and restrictions of community membership. However, the paper resists the conclusion that the search for community and consensus in itself is misplaced. Instead it is suggested we should not give up on a big idea about learning – that is learning involves the public airing of difference and reaching an accommodation with others by the force of the stronger argument. It is argued the search for consensus within what we might recognise as an ideal speech community remains a valuable educational aim.
Activity centred analysis and design in the evolution of learning networks
Authors: Goodyear Peter , Carvalho Lucila
Published: October 2024

This paper provides an overview of, and rationale for, an approach to analysing complex learning networks. The approach involves a strong commitment to providing knowledge which is useful for design and it gives a prime place to the activity of those involved in networked learning. Hence the framework that we are offering is known as “Activity Centred Analysis and Design” or ACAD for short. We have used the ACAD framework in the analysis of 20 or so learning networks. These networks have varied in purpose, scale and complexity and the experience we have gained in trying to understand how these networks function has helped us improve the ACAD framework. This paper shares some of the outcomes of that experience and describes some significant new refinements to how we understand the framework. While the framework is able to deal with a very wide range of learning situations, in this paper we look more closely at some issues which are of particular importance in networked learning. For example, we discuss the distributed nature of design in networked learning – acknowledging the fact that learning networks are almost invariably co-configured by everyone who participates in them, and that this aspect of participation is often explicitly valued and encouraged. We see participation in (re)design as a challenging activity: one that benefits from some structured methods and ways of representing and unpicking the tangles of tasks, activities, tools, places and people.
Designing for online homework guidance
Authors: Hansen Jens Jørgen , Remvig Kirstin
Published: October 2024

This paper presents the preliminary research work on developing and conceptualizing methods and models for homework guidance and support of the training program offered by Homework Online (HO). The presented models are: Curriculum framework for homework guidance, Scenes of Guidance and Model of guidance methods. HO is an organisation led by State Library, Denmark wich operate a number of call centres for homework guidance in secondary education. The call centre offers guidance in an online environment. The concept of HO extend learning beyond the classroom and is an example of ‘networked learning’ where interactions between people are mediated by information/computertechnology (Goodyear & Carvalho, 2014). Our research utilise learning design as theory (Conole 2013) and Design Based Research (Gravenmeijer & Cobb 2006) as methodology to investigate: 1. What kind of learning design can contribute to develop HO’s training program? 2. In what way can new learning design contribute to the development of the tutors' competences?
Symposium 2: ‘Employability’ and the digital future of work
Authors: Beetham Helen
Published: October 2024

This paper discusses the role of networked technologies in education through the lens of work, both the work carried out by academic and professional staff – refigured by the demands of digital institutions – and the 'employability' of graduates and college leavers that stands over their educational experience as its supposed rationale, justification and destination. The paper draws on a recent literature review and interviews with staff in UK tertiary education to elucidate the changing nature of academic work and the demands for digital capability and engagement placed on education professionals. It goes on to explore academic work as exemplary of large-scale shifts not only in the kinds of work people do but in the way work is valued, engaged in, and managed in the lifecourse. It concludes by arguing that employability needs to be opened up within the curriculum as a series of critical explorations rather than deployed as received knowledge about the kinds of learning outcome that are desirable. In the spirit of radical pedagogy, it suggests that academics support these explorations when they engage critically with the circumstances of their own digital labour.
Symposium 2: Inequality as Higher Education Goes Online
Authors: Czerniewicz Laura
Published: October 2024

This paper discusses Higher Education (HE) and changes in HE, using inequality as a frame. It provides an brief overview of the changes in the HE landscape; explains how Therborn’s 2013 equality/inequality is framework suitable for this discussion ; considers some of the key questions and implications at the global, institutional and course levels through this inequality lens; and finally asks some questions and make some suggestions for how the issues of inequality in HE could be addressed going forward.
Amira’s complexity and cosmopolitanism
Authors: Gallagher Michael
Published: October 2024

The capacity of individuals or systems to generate or learn how to generate a metastability, a state of navigating the largely unmanageable aspects of complexity, “cannot be reduced either to the actions of individual actors or to persisting social structures” (Urry, 2016: 59). Complexity largely resists proportionality or linearity; small changes can generate large structural consequences, and individuals will, intellectually or dispositionally, exert considerable resources towards navigating this metastability.This paper explores complexity through Amira, an imagined composite of characteristics gleaned from the author’s research. Amira is a Nepalese woman studying in a postgraduate programme in Europe. The habitus of Bourdieu is repurposed as disposition; a tendency of an individual to act, react, or think in a particular way based on the social systems through which they move. Disposition is advanced in as a necessary addition to the theorizing of mobilities and mobile learning respectively, one that countenances Amira’s navigational practices and learning. It is a fluid process of engagement across multiple contexts, some being materially, deliberately, and dispositionally mobile. Ultimately, it is one that Amira must negotiate to maintain the mobility on which she depends.Mobile technology is positioned as a critical factor in managing Amira’s mobility across her communities. Mobile learning, as an attendant learning position designed to bolster Amira’s capacity for managing her mobility, needs to account for the wider range of this activity: across multiple interactional contexts, amongst people and interactive technologies, encapsulating public and private processes; activity that moves between individual Amira’s) and structural (those “immanent to the material conditions of global interdependence”) systems.Mobile learning, if it to be of use to Amira, needs to account for the wider range of this activity: across multiple interactional contexts, amongst people and interactive technologies, encapsulating public and private processes; activity that moves between micro (Amira’s) and macro (those “immanent to the material conditions of global interdependence”) systems. Mobile learning needs to be accounting for Amira’s capacity for material capacity, intellectual capacity, and, as this paper is attempting to suggest, a dispositional capacity. Disposition is advanced in this paper as a means of expanding her capacity to navigate the complexity of her own mobility, and as a means of expanding research practice towards identifying such complexity.
Surveillance, (dis)trust and teaching with plagiarism detection technology
Authors: Ross Jen , Macleod Hamish
Published: October 2024

Key dimensions of digital education practices are shaped by instrumental goals such as quality, efficiency and transparency. These goals are often addressed through high-level technology decisions which should be understood in terms of visibility and surveillance. Monitoring technology is deployed for multiple purposes in the contemporary university, in contexts from learning analytics to attendance tracking. This paper is a theoretical exploration of how the technologically-mediated practice of plagiarism detection, in the context of surveillance and distrust, might affect relationships amongst teachers, students and institutions. Drawing on Lyon's (2017) concept of 'surveillance culture', it examines the types of participation that are enacted in relation to managing student writing. It critiques the assumption that automated plagiarism detection is a neutral technology which can be used benevolently (guiding students gently towards 'good academic practice'). Instead, it suggests that this technology acts with and on already problematic conditions of digital visibility which are also seen in the wider digital culture beyond the university, and which require critical and thoughtful responses from within the academy. Logics of surveillance are strongly at work in practices which attempt to regulate student behaviour through the exposure of their writing to algorithmic scanning and monitoring. These logics frame students as in need of careful monitoring to ensure learning and teaching runs smoothly, and framing academic writing as a space of dishonesty which is both rampant and solvable through technology. Routines of plagiarism detection intervene negatively in one of the central facets of student-teacher relationships: the production and assessment of student work. Where these relationships become risk-averse and mutually suspicious, trust is blocked or lost and not easily regained. Effective strategies of resistance require finding ways to re-sensitise ourselves and our students to the values we want to prioritise in our classrooms, and offering means by which students can voice their responses to surveillance cultures in higher education; and addressing issues at strategic levels within our institutions and the sector more widely by developing robust mechanisms for engaging in critical debate, discussion about and review of  technology platforms and practices.
Educators, Copyright and Open Education Resources in Massive Open Online Courses
Authors: Czerniewicz Laura , Deacon Andrew , Walji Sukain
Published: October 2024

This study explored how educators, in an enabling open environment, understand and express copyright, licences, and the legal dimensions of openness as they moved from a traditional teaching role to creating massive open online courses (MOOCs). The MOOCs were produced in partnership with the Centre for Innovation in Learning and Teaching (CILT) at the University of Cape Town (UCT). CILT has a long-standing engagement with an enabling open environment and support for OER and the university has an open access policy. Nevertheless, it could not be assumed that the educators making the MOOCs had a commitment to or knowledge of open education resources (OERs), nor could it be assumed that they were interested in or had expertise in copyright, particularly as pertaining to MOOCs. While there are several other open practices relevant to making MOOCs, this paper focuses on the legal aspects, on educator engagement with OER content that has used legal mechanisms for sharing. Legal openness draws on understanding and engaging with copyright; using legally open content; making content legally open in different ways; open licensing expertise and advice (Hodgkinson-Williams, 2014).  It is premised on an understanding of the legal mechanisms required to adopt (including both creation and use) such content, and therefore within the ambit of copyright management. Thus an understanding alternative forms of licensing means a priori an engagement with copyright.
Socialization and Cognitive Apprenticeship in Online Doctoral Programs
Authors: Oztok Murat , Lee Kyungmee , Brett Clare
Published: October 2024

Online doctoral programs are gaining in popularity, both among students and institutions. However, research to date on the effectiveness and popularity of such programs has looked largely at either quantitative measures of student satisfaction or of administrative effectiveness and design. Further, previous research has also tended to focus on the early part of doctoral study; in specific, the coursework. This qualitative study reports findings from four online doctoral programs in one UK university, contributing to the literature in two important ways. First, we aim to look specifically at current and recently graduated students’ experiences of doing their thesis using a demographic and experiential survey. This will be followed up by in-depth interviews to better understand the kinds of academic experiences and knowledge they both bring to, and receive from their program. Second, we aim to analyse the data through the lens of cognitive apprenticeship to help us better understand the individual trajectories of students in the thesis portion of their programs. By so doing, this research will contribute both theoretically and practically to our understanding of student experience of the thesis process in online doctoral programs. In particular, we conclude that there is a lack of knowledge and frameworks for how to design online/distance post-graduate programmes that best support the cognitive apprenticeship model. We suggest a shift in the research agenda on this issue:  Perhaps, the first step towards a more effective direction is to focus less on quantitative measures for success, like enrolment statistics or graduation rate but rather to employ qualitative judgements for the evolution of the post-graduate experience. What might be the guidelines for such qualitative judgments? The answer may lie within the principles of Networked Learning: knowledge is not confined to an individual; rather, it is distributed across individuals within the environment. That is, learning is not an in-the-head phenomenon but a matter of engagement with, participation in, and membership to a community. We argue that it is through this notion of learning that we may develop a more effective framework to reconceptualise the theory and practice of online/distance post-graduate education within the cognitive apprenticeship model of learning.