Institutional Capacity and the Productivity of R&D: Evidence from Patent Outcomes Across Countries

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Innovation is a key driver of economic growth. However, countries with similar research and development spending show very different patent outputs. This raises questions about what makes innovation efficient. This study examines whether government effectiveness affects the relationship between R&D spending and patent production in different countries. Using panel data from 111 countries from 2000 to 2020, we use two-way fixed effects models and System Generalized Method of Moments estimation to address potential issues of innovation persistence and reverse causality. The main variable we are looking at is the natural logarithm of one plus resident patent applications. The main independent variables are R&D expenditure as a percentage of GDP and the government effectiveness index, both measured two years earlier. The results show that R&D investment significantly increases patent activity. Specifically, a one percentage point increase in R&D intensity is associated with about a 39% increase in patent output. Conversely, the relationship between research and development (R&D) and governmental efficacy is both negative and statistically significant, suggesting that the incremental impact of R&D on patent output decreases as the quality of governance improves. This unexpected result probably reflects technological catch-up processes; nations with less robust institutions tend to experience swift patent expansion during periods of capacity building, whereas advanced economies characterized by strong governance increasingly prioritize quality over sheer volume. Dynamic models demonstrate considerable persistence in patenting behavior, as evidenced by a lagged dependent variable coefficient of 0.623, thereby validating path-dependent innovation processes. These observations imply that effective innovation policy requires aligning research investments with institutional capacities and the prevailing developmental context, rather than prioritizing either independently. This research provides empirical support for the influence of governance capacity on national innovation systems.

Performance Management Systems and Service Delivery in Nigeria’s Public Sector: A Study of Federal Civil Service Commission, Abuja, Nigeria

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This study examined the relationship between Performance Management Systems (PMS) and service delivery in Nigeria’s public sector, focusing on the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC), Abuja. The research was guided by three objectives: to assess the extent of PMS implementation, to determine the relationship between performance appraisal practices and employee productivity, and to examine the influence of PMS on the quality and efficiency of service delivery. The study adopted a descriptive survey design anchored on the New Public Management (NPM) Theory (Hood, 1991), which emphasizes performance-based accountability and result-oriented public administration. The population comprised 456 officers across six functional departments, including Recruitment and Appointment, Promotion, Discipline, and Records (Federal Civil Service Commission, 2025). Using Cochran’s formula for small populations, a sample of 210 respondents (46%) was selected. Data were analyzed using SPSS and STATA, employing descriptive statistics (means, frequencies, and percentages) to summarize responses on implementation, productivity, and service delivery indicators, while inferential statistics (Pearson correlation and regression analysis) tested the hypothesized relationships. Findings revealed that PMS implementation was moderate (𝑥̄ = 3.73, SD = 1.05) but significantly correlated with organizational effectiveness (r = 0.586, p < 0.01). Performance appraisal practices showed a strong positive relationship with employee productivity (r = 0.642, p < 0.01), while PMS had a significant influence on service delivery efficiency (r = 0.671, β = 0.685, p < 0.01). The study concludes that strengthening PMS through digital monitoring, transparent appraisals, and capacity development will improve accountability, employee motivation, and service delivery outcomes in the Nigerian public sector.

Best Practice on English for Specific Purpose (ESP): Design, Delivery and Assessment

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This study explores the best practices in designing, delivering, and assessing English for Specific Purposes (ESP) courses. Through a comprehensive review of pedagogical strategies and practical implementations, the research highlights components that contribute to effective ESP instruction.

The findings emphasize the importance of conducting detailed needs analyses to customize course content for diverse professional and academic contexts. Incorporating authentic materials, task-based learning, and collaborative activities are identified as critical elements for fostering real-world language application and learner engagement.

Flexibility and adaptability in course structure, supported by ongoing feedback and assessments, emerge as essential factors in addressing evolving learner needs and improving outcomes. The study also underscores the necessity of staying updated with industry trends and integrating technology to enhance personalization and accessibility. Collaborative efforts, including peer interactions and partnerships with industry professionals, further enrich the learning experience and align it with workplace expectations.

This study employed qualitative research by employing lecturers of the English Study Program, Christian University Indonesia Toraja, as respondents.

By synthesizing these insights, the research provides a framework for educators and institutions to develop ESP courses that effectively meet the demands of modern professional environments. This study contributes to the broader discourse on specialized language instruction and offers actionable recommendations for enhancing the relevance, efficiency, and impact of ESP programs.

Transparency, Trust, and Teacher Quality: Rethinking Educational Management Through a Governance Lens

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Teacher quality in contemporary education systems is often addressed through technical reforms emphasizing standards, performance measurement, and administrative accountability. However, such approaches tend to overlook the governance conditions under which professional quality is formed and sustained. This article rethinks educational management through a governance lens by examining the interrelationship between transparency, institutional trust, and teacher quality. Drawing on a critical review of literature in educational governance, organizational trust, and professional management, the study argues that the relationship between transparency and teacher quality is not direct but mediated by institutional trust. Transparency that is perceived as fair, consistent, and substantively accountable contributes to the formation of trust, enabling teachers to interpret policies as supportive of professionalism rather than as instruments of control. In trust-based governance environments, teacher quality emerges not merely as individual competence, but as a systemic capacity encompassing professional autonomy, reflective practice, contextual adaptability, and sustained commitment. Conceptually, this article contributes an integrated governance framework that positions transparency, trust, and teacher quality as mutually reinforcing dimensions of educational management. The analysis further highlights the potential role of digital governance innovations, including blockchain-based financial transparency, as institutional enablers strengthen accountability while fostering trust. By emphasizing the balance between accountability and trust, the article offers a governance-oriented perspective for developing more legitimate, sustainable, and systemically grounded strategies to enhance teacher quality.

Improvement of the Supply Chain Through Engineering and the PRP Heuristic Algorithm: Models and Case Studies

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This study presents a comprehensive literature review and technical analysis of the Production Routing Problem (PRP), focusing on integrated supply chain optimization. The research evaluates various mathematical approaches, including distributionally robust models for perishable goods and multi-scale production facilities. A core component of this work is the assessment of heuristic and matheuristic tools, such as Adaptive Large Neighborhood Search (ALNS), Genetic Algorithms (GA), and Variable Neighborhood Search (VNS), which are identified as highly efficient for solving large-scale industrial problems. Additionally, the study provides a detailed implementation roadmap, including an estimated budget ranging from $23,000 to $48,000 and a timeline of 4 to 8 months for full supply chain integration. Statistical validation through a Cost ANOVA confirms significant cost variations across different implementation phases ($p < 0.05$), highlighting the importance of strategic planning in staff training and software consultancy. The findings suggest that the integration of production, inventory, and distribution not only reduces total operational costs but also supports sustainable decision-making by balancing economic performance with environmental impact.

The Role of Soft Skills in Women’s Access to Managerial Positions in Engineering within STEM Fields

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The persistent underrepresentation of women in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) constitutes a phenomenon that extends beyond the educational sphere and becomes more pronounced at decision-making levels within engineering. Far from being merely a numerical gap, this situation is rooted in structural frameworks that include organizational bias, a lack of mentorship, and the limited recognition of socio-emotional competencies in industrial environments. Within this context, the present article aims to examine the strategic role of soft skills as catalysts for women’s access to managerial positions in engineering.

To support this analysis, a mixed-methods methodological approach is adopted. On the one hand, a systematic review of the state of the art is conducted using the SALSA framework (Search, Appraisal, Synthesis, and Analysis), which enabled the integration and comparison of findings from 25 international studies published between 2016 and 2026. Complementarily, an experimental pilot study was implemented in a manufacturing company in the furniture sector located in the state of Hidalgo, Mexico, employing convenience sampling with the participation of 20 female engineers working in process engineering and sustainable design.

Based on this dual approach, significant regularities between global and local contexts are identified. In particular, the strengthening of skills such as inclusive leadership, effective communication, emotional intelligence, resilience, and adaptability is associated with substantial increases in professional confidence, job retention, and promotion opportunities, with improvements ranging between 20% and 30%. At the same time, the results of the pilot study reveal favorable impacts on organizational efficiency and innovation in productive processes.

Consequently, the findings confirm that the systematic incorporation of soft skills not only contributes to mitigating gender inequalities in engineering but also emerges as an essential component for fostering sustainable, inclusive, and competitive development in STEM sectors.

Challenges of Intestinal Parasitic Infections in Children in Coastal Areas: A Literature Review on Prevalence and Risk Factors

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Background: Intestinal Parasitic Infections (IPIs), particularly soil-transmitted helminths (STHs), remain a significant burden for children in low-and middle-income countries. Coastal ecosystems that characterized by sandy soil, high water tables, and tidal flooding, present unique ecological determinants that create transmission pathways distinct from inland settings.

Methods: This review synthesizes data from over 50 studies (2000–2025), specifically focusing on coastal settlements, fishermen villages, and tidal flood-prone areas across Indonesia and Southeast Asia.

Results: Findings indicate that coastal children face elevated risks, with STH prevalence in Indonesian hotspots reaching 30%–70%. While Trichuris trichiura and Ascaris lumbricoides dominate due to humidity, sandy terrains specifically favor the persistence of hookworms and Strongyloides. Crucially, high water tables and tidal inundation render conventional sanitation (pit latrines/septic tanks) ineffective, causing direct fecal contamination of the environment.

Conclusion: Standard terrestrial sanitation is maladapted to coastal hydrological contexts. Mitigation requires the deployment of amphibious infrastructure, such as the Tripikon-S system and elevated latrines, combined with targeted behavioral change communication to disrupt littoral transmission cycles.

Pseudo Students’ Thinking Process in Solving Function Composition Inverse Problems Based on Piaget’s Theory

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The purpose of this study was to describe the pseudo-thinking process of students in solving inverse function composition problems based on Piaget’s theory. This study was descriptive qualitative research. Subjects were selected using purposive sampling, with two 11th-grade students from MAN 3 Banyuwangi participating in the study. The instruments used were mathematics tests and interview guidelines. Data collection techniques included test sheets with think-aloud, followed by interviews, which were then analyzed and described. Data analysis techniques employed the Miles and Huberman procedure, which consisted of data condensation, data presentation, and conclusion drawing. The data validity technique used triangulation methods. The test used in this study consisted of two questions. The results showed that students who think pseudo-correctly or pseudo-incorrectly tend to experience many assimilation processes in Piaget’s stages. Students who think pseudo-correctly continue to experience assimilation, so they will only be in a state of disequilibrium. Students who think pseudo-incorrectly initially experience many assimilation processes, followed by disequilibrium, but can reach a state of equilibrium. Individuals with pseudo-wrong thinking have a more effective accommodation process than those with pseudo-right thinking. Thus, students with pseudo-right thinking tend to go through two Piaget stages in solving inverse function composition problems, while students with pseudo-wrong thinking go through all four Piaget stages.

Building First-Line Leadership in Contract Research Organizations: Senior Leaders’ Perspectives on Critical Transition Competencies

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Transitioning from Individual Contributor (IC) to First-Line Manager (FLM) is a pivotal career shift in Contract Research Organizations (CROs), where technical excellence alone does not guarantee leadership effectiveness. In the high-stakes, highly regulated clinical research environment, failure to navigate this transition leads to significant organizational costs and risks to trial integrity. This study examines the behavioral and strategic competencies senior leaders regard as critical for successful FLM transitions and for sustaining performance in clinical research. Utilizing reflexive thematic analysis, the study draws on semi-structured interviews with 10 senior leaders across diverse CRO functions to identify patterned meanings in the accounts of effective versus struggling new managers. Six interlocking themes emerged: (1) Emotional Intelligence and Self-Management, (2) Team Building and People Management, (3) Communication and Interpersonal Skills, (4) Leadership and Strategic Skills, (5) Coaching, Mentoring, and Support Systems, and (6) Technical and Analytical Skills. Across these domains, behavioural and strategic capabilities were viewed as decisive differentiators, with technical expertise necessary but insufficient for success. The findings position the IC‑to‑FLM transition as a fundamental identity shift toward relational and strategic leadership. The study offers implications for leadership theory in high‑risk knowledge‑intensive settings and provides actionable guidance for CROs, including strengthening promotion criteria, designing structured onboarding and mentoring, and integrating behavioural assessments into talent identification to reinforce the leadership pipeline.

The Using Animation Tutors based on Phase One Picture Exchange Communication System to Improve Vocabulary Skills with Autism Spectrum Disorder

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This study evaluates the web-based Animated Tutor PECS (AT-PECS) using the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) method as a means to increase the ability to initiate communication independently in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The objects of this study were children under 5 years of age who had ASD with limited communication skills before being treated using the AT-PECS application. Methods:This study designed an alternating treatment to examine the use of AT-PECS as the primary technique for improving students’ abilities with PECS and increasing students’ independent communication initiatives. Results: The results obtained from this study indicate that students can accept the use of the PECS method for learning and show an increase in communication initiative skills independently, but the speed in improving vocabulary looks faster when using the AT-PECS application. Conclussion: The study indicate that using the PECS intervention method with the help of ATA can improve the communication skills of ASD children and improve verbal abilities to a certain extent.​