Review of Epistemological and Methodological Debates of Educational Research and Its Links to Theoretical Perspectives in Education

Research activities are based up on research paradigms such as positivism, interpretivism, critical paradigm and pragmatism. The paradigm is based on the four components of research paradigms: such as ontology, epistemology, axiology and methodology. The research paradigms suggest different research methodologies on how to approach reality, create knowledge, and values. Epistemological questions were also forwarded from investigator that direct to contestation on the option and appeal of objectivity, subjectivity, causality, validity and generalization of research findings. Educational activities are based on distinct theoretical viewpoints that have strong linkage with the epistemological and methodological research paradigms. Therefore, this study is intended to review the epistemological and methodological debates in educational research and its links to theoretical dimensions of educational theories. The study employed qualitative research approach in reviewing the existing research paradigms, and components of research paradigms, educational theory perspectives and continuous debates existing among these divergent philosophical thoughts. However, reality, knowledge and values are perceived to be contextual rather than universally agreed particularly in the contemporary global academic scenario. The study implies that though there are persistent debates concerning research paradigms; intermingling different research paradigms are vital to suggest solutions for social researches such as in educational problems. Keywords: Epistemology, interpretivism, methodology, ontology, positivism, pragmatism, research paradigm. DOI: 10.7176/JEP/13-28-01 Publication date:October 31st 202

Response of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) stand density to different sowing methods and seeding rates

The recommended seeding rate of alfalfa is about 100 pounds per fedan (4200 m2) pure live seed. This study aimed to determine the optimum alfalfa-seeding rate and sowing method to enhance plant density. A split plot arrangement using randomized complete block with three replications was used to execute the experiment. Alfalfa forage related trait included stand density during a 12 month period after sowing. Results indicated significant differences between sowing methods in terms of plant density of alfalfa. Flat sowing gave on average a density of 143 plants per square meter during the 12 months period when compared to ridges and raised beds. Increasing seeding rates up to 150 gram led to an increase in plant density. The sowing rate of 150 grams produced an average of 165 plants per meter square during the 12 months period in comparison to 88 and 145 obtained by seeding rates of 50 and 75 grams, respectively. Keywords: Alfalfa, seeding method, seeding rate, plant density, Suda

Effects of a high-dose 24-h infusion of tranexamic acid on death and thromboembolic events in patients with acute gastrointestinal bleeding (HALT-IT): an international randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Background: Tranexamic acid reduces surgical bleeding and reduces death due to bleeding in patients with trauma. Meta-analyses of small trials show that tranexamic acid might decrease deaths from gastrointestinal bleeding. We aimed to assess the effects of tranexamic acid in patients with gastrointestinal bleeding. Methods: We did an international, multicentre, randomised, placebo-controlled trial in 164 hospitals in 15 countries. Patients were enrolled if the responsible clinician was uncertain whether to use tranexamic acid, were aged above the minimum age considered an adult in their country (either aged 16 years and older or aged 18 years and older), and had significant (defined as at risk of bleeding to death) upper or lower gastrointestinal bleeding. Patients were randomly assigned by selection of a numbered treatment pack from a box containing eight packs that were identical apart from the pack number. Patients received either a loading dose of 1 g tranexamic acid, which was added to 100 mL infusion bag of 0·9% sodium chloride and infused by slow intravenous injection over 10 min, followed by a maintenance dose of 3 g tranexamic acid added to 1 L of any isotonic intravenous solution and infused at 125 mg/h for 24 h, or placebo (sodium chloride 0·9%). Patients, caregivers, and those assessing outcomes were masked to allocation. The primary outcome was death due to bleeding within 5 days of randomisation; analysis excluded patients who received neither dose of the allocated treatment and those for whom outcome data on death were unavailable. This trial was registered with Current Controlled Trials, ISRCTN11225767, and ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01658124. Findings: Between July 4, 2013, and June 21, 2019, we randomly allocated 12 009 patients to receive tranexamic acid (5994, 49·9%) or matching placebo (6015, 50·1%), of whom 11 952 (99·5%) received the first dose of the allocated treatment. Death due to bleeding within 5 days of randomisation occurred in 222 (4%) of 5956 patients in the tranexamic acid group and in 226 (4%) of 5981 patients in the placebo group (risk ratio [RR] 0·99, 95% CI 0·82–1·18). Arterial thromboembolic events (myocardial infarction or stroke) were similar in the tranexamic acid group and placebo group (42 [0·7%] of 5952 vs 46 [0·8%] of 5977; 0·92; 0·60 to 1·39). Venous thromboembolic events (deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism) were higher in tranexamic acid group than in the placebo group (48 [0·8%] of 5952 vs 26 [0·4%] of 5977; RR 1·85; 95% CI 1·15 to 2·98). Interpretation: We found that tranexamic acid did not reduce death from gastrointestinal bleeding. On the basis of our results, tranexamic acid should not be used for the treatment of gastrointestinal bleeding outside the context of a randomised trial

Growth through acquisition in the context of small high-growth firms

Acquisitions are a powerful tool to achieve growth, enter new markets, and expand capabilities. Yet research into the decision to acquire, and its implementation process, has predominantly focused on large established firms. Little is known about what a small high-growth firm requires to pursue an acquisition, what is it looking for in a target firm and when is acquisitive growth first expected to occur. The firms were not older than five years, and at a company stage at, or earlier than, series A funding round. The investigation revealed that small high-growth firms require organizational strategies, available resources and organizational systems. These types of firms are looking for targets that can provide knowledge, human resources and customer bases.  The earliest moment a small high-growth firm expects to acquire a target is in the seed round, only if the target has a low price and could bring a lot of value, otherwise the series A funding stage is when an acquisition will most likely take place. This observation opens the door to new ideas regarding how such firms may try to behave like large firms, yet are restricted in their capacity, due to a conscious lack of resources to do so

Oceanographic parameters for the sample stations of Ludwig Prandtl cruise LP20200629

Offshore wind energy is a steadily growing sector contributing to the worldwide energy production. The impact of these offshore constructions on the marine environment, however, remains unclear in many aspects. In fact, little is known about potential emissions from corrosion protection systems such as organic coatings or galvanic anodes composed of Al and Zn alloys, used to protect offshore structures. In order to assess potential chemical emissions from offshore wind farms and their impact on the marine environment water and sediment samples were taken in and around offshore wind farms of the German Bight between 22.07.2020 and 25.07.2020 within the context of the Hereon-BSH project OffChEm. At every sampling station oceanographic parameters were measured directly on board with respective probes of a multimeter for pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature and conductivity. Additionally the current associated weather conditions (temperature in air, wind speed, air pressure) were noted from the ship system

Incidence of Emergency Peripartum Hysterectomy in a Tertiary Obstetrics Unit in Romania

Background and Objectives: Emergency peripartum hysterectomy (EPH) is a life-saving surgical procedure performed when medical and surgical conservative measures fail to control postpartum hemorrhage. The objective of this study was to estimate the incidence of EPH and to determine the factors leading to this procedure and the maternal outcomes. Materials and Methods: A retrospective cohort study with all cases of EPH performed at Filantropia Clinical Hospital in Bucharest between January 2012 and May 2021. Results: There were 36 EPH, from a total of 36,099 births recorded. The overall incidence of EPH was 0.99 per 1000 deliveries, most cases being related to placenta accreta spectrum disorder and uterine atony. Conclusions: Peripartum hysterectomy is associated with an important maternal morbidity rate and severe complications. Efforts should be made to reduce the number of unnecessary cesarean deliveries

Grain size distribution for sediment samples of Ludwig Prandtl cruise LP20200629

Offshore wind energy is a steadily growing sector contributing to the worldwide energy production. The impact of these offshore constructions on the marine environment, however, remains unclear in many aspects. In fact, little is known about potential emissions from corrosion protection systems such as organic coatings or galvanic anodes composed of Al and Zn alloys, used to protect offshore structures. In order to assess potential chemical emissions from offshore wind farms and their impact on the marine environment water and sediment samples were taken in and around offshore wind farms of the German Bight between 22.07.2020 and 25.07.2020 within the context of the Hereon-BSH project OffChEm. The sediment samples were taken by a box grab and analyzed for their grain size distribution by laser diffraction

Trace metal distribution for water samples of Ludwig Prandtl cruise LP20200629

Offshore wind energy is a steadily growing sector contributing to the worldwide energy production. The impact of these offshore constructions on the marine environment, however, remains unclear in many aspects. In fact, little is known about potential emissions from corrosion protection systems such as organic coatings or galvanic anodes composed of Al and Zn alloys, used to protect offshore structures. In order to assess potential chemical emissions from offshore wind farms and their impact on the marine environment water and sediment samples were taken in and around offshore wind farms of the German Bight between 22.07.2020 and 25.07.2020 within the context of the Hereon-BSH project OffChEm. The water samples were taken in metal-free GO-FLO sampling bottles, filtered over <0.45 µm polycarbonate filters into pre-cleaned LDPE bottles and acidified with nitric acid. The filtrates were then measured for their (trace) metal concentrations with ICP-MS/MS coupled online to a seaFAST preconcentration and matrix removal system