function dozent_get_discussion_questions( $args = [] )
	{
		global $wpdb;

		/**
		 * Filter the default value of dozent_get_discussion_questions();
		 *
		 * @since DozentLMS 1.0.0
		 *
		 * @param array Default Array
		 *
		 */

		$defaults = apply_filters( 'dozent_get_discussion_questions_args',
			[
				'lecture_ID'    => 0,
				'start'         => 0,
				'limit'         => '-1',
				'instructor_ID' => 0,
				'only_parent'   => true,
			]
		);

		$r = wp_parse_args( $args, $defaults );
		extract( $r, EXTR_SKIP );

		$instructor_join_sql = '';
		if ( ! empty( $instructor_ID ) ){
			$instructor_join_sql = " INNER JOIN {$wpdb->dozent_instructor_courses} instructor_courses ON instructor_courses.course_id = course.ID AND instructor_courses.instructor_id = {$instructor_ID} ";
		}

		$where = "";
		if ( $only_parent ){
			$where .= " AND comments.comment_parent = 0 ";
		}

		if ($lecture_ID) {
			$where .= " AND comments.comment_post_ID = {$lecture_ID} ";
		}

		$limit_query = '';
		if ($limit != '-1') {
			$limit_query = " LIMIT {$start}, {$limit} ";
		}

		$where = apply_filters('dozent_get_discussion_questions_where', $where);


		$count = $wpdb->get_var("SELECT COUNT(comments.comment_ID)
        
        FROM {$wpdb->comments} comments
        LEFT JOIN {$wpdb->postmeta} course_id_meta ON comments.comment_post_ID = course_id_meta.post_id AND course_id_meta.meta_key = '_dozent_course_id'
        LEFT JOIN {$wpdb->posts} course ON course_id_meta.meta_value = course.ID
        LEFT JOIN {$wpdb->posts} lecture ON comments.comment_post_ID = lecture.ID
        LEFT JOIN {$wpdb->users} comment_user ON user_id = comment_user.ID
        {$instructor_join_sql}
        
        WHERE 1 = 1 {$where} AND comments.comment_type = 'dozent_discussion' ;");


		$query = $wpdb->get_results("SELECT 
        comments.comment_ID, 
        comments.comment_post_ID, 
        comments.comment_author, 
        comments.comment_date, 
        comments.comment_date_gmt, 
        comments.comment_content, 
        comments.comment_approved as comment_status, 
        comments.comment_parent, 
        comments.user_id, 
        course_id_meta.meta_value as course_ID,
        course.post_title as course_title, 
        lecture.ID as lecture_ID,
        lecture.post_title as lecture_title, 
        comment_user.display_name as user_display_name, 
        comment_user.user_nicename as user_nicename,
        (SELECT COUNT(replies.comment_ID) FROM {$wpdb->comments} replies WHERE replies.comment_parent = comments.comment_ID ) reply_count
        
        FROM {$wpdb->comments} comments
        LEFT JOIN {$wpdb->postmeta} course_id_meta ON comments.comment_post_ID = course_id_meta.post_id AND course_id_meta.meta_key = '_dozent_course_id'
        LEFT JOIN {$wpdb->posts} course ON course_id_meta.meta_value = course.ID
        LEFT JOIN {$wpdb->posts} lecture ON comments.comment_post_ID = lecture.ID
        LEFT JOIN {$wpdb->users} comment_user ON user_id = comment_user.ID
        {$instructor_join_sql}
        
        WHERE 1 = 1 {$where} AND comments.comment_type = 'dozent_discussion' 
        ORDER BY comments.comment_date DESC {$limit_query} ;");


		return (object) [ 'count' => (int) $count, 'results' => $query ];

	}