scholarly journals What fosters the success of a transdisciplinary environmental research institute? Reflections from an interdisciplinary research cohort

Elem Sci Anth ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew Houser ◽  
Abigail Sullivan ◽  
Tara Smiley ◽  
Ranjan Muthukrishnan ◽  
Elizabeth Grennan Browning ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Collaborative Research ◽  
Career Pathways ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Early Career ◽  
Environmental Research ◽  
Indiana University ◽  
Temporary Employees ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Important Challenge ◽  
Facilitators And Barriers

As society confronts a multitude of wicked problems without clear solutions, transdisciplinary research institutes have the opportunity to meet the increasingly important challenge to foster research capable of addressing such problems—that is, cross-disciplinary and societally relevant research. There is a growing body of literature on how to conduct effective interdisciplinary, transdisciplinary, and team-based research, but there is less work that evaluates (1) the lessons learned, pitfalls, and successes involved in creating and maintaining transdisciplinary institutes that support this research and (2) how early-career researchers are shaped by and shape such institutes. In this commentary, we share insights and critical questions germane for those involved in the formation of, or participation in (especially as early-career, non-tenure-track researchers), transdisciplinary institutes. From our perspective as part of a unique cohort of research fellows developed as part of a new transdisciplinary institute at Indiana University, we explore facilitators and barriers to our ability to support the institute’s mission. Topics addressed include tensions between research and implementation, rapidly achieving collaborative research, and community building, especially in the context of nurturing an institute with temporary employees as a key component. We reflect on what our experiences as part of such an institute mean for our career pathways, especially in the context of current academic structures and incentives. Our insights are in the context of an environmental-focused institute, but the issues raised are likely relevant to transdisciplinary institutes formed around a wide range of other themes or topics, especially those seeking to learn from the experiences of the first few years of an institute.

scholarly journals Risk and the Republican National Convention: Application of the Novel COVID-19 Operational Risk Assessment

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
David Callaway ◽  
Jeff Runge ◽  
Lucia Mullen ◽  
Lisa Rentz ◽  
Kevin Staley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
The United States ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
World Health ◽  
Local Health ◽  
Mass Gathering ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
National Convention

Abstract The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization broadly categorize mass gathering events as high risk for amplification of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) spread in a community due to the nature of respiratory diseases and the transmission dynamics. However, various measures and modifications can be put in place to limit or reduce the risk of further spread of COVID-19 for the mass gathering. During this pandemic, the Johns Hopkins University Center for Health Security produced a risk assessment and mitigation tool for decision-makers to assess SARS-CoV-2 transmission risks that may arise as organizations and businesses hold mass gatherings or increase business operations: The JHU Operational Toolkit for Businesses Considering Reopening or Expanding Operations in COVID-19 (Toolkit). This article describes the deployment of a data-informed, risk-reduction strategy that protects local communities, preserves local health-care capacity, and supports democratic processes through the safe execution of the Republican National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina. The successful use of the Toolkit and the lessons learned from this experience are applicable in a wide range of public health settings, including school reopening, expansion of public services, and even resumption of health-care delivery.

Encouraging millennials to collaborate and learn on the job

2015 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 118-123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lauren Trees
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Management ◽  
Best Practices ◽  
Social Networking ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Retention Rates ◽  
Direct Access ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Business Outcomes ◽  
Wide Range

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present enterprise social networking and gamification as two potential tools to help organizations engage Millennial employees in collaboration and learning. Design/methodology/approach – The research provides general descriptions of enterprise social networking and gamification approaches, shares data on adoption of these approaches from APQC’s “2015 Knowledge Management Priorities Data Report” (based on a January 2015 survey of 524 knowledge management professionals) and includes four company examples adapted from APQC’s Connecting People to Content and Transferring and Applying Critical Knowledge best practices studies. The methodology for APQC’s best practices studies involves screening 50 or more organizations with potential best practices in a given research scope area and identifying five or six with proven best practices. APQC then conducts detailed site visits with the selected organizations and publishes case studies based on those site visits. Findings – Enterprise social networking platforms are in place at 50 per cent of organizations, with another 25 per cent planning to implement them by the end of 2015. By providing near-immediate access to information and answers, enterprise social networking helps Millennials learn the ropes at their new workplaces, gives them direct access to more knowledgeable colleagues who can assist and mentor them, and helps them improve their business outcomes by reusing knowledge and lessons learned across projects. Younger workers can also harness the power of social networking to create a sense of belonging and build their reputations in large, dispersed firms, where it is particularly difficult for them to gain visibility. A recent APQC survey indicates that 54 per cent of organizations either currently employ gamification to encourage collaboration or expect to implement it within the next three years. The rush to gamify the enterprise is, at least in part, a reflection of employers’ desire to satisfy Millennials and make them feel connected to a community of co-workers. Although games appeal to a wide range of age groups, Millennials grew up with digital interaction and tend to prefer environments that emphasize teamwork, social learning and frequent feedback – all of which can be delivered through gamification. Originality/value – The value of this paper is to introduce the value of and relationship between enterprise social networking and gamification platforms to human resource (HR) professionals looking to increase engagement and retention rates for Millennial employees.

Lessons learned from the porcine CARPA model: constant and variable responses to different nanomedicines and administration protocols

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rudolf Urbanics ◽  
Péter Bedőcs ◽  
János Szebeni
Keyword(s):  
Inflammatory Mediator ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Bolus Administration ◽  
Variable Parameters ◽  
Skin Changes ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Slow Infusion ◽  
Technical Details ◽  
Drug Nanocarriers ◽  
Preclinical Safety

AbstractPigs provide a sensitive and quantitative animal model of complement (C) activation-related pseudoallergy (CARPA) caused by liposomes and a wide range of nanoparticulate drugs or drug nanocarriers (nanomedicines). The tetrad of symptoms (hemodynamic, hematological, laboratory and skin changes) that arise within minutes after i.v. injection of reactogenic nanomedicines (RNMs) are highly reproducible among different pigs but the presence, direction and relative severity of symptoms are very different with different RNMs and their administration schedule. Bolus administration of RNMs usually trigger pulmonary hypertension with or without various degrees of systemic hyper- or hypotension, tachy-or bradycardia, arrhythmia, blood cell and inflammatory mediator changes and skin rash. These reactions can be rapid or protracted, and fully tachyphylactic, semi-tachyphylactic or non-tachyphylactic. Slow infusion usually diminishes the reactions and/or entail delayed, protracted and less severe hemodynamic and other changes. The goal of this review is to present some technical details of the porcine CARPA model, point out its constant and variable parameters, show examples of different reactions, highlight the unique features and capabilities of the model and evaluate its utility in preclinical safety assessment. The information obtained in this model enables the understanding of the complex pathomechanism of CARPA involving simultaneous anaphylatoxin and inflammatory mediator actions at multiple sites in different organs.

scholarly journals A Comparative Analysis of Climate-Risk and Extreme Event-Related Impacts on Well-Being and Health: Policy Implications

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 331 ◽  
Author(s):  
Walter Leal Filho ◽  
Abul Al-Amin ◽  
Gustavo Nagy ◽  
Ulisses Azeiteiro ◽  
Laura Wiesböck ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Extreme Events ◽  
Extreme Event ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Health Impacts ◽  
Climate Risks ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Mental Problems

There are various climate risks that are caused or influenced by climate change. They are known to have a wide range of physical, economic, environmental and social impacts. Apart from damages to the physical environment, many climate risks (climate variability, extreme events and climate-related hazards) are associated with a variety of impacts on human well-being, health, and life-supporting systems. These vary from boosting the proliferation of vectors of diseases (e.g., mosquitos), to mental problems triggered by damage to properties and infrastructure. There is a great variety of literature about the strong links between climate change and health, while there is relatively less literature that specifically examines the health impacts of climate risks and extreme events. This paper is an attempt to address this knowledge gap, by compiling eight examples from a set of industrialised and developing countries, where such interactions are described. The policy implications of these phenomena and the lessons learned from the examples provided are summarised. Some suggestions as to how to avert the potential and real health impacts of climate risks are made, hence assisting efforts to adapt to a problem whose impacts affect millions of people around the world. All the examples studied show some degree of vulnerability to climate risks regardless of their socioeconomic status and need to increase resilience against extreme events.

Integrating Unmanned Aircraft Systems into State Department of Transportation Highway Bridge Inspection Procedures: Challenges, Implications, and Lessons Learned

2021 ◽  
pp. 036119812110444
Author(s):  
Michael Plotnikov ◽  
John Collura
Keyword(s):  
State Department ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Unmanned Aircraft ◽  
Unmanned Aircraft Systems ◽  
Highway Bridge ◽  
Department Of Transportation ◽  
Bridge Inspection ◽  
Aircraft Systems ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Bridge Inspections

Rapid proliferation of small, unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) promises to revolutionize traditional methods used to carry out civil engineering surveys and analyses and conduct physical infrastructure inspections. One of the most promising areas of implementation of innovative UAS technology includes the integration of UAS into current state Department of Transportation (DOT) bridge inspections. While regular bridge inspections are paramount for road user safety, many traditional inspection methods and procedures are cumbersome, expensive, and time consuming; present significant hazards to both the traveling public and the inspection personnel; and are disruptive to normal operations of the transportation facilities. The results of recent studies indicate that UAS can serve as a useful tool in many highway bridge inspection procedures, while significantly reducing costs and time and improving safety. The major factors that affect the success of integrating UAS into the bridge inspection process relate to selection of the proper types of UAS platforms and avionics, data collection sensors and processing software, as well as conduct of task-specific pilot training. The paper provides an examination of current standard bridge inspection procedures and protocols currently carried out by state DOTs; an evaluation of state DOT experiences with the integration of UAS technology into bridge inspections; and an assessment of the issues and challenges associated with this technology. It is expected that this paper will be of interest to a wide range of stakeholders representing state and federal governments, academia, and industry.

Semantic Information Retrieval on Medical Texts

2022 ◽  
Vol 54 (7) ◽  
pp. 1-38
Author(s):  
Lynda Tamine ◽  
Lorraine Goeuriot
Keyword(s):  
Information Retrieval ◽  
Health Informatics ◽  
Medical Information ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Semantic Search ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Cross Model ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Search Systems

The explosive growth and widespread accessibility of medical information on the Internet have led to a surge of research activity in a wide range of scientific communities including health informatics and information retrieval (IR). One of the common concerns of this research, across these disciplines, is how to design either clinical decision support systems or medical search engines capable of providing adequate support for both novices (e.g., patients and their next-of-kin) and experts (e.g., physicians, clinicians) tackling complex tasks (e.g., search for diagnosis, search for a treatment). However, despite the significant multi-disciplinary research advances, current medical search systems exhibit low levels of performance. This survey provides an overview of the state of the art in the disciplines of IR and health informatics, and bridging these disciplines shows how semantic search techniques can facilitate medical IR. First,we will give a broad picture of semantic search and medical IR and then highlight the major scientific challenges. Second, focusing on the semantic gap challenge, we will discuss representative state-of-the-art work related to feature-based as well as semantic-based representation and matching models that support medical search systems. In addition to seminal works, we will present recent works that rely on research advancements in deep learning. Third, we make a thorough cross-model analysis and provide some findings and lessons learned. Finally, we discuss some open issues and possible promising directions for future research trends.

Evaluation of Composted Sewage Sludge/Straw Mixture for Horticultural Utilization

1989 ◽  
Vol 21 (8-9) ◽  
pp. 889-897 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M. Lopez-Real ◽  
E. Witter ◽  
F. N. Midmer ◽  
B. A. O. Hewett
Keyword(s):  
Collaborative Research ◽  
Slow Release ◽  
General Purpose ◽  
Exchange Capacity ◽  
Soluble Salts ◽  
Slow Release Fertilizer ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Sludge Cake ◽  
Bulk Volume ◽  
Composted Sewage Sludge

Collaborative research between Southern Water and Wye College, University of London, has led to the development of a static aerated pile composting process for the treatment of dewatered activated sludge cake/straw mixtures. The process reduces bulk volume of the sludge producing an environmentally acceptable, stabilised, odour and pathogen-free product. Characteristics of the compost make it a suitable general purpose medium for container grown plants, providing the salt concentration is reduced by washing the compost prior to planting. Compared with peat the compost has a higher bulk density, a lower waterholding capacity, a lower cation exchange capacity, a high content of soluble salts, and a higher content of plant nutrients. A compost mixture was successfully developed in the growing trials containing equal quantities of compost, Sphagnum peat, and horticultural vermiculite. The compost has been used successfully to grow a wide range of plants. Plants grown in mixtures based on the compost were in general similar to those grown in peat-based growing media. The compost is a valuable soil conditioner and slow release fertilizer.

scholarly journals Multiellipsoidal Mapping Algorithm

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (8) ◽  
pp. 1239 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos Villaseñor ◽  
Nancy Arana-Daniel ◽  
Alma Alanis ◽  
Carlos Lopez-Franco ◽  
Javier Gomez-Avila
Keyword(s):  
Point Clouds ◽  
Mapping Algorithm ◽  
Robotic Mapping ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Important Challenge ◽  
Memory Cost ◽  
Environmental Representation ◽  
Object Shapes ◽  
Quadratic Surfaces ◽  
Object Mapping

The robotic mapping problem, which consists in providing a spatial model of the environment to a robot, is a research topic with a wide range of applications. One important challenge of this problem is to obtain a map that is information-rich (i.e., a map that preserves main structures of the environment and object shapes) yet still has a low memory cost. Point clouds offer a highly descriptive and information-rich environmental representation; accordingly, many algorithms have been developed to approximate point clouds and lower the memory cost. In recent years, approaches using basic and “simple” (i.e., using only planes or spheres) geometric entities for approximating point clouds have been shown to provide accurate representations at low memory cost. However, a better approximation can be implemented if more complex geometric entities are used. In the present paper, a new object-mapping algorithm is introduced for approximating point clouds with multiple ellipsoids and other quadratic surfaces. We show that this algorithm creates maps that are rich in information yet low in memory cost and have features suitable for other robotics problems such as navigation and pose estimation.

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