Benefits Of Collaboration Research Articles

Toward a critical technical practice in disaster risk management: lessons from designing collaboration initiatives

Purpose Despite decades of social science research into disasters, practice in the field continues to be informed largely from a technical perspective. The outcome is often a perpetuation of vulnerability, as narrowly defined technical interventions fail to address or recognize the ethical, historical, political and structural complexities of real-world community vulnerability and its causes. The authors propose that addressing this does not require a rejection of technical practice, but its evolution into a critical technical practice – one which foregrounds interdisciplinarity, inclusion, creativity and reflexivity, as means to question the assumptions, ideologies and delimited solutions built into the technical tools for understanding risks.Design/methodology/approach The authors present findings from three events they designed and facilitated, aimed at rethinking the engineering pedagogy and technical practice of disaster risk management. The first was a 2-day “artathon” that brought together engineers, artists and scientists to collaborate on new works of art based on disaster and climate data. The second was the Understanding Risk Field Lab, a 1-month long arts and technology un-conference exploring critical design practices, collaborative technology production, hacking and art to address complex issues of urban flooding. The third was a 4-month long virtual workshop on responsible engineering, science and technology for disaster risk management.Findings Each of these events uncovered and highlighted the benefits of interdisciplinary collaboration and reflexivity in disaster risk modeling, communication and management. The authors conclude with a discussion of the key design elements that help promote the principles of a critical technical practice.Originality/value The authors propose “critical technical practice” which foregrounds principles of interdisciplinarity, inclusion, creativity and reflexivity, as a means to question the assumptions, ideologies and delimited solutions built into the technical tools for understanding climate and disaster risk.

Mapping continuous learning using social network research: a social network study of Australian Genomics as a Learning Health System

ObjectivesTo explore a macrolevel Learning Health System (LHS) and examine if an intentionally designed network can foster a collaborative learning community over time. The secondary aim was to demonstrate the...

Low-Carbon Collaboration in the Supply Chain under Digital Transformation: An Evolutionary Game-Theoretic Analysis

In the face of the challenges posed by the need to drastically decrease carbon emissions, all agents in the supply chain need to strengthen low-carbon collaboration with the support of digital transformation. This study sets up a low-carbon collaboration evolutionary game model of the supply chain based on benefit sharing by introducing digital transformation. The equilibrium-point stability of the supply chain is then analyzed under two separate conditions—i.e., less and more government rewards and punishments compared to supply-chain agents’ strategic risk cost. Furthermore, based on the evolutionary game model, this study draws the system dynamics (SD) flow diagram to analyze the research problem quantitatively. The main results show that: (1) low-carbon benefit-driven effects promotes collaboration benefit sharing, thereby increasing the probability of low-carbon collaboration; (2) digital transformation is an essential regulator of low-carbon collaboration in the supply chain and can amplify the low-carbon benefit-driven effect; (3) collaboration benefit sharing can perfectly coordinate the vertical supply chain under low-carbon collaboration; and (4) government support and management are critical links in the low-carbon collaboration formation path of the supply chain. This research provides theoretical support for low-carbon collaboration in the supply chain under digital transformation.

Global pen pal education intervention among student pharmacists: A pilot project

IntroductionGlobal health, a practice that prioritizes improving health and achieving health equity for all people worldwide, is a priority for pharmacists, schools, and pharmacy colleges. Several initiatives aim to enhance faculty and student exchanges while promoting projects and initiatives among thriving universities and under-resourced countries and institutions. While many organizations recognize the benefit of global collaboration, as demonstrated by the adoption of the 2012 American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy Strategic Plan, which calls for increased global experiences for faculty and students, the COVID-19 pandemic created a demand for international engagement within pharmacy practice. The objective of this study was to evaluate students' perceptions and attitudes toward incorporating a global pharmacy pen pal (PPP) exchange within the pharmacy curricula at two schools/colleges of pharmacy. MethodsThis mixed-method study included assigned engagement within a required or elective didactic course, followed by a post-experience survey. Each student was pre-assigned a pen pal from a cohort of pharmacy students residing in 11 countries for the assignment. ResultsIn total, 184 students completed the learning experience, and across both sites, 63 students completed the post-experience survey. The students' impressions of the PPP varied by site, yet most participants reported an improved awareness of pharmacy practice in other countries.

Adaptive optics in the Arctic? A commentary on Fosbury and Jeffery.

Adaptive optics in the Arctic? A commentary on Fosbury and Jeffery.

Research on Emergency Supply Chain Collaboration Based on Tripartite Evolutionary Game

To explore the optimal mechanism of emergency supply chain collaboration when an epidemic crisis occurs, we construct a tripartite evolutionary game model of emergency collaboration among the government, the retailer, and the supplier to explore the interaction of primary strategies and the impact of critical parameters on the evolution and stability of the system. We conduct simulation analysis based on the actual situation of China’s emergency supply chain development. The research results show that in the recognition period of the crisis, the government participates in emergency supervision and the retailer participates in emergency collaboration, but the supplier does not participate in emergency collaboration. However, in the containment period of the crisis, the government increases penalties, provides appropriate emergency subsidies, and improves the efficiency of emergency supervision, which are conducive to promoting the supplier’s participation in emergency collaboration. In the recovery period of the crisis, as the benefits of both the retailer and the supplier participation in emergency collaboration increase, the government will withdraw from emergency supervision gradually. Moreover, the weaker the risk of supply chain enterprises participating in emergency collaboration, the more reasonable the distribution of the collaboration benefits, and the more conducive to the spontaneous emergency collaboration of the retailer and the supplier.

The Role of Social Media on the Research Productivity of Neurosurgeons During the COVID-19 Pandemic

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic committees of all countries restricted face-to-face interactions. This study aimed to determine how the pandemic changed the research output for many neurosurgeons while highlighting how social media may have been used as a contactless platform to maintain research productivity during these times.MethodsA cross-sectional, descriptive, 24-item, and non-randomized online survey was applied worldwide, and shared using social media platforms and emails. The questions mainly focused on comparing the results of the pre-pandemic period to the pandemic period (after March 2020).ResultsA total of 202 respondents from 60 different countries responded to the survey. Interest in neurosurgical education increased from 24% to 76%, while the topic of epidemiology gained interest from 28% to 72% when the pre-pandemic era was compared to the pandemic era. Preference for prospective studies decreased from 66% to 34%, while interest in retrospective studies increased from 39% to 61%. In evaluating publication types, the preference for reviews increased from 36% to 64%. Sixty-two percent of the respondents stated they had concerns over delays in individual contributions/lack of accountability. These concerns were followed by problems with theft of intellectual property/data and authorship disputes. Forty-one percent believed that the support of extra hands on a load-heavy project was the most powerful benefit of social media collaboration. Those who reported increased publications during the pandemic were also more likely to collaborate using social media (P = 0.030).ConclusionsDuring the pandemic, social media collaborations helped increase research output for neurosurgeons.

Collaboration benefits Ugandan children

Collaboration benefits Ugandan children

Benefits of collaboration between indigenous fishery management and data-driven spatial planning approaches: the case of a Polynesian traditional design (rāhui)

Traditional fishery management schemes have gained increasing recognition worldwide. It can be explained by a better compliance to ancient cultural practices, still rooted in present-day coastal communities despite globalization and modern livelihoods. This revival is widespread and welcome by policy makers, scientists, and the communities themselves. However, current environmental and socio-economic contexts are often not conform to ancient-time situations. Baselines are different. Effective adjustments of traditional practices may be advocated. Re-establishment of traditional schemes ‘as such’ warrants further investigations and modern quantitative assessment and management approaches can help. A demonstration is provided here for a rural Polynesian island that faces declining marine resources. Recently, local fishers discussed the implementation of a traditional system (called rāhui) to preserve the island lagoon resources, based on the rotational closure of an arbitrary 50% of each lagoon subdivision. Upon the fishers’ request who questioned a traditional scheme that has not been applied for decades and seeked some scientific approval, we used systematic conservation planning (SCP) tools to explore potential optimisation pathways. All quantitative conservation objectives being equal, SCP suggested reserve sizes and opportunity costs on average 7 and 5 times lower than the traditional design. Traditional management federates communities and is strongly encouraged, but fishers are now aware that effective alternative designs are possible. A hybrid design mixing traditional practices and data-based optimizations is advocated. Similar findings and recommendations can be expected in other regions.

Partnerships promote innovation in food supply chains

Partnerships promote innovation in food supply chains

Evolutionary game study on information nodes setting in supply chain tracing based on compensation mechanism

Consumption compensation is the driving force for motivating each supply chain link to set up information nodes, which is of great significance for promoting informatization, modernization, transformation, and upgrading of the supply chain system. This study simulates the evolution process of strategic selection for each supply chain link to set information nodes independently or collectively under the unconstrained government rewards conditions and punishments. The main conclusions are as follows: (1) When each link in the supply chain provides source tracing information independently, the vendor chooses to set up information nodes for the links with large information cost compensation coefficients. (2) When the vendor provides source tracing information cooperatively if the collaborative benefit is less than the cooperation cost, the information node will be set to the link with the large compensation coefficient. If not, information nodes will be set in each link. (3) Under the government incentive mechanism, enterprises are willing to cooperate. The punishment mechanism helps avoid situations where neither side sets up information nodes. The compensation coefficient is a prerequisite for mechanisms to work.

Cryoneurolysis of Intercostal Nerve for Rib Trauma and Intercostal Neuralgia in the Emergency Department: A Multidisciplinary Approach

BackgroundManagement of pain from traumatic rib injury is very challenging. Both acute and chronic pain caused by rib injury can cause significant morbidity (pain-induced hypoventilation, pneumonia, respiratory failure) and functional hindrance. Traditional pain management strategies in the emergency department (ED) that target acute traumatic rib pain are limited by the side effects of medications or the temporary half-life of anesthetics used for a nerve block. Both treatment modalities fall short of addressing subsequent chronic sequelae. Case ReportWe present the first-time use of cryoneurolysis on an ED patient for the treatment of 10/10 severe traumatic intercostal neuralgia that resulted in the patient being discharged home pain free. The patient initially underwent a multilevel left-sided T5–T7 intercostal nerve block, followed by ultrasound-guided percutaneous cryoneurolysis of those intercostal nerves using two cycles of 2 min of cooling to a temperature of −70°C (nitrous oxide), with 30 s of thawing in between. The patient experienced 100% pain relief immediately post procedure that was sustained. He remained completely symptom free more than 6 months after the bedside procedure and returned to sports without restrictions.Why Should an Emergency Physician Be Aware of This? This case highlights the benefits of cross-departmental collaboration between the ED, Anesthesia, and Pain Management. We hope this model of multidisciplinary pain modulation can be replicated for other patients with similar pain and can herald a new paradigm of pain management in the ED.

NEPHwork: creating a quality improvement and research network for UK renal trainees

NEPHwork was established in 2020 as a renal specialty trainee-driven national quality improvement and research network with the aim of coupling the benefits of trainee-led collaboration with the rich data...

Better Together: A Descriptive Analysis of a Medical-Legal Partnership in Western North Carolina.

BACKGROUND The medical-legal partnership (MLP) is an innovative and proven-effective approach to addressing health-harming social needs that have legal remedies (e.g., housing concerns, intimate partner violence). Yet, few MLPs exist within outpatient primary care practices and in rural settings.METHODS We describe the impact of an MLP between Pisgah Legal Services and the Mountain Area Health Education Center, which serves rural North Carolina counties, over a 24-month period.RESULTS Overall, 629 cases were referred to the MLP. Three hundred seventy cases were opened and investigated by a lawyer. Three hundred sixty-four cases were closed (i.e., a resolution was reached), yielding 808 outcomes, with an average of 2.2 outcomes per case. Domestic violence/family law and housing were the main socio-legal concerns addressed by the MLP. Eighty-six (24%) of cases included at least 1 representation outcome; the success rate in representation cases was 90%.LIMITATIONS We did not examine the impact of the MLP on patient health outcomes, nor did we have comparative outcomes data for similar individuals with unmet social needs but who did not receive MLP services.CONCLUSIONS The MLP was successful in helping to address multiple social needs faced by patients that contribute to worse health status and outcomes. Monetary benefits to patients were $309,902 plus an additional $174,733 from tax returns and the Earned Income Tax Credit. The MLP lawyer provided education and training to support clinicians, learners, and community organizations. These data highlight the benefits of collaboration between health professionals and lawyers in advancing equity by addressing unmet social needs.

Collaboration benefits Ugandan children

Collaboration benefits Ugandan children

ShinyRBase: Near real-time energy saving models using reactive programming

To document energy savings from retrofitting a building, a reliable baseline model is needed. The development and implementation of the baseline model is an important step in the measurement and verification (M&V) process. Usually, an energy analyst enters the stage, collects data, do the estimation and delivers the baseline model. The modeling work of the energy analyst is done on either a proprietary or open-source statistical software, often using a coding script. If stakeholders want an updated report on energy savings, the analyst must re-do the whole process, for example on a monthly basis. This workflow is based on an imperative programming paradigm. The analyst holds on to the code that performs the analysis and re-run the code when agreed upon. The consequence of this workflow is that stakeholders are dependent on the energy analyst and that updated energy savings results must be planned and scheduled. However, emerging M&V 2.0 technologies enables automation of the energy saving reports. This paper demonstrates how energy savings from retrofitting’s in the Norwegian food retail sector is continuously monitored and documented in a web application. The application is built using open-source tools where the baseline model is delivered through a reactive programming framework. As an energy savings baseline model, the Tao Vanilla benchmarking model (TVB) was set into production in the web application. The TVB is a linear regression model with well specified features, easy to interpret and has a history of excellent prediction performance. The proposed web application framework allows for a fast development cycle without any need-to-know web programming languages like HTML, CSS or JavaScript. The reactive framework delivers several advantages. First, the stakeholders will always have a current and real-time report on the savings. Second, complex methodologies are dynamically used by the end-user. Third, increased involvement by stakeholders and interaction with the analyst related to the methods used in the energy savings analysis leads to collaborative benefits such as faster disseminating of knowledge. These synergy effect leads to a better technical understanding from the end user perspective and enhanced practical understanding for the analyst. Finally, the paper presents an integrated look at the energy kWh savings versus the cost of the retrofitting’s.

Collaborative writing in an EFL secondary setting: the role of task complexity

Abstract Prior research found that compared with individual writing, collaborative writing improves learner performance and facilitates writing development. However, it remains unknown whether collaboration may allow learners to tackle writing tasks of varying cognitive demands. This study examined the role of task complexity in collaborative writing (CW) through (a) comparing how individual learners and dyads performed in tasks of varying cognitive demands and (b) examining how task complexity impacted pairs’ co-constructed texts. Sixty-nine Chinese junior high school learners of English (14–16 years old) were divided into two groups: individual writing (n = 21 learners) and a CW group (n = 24 pairs). Learners in both groups completed a simple and a complex task (manipulated via ± task structure). The written products were analyzed in terms of linguistic complexity, accuracy, fluency, and functional adequacy. Results indicated that the benefits of collaboration on learners’ written products were subject to the influence of task structure. When task structure is present, dyads produced functionally more adequate and longer texts than individual learners. In contrast, without task structure, dyads gained an edge over individual writers in terms of linguistic accuracy and fluency. Also, when examining the role of task complexity within the CW group, this study found that task structure exerted some influence on fluency, but not on other aspects of the jointly written products. Pedagogical and research implications were discussed.

Effects of individual and dyadic decision-making and normative reference on delay discounting decisions

The tendency to devaluate delayed rewards, a phenomenon referred to as ‘discounting behaviour’, has been studied by wide-ranging research examining individuals choosing between sooner but smaller or later but larger rewards. Despite the fact that many real-life choices are embedded in a social context, the question of whether or not social collaboration can have an impact on such choices has not been addressed empirically. With this research, we aimed to fill this gap experimentally by implementing a novel choice selection procedure in order to study the interactive dynamics between two participants. This selection procedure allowed us to dissect the sequence of decision-making into its elements, starting from the very first individual preference to the solution of possible conflicting preferences in the dyad. In Experiment 1, we studied group decision-making on classical intertemporal choices to reveal the possible benefit of social collaboration on discounting and identified that the knowledge of the social situation in collective decision-making causes a reduction in discounting. In a pre-registered Experiment 2, we compared classical intertemporal choices with choices in a gamified version of a discounting paradigm in which the participants had a real-time experience trial by trial and for which a normative reference was present. We found that collective decision-making had a substantial impact on intertemporal decision-making, but was shaped by different types of choices. Classical intertemporal choices were rather susceptible to the contextual factors of decision-making, whereas in the gamified version that included a normative reference the decisions were reliably influenced by social collaboration and resulted in a lower discounting. The results in this paradigm replicate our original findings from former research.

A Global Collaboration to Develop and Pilot Test a Mobile Application to Improve Cancer Pain Management in Nepal.

IntroductionQuality palliative care, which prioritizes comfort and symptom control, can reduce global suffering from non-communicable diseases, such as cancer. To address this need, the Nepalese Association of Palliative Care (NAPCare) created pain management guidelines (PMG) to support healthcare providers in assessing and treating serious pain. The NAPCare PMG are grounded in World Health Organization best practices but adapted for the cultural and resource context of Nepal. Wider adoption of the NAPCare PMG has been limited due to distribution of the guidelines as paper booklets.MethodsBuilding on a long-standing partnership between clinicians and researchers in the US and Nepal, the NAPCare PMG mobile application (“app”) was collaboratively designed. Healthcare providers in Nepal were recruited to pilot test the app using patient case studies. Then, participants completed a Qualtrics survey to evaluate the app which included the System Usability Scale (SUS) and selected items from the Mobile App Rating Scale (MARS). Descriptive and summary statistics were calculated and compared across institutions and roles. Regression analyses to explore relationships (α = 0.05) between selected demographic variables and SUS and MARS scores were also conducted.ResultsNinety eight healthcare providers (n = 98) pilot tested the NAPCare PMG app. Overall, across institutions and roles, the app received an SUS score of 76.0 (a score > 68 is considered above average) and a MARS score of 4.10 (on a scale of 1 = poor, 5 = excellent). 89.8% (n = 88) “agreed” or “strongly agreed” that the app will help them better manage cancer pain. Age, years of experience, and training in palliative care were significant in predicting SUS scores (p-values, 0.0124, 0.0371, and 0.0189, respectively); institution was significant in predicting MARS scores (p = 0.0030).ConclusionThe NAPCare PMG mobile app was well-received, and participants rated it highly on both the SUS and MARS. Regression analyses suggest end-user variables important to consider in designing and evaluating mobile apps in lower resourced settings. Our app design and pilot testing process illustrate the benefits of cross global collaborations to build research capacity and generate knowledge within the local context.

The Benefits of Interdisciplinary Collaboration in Community-Engaged Research: Insights From a Study of Digital Storytelling With Marginalized Youth

This article draws on qualitative data from a long-term partnership to exemplify the unique advantages of interdisciplinary and collaborative approaches in community-engaged research. We demonstrate how the differing foci and intersecting concerns of our scholarly fields, social work and media studies, benefited our work with marginalized communities to promote youth voice through digital storytelling. This effort was grounded in the shared view that digital storytelling offers an excellent opportunity to engage creatively with young people’s memories and experiences and that such storytelling can support young people in their healing, identity formation, agency development, and engagement with the public. By working together across disciplines, we were able to surface and address concerns related to vulnerability, privacy, and advocacy among young people experiencing marginalization in ways that would not have been possible in a project involving only social work or media studies. We illustrate this process by describing three critical incidents that exposed our disciplinary overlaps and differences in ways that helped us navigate complex issues related to young people shared their stories with the public. Our findings therefore have implications for others working with vulnerable communities to amplify counternarratives with the goal of bringing about positive systemic change.