Collaborative Nature Research Articles

Reimagining the Rheumatology Fellowship Interview: Using Participatory Design-Thinking Process to Create a More Applicant-Centered Experience.

Design thinking is a creative problem-solving process used to better understand users' needs and experiences so that a product or service can be improved. Its emphasis on empathy, iterative prototyping, and participatory collaboration make it an ideal methodology for innovation in medical education. We apply this framework to the virtual rheumatology fellowship interview process so that interviews can become more applicant centered. This educational quality improvement project uses a design-thinking framework to identify opportunities and challenges for rheumatology fellowship applicants. The investigators use the 5-step process (Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype, Test) and incorporate rapid qualitative analysis of semistructured interviews to innovate the interview experience. The iterative and collaborative nature of this process has empowered participants to codesign an applicant-centered interview experience. Interviews with fellowship applicants (n=9), fellow physicians (n=4), and faculty members (n=3) identified three major dynamics of the interview process: (1) Is it a safe environment to ask questions? (2) How do I exchange information effectively? and (3) How do I fit all these data into the bigger picture? Creative brainstorming techniques at a series of three workshops yielded four prototypes emphasizing customization, hybridization, facilitation, and preparation. A finalized applicant-centered interview template was devised in preparation for the 2023-2024 application season. Design thinking has yielded insights into three important dynamics that drive applicant experiences. These insights allow for a redesign of processes so that virtual interviews can be more applicant centered. This framework allows for further iterations and modifications as the needs of applicants and programs evolve over time.

Time-Tested Strategies in Modern Context: A Bibliometric Study of Chemotherapy's Continued Importance in Colorectal Cancer Treatment.

In the landscape of colorectal cancer treatment, classical chemotherapeutic agents such as 5-fluorouracil, capecitabine, irinotecan, oxaliplatin, trifluridine, and tipiracil have historically played a pivotal role. This study presents a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of the top 100 most influential articles focusing on these classic chemotherapy drugs in the management of colorectal cancer. With this, we shed light on their current importance, despite the emergence of new therapeutic targets and treatments in the field of oncology. Systematically evaluating research outputs, this analysis reveals a prevalence of co-authorship among institutions, countries (led by the United States, China, and Europe), and researchers highlighting the global and collaborative nature of efforts in research, utilization, and development of these drugs. Three thematic axes lead the research: pharmacogenetics, the development of new pharmaceutical forms, and the use of adjuvants. This research serves as a foundation for future endeavors, aiding researchers, clinicians, and policymakers in making informed decisions about the direction of research and development in the dynamic field of colorectal cancer therapy.

Are landholders willing to collaborate under ELMs? Promoting collaborative conservation on a landscape scale in the UK

It is now widely acknowledged that one of the ways to protect biodiversity in the UK is through a landscape scale management approach towards conservation. Achieving this will require future agri-environmental schemes to foster better opportunities for landscape scale collaboration amongst landholders – a limitation of previous agri-environmental schemes. With the UK's new Environmental Land Management schemes reflecting a stronger emphasis on collaborative management at a landscape scale, the extent to which landowners are willing to collaborate must be better understood. This will enable the potential for a collaborative Nature Recovery Network - set out in the UK's 25 Year Environmental Plan – to be fully realised.Findings from our case study in Bonhurst Farm, UK suggest that while the scenario with the highest connectivity was the preferred choice amongst participants, several barriers stand in the way of implementing it; not least the uncertainty of how it might impact the operation of their farm business. Additionally, concerns around funding, and the lack of clarity and flexibility, of future scheme could potentially hinder uptake. This is in spite of respondents’ strong inclination towards environmental conservation and increasing landscape connectivity. To address these barriers, future policies must not only involve landholders earlier in the development process of these schemes but also consider how their involvement contributes to the formulation of these schemes. Moreover, our findings also indicate that facilitators and advisors serves as key driver to the success of collaborations, with their ability to organise and implement collaborative schemes, along with their expertise knowledge, being seen as invaluable.

Interprofessional Practice Between Speech-Language Pathologists and Classroom Teachers: A Mixed-Methods Systematic Review.

There is an important need for interprofessional practice (IPP) between speech-language pathologists (SLPs) and classroom teachers (CTs) in mainstream schools to support student outcomes. This mixed methods systematic review aimed to synthesize existing literature to describe the experiences of IPP between SLPs and CTs in mainstream schools. A systematic review protocol was utilized to conduct a comprehensive search of six databases (PubMed Central, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, CINAHL EBSCO, ERIC, and ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global) using key words related to the research question. A total of 1,876 unique studies were retrieved. Of these, 18 studies were identified as relevant to the research question, as they described the experiences of IPP between SLPs and CTs. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the quantitative and qualitative studies. Six main themes describing IPP experiences were identified: (1) what are you bringing to the collaboration table? (2) putting the value in collaboration, (3) sharing is collaborating, (4) the nature of collaboration varies, (5) the educational context matters, and (6) influences to collaboration beyond professional control. IPP between SLPs and CTs is complex, with various facilitators and barriers to IPP emerging within the education context. Competencies for SLPs and CTs related to having a shared understanding, adequate communication, and building relationships with each other help support IPP in schools. The utilization of a relationship-centered care approach between SLPs and CTs is also important to foster and support student outcomes. https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.24018732.

Utilising Shared Service Organisations for dynamic service networks

Collaborative governance which repositions citizens as service co-ordinators - has become an increasingly visible methodology within public organisations. In this new model, service management is dependent upon a complex series of iterative interactions between multiple stakeholders, making the service network is notoriously difficult to manage. Shared Service Organisations (SSOs) - unit(s) within an enterprise that deliver specialized, value-added services across the organization to multiple internal users – are uniquely positioned to understand and manipulate the complex, non-linear, relational nature of collaborative networks and fully harness operant resources for long-term impactful service delivery. Despite significant potential for SSOs within collaborative governance, there is a surprising lack of insight best managerial practices and the effect on staff behaviour, and even more so on the potential of SSOs to manage these networks. This research presents a single in-depth case study with the Project Management Office of an Irish national economic development agency using a Participatory Action Research (PAR) Methodology within a Design Thinking Framework. This allowed the researcher to see and interact with the challenges faced by participants and hone their understanding of influencing factors and contextual considerations. The research identified three key managerial implications. Firstly, explicit actions to establish and maintain a service mindset - which recognises and values operant resources - must be formally implemented into SSO operations. It is not sufficient to for managers to assume staff have a service orientated mindset, particularly when existing organisational processes reinforce old practices through quantifiable, process orientated outputs. Secondly, critical reflection must be formally integrated into management processes and must support the questioning of current operations in an open and frank atmosphere. Formalising time for critical reflection provides staff with opportunities and resources to question old practices and discuss and construct knowledge collaboratively. Thirdly, relational user engagement and communication practices within SSO service strategies must be deliberate and strategic. Due to the integrated nature of SSOs and the collaborative nature of their operations, clear operational and interaction guidelines empowers SSO staff fully harness their strategic role, question high level management and support critical strategic thinking.

Phyllosphere, Front and Center: Focus on a Formerly ‘Ecologically Neglected’ Microbial Milieu

The phyllosphere encompasses leaves and other aerial tissues of plants, which together provide diverse habitats for micro- and macro-organisms. In this editorial for the Phytobiomes Journal Focus Issue on the Phyllosphere, we celebrate the tremendous growth and impact of phyllosphere science as a discipline by introducing and providing context for 14 articles by nearly 100 authors from over 40 institutions. These articles collectively highlight the current status of the field and offer ideas for future directions. They explore topics related to phyllosphere biodiversity, community assembly and dynamics, and the adaptive capacity of species, populations, and communities on leaf surfaces and other phyllosphere compartments. The articles also delve into the multipartite relationships that phyllosphere colonizers have with each other and with their host, and issues of global concern such as food security, food safety, and climate change. This collection of work illustrates the international, transdisciplinary and collaborative nature of phyllosphere science, the challenges that the discipline faces, and the importance of recruiting and training the next generation of phyllosphere scientists.

482 Is Collaboration the Key to Strength in Unity for Surgical Education?

Abstract Aim With the everchanging landscape of surgery, there is a paucity of surgical education courses focused on medical school finals examination. We examined the effectiveness of an eight-part specialty-doctor-delivered collaborative online teaching. Method The largest surgical education collaboration, SurgEazy, was organized between eight national/international organizations (NSTS, BIMA, NANSIG, ANTS, INCISION UK, WEDNS, BURST Urology). Finals-specific online teaching sessions were organized and delivered via zoom spanning eight surgical specialties. All sessions were delivered by session specialty-specific surgical trainees ranging from FY2 to ST3. 10-point Likert scales were used to measure the outcomes of sessions. Results A total of 433 students attended the eight sessions. All sessions demonstrated an increase in knowledge (8 ± 1.48), interest in pursuing surgery as a career (8 ± 2.17), commitment (8 ± 2.06), confidence (8 ± 1.60), and clarification of discrepancies in knowledge (8 ± 1.64). It also saw a decrease in concerns and worries (8 ± 1.89), and anxiety (8 ± 2.30). The majority of the students felt that the collaborative nature of the series increased its value (8 ± 1.79), their likelihood to attend (8 ± 2.13), and their awareness of all organizations (79.94%). Conclusions While online teaching has its merits of accessibility and convenience, collaborations have been shown to increase the overall merit of surgical education. Conducting such specialty-doctor-delivered focused collaborative online teaching is proven to be effective and should be considered by organizations in the future to increase the value, reach, attendance, and overall awareness of both the series and individual organizations.

The Role of Technology in Fostering Innovation and Growth in Start-up Businesses

The integration of technology within the context of start-up enterprises has emerged as a transformative force driving innovation and growth. This paper presents a bibliometric analysis of the literature on the role of technology in propelling business innovation and growth in start-ups. Through a systematic review of scholarly articles, this study aims to uncover key trends, themes, and influential contributions in the field. The analysis employs co-citation networks, author and institution mapping, journal analysis, and keyword clustering to map the intellectual landscape of this dynamic research domain. The findings highlight the centrality of concepts such as open innovation, digital transformation, and disruptive innovation, underscoring the multidimensional interplay between technology and start-up success. Prolific authors and influential institutions are identified, showcasing the collaborative nature of research in this area. The prominence of specific journals underscores the dissemination of knowledge within the academic community. The comprehensive keyword analysis reveals prevalent themes such as business models, performance, and open innovation, as well as emerging considerations including sustainability and barriers. The insights derived from this bibliometric analysis contribute to a deeper understanding of the complex dynamics that shape the symbiotic relationship between technology, innovation, and growth in start-ups.

Student Interview-Informed Behavior Contracts for High School Students Identified as at Risk

Addressing the challenging behavior of students requires evidence-based interventions that can be implemented in school settings; however, there is a relative lack of literature investigating effective strategies for high school students in secondary settings. Behavior contracts have been used to address challenging behavior in elementary and middle settings but less so in high school settings. Furthermore, the extent to which they have involved student input at the high school level has been unclear despite research indicating that collaborative intervention development processes may be associated with several additional benefits beyond effectiveness. Despite these empirical shortcomings, behavior contracts may be well suited to address individual high school students’ challenging behavior given their flexibility, collaborative nature, and use of goal setting and clearly stated contingencies (i.e., rules) to promote behavior change. Thus, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the acceptability and effectiveness of a structured interview-informed behavior contract intervention to address the disruptive behavior of high school students. Specifically, we used a multiple baseline design across three students and found that the interview-informed behavior contracts were effective in increasing their academically engaged behavior (Tau = .62) and decreasing disruptive and passive off-task behavior. Limitations and future directions are discussed.

From craft to industry and back: transnational efforts in reconstructing tin’s social meaning to the retail consumer (1950s–1960s)

PurposeCommodity histories generally posit colonies’ roles as mere producers but have overlooked their roles in shaping global consumption. This study aims to investigate how Malayan tin producers and British colonial institutions used public relations and advertising strategies as entrepreneurial tools to fend off competition from substitutes amid global economic and geopolitical transitions during the height of the Cold War crisis and post-war boom in the 1950s and 1960s.Design/methodology/approachThis study draws on archival research of newspaper reports written in Singapore, the USA and Britain from the inter-war years until the 1960s. It also consults advertisements placed by the Malayan Tin Bureau on Time and Scientific American, data and views on tin scarcity by US congressional reports and commodity trends data published by the US Department of Commerce and the US Department of the Interior.FindingsThis paper demonstrates how the value of tin is recreated by manipulating its symbolic meanings and embedding them within the national and political contexts of the targeted consumer markets. This creative resistance against tin substitution was enacted through a transnational collaboration among colonial institutions, entrepreneurs in colonies and marketing strategists across geographies and territories.Research implicationsThis paper provokes further reflections on the importance of socially constructed meanings in shaping the market value of a product and the understanding of embedded political value systems in marketing generic commodities. Future research may adopt this perspective to reassess the framing of meanings of commodities in the contemporary setting, especially against rising concerns on the sustainability of mining natural resources, including minerals.OriginalityThis study integrates the perspectives of Malayan tin producers in reframing the meaning of a commodity and so, widens the scope of historical analyses of commodities beyond the industrialized global North. It reassesses how a commodity’s marketing value evolves and interacts with colonial politics. It also highlights the collaborative nature of colonial governments and local producers in developing new uses and representations of a generic commodity to create new markets for its consumption.

Microbial energy metabolism fuels an intestinal macrophage niche in solitary isolated lymphoid tissues through purinergic signaling.

Maintaining macrophage (MΦ) heterogeneity is critical to ensure intestinal tissue homeostasis and host defense. The gut microbiota and host factors are thought to synergistically guide intestinal MΦ development, although the exact nature, regulation, and location of such collaboration remain unclear. Here, we report that microbial biochemical energy metabolism promotes colony-stimulating factor 2 (CSF2) production by group 3 innate lymphoid cells (ILC3s) within solitary isolated lymphoid tissues (SILTs) in a cell-extrinsic, NLRP3/P2X7R-dependent fashion in the steady state. Tissue-infiltrating monocytes accumulating around SILTs followed a spatially constrained, distinct developmental trajectory into SILT-associated MΦs (SAMs). CSF2 regulated the mitochondrial membrane potential and reactive oxygen species production of SAMs and contributed to the antimicrobial defense against enteric bacterial infections. Collectively, these findings identify SILTs and CSF2-producing ILC3s as a microanatomic niche for intestinal MΦ development and functional programming fueled by the integration of commensal microbial energy metabolism.

A Multiagent Game Theoretic Simulation of Public Policy Coordination through Collaboration

Background: Policy coordination is necessary to address many of the sustainability challenges we face today. The formal representations of policy coordination focus on modeling conflict management but neglect its collaborative nature. This limits efforts to build more realistic models of policy coordination. The objective of this paper is to simulate collaboration and noncollaboration between agents in the context of policy coordination in order to determine the effect of different approaches to policy coordination. Methods: For this purpose, a multiagent simulation of collaboration based on evolutionary game theory is used. Results: The results suggest that policy coordination through collaboration produces the most desirable outcomes and that reducing the cost of communication between agents is necessary to increase the probability of collaboration. Conclusions: The cost of information (both its transmission and transformation) is critical to increase the probability of collaboration in policy coordination. This paper advances the understanding of how to model the collaborative nature of policy coordination by contributing to the methodological standardization of the analysis and implementation of public policy coordination.

Self-interestedness in Research Collaboration and its Association with Career Stage and Nature of Collaboration: A Survey of Zimbabwean Researchers.

During collaboration in research, it may happen that some researchers become involved in behaviours that reflect so-called 'self-interestedness', which means that they pursue their personal interest or benefit without considering others. This study examined how researchers in Zimbabwe perceive instances of self-interestedness among research collaborators, and how these perceptions differ according to their career stage and the nature of collaboration. An online survey of researchers in Zimbabwe was conducted to gather information about six instances of self-interestedness among research collaborators. The results show that Zimbabwean researchers involved exclusively in national collaboration reported greater degrees of collaborator self-interestedness than Zimbabwean researchers involved in international collaboration. However, early-career researchers and established researchers did not differ significantly regarding their experiences of collaborator self-interestedness. Measures aimed at capacitating research organisations and research teams in developing countries in the African context, to counter collaborator self-interestedness, are recommended.

The cooperative and the circular economy: embracing collaboration towards sustainability

The article investigates how cooperatives and the circular economy complement each other, highlighting their relevance in building a sustainable future. By integrating circular economy principles into cooperatives, sustainable resource management and opportunities for development are fostered. Cooperatives, with their collaborative nature and focus on member interests, provide an ideal framework for implementing circular economy practices. They promote efficient resource collection, reuse, and recycling, reducing environmental impact and dependence on finite resources. Collaboration among cooperative members, local communities, and other stakeholders facilitates knowledge exchange and resource sharing, vital for circular economy implementation. The article also highlights key aspects of this collaborative approach. The collaboration between the members of the cooperative, the local community and other interested entities contributes to the exchange of knowledge, experiences and resources necessary for the implementation of the circular economy. By joining forces, these key participants can develop innovative initiatives and projects that deliver economic, social and environmental benefits. Finally, the authors emphasize the importance of promoting and supporting cooperatives within the circular economy model. By promotion of collaboration and creation of an enabling environment for the development of circular economy-oriented cooperatives, a sustainable future can be constructed, where resources are managed efficiently, waste is minimized, and communities develop in a sustainable way.

Developing Management Accounting Systems as a Change Process for Economic Sustainability: A Case of Sportswear Manufacturing SME

This study intends to explore the change process in developing management accounting systems to ensure economic sustainability under the theoretical underpinnings of dynamic capabilities. A single case study design has been incorporated to explore the change process at a sportswear manufacturing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) based in Sialkot, Pakistan. The rationale for choosing this case site is that this firm has undergone a recent change in the form of developing and using management accounting systems to address economic sustainability concerns. Data were collected via interviews and documents. We conducted 10 interviews and reviewed some internal documents to comprehend the change process. Due to the involvement of multiple organizational actors, the study finds that dynamic capabilities are reflected collaboratively. Due to the collaborative nature of interactions among organizational actors, sensing, seizing and transformation capabilities were termed collaborative dynamic capabilities. Under these dynamic capabilities, the case firm has successfully implemented the change process by developing management accounting systems. The CEO also arranged two training sessions for the workers to facilitate the change process. Furthermore, replacement and production innovation decisions were taken to reflect the change process by bringing change to the existing resource base. This research has contributed theoretically by addressing recent calls to comprehend the change process in the form of management accounting systems to address economic sustainability in the context of SMEs.

Online Translation-as-Activism against Censorship: The Case of Translating The Whistle Giver

This research addresses the under-explored role of translation as a form of activism in China, particularly in the context of online platforms. While online activism in China has garnered significant attention, the specific role of translation as a transformative practice has received limited scholarly focus. This study examines the translation campaign surrounding The Whistle Giver, a censored article pertaining to COVID-19, which involved a collaborative effort by non-professional translators who strategically rendered the original text into various unreadable forms. By employing translation as a tool of metramorphosis, these translators challenged the dominance of official discourse and asserted their individual agency in shaping public narratives. This case study demonstrates the potential of Web 2.0-enabled translation as a means of combating censorship and fostering grassroots ideological struggles. Web 2.0 platforms play a pivotal role in facilitating the collaborative nature of this translation campaign, allowing for the dissemination and sharing of the transformed texts. The interactive and participatory features of Web 2.0 platforms provide fertile ground for the emergence of a playful and ritualistic dimension to the translation process. By harnessing the power of Web 2.0-enabled translation, activists forge a collective identity, challenging any existing power structures and fostering collective memories. This form of activism transcends traditional boundaries, utilizing translation as a transformative practice to shape public discourse and effect social and political change. The study sheds light on the crucial role of non-professional translators, the transformative potential of translation as a tool for resistance, and the impact of Web 2.0 platforms in facilitating collaborative and participatory practices.

We Asked ChatGPT About the Co-Authorship of Artificial Intelligence in Scientific Papers

We Asked ChatGPT About the Co-Authorship of Artificial Intelligence in Scientific Papers

Establishing industrial community energy systems: Simulating the role of institutional designs and societal attributes

The importance of decreasing industrial CO2 footprints has become evident, as also highlighted in COP26. As such, the transition to renewable energy in the industrial sector is essential to meet the targets. To this aim, establishing industrial community energy systems (InCES) where industries collectively invest in a shared energy system is an economically and environmentally attractive option. Yet, the emergence and continuity of such collective initiatives among industrial companies has neither received considerable attention in the scientific literature nor in practice. This research, as the first of its kind, aims to investigate institutional design options that allow for such collaboration to take place for the establishment and continuity of an InCES. Given the bottom-up and collaborative nature of such initiatives, we take an agent-based modeling and simulation approach, for the first time in this area, that incorporates the institutional and societal attributes that influence the formation and continuation of an InCES. We take data from an industrial cluster in Arak, one of the most prominent industrial cities in Iran. The results of this study confirm the economic feasibility of an InCES as compared to individual renewable energy investment in the cluster. The results also highlight the importance of flexible membership in increasing the number of investors (i.e., industrial companies) in such initiatives. Other important recommendations are: considering the installation of at least 15% extra capacity for the powerplant, restricting electricity consumption and enforcing on-time payment of monthly premium fees.

A Social Network Analysis of Interagency Collaboration in the Mental Health Sector in Toronto, Canada: Service Providers’ Perspectives on Supporting Black Youth in Recovery

Objective: There is minimal research on mental health service providers’ perspectives on existing interagency relationships, collaboration, and caring for Black youth. We sought to characterize interagency relationships between Mainstream and Black-focused mental health agencies in Ontario, and their impact on service providers’ ability to provide culturally safe care for Black youth.
 Research Design and Methods: A mixed methodological approach was used to explore service providers’ perspectives on the collaborative nature and presence of relationships, communication, and influence in the mental health sector. An online survey was disseminated to service providers in Toronto, Ontario between March 2020 and April 2020. 7 focus groups were conducted in Toronto between May 2020 and December 2020. Focus groups were conducted with Black youth, families/caregivers, community, and service providers. Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS and visualized in the form of social network analysis using Gephi, while Nvivo 12 was utilized to identify and analyze themes from the qualitative data.
 Results: Findings included a lack of interagency collaboration, infrequent Mainstream-Black agency collaborations, Mainstream agencies’ disinterest in future partnerships with Black agencies, and feelings of unpreparedness amongst service providers to provide culturally safe care to Black youth or referrals.
 Conclusions: Collaboration between mainstream agencies is common in the sector. There is a paucity of Black-focused agencies and Black service providers in the existing social networks. A limited understanding of the systemic impacts anti-Black racism at the agency and service provider level might be impairing service providers’ ability to support the mental health recovery of Black youth.

Science journalism in pandemic times: perspectives on the science-media relationship from COVID-19 researchers in Southern Europe

Several studies have investigated the relationship between scientists and journalists. However, Southern Europe has been less studied when it comes to understanding the nature and effectiveness of collaborations between these two groups of professionals. To address this gap, this study focused on researchers (i.e., academics and scientists from different fields, including clinical researchers and medical doctors) who conducted research activities on COVID-19-related topics in three Southern European countries (Italy, Portugal, and Spain). Using an approach that combined survey data (n = 317) with semi-structured interviews (n = 40), we explored researchers' personal beliefs, opinions, and experiences regarding their encounters with the media during the pandemic. Our results show that researchers' motivations, concerns, and benefits in their interactions with the media remained largely unchanged during the pandemic. Despite the additional challenges posed by the health emergency, most researchers in Italy, Portugal, and Spain rated their interactions with journalists positively. Several practices to promote and maintain trustful and fruitful cooperation with journalists were also identified. Additionally, lessons learned were extracted from the interactions between researchers and journalists during the pandemic. They hold particular relevance in a context of uncertainty, fake news, high demand for information and high expectations in science and technology. These findings aim to support both the scientific community and media professionals to deal with current and future communicative challenges such as health, environmental and social crises that require joint efforts from multiple societal actors.