Comprehensive Guides Research Articles

Dimensionality Reduction Methods for Brain Imaging Data Analysis

The past century has witnessed the grand success of brain imaging technologies, such as electroencephalography and magnetic resonance imaging, in probing cognitive states and pathological brain dynamics for neuroscience research and neurology practices. Human brain is “the most complex object in the universe,” and brain imaging data ( BID ) are routinely of multiple/many attributes and highly non-stationary. These are determined by the nature of BID as the recordings of the evolving processes of the brain(s) under examination in various views. Driven by the increasingly high demands for precision, efficiency, and reliability in neuro-science and engineering tasks, dimensionality reduction has become a priority issue in BID analysis to handle the notoriously high dimensionality and large scale of big BID sets as well as the enormously complicated interdependencies among data elements. This has become particularly urgent and challenging in this big data era. Dimensionality reduction theories and methods manifest unrivaled potential in revealing key insights to BID via offering the low-dimensional/tiny representations/features, which may preserve critical characterizations of massive neuronal activities and brain functional and/or malfunctional states of interest. This study surveys the most salient work along this direction conforming to a 3-dimensional taxonomy with respect to (1) the scale of BID , of which the design with this consideration is important for the potential applications; (2) the order of BID , in which a higher order denotes more BID attributes manipulatable by the method; and (3) linearity , in which the method’s degree of linearity largely determines the “fidelity” in BID exploration. This study defines criteria for qualitative evaluations of these works in terms of effectiveness, interpretability, efficiency, and scalability. The classifications and evaluations based on the taxonomy provide comprehensive guides to (1) how existing research and development efforts are distributed and (2) their performance, features, and potential in influential applications especially when involving big data. In the end, this study crystallizes the open technical issues and proposes research challenges that must be solved to enable further researches in this area of great potential.

Species Composition and Spatial Distribution of Scorpions Based on Eco-Environmental Variables in Provinces Along with the Oman Sea and the Persian Gulf in Iran: A GIS-Based Approach.

Scorpions are venomous arachnids with major medical health importance in Iran, specifically in the Southwest. In total, three families of scorpions, including Scorpionidae, Hemiscorpiidae, and Buthidae were reported in Iran. This study was conducted on scorpion ecology to determine the species composition and the dispersion of scorpions based on the ecological and environmental variables in combination with the Geographic Information System (GIS) in Khuzestan, Hormozgan, and Bushehr Provinces along with the Oman Sea and the Persian Gulf in Iran. Scorpions were collected from Hormozgan, Khuzestan, and Bushehr Provinces, Iran using the Ultra Violet light. The specimens were then identified according to their morphological characters utilizing reliable keys. To determine the relationship between the eco-environmental variables and the spatial distribution of species, the GPS points of the collected scorpions were recorded, and the scorpion shapefile was overlaid on digital elevation model, slope, land use, temperature, rainfall, soil texture, and bioclimatic maps. Totally, 25 specimens were reported in three families of Scorpionidae, Hemiscorpiidae, and Buthidae. Furthermore, Razianus zarudnyi, Androctonus crassicauda, Buthacus macrocentrus, Mesobuthus eupeus phillipsii, Odontobuthus bidentatus, and Hemiscorpius lepturus were the common species collected from Hormozgan, Khuzestan, and Bushehr Provinces, Iran. The results of the current study showed that a large number of species preferred the sand texture due to ecomorphological adaptation. Moreover, the poor rangeland vegetation cover was preferred by the majority of the scorpion species, including S. maurus townsendi. According to the results, the combination of the ecological factors related to the suitable habitat of different species of scorpion and GIS will provide the dispersal areas of each species. Furthermore, such databases can be comprehensive and valuable guides for health authorities to reduce and manage scorpion envenomation.

Facilitating Adherence to Evidence-Based Practices for Adults With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Comprehensive diabetes care management guides individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus to maintain optimal health. An evidence-based quality improvement project that redesigned primary clinic processes, including an electronic health records alert system, provider/clinical staff diabetes education, comprehensive diabetes management flow sheet, completion of routine laboratory tests, and documentation of preventive measures, was initiated to facilitate adherence to the best practices of long-term care management. These interventions resulted in improved hemoglobin A1c results and enhanced patient counseling related to preventive measures. Sustainability was achieved with funding for long-term care management.

A corpus-based approach in archaeolinguistics

The article focuses on archaeolinguistics as a separate field of knowledge and outlines the features that distinguish it from other disciplines in comparative studies. It analyses the existing text collections and shows how they may find application in a corpus-based research in ancient languages. It also discusses approaches to creating new corpora of texts. The study focuses on Old Church Slavonic and Ancient Greek, in particular, it analyses the existing corpora in these languages, e. g., Corpus Cyrillo-Methodianum Helsingiense. Most of the corpora under study are not tagged. Some of them change the original writing system (from Glagolitic to Latin, using, for instance, ASCII), while the others have a restricted access. Some of the corpora are no longer available at all or available as part of local databases only. Thus, corpus-based resources in ancient languages in question are obviously insufficient. To facilitate more effective research, the easiest possible solution is to develop new corpora by using platforms specializing in linguistic analysis (e. g., CDLI or Lingvodoc) or systems that support DIY corpora. However, such platforms are often paywalled, may have limited functionality, or lack comprehensive user guides. With all the above in mind, there seems to be no ready solution for archaeolinguists who want to use a corpus-based approach in their study. They either have to make a considerable effort to modify an existing system for their purposes, or to build one of their own. In conclusion, the article proposes one of the possible ways to address these issues.

Drug dosing errors in simulated paediatric emergencies - Comprehensive dosing guides outperform length-based tapes with precalculated drug doses.

BackgroundThe accuracy of drug dosing calculations during medical emergencies in children has not been evaluated extensively. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the accuracy of drug dose calculations using the Broselow tape, the PAWPER XL tape plus its companion drug-dosing guide, a custom-designed mobile phone app and no drug-dosing aid (control group).MethodsThis was a prospective study in which 32 emergency medicine volunteers participated in eight simulations of common paediatric emergency conditions, using children models. The participants used the three methods to estimate the children's weight and calculate drug doses. The accuracy of and time taken for the drug dose determinations were then evaluated for each of the methods.ResultsThe overall accuracy of drug dose determinations was extremely and potentially dangerously low in the control group in which no dosing guide was used as well as in the Broselow tape group (<20% of doses were correct). The accuracy was significantly higher with the PAWPER XL tape group and the mobile app group (47% and 31% respectively). The times taken to obtain the required information did not differ in a clinically meaningful magnitude.ConclusionsBoth an accurate weight estimation and a dosing guide with comprehensive information were necessary to produce an accurate prescription. The information on the Broselow tape was not sufficient for this purpose. The current guidelines recommending the use of tapes with limited information should be revised. The results from the comprehensive dosing guides were substantially better, but still had a lower proportion of accurate prescriptions than desirable. The role of training in every aspect of the emergency paediatric weight estimation and drug dosing procedure cannot be underestimated and should be routine in any environment where emergency care may be needed.

Застосування механізмів проєктного управління у вирішенні екологічних проблем (на прикладі створення природопізнавальної туристичної мапи Голосіївського району міста Києва)

Eco-projects have a high capacity to harmonize relations between three major sustainable development components: economical, ecological and social. The use of project management mechanisms provide opportunities for stakeholder partnership in addressing environmental problems. An essential part of this process is a shared vision of the possible scenarios for spatial development, team-based approach, techniques and procedures of eco-project implementation, along with experience of engaging with the crew. All of the eco-project management aspects mentioned above are the purpose of this work. We intended to summarise the case study that students from the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv Earth science and geomorphology Department have been doing as a part of their curriculum “Ecoproject management and international cooperation in the field of nature protection”. The case study raises the problem of fragmented, irrelevant, unreliable or missing information on natural heritage and green areas, which are a foundation of recreational activities and natural-cognitive tourism. The problem has been selected due to COVID-19 pandemic that has been raising awareness of local tourist attractions, environmental security, sustainable development and environment protection. Essentially, creating a comprehensive natural heritage catalogue and guides is the first step towards local tourism promotion and reaching local sustainable development goals. The Project’s vision is to provide a product that offers free, clear and descriptive GIS-based materials on natural heritage and green areas of Kyiv. The mission is to design and publish information materials on natural heritage and green areas using available GIS applications. Final Natural-Cognitive Tourist Map of the Holosiivsky District of Kyiv is an outcome of the work.

Measuring physiological influence in dyads: A guide to designing, implementing, and analyzing dyadic physiological studies.

Scholars across domains in psychology, physiology, and neuroscience have long been interested in the study of shared physiological experiences between people. Recent technological and analytic advances allow researchers to examine new questions about how shared physiological experiences occur. Yet comprehensive guides that address the theoretical, methodological, and analytic components of studying these processes are lacking. The goal of this article is to provide such a guide. We begin by addressing basic theoretical issues in the study of shared physiological states by presenting five guiding theoretical principles for making psychological inferences from physiological influence-the extent to which one dyad member's physiology predicts the other dyad member's physiology at a future time point. Second, keeping theoretical and conceptual concerns at the forefront, we outline considerations and recommendations for designing, implementing, and analyzing dyadic psychophysiological studies. In so doing, we discuss the different types of physiological measures one could use to address different theoretical questions. Third, we provide three illustrative examples in which we estimate physiological influence, using the stability and influence model. We conclude by providing detail about power analyses for the model and by comparing the strengths and limitations of this model with preexisting models. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).

Cancer Symptom Management by Radiation Therapists: Factors Influencing Use of Evidence-Informed Pan-Canadian Oncology Symptom Triage and Remote Support (COSTaRS) Practice Guides

To identify the barriers and facilitators influencing radiation therapists (MRTs) and registered nurses (RNs) use of the pan-Canadian Oncology Symptom Triage and Remote Support (COSTaRS) practice guides for supporting patients experiencing symptoms from radiation therapy. A mixed-methods study guided by the Knowledge to Action Framework. The study was conducted in a large radiation therapy department in Ontario where on average 6000 radiation treatments are administered per month. A survey was sent to all MRTs and RNs who provide direct care to patients. Interviews were conducted with 14 MRTs and 3 RNs using a semi-structured interview guide. Quantitative data from the survey was analyzed descriptively and qualitative data from the interviews were analyzed through thematic content analysis by two independent reviewers. Of 100 distributed surveys, 72 were completed (72% response rate) by 58 MRTs, 11 RNs, and 3 did not report their discipline. The survey indicated that 98.3% MRTs and 100% of RNs provide symptom support to clients with cancer. However, only 53.4% of MRTs and 81.8% of RNs use evidence-informed practice guidelines for symptom support. For the survey items, MRTs had moderate moral norms (4.6 out of 7) and beliefs about consequences of using COSTaRS practice guides (4.8) but neutral intention (3.4) and beliefs about their capabilities (3.9), and low social influence (1.8). RNs had high moral norms (5.6), beliefs about consequences of using COSTaRS (5.7), and beliefs about capabilities (5.8), moderately high intentions to use them (5.3), and moderate social influence (4.0). Environmental barriers for MRTs included lack of time (2.0), lack of access (2.5), and neutral for support from the organization (3.0) and colleagues (3.2). MRTs identified the need for training (5.5). RNs indicated having adequate access (5.6) and organizational support to use COSTaRS (5.7) with some support from colleagues (4.6). There was still a need for some additional training (4.0) and some concern about not having enough time to use them (3.3). Common barriers identified in the interviews included lack of time during the radiation treatments, symptoms outside of MRT scope of practice and lack of medication knowledge, preference to escalate to nursing, need for integration with electronic documentation, long and overwhelming guides, and preventing extra time for patients who value efficiency. Common facilitators were comprehensive and evidence-based guides, clear organizational mandate of expectations for use, need to fit with current workflow and documentation, and the daily interaction between MRTs and patients. Overall, COSTaRS practice guides were recognized as being high quality resources to support symptom management. Interventions to overcome barriers to using them were education and training, strong leadership support, fit with workflow of MRT activities, integration with documentation, and easy accessibility.

Turning Flickr into a useful Citizen Science Resource

Flickr is a photo and web hosting social media site created by Ludicorp in 2004 and later (in 2005) acquired by Yahoo. It is largely used by people for hosting social media type photos, but through the judicious use of Tagging (including use of machine tags), APIs, grouping, tag indexing and georeferencing it has been turned into a powerful citizen science resource. By 2015, it was estimated that there were over 10 billion images on Flickr, and there are millions of biodiversity-related images posted. Flickr provides for the creation of ‘Groups’ and for example, the ‘Bird Photo Group’ alone has over 2.7 million photographs. Of course, not all biodiversity images are named and identified, or georeferenced (although many are), but many of the Flickr Groups have established rules that allow easy identification of images with names, through tagging and machine tagging. Flickr also includes an in-house georeferencing tool, and georeferences can also be added through machine-tagging. Data Quality is always an issue with any Citizen Science initiative, and identification from images can often be problematic. Many Flickr Groups, however, have scientists as members and these will often interact with the photographer to help identify species. At other times, through the image comments, mis-identifications are queried and suggested corrections made. Thirdly, there are several Flickr Groups established where photographers can place images they are unsure of and ask for identification advice. In this paper, I will give several examples of Flickr Groups that are using innovative techniques for extracting and using images – for example for loading to the Encyclopedia of Life (https://www.flickr.com/groups/encyclopedia_of_life) and the Atlas of Living Australia (https://biocache.ala.org.au/occurrences/8cb21942-0b13-493f-ae1d-ee6fd158f758), as well as by Citizen Science Groups developing comprehensive field guides such as to Insects of Australia using tags to group into orders and familes (https://www.flickr.com/groups/oz_insects), Australian Rainforest Trees using complex tagging to use for species identification (https://www.flickr.com/groups/australianrainforestplants/discuss/72157604373025570), and through developing small specialist groups such as for Australian Native Plants (https://www.flickr.com/groups/australian_native_plants) Pseudoscorpions (https://www.flickr.com/groups/719103@N20), Polypores (https://www.flickr.com/groups/390204@N21), Invasive Species (https://www.flickr.com/groups/18983462@N00), Weeds of Australia (https://www.flickr.com/groups/1553999@N21), etc. I will also explore some options for longer-term archiving of resources such as images on Flickr and other web-hosting sites.

Review of The Routledge Handbook of Language Learning and Technology

1. Overview of the book The Handbook of Language Learning and Technology is a volume in the Routledge Handbook in Applied Linguistics series which offers a collection of comprehensive guides on the issues considered central to contemporary applied linguistics. The current edition, co-edited by Fiona Farr and Liam Murray, offers an exhaustive overview of six important trends and directions in using computer technologies for language learning (Computer-Assisted Language Learning, CA...

The Alert Collector: From Farm to Pantry: Canning and Food Preservation Resources

“Foodways” generally refers to the “study of what, how, and why we eat with emphasis on food events as much as the food itself,” according to Lexicon of Food.1 Canning is definitely a “food event.” I recall watching my mother spend hours in the kitchen, tending large enameled pots full of Mason jars containing beets, tomatoes, dill pickles, and more. With that, I am pleased to introduce “From Farm to Pantry: Canning and Food Preservation Resources” by Deborah Lee. She has gathered a great list of items for any selector seeking to support both the budding home canner and academic programs in food science and foodways. This is obviously a topic that Lee is passionate about and she has helpfully broken the resources down into comprehensive guides to canning, “small batch” canning, specialized guides, and web resources. As this is my first column as editor of the Alert Collector, I would be remiss in not explaining what I hope to accomplish. I daresay it is not that different from past editors: to select topics that are useful to libraries of all types and which are timed to align with current events. I also hope to offer a wide range of topics. My first call for columns, sent out to several different email lists and posted online, exceeded my expectations with more than twenty topic ideas. I am grateful that my library colleagues are willing to contribute to a popular column.—Editor

STITCHER 2.0: primer design for overlapping PCR applications

Overlapping polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a common technique used by researchers in very diverse fields that enables the user to ‘stitch’ individual pieces of DNA together. Previously, we have reported a web based tool called STITCHER that provides a platform for researchers to automate the design of primers for overlapping PCR applications. Here we present STITCHER 2.0, which represents a substantial update to STITCHER. STITCHER 2.0 is a newly designed web tool that automates the design of primers for overlapping PCR. Unlike STITCHER, STITCHER 2.0 considers diverse algorithmic parameters, and returns multiple result files that include a facility for the user to draw their own primers as well as comprehensive visual guides to the user’s input, output, and designed primers. These result files provide greater control and insight during experimental design and troubleshooting. STITCHER 2.0 is freely available to all users without signup or login requirements and can be accessed at the following webpage: www.ohalloranlab.net/STITCHER2.html.

Characterizing and Modulating Brain Circuitry through Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Combined with Electroencephalography.

The concurrent combination of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) with electroencephalography (TMS-EEG) is a powerful technology for characterizing and modulating brain networks across developmental, behavioral, and disease states. Given the global initiatives in mapping the human brain, recognition of the utility of this technique is growing across neuroscience disciplines. Importantly, TMS-EEG offers translational biomarkers that can be applied in health and disease, across the lifespan, and in humans and animals, bridging the gap between animal models and human studies. However, to utilize the full potential of TMS-EEG methodology, standardization of TMS-EEG study protocols is needed. In this article, we review the principles of TMS-EEG methodology, factors impacting TMS-EEG outcome measures, and the techniques for preventing and correcting artifacts in TMS-EEG data. To promote the standardization of this technique, we provide comprehensive guides for designing TMS-EEG studies and conducting TMS-EEG experiments. We conclude by reviewing the application of TMS-EEG in basic, cognitive and clinical neurosciences, and evaluate the potential of this emerging technology in brain research.

Towards the Effective Management of Social Innovation Projects: Insights from Project Management

Recently, research on project management has widened its scope to consider social innovation-oriented projects. However, research in this domain is still in its infancy; little empirical data has been conducted in this area and there are few comprehensive or practical guides available to project managers in this sphere. Social innovation projects are poorly understood in practice and prone to failure. We find that project management processes are poorly-defined and unwieldy in this context; control systems are lax, and consequently projects are inefficient. Social innovation projects have unique characteristics and are inherently different to typical industrial-oriented projects which must be considered by project managers. The goal of our research is to better understand this important-but-neglected area. We synthesise the literature and classify social innovation projects from key perspectives; we then present a comparative analysis of social innovation projects and industry projects in order to draw insights about what aspects from project management can be applied to the social innovation domain in order to increase levels of effectiveness and efficiency. From this analysis, we identify six key issues and challenges that social innovations are currently facing. The major contribution of this research is to gain a better understanding of the relationship between social innovation and project management. For researchers, these findings contribute to theoretical development within the field of project management; for practitioners, it provides important insights to help manage such important initiatives. The insights provided by this discussion should help in understanding some of the conceptual and practical difficulties that have prevented the effective implementation of social innovation projects.

Discrepancies between ESMO and NCCN breast cancer guidelines: An appraisal

An ever growing number of medical organizations, societies, working groups and governmental agencies issue algorithms i.e. guidelines, of decision making flowcharts in diagnosis and treatment in a variety of diseases. In the field of evidence-based diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer, a large number of guidelines are available both from medical associations and national health departments. Among the most appreciated and utilized comprehensive guides is the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Breast Cancer Guidelines and from the other side of the Atlantic the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Guidelines in Breast Cancer. Although there is much concordance between the guidelines from these two organizations, it is intriguing to locate their discrepancies also. The aim of this report is to present a number of different points between ESMO and NCCN in the whole spectrum of breast cancer management, from prevention and diagnosis to treatment and follow up. This systematic review was performed in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines using a predefined search strategy and summarizes in detail, the differences between ESMO and NCCN guidelines regarding genetic risk evaluation and screening, surgery, chemotherapy, endocrine treatment, targeted biological agents, radiotherapy, pregnancy and fertility and follow-up.

Availability of Information About Lifestyle for Cancer Survivors in England: A Review of Statutory and Charitable Sector Organizations and Cancer Centers.

BackgroundHealth behavior change following a cancer diagnosis has the potential to improve long-term outcomes. However, many patients do not receive professional advice about lifestyle and are therefore increasingly using the Internet to seek further information. The statutory and charitable sectors and cancer centers all play an important role in the provision of information and have been found to be favored by cancer survivors searching for information. However, to date there has been no systematic evaluation of the lifestyle information available online for cancer survivors.ObjectiveThe purpose of this review was to identify the lifestyle information provided for cancer survivors by statutory and charitable sector organizations and cancer centers in the United Kingdom. We aimed to identify information on tobacco, physical activity, diet, weight, and alcohol designed for people who have been diagnosed with breast, prostate, or colorectal cancer.MethodsThe National Health Service (NHS) website was the focus of the search for information provided by the statutory sector. Cancer centers were identified from the Organization of European Cancer Institutes and an Internet search, and charitable sector organizations were identified by searching the Charity Commission database. The three largest generic, breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer charitable organizations were included. A systematic search of the organizations was conducted to identify lifestyle information for cancer survivors.ResultsTen organizations had some lifestyle information for cancer survivors on their websites. The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Macmillan Cancer Support, and Prostate Cancer UK had the most comprehensive guides, covering physical activity, diet, weight management, smoking, and alcohol. The NHS website did not provide any information but had a link to Cancer Research UK’s information about diet. Eight organizations suggested talking to a health professional before making any changes.ConclusionsThe majority of organizations included in this review would benefit from updating their websites to include adequate information and advice about lifestyle for cancer survivors, or they risk cancer survivors turning to less reliable sources of information. Health professionals should be appropriately trained to deal with questions about lifestyle and to advise cancer survivors about lifestyle changes following their diagnosis.

Current Neotropical ornithology: Research progress 1996–2011

ABSTRACT Two hundred years of Neotropical ornithology have resulted in comprehensive monographic guides and thousands of scientific papers. Nonetheless, information is not evenly distributed across the region. Replicating previous assessments of Neotropical ornithology, we performed searches at Zoological Record of publications on birds of Neotropical countries (1996–2011) using number of publications as an indication of current knowledge. We calculated the ratio of papers per species richness for each country and compared number of publications in different subjects during the 1979–1995 and 1996–2011 periods. Further, we quantified publications in two Neotropical journals: Cotinga and Ornitologia Neotropical. As in previous assessments, Mexico, Argentina, and Brazil were the best-represented countries, accounting for 54% of all references. Most Central American and Caribbean countries, as well as Guianan states, Paraguay, and Uruguay, remain poorly represented. All top-12 better-documented countries expe...

Integrated Enterprise Risk Management: From Process to Best Practice

There are strong motivating factors for increased awareness and action with regard to Enterprise Risk Management (ERM). Effective ERM policies and practices are lauded to increase stakeholder confidence, competitive advantage and ultimately an organization’s long-term viability. However previous studies suggest that the concept is poorly understood in practice and organizations are failing to implement the intended benefits. Furthermore, insufficient research has been conducted in this area and there are few comprehensive or practical guides available to managers in his domain. This paper attempts to address this deficit and expand the discussion on integrated enterprise risk management practices. The study presents findings from a qualitative study where critical success factors for effective enterprise risk management are identified and categorized. From this analysis an audit tool to assess ERM best practices is presented. The tool acts as an independent validation resource to ensure that an organization’s efforts are proactive and effective against current and emerging threats. The contributions of this research are many. First it enhances knowledge and skills in a neglected but essential multi-disciplinary area. Second the research is grounded in best practice and so adds to academic debate by validating and contradicting previous studies. Third the development of new and innovative tools in enterprise risk management adds bridges the gap from theory to practice.

BIOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX

Entries are ordered alphabetically according to the name most commonly used in the correspondence in this volume. If individuals' roles changed during the four Conservative administrations covered, the month in which the change took place (where known) has been listed. The biographies are not intended to be comprehensive guides to individual lives, but to contextualize roles during the particular administrations considered.

A Critique of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer Lymph Node Map: A Radiation Oncology Perspective

Accurate assessment of nodal involvement is essential in the management of lung cancer. Recently, the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) Lung Cancer Staging Project published a new lymph node map with the aim of creating an internationally agreed framework that would allow precise and uniform determination of lymph node status by centers around the globe.1 This new map contains important changes to the previously used Mountain-Dresler2 and Naruke3 maps. Conformal radiotherapy planning requires accurate delineation of target volumes. Although there is debate regarding the merits of elective versus involved mediastinal nodal irradiation,4–6 accurate outlining of nodal groups is essential regardless for both prognostication and treatment delivery. Nodal stations are usually outlined as contiguous volumes on computed tomography (CT) scans of the chest, and this generally requires complete and precise descriptions of the anatomical limits to be outlined. Atlases have been created to assist with this task and aim to provide comprehensive guides regarding station boundaries (e.g., Chapet7). We feel that the new IASLC map contains some ambiguities from the viewpoint of radiotherapy planning and outline these here in the hope of promoting discussion that clarifies how radiation oncologists should implement the IASLC map.