Consistent Approach Research Articles

Assessing the effects of a mentoring program on professional identity formation

BackgroundMedical education has enjoyed mixed fortunes nurturing professional identity formation (PIF), or how medical students think, feel and act as physicians. New data suggests that structured mentoring programs like the Palliative Medicine Initiative (PMI) may offer a means of developing PIF in a consistent manner. To better understand how a well-established structured research mentoring program shapes PIF, a study of the experiences of PMI mentees is proposed.MethodologyAcknowledging PIF as a sociocultural construct, a Constructivist approach and Relativist lens were adopted for this study. In the absence of an effective tool, the Ring Theory of Personhood (RToP) and Krishna-Pisupati Model (KPM) model were used to direct this dual Systematic Evidence-Based Approach (Dual-SEBA) study in designing, employing and analysing semi-structured interviews with PMI mentees and mentoring diaries. These served to capture changes in PIF over the course of the PMI’s mentoring stages.Transcripts of the interviews and mentoring diaries were concurrently analysed using content and thematic analysis. Complementary themes and categories identified from the Split Approach were combined using the Jigsaw Approach and subsequently compared with mentoring diaries in the Funnelling Process. The domains created framed the discussion.ResultsA total of 12 mentee interviews and 17 mentoring diaries were analysed, revealing two domains—PMI as a Community of Practice (CoP) and Identity Formation. The domains confirmed the centrality of a structured CoP capable of facilitating longitudinal mentoring support and supporting the Socialisation Process along the mentoring trajectory whilst cultivating personalised and enduring mentoring relationships.ConclusionThe provision of a consistent mentoring approach and personalised, longitudinal mentoring support guided along the mentoring trajectory by structured mentoring assessments lay the foundations for more effective mentoring programs. The onus must now be on developing assessment tools, such as a KPM-based tool, to guide support and oversight of mentoring relationships.

The LEAP checklist for Laboratory Evaluation and Analytical Performance Characteristics reporting of clinical measurement procedures

Reporting a measurement procedure and its analytical performance following method evaluation in a peer-reviewed journal is an important means for clinical laboratory practitioners to share their findings. It also represents an important source of evidence base to help others make informed decisions about their practice. At present, there are significant variations in the information reported in laboratory medicine journal publications describing the analytical performance of measurement procedures. These variations also challenge authors, readers, reviewers, and editors in deciding the quality of a submitted manuscript. The International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine Working Group on Method Evaluation Protocols (IFCC WG-MEP) developed a checklist and recommends its adoption to enable a consistent approach to reporting method evaluation and analytical performance characteristics of measurement procedures in laboratory medicine journals. It is envisioned that the LEAP checklist will improve the standardisation of journal publications describing method evaluation and analytical performance characteristics, improving the quality of the evidence base that is relied upon by practitioners.

Assessing shared respiratory pathogens between domestic (Ovis aries) and bighorn (Ovis canadensis) sheep; methods for multiplex PCR, amplicon sequencing, and bioinformatics to characterize respiratory flora.

Respiratory disease is responsible for dramatic population declines in bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis), and respiratory pathogen diagnostics contribute to the management of bighorn populations. To create a comprehensive and consistent approach to bighorn sheep respiratory diagnostics, we created a culture-independent assay to detect and strain type Mannheimia haemolytica, Bibersteinia trehalosi, Pasteurella multocida, and Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae. The assay also detects and characterizes the Pasteurellaceae leukotoxin A gene, and broadly assesses the bacterial composition of each sample based on 16S rRNA sequences. The assay is based on a three-step approach: 1) Multiplex PCR to amplify targets including eight loci for each bacterial species, the Pasteurellaceae lktA gene, and the 16S rRNA gene 2) Library preparation, barcoding, and short-read Illumina sequencing to determine the genetic sequences of each target, and 3) Bioinformatics in the form of automated software to analyze genetic sequences. The assay was designed to assess shared pathogens between domestic and bighorn sheep, but could be useful for many applications in bighorn sheep respiratory disease research and management.

Conditional feature generation for transductive open-set recognition via dual-space consistent sampling

Open-set recognition (OSR) aims to simultaneously detect unknown-class samples and classify known-class samples. Most of the existing OSR methods are inductive methods, which generally suffer from the domain shift problem that the learned model from the known-class domain might be unsuitable for the unknown-class domain. Addressing this problem, inspired by the success of transductive learning for alleviating the domain shift problem in many other visual tasks, we propose an Iterative Transductive OSR framework, called IT-OSR, which implements three explored modules iteratively, including a reliability sampling module, a feature generation module, and a baseline update module. Specifically at the initialization stage, a baseline method, which could be an arbitrary inductive OSR method, is used for assigning pseudo labels to the test samples. At the iteration stage, based on the consistency of the assigned pseudo labels between the output/logit space and the latent feature space of the baseline method, a dual-space consistent sampling approach is presented in the reliability sampling module for sampling some reliable ones from the test samples. Then in the feature generation module, a conditional dual-adversarial generative network is designed to generate discriminative features of both known and unknown classes. This generative network employs two discriminators for implementing fake/real and known/unknown-class discriminations respectively. And it is trained by jointly utilizing the test samples with their pseudo labels selected in the reliability sampling module and the labeled training samples. Finally in the baseline update module, the above baseline method is updated/re-trained for sample re-prediction by jointly utilizing the generated features, the selected test samples with pseudo labels, and the training samples. Extensive experimental results on both the standard-dataset and the cross-dataset settings demonstrate that the derived transductive methods, by introducing two typical inductive OSR methods into the proposed IT-OSR framework, achieve better performances than 19 state-of-the-art methods in most cases.

The LEAP checklist for Laboratory Evaluation and Analytical Performance characteristics reporting of clinical measurement procedures

Reporting a measurement procedure and its analytical performance following method evaluation in a peer-reviewed journal is an important means for clinical laboratory practitioners to share their findings. It also represents an important source of evidence base to help others make informed decisions about their practice. At present, there are significant variations in the information reported in laboratory medicine journal publications describing the analytical performance of measurement procedures. These variations also challenge authors, readers, reviewers, and editors in deciding the quality of a submitted manuscript.The International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine Working Group on Method Evaluation Protocols (IFCC WG-MEP) developed a checklist and recommends its adoption to enable a consistent approach to reporting method evaluation and analytical performance characteristics of measurement procedures in laboratory medicine journals. It is envisioned that the LEAP checklist will improve the standardisation of journal publications describing method evaluation and analytical performance characteristics, improving the quality of the evidence base that is relied upon by practitioners.

The LEAP checklist for laboratory evaluation and analytical performance characteristics reporting of clinical measurement procedures.

Reporting a measurement procedure and its analytical performance following method evaluation in a peer-reviewed journal is an important means for clinical laboratory practitioners to share their findings. It also represents an important source of evidence base to help others make informed decisions about their practice. At present, there are significant variations in the information reported in laboratory medicine journal publications describing the analytical performance of measurement procedures. These variations also challenge authors, readers, reviewers and editors in deciding the quality of a submitted manuscript. The International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine Working Group on Method Evaluation Protocols (IFCC WG-MEP) developed a checklist and recommends its adoption to enable a consistent approach to reporting method evaluation and analytical performance characteristics of measurement procedures in laboratory medicine journals. It is envisioned that the LEAP checklist will improve the standardisation of journal publications describing method evaluation and analytical performance characteristics, improving the quality of the evidence base that is relied upon by practitioners.

Optimal conditions for pressure shock induction of triploidy in turbot and a comparison of induction efficiency with cold shock

The mass production of triploid turbot Scophthalmus maximus is expected to enhance the economic benefits of aquaculture due to its sterility, growth, and survival advantages. Among the methods for inducing triploidy in teleost, pressure shock has been considered a more consistent and reliable approach. In this study, the optimal parameters for inducing triploidy in turbot through hydrostatic pressure shock were investigated in a series of trials, including the intensity (55–75 MPa), timing (3.5–8.5 min after fertilization, maf) and duration (4–12 min). The ploidy level was determined by flow cytometry analysis. Under a water temperature of 14.5 ± 0.5 °C, treatment optima for pressure shock were determined to be 4.5–5.5 maf with 60 MPa for 6 min, resulting in 100% triploidy rate. A comparison of induction efficiency between pressure shock using this combination and cold shock initiated at 6.5 maf in −2 °C sea water for 25 min was carried out using eggs from three females. The higher hatching rates and triploidy rates, and lower abnormality rates were investigated with pressure shock treatment compared with cold shock treatment. The optimized parameters were successfully applied to three large batches of eggs (∼ 250, 300 and 330 mL) for mass production of triploid turbot. The total length and body weight of triploids were significantly lower than those of diploid counterparts at 2 months after hatching (mah), however, they exhibited a significant increase at 8 and 11 mah, respectively, and maintained this higher level thereafter. Additionally, the survival rates remained similar from 2 to 12 mah. The results of this preliminary study indicate that pressure shock rather than cold shock is more beneficial for the commercial production of triploid turbot under farming conditions.

The LEAP checklist for laboratory evaluation and analytical performance characteristics reporting of clinical measurement procedures.

Reporting a measurement procedure and its analytical performance following method evaluation in a peer-reviewed journal is an important means for clinical laboratory practitioners to share their findings. It also represents an important source of evidence base to help others make informed decisions about their practice. At present, there are significant variations in the information reported in laboratory medicine journal publications describing the analytical performance of measurement procedures. These variations also challenge authors, readers, reviewers, and editors in deciding the quality of a submitted manuscript. The International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine Working Group on Method Evaluation Protocols (IFCC WG-MEP) developed a checklist and recommends its adoption to enable a consistent approach to reporting method evaluation and analytical performance characteristics of measurement procedures in laboratory medicine journals. It is envisioned that the LEAP checklist will improve the standardisation of journal publications describing method evaluation and analytical performance characteristics, improving the quality of the evidence base that is relied upon by practitioners.

The LEAP checklist for laboratory evaluation and analytical performance characteristics reporting of clinical measurement procedures.

Reporting a measurement procedure and its analytical performance following method evaluation in a peer-reviewed journal is an important means for clinical laboratory practitioners to share their findings. It also represents an important source of evidence base to help others make informed decisions about their practice. At present, there are significant variations in the information reported in laboratory medicine journal publications describing the analytical performance of measurement procedures. These variations also challenge authors, readers, reviewers, and editors in deciding the quality of a submitted manuscript. The International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine Working Group on Method Evaluation Protocols (IFCC WG-MEP) developed a checklist and recommends its adoption to enable a consistent approach to reporting method evaluation and analytical performance characteristics of measurement procedures in laboratory medicine journals. It is envisioned that the Laboratory Evaluation and Analytical Performance Characteristics (LEAP) checklist will improve the standardisation of journal publications describing method evaluation and analytical performance characteristics, improving the quality of the evidence base that is relied upon by practitioners.

Care and the academy: Navigating fieldwork, funding and care responsibilities

AbstractThis commentary reflects on research jointly conducted by the Development Geographies Research Group (DevGRG) and the Gender and Feminist Geographies Research Group (GFGRG) of the RGS‐IBG, which aimed to understand the challenges faced by academics with care responsibilities. We set out the effects of research funding policies and practices on researchers' ability to combine careers as academic geographers with care responsibilities, highlighting the specific effects in a field‐based subject such as Geography. We gathered data about a range of research funders' policies and how these are implemented (in various ways) in UK Geography departments. We also surveyed all UK university Geography departments to understand experiences of parental and adoption leave, including support from employers, impacts on career progression, and recommendations for support. Our data show that there is a need for a more consistent and comprehensive approach to recognising the costs of academics' caring responsibilities, to support their career progression and to mitigate the impacts disproportionately experienced by women. Funders and higher education institutes (HEIs) need to work collaboratively to develop policies and practices to address the individualised way in which (predominantly female) academics currently experience navigating the provision of funding for parental leave, and for covering costs of care during fieldwork. Our research highlights the need for consistent and progressive policies in relation to care and parental leave across all funding bodies – that can subsequently be embedded into institutional frameworks – in order to provide equity and consistency for staff across the UK higher education (HE) sector. We also emphasise the need for these policies to be more visible and transparent, making the task of navigating them more manageable for staff at an often uncertain time in their working lives.

Carotid Plaque-RADS: A Novel Stroke Risk Classification System

BackgroundCarotid artery atherosclerosis is highly prevalent in the general population and is a well-established risk factor for acute ischemic stroke. Although the morphological characteristics of vulnerable plaques are well recognized, there is a lack of consensus in reporting and interpreting carotid plaque features. ObjectivesThe aim of this paper is to establish a consistent and comprehensive approach for imaging and reporting carotid plaque by introducing the Plaque–RADS (Reporting and Data System) score. MethodsA panel of experts recognized the necessity to develop a classification system for carotid plaque and its defining characteristics. Using a multimodality analysis approach, the Plaque-RADS categories were established through consensus, drawing on existing published reports. ResultsThe authors present a universal classification that is applicable to both researchers and clinicians. The Plaque-RADS score offers a morphological assessment in addition to the prevailing quantitative parameter of "stenosis." The Plaque-RADS score spans from grade 1 (indicating complete absence of plaque) to grade 4 (representing complicated plaque). Accompanying visual examples are included to facilitate a clear understanding of the Plaque-RADS categories. ConclusionsPlaque-RADS is a standardized and reliable system of reporting carotid plaque composition and morphology via different imaging modalities, such as ultrasound, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging. This scoring system has the potential to help in the precise identification of patients who may benefit from exclusive medical intervention and those who require alternative treatments, thereby enhancing patient care. A standardized lexicon and structured reporting promise to enhance communication between radiologists, referring clinicians, and scientists.

Exploring Pre-Construction Activities in Infrastructure Projects That Can Benefit from Contractor Involvement

The pre-construction phase of public infrastructure projects is characterized by significant uncertainty as crucial decisions are made with limited information. This early stage of project development is influenced by a multitude of factors and input from various stakeholders. While early contractor involvement (ECI) offers potential benefits for both clients and projects, the timing and selection of tasks for involving the contractor are critical to achieving these benefits. This study seeks to identify key pre-construction activities in public infrastructure projects and pinpoint the activities that stand to gain the most from ECI. The research methodology involved conducting semi-structured interviews, organizing seven workshops, and conducting the literature and document studies. Through these efforts, the study identified a total of 20 pre-construction activities, among which 5 activities emerged as the most favorable candidates for ECI, while 5 others were deemed less suitable. The findings underscore a consensus that involving contractor expertise during the Brief Development sub-phase holds significant promise. Notably, activities associated with planning, environmental considerations, and technical aspects related to the scope clarification, were found to be highly amenable to ECI. Activities addressing uncertainty management received particular attention, with clients valuing contractors’ practical experience in risk assessment and mitigation. Additionally, contractors’ insights into planning, activity dependencies, and their contributions to health, safety, and environmental plans were highly regarded. However, activities, categorized under the more technical sub-phases of Concept Development and Detailed Engineering yielded mixed results, while those falling within the predominantly social and political domain and involving political processes and societal impact, were viewed as less suitable for early contractor involvement. These findings emphasize the need to adopt a systematic and consistent approach to pre-construction activities, highlighting that ECI should not be applied as a one-size-fits-all solution. The interview results somewhat contrast with the literature findings, which indicate that the early conceptual phase is most beneficial as the contractor impact is highest. To some extent, the client, contractor, and consultant still see their benefit and strategy before the good of the project.

Temporal and Spatial Characterization of Sediment Bacterial Communities from Lake Wetlands in a Plain River Network Region

Sediment bacterial communities are a vital component of microbial communities in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems and they play a critical role in lake wetlands. We aimed to investigate the effect of season, depth and regional environmental factors on the composition and diversity of bacterial communities in a plain river network area from Taihu Basin. The millions of Illumina reads (16S rRNA gene amplicons) at the surface 25 cm inside samples of the study area were examined using a technically consistent approach. Results from the diversity index, relative abundance, principal component analysis (PCA), redundancy analysis (RDA) and linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) analysis indicated that the diversity of the bacterial community in summer was generally higher than in other seasons. Proteobacteria were the most abundant phylum in the sediment samples in different seasons (43.15–57.41%) and different layers (39.66–77.97%); the autumn sediments were enriched with Firmicutes (5.67%) and Chloroflexi (12.5%); in all four seasons the sediments were enriched with Betaproteobacteria (14.98–23.45%), Gammaproteobacteria (11.98–14.36%) and Deltaproteobacteria (8.68–14.45%). In the bottom sediments (10–25 cm), Chloroflexi were abundant (average value 10.42%), while Bacteroidetes was the dominant phylum in the surface sediments; redundancy analysis found that total phosphorus (TP) (p = 0.036) was the main environmental factor influencing the sediment bacterial community in different layers. This study provides a reference for further understanding the effects of seasonal changes on sediment microorganisms in lake wetlands.

Investigation of driving forces in a phase field approach to mixed mode fracture of concrete

Concrete, with its heterogeneous internal structure of cement mortar and grains, exhibits complex quasi-brittle cracking where a gradual decrease in the material integrity is observed. In practical engineering, concrete structures are commonly under loading conditions that cause complex mixed mode fracture patterns. Hence, the prediction of failure mechanisms and patterns in concrete is a demanding task. In the past decades, computational fracture modeling of concrete has proven to be a suitable substitute for costly experimental testing. Among many fracture models, the phase field approach, owing to its ability to capture various crack phenomena without a need for ad hoc criteria, has gained significant attention. Although there exist phase field models applied to various failure mechanisms ranging from brittle to ductile fractures, only a limited number of them deal with the quasi-brittle cracking observed in concrete. Hence, in this work, a thermodynamically consistent phase field approach for quasi-brittle fracture is presented, and its performance for capturing the mixed mode failure patterns of concrete is investigated. Starting from a purely geometric approach, the evolution of fracture is associated with a constitutive crack driving functional. The crack driving force is related to an equivalent effective stress measure leading to a simple, yet versatile, framework in which various failure criteria can be implicitly incorporated into the framework. In particular, equivalent effective stresses based on the Rankine, Drucker–Prager, modified von Mises, and three-parameter failure criteria are derived. A unified form of the equivalent effective stress encompassing all the models is also proposed, which offers flexibility in choosing an appropriate driving force, and allows a simple implementation into a finite element framework. Utilizing this unified form, the effectiveness of the aforementioned driving forces in capturing complex mixed mode cracking in concrete is investigated by comparing the results obtained from computational simulations to existing experimental data. In particular, the load–displacement curves and the crack propagation paths are compared with the corresponding experimental observations, and a systematic study of the performance of different driving forces is detailed in this study.

Evaluating the (in)sufficiency of Africa’s response towards economic and psychological violence against women

Violence against women is a practice that persists in all societies across the globe. The range of actions and omissions that amount to violence has evolved over time, to recognise harmful practices that do not necessarily result in physical harm. Such actions or omissions include economic and psychological forms of violence. The evolving definition of violence is reflected in many global and regional human rights instruments. However, the approach to such recognition and measures proposed to address economic and psychological forms of violence vary considerably from one instrument to another. This article assesses the extent to which economic and psychological forms of violence are addressed in the norms and standards of the African Union. A systematic review of the applicable instruments and the jurisprudence of key human rights bodies reveals that the recognition of economic and psychological forms of violence rarely goes beyond the definition clause of the respective instruments. As a result, jurisprudential engagement on, and the framing of measures for response tothese forms of violence is limited. The failure to adopt a consistent, robust and purposive approach to violence, which articulates measures necessary to address all the forms of violence, undercuts the protection available towomen who suffer from economic and psychological forms of violence. This article makes the case that consistent recognition and specific articulation of economic and psychological forms of violence as distinct types of violence, asin the approach of the Istanbul Treaty, is necessary to fulfil the promise of protection from ‘all forms of violence’. Such express recognition in multilateral instruments is important to influence domestic law to follow suit.

A qualitative study of Swedish pupils’ perspectives on supportive school climates and help-seeking

ABSTRACT The aim of this study is to explore pupils’ perspectives on school climate, with a focus on help-seeking from teachers when experiencing unsafe incidents. Fifty-nine focus group interviews were conducted with pupils from two public schools in grades 1–9 (i.e. ages 7–15 years) in Sweden and analyzed with constructivist grounded theory. The findings address how the organizational support structure was crucial and three main categories were conceptualized from pupils’ perspectives: (1) teachers as sources of support; (2) availability of support; and (3) consistent and responsive support. The way in which pupils perceived these three dimensions, and thus the organizational support structure, were crucial to whether they considered help-seeking from teachers when they experienced unsafe incidents such as violence, bullying or conflicts. To conceptualize the pupils’ perspectives on the organizational support structure and help-seeking we adopted a social-ecological perspective as a theoretical framework. Social-ecological factors such as scheduling, and information provided (exosystem) and the pupil-teacher relationships (microsystem) were found to be especially important in relation to the organizational support structure and pupils’ help-seeking. Our findings suggests that it is imperative for schools to pay attention to the organizational support structure and especially consider the teacher-pupil relationship quality and how scheduling, information about support sources, and a consistent and responsive approach from all teachers affects pupils’ help-seeking and the building of a supportive school climate and safety for all pupils at school.

Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine Clinical Protocol #21: Breastfeeding in the Setting of Substance Use and Substance Use Disorder (Revised 2023).

Background: The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine (ABM) revised the 2015 version of the substance use disorder (SUD) clinical protocol to review the evidence and provide updated literature-based recommendations related to breastfeeding in the setting of substance use and SUD treatments. Key Information: Decisions around breastfeeding are an important aspect of care during the peripartum period, and there are specific benefits and risks for substance-exposed mother-infant dyads. Recommendations: This protocol provides breastfeeding recommendations in the setting of nonprescribed opioid, stimulant, sedative-hypnotic, alcohol, nicotine, and cannabis use, and SUD treatments. Additionally, we offer guidance on the utility of toxicology testing in breastfeeding recommendations. Individual programs and institutions should establish consistent breastfeeding approaches that mitigate bias, facilitate consistency, and empower mothers with SUD. For specific breastfeeding recommendations, given the complexity of breastfeeding in mothers with SUD, individualized care plans should be created in partnership with the patient and multidisciplinary team with appropriate clinical support and follow-up. In general, breastfeeding is recommended among mothers who stop nonprescribed substance use by the time of delivery, and they should continue to receive ongoing postpartum care, such as lactation support and SUD treatment. Overall, enhancing breastfeeding education regarding substance use in pregnancy and lactation is essential to allow for patient-centered guidance.

End to end vision transformer architecture for brain stroke assessment based on multi-slice classification and localization using computed tomography.

Brain stroke is a leading cause of disability and death worldwide, and early diagnosis and treatment are critical to improving patient outcomes. Current stroke diagnosis methods are subjective and prone to errors, as radiologists rely on manual selection of the most important CT slice. This highlights the need for more accurate and reliable automated brain stroke diagnosis and localization methods to improve patient outcomes. In this study, we aimed to enhance the vision transformer architecture for the multi-slice classification of CT scans of each patient into three categories, including Normal, Infarction, Hemorrhage, and patient-wise stroke localization, based on end-to-end vision transformer architecture. This framework can provide an automated, objective, and consistent approach to stroke diagnosis and localization, enabling personalized treatment plans based on the location and extent of the stroke. We modified the Vision Transformer (ViT) in combination with neural network layers for the multi-slice classification of brain CT scans of each patient into normal, infarction, and hemorrhage classes. For stroke localization, we used the ViT architecture and convolutional neural network layers to detect stroke and localize it by bounding boxes for infarction and hemorrhage regions in a patient-wise manner based on multi slices. Our proposed framework achieved an overall accuracy of 87.51% in classifying brain CT scan slices and showed high precision in localizing the stroke patient-wise. Our results demonstrate the potential of our method for accurate and reliable stroke diagnosis and localization. Our study enhanced ViT architecture for automated stroke diagnosis and localization using brain CT scans, which could have significant implications for stroke management and treatment. The use of deep learning algorithms can provide a more objective and consistent approach to stroke diagnosis and potentially enable personalized treatment plans based on the location and extent of the stroke. Further studies are needed to validate our method on larger and more diverse datasets and to explore its clinical utility in real-world settings.

Le Moyen Âge et les sciences edited by Danielle Jacquart and Agostino Paravicini Bagliani

Since the appearance of its first volume in 1993, Micrologus, a periodical published by the Società Internazionale per lo Studio del Medioevo Latino (SISMEL) under the editorial aegis of Agostino Paravicini Bagliani, has developed into a significant forum for historical scholarship on medieval ideas about/approaches bearing on the natural world and their social settings—as indicated in the subtitle Nature, Sciences and Medieval Societies. Known for its annual volumes on themes such as “the Human Skin” and “Silence”, Micrologus has maintained a consistent approach of publishing the proceedings of highly focused academic colloquia rather than going down the conventional route of a submission-based journal. A broadly similar thematic outlook combined with a greater diversity of formats has come to characterize Micrologus Library, a companion book series launched in 1998 and now exceeding 110 volumes. Its entries have included proceedings volumes, single-author essay collections, textual editions, and a few monographs.

The problem of ensuring the long-term sustainability of research infrastructures in today’s conditions

Problem setting. The research is devoted to the analysis of the problem of ensuring the long-term sustainability of research infrastructures, taking into account the challenges and threats that exist at the current stage. analysis of resent researches and publications. Today, aspects of the development of innovation systems and research infrastructures of the European Union and Ukraine are a topic for research of many foreign and domestic researchers. At the same time, the question of ensuring the long-term sustainability of research infrastructures in modern conditions remains relevant. Purpose of the research is to analyze the problem of ensuring the long-term sustainability of research infrastructures, taking into account the challenges and threats that exist at the present stage. Аrticle’s main body. The European framework programs made a significant contribution to the development of effective, open and effective use of national research infrastructures, and developed together with the European Strategic Forum of Research Infrastructures a consistent approach to the development of national investment policies in pan-European research infrastructures, which gave rise to the development of many European research infrastructures. Emphasis is placed on the fact that in order to maintain scientific excellence and competitiveness, it is necessary to ensure constant funding of both existing and new research infrastructure. It is concluded that it is necessary to promote synergy between funding instruments for research infrastructures (both European and national), to coordinate investments in research and innovation, improve access and translate research results for the benefit of society and the economy. Sufficient funding including adequate and sustainable funding models, required across the whole RI lifecycle to address the diversity of needs and the funding gaps, is indispensable for successful RI strategy. A joint effort combining European, national or other funding sources is vital for the healthy development of the pan-European RI ecosystem. For research infrastructures to remain relevant throughout the entire RI lifecycle, scientific excellence is the necessary condition, which becomes, together with adequate human resources, crucial when it comes to long-term persistence in the operational phase. Effective governance and sustainable long-term funding (public and private) are other key elements for ensuring long-term sustainability of research infrastructures at every stage in their lifecycle. All the long-term sustainability elements form a unique set, which should be considered and implemented as a general strategic guidance, and not only for ESFRI initiated Research infrastructures. conclusions and prospects for the development. Necessary from the development of the situation, in our opinion, it was expedient to start the preparation and implementation of the investment road map for the reconstruction of the scientific infrastructure of Ukraine. After all, the level of increasing the sustainability of research infrastructure remains an urgent issue for Europe and the world as a whole, in particular in the context of exiting the crisis related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and the economic and political situation.