Interdisciplinary Research Project Research Articles

The role of radiology in provenance research - experiences from the collaboration between radiology and anatomy at the University of Rostock and future perspectives.

Worldwide, the study and examination of human remains and the circumstances of their acquisition for anatomical collection have received great interest. As part of provenance research projects, a large number of collections are being investigated to determine whether the human remains have been acquired in a correct or unlawful way because the people could have been killed in order to be used as "anthropological objects" for research purposes and to become so-called "specimens". These topics have also been addressed by the Institute of Anatomy at the University Medical Center Rostock. The role of radiology in this interdisciplinary project will be presented using selected examples.The anatomical collection at the University of Rostock includes 40 human skulls, 14 plaster casts, 6 Egyptian mummy heads, and 1 full-body mummy. In addition to the examination by a historian, an anthropologist, and forensic pathologists, additional computed tomography was carried out on nine skulls and the full-body mummy. Micro-computed tomography was also carried out on seven skulls in order to enable a look behind the mummification material and tissue remains.(Micro-)computed tomography was able to close diagnostic gaps and the results presented some rather unexpected findings.Due to interdisciplinary collaboration, individual fates could be determined, which provided information about the individual's life and death circumstances. None of the examined individuals showed evidence of colonial-era injustice or the use of violence that would have led to their inclusion in the collection. (Micro-)computed tomography was a valuable addition to this provenance research project. · Computed tomography enhances interdisciplinary provenance research projects.. · Computed tomography enables a non-destructive examination of human remains.. · The future of research and presentation of human remains will increasingly be virtual.. · Steinhagen I, Brinker U, Kolbe V et al. The role of radiology in provenance research - experiences from the collaboration between radiology and anatomy at the University of Rostock and future perspectives. Fortschr Röntgenstr 2024; DOI 10.1055/a-2303-0312.

Encountering mobility (in)justice through the lived experiences of fishing communities in Dakar and Saint Louis, Senegal

Placing attention on counter narratives from fishing communities in Dakar and Saint Louis in Senegal, we present how the climate crisis and its complex nexus with (im)mobility is instrumentalized to mask the underlying structural causes. We evidence the intertwined impacts of the climate crisis as rooted in global unequal structures, state-level fishing agreements, and global and local waste (mis)management on lives and livelihoods through the lens of mobility justice. Mimi Sheller’s concept of ‘mobility justice’ reflects the interconnecting strands that emerge from the interdisciplinary research project ClimateOfChange on which the paper is based: the right to mobility, the right to live in a healthy environment, and the unequal access to such rights across the globe. Our aim within this paper is to deconstruct depoliticised narratives of the climate crisis, particularly those related to so-called ‘climate migrants’ and instead to unravel the ongoing colonial continuities underpinning the climate crisis and the structures of racial capitalism that create socio-spatial inequalities in environment and mobility. Empirical data is drawn from qualitative research conducted with local people/activists, including a one-month climate diary capturing visual perceptions of mobility (in)justice.

Irrational behavioral models of personal finance and their evolution in the digital economy

Aim. To review the evolution of scientific concepts investigating the motives for decision[1]making based on irrational consumer behavior and to identify real changes in behavioral models of personal finance. Objectives. To examine the evolution of scientific concepts of the world’s leading scientists on decision-making motives in the consumer market; to consider the effects of irrational consumer behavior; to identify key changes in consumer buying decision behavior caused by digitalization. Methods. The article is based on the analysis of scientific works of leading classical economists, interdisciplinary scientific research of modern foreign and domestic scientists devoted to the issues of decision-making in the field of consumption. The institutional approach was applied, which allowed us to study the evolution of irrational behavior in the field of personal finance depending on the dominant social values. Results. In the process of analyzing theoretical provisions of famous scientists up to the middle of the twentieth century, the justification of consumers’ decision-making in the consumer market based on their desire to maximize pleasure, utility of welfare is presented. Such behavior can be attributed to irrational behavior. Gradually, taking into account the market regulators of consumption opportunities, scientists come to the conclusion about the rational behavior of individuals. However, by the end of the twentieth century, the position of scientists changes towards limited rationality due to the inability of individuals to adequately assess the array of information affecting decision-making in the consumer market. On the basis of conclusions drawn by modern scientists in the framework of interdisciplinary research, such a new direction of economic science as “behavioral economics” emerges, which combined the knowledge of both economics and psychology. Modern research has shown some effects in behavioral finance related to the irrationality of consumer behavior when making a purchase decision: the Veblen effect, the Diderot effect and others. The latest research on the impact of digitalization on consumer behavior reflects the changes taking place in consumer behavior towards rationalization. Conclusions. The concepts and models describing the peculiarities of irrational behavior of individuals related to decision-making and based on irrational spending of personal financial resources from the point of view of classical economic science are considered. The evolution of scientific concepts of irrational behavior of the world’s leading economists during two centuries is presented. The effects of irrational consumer behavior proposed by scientists in the framework of interdisciplinary research are studied. Among them are the Veblen effect, the Diderot effect. The influence of digitalization on personal finance decision-making is shown.

Identity in university students: The semiotic work of making sense of yourself

The development of a deepened sense of self in young adults is a complex process. In this paper, we report on an interdisciplinary research project on identity formation among students at the University of the Free State from the perspective of semiotic work. Based on work in psychology and semiotics, we interviewed fifty-seven students about their identity. In particular, we asked students to bring along ‘something’ that they thought represents their identity, and we asked them to explain their choice. We first performed a semiotic analysis on the representations the students brought and then coded their motivations for themes. We found identity formation along the lines suggested by existing literature, with themes related to the importance of finding both an authentic and relational sense of self in a growth process that contains elements of hardship and strength. The study did, however, find two points of interests, namely the fact that very few students brought a material representation with them as well as the fact that students oscillated between resilience and succumbing to pressure.

Научный вклад А. Г. Козлова в изучение истории Северо-Востока России

The article presents the main results of the scientific activities of A. G. Kozlov (1951-2006), Senior Researcher at the Laboratory of History and Archeology of the North-East Interdisciplinary Scientific Research Institute of the FEB RAS, local historian, and populiser of science. In 1997-2006, he was involved with various problems of Magadan оblast history, peculiarities in the industrial development of Russia's North-East, the Dalstroy economic activities, correctional labour policy in the area in the 1930s-1950s, as well as the foundation and development of the city of Magadan. A. G. Kozlov made a significant contribution to studying the history of Magadan oblast.

African city diplomacy in global climate mobility debates

AbstractWhile researchers have paid growing attention to transnational city engagement in both the policy fields of migration and climate change, there is a dearth of studies exploring how cities claim agency and start acting in emerging global climate mobility debates. Moreover, city diplomacy research tends to focus predominantly on city actors from the global North. We aim to address this research bias and advance academic debates by exploring African city diplomacy in global climate mobility debates. Specifically, we examine the question: How do African cities claim recognition as relevant actors in global dialogues on climate mobility, and what kind of action do they take? To find answers, we draw on a role theory framework analysing empirical research undertaken within an international, interdisciplinary research project.

СHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF THE CHRISTIAN AND PAGAN METAL ANTIQUITIES FROM THE EXCAVATIONS AT MEDIEVAL NOVGOROD ON THE BASE OF INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH

The present paper focuses on the new results of elemental analysis of 94 metal objects attributed to the Christian and pagan artifacts. They have been found at the excavation of Medieval Novgorod and the Novgorod region. The analytical data obtained by EDXRF in the frame of interdisciplinary research project. It includes mostly pendant-crosses as well as the round pendants and mounts with Saints, fragments of the church polycandelons and the pagan pendant-amulets. Obtained results have been examined statistically. Tin-lead bronzes clearly dominate the selection. There are also mixed copper alloys (gunmetal) with tin, zinc, and lead and lead brass. The proportions of silver and pewter alloys as well as pure tin and lead are modest. Obtained data supplemented by further research on the base of Pb-isotope methods and ICP MS results and their geological interpretation will allow to trace the ore sources of the metal objects from Novgorod.

Long-term Rural Settlement Continuity and Land Use during the Bronze and Iron Ages in the Northern Franconian Low Mountain Range

In this article, the authors present the salient archaeological results of a diachronic, interdisciplinary research project on rural settlement and land use in a region of low mountains in southern Germany. Despite clear locational disadvantages, in particular great distances to drinking water sources, archaeological excavations and an extensive dating programme document an unexpectedly long continuity of prehistoric settlement in the area.

Reimagining Pigs – A Multispecies, Ecofeminist Research Method

ABSTRACT Food production is an example of inter- and intra-action between different species and abiotic actors. Yet, capitalism-driven food system is increasingly wreaking havoc on natural ecosystems and the species inhabiting them, including humans. Industrial farming is one such example. This article is inspired by ecofeminist thinking and views industrial pig farming through a multispecies lens using design and visual art methodologies. We believe that ecofeminism is prefigurative, shining brightly towards ‘a future of multispecies flourishing and the ultimate goal of planetary survival’ (Power 2020, viii). In such a future, human and more-than-human entanglements are not grounded in exploitation and extraction but instead are predicated on kinship and response-ability (Haraway 2016). Presented as a visual essay, the article draws on our interdisciplinary research project Re: Pig and the zine made as part of it. We consider how Re: Pig as an ecofeminist, interdisciplinary method may offer the opportunities for the emergence of more hopeful narratives. In these narratives, human and more-than-human might find alternative ways to thrive together in what seems to be a time of decline, undoing the relations of domination that subordinate more-than-human lives to human interests. This resonates with the idea of creating care-centred and justice-oriented feminist futures.

Concept and implementation of an adaptive digital hearing training system for cochlear implant aftercare

Within the context of an interdisciplinary research project, we created acutting-edge prototype of an adaptive digital auditory training system designed for cochlear implant (CI) users. By leveraging the evidence-centered design (ECD) framework, we integrated adynamic difficulty adjustment feature that tailors the experience to the unique performance capabilities of each individual user. The ECD provides aconceptual design framework suitable for complex assessments of competence and dynamic performance. In the first phase, the domain of hearing was first defined in the context of CI users. In the development phase the three core models of the ECD, the competence model, the evidence model, and the task model, were developed and implemented. In addition, an asset pool of sound and language files was created, which included comprehensive linguistic feature descriptions for calculating item difficulties. Based on the requirements described, an adaptive exercise generator, an AI service, and other components were implemented. This included the development of agame environment and adashboard for patient data management. The exercises' difficulty levels were determined based on various parameters (e.g., sound, word frequency and number of words, grammatical properties) in combination with defined task types and levels. An adaptive digital auditory training system can help to supervise and train CI patients in acontinuous, interactive process based on their individual needs. We see the ECD as an effective way to build auser-based adaptive system.

Research Ethics and Ethical Research: An Example of Integrating Ethics in R&I Research

AbstractThe role of ethics in research and innovation projects (R&I) has become much more important in recent decades. Particularly, security-related research is required to reflect on normative issues within the research process. At the same time, the form in which ethics is addressed differs greatly. This is not only due to different research agendas (e.g. ethics as an evaluation criterion of research or a research endeavour in itself) and aims (e.g. technology development, social or medical research) but also because of different perceptions with regard to the role of ethics within the research project (e.g. ethics as an external standard to comply with or ethics as a research strand within an interdisciplinary research project). As differences in the level of ethical reflection are not problematic as such, but might be rooted in the specific research interest itself, it might be difficult for those in charge of performing ethical research in R&I projects to develop ethics research designs for new projects. Focussing on security research, we present in this contribution, how ethics was included into the work performed in a trans- and interdisciplinary EU research project. Thereby, four levels of ethical reflection are distinguished and illustrated with examples. These levels can be subsumed under the categories research ethics and ethical research. The paper is intended as one example of how ethics can be integrated into security-related research, which might and should be complemented with other approaches in order to help researchers developing an ethical inventory of procedures to conduct ethical research in security domain.

Homing wellness: can narrative design transform living spaces for people with dementia into engaging environments enabling communication?

Interactive design is an emerging trend in dementia care environments. This article describes a research project aiming at the design and development of novel spatial objects with narrative attributes that incorporate embedded technology and textiles to support the wellbeing of people living with dementia. In collaboration with people with dementia, this interdisciplinary research project focuses on the question of how innovative spatial objects can be incorporated into dementia long-term care settings, transforming the space into a comforting and playful narrative environment that can enhance self-esteem while also facilitating communication between people living with dementia, family, and staff members. The research methodologies applied are qualitative, including Action Research. Participatory design methods with the experts by experience-the people with dementia-and health professionals have been used to inform the study. Early findings from this research are presented as design solutions comprising a series of spatial object prototypes with embedded technology and textiles. The prototypes were evaluated primarily by researchers, health professionals, academics, and design practitioners in terms of functionality, aesthetics, and their potential to stimulate engagement. The research is ongoing, and the aim is to evaluate the prototypes by using ethnographic and sensory ethnography methods and, consequently, further develop them through co-design workshops with people living with dementia.

Agile by accident: how to apply Agile principles in academic research projects

Sustainability science and sustainability transition studies are interdisciplinary fields. Interdisciplinarity is understood to support out-of-the-box thinking and thus facilitate scientific advancements. Interdisciplinary research projects dealing with complex issues might need project management approaches that support learning, adaptation, and innovation. Agile is a management approach that has been developed to facilitate collaboration, learning, creativity, innovation, and reflectivity. Due to these qualities, Agile might be a suitable approach to managing interdisciplinary research projects. Agile project management is still new in academic research settings. Only limited information about how to apply it in an academic setting exists. To fill this gap the Agile principles are translated to fit the academic context. The article then outlines how Agile principles can be applied to an academic research program, that did not consciously plan to apply this approach. The translation of the principles will permit other researchers to intentionally use them in their interdisciplinary research projects. Furthermore, other researchers can build on the insights provided in this article to overcome the challenges that Agile can bring.

Public controversy and citizens' attitude formation about animal research: A case for scholarship and recommendations on conflicts at the science-society interface.

Activist groups attack animal research and put scientists and their institutions under pressure, whereas scientists often remain silent. We report an interdisciplinary research project driven by a communication science perspective on how citizens respond to news reports about animal research (3 experiments, overall N = 765) and a German science-initiated information platform ("Tierversuche verstehen"; controlled user study, N = 100). Findings demonstrate that a critical journalist perspective within neutral, two-sided news reports (e.g., skeptical expert statements or images of suffering animals) does not affect citizen opinion strongly. Information media provided by scientific institutions seem to be welcomed even by citizens who hold critical prior attitudes. From these results, we develop a set of recommendations for future public communication of animal research that builds on best practices in organizational and crisis communication. These suggestions are intended to empower animal researchers to actively participate in public debate to support citizens' informed attitude formation.

EOLinPLACE: an international research project to reform the way dying places are classified and understood.

Whenever possible, a person should die where they feel it is the right place to be. There is substantial global variation in home death percentages but it is unclear whether these differences reflect preferences, and there are major limitations in how the place of death is classified and compared across countries. EOLinPLACE is an international interdisciplinary research project funded by the European Research Council aiming to create a solid base for a ground-breaking international classification tool that will enable the mapping of preferred and actual places towards death. Mixed-methods observational research. We combine classic methods of developing health classifications with a bottom-up participatory research approach, working with international organizations representing patients and informal carers [International Alliance of Patients' Organizations (IAPO) and Eurocarers]. First, we will conduct an international comparative analysis of existing classification systems and routinely collected death certificate data on place of death. Secondly, we will conduct a mixed-methods study (ethnography followed by longitudinal quantitative study) in four countries (the Netherlands, Portugal, Uganda and the United States), to compare the preferences and experiences of patients with life-threatening conditions and their families. Thirdly, based on the generated evidence, we will build a contemporary classification of dying places; assess its content validity through focus groups with patients, carers and other stakeholders; and evaluate it in a psychometric study to examine construct validity, reliability, responsiveness, data quality and interpretability. Approved by the ethics committee of the University of Coimbra, Faculty of Medicine (CE-068-2022) and committees in each of the participating countries. The findings will provide a deeper understanding of the diversity in individual end-of-life pathways. They will enable key developments such as measurement of progress towards achievement of preferences when care can be planned. The project will open new directions in how to care for the dying. Research Registry UIN 9213.

An empirical study of interdisciplinary crime research

Abstract This research was designed to test the effectiveness of interdisciplinary scientific research in the field of crime. A survey was conducted using an online questionnaire to assess the hypotheses and evaluate the adequacy of statistical and text analysis tools. The sample consisted of scientists from various disciplines. The results of the data analysis showed that there is a lack of effective interdisciplinary cooperation and knowledge synthesis among the different types of sciences. Interdisciplinarity in science involves the synthesis and application of knowledge from different scientific fields. In the field of crime research, there is a lack of organized interdisciplinary approaches due to the relative isolation of various scientific disciplines and their focus on traditional research subjects. This means that crime is often not a priority for these disciplines. The discussion chapter examined the factors contributing to the less effective interdisciplinary research in the field of crime, as well as explored the potential for achieving a more effective synthesis of knowledge in criminology.

Effectiveness of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound on osteoarthritis: molecular mechanism and tissue engineering.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is distinguished by pathological alterations in the synovial membrane, articular cartilage, and subchondral bone, resulting in physical symptoms such as pain, deformity, and impaired mobility. Numerous research studies have validated the effectiveness of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) in OA treatment. The periodic mechanical waves generated by LIPUS can mitigate cellular ischemia and hypoxia, induce vibration and collision, produce notable thermal and non-thermal effects, alter cellular metabolism, expedite tissue repair, improve nutrient delivery, and accelerate the healing process of damaged tissues. The efficacy and specific mechanism of LIPUS is currently under investigation. This review provides an overview of LIPUS's potential role in the treatment of OA, considering various perspectives such as the synovial membrane, cartilage, subchondral bone, and tissue engineering. It aims to facilitate interdisciplinary scientific research and further exploration of LIPUS as a complementary technique to existing methods or surgery. Ongoing research is focused on determining the optimal dosage, frequency, timing, and treatment strategy of LIPUS for OA. Additional research is required to clarify the precise mechanism of action and potential impacts on cellular, animal, and human systems prior to its integration into therapeutic applications.

Developing a climate change inequality health impact assessment for health services.

To develop a Climate Change Inequality Health Impact Assessment (CCIHIA) framework for health services; to provide a systematic process for assessing potential unequal health impacts of climate change on vulnerable and marginalised populations and places; to support effective planning to address these impacts; and to develop contextually appropriate local strategies. Type of program: A collaborative interdisciplinary scoping research project involving two universities and two local health districts (LHDs) in New South Wales (NSW) to develop a CCIHIA framework. This work builds upon the health impact assessment (HIA) approach, which systematically assesses proposals' potential health and equity impacts by involving stakeholders in developing responses. The project involved four main activities: understanding stakeholder requirements; conceptualising climate change vulnerability; considering the role of health services; and integrating findings into a conceptual framework. Stakeholders identified key functions that should be addressed across the framing, process and utility of the CCIHIA framework. The resulting conceptual framework outlines contexts and social stratification, the differential impacts of climate change (including factors influencing unequal impacts) and the health system's position, and also identifies key potential points of intervention. The challenge of addressing the complexity of factors and resulting health impacts is reflected within the CCIHIA framework. While there are many intervention points within this framework for health services to address, many factors influencing unequal impacts are created outside the health sector's direct control. The framework's development process reflected the focus on collaboration and the interdisciplinary nature of climate change response. Ultimately, the CCIHIA framework is an assessment tool and an approach for prioritising inclusive, cross-cutting, multisector working, and problem-solving.

Ideal-Real-Actual

Abstract Based on our experiences from ongoing collaborations with computational engineers over the course of six years and two interdisciplinary research projects, with this article we suggest that the building of collaborations between anthropology and computational sciences that alter disciplinary boundaries and bridge epistemic differences can be accomplished through three levels of engagement: a shared research project, becoming involved in each other's theoretical universes, and crafting physical spaces for shared intellectual practice. Taking an empirical point of departure in our colleagues’ attempt to cross the methodological and epistemic divide between engineering and anthropology through game theory, we introduce how the distinction between the ideal, the real and the actual serves not only as a model of our collaborations but also as a generalisable model for future collaborations across anthropology and computational sciences.

P197: Delirium in nursing homes (DeliA) - an interdisciplinary health services research project

Background:Delirium is a potential emergency with serious consequences. Little attention has been paid to residents of nursing homes, although they are at extreme risk for developing delirium. Health Care Professionals (HCPs) such as nurses and general practitioners are assumed to know little about delirium in nursing homes.Objectives:The German project DeliA (delirium in nursing homes) comprises three sub- studies and two reviews. The sub-studies have the following objectives: (1) to determine the prevalence of delirium and its sub-types in German nursing homes; (2) to describe and assess the quality of delirium care practices (prevention, diagnosis, therapy) of HCPs in nursing homes; and (3) to develop a Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) to increase the delirium- specific knowledge of HCPs in nursing homes. The reviews aim to (a) summarize the prevalence of delirium reported in international studies and (b) to find out how, why and under what context education for HCPs in nursing homes works.Methods:A systematic review of the reported prevalence of delirium in nursing homes will be conducted (a). The prevalence study (1) will assess delirium and its proposed associated factors in at least 50 nursing homes using validated measurements. Medication schedules of participating residents will be analyzed to determine potential for delirium. To describe current practice, process-oriented semi-structured guided interviews will be conducted with 30 representatives of the (nursing home) medical service and the nursing service of nursing homes (2). As a theoretical basis for the TEL, a realist review will be conducted to understand the active ingredients of educational interventions and to develop an initial program theory (b). The curriculum for the proposed TEL will be developed based on a synthesis of existing curricula and evaluated by Delphi experts for relevance, comprehensiveness, and content. A final feasibility study will assess the potential increase in knowledge about delirium among HCPs (n = 50) in nursing homes (3).Expected Results:It is expected that the project and the dissemination of its findings will raise awareness among HCPs and the public about delirium in nursing homes. The developed TEL and its underlying program theory will be further tested.