Temporary Interventions Research Articles

Net-Rrjet XI: Temporary intervention and future architectural practice

AbstractThis innovative research adopts a comprehensive approach to delve into temporary intervention. It aims to gain a deeper and more accurate understanding of architectural decisions related to long-term interventions. The study is based on several compelling case studies, revealing that temporary interventions achieve a more sustainable outcome and showcase remarkable flexibility and adaptability.Projects curated by the author serve as practical research tools, providing a deeper and more accurate insight based on user experiences. The study concludes that the strategic use of temporary intervention is a proven and effective method in architectural design. It promotes community engagement and sustainable urban development and addresses the issue of abandoned permanent structures.

Short-term mechanical circulatory support in adults with congenital heart disease: indications and outcomes

Abstract Background An increasing number of adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD) present with heart failure (HF), which may require short- or long-term mechanical circulatory support (MCS), often around cardiac surgery or other interventions. Even though MCS has entered ACHD practice over the last few years, little is known on its indications and outcomes in this population. Purpose To assess the use and outcomes of short-term MCS in ACHD patients in a specialist centre, and assess the predictive power of the Survival After Veno-Arterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (SAVE) score in this population. Methods Data on all ACHD patients who received MCS since 2008 in a single tertiary centre were collected. Immediate, short and longer-term outcomes were also collected, including death, complications, and weaning success. Logistic regression and ROC analysis were performed to identify predictors of in-hospital mortality. Result There were 65 episodes of MCS in 63 patients during the study period: age 36.9+-13.6 years, 61.5% male. Most patients had CHD of moderate or severe complexity (49.2% moderate and 10.8% severe according to ESC guidelines). The most common anatomical diagnoses were left outflow tract obstruction in 35.4%, Marfan syndrome in 20.0% and tetralogy of Fallot or pulmonary atresia in 10.8%. The most common indications for ECMO were perioperative support (not endocarditis) in 55.6%, HF in 14.3%, pneumonia in 12.7% and endocarditis-related surgery in 7.9%. A critical preoperative status was present in 26.8%; median PEACH score (a validated ACHD peri-operative risk score) was 1.0[1.0-3.0] and ACHS score was 0.6[0.6-1.0]. Median SAVE score was -4.0[-9.0–2.0], with 21(43.8%) in SAVE class 4 or 5. VA-ECMO was used in 69.2%, VV-ECMO in 21.5%, BiVAD-ECMO in 4.6% and RVAD support in 4.6% of patients. The median duration of ECMO support was 198.6[133.0-354.2] hours. Complications included ischemic stroke (15.4%), intracerebral bleeding (9.2%), and other thromboembolism (23.8%). Successful weaning was achieved in 56.2%, whereas 4.6% were switched to more definitive MCS. In-hospital mortality was 47.7%, and this was higher in patients receiving VA support (OR 4.92, 95%CI:1.32-23.93, p=0.03). For patients on VA-ECMO or BiVAD support, the presence of Marfan syndrome (OR 4.92, 95%CI:1.32-23.93, p=0.03) and a lower (worse) SAVE score (OR 1.3 per point reduction, 95%CI:1.11-1.59, p=0.004) were associated with in-hospital mortality. An adjusted SAVE score that accounted for the presence of heritable thoracic aortic diseases (HTAD, -3 points) performed well at predicting in-hospital mortality (AUC increasing from 0.73 to 0.8, Figure). Conclusions Short-term MCS is a useful temporary rescue intervention in patients with ACHD, as a bridge to recovery or durable support, with 1 in 2 patients surviving to hospital discharge. The SAVE score adjusted for HTAD can reliably predict outcomes in patients with VA-ECMO and requires external validation.Figure

Care at the centre of the post-pandemic sustainability of grassroots cultural centres and culture-led urban regeneration. A comparison of western and eastern perspectives

ABSTRACT The redevelopment and management of brownfield sites by grassroots cultural organizations have been shown to have a transformative role on communities and cities, implementing bottom-up culture-led urban regeneration rather than top-down models which often lead to gentrification. Based on analyses and interviews with actors from major grassroots cultural centres in Berlin (ufaFabrik) and Bratislava (Nová Cvernovka), this study challenges previous research on cultural brownfields focusing on temporary artistic interventions, arguing instead that long-term commitment, care, participation and cooperation between cultural organizations and local administrations can lead to more sustainable regeneration models in which cultural brownfields operate as commons-based ecosystems of care. The study also offers a unique insight into the “western” vs. “eastern” specifics, highlighting the fact that post-socialist administrations can serve as a barrier to a successful redevelopment through stigmatized public-NGO relationships, where artists and communities are often perceived as a “political opposition”.

Gaining consensus on a protocol for general surgery physician assistants in the management of non-compressible abdominal haemorrhage in military austere environments: a Delphi study

BackgroundNon-compressible abdominal haemorrhage (NCAH) is a potentially preventable cause of death due to injury. Limited exploratory laparotomy by a non-surgeon is a temporary intervention to sustain life until definitive surgical...

Diverse viewpoints on tactical urbanism in vacant lots: a collaborative design with young planner candidates in Türkiye

ABSTRACT Urban design and planning require collaborative processes that integrate diverse user perspectives. Tactical urbanism involves small, temporary interventions in public spaces to meet daily needs through the collaboration of various stakeholders. This paper aims to foster tactical urbanism in vacant lots, emphasising the significance of incorporating diverse perspectives. The study, based on participatory action research, discusses the individual viewpoints of young city planner candidates assuming diverse roles across three themes: belonging, aesthetics, and usefulness, and to evaluate the results of two-method exercises applied in the Karşıyaka case study in İzmir. Participants, consisting of students from various universities in Türkiye, expressed their individual opinions and collective viewpoints through the techniques of photovoice and six thinking hats, respectively. Comparing two methods for evaluating vacant lots within three themes of tactical urbanism demonstrated that the photovoice technique enabled students to search for meanings of spaces and express their thoughts through photos. Meanwhile, the six thinking hats technique facilitated empathy towards diverse perspectives. The findings underscore the essentiality of adopting a holistic approach to urban design that encompasses aesthetics, functionality, and inclusivity, integrating diverse opinions. Young planner candidates in this study acknowledged the importance of collaboration and diverse perspectives in urban design and planning.

The Mercurial Commitment: Revisiting the Unintended Consequences of Military Humanitarian Intervention and Anti-Atrocity Norms

Abstract The debate on whether military humanitarian intervention and anti-atrocity norms, such as the responsibility to protect, cause perverse incentives, and provocative violence by a rebel group, has yet to reach a consensus. Specifically, existing theories are unable to fully explain why “emboldened” rebel groups provoke the government in some cases but not others. This paper reconciles this unresolved debate by arguing that it is not anti-atrocity norms but the temporary feasibility of humanitarian intervention that induces the potential rebel group to actually provoke the government. The inherent temporariness of the feasibility of large-scale intervention causes a commitment problem: An expectation of a temporary intervention shifts the balance of power toward a potential rebel and opens a quickly closing window of opportunity. A three-player game shows that, among other findings, a higher probability of humanitarian intervention alleviates the potential rebel’s incentive to fight, implying that the criticism of anti-atrocity norms is a “false charge.” The model also (i) explains why weaker groups can rebel in the shadow of external intervention and (ii) presents a novel implication that lowering the intervention cost can exacerbate the adverse incentive when a domestic commitment problem caused by the consolidation of government power is not severe.

Real-world experiments as a teaching and learning approach for sustainable consumption education

PurposeThis paper aims to propose and evaluate an innovative approach to education for sustainable consumption (ESC) which empowers teenagers and young adults to improve sustainable consumption competences. This approach combines pedagogical learning approaches such as real-world learning (e.g. experiential learning and research-based learning) with transformative and transdisciplinary research approaches (i.e. real-world laboratory research).Design/methodology/approachThrough a transdisciplinary research design, the authors explore if real-world experiments (RWEs) offer a suitable approach for sustainable consumption education at schools. RWEs are a research approach for knowledge production, aiming to go beyond temporary interventions, to establish semi-permanent spaces for sustainability transformation and reflexive learning. To evaluate this proposal, the authors study already existing active teaching and learning approaches developed within and for ESC and put these in perspective, to define and understand the RWEs.FindingsInsights from a transdisciplinary research project which applied RWEs as a teaching and learning approach in German schools complement conceptual considerations. As a result, advantages, such as the development of core competencies among learners, but also challenges experienced, are illustrated. Though, the challenges found are not unique to the RWE, rather they point out important potentials for ESC through suggesting systematic changes in educational institutions and teaching approaches.Originality/valueThis paper explores RWEs as an active and participatory teaching and learning approach for sustainable consumption education at schools and delivers practical insights and a definition of RWEs as an innovative teaching and learning approach.

A new methodology for the multi-risk assessment of existing road tunnels

The optimal management of infrastructural assets is a key aspect to guarantee the adequate competitiveness of a country from the economic point of view and a good level of quality from the social one. In this framework, particular attention shall be paid to the critical elements of the infrastructure network, such as bridges and tunnels, which often strongly influence the resilience of the network itself, as highlighted both by what happened immediately after the collapse of the Morandi bridge in Genoa and by the situation that was created following the several construction sites implemented to reduce the structural risk in the tunnels of the Ligurian territory. Indeed, on one hand these critical elements are often characterized by lower structural safety levels than those required by the regulations for similar newly built structures but, on the other hand, the presence of construction sites determines a reduction in the performance of the infrastructure with a significant increase of the road accident and traffic risk. This paper proposes an operational methodology for assessing the risk associated to existing road tunnels. The research is carried out in collaboration with SINA SpA and ASPI, Autostrade per l’Italia, and has the main objective of providing practical tools that can help the road managers to evaluate the global risk variation when temporary interventions are carried out in tunnels and to give indications regarding the optimal construction site organization.

Experience of oral rehabilitators on the techniques and materials used in temporary restorations

Provisional restorations are temporary dental interventions that protect the tooth from thermal and chemical changes, in addition to restoring its anatomy and aesthetic functionality for a short period. These are performed with different techniques and materials, selected according to the patient's clinical situation and the dentist's criteria. Using a qualitative descriptive approach, a structured interview with open questions was conducted with 10 oral rehabilitators, using intentional non-probabilistic sampling. It was found that provisional restorations should provide a good seal, isolate the preparation from the buccal environment, and be comfortable and esthetic. The materials used must be easy to clean, resistant, bioactive, and promote dental remineralization, supporting occlusal loads and thermal changes to guarantee pulp protection and occlusal functions. Its proper use ensures the quality of the final restoration and allows effective oral hygiene. The materials are selected by the dentist according to the patient's needs, such as their economic situation and the condition of the tooth, and the experience with provisional restorations has been positive, allowing quality results. To avoid complications, a temporary that is easy to handle is required, which guarantees a good seal and facilitates cleaning

Flash in the pan or eureka moment? What can be learned from Australia's natural experiment with basic income during COVID‐19

AbstractThe COVID‐19 pandemic led to widespread social and economic policy experimentation as governments sought to protect household finances while locking down economies. Cash transfers emerged as one of the most popular policy measures, leading many to reflect on new possibilities for enacting universal basic income through temporary or emergency interventions. We take Australia’s pandemic response, and particularly its Coronavirus Supplement, as an example of this broader experimentation. We analyse the Supplement through the lens of an emergency basic income, arguing the measure reflected existing institutional structures and norms, forms of national and international policy learning, and vulnerabilities in Australia’s liberalized housing and labour markets. While temporary, we consider how its apparent success might suggest ongoing policy relevance, either as a form of capitalist “crisis management” or as an alternative pathway for implementing forms of basic income.

Evaluation of a multicomponent infrastructural and app-based intervention to increase children's active school travel: A multiple methods study in Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland, Aotearoa/New Zealand

Power Up Schools (Power Up) was a temporary intervention involving a range of activities aimed at increasing children's active school travel (AST) with a focus on physical and social aspects of schools and their surrounding environs. We evaluated the impact of Power Up on children's AST and how multiple stakeholders (children, school representatives, parents, residents) perceived the overall intervention and its components. This was a multiple methods evaluation study with four primary (elementary) schools in Auckland and their wider communities. The study involved longitudinal data collection (daily travel modes reported by children), repeat cross-sectional surveys with parents, single time-point cross-sectional surveys with residents, post intervention focus groups with children and parents, and post intervention interviews with school representatives. Findings showed evidence for increased AST; general support for Power Up by children, parents, and school representatives; mixed support by residents for some components; the importance of considering diverse needs and preferences in future interventions; the need for more comprehensive communication across stakeholders; and the value of streamlining processes for schools and parents. Comprehensive approaches that are embedded within, and accepted by, the wider school community are recommended for sustainable and effective AST interventions.

The Self-Reinforcing Effects of Temporary Interventions: Systems Thinking to Reduce Systemic Disadvantage

The Self-Reinforcing Effects of Temporary Interventions: Systems Thinking to Reduce Systemic Disadvantage

Competitor Coupons: A Remedy for Residual Collusion

Abstract There are well-documented episodes of prices remaining at supracompetitive levels even after a cartel was shut down by the competition authority. As long as market conditions remain reasonably stable, collusive prices may still be incentive compatible so the collusive equilibrium could continue after firms are no longer engaging in illicit communications. This situation poses a challenging dilemma: consumer harm persists because of past unlawful conduct but there is no apparent recourse. This paper offers a remedy in the form of coupons. As part of the penalty imposed by the competition authority, each cartel member is required to distribute coupons to its past purchasers. Contrary to their usual form, these coupons can only be used to buy from a firm’s competitors. I show how this temporary intervention can help destabilize collusion and restore competition.

Interpreting Tactical Urbanism through Innovation–Diffusion Theory: Insights from a Collaborative Design Studio Experience

This article explores the application of innovation–diffusion theory to tactical urbanism projects. The objective of the study is to comprehend how innovation–diffusion theory can be utilized to analyze and evaluate these projects and identify the factors contributing to their success. The research was conducted through a collaborative design studio experience, using qualitative methods that largely depended on participatory observations and interviews with key participants. The findings indicate that the Innovation–Diffusion theory can serve as a comprehensive theoretical framework for the analysis and evaluation of tactical urbanism projects. The study also identified factors that contribute to the success of these projects, such as the involvement of opinion leaders, the use of low-cost and temporary interventions, and the flexibility to adapt to on-site variables.

Exploring implementation mechanisms of Tactical Urbanism in Jordan

In recent times, there has been a global emergence of tactical and temporary urban interventions as a novel approach to enhancing local neighborhoods with minimal risks. These interventions include various activities in the built environment, such as street art, pop-up shops, urban festivals, gardening, and seasonal markets. This trend has garnered the attention of both scholars and policymakers due to its growing popularity. The academic literature often refers to these interventions as tactical urbanism (TU), pop-up urbanism, temporary urbanism, DIY urbanism, and guerrilla urbanism. This paper examines temporary urban interventions as urban catalysts to further explore their potential in enhancing urban spaces in a Middle Eastern context, focusing on Amman, Jordan. The study employs purposeful critical sampling, semi-structured interviews, and the Urban Catalyst model to identify and categorize the implementation mechanisms of several interventions into tactics and strategies. The research findings suggest a potential outline for strategic and tactical implementation approaches that may support the understanding of the interventions by practitioners, policymakers, and tacticians. The study concludes by highlighting actions that actors can take to manage, experiment with, and utilize tactical and temporary interventions in Amman.

How Have the Nordic Welfare States Responded to the Unexpected Increase in Inflation?

Rising inflation in the Nordic societies has changed the living standards for many families. The situation differs not only between the four Nordic countries analysed, but even within each of the Nordic countries. The needs for intervention have varied. Several elements have been used to determine who is facing the most risks. This article shows how to combine automatic stabilisers with temporary policy interventions to deal with increased inflation in general or specific sub-elements (such as oil, natural gas). Focus is on the degree of and criteria for targeting. Possible distributional consequences of the adopted measures will be discussed. Lastly, the article considers whether the observed responses to the crisis have implications for the understanding of the Nordic welfare state model. The article investigates institutional, political and economic reasons for the variations in the interventions. The article concludes that in managing the crisis, the Nordic countries have adopted stronger targeting towards those considered to be in need, displaying some innovations in their social policy approach. Yet, one can trace a high degree of path-dependency, with the countries adhering to universalist principles, with an aim of redistributing resources.

The uterine tourniquet, a simple maneuver that may facilitate surgical management of postpartum hemorrhage.

SynopsisThe uterine tourniquet is a temporary intervention that facilitates the application of other procedures for definitive control of postpartum hemorrhage.

A Graphical Ontology-Based Method for Rapid Damage Assessment of Stone Cultural Heritage Structures After an Earthquake: A Case Study of Mor Petrus and Mor Paulus Church, Adıyaman/Türkiye

To prevent further damage to historical structures and elements after an earthquake, it is important to implement temporary interventions that aim to stabilize and support the affected area. Within this scope, it is crucial to promptly identify the areas in historical buildings that require urgent intervention. The aim of this study is to design a standardized assessment method that provides an objective evaluation for post-earthquake damage detection in stone cultural heritage structures, independent of subjective assessments, and can be easily and quickly implemented in the field. For the proposed method, the heavily damaged Mor Petrus and Mor Pavlus Church in Adıyaman, which was affected by the 2023 earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaraş, is used as a case analysis. The results of the study demonstrate that the presented method is beneficial for detecting damages in masonry church structures after an earthquake. The graphical ontology-based method followed in the study allows for the identification of damages at the level of structural elements and focuses on areas with urgent damage.

Architecture as discernment: a reflection on the rebuilding of Coventry Cathedral, 1940–62

Sixty years since its consecration, the architectural historian Henrik Schoenefeldt reflects on the theological questions underlying the plans for the post-war reconstruction of Coventry Cathedral. Covering the period from 1940 to 1962, this article explores the role of architecture in giving outward expression to the Cathedral Council’s discernment of a ministry reconciliation with a focus on Christian unity. At first this emerging identity articulated itself architecturally in symbolic acts and temporary interventions within the physical remains of the old cathedral. This was followed by proposals for the rebuilding, which culminated in Sir Basil Spence’s final design. However, his completed design reflects not only aspirations, but also the past ecclesiastical barriers towards ecumenicism. This suggests that its architecture did not represent a conclusion, but only an intermediate stage within a much longer, and still ongoing, process of discernment.

The effects of an 8-week mindful eating intervention on anticipatory reward responses in striatum and midbrain.

Accumulating evidence suggests that increased neural responses during the anticipation of high-calorie food play an important role in the tendency to overeat. A promising method for counteracting enhanced food anticipation in overeating might be mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs). However, the neural mechanisms by which MBIs can affect food reward anticipation are unclear. In this randomized, actively controlled study, the primary objective was to investigate the effect of an 8-week mindful eating intervention on reward anticipation. We hypothesized that mindful eating would decrease striatal reward anticipation responses. Additionally, responses in the midbrain-from which the reward pathways originate-were explored. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), we tested 58 healthy participants with a wide body mass index range (BMI: 19-35 kg/m2), motivated to change their eating behavior. During scanning they performed an incentive delay task, measuring neural reward anticipation responses to caloric and monetary cues before and after 8 weeks of mindful eating or educational cooking (active control). Compared with the educational cooking intervention, mindful eating affected neural reward anticipation responses, with reduced caloric relative to monetary reward responses. This effect was, however, not seen in the striatum, but only in the midbrain. The secondary objective was to assess temporary and long-lasting (1 year follow-up) intervention effects on self-reported eating behavior and anthropometric measures [BMI, waist circumference, waist-to-hip-ratio (WHR)]. We did not observe effects of the mindful eating intervention on eating behavior. Instead, the control intervention showed temporary beneficial effects on BMI, waist circumference, and diet quality, but not on WHR or self-reported eating behavior, as well as long-lasting increases in knowledge about healthy eating. These results suggest that an 8-week mindful eating intervention may have decreased the relative salience of food cues by affecting midbrain but not striatal reward responses, without necessarily affecting regular eating behavior. However, these exploratory results should be verified in confirmatory research.The primary and secondary objectives of the study were registered in the Dutch Trial Register (NTR): NL4923 (NTR5025).