scholarly journals Reducing publication delay to improve the efficiency and impact of conservation science

PeerJ ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. e12245
Author(s):  
Alec P. Christie ◽  
Thomas B. White ◽  
Philip A. Martin ◽  
Silviu O. Petrovan ◽  
Andrew J. Bladon ◽  
...  

Evidence-based decision-making is most effective with comprehensive access to scientific studies. If studies face significant publication delays or barriers, the useful information they contain may not reach decision-makers in a timely manner. This represents a potential problem for mission-oriented disciplines where access to the latest data is required to ensure effective actions are undertaken. We sought to analyse the severity of publication delay in conservation science—a field that requires urgent action to prevent the loss of biodiversity. We used the Conservation Evidence database to assess the length of publication delay (time from finishing data collection to publication) in the literature that tests the effectiveness of conservation interventions. From 7,447 peer-reviewed and non-peer-reviewed studies of conservation interventions published over eleven decades, we find that the raw mean publication delay was 3.2 years (±2SD = 0.1) and varied by conservation subject. A significantly shorter delay was observed for studies focused on Bee Conservation, Sustainable Aquaculture, Management of Captive Animals, Amphibian Conservation, and Control of Freshwater Invasive Species (Estimated Marginal Mean range from 1.4–1.9 years). Publication delay was significantly shorter for the non-peer-reviewed literature (Estimated Marginal Mean delay of 1.9 years ± 0.2) compared to the peer-reviewed literature (i.e., scientific journals; Estimated Marginal Mean delay of 3.0 years ± 0.1). We found publication delay has significantly increased over time (an increase of ~1.2 years from 1912 (1.4 years ± 0.2) to 2020 (2.6 years ± 0.1)), but this change was much weaker and non-significant post-2000s; we found no evidence for any decline. There was also no evidence that studies on more threatened species were subject to a shorter delay—indeed, the contrary was true for mammals, and to a lesser extent for birds. We suggest a range of possible ways in which scientists, funders, publishers, and practitioners can work together to reduce delays at each stage of the publication process.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alec Philip Christie ◽  
Thomas B White ◽  
Philip A Martin ◽  
Silviu O Petrovan ◽  
Andrew J Bladon ◽  
...  

Evidence-based decision making is most effective with comprehensive access to scientific studies. If studies face delays or barriers to being published, the useful information they contain may not reach decision-makers in a timely manner. This represents a potential problem for mission-oriented disciplines where access to the latest data is paramount to ensure effective actions are deployed. We sought to analyse the severity of publication delay in conservation science — a field that requires urgent action to prevent the loss of biodiversity. We used the Conservation Evidence database to assess the length of publication delay (time from finishing data collection to publication) in the literature that tests the effectiveness of conservation interventions. From 7,415 peer-reviewed and non-peer-reviewed studies of conservation interventions published over eleven decades, we find that the mean publication delay (time from completing data collection to publication) was 3.6 years and varied by conservation subject — a smaller delay was observed for studies focussed on the management of captive animals. Publication delay was significantly smaller for studies in the non-journal literature (typically non-peer-reviewed) compared to studies published in scientific journals. Although we found publication delay has marginally increased over time (1912-2020), this change was weak post-1980s. Publication delay also varied inconsistently between studies on species with different IUCN Red List statuses and there was little evidence that studies on more threatened species were subject to a smaller delay. We discuss the possible drivers of publication delay and present suggestions for scientists, funders, publishers, and practitioners to reduce the time taken to publish studies. Although our recommendations are aimed at conservation science, they are highly relevant to other mission-driven disciplines where the rapid dissemination of scientific findings is important.


Symmetry ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 1159
Author(s):  
B. Günay ◽  
Praveen Agarwal ◽  
Juan L. G. Guirao ◽  
Shaher Momani

Eco-epidemiological can be considered as a significant combination of two research fields of computational biology and epidemiology. These problems mainly take ecological systems into account of the impact of epidemiological factors. In this paper, we examine the chaotic nature of a computational system related to the spread of disease into a specific environment involving a novel differential operator called the Atangana–Baleanu fractional derivative. To approximate the solutions of this fractional system, an efficient numerical method is adopted. The numerical method is an implicit approximate method that can provide very suitable numerical approximations for fractional problems due to symmetry. Symmetry is one of the distinguishing features of this technique compared to other methods in the literature. Through considering different choices of parameters in the model, several meaningful numerical simulations are presented. It is clear that hiring a new derivative operator greatly increases the flexibility of the model in describing the different scenarios in the model. The results of this paper can be very useful help for decision-makers to describe the situation related to the problem, in a more efficient way, and control the epidemic.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shuli Yan ◽  
Xiangyan Zeng ◽  
Pingping Xiong ◽  
Na Zhang

PurposeIn recent years, online public opinion reversal incidents have been occurring frequently, which has increased the complexity of the evolution of online public opinion, and they have become a difficult issue for public opinion management and control. It is of great significance to explore the regularity of online public opinion reversal.Design/methodology/approachCombined with the grey characteristics of online public opinion information, a grey graphical evaluation review technique (G-GERT) network model is constructed based on kernel and grey degree, and the frequency, probability and time of online public opinion reversal nodes are calculated using C-marking method and Z-marking method.FindingsThroughout the online public opinion reversal events, there are all repeated outbreak nodes occurring, so the authors regard the repeated occurrence of outbreak nodes as reversal. According to the average frequency, probability and time of repeated outbreak nodes in the G-GERT network model, the authors predict the corresponding key information of reversal. It can simulate the evolution process of public opinion events accurately.Originality/valueThe G-GERT network model based on kernel and grey degree reveals the regulation of public opinion reversal, predicts the frequency, probability and time of reversal nodes, which are the most concerned and difficult issues for decision-makers. The model provides the decision basis and reference for government decision-making departments.


Author(s):  
Gregoria Rosa Rodríguez Godínez

ABSTRACTDisasters cause problems where they occur, such as: human, economic, and financial losses, impacting society by not knowing what to do; The objective of this article is to propose the management of technological tools, the use of ICT platforms for disaster risk management in Mexico, to plan, organize, execute, direct and control, in a quick, valuable and concise manner, risk events to which the population is exposed and implement technological surveillance for its development, in emergency management entities, which enable decision makers to act in real time.RESUMENLos desastres causan problemas donde se presentan, como: pérdidas humanas, económicas, financieras, impactando la sociedad al no saber qué hacer; el objetivo del presente artículo es proponer la gestión de herramientas tecnológicas, el uso de plataformas TIC para la gestión de riesgos de desastres en México, para planear, organizar, ejecutar, dirigir y controlar, de manera rápida, valiosa y concisa, eventos de riesgo a los que está expuesta la población e implementar vigilancia tecnológica para su desarrollo, en las entidades de manejo de emergencias, que posibiliten a los tomadores de decisiones actuar en tiempo real.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kerry Millington ◽  
Samantha Reddin

This weekly COVID-19 health evidence summary (HES) is based on 3.5 hours of desk-based research. The summary is not intended to be a comprehensive summary of available evidence on COVID-19 but aims to make original documents easily accessible to decision-makers which, if relevant to them, they should go to before making decisions. This summary covers publications on Clinical characteristics and management; Epidemiology and modelling; Infection Prevention and Control; Therapeutics; Vaccines; Indirect impact of COVID-19; Social Science; Comments, Editorials, Opinions, Blogs, News; Guidelines, Statements & Tools; Dashboards & Trackers; C19 Resource Hubs; and Online learning & events


Author(s):  
Jessica Symons

This chapter argues for an ‘emergent city’ urban policy, inspired by organisers of civic parade in Manchester which involved over 1,800 participants from 90 community groups. The analysis compares the top-down, command-and-control process of cultural strategy development in the city with the nurturing emergent approach of the organisers commissioned by the council to produce a civic parade. Drawing on parade making as a cultural trope, the chapter describes how the parade makers held back, allowing the parade shape to develop rather than over-directing it. It suggests that city decision makers can learn from this restrained approach.


2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 153-170 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily M. Coyne ◽  
Joshua G. Coyne ◽  
Kenton B. Walker

Purpose Big Data has become increasingly important to multiple facets of the accounting profession, but accountants have little understanding of the steps necessary to convert Big Data into useful information. This limited understanding creates a gap between what accountants can do and what accountants should do to assist in Big Data information governance. The study aims to bridge this gap in two ways. Design/methodology/approach First, the study introduces a model of the Big Data life cycle to explain the process of converting Big Data into information. Knowledge of this life cycle is a first step toward enabling accountants to engage in Big Data information governance. Second, it highlights informational and control risks inherent to this life cycle, and identifies information governance activities and agents that can minimize these risks. Findings Because accountants have a strong ability to identify the informational and control needs of internal and external decision-makers, they should play a significant role in Big Data information governance. Originality/value This model of the Big Data life cycle and information governance provides a first attempt to formalize knowledge that accountants need in a new field of the accounting profession.


2009 ◽  
Vol 37 (S1) ◽  
pp. 76-89
Author(s):  
Sheila Fleischhacker ◽  
Alice Ammerman ◽  
Wendy Collins Perdue ◽  
Joan Miles ◽  
Sarah Roller ◽  
...  

This paper is one of four interrelated papers resulting from the National Summit on Legal Preparedness for Obesity Prevention and Control (Summit) convened in June 2008 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and the American Society of Law, Medicine, Ethics. Each of the papers deals with one of the four core elements of legal preparedness: (1) laws and legal authorities for public health practitioners; (2) legal competencies public health practitioners and legal and policy decision makers need for use of these laws and authorities; (3) crossdisciplinary and cross-jurisdiction coordination of law-based public health actions; and (4) information on public health law best practices. Collectively, they are referenced as the “white papers.”Our purpose is to offer action options that will help to improve the legal competencies of public health practitioners and policy decision makers with respect to drafting, interpreting.


2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 630-652
Author(s):  
Puneeta Ajmera ◽  
Jaseela Majeed ◽  
Ramesh K. Goyal ◽  
Sheetal Yadav ◽  
Debraj Mukhopadhyay

World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the recent outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) a Pandemic and a global public health emergency. The eventual scope and consequences of this outbreak are uncertain at present as the condition is swiftly evolving. The purpose of this article is to cumulate existing published data and researches, identify the challenges with reference to India and develop a comprehensive preventive plan to prevent the spread of this deadly pandemic. The authors explored WHO situation dashboards, the web portal of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of India and press reports of different countries, published literature on coronavirus transmission, textbooks, scientific and medical journals and several other sources to identify ongoing challenges in the fight against COVID-19 in India. After an exhaustive literature search, 15 ongoing challenges in the fight against novel COVID-19 especially with reference to India have been identified. After a thorough analysis of all these challenges along with the lessons from the International community, a preventive plan has been established to be devised by different agencies from our personal perspectives to overcome the challenges which may assist decision-makers in the prevention and control of COVID-19 in India.


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