Peer review: economy, identity, diversity

To meet the needs of their wide-ranging audiences, journals and editors must publish science that reflects the diversity of the communities they serve. And yet we collectively neglect the importance of optimizing the diversity of peer reviewers. This viewpoint explores the vital economy and identity of peer reviewers, and how these can help improve diversity in peer review. Economy, because this form of labour props up a publishing system, doling out the main form of currency within academia, and identity, because what peer reviewers contribute extends beyond their disciplinary expertise to their sense of self and what they represent: the backgrounds, values, and views they bring to the work of reviewing scientific papers.

Evidence-based guidelines for acute stabilization and management of neonates with persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn

Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn, or PPHN, represents a challenging condition associated with high morbidity and mortality. Management is complicated by complex pathophysiology and limited neonatal specific evidence-based literature, leading to a lack of universal contemporary clinical guidelines for the care of these patients. To address this need and to provide consistent high-quality clinical care for this challenging population in our neonatal intensive care unit, we sought to develop a comprehensive clinical guideline for the acute stabilization and management of neonates with PPHN. Utilizing cross-disciplinary expertise and incorporating an extensive literature search to guide best practice, we present an approachable, pragmatic, and clinically relevant guide for the bedside management of acute PPHN.

An appraisal of generic skills for Nigerian built environment professionals in workplace: the unexplored approach

Purpose Research shows that employers are demanding generic skills from employees to complement disciplinary expertise. Evidence shows that majority of the higher institutions are struggling to meet this demand, especially in developing nations. Hence, these skills may be acquired while in the workplace through training and retraining. Studies concerning the Nigerian built environment professionals (BEP) generic skills in the workplace are scarce. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to investigate Nigeria’s BEP generic skills in the workplace via an unexplored mechanism and proffer feasible policy solutions that can improve BEP generic skills development. Design/methodology/approach The views of BEP were collated via a phenomenology type of qualitative research design across two major Nigerian cities where construction activities are soaring. Virtual interviews were conducted for 20 selected BEP. Data saturation was accomplished and the emerged three themes were analysed through a thematic analysis. Findings Findings show that generic skills enhance value for money in construction project delivery. But many of these professionals do not possess these skills in their daily operations. This has raised concerns about the present curriculum for preparing the built environment graduates in today’s profession. Findings categorised the hindrances into employers related-hindrances and employees related-hindrances in Nigeria’s BEP context. Research limitations/implications This study is confined to the relevance and hindrances of the generic skills for Nigerian BEP, and proffer feasible policies to promote generic skills in the workplace via a qualitative approach. Future study is needed to investigate the role of the various professional Institutes within Nigeria’s built environment in promoting generic skills. Practical implications The paper advanced key stakeholders including BEP Institutes and regulatory bodies to redirect their continuing professional development towards developing professional values and identities as a trajectory to promote the growth of BEP generic skills in the workplace. Originality/value The proposed framework can be used to promote the implementation of generic skills for BEP across all levels. This would assist and stir up policymakers and other stakeholders in connection with the implementation of generic skills within the BEP.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and Pregnancy: A narrative review

: A novel viral respiratory disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-C0V-2), is responsible for a pandemic situation in the world. Pregnant women are susceptible against this virus due to physiologic changes of immunologic system. Some adverse pregnancy outcome such as; death, still birth, preeclampsia, intra uterine fetal distress may increase in infected pregnant women. Infected women should be isolated and investigated and they should admit in a designated hospital with adequate facilities and multi-disciplinary expertise to manage them. Some adverse neonatal complication such as; Small for Gestational Age, Large for Gestational Age, shortness of breath, thrombocytopenia with abnormal liver function, rapid heart rate, vomiting and pneumothorax may increase in affected neonate. This study reviews the problems and guidelines of covid-19 in pregnancy. The limitation of this study was; we didn’t conduct systematic review among studies were done in pregnancy and COVID 19.

Re-engaging in Aging and Mobility Research in the COVID-19 Era: Early Lessons from Pivoting a Large-Scale, Interdisciplinary Study amidst a Pandemic

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, those planning and conducting research involving older adults have faced many challenges, in part because of the public health measures in place. This article details the early steps and corresponding strategies implemented by our multidisciplinary team to pivot our large-scale aging and mobility study. Based on the premise that all current and emerging research in aging has been impacted by the pandemic, we propose a continuum approach whereby the research question, analysis, and interpretation are situated in accordance with the stage of the pandemic. Using examples from our own study, we outline potential ways to partner with older adults and other stakeholders as well as to encourage collaboration beyond disciplinary silos even under the current circumstances. Finally, we suggest the formation of a Canadian-led consortium that leverages cross-disciplinary expertise to address the complexities of our aging population in the COVID-19 era and beyond.

System Approach in Complex Integral Design Methodology and Its Application in New Zealand

Many New Zealand houses are energy-inefficient, unhealthy, cold, mouldy, and damp. Therefore, a new approach to building design is imminent. This article proposes a framework for the transformation of housing that integrates construction planning and design, optimization, and control tools at strategic, tactical, and operational levels. The introduced Complex Integral Design New Zealand (CIDNZ) represents a comprehensive and balanced system-based design and delivery process that facilitates and accelerates cross-disciplinary and trans-disciplinary expertise and knowledge. CIDNZ delineates a new way of designing the process based on integral, complex, and systems thinking. The emerging novel understanding of sustainability, which guides the transformation process, might lead to a balance between individuals, groups, society, and existing ecosystems. CIDNZ comprises all stages in the life cycle of buildings and all significant factors in the architecture, engineering, and construction industry, particularly, people, processes, technology, and the environment. Therefore, the entire construction process that implements a system approach to buildings as a vital part of environmental systems, goes from the environment to humans and vice versa and offers unlimited possibilities. The consequent practical application of these principles might eliminate or reduce the design defects and lead accordingly to the reduction of costs involved in their rectification.

Neurodevelopmental conditions, neuroconstuctivism, and reproducible research; challenges and future directions.

With growing awareness of problems with reproducibility within the field of neurodevelopmental conditions, we outline why and how, as a field, we can collectively reform our practice with the goal of research improvement. We advocate that our research is of most impact when researchers investigate how developmental pathways and phenotypic profiles unfold. However, this neuroconstructivist approach and more traditional approaches bring many challenges, not least the problem of statistical power. Here, we outline the challenges to research in our field, and suggest solutions. In recognition that solutions can require substantial resource, we have also included less resource-intensive solutions where possible. The challenges and solutions discussed include sample size, individual differences, cross-disorder comparisons, multi-disciplinary expertise, measurement sensitivity and longitudinal data. Key recommendations include transparency and collaboration. For our field to produce rigorous, replicable research, researchers should strive to present protocols and data transparently (where possible) and collaborate to collect (multi-disciplinary) data as a collective effort.