Never Ask for a Lighter Rain but a Stronger Umbrella

In a recent editorial in the journal Nature Sustainability, the editors raised the concern that journal submissions on water studies appear too similar. The gist of the editorial: “too many publications and not enough ideas.” In this response, we contest this notion, and point to the numerous new ideas that result from taking a broader view of the water science field. Drawing inspiration from a recently hosted conference geared at transcending traditional disciplinary silos and forging new paradigms for water research, we are, in fact, enthusiastic and optimistic about the ways scientists are investigating political, economic, historical, and cultural intersections toward more just and sustainable human-water relations and ways of knowing.

Empathic Projections: Visual Anthropology Design and Acknowledgement

Averting or embracing our capacity for acknowledgement results from what we are willing to take-in what there is to see. In this sense, the photo essay in general confronts us with the limits of our capacities. This essay attempts to examine how it is that the photo essay and its design contend with imagination and acknowledgment. Considering recent editorial initiatives and a redesign of Visual Anthropology Review, and, in greater depth, Feldman and Pérez’s photo essay “Living at the LUX: Homelessness and improvisational waiting under COVID-19,” this essay asks: How does the photo essay—and relatedly, the photograph—in its looks face the possibility of a resistance to acknowledge the reality it depicts?

Why we need an internationally shared rehabilitation definition for clinical research purposes

Purpose: Responding to a recent editorial arguing against defining rehabilitation, we discuss the reasons for developing a classification of rehabilitation for research purposes, its philosophical background and some of the possible risks. Why define: Science requires the definition and classification of phenomena to allow replication of experiments and studies, and to allow interpretation and use of the findings. As understanding increases, the definitions can be refined. Defining rehabilitation does run the risk of excluding some interventions or practices that are either considered rehabilitation (perhaps wrongly) or are rehabilitation interventions; when identified, these errors in definition can be remedied. Defining rehabilitation for research purposes should not inhibit but could (possibly) orient research. Risk of not: Without a definition, rehabilitation will remain in a permanent limbo. Experts will (apparently) know what it is, while others are left guessing or failing to comprehend or recognise it. This uncertainty may reassure some people, because all possible interventions are included; we argue that it downgrades the understanding of our field because interventions that are not rehabilitation are, nonetheless, called rehabilitation. In an era of international collaboration, and of undertaking systematic reviews with metanalysis, we need a shared definition. Conclusion: Terminology is often controversial, but definition enables progress in understanding such that terms themselves can evolve over time.

Commentary on Instrumental Variable Methods for Low Compliance

A recent editorial in the British Journal of Sports Medicine (BJSM) suggested instrumental var-iable (IV) analysis has advantages in estimating causal effects when there is low compliance. We originally submitted a version of this commentary to BJSM as an editorial (they do not have a letter to editor section) but it was rejected without review. The original BJSM editorial included several important errors, presented results that are inconsistent with the results of an IV analysis, and omitted definitions and important limitations. All of these factors contrib-uted to inappropriate interpretations. This commentary highlights the most important er-rors. We also believe the BJSM editorial serves as another reminder that appropriate statisti-cians should be included from the beginning of the study wherever possible. At the very least, they should be the co-authors responsible for calculating results and ensuring the write-up is consistent with the results.

Scaling New Ventures

Although scaling is a “hot topic” in the practitioner literature, it has mostly been ignored (at least explicitly) in the academic literature. Building on a recent editorial, this chapter highlights the importance of scaling for new venture growth. Scaling refers to spreading excellence within a venture as it grows (organically or through acquisition) from a new (and often small) organization to an established, large organization (Shepherd & Patzelt in Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 10.1177/1042258720950599, 2020). In this chapter, we explore the drivers and consequences of scaling and explain how knowledge management facilitates scaling, how founder replacement impacts scaling, and how current scaling influences subsequent scaling.

The Secret of the Untrembling Heart

The poem by Parmenides is widely recognized as having a decisive influence on Greek philosophy. The text is also notorious for its interpretative problems owing to its obscure poetic style. Among the discordant quotes from the proem, Simplicius uniquely preserves a verse with the unparalleled genitive εὐκυκλέος (literally ‘of [the] well-wheeled’). Contrary to a recent editorial trend in opting for the lectio facilior εὐπειθέος (‘of [the] well-persuasive’), I argue in this paper that the lectio difficilior is genuine testimony to a poetic device designed by Parmenides to perform a pivotal role in the proemial structure as a whole, and to redeploy a key concept in archaic verbal art by means of paronomasia: the ‘glory’ (κλέος) conveyed through the costly medium of song. The proem thus gives characteristic voice to the experimental spirit of inquiry in which Parmenides variously challenged and took his cue from the conceptual framework of encomiastic performance.

Expression of concern: Which specific modes of exercise training are most effective for treating low back pain? Network meta-analysis

Editorial NoteAs discussed in a recent editorial, the British Journal of Sports Medicine (BJSM) rescinds the Expression of Concern [1] for a recent network meta-analysis (NMA) [2] that was issued solely on the basis of comments by Professor Maher and colleagues [3]. The original authors (Dr Belavy and colleagues) have responded [4]. The original NMA paper did not require any changes. We editors of the BJSM have full confidence in the findings of the NMA [2]. The findings of the NMA inform clinical practice and can serve to inform clinical practice guidelines.Karim Khan, MD, PhDEditor-in-Chief, BJSMJuly 27th, 2020REFERENCES1 Expression of concern: Which specific modes of exercise training are most effective for treating low back pain? Network meta-analysis. Br J Sports Med 2020;:bjsports-2019-100886eoc1. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2019-100886eoc12 Owen PJ, Miller CT, Mundell NL, et al. Which specific modes of exercise training are most effective for treating low back pain? Network meta-analysis. Br J Sports Med 2019;:in press. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2019-1008863 Maher CG, Hayden JA, Saragiotto BT, et al. Letter in response to: “Which specific modes of exercise training are most effective for treating low back pain? Network meta-analysis” by Owen et al. Br J Sports Med Published Online First: 5 February 2020. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2019-1018124 Belavy DL, Owen PJ, Miller CT, et al. Response to Discussion: “Which specific modes of exercise training are most effective for treating low back pain? Network meta-analysis.” Br J Sports Med Published Online First: 10 June 2020. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2020-102673

Recent Changes to the Editorial Policies

An overview of the recent editorial and structural changes that have taken place in the Journal of Cancer & Allied Specialties.