1
|
Zhang Y, Zhang M, Yang H, Li H, Ma S, Xi L, Li Y, Li X, Fu Z, Zhang Z, Zhang S, Gao Q, Huang Q, Wan J, Xie W, Li J, Yang P, Zhai Z. Serum proteome profiling reveals heparanase as a candidate biomarker for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension. iScience 2024; 27:108930. [PMID: 38333700 PMCID: PMC10850736 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.108930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Determining novel biomarkers for early identification of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) could improve patient outcomes. We used the isobaric tag for relative and absolute quantitation approach to compare the serum protein profiles between CTEPH patients and the controls. Bioinformatics analyses and ELISA were also performed. We identified three proteins including heparanase (HPSE), gelsolin (GSN), and secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) had significant changes in CTEPH. The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that the areas under the curve of HPSE in CTEPH diagnosis were 0.988. Furthermore, HPSE was correlated with multiple parameters of right ventricular function. HPSE concentrations were significantly higher in patients with a low TAPSE/sPAP ratio (≤0.31 mm/mmHg) (65.4 [60.5,68.0] vs. 59.9 [35.9,63.2] ng/mL, p < 0.05). The CTEPH patients treated by balloon pulmonary angioplasty had significantly lower HPSE levels. The study demonstrates that HPSE may be a promising biomarker for noninvasive detection of CTEPH.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yunxia Zhang
- National Center for Respiratory Medicine; State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Health and Multimorbidity; National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Diseases; Institute of Respiratory Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences; Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Center of Respiratory Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Meng Zhang
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Hongwei Yang
- National Center for Respiratory Medicine; State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Health and Multimorbidity; National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Diseases; Institute of Respiratory Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences; Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Center of Respiratory Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Haobo Li
- National Center for Respiratory Medicine; State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Health and Multimorbidity; National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Diseases; Institute of Respiratory Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences; Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Center of Respiratory Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
- China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Shuangshuang Ma
- National Center for Respiratory Medicine; State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Health and Multimorbidity; National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Diseases; Institute of Respiratory Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences; Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Center of Respiratory Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Linfeng Xi
- National Center for Respiratory Medicine; State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Health and Multimorbidity; National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Diseases; Institute of Respiratory Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences; Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Center of Respiratory Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
- China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yishan Li
- National Center for Respiratory Medicine; State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Health and Multimorbidity; National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Diseases; Institute of Respiratory Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences; Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Center of Respiratory Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
- The First Clinical Medical College, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Xincheng Li
- National Center for Respiratory Medicine; State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Health and Multimorbidity; National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Diseases; Institute of Respiratory Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences; Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Center of Respiratory Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
- Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Zhihui Fu
- National Center for Respiratory Medicine; State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Health and Multimorbidity; National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Diseases; Institute of Respiratory Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences; Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Center of Respiratory Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
- China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Zhu Zhang
- National Center for Respiratory Medicine; State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Health and Multimorbidity; National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Diseases; Institute of Respiratory Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences; Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Center of Respiratory Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Shuai Zhang
- National Center for Respiratory Medicine; State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Health and Multimorbidity; National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Diseases; Institute of Respiratory Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences; Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Center of Respiratory Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Qian Gao
- National Center for Respiratory Medicine; State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Health and Multimorbidity; National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Diseases; Institute of Respiratory Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences; Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Center of Respiratory Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Qiang Huang
- National Center for Respiratory Medicine; State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Health and Multimorbidity; National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Diseases; Institute of Respiratory Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences; Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Center of Respiratory Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Jun Wan
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Wanmu Xie
- National Center for Respiratory Medicine; State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Health and Multimorbidity; National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Diseases; Institute of Respiratory Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences; Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Center of Respiratory Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Jifeng Li
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University; Beijing Key Laboratory of Respiratory and Pulmonary Circulation Disorders, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University; Beijing Institute of Respiratory Medicine, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University; Department of Respiratory Disease, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Peiran Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Health and Multimorbidity, Department of Physiology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and School of Basic Medicine, Peking Union Medical College; National Center for Respiratory Medicine; Institute of Respiratory Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences; National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Zhenguo Zhai
- National Center for Respiratory Medicine; State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Health and Multimorbidity; National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Diseases; Institute of Respiratory Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences; Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Center of Respiratory Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Dehnavi F, Koo-Poeggel PC, Ghorbani M, Marshall L. Memory ability and retention performance relate differentially to sleep depth and spindle type. iScience 2023; 26:108154. [PMID: 37876817 PMCID: PMC10590735 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.108154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Revised: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Temporal interactions between non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep rhythms especially the coupling between cortical slow oscillations (SO, ∼1 Hz) and thalamic spindles (∼12 Hz) have been proposed to contribute to multi-regional interactions crucial for memory processing and cognitive ability. We investigated relationships between NREM sleep depth, sleep spindles and SO-spindle coupling regarding memory ability and memory consolidation in healthy humans. Findings underscore the functional relevance of spindle dynamics (slow versus fast), SO-phase, and most importantly NREM sleep depth for cognitive processing. Cross-frequency coupling analyses demonstrated stronger precise temporal coordination of slow spindles to SO down-state in N2 for subjects with higher general memory ability. A GLM model underscored this relationship, and furthermore that fast spindle properties were predictive of overnight memory consolidation. Our results suggest cognitive fingerprints dependent on conjoint fine-tuned SO-spindle temporal coupling, spindle properties, and brain sleep state.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fereshteh Dehnavi
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad 9177948974, Iran
- Center for International Scientific Studies & Collaborations (CISSC), Shahid Azodi Street, Karim-Khane Zand Boulevard, Tehran 15875-7788, Iran
| | - Ping Chai Koo-Poeggel
- Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Luebeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, Bldg. 66, 23562 Luebeck, Germany
- Center for Brain, Behavior and Metabolism, University of Luebeck, 23562 Luebeck, Germany
| | - Maryam Ghorbani
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad 9177948974, Iran
- Rayan Center for Neuroscience and Behavior, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad 9177948974, Iran
- Center for International Scientific Studies & Collaborations (CISSC), Shahid Azodi Street, Karim-Khane Zand Boulevard, Tehran 15875-7788, Iran
| | - Lisa Marshall
- Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Luebeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, Bldg. 66, 23562 Luebeck, Germany
- Center for Brain, Behavior and Metabolism, University of Luebeck, 23562 Luebeck, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Ricoy MC, Sánchez-Martínez C. Tablet-Based Praxis Developed for Children in Primary Education Studying Natural Sciences and Mathematics. Children (Basel) 2023; 10:children10020250. [PMID: 36832379 PMCID: PMC9954904 DOI: 10.3390/children10020250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Revised: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Information and Communication Technologies are now a common feature in classroom activities. The aim of this study was to present praxis developed for the tablet for use by primary education students (aged 6-12) studying the natural sciences and mathematics. This research is qualitative and follows the narrative-ethnographic approach. The study sample consisted of 120 primary education students and 52 educational blogs. The results and conclusions reveal praxis that is rarely innovative or ludic. The bulk of tablet-based activities were for natural sciences classes rather than mathematics, and the most common practice with the tablet in the natural sciences was information searching and content exploration. The most widely used apps were the Google search engine, YouTube and the tablet's default apps (camera, image and video editor). Course content in the natural sciences focused on living beings and states of matter, and the activities developed for children to do on the tablet aimed to foster learning through discovery, exploration and enquiry. In mathematics, a traditional methodological approach was apparent in children's use of the tablet for typical activities related to units of measurement.
Collapse
|
4
|
Zhou Y, Hou D, Marigo CC, Bonelli J, Rocas P, Cheng F, Yang X, Rocas J, Hamberg NM, Han J. Redox-responsive polyurethane-polyurea nanoparticles targeting to aortic endothelium and atherosclerosis. iScience 2022; 25:105390. [PMID: 36345337 PMCID: PMC9636043 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.105390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Revised: 07/23/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Aortic endothelial cell dysfunction is an early trigger of atherosclerosis, the major cause of the cardiovascular disease (CVD). Nanomedicines targeting vascular endothelium and lesions hold great promise as therapeutic solutions to vascular disorders. This study investigates the vascular delivery efficacy of polyurethane-polyurea nanocapsules (Puua-NCs) with pH-synchronized shell cationization and redox-triggered release. Fluorescent lipophilic dye DiI was encapsulated into Puua-NCs of variable sizes and concentrations. In vitro cellular uptake studies with human aortic endothelial cells showed that these Puua-NCs were taken up by cells in a dose-dependent manner. In apolipoprotein E-deficient mice fed a Western diet, a model of atherosclerosis, circulating Puua-NCs were stable and accumulated in aortic endothelium and lesions within 24 hours after intravenous administration. Treatment with thiol-reducing and oxidizing reagents disrupted the disulfide bonds on the surface of internalized NCs, triggering disassembly and intracellular cargo release. Ultimately, Puua-NCs are a potential redox-controllable cardiovascular drug delivery system. Aortic endothelial dysfunction precipitates atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease Nano-capsules show high affinity to aortic endothelium and atherosclerotic lesions Offering a nanomedical approach to deliver drugs to improve cardiovascular outcomes Disulfide bonds enable control of drug release by changing thiol redox status
Collapse
|
5
|
Mundackal A, Ngole-Jeme VM. Evaluation of indoor and outdoor air quality in university academic buildings and associated health risk. Int J Environ Health Res 2022; 32:1076-1094. [PMID: 33125286 DOI: 10.1080/09603123.2020.1828304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2020] [Accepted: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Air pollution is associated with several detrimental health conditions. This study assessed comfort parameters, priority air pollutants, hydrogen sulphide (H2S), non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHCs), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in natural science departments in a university to understand their role in air pollutant concentrations in university environments and associated health risks. Levels of air pollutants in the departments varied. High CO2 concentrations existed in all departments with highest levels of NMHC and VOC observed in the biochemistry, microbiology and biotechnology (BMBT) department. Highest Air quality index value of 111.3 was recorded for NO2 in the BMBT department. Health risk associated with exposure to these pollutants was highest for occupants in the physiology, followed by the biodiversity, and finally BMBT department. Natural science departments seem to contribute significant amounts of H2S, NO2, NMHCs and TVOCs in university campuses. Additional ventilation and frequent monitoring of air quality in these departments are recommended.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Antony Mundackal
- Department of Physiology and Environmental Health, University of Limpopo, LimpopoProvince, Sovenga, South Africa
- Department of Environmental Science, School of Ecological and Human Sustainability, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, UNISA, Florida,Roodepoort, Gauteng, South Africa
| | - Veronica M Ngole-Jeme
- Department of Environmental Science, School of Ecological and Human Sustainability, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, UNISA, Florida,Roodepoort, Gauteng, South Africa
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Chou YJ, Lu YH, Ma YK, Su YS, Kuo TH. The decisive role of subordination in social hierarchy in weanling mice and young children. iScience 2021; 24:102073. [PMID: 33604524 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.102073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2020] [Revised: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 01/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Social hierarchy plays important roles in maintaining social structures. Despite similarity in concept, frameworks of human hierarchy have seldom been investigated in parallel with other animals. Moreover, the importance of subordination in hierarchical formation has been largely underestimated in previous research. Here we established, compared, and investigated hierarchy in children and weanling mice. Temperament assessments suggested that children who are less persistent, low emotional intensity, and withdrew easily were more likely to be subordinate in competitive scenarios independent of task characteristics and interaction experiences. The tube test further showed that conflicts between mice were not resolved by winner approach but by loser withdrawal, which was mainly determined by intrinsic subordinate status regardless of opponents. Our study presents evolutionary conserved hierarchical relationships in young and a critical role of the intrinsic subordinate characteristics in hierarchical determination. These findings provide a new perspective on social interactions with potential implications for preschool education. Similar social hierarchy can be established in weanling mice and young children Social rankings in children are largely influenced by intrinsic characteristics Conflicts in mouse tube test are not resolved by winner but by loser withdrawal Subordinate withdrawals are determined by intrinsic status regardless of opponents
Collapse
|
7
|
Danilov-Danil’yan VI, Kattsov VM, Porfiriev BN. The Problem of Climate Change: The Field of Convergence and Interaction between Natural Sciences and the Sociohumanities. Her Russ Acad Sci 2020; 90:577-587. [PMID: 33250605 PMCID: PMC7682684 DOI: 10.1134/s1019331620050123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 07/07/2020] [Accepted: 07/14/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The relationship and interaction between natural science and sociohumanities knowledge and methods of studying global and regional climate changes and their socioeconomic consequences are analyzed. It is argued that the methodological and instrumental basis of the interaction above involve risk theory and modeling. The key results include a comprehensive assessment and forecast of climatic risks of socioeconomic development, which make up the basis of the development of effective strategies for sustainable long-term development. Ephasized is the counterproductiveness of a straightforward approach to the climate change problem which implies as the main goal of sustainable development the radical reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. The necessity and effectiveness of a systematic approach that provides for the priority of institutional, structural, and technological transformations in society and the economy are emphasized. An important result of these transformations should involve the reduction of anthropogenic impact on the environment, including its climate formation factors, and adaptation to its climate change.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - V. M. Kattsov
- Voeikov Main Geophysical Observatory, Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - B. N. Porfiriev
- Institute of Economic Forecasting, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Abstract
The integration of multiple perspectives in both the arts and natural sciences is tremendously powerful and arguably necessary for capturing relevant features of complex phenomena. Individual methods and models comprise abstractions from and idealizations of nature, and only the integration of multiple models, methods, and representations provides a means to reach more accurate results than relying on any single approach. In my Mildred Cohn Award Lecture at the 2019 ASBMB meeting, I illustrated the power of such multidisciplinary work by highlighting the successful integration of data and multiple views afforded by NMR spectroscopy, cryo-electron microscopy, cryo-electron tomography, X-ray crystallography, computation, and functional assays made possible through collaborative efforts by members of the Pittsburgh Center for HIV Protein Interactions. This approach permitted us to generate the first all-atom model of a native HIV-1 capsid core.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Angela M Gronenborn
- Department of Structural Biology and Pittsburgh Center for HIV Protein Interactions, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
López A, Sassone AB. The Uses of Herbaria in Botanical Research. A Review Based on Evidence From Argentina. Front Plant Sci 2019; 10:1363. [PMID: 31787992 PMCID: PMC6853993 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2019.01363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2019] [Accepted: 10/03/2019] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Botanists, a section of the broad universe of researchers in Biology, are intensive users of herbaria. Presumably, all botanists use herbaria, with greater or lesser frequency and intensity, in the development of their research. In this article, we will try to prove this statement. For this purpose, an institutional history of Botany and herbaria in Argentina is presented. This study will also show that there are other fields of knowledge in which the herbarium has a role as an input, or data source, for research (e.g. agronomy, ethnobotany, medicine). On the other hand, it will be demonstrated that, in addition to the uses of the herbarium in basic science, this institution has a crucial role in the knowledge and preservation of biodiversity, and in the improvement of species for commercial use.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alicia López
- Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, CONICET, Balcarce, Argentina
| | | |
Collapse
|
10
|
Abstract
Communicating science to wider lay audiences is an increasingly important part of a scientist's remit, and is something that many scientists are keen to embrace. However, based on surveys carried out amongst the UK public, as well as our own experiences in developing and delivering such activities, we believe that they are not always as effective at engaging members of the general public as they could be. In this opinion article we argue that in order to achieve more effective science communication, we need more objective-driven and long-term initiatives. As well as being implemented by the scientists themselves, funding organisations can play an important role in helping to drive such initiatives, and we suggest a list of actionable items that might allow for some of these ideas to be implemented.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Prokop
- Faculty of Life Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK
| | - Sam Illingworth
- School of Research, Enterprise & Innovation, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, M1 5GD, UK
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
POOLEY SIMONP, MENDELSOHN JANDREW, MILNER-GULLAND EJ. Hunting down the chimera of multiple disciplinarity in conservation science. Conserv Biol 2014; 28:22-32. [PMID: 24299167 PMCID: PMC4232892 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.12183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2012] [Accepted: 07/02/2013] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
The consensus is that both ecological and social factors are essential dimensions of conservation research and practice. However, much of the literature on multiple disciplinary collaboration focuses on the difficulties of undertaking it. This review of the challenges of conducting multiple disciplinary collaboration offers a framework for thinking about the diversity and complexity of this endeavor. We focused on conceptual challenges, of which 5 main categories emerged: methodological challenges, value judgments, theories of knowledge, disciplinary prejudices, and interdisciplinary communication. The major problems identified in these areas have proved remarkably persistent in the literature surveyed (c.1960-2012). Reasons for these failures to learn from past experience include the pressure to produce positive outcomes and gloss over disagreements, the ephemeral nature of many such projects and resulting lack of institutional memory, and the apparent complexity and incoherence of the endeavor. We suggest that multiple disciplinary collaboration requires conceptual integration among carefully selected multiple disciplinary team members united in investigating a shared problem or question. We outline a 9-point sequence of steps for setting up a successful multiple disciplinary project. This encompasses points on recruitment, involving stakeholders, developing research questions, negotiating power dynamics and hidden values and conceptual differences, explaining and choosing appropriate methods, developing a shared language, facilitating on-going communications, and discussing data integration and project outcomes. Although numerous solutions to the challenges of multiple disciplinary research have been proposed, lessons learned are often lost when projects end or experienced individuals move on. We urge multiple disciplinary teams to capture the challenges recognized, and solutions proposed, by their researchers while projects are in process. A database of well-documented case studies would showcase theories and methods from a variety of disciplines and their interactions, enable better comparative study and evaluation, and provide a useful resource for developing future projects and training multiple disciplinary researchers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- SIMON P POOLEY
- Imperial College Conservation Science, Munro Building, Silwood Park CampusBuckhurst Road, Ascot, Berkshire, SL5 7PY, United Kingdom
- ‡email
| | - J ANDREW MENDELSOHN
- School of History, Queen Mary, University of LondonLondon, E1 4NS, United Kingdom
| | - E J MILNER-GULLAND
- Imperial College Conservation Science, Munro Building, Silwood Park CampusBuckhurst Road, Ascot, Berkshire, SL5 7PY, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|