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Dietary guidelines shape public health by translating nutritional evidence into recommendations that support healthier eating and reduce chronic disease risk. The current revision of the Australian Dietary Guidelines (ADG) presents an opportunity to integrate emerging scientific evidence and address contemporary dietary challenges, including rising burdens of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and poor diet quality. However, translating evidence from nutritional epidemiology into policy remains methodologically complex. Much of the available evidence is derived from observational studies, often synthesised in systematic reviews and meta-analyses that may obscure contextual variation, residual confounding, and heterogeneity in dietary assessment methods. Australia’s cultural diversity, unique food systems, and the distinct dietary practices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples underscore the need for high-quality, context-specific research to inform recommendations. Challenges also arise from treating diet as a dynamic, multidimensional exposure, the variability of global evidence, and inconsistencies in definitions such as dietary patterns and ultra-processed foods. While the ADG revision incorporates methodological improvements and prioritises key areas such as dietary patterns and UPFs, the strength and relevance of guidance ultimately depend on the quality of underlying data. Strengthening investment in robust, culturally inclusive Australian nutrition research is essential to ensure credible and contextually relevant recommendations.
Individuals have a surprisingly high capacity for making decisions quickly and still considering a multitude of information. This capability – often referred to as intuition – relies on automatic processes that can be described with neural networks. Particularly parallel constraint satisfaction (PCS) networks – a specific type of interactive activation networks – have been successful in capturing multiple aspects of choice behaviour. PCS models include restrictions to neural networks that capture specific features of cognition. This chapter will describe how PCS and other content models of decision-making can be evaluated and potentially improved by using artificial intelligence, specifically generic multi-layer (deep learning) neural network models. It will exemplify how choice behaviour can be modelled and predicted with PCS. The predictive performance of PCS will be contrasted with that of a generic neural network model. Possibilities and implications for the improvement of content models for choice behaviour using artificial intelligence are discussed.
Fast radio bursts (FRBs) are bright (Jansky-level) and short-duration ($\sim$1 ms) flashes of extragalactic origin. Observations of single events have now been complemented by large-area surveys, delivering FRB catalogues and enabling the first population studies. The Northern Cross (NC) radio interferometer is one of the instruments performing observations of FRBs. In this work, we present the Italian Northern Cross Atlas of Radio Transients (INCART), a public platform for the distribution of data products from the NC. INCART makes available to the community the FRBs observed by the NC through manageable frequency-time series datasets and catalogues with best-fit physical parameters. The design of INCART guarantees the possibility of scientific re-analysis of the FRB properties, in view also of future releases of the processing pipeline. Furthermore, INCART focuses on long-term storage optimisation, which is a key aspect of state-of-the-art instrumentation. Public access to the FRB data from the NC maximises the legacy value of the collection, facilitates the synergy with other publicly available catalogues, and fosters research group collaborations.
Ocean acidification is a significant but under-recognised climate impact where oceans absorb CO2, leading to a 30–40 per cent decrease in pH since pre-industrial times. This poses a threat to marine ecosystems and food webs, as calcifying organisms such as oysters and corals struggle to build their shells, while non-calcifying species face behavioural changes. Despite an increasing amount of scientific literature, OA receives minimal attention from social sciences and lacks international governance. The book explores how OA should be governed, mapping the governance landscape as a regime complex involving multiple actors and instruments. It proposes global experimentalist governance as suitable for addressing the complexity of OA, examining case studies of the OA Alliance and the International Maritime Organization. The research finds that while OA is framed as a climate change effect needing holistic responses, including mitigation, adaptation, and resilience measures, current governance remains fragmented, with limited coordination among relevant international frameworks.
This chapter summarizes 50 tips from experts on writing articles. We first presenting the tips in list format so readers can gain a quick overview. We then elaborate on each of the tips.
National foodborne outbreaks of gastrointestinal disease often require rapid case–control investigations to identify the source. Online market panels offer a potential alternative to traditional control recruitment. We compared market panel controls to traditional controls in case–control recruitment during a 2024 UK outbreak of STEC O145. Two case–control studies were conducted for two different control groups (a) Salmonella cases as case–controls and (b) online market panel members. Timeliness, cost, and resources were compared, and a logistic regression compared findings in a control–control analysis. In total, 43 cases of STEC O145, 63 Salmonella case–controls, and 93 panel controls were recruited. Neither control group reached the recruitment target for the younger adult age group. Salmonella case–controls had a ninefold greater staff time to recruit and cost five times more than panel controls (£25.82 vs. £4.99 per control), partially due to interviewer-administered questionnaires compared with self-completion by panel controls. Both analytical approaches identified the same outbreak source, with no significant differences in exposures between the control groups. The cost and resource savings associated with panel controls justify their use as a standard procedure in outbreak investigations. We recommend exploring engagement with age groups that are difficult to recruit and assessing alternative strategies to reach them.
Participants in NIH-funded multicenter clinical trial received the compound opposite to the randomization intention. We report the problem, subsequent root cause analysis (RCA) and corrective and preventative action (CAPA).
Methods:
The RCA was independently facilitated to identify study-level causes of the problem. Results were reviewed by institutional research administration leaders to identify institution-level causes and formulate corresponding CAPA. Both culminated in consensus.
Results:
The resulting causal chain consisted of two physical causes, two study-level system causes, and two institution-level system causes for which two institution-level CAPAs were formulated by institutional leadership. The CAPAs established institutional procedures for independent verification of critical processes, their specification, and their planned control on high-risk studies.
Conclusions:
Lack of study-level procedural infrastructure jeopardized a multicenter study led by our institution. Lack of institutional infrastructure supporting identification of critical study processes, risks to them, and appropriate controls enabled the problem to occur. Studies conducted in settings lacking institutional or study-level procedural infrastructure are susceptible to similar problems. Adding the needed institutional processes to support identification of critical study processes, risks to them, and appropriate controls required reprioritizing existing resources.
Edited by
Daniel Naurin, University of Oslo,Urška Šadl, European University Institute, Florence,Jan Zglinski, London School of Economics and Political Science
This chapter offers an overview of the varieties of data that are used in EU law scholarship alongside an overview of the associate research methods employed to analyse it. Based on a systematic literature review of 248 academic articles in the area of EU law and EU courts specifically, it addresses two questions: first, what data sources and methods are the most prevalent in EU law? Second, what are the advantages and pitfalls of different data sources and research methods and how can an understanding of these improve the study of EU law? Finally, the chapter seeks to stimulate a critical discussion of the extent to which emerging and non-traditional data sources both complement and challenge the traditional understandings of what counts as law. The chapter starts with an overview of the most commonly used source of data in EU legal research on courts – courts’ case law – before turning to other, less traditional sources of data in EU law such as interview and survey data, and data based on official statistics, newspapers, and courts’ websites.
Human papillomavirus (HPV), particularly high-risk types such as HPV 16 and 18, is a major cause of cervical cancer and other cancers. Despite the United Kingdom’s (UK’s) commitment to cervical cancer elimination by 2040, participation in HPV screening is declining, disproportionately affecting underserved groups, including those experiencing poverty, people from minoritized racial, ethnic, gender, or sexual identity groups, and people living with HIV.
Methods
We conducted a mixed-methods study to explore awareness, barriers, and facilitators to HPV self-sampling from clinician and public perspectives. A multi-stakeholder survey (n = 105) and two online focus groups with clinicians (n = 4) and members of the public (n = 5) were undertaken.
Results
Survey respondents identified accuracy, cost-free availability, ease of use, accessibility, clear instructions, and adequate follow-up as critical test features. Participants emphasized that disability, cultural context, language, and socioeconomic status strongly influence barriers and facilitators to uptake. Focus groups provided contextual depth, illustrating how privacy, logistical and emotional impacts, and supportive follow-up pathways shaped acceptability and trust. Clinicians highlighted the need for integration into healthcare infrastructure to maintain trust and ensure support. Public participants recommended community-driven engagement, including multilingual instructions and tailored communication to encourage adoption among diverse groups. Concerns were raised about unintended consequences, such as anxiety following asymptomatic HPV diagnoses and challenges in managing clinical pathways after positive results. Suggestions included leveraging community organizations to reduce hesitancy.
Conclusions
Findings highlight policy and implementation considerations for embedding HPV self-sampling within care pathways to improve uptake and reduce inequalities.
While most sustainability transitions researchers agree on the need for cross-disciplinary collaboration, such collaborations can be difficult in practice. Scholars often disagree on (a) how to understand the world (ontology) and (b) what constitutes important knowledge about transitions (epistemology). From this observation, this chapter explores ontological and epistemological debates in sustainability transitions research. It begins by outlining dominant frameworks, particularly the multi-level perspective (MLP), and their foundational assumptions drawn from evolutionary economics and science and technology studies (STS). The chapter identifies two main criticisms of the MLP: the need for an expanded epistemic focus and ontological critiques from proponents of ‘flat ontologies’ and critical realists. It then discusses new epistemological approaches that challenge the dominant narrative that transitions primarily emerge through innovation journeys. These criticisms focus on capitalism, coloniality, and justice, highlighting how mainstream transition studies tend to externalise such concerns. The chapter concludes by supporting radical theoretical pluralism as key to understanding sustainability transitions’ increasing complexities.
The 2025 HTAi Global Policy Forum (GPF) report offers a timely and thoughtful synthesis of the opportunities and challenges associated with the use of artificial intelligence (AI), and particularly generative AI (GenAI), in Health Technology Assessment (HTA) (1). Its emphasis on trust, human agency, and risk-based approaches reflects both the maturity of the discussion within the HTA community and a shared recognition that technical capability alone is insufficient for responsible adoption. The report succeeds in articulating a common set of principles and a broadly aligned vision across HTA bodies, life sciences, and other interest holders.
Guideline development handbooks outline the methodology that authoring organizations use to create public health and clinical practice guidelines (CPGs). We created an Equity Assessment Tool (EquAT) for guideline development handbooks to identify areas of improvement and foster conversations.
Methods
Sequential phases lead to tool development and face/content validation in this mixed-methods study. In phase 1, we reviewed the literature to generate a list of “essential elements” or tasks that are part of guideline development methodology, mapped “essential elements” with relevant equity concepts, and drafted our tool for use in reviewing guideline development handbooks. In phase 2, we surveyed experts for feedback on “essential elements” and explicit language for assessing equity within the tool and refined items. We piloted and finalized the tool based on feedback.
Results
We identified 18 essential elements within five domains of guideline development and created a draft EquAT. Twenty of 25 invited experts responded to the online survey for feedback on the tool. Most experts provided limited feedback, and the most common suggestion was adding clarifying language to the existing tool criteria for assessing equity. Ten experts participated in pilot testing the revised tool. We found a diversity of scores, and potential reasons might be due to the complexity of the tool, differences in equity frameworks, and a variety of expertise. We incorporated their feedback and finalized the tool.
Conclusions
We developed and validated the EquAT, a tool to foster discussion among assessors about the extent of health equity considerations in guideline development handbooks.
Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSAs) are positioned to enhance the integration of rigorous implementation research methods into projects across their networks, but lack a systematic, standardized process to do so. This study introduces the Dissemination and Implementation Research Capability Self Survey (DIRC-SS), a pragmatic instrument to evaluate and integrate implementation science methods in traditional research activities.
Methods:
We developed the 15-item DIRC-SS to assess researchers’ use of implementation research methods across five key constructs. Its reliability (inter-rater agreement and internal consistency) and sensitivity (change over time) were examined in 10 NIH-funded research projects via ratings assigned by the research teams and by implementation science experts at baseline and one year later.
Results:
The DIRC-SS total score demonstrated good internal consistency and inter-rater reliability increased over one year. Although the research team ratings did not change significantly over time, the expert ratings significantly increased, and effect sizes across research teams and expert raters were large in this small sample study.
Conclusions:
The DIRC-SS demonstrated good internal consistency reliability and moderate inter-rater reliability. It effectively distinguished between different levels of implementation research methods integration. Unlike tools focused on grant proposals or final reports, the DIRC-SS can be used at any point in the research process by a research team as a self-survey, by implementation science experts in a consultation process, or across a CTSA program to characterize the implementation science methods employed across projects and highlight targeted areas for researcher education and training.
Scholars trained in disciplines like anthropology, history, law, political science, and sociology helped to give rise to the field of law and society over the past two generations. What theories does law and society offer those disciplines in return, and are scholars in those fields looking back to law and society? To answer these questions, this article, which introduces a symposium celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Law & Society Review, brings together scholarship across disciplines to share the possible future influence of law and society on the disciplines. This theoretical and forward-looking inquiry invites us all to reflect upon law and society’s contributions over the past two generations and to consider what law and society will contribute to the next generation of interdisciplinary – and disciplinary – scholarship.
In the conclusion, we weave together the themes of the volume. We trace three historically overlapping configurations corruption and colonialism, corruption and modernity, and neoliberalism and anti-corruptionism and suggest that we may be entering into a one (a fourth one) characterized by illiberalism. Additionally, we propose “deep analogies” that cross-cut the configurations, including corruption’s inevitable intertwining with power, institutional sedimentation, and processes of evaluation.
Only two complete works on the philosophy of mathematics survive from Antiquity, Iamblichus’ De communi mathematica scientia and Proclus’ commentary on Euclid’s Elements Book I. Chapter 21 lists works by Proclus concerning mathematics and the sources he used in these works. Concentrating on Proclus’ commentary on Euclid, I describe his conception of the ontological status of the objects with which mathematics is concerned: these objects are originally concepts innate in human soul, forming part of its very nature, concepts which the mathematician then seeks to articulate, project, construct through various methods so as to constitute an elaborated science. I present also the distinctions made between the mathematical sciences and their methods, the importance of mathematics for other sciences (both superior and inferior to it), and Proclus’ relations with other mathematicians of his time.
Chapter 2 describes the Resilience Alliance, resilience theory, and the data and methods on which this investigation is based. It starts by detailing the discovery of resilience as narrated to me by C. S. “Buzz” Holling, RA’s charismatic leader and one of the twentieth century’s most influential ecologists. I then discuss Holling’s early collaborations where he developed, tested, and honed his own theory of group interaction and refined a set of socio-emotional practices for fostering creative group work – methods that he continued to use in RA. The chapter traces RA’s evolution from its beginning as the Resilience Network to becoming one of the main theory groups in sustainability science. Key aspects of resilience theory are outlined, and RA’s intellectual contributions and the immense influence of their ideas are highlighted to demonstrate their impact on sustainability science and how their theory and creative vision diverged from previous scientific understanding. The chapter closes by outlining the methods used in this study, the five longitudinal datasets underpinning this book, and discussing my relationship with RA.
This article contributes to our understanding of merits and weaknesses associated with the subnational comparative case study. Despite its methodological strengths and the increasing importance of subnational units in politics, the subnational comparative case study remains underutilized in comparative politics. The root cause of the method’s merits lies in the substantive importance of subnational units in politics; at the same time, however, the difficulty of abstracting theory from local specificities hinders the wide utilization of this method. Through examining some important studies in comparative politics and Chinese politics that use comparative case studies, I identify problems in case selection and in achieving generalizability in research design of subnational comparative case studies.
Experiments are taking on greater significance in political science. However, academic courses on methods at German higher education institutions rarely focus on experimental political science. This article presents a methodological course on experiments in political science at the University of Muenster based on the conveyed contents of the course. It analyses the course from the students’ and lecturers’ perspective. The article aims to provide an incentive for future courses on experimental political science.
This article compares political science to another discipline, with which it has much in common. That discipline is architecture. The political-science-as-architecture analogy has a long history in political thought. It also has important implications for the ends, means, and uses of political science. It follows from the political-science-as-architecture analogy that political science is necessarily a heterogeneous and pluralistic discipline. It also follows that political scientists have a common purpose, which is to conceive of institutional structures that allow humans to live together in societies, just as the purpose of architecture is to conceive of physical structures in which humans can live together.