title: Co-innovation and Integration and Implementation Sciences: Measuring their research impact - examination of five New Zealand primary sector case studies

authors: Small, Bruce

abstract: The Primary Innovation programme investigated co-innovation to solve complex agricultural problems in five New Zealand primary sector projects. The projects engaged diverse stakeholders using a collaborative, integrative process to co-define problems, and co-create and implement solutions. Each project included a Reflexive Monitor, who facilitated group relationships, encouraged a systems perspective, and integration of multiple disciplinary and stakeholder knowledges. Reflexive Monitors also encouraged reflexive practice and adaptive project management, while helping the team pursue the project ambition for change. This paper, with respect to the five projects, seeks to address the following research question: Is co-innovation an effective research approach for achieving societal impact from innovations? To address this question, we describe attempts to operationalise and measure co-innovation through 1) five behavioural principles of co-innovation, 2) Reflexive Monitors’ focus on each principle, and 3) the presence or absence of elements of the Integration and Implementation Sciences Framework (i2S) for enhancing research impact. We evaluate the relationship between these three process measures and project success, measured by outputs and two proxy impact measures: participants’ subjective comparisons with the counterfactual and anticipated achievement of desired long-term impacts. Results indicated that the five principles of co-innovation and the presence or absence of elements defined in the i2S framework were positively related to the three success measures. This suggests validity of these measurement tools, and of using a co-innovation approach and/or systematic attention to the elements of the i2S framework to enhance the processes, outcomes and impacts of projects tackling complex real-world problems.

text: Co-innovation and Integration and Implementation Sciences: Measuring their research impact - examination of five New Zealand primary sector case studies The Primary Innovation programme investigated co-innovation to solve complex agricultural problems in five New Zealand primary sector projects. The projects engaged diverse stakeholders using a collaborative, integrative process to co-define problems, and co-create and implement solutions. Each project included a Reflexive Monitor, who facilitated group relationships, encouraged a systems perspective, and integration of multiple disciplinary and stakeholder knowledges. Reflexive Monitors also encouraged reflexive practice and adaptive project management, while helping the team pursue the project ambition for change. This paper, with respect to the five projects, seeks to address the following research question: Is co-innovation an effective research approach for achieving societal impact from innovations? To address this question, we describe attempts to operationalise and measure co-innovation through 1) five behavioural principles of co-innovation, 2) Reflexive Monitors’ focus on each principle, and 3) the presence or absence of elements of the Integration and Implementation Sciences Framework (i2S) for enhancing research impact. We evaluate the relationship between these three process measures and project success, measured by outputs and two proxy impact measures: participants’ subjective comparisons with the counterfactual and anticipated achievement of desired long-term impacts. Results indicated that the five principles of co-innovation and the presence or absence of elements defined in the i2S framework were positively related to the three success measures. This suggests validity of these measurement tools, and of using a co-innovation approach and/or systematic attention to the elements of the i2S framework to enhance the processes, outcomes and impacts of projects tackling complex real-world problems.

year: 2021-01-01

title: Networks of inflammation, depression, and cognition in aging males and females.

authors: Chalmers, Rebecca A.

subjects: Aging

abstract: BACKGROUND: Prioritizing the maintenance of healthy cognitive aging and personalizing preventive interventions to enhance their effectiveness is crucial as the global population ages. Systemic inflammation and depression in older people have been associated with decreased levels of cognition but results have been inconsistent. AIMS: To explore the interactive network of inflammation, depression and cognition by sex in older people. 
METHODS: We used novel network analysis to explore the unique associations between inflammatory biomarkers, depression, cognition, and somatic, genetic, and lifestyle risk factors in an older (aged 70-90 years), non-demented, community-dwelling sample from the longitudinal Sydney Memory and Aging Study (N = 916) at baseline and at a two-year follow-up. 
RESULTS: The networks of biomarkers, depression, cognition, and relevant covariates were significantly different between males and females. A stable negative link between depression and cognition was found in females only; a stable positive association between biomarker interleukin-6 and depression was found in females only; and a stable positive association between biomarker interleukin-8 and alcohol was found in females only. For both males and females, a stable, positive relationship was found between the presence of APOE-ε4 gene and biomarker C-reactive protein; between education and cognition; and between biomarker interleukin-6 and all other biomarkers. 
CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest different psychophysiological mechanisms underlie the interactive network of biomarkers, depression and cognition in males and females that should be considered when designing personalized preventive interventions to maintain cognitively healthy aging.

text: Networks of inflammation, depression, and cognition in aging males and females. BACKGROUND: Prioritizing the maintenance of healthy cognitive aging and personalizing preventive interventions to enhance their effectiveness is crucial as the global population ages. Systemic inflammation and depression in older people have been associated with decreased levels of cognition but results have been inconsistent. AIMS: To explore the interactive network of inflammation, depression and cognition by sex in older people. 
METHODS: We used novel network analysis to explore the unique associations between inflammatory biomarkers, depression, cognition, and somatic, genetic, and lifestyle risk factors in an older (aged 70-90 years), non-demented, community-dwelling sample from the longitudinal Sydney Memory and Aging Study (N = 916) at baseline and at a two-year follow-up. 
RESULTS: The networks of biomarkers, depression, cognition, and relevant covariates were significantly different between males and females. A stable negative link between depression and cognition was found in females only; a stable positive association between biomarker interleukin-6 and depression was found in females only; and a stable positive association between biomarker interleukin-8 and alcohol was found in females only. For both males and females, a stable, positive relationship was found between the presence of APOE-ε4 gene and biomarker C-reactive protein; between education and cognition; and between biomarker interleukin-6 and all other biomarkers. 
CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest different psychophysiological mechanisms underlie the interactive network of biomarkers, depression and cognition in males and females that should be considered when designing personalized preventive interventions to maintain cognitively healthy aging.

year: 2022-10

title: Tīaho mai

authors: Maxwell, Te Kahautu

abstract: Waiata ā Ringa (action song). Lyrics composed by Te Kahautu Maxwell. Performed by Ōpōtiki Mai Tawhiti (Kapa Haka group)

text: Tīaho mai Waiata ā Ringa (action song). Lyrics composed by Te Kahautu Maxwell. Performed by Ōpōtiki Mai Tawhiti (Kapa Haka group)

year: 2024