The discovery of general principles underlying the complexity and diversity of cellular and developmental systems is a central and long-standing aim of biology. While new technologies collect data at an ever-accelerating rate, there is growing concern that conceptual progress is not keeping pace. We contend that this is due to a paucity of conceptual frameworks that support meaningful generalizations. This led us to develop the core and periphery (C&P) hypothesis, which posits that many biological systems can be decomposed into a highly versatile core with a large behavioral repertoire and a specific periphery that configures said core to perform one particular function. Versatile cores tend to be widely reused across biology, which confers generality to theories describing them. Here, we introduce this concept and describe examples at multiple scales, including Turing patterning, actomyosin dynamics, multi-cellular morphogenesis, and vertebrate gastrulation. We also sketch its evolutionary basis and discuss key implications and open questions. We propose that the C&P hypothesis could unlock new avenues of conceptual progress in mesoscale biology.

Improving the provision of tuberculosis (TB) care is both urgent and imperative to achieve the goals outlined in the End TB Strategy. China has initiated the integrated TB control model to enhance the quality of TB care Since 2012. Despite these efforts, the integrated TB control health system encounters numerous challenges in delivering effective TB care. The factors influencing TB care provision are intricate, and a conceptual framework to comprehend these potential determinants is currently lacking. To bridge this gap, this article proposed a conceptual framework that was developed through insights from the fields of both public management and health services, adjustment of PRISM model and elements, reference to the blocks of health system and reference to the framework of outcome indicators in implementation research. This conceptual framework included 4 modules which can be coherently and logically deduced, offered a multi-perspective understanding of the determinants to TB care, and hypothesized that the TB control services provided by the integrated TB control model is a public service and must be \"patient-centered\"; determinants of the integrated TB control model implementation can be divided into seven domains; the evaluation of the integrated TB control model implementation covers implementation outcomes and service outcomes. This framework offers the potential to guide empirical investigations, aiding in the understanding and identification of determinants, including barriers and facilitators, associated with the implementation of the integrated TB control health model. Furthermore, it serves as a valuable tool for developing interventions that address system-level barriers, drawing insights from the realms of public management and health services.

UNASSIGNED: Tele-practice promotes universal and equitable access to quality health services and emerged as an alternative to overcome physical barriers to intervention access in the 90s. There has been a steady increase in adoption since then, and during the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a surge in online modes of healthcare service delivery. Yet, tele-practice adoption and utilization in rural and remote areas are not spontaneous. Therefore, as a first step, prior to the implementation of a comprehensive tele-practice model, a baseline situational analysis was undertaken to assess the needs and readiness of parents of children with disabilities and different cadres of health care providers towards accepting tele-practice services in their settings. This paper describes the process of development of the conceptual framework that guided the baseline needs and readiness assessment (situational analysis).
UNASSIGNED: The Bowen\'s feasibility framework served as the primary framework to evaluate the feasibility outcomes of the implementation. Therefore, this framework also guided the baseline situational analysis. For specificity of the framework to tele-practice, several telemedicine planning frameworks relevant for low- and middle-income countries were reviewed to identify and map suitable constructs and attributes to the Bowen\'s constructs. A description of the framework selection process and a review of each of the selected telemedicine frameworks are provided.
UNASSIGNED: The constructs and attributes from this conceptual framework were used to develop the guides for focus group discussions (FGDs) and semi-structured interviews (SSIs). The guides were prepared separately for each stakeholder group.
UNASSIGNED: The developed framework facilitated the assessment of needs and readiness suited to the context and among various stakeholders involved in the proposed implementation of the comprehensive model of tele-practice for childhood communication disorders in rural communities.
This study describes the development of a conceptual framework for assessing the needs and readiness of parents of children with disabilities and different cadres of health care providers regarding their acceptance of tele-practice services in their settings. This baseline situational analysis is an initial step prior to the implementation of a comprehensive tele-practice model for the identification and rehabilitation of children with hearing and speech-language disorders within the public-health system of a rural district in Southern India.

This study undertakes a scoping review of reviews on barriers to accessing mental health care for refugees and asylum seekers in high-income countries. By assessing mental health care access using the Levesque\'s conceptual framework, we identify barriers along the patient care pathway and highlight research gaps. Following PRISMA-ScR guidelines, 10 relevant systematic and scoping reviews were identified and analyzed. Seven common barriers were identified, that could be located across different stages of the conceptual framework. Demand-side barriers included: (1) refugees\' understanding of mental illness, (2) fear of stigma, (3) lack of awareness of services, (4) attitudes towards formal treatment; while supply-side barriers comprised: (5) language barriers, (6) practical and structural issues, and (7) providers\' attitudes and competence. There was a focus on demand-side barriers as key determinants for low service use. We observed a paucity of quantitative studies linking barriers and indicators of access to care. In the context of well-established mental health care systems, previous research has largely explained low access through peculiarities of refugees and asylum seekers, thereby neglecting the role of supply-side factors (including system structures and attitudes of service providers). We discuss how future research can critically question prevailing assumptions and contribute to rigorous evidence.

UNASSIGNED: Cyberbullying research has gained considerable attention among scholars due to the proliferation and diversification of the digital media platforms. Although cyberbullying research has a robust empirical nature, the research is more difficult to define and deserves close investigation. In response to the situation, we have examined topics, forms, context, media, predictive factors, outcomes, utilization of methodology, and research trends in cyberbullying research from 2014 to 2023.
UNASSIGNED: This study analyzed 3,588 articles to investigate the trend and development of cyberbullying research using the Scopus academic databases.
UNASSIGNED: 85.87% of research focused on cyberbullying as \'social issues\'. 71.57% of articles focused on cyberbullying itself rather than specific forms of cyberbullying. 50.81% of articles focused on cyberbullying in middle/high school contexts. Most research did not state any predictive factors (39.83%) or outcomes (60.17%) suggested. The predominant research method used in cyberbullying research was via surveys (30.69%), while the second phase of research dominated the cyberbullying research agenda (victims and bullies in cyberbullying).
UNASSIGNED: Although Cyberbullying research has increased, broadened, and diversified over time, it still focuses primarily on the first phase of the research agenda of cyberbullying issues. The findings of this study provides a framework for new insights for future cyberbullying research and practices by suggesting exploration to different mechanisms of cyberbullying such as: victims/bullies, effects, and improvement of cyberbullying beyond the issues of cyberbullying itself.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic wreaked havoc on long-term care facilities (LTCFs). Some LTCFs performed better than others at slowing COVID-19 transmission. Emerging literature has mostly described infection prevention and control strategies implemented by LTCFs during the pandemic. However, there is a need for a comprehensive review of factors that influenced the performance of LTCFs in containing COVID-19 spread to inform public health policy.
OBJECTIVE: To build on the existing literature, we conducted a scoping review of factors that influenced LTCF performance during the COVID-19 pandemic using a multidimensional conceptual framework of performance.
METHODS: We followed the Joanna Briggs Institute\'s methodology for scoping reviews. We queried CINAHL, MEDLINE (Ovid), CAIRN, Science Direct, Scopus, and Web of Science for peer-reviewed literature in English or French published between January 1st, 2020 and December 31st, 2021. Retrieved records were screened for context (COVID-19 pandemic), population (LTCFs), interest (internal and external factors that influenced LTCF performance), and outcomes (dimensions of performance: equity, accessibility, reactivity, safety, continuity, efficacy, viability, efficiency). Descriptive characteristics of included articles were summarized. Dimensions of performance as well as internal (e.g., facility characteristics) and external (e.g., visitors) factors identified to have influenced LTCF performance were presented.
RESULTS: We retained 140 articles of which 68% were classified as research articles, 47% originated in North America, and most covered a period between March and July 2020. The most frequent dimensions of performance were \"efficacy\" (75.7%) and \"safety\" (75.7%). The most common internal factors were \"organizational context\" (72.9%) and \"human resources\" (62.1%), and the most common external factors were \"visitors\" (27.1%) and \"public health guidelines\" (25.7%).
CONCLUSIONS: Our review contributes to a global interest in understanding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on vulnerable populations residing and working in LTCFs. Though a myriad of factors were reported, a lack of randomized controlled trials makes it impossible to establish causality between the identified factors and LTCF performance. The use of a multidimensional framework can be recommended to evaluate healthcare system performance not merely in terms of efficacy and safety, but alongside other critical dimensions such as efficiency and equity.
BACKGROUND: Research Registry ID: researchregistry7026.

BACKGROUND: The engagement of community partners in equitable partnerships with academic teams is necessary to achieve health equity. However, there is no standardized approach to support bidirectional engagement among research stakeholders in the context of partnership equity at each phase of the research process.
OBJECTIVE: We describe the development of a systematic framework along with competencies and tools promoting bidirectional engagement and equity within community-academic partnerships at each phase of the research process.
METHODS: We conducted a four-step research process between November 2020 and December 2023 for framework development: (1) a narrative literature review; (2) expansion of existing bidirectional, equitable framework; (3) a scientific review with two groups of cognitive interviews (five community engagement researchers and five community leaders and members); and (4) three community-based organization leader focus groups. Thematic analysis was used to analyse focus group data.
RESULTS: Using results of each step, the framework was iteratively developed, yielding four phases of the bidirectional engagement and equity (BEE) research framework: Relationship building and assessment of goals and resources (Phase I); form a community-academic partnership based on shared research interests (may include multilevel stakeholders) (Phase II); develop a research team comprising members from each partnering organization (Phase III); and implement the six-step equitable research process (Phase IV). Bidirectional learning and partnership principles are at the core of the partnership, particularly in Phases II-IV. Competencies and tools for conducting an equitable, engaged research process were provided.
CONCLUSIONS: This conceptual framework offers a novel, stepwise approach and competencies for community-academic partners to successfully partner and conduct the research process equitably.
CONCLUSIONS: The BEE research framework can be implemented to standardize the conduct of an equitable, engaged research process within a community-academic partnership, while improving knowledge and trust across partners and, ultimately, an increased return on investment and sustainability to benefit both partners in the area of health outcomes and ultimately health equity.
UNASSIGNED: The development of this framework was co-led with a community organization in which two leaders in the organization were equitably involved in each phase of the research process, including grant development, study design, participant recruitment, protocol development for focus groups and community and researcher review, framework design and content and dissemination of this manuscript as a co-author. For grant development, the community leader completed the give-get grid components for them as a partner. They also wrote up their lived experience in the research process for the progress report. For the focus groups, one community leader co-led the focus group with the academic partner. For the narrative review, the community leaders did not actively conduct the narrative review but observed the process through the academic partners. One community leader wrote the section \'relationship building\' and \'bidirectional learning\' sections with the assistance of the academic partner, while they both equally provided input on other sections of the manuscript alongside academic partners. The community leaders have extensive experience in leading programmes, along with partnering with researchers to address health equity issues and improve health outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Effective physical activity (PA) interventions are needed to counter the insufficient and declining levels of PA in youth. These require an updated, comprehensive planning framework that consolidates recent decades of progress in promoting PA in young children, children, and adolescents. Effective PA interventions require program planning and conceptual model development that target a coordinated and multilevel set of age-specific PA determinants. Accordingly, this paper presents a comprehensive planning framework that researchers can use to design intervention research to promote PA in youth.
METHODS: The first author conducted targeted searches through Google Scholar to compile PA models/frameworks/guides applicable to youth, a comprehensive set of PA determinants, and determinant-linked strategies to promote PA focusing on review articles. The information was summarized in tables, synthesized, and used to create a planning framework, all of which were reviewed by coauthors.
RESULTS: The APPLE Framework for Planning PA Opportunities for Youth (APPLE = Age, PA focus, Place and time, Leverage relevant influences and strategies, and ensure Enjoyable PA opportunities) incorporated all core elements from targeted reviews to create a comprehensive planning framework. The APPLE Planning Framework has a set of questions/prompts that guide the intervention planning process and conceptual model templates to organize planning efforts for designing intervention research.
CONCLUSIONS: The APPLE Framework for Planning PA Opportunities for Youth will enable researchers to develop comprehensive conceptual models to guide the design of PA interventions for youth. Future research should refine the model and its components to enable PA intervention research in youth to move forward.

The integration of BIM with other digital advancements has demonstrably led to an increase of performance in the Architecture, Engineering, Construction and Operation (AECO) industry. This integration not only is showing promising results in boosting the industry\'s performance, but also the productivity and promotes data-driven decision-making. Despite these benefits, there are limited studies that address the integration of BIM and digital data for managing built-assets in general and in developing countries in particular. To fill this gap, a closer assessment of current built-asset information management practice is necessary. The assessment of the practice examines how digital processes and/or technology can be seamlessly integrated into existing practices. In this regard, this study aims to provide valuable insights into increasing the maturity of built-asset information management by integrating digital data with BIM. The study uses a case-based research design using built-assets (universities in Addis Ababa) as public building representative to capture the prevailing information management practices in Ethiopian public buildings. The findings reveal that traditional paper-based practices still dominate the management of built-assets. This leads to difficulties in terms of data loss, unavailability, inaccuracy, and unreliability, all of which are detrimental to the overall performance. Based on these findings, a conceptual framework is designed to improve the performance of built-assets and help owners, end-users, and managers in defining data and information requirements for BIM-enabled asset information management. The framework delineates processes for structured information requirements definition and validation of various asset data from varying sources. The framework utilizes a BIM-enabled platform as a single source of truth and offers a comprehensive solution to the identified challenges. The findings of this study holds significant promise for improving the existing practice of built-asset information management within the study context.

UNASSIGNED: Telerehabilitation as a new subdiscipline of telehealth is the application of information technology to support and deliver rehabilitation services via two-way or multipoint interactive online telecommunication technology. This enables the therapist to optimize the timing, intensity, and duration of therapy which is often not possible within the constraints of face-to-face treatment protocols in current health systems.
UNASSIGNED: To review the historical perspective and conceptual framework of telerehabilitation in neurological disorders.
UNASSIGNED: A narrative review of the literature was performed for the historical perspective and a systematic review of the conceptual framework was performed using the PRISMA guidelines on chronic neurological disorders; multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, stroke, Parkinson\'s disease, cognitive impairment, and headaches. The search included articles from the past 20 years (2004 to 2024).
UNASSIGNED: Telerehabilitation dates back to the 1960s and early 1970s. Documented effective interventions were mostly on therapies for speech disorders. The conceptual framework consisted of three major components of telerehabilitation programmes including development, implementation, and evaluation. The COVID-19 pandemic suddenly made telerehabilitation come to the limelight because physical distancing became necessary. Out of the 110,000 articles downloaded, 43 met the inclusion criteria for review on the conceptual framework of telerehabilitation in relation to neurological disorders. The articles discussed multiple sclerosis (2), spinal cord disorders (1), stroke (17), Parkinson\'s disease (15), headaches (3), and cognitive disorders (5). All articles reviewed assessed the effectiveness of telemedicine except for the articles on multiple sclerosis and spinal cord disorders which examined the interphase between the technology and the end users.
UNASSIGNED: The future of telerehabilitation looks promising with the subsequent integration of innovative tools and applications. This will require the adaption of technology, continuous capacity building, education, and training of healthcare professionals to ensure that they are adequately equipped with the necessary skills to provide quality virtual reality rehabilitation care.