Coordination Of Research Activities Research Articles

Governance of the research activities in higher educational institutions: factors and outcomes

South African higher education institutions, specifically, universities of technology have been faced with an arduous battle of increasing postgraduate students enrolment (masters and doctoral) and improve their completion rate. However, the situation is exacerbated by inadequate number and inexperience of supervisors to supervise these postgraduate students. The Durban University of Technology has formulated research structures to administer and co-ordinate research activities in order to improve the number of staff members with doctoral qualifications in order to aid the current challenges. Therefore, the aim of this study is to evaluate the circumstances and factors hindering the academic staff throughput rates and the impact it has on the university. The use of qualitative and quantitative approach was used for this study, with closed and open-ended questionnaires used to collect data from 278 academic staff members using a probability sampling. The respondents 9 (4.9%) indicated that lack of external funding and project management skills proved to be major contributory factors hindering academics staff to complete their postgraduate degrees within the required time. The study recommends that funding should be made easily available to academics pursuing doctoral studies, while project management workshops should be organised regularly to help academics appropriately management their studies. This can have a positive impact which will benefit the university and aid to the current crisis of lack of supervisor for masters and doctoral studies.

Introduction: The Pan-Eurasian Experiment (PEEX) – multidisciplinary, multiscale and multicomponent research and capacity-building initiative

Abstract. The Pan-Eurasian Experiment (PEEX) is a multidisciplinary, multiscale and multicomponent research, research infrastructure and capacity-building program. PEEX has originated from a bottom-up approach by the science communities and is aiming at resolving the major uncertainties in Earth system science and global sustainability issues concerning the Arctic and boreal pan-Eurasian regions, as well as China. The vision of PEEX is to solve interlinked, global grand challenges influencing human well-being and societies in northern Eurasia and China. Such challenges include climate change; air quality; biodiversity loss; urbanization; chemicalization; food and freshwater availability; energy production; and use of natural resources by mining, industry, energy production and transport sectors. Our approach is integrative and supra-disciplinary, recognizing the important role of the Arctic and boreal ecosystems in the Earth system. The PEEX vision includes establishing and maintaining long-term, coherent and coordinated research activities as well as continuous, comprehensive research and educational infrastructure and related capacity-building across the PEEX domain. In this paper we present the PEEX structure and summarize its motivation, objectives and future outlook.

Research Joint Ventures and Technological Proximity

We study research joint ventures (RJV) given that knowledge spillovers depend positively on the technological proximity between firms. Possible scenarios differ in the intensity of collaboration, i.e., the (non)coordination of research activities, and the extent of knowledge exchange. The investigation of bilateral RJVs in an oligopolistic market allows to distinguish effects for insider and outsider firms. Our central findings are (i) RJVs do not generally outperform competitive research with respect to innovative output and social welfare; (ii) Technological proximity and the intensity of cooperation play a decisive role for private and social benefits of a RJV; (iii) Joint research combined with complete knowledge sharing outperforms less intensive cooperation forms.

What the obesity prevention field can learn from the gay marriage movement.

What the obesity prevention field can learn from the gay marriage movement.

Setting the research agenda for improving health care in musculoskeletal disorders.

Despite a substantial contribution to the global burden of disease, musculoskeletal conditions are under-represented in clinical research, and that which is performed is often wasteful and lacking clinical relevance. Even clinically relevant musculoskeletal research might not lead to timely or adequate changes in clinical practice and associated improvements in patient outcomes. The formulation of clinical recommendations alone is usually insufficient to bring about changes in practice patterns. Research exploring how to improve the translation of evidence-based recommendations into practice, as well as the identification and removal of barriers to practice change, is necessary in order for the promise of musculoskeletal research to be realized in improved health outcomes. These goals can be achieved by improvements in the coordination of research activities, the resourcing and allocation of funding, and the involvement of clinicians and patients.

Governing Knowledge: The Formalization Dilemma in the Governance of the Public Sciences

This paper offers a conceptually novel contribution to the understanding of the distinctive governance challenges arising from the increasing reliance on formalized knowledge in the governance of research activities. It uses the current Australian research governance system as an example – a system which exhibits a comparatively strong degree of formalization as to its knowledge mechanisms. Combining theoretical reflections on the political-administrative and epistemic dimensions of processes of formalization with analyses of interview data gathered at Australian universities, it is suggested that such a strong reliance on formalized knowledge has rather ambivalent governance ramifications. On the one hand, it allows for a seemingly rational and efficient form of the control and coordination of research activities. Yet on the other hand, it also increases the risk that knowledge is used in governance contexts in superficial, unconsidered and ultimately unreasonable ways. It is further suggested that there are a range of indications that precisely such use elicits and reinforces a range of dysfunctional behaviors on part of relevant individual and organizational actors in the public science system.

The First International Research Seminar on Ayurveda (2014), Birstein, Germany.

A total of 150 delegates representing 19 countries attended the IRSA which was held on 14 and 15 of September 2014. A major outcome of IRSA 2014 has been the establishment of an IRSA Research Network of individuals and institutions across the globe to promote, initiate and coordinate research activities in line with the White Paper for Ayurveda Research, which is being finalized for publication. About 50 researchers along with at least 10 major international institutions agreed to participate in the IRSA Network. The members of the network formed interest groups in order to develop research projects on selected topics.

Validation of minor actinides fission neutron cross-sections

Verification of neutron fission cross-sections of minor actinides from some recently available evaluated nuclear data libraries was carried out by comparison of the reaction rates calculated by the MCNP6.1 computer code to the experimental values. The experimental samples, containing thin layers of 235U, 237Np, 238,239,240,241Pu, 242mAm, 243Cm, 245Cm, and 247Cm, deposited on metal support and foils of 235U (pseudo-alloy 27Al + 235U), 238U, natIn, 64Zn, 27Al, and multi-component sample alloy 27Al + 55Mn + natCu + natLu + 197Au, were irradiated in the channels of the tank containing fluorine salts 0.52NaF + 0.48ZrF4, labelled as the Micromodel Salt Blanket, inserted in the lattice centre of the MAKET heavy water critical assembly at the Institute for Theoretical and Experimental Physics, Moscow. This paper is a continuation of earlier initiated scientific-research activities carried out for validation of the evaluated fission cross-sections of actinides that were supposed to be used for the quality examination of the fuel design of the accelerator driven systems or fast reactors, and consequently, determination of transmutation rates of actinides, and therefore, determination of operation parameters of these reactor facilities. These scientific-research activities were carried out within a frame of scientific projects supported by the International Science and Technology Center and the International Atomic Energy Agency co-ordinated research activities, from 1999 to 2010. Obtained results confirm that further research is needed in evaluations in order to establish better neutron cross-section data for the minor actinides and selected nuclides which could be used in the accelerator driven systems or fast reactors.

Neutron Based Imaging and Element-mapping at the Budapest Neutron Centre

The Budapest Neutron Centre (BNC) is a consortium of institutes to co-ordinate research activities carried out at the Budapest Research Reactor. It hosts two neutron imaging facilities (RAD and NORMA) operated by the Centre for Energy Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences and offers access to this scientific infrastructure for the domestic and international users.The radiography station (RAD) at the thermal neutron beamline of the reactor gives a possibility to study relatively large objects by thermal neutron-, gamma- and X-ray radiography, and to benefit from the complementary features of the different radiations. RAD is being extended in 2014 with digital imaging and tomographic capabilities. The image detection is based on suitable converter screens. The static radiography and tomography images are acquired by a new, large area sCMOS camera, whereas the dynamic radiography is accomplished by a low-light-level TV camera and a frame grabber card.The NORMA facility is designed to perform neutron radiography and tomography on small samples using guided cold neutrons. Here two non-destructive techniques are coupled to determine the chemical composition and to visualize the internal structure of heterogeneous objects. The position-sensitive element analysis with prompt-gamma activation analysis (PGAA) and the imaging with neutron radiography/tomography (NR/NT) are integrated into a unique facility called NIPS-NORMA. The goal of such a combination of these methods is to save substantial beam time in the so-called NR/NT-driven PGAI (Prompt Gamma Activation Imaging) mode, in which the interesting regions are first visualized and located, and subsequently the time-consuming prompt-gamma measurements are made only where it is really needed.The paper will give an overview about the technical details of the facilities, and the latest results of selected applications from the fields of archaeometry, engineering and material science.

Keynote: Integrating Discovery, Direct and Combinatorial Science for Solar Fuels Prototype Development

Photoelectrochemical water splitting has a more than four decade long history [1]. Research and development efforts, however, have been almost exclusively directed to the investigation of suited electrode materials and to the study of interfacial processes such as charge transfer and (photo)corrosion [2]. Half cell performance and characterization has predominantly been the focus [3, 4]. During this incubation period, some basic concepts have been developed [5] and thermodynamic aspects of stability and the basic processes in water oxidation and proton reduction were established [6].The development of a technological device, comparable to that of the dye sensitized solar cell [7], was hitherto complicated by rather little coordinated research activities, pursued mostly in single investigator teams of limited size. Accordingly, some of the issues in light-induced water splitting, such as photoanode, -cathode and heterogeneous catalyst materials development, details of reaction mechanisms, successful implementation of stabilization strategies and tailored membrane design were delayed.In this presentation, the strategy of the Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis in developing solar fuel prototypes in a field where a corresponding industry does not exist, where the work force has to be trained in photoelectrochemistry and the materials science for the envisaged prototype components and where design criteria for devices have to be developed, will be outlined. Examples for achievements in basic science, component integration and testbed/prototype assembly and characterization will be shown. They encompass (i) an efficient strategy to protect light absorbers against photocorrosion, which allows the use of technologically advanced semiconductors such as III-V compounds, (ii) the increased understanding of traditional and novel electrocatalysts by in operando synchrotron radiation experimentation, (iii) the use of advanced photonics for light management, (iv) combinatorial approaches for catalyst development, (v) modelling, design and realization of solar fuel reactors and (vi) feedback mechanisms for materials and system optimization. The interaction and the training of the workforce demands advanced communication technologies and regular cross team and cross disciplinary meetings as well as educational means. An overview of the major communication and education instruments will be given.1. A. Fujishima, K. Honda, Nature 238 (1972) 372. H. Gerischer, Pure and Appl. Chem. 52 (1980) 26493. A. Heller, R.G. Vadimsky, Phys. Rev. Lett. 46 (1981) 11534. H.J. Lewerenz, C. Heine, K. Skorupska, N. Szabo, T. Hannappel, T. Vo-Dinh, S. A. Campbell, H. W. Klemm and A. G. Muñoz, Energy and Environm. Sci. 3 (2010) 7485. A. Nozik, Ann. Rev. Phys. Che. 29 (1978) 1896. B.A. Parkinson, Acc. Chem. Res. 17 (1984) 4317. M. Graetzel, J. Photochem. Photobiol. C: Photochemistry Reviews 4 (2003) 145

The Euramet Metrology Research Programme Project Implementing the New Kelvin (InK)

The kelvin, along with the ampere, kilogram, and the mole are likely to be redefined in terms of fundamental constants, in line with Conference Generale des Poids et Mesures resolution 1 (2011), sometime before 2020. In advance of, and to support, the redefinition, a mise en pratique of the definition of the kelvin (MeP-K) is currently being prepared. The Euramet Metrology Research Programme Implementing the new kelvin (InK) project will coordinate research activity in this field with the objective of improving primary thermometry over the range from 0.0009 K to $${>}3000\,\mathrm{K}$$ . Specifically, the project will aim to pursue the following three broad objectives: (1) Support the development of primary thermometry techniques for the realization and dissemination of thermodynamic temperatures, particularly at high $$({>}1300\,\mathrm{K})$$ and low $$({<}1\,\mathrm{K})$$ temperatures. This is a major objective of InK because primary thermometry methods at the extremes of temperature should, in principle, have lower uncertainties than defined scales. (2) Determine low uncertainty values of $$T -T_{90}$$ in the temperature region where the defined scale is expected to continue providing the lowest uncertainties. This will support the development of the MeP-K and help in the construction of a reliable data set for any possible future temperature scale. (3) Use different thermodynamic thermometry methods to re-determine $$T-T_{2000}$$ and therefore hopefully understand the cause of the discrepancy in the background data that constitutes the Provisional Low Temperature Scale of 2000 (PLTS-2000). An overview of the InK project, activities, and intended outcomes is given in this paper.

An exploratory analysis of research directors in US physician assistant programs.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the current and anticipated utilization of research directors in physician assistant (PA) programs in the United States. The study employed a descriptive, cross-sectional design. Research directors and/or PA program directors responded to a web-based survey assessing the characteristics and responsibilities of current and anticipated faculty or staff responsible for performing research and/or evaluation activities. Descriptive analyses were performed using SPSS 21.0. Ninety respondents (53.8%) from 167 PA programs participated in the survey. The majority of programs (70%) employed a designated individual responsible for research and/or evaluation within the program. Nearly 37% of respondents affirmed that they specifically employed (n = 26) or planned to hire (n = 7) a "research director." Some of the major duties of research directors were coordinating research activities, assisting with the program's annual report and accreditation documents, teaching research and/or evidence-based medicine courses, and assisting and mentoring faculty in research. The majority of research directors (61.5%) were doctorally prepared. This study provides a better understanding of the roles, responsibilities, and educational backgrounds of research directors within the PA educational community. Research directors are a viable option to help meet the growing expectation of faculty to produce research and other scholarly work. The research director's role may vary from program to program based on its unique needs and level of research experience.

IAEA Support to Medical Physics in Nuclear Medicine

Through its programmatic efforts and its publications, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has helped define the role and responsibilities of the nuclear medicine physicist in the practice of nuclear medicine. This paper describes the initiatives that the IAEA has undertaken to support medical physics in nuclear medicine. In 1984, the IAEA provided guidance on how to ensure that the equipment used for detecting, imaging, and quantifying radioactivity is functioning properly (Technical Document [TECDOC]-137, "Quality Control of Nuclear Medicine Instruments"). An updated version of IAEA-TECDOC-137 was issued in 1991 as IAEA-TECDOC-602, and this included new chapters on scanner-computer systems and single-photon emission computed tomography systems. Nuclear medicine physics was introduced as a part of a project on radiation imaging and radioactivity measurements in the 2002-2003 IAEA biennium program in Dosimetry and Medical Radiation Physics. Ten years later, IAEA activities in this field have expanded to cover quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC) of nuclear medicine equipment, education and clinical training, professional recognition of the role of medical physicists in nuclear medicine physics, and finally, the coordination of research and development activities in internal dosimetry. As a result of these activities, the IAEA has received numerous requests to support the development and implementation of QA or QC programs for radioactivity measurements in nuclear medicine in many Member States. During the last 5 years, support was provided to 20 Member States through the IAEA's technical cooperation programme. The IAEA has also supported education and clinical training of medical physicists. This type of support has been essential for the development and expansion of the Medical Physics profession, especially in low- and middle-income countries. The need for basic as well as specialized clinical training in medical physics was identified as a priority for healthcare providers in many countries. The IAEA's response to meet the increasing needs for training has been 2-folds. Through its regular program, a priority is given to the development of standardized syllabi and education and clinical training guides. Through its technical cooperation programme, support is given for setting up national medical physics education and clinical training programs in countries. In addition, fellowships are granted for professionals working in the field for specialized training, and workshops are organized at the national and regional level in specialized topics of nuclear medicine physics. So as to support on-the-job training, the IAEA has also setup a gamma camera laboratory in Seibersdorf, Austria. The laboratory is also equipped with QC tools and equipments, and radioisotopes are procured when training events are held. About 2-3 specialized courses are held every year for medical physicists at the IAEA gamma camera laboratory. In the area of research and development, the IAEA supports, through its coordinated research projects, new initiatives in quantitative nuclear medicine and internal dosimetry. The future of nuclear medicine is driven by advances in instrumentation, by the ever increasing availability of computing power and data storage, and by the development of new radiopharmaceuticals for molecular imaging and therapy. Future developments in nuclear medicine are partially driven by, and will influence, nuclear medicine physics and medical physics. To summarize, the IAEA has established a number of programs to support nuclear medicine physics and will continue to do so through its coordinated research activities, education and training in clinical medical physics, and through programs and meetings to promote standardization and harmonization of QA or QC procedures for imaging and treatment of patients.

Antarctic macrobenthic communities: A compilation of circumpolar information

Comprehensive information on Antarctic macrobenthic community structure has been publicly available since the 1960s. It stems from trawl, dredge, grab, and corer samples as well as from direct and camera observations (Table 1–2). The quality of this information varies considerably; it consists of pure descriptions, figures for presence (absence) and abundance of some key taxa or proxies for such parameters, e.g. sea-floor cover. Some data sets even cover a defined and complete proportion of the macrobenthos with further analyses on diversity and zoogeography. As a consequence the acquisition of data from approximately 90 different campaigns assembled here was not standardised. Nevertheless, it was possible to classify this broad variety of known macrobenthic assemblages to the best of expert knowledge (Gutt 2007; Fig. 1). This overview does not replace statistically sound community and diversity analyses. However, it shows from where which kind of information is available and it acts as an example of the feasibility and power of such data collections. The data set provides unique georeferenced biological basic information for the planning of future coordinated research activities, e.g. under the umbrella of the biology program “Antarctic Thresholds - Ecosystem Resilience and Adaptation” (AnT-ERA) of the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) and especially for actual conservation issues, e.g. the planning of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) by the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR).

IAEA coordinated research activities on materials for advanced reactor systems

After the recent accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, public resentment towards nuclear energy is very high; however it is also important to emphasise that for other facilities the safety record has been remarkably good when compared to those of other new or conventional energy technologies. In addition to clear safety improvements new systems will have increased thermal efficiency, maximised fuel use, and reduced nuclear waste production. In order to initiate commercial deployment of power reactors, small scale demonstrations of such new systems are urgently needed. This will help to develop, test and qualify new structural materials with improved properties with respect to radiation, corrosion, thermal and other degradation processes. To solve all challenges related to the performance parameters of such materials, internationally driven efforts must focus on research, targeted testing, and final selection of appropriate materials. This is recognised as a key milestone in successful demonstration and future deployment of newly designed nuclear reactors. Because of clear synergies between fusion and fission research and development communities have been identified, closer cooperation of research groups has been stimulated. Although some operational conditions are expected to change, many basic features will remain similar. In addition to the material science effort, new experimental facilities are being developed for the study of high-radiation damage effects on the microstructure of candidate materials prior to their qualification.During last 5years, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) launched several coordinated research activities in this specific, but very important field. This paper gives a summary of on-going IAEA activities related to the development and characterisation of structural and plasma facing materials for nuclear energy.

Implementation Plan in Response to Board-Endorsed Recommendations for the IEO Evaluation of Research at the IMF--Relevance and Utilization

This paper presents a forward-looking implementation plan for the above-cited Independent Evaluation Office (IEO) report. During the Board discussion, Executive Directors noted that the report “provides a balanced assessment of the quality, relevance, management, and utilization of IMF research” and “were particularly encouraged by the overall finding that a large number of IMF analytical papers are of high quality, widely read, and appreciated by country authorities and the research community.” At the same time, they noted the finding that “IMF research is of uneven quality and perceived to be message driven.” Directors therefore saw scope for “enhancing the relevance and technical quality of the analytical work, openness to alternative points of view, and coordination of research activities across the institution.”

30th ESPID Annual Meeting in Thessaloniki, Greece

30th ESPID Annual Meeting in Thessaloniki, Greece

Hard Times for OSTP

The Office of Science and Technology Policy is facing its own tough budget choices this year as it tries to coordinate research activities across the government.

O uso de plataformas tecnológicas e suas implicações no modo de organização da pesquisa na área de biomedicina: análise preliminar da experiência da FIOCRUZ

In recent decades, biomedical research institutions in different countries have implemented new devices to coordinate research activity. Among the devices described in the literature one can find technology platforms, which are usually associated with collaborative research and the coordination of intensive use of large and highly complex multi-user equipment. In Brazil, the emergence of technology platforms dates back to the 1980s. More recently, there are platforms related to the reorganization processes of research institutions. This also applies to the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, which established technology platforms as part of its strategy to foster scientific research on technologies very likely to be adopted by the Unified Health System. The intent is to provide technological services to laboratories involved in this kind of studies. The purpose of this study is to analyze the use of the "technology platform" device by the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, emphasizing the possible implications of the adoption of this device and method of organizing the production process of science in biomedicine. This article describes the preliminary results of the study, which employs a qualitative approach based on the use of non-directive open-ended interviews, document analysis and ethnographic observation of situations.

Proceedings of the Final Congress of COST Action B25: Physiologically Based Pharmaco-Toxicokinetics and Dynamics, held in Athens, 26-27 May 2009

COST is the acronym for European Cooperation in Science and Technology, a programme that was established in 1971. It serves to support and coordinate research activities in Europe, the research itself supported by national funds. There are presently 36 member states in COST. Action B25, ‘Physiologically based Pharmaco-Toxicokinetics and Dynamics’ is in the Biomedicine and Molecular Biosciences domain of COST. The Action, which ran from May 2005 to May 2009, comprised 22 European member states and two nonCOST organizations. The Action organized a final Congress in Athens, 26–27 May 2009, to review progress in the field and to identify future research needs, bringing together experts from academia, industry and government agencies. This volume comprises papers reflecting the contributions of the participating scientists. The aim of the Action was to further the development and application of physiologically based approaches in pharmaco ⁄ toxicokinetics and dynamics to improve the safety and effectiveness of drugs and other chemicals. A particular emphasis of the Action was promoting the interaction between pharmacology and environmental toxicology, disciplines which have complementary expertise, but are often unaware of each others’ advances. During the congress, the following topics were addressed: absorption and distribution of drugs; kinetics and dynamics of drug delivery to the central nervous system; modelling pharmacological and toxicological effects at target organs; application of mode of action in modelling approaches; physiologically based pharmacokinetic models for extra-hepatic tissues; outstanding issues in physiologically based modelling approaches. As will be apparent from the papers that follow, there have been considerable advances in mechanistic understanding of the processes underlying the kinetics and dynamics of drugs and other chemicals. This has occurred with the development of powerful and sophisticated modelling approaches, allowing unparalleled opportunities for the realistic simulation of biological processes. The ultimate aim is to predict accurately the fate and behaviour of drugs and other chemicals in humans, at their target site. Despite the extraordinary progress that has been achieved, it is apparent that considerable work remains, both in determining the fundamental biology of the systems of interest and in the development and validation of suitable modelling approaches. Validation is not a trivial exercise and whilst perhaps not as glamorous as the more fundamental work required, it is still vital if such approaches are to become credible and widely adopted. The work described in this volume reflects both the progress made and the challenges to be faced in realizing the tremendous potential of physiologically based approaches in pharmaco ⁄ toxicokinetics and dynamics in ensuring the safe and effective use of drugs and other chemicals.