International Research Funding Research Articles

Preface

1st Global Summit on Sustainable Science and Technology (GS3T) Duration: 15th – 16th September, 2022 Venue: Online Mode (Adamas University, Kolkata, India) About the Conference: In a landmark decision, the United Nations General Assembly has proclaimed the year 2022 as the International Year of Basic Sciences for Sustainable Development. This resolution underscores the vital role of basic sciences in advancing sustainability and addressing global challenges. In alignment with this global initiative, Adamas University was proud to host the inaugural Global Summit of Sustainable Science and Technology (GS3T 2022). This summit aims to foster international collaboration and drive sustainable research outcomes. With over 350 participants from around the world, GS3T 2022 has served as a pivotal platform for enhancing national and international research funding and producing impactful scholarly articles. A key focus of the summit was to establishment of long-term, multidisciplinary research networks, facilitating enduring partnerships that will contribute significantly to sustainable development goals. Join us at GS3T 2022 as we unite the global scientific community in a concerted effort to create a more sustainable future through the power of basic sciences. The Global Summit on Sustainable Technology 2022 (GS^3T 2022), held from 15th to 16th September 2022 at Adamas University, Kolkata, India, was a landmark event organized by the School of Basic and Applied Sciences (SOBAS). This summit, conducted in a hybrid mode due to Covid-19 restrictions, brought together a distinguished assembly of researchers, scientists, and scholars from around the globe to share their insights and advancements in the field of sustainable science and technology. List of Notable Speakers, Scientific and Organizing Committee, Conference Secretary, Editorial Board, Participation Details and Acknowledgement are available in this Pdf.

Research impact assessment: Developing and applying a viable model for the social sciences

Abstract Prompted by research funding agencies and regulatory bodies, universities need to demonstrate and manage the impact of their research. Therefore, models for evaluating research impacts that can be applied quickly and at a reasonable cost are needed. However, the development of these models presents considerable challenges: research impact is multidimensional and can occur over time because of multiple interactions between different agents. Furthermore, impact assessment can demand substantial time and resources. Considering this challenging context, this study proposes a research impact assessment model capable of optimizing benefits and costs. The model was based on a multidimensional impact perspective and an application-oriented way of generating and transmitting knowledge. It was applied to a large teaching and research institution with a predominant role in the social sciences. The assessment involved a survey of the leaders of 133 research projects. The main findings of the application of the assessment model were as follows: first, knowledge production is transitioning from a traditional mode (aimed to impact science) to a new mode (aimed to impact multiple stakeholders); second, project leaders still perceive the prevalence of scientific impact over other types of impact; and third, the survey revealed how certain characteristics of the knowledge production mode relate to (perceived) impact. The viable research impact assessment model was demonstrated to be useful and cost-effective; thus, with adaptations and improvements, it may be used by other institutions, particularly those with internal research funding programs. This article also presents the model’s limitations, suggesting directions for future research.

Adaptation of the technology readiness levels for impact assessment in implementation sciences: The TRL-IS checklist

BackgroundIntervention development is a critical process in implementation research. There are key stages involved in the process to design, pilot, demonstrate and release a technology or an intervention. The Technology Readiness Level (TRL) is a globally accepted instrument for assessing the maturity of research development. However, the original levels do not fit all, and some adjustments are required for its applicability in implementation sciences. AimsThis study aimed to gather the prior knowledge base on TRL in public and population health research; to develop a standard definition of readiness, and to adapt and validate the TRL to an implementation science context (TRL-IS). Materials and methodsA Mixed methods approach has been followed in this study. A scoping review using the PRISMA extension (PRISMA-ScR) informed a nominal expert panel for developing a standard definition of readiness and to modify the TRL following an ontoterminology approach. Then the maturity of six practical case study examples were rated by ten researchers using the modified TRL to estimate inter-rater reliability, and a group of experts provided final content and face validity and feasibility.This mixed methods study included 1) a scoping review to examine the current literature and develop a knowledge base, identify knowledge gaps and to clarify concepts; 2) the development of a standard definition of ‘Readiness’ and related terms; and 3) adaptation of the TRL to implementation science and development of a checklist to rate the maturity of applications.A standard definition of readiness and related terms was produced by the core team, and an international nominal group (n = 30) was conducted to discuss and validate the definition and terms, and the location of ‘Readiness’ in the initiation and early development phases of implementation.Following feedback from the nominal group, the development of the TRL-IS was finalised and a TRL-IS rating checklist was developed to rate the maturity of applications. The TRL-IS checklist was tested using six cases based on real world studies on implementation research.The inter-rater reliability of the TRL-IS was evaluated by ten raters and finally six raters evaluated the content and face validity, and feasibility, of the TRL-IS checklist using the System Usability Scale (SUS). ResultsFew papers (n = 11) utilised the TRL to evaluate the readiness of readiness of health and social science implementation research. The main changes in the adaption of the TRL-IS included the removal of laboratory testing, limiting the use of “operational” environment and a clearer distinction between level 6 (pilot in a relevant environment) and 7 (demonstration in the real world prior to release). The adapted version was considered relevant by the expert panel. The TRL-IS checklist showed evidence of good inter-rater reliability (ICC = 0.90 with 95 % confident interval = 0.74–0.98, p < .001) and provides a consistent metric. ConclusionsIn spite of recommendations made by national and international research funding agencies, few health and social science implementation studies include the TRL as part of their evaluation protocol. The TRL-IS offers a high degree of conceptual clarity between scientific maturity phases or readiness levels, and good reliability among raters of varying experience. This study highlights that adoption of the TRL-IS framework in implementation sciences will bolster the scientific robustness and comparability of research maturity in this domain.

Research Productivity of Faculty Members in Selected Private Colleges in the Province of Albay: Basis for Enhancing Research Culture

The study aimed to assess the research productivity of the faculty members in five private colleges in the province of Albay. This study used a multi-method approach in determining the research productivity, factors affecting the research productivity of respondents, and significant agreement on the factors affecting the research productivity of respondents among the private colleges in the province of Albay. A survey questionnaire, document analysis, statistical analysis, and literature review were incorporated. The study found varying levels of research productivity across the institutions. Researchership, institutional support, motivation, leadership practices, and research orientation all notably impact research productivity. The top areas influencing research productivity are time management, research-related development opportunities, and alignment of research agenda with institutional strengths. There is a statistically significant agreement on the factors affecting the research productivity of the respondents. Specific areas for interventions could aim to strengthen leadership practices that provide professional development opportunities, effective time management, research funding, faculty research writing aptitude, and a clear research agenda. A Research Development Program was designed based on the findings of the study. The components of this program are mentorship pairs and collaboration, internal research funding, seminar series, research facilities and resources, and research excellence recognition.

Decolonial perspectives on intercultural research in a study of educational inclusion in rural Cambodia

This paper presents a critique of intercultural research in the context of a study of Educational Inclusion in Rural Schools in Cambodia undertaken by four U.K. researchers in partnership with four Cambodian researchers. Interculturality is an endeavour to recognise and engage with different ways of being and knowing across cultural boundaries and to address barriers to reciprocal understanding. This endeavour is a complex one and there is little research on the reality of intercultural research, especially in a Cambodian context. We therefore explored this reality within our own research team to address a gap in the literature. Our research question is: What are participants’ perceptions of interculturality based on their experiences of a 5-year research study in educational inclusion? Using a decolonial framework and decolonial methodologies, this paper presents the findings of a qualitative study that draws on questionnaire, research diary and interview data. We critically examine affordances and challenges relating to knowledge exchange, cultural differences, language/translation effects and research orthodoxies. We found that whilst our decolonial approach proved mutually beneficial, fostering co-construction and enhancing power-sharing, the quest for epistemic justice is inevitably constrained by powerful, Western research orthodoxies and funding conditionalities necessitating ongoing, joint reflexivity. The significance of the paper lies in the examination of the lived experiences of these affordances and challenges using a decolonial framework. The paper will be of relevance to international development researchers, international research funding agencies, international NGOs and others working in low and lower middle-income countries (LMICs) in the Global South.

Research Initiative Supporting Excellence at the University of Cincinnati (RISE-UC): A Program to Develop and Support Research-Active Faculty Members.

A combination of forces have markedly increased challenges to research-active faculty achieving sustained success. This article describes how one department at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine (UCCOM) implemented a strategic plan, the Research Initiative Supporting Excellence at the University of Cincinnati (RISE-UC), to promote the research activity of its research-active faculty, fiscal year (FY) 2011-FY 2021. RISE-UC was implemented and regularly updated to address evolving needs. RISE-UC supported faculty members pursuing research via fiscal and administrative services to grow a critical mass of investigators; establish a shared governance model; create pathways for developing physician-scientists; develop discrete and targeted internal research funding; establish an Academic Research Service (ARS) unit (as infrastructure to support research); enhance faculty member mentorship; and recognize, celebrate, and reward research success. RISE-UC was informed by shared governance and resulted in substantial increases in total size of the faculty and external funding. More than 50% of Physician-Scientist Training Program graduates are active researchers at UCCOM. The internal awards program realized a return on investment of ~16.4-fold, and total external direct cost research funds increased from ~$55,400,000 (FY 2015) to ~$114,500,000 (FY 2021). The ARS assisted in the submission of 57 grant proposals and provided services faculty members generally found very helpful or helpful. The peer-mentoring group for early-career faculty members resulted in 12 of 23 participants receiving major grant funding (≥ $100,000; spring 2017-spring 2021) from sources including National Institutes of Health awards, Department of Defense funding, Veterans Affairs funding, and foundation awards. Research recognition included ~$77,000/year in incentive payments to faculty members for grant submissions and grants awarded. RISE-UC is an example of a comprehensive approach to promote research faculty member success and may serve as a model for other institutions with similar aspirations.

FGF2, LIF, and IGF1 (FLI) supplementation during human in vitro maturation enhances markers of gamete competence.

Does a chemically defined maturation medium supplemented with FGF2, LIF, and IGF1 (FLI) improve in vitro maturation (IVM) of cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) obtained from children, adolescents, and young adults undergoing ovarian tissue cryopreservation (OTC)? Although FLI supplementation did not increase the incidence of oocyte meiotic maturation during human IVM, it significantly improved quality outcomes, including increased cumulus cell expansion and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) expression as well as enhanced transzonal projection retraction. During OTC, COCs, and denuded oocytes from small antral follicles are released into the processing media. Recovery and IVM of these COCs is emerging as a complementary technique to maximize the fertility preservation potential of the tissue. However, the success of IVM is low, especially in the pediatric population. Supplementation of IVM medium with FLI quadruples the efficiency of pig production through improved oocyte maturation, but whether a similar benefit occurs in humans has not been investigated. This study enrolled 75 participants between January 2018 and December 2021 undergoing clinical fertility preservation through the Fertility & Hormone Preservation & Restoration Program at the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago. Participants donated OTC media, accumulated during tissue processing, for research. Participants who underwent OTC and include a pediatric population that encompassed children, adolescents, and young adults ≤22 years old. All participant COCs and denuded oocytes were recovered from media following ovarian tissue processing. IVM was then performed in either a standard medium (oocyte maturation medium) or one supplemented with FLI (FGF2; 40 ng/ml, LIF; 20 ng/ml, and IGF1; 20 ng/ml). IVM outcomes included meiotic progression, cumulus cell expansion, transzonal projection retraction, and detection of MAPK protein expression. The median age of participants was 6.3 years, with 65% of them classified as prepubertal by Tanner staging. Approximately 60% of participants had been exposed to chemotherapy and/or radiation prior to OTC. On average 4.7 ± 1 COCs and/or denuded oocytes per participant were recovered from the OTC media. COCs (N = 41) and denuded oocytes (N = 29) were used for IVM (42 h) in a standard or FLI-supplemented maturation medium. The incidence of meiotic maturation was similar between cohorts (COCs: 25.0% vs 28.6% metaphase II arrested eggs in Control vs FLI; denuded oocytes: 0% vs 5.3% in Control vs FLI). However, cumulus cell expansion was 1.9-fold greater in COCs matured in FLI-containing medium relative to Controls and transzonal projection retraction was more pronounced (2.45 ± 0.50 vs 1.16 ± 0.78 projections in Control vs FLIat 16 h). Additionally, MAPK expression was significantly higher in cumulus cells obtained from COCs matured in FLI medium for 16-18 h (chemiluminescence corrected area 621,678 vs 2,019,575 a.u., P = 0.03). Our samples are from human participants who exhibited heterogeneity with respect to age, diagnosis, and previous treatment history. Future studies with larger sample sizes, including adult participants, are warranted to determine the mechanism by which FLI induces MAPK expression and activation. Moreover, studies that evaluate the developmental competence of eggs derived from FLI treatment, including assessment of embryos as outcome measures, will be required prior to clinical translation. FLI supplementation may have a conserved beneficial effect on IVM for children, adolescents, and young adults spanning the agricultural setting to clinical fertility preservation. This work was supported by Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology startup funds (F.E.D.), Department of Surgery Faculty Practice Plan Grant and the Fertility & Hormone Preservation & Restoration Program at the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago (M.M.L. and E.E.R.). M.M.L. is a Gesualdo Foundation Research Scholar. Y.Y.'s research is supported by the internal research funds provided by Colorado Center of Reproductive Medicine. Y.Y., L.D.S., R.M.R., and R.S.P. have a patent pending for FLI. The remaining authors have no conflict of interest. N/A.

PD31-06 THE EFFECT OF KIDNEY PRESERVATION AT 10°C WITH HEMOPURE AND HYDROGEN SULFIDE DONOR, SODIUM THIOSULFATE, IN A SYNGENEIC RAT RENAL TRANSPLANTATION MODEL

You have accessJournal of UrologyCME1 Apr 2023PD31-06 THE EFFECT OF KIDNEY PRESERVATION AT 10°C WITH HEMOPURE AND HYDROGEN SULFIDE DONOR, SODIUM THIOSULFATE, IN A SYNGENEIC RAT RENAL TRANSPLANTATION MODEL Maria Abou Taka and Alp Sener Maria Abou TakaMaria Abou Taka More articles by this author and Alp SenerAlp Sener More articles by this author View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1097/JU.0000000000003324.06AboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareFacebookLinked InTwitterEmail Abstract INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Renal transplantation is the preferred treatment for patients with end-stage renal disease. Yet, donor kidney demand outweighs supply. Static cold storage (SCS) at 4°C is the current gold standard for renal preservation. SCS contributes to kidney damage through renal ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) that involves cellular death and inflammation. In porcine models of renal transplantation, we added non-FDA-approved hydrogen sulfide (H2S) donor, AP39, to a bovine-based blood substitute, Hemopure, at 21°C and 37°C, which improved renal graft quality; though, the experimental setup was costly to meet renal metabolic demand. In rats, we investigated sodium thiosulfate (STS), an FDA-approved H2S donor, at 4°C and observed similar benefits. However, there is still a risk of 4°C cold IRI. Recent studies showed that 10°C human organ graft preservation enhanced patient survival without requiring extensive oxygen during preservation. Therefore, we hypothesize that preservation solutions with STS and Hemopure at 10°C will reduce renal IRI compared to SCS. METHODS: Using an in vitro model of rat renal IRI, we evaluated STS use at 4°C, 10°C, 21°C, and 37°C. We treated rat proximal tubular epithelial cells with 150 µM STS for 24 hours in hypoxic conditions to mimic ischemia, and 24 hours in normoxic conditions to mimic reperfusion. To assess cellular viability, we used flow cytometry and stained cells with FITC-Annexin-V and PerCP-Propidium Iodide to determine apoptosis and necrosis levels, respectively. RESULTS: STS treatment significantly enhanced cellular viability at 10°C compared to 4°C, 21°C, and 37°C, as determined by the percentage of cells negatively stained with FITC-Annexin-V and PerCP-Propidium Iodide. STS treatment also significantly decreased apoptotic and necrotic cells at 10°C compared to 4°C, 21°C, and 37°C, as shown by the percentage of cells positively stained with FITC-Annexin-V and PerCP-Propidium Iodide. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, 10°C STS treatment significantly protects rat proximal tubular epithelial cells from IRI, suggesting that 10°C kidney preservation may enhance renal graft survival, especially in a cost-effective manner, compared to other preservation temperatures currently used in transplantation. Source of Funding: Ontario Graduate Scholarship, Department of Surgery Internal Research Funds, Lawson Internal Research Fund © 2023 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 209Issue Supplement 4April 2023Page: e902 Advertisement Copyright & Permissions© 2023 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.MetricsAuthor Information Maria Abou Taka More articles by this author Alp Sener More articles by this author Expand All Advertisement PDF downloadLoading ...

‘Guidance should have been there 15 years ago’ research stakeholders’ perspectives on ancillary care in the global south: a case study of Malawi

BackgroundMedical researchers in resource-constrained settings must make difficult moral decisions about the provision of ancillary care to participants where additional healthcare needs fall outside the scope of the research and are not provided for by the local healthcare system. We examined research stakeholder perceptions and experiences of ancillary care in biomedical research projects in Malawi.MethodsWe conducted 45 qualitative in-depth interviews with key research stakeholders: researchers, health officials, research ethics committee members, research participants and grants officers from international research funding organisations. Thematic analysis was used to analyse and interpret the findings.FindingsAll stakeholders perceived the provision of ancillary care to have potential health benefits to study participants in biomedical research. However, they also had concerns, particularly related to the absence of guidance to support it. Some suggested that consideration for ancillary care provision could be possible on a case-by-case basis but that most of the support from research projects should be directed towards strengthening the public health system, emphasising public good above individual or personal benefits. Some researchers and ethics committee members raised concerns about potential tensions in terms of funding, for example balancing study demands with addressing participants’ additional health needs.ConclusionOur findings highlight the complexities and gaps in the guidance around the provision of ancillary care in Malawi and other resource-constrained settings more generally. To promote the provision of ancillary care, we recommend that national and international guidelines for research ethics include specific recommendations for resource-constrained settings and specific types of research.

Exertional, But Not Passive, Hyperthermia Increases Gastrointestinal Permeability

Exertional hyperthermia reduces splanchnic blood flow which leads to gastrointestinal ischemia. This is associated with increased gastrointestinal perturbations and endotoxemia which are potential precursors of exertional heat stroke. However, whether hyperthermia alone can result in significant disruption to gastrointestinal integrity remains unclear. PURPOSE: To determine whether exertional or passive hyperthermia contributes to greater changes in gastrointestinal permeability METHODS: 16 physically active males (mean ± SD; age: 26 ± 3, VO2max: 65 ± 6 ml/kg/min) completed three randomised trials. Blood samples were obtained at baseline and after (a) 70% VO2max run (RUN; Tdb: 30.0 ± 0.1 °C, RH: 71 ± 1%), (b) 50% VO2max walk (WALK; Tdb: 30.0 ± 0.0 °C, RH: 71 ± 0%) and (c) passive heating via warm water immersion at 42 °C (PaH). Serum concentrations of I-FABP, LPS and IL-6 were determined using ELISA. Gastrointestinal temperature (Tgi), heart rate (HR), physiological strain index (PSI) and changes in blood biomarkers were assessed using 1-way ANOVA or paired t-test with p < 0.05 as statistically significant. RESULTS: Participants observed similar baseline Tgi (37.0 ± 0.2 °C, p = 0.204) and HR (63 ± 7 bpm; p = 0.118). End Tgi was similar for RUN (39.4 ± 0.2 °C) and PaH (39.3 ± 0.3 °C, p = 0.289), but lower in WALK (37.9 ± 0.3 °C, p < 0.001). Mean PSI was greatest in RUN (7.4 ± 0.5), followed by PaH (5.2 ± 0.6) and WALK (3.1 ± 0.7, p < 0.001). Serum concentrations of I-FABP, LPS and IL-6 were similar at baseline (p > 0.05). Serum I-FABP and IL-6 concentrations increased from baseline to post-trial in RUN (I-FABP: 797 ± 467 pg/ml vs 1801 ± 1432 pg/ml, p = 0.007; IL-6: 4.3 ± 3.4 pg/ml vs 9.3 ± 5.4 pg/ml, p < 0.001) and WALK (I-FABP: 772 ± 460 pg/ml vs 1121 ± 966 pg/ml, p = 0.044; IL-6: 4.5 ± 4.1 pg/ml vs 9.1 ± 8.5 pg/ml, p = 0.004) but not in PaH (I-FABP: 888 ± 572 pg/ml vs 893 ± 550 pg/ml, p = 0.935; IL-6: 5.3 ± 5.4 pg/ml vs 5.5 ± 5.2 pg/ml, p = 0.285). No differences in post-trial serum LPS concentrations were observed (p = 0.337). CONCLUSION: Hyperthermia alone may be insufficient to trigger changes in gastrointestinal permeability. Disruptions to gastrointestinal integrity during exertional hyperthermia may instead be exercise-induced, stemming from mechanical and metabolic stress arising from physical exertion. Supported by NUS Internal Research Funding

Monoclonal antibodies and Fc-fusion protein biologic medicines: A multinational cross-sectional investigation of accessibility and affordability in Asia Pacific regions between 2010 and 2020

SummaryBackgroundMonoclonal antibody (mAb) and Fc-fusion protein (FcP) are highly effective therapeutic biologics. We aimed to analyse consumption and expenditure trends in 14 Asia-Pacific countries/regions (APAC) and three benchmark countries (the UK, Canada, and the US).MethodsWe analysed 440 mAb and FcP biological products using the IQVIA-MIDAS global sales database. For each year between 2010 and 2020 inclusive, we used standard units (SU) sold per 1000 population and manufacture level price (standardised in 2019 US dollars) to evaluate consumption (accessibility) and expenditure (affordability). Changes of consumption and expenditure were estimated using compound annual growth rate (CAGR). Correlations between consumption, country's economic and health performance indicators were measured using Spearman correlation coefficient.FindingsBetween 2010 and 2020, CAGRs of consumption in each region ranged from 7% to 34% and the CAGRs of expenditure ranged from 9% to 31%. The median consumption of biologics was extremely low in lower-middle-income economies (0·29 SU/1000 population) compared with upper-middle-income economies (1·20), high-income economies (40·94) and benchmark countries (109·55), although the median CAGRs of biologics consumption in lower-middle-income economies (31%) was greater than upper-middle-income (14%), high-income economies (13%) and benchmark countries (9%). Consumption was correlated with GDP per capita [Spearman's rank correlation coefficient (r) = 0·75, p < 0·001], health expenditure as a percentage of total (r = 0·83, p < 0·001) and medical doctors’ density (r = 0·85, p < 0·001).InterpretationThere have been significant increases in mAb and FcP biologics consumption and expenditure, however accessibility of biological medicines remains unequal and is largely correlated with country's income level.FundingThis research was funded by NHMRC Project Grant GNT1157506 and GNT1196900; Enhanced Start-up Fund for new academic staff and Internal Research Fund, Department of Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong.

Noma: A Neglected Area for Research

Noma, a debilitating and destructive orofacial gangrene, remains endemic in the poor countries of sub-Saharan Africa and other noma hotbeds across the globe, mainly in countries characterized as underdeveloped economies with significant impoverished populations. Noma mostly affects children and infants. This is in spite of the universally held notion that noma is a preventable disease. Indeed, the current noma status quo has been cast as a human rights shortfall, since this devasting disease overwhelmingly affects children from poor countries. At the recently held Noma Research Day, a renewed call for the World Health Organization (WHO) to recognize and include noma as one of the neglected tropical diseases was accompanied by a recognition that research into all aspects of noma has waned or remained completely lacking—particularly that which addresses the basic science questions of the etiology, pathophysiology/pathobiology, and underlying mechanisms of the disease. Yet, a lack of incremental knowledge on the various aspects of noma continues to hamper our composite understanding of its biology. Without a fundamental understanding of the biology of noma, current preventive measures and treatment modalities will continue to fall short of the goals of prevention and eradication. This opinion piece draws renewed attention to the urgency of listing noma as a neglected tropical disease by the WHO. It also calls for major international research funding agencies, including the WHO and the National Institutes of Health, to renew their resolve to robustly fund structured, collaborative, and coordinated proposals that address questions on the epidemiology, etiology, pathophysiology/pathobiology, and molecular mechanisms of the disease. This is with a view to achieving more effective public health approaches toward prevention and to designing potential therapeutic regimens for early lesions. These steps are key to the ultimate eradication of noma.

No Pain No Gain - Quest for Academic and Research Excellence

No pain in academic and research endeavours, no gain in university rankings. Let us look at the gain first. Any university worth its salt has a high caliber faculty who are experts in their fields of study and are effective teachers or mentors to their students. Their effectiveness in teaching are mostly informed by their continuing research activities and strong academic performance of students. As more faculty publish their studies, the higher the probability of citations. Reputation and university rankings elevate with academic and research excellence of its faculty and students. Improved university rankings are likely to translate into opportunities for larger international research collaborations and funding. As more resources become available for research, higher is the chance to participate in ground-breaking studies.

Does monitoring performance act as an incentive for improving research performance? National and organizational level analysis of Finnish universities

AbstractMonitoring of research performance, especially performance-based allocation of research funding inevitably creates intended and unintended incentives for universities. In this article, we study if monitoring performance acts as an incentive for improved research performance by scrutinizing the development of two essential indicators of Finnish universities’ research performance, publication output, and international competitive research funding at both national and organizational level, by combining several statistical data sources. The results are reflected to the recent changes in Finnish universities’ national funding model as well as the organizational research assessment performed in 12 universities between the years 2009 and 2019. Based on our analysis, we suggest that the incentives brought on by national and organizational level actions have not hindered the positive development in the two elements of research performance as seen in the data, and in fact the introduction of an indicator that emphasizes the quality of publication channels to the university funding model has incentivized positive development in publication counts. Universities’ research assessments seem to have no systematic influence on the developments of the two indicators under scrutiny. However, according to our analysis, research assessments in Finnish universities are conducted first and foremost for developmental reasons, so it is likely that possible changes in research performance happen during a much longer period than what our data cover.

He’s Overqualified, She’s Highly Committed: Qualification Signals and Gendered Assumptions About Job Candidate Commitment

Evidence suggests that possessing more qualifications than is necessary for a job (i.e., overqualification) negatively impacts job candidates’ outcomes. However, unfair discounting of women’s qualifications and negative assumptions about women’s career commitment imply that female candidates must be overqualified to achieve the same outcomes as male candidates. Across two studies, experimental and qualitative data provide converging evidence in support of this assertion, showing that gender differences in how overqualification impacts hiring outcomes are due to the type of commitment—firm or career—that is most salient during evaluations. Overqualified men are perceived to be less committed to the prospective firm, and less likely to be hired as a result, than sufficiently qualified men. But overqualified women are perceived to be more committed to their careers than qualified women because overqualification helps overcome negative assumptions that are made about women’s career commitment. Overqualification also does not decrease perceptions of women’s firm commitment like it does for men: supplemental qualitative and experimental evidence reveals that hiring managers rationalize women’s overqualification in a way they cannot for men by relying on gender stereotypes about communality and assumptions about candidates’ experiences with gender discrimination at prior firms. These findings suggest that female candidates must demonstrate their commitment along two dimensions (firm and career), but male candidates need only demonstrate their commitment along one dimension (firm). Taken together, differences in how overqualification impacts male versus female candidates’ outcomes are evidence of gender inequality in hiring processes, operating through gendered assumptions about commitment. Funding: This research was funded by internal faculty research funds provided by Tepper School of Business, Carnegie Mellon University. Supplemental Material: The online appendices are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/orsc.2021.1550 .

Cuts destroy, hurt, kill: a critical metaphor analysis of the response of UK academics to the UK overseas aid budget funding cuts

ABSTRACT In this article, we analyse the response of UK academics to the UK government decision to cut international development research funding as part of the overseas aid budget reduction, undertaken in March 2021. This decision affects and will have long-lasting effects on any research project involving the UK and international partners, particularly in Global South contexts. We use Critical Metaphor Analysis (CMA) to analyse news, blogs, interviews that UK-based academics wrote in response to the cuts announcement, from 11 March 2021 to 30 April 2021. We identified the following metaphors: CUTS ARE AN ENTITY; CUTS ARE A THREAT, CUTS ARE ILLNESS, CUTS ARE VIOLENCE; plus, on the other hand, RESEARCH IS HEALTH, RESEARCH IS A JOURNEY, RESEARCH IS CONNECTION. UK academics have used ‘idioms of distress’, which are cultural expressions, often metaphorical, through which people articulate distress. Therefore, our contribution is threefold. First, we suggest that the metaphors used have a persuasive and evaluative aim and function. Second, we open up a space for an interdisciplinarity between CMA and ‘idioms of distress’. Third, we warn about the need for the UK government and responsible institutional bodies to restore communication and trust with the global academic research community in International Development.

Internationalization of Higher Education Institutions: perceptions of scholars

Abstract This study aims to contribute to Brazilian Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) within an international perspective. Our main argument is that when HEIs value international research and students’/academics’ international mobility, such institutions contribute to enlarge the view of internationalization throughout Brazil and push HEIs far beyond political, economic and commercialization processes considered to be, today, key drivers for Higher Education changes in terms of internationalization. To achieve this aim, the most recent tendencies in literature concerning the concepts of HEIs and International Management (IM) were gauged to realize the extent to which they may contribute to alternative perceptions in global Higher Education in Brazil. The theoretical framework was based on the articulation of such concepts, and data were connected to the interviews held with highly skilled scholars of three different public Brazilian HEIs using the methodology of oral histories. Data pointed traits and suggestions toward expanding internationalization in Brazilian HEIs, among which fostering international researchers and resource allocation systems for international research funding.

The end of methodological nationalism: the internationalization of historical research in Sweden since 2000

ABSTRACT Based on quantitative and qualitative data and analyses, this article highlights how research in the discipline of history in Sweden has been affected by imperatives of internationalization in recent decades. Four central dimensions of the internationalization of research are discussed in some depth, based on empirically observable changes in the discipline since 2000: (i) geographical areas of research, (ii) international publications, (iii) international researcher mobility, and (iv) international research funding. It is concluded that for the first two dimensions there has been a significant shift towards more internationalization of research in the Swedish discipline of history since 2000, and particularly since 2010, but for the latter two, internationalization is less prominent, even though the opportunities for international mobility and securing international research funding have increased significantly since 2000. The article also highlights some controversies and debates pertaining to the internationalization of historical research in Sweden and the other Nordic countries. It is concluded that Swedish historians have come a long way in overcoming the methodological nationalism that characterized the discipline for most of the twentieth century, and that they now participate more than ever before on the international frontlines of historical research.

Prognostic value of layer-specific global longitudinal strain in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting

Abstract Background Recent improvements in speckle tracking echocardiography have made sectionalized quantification of layer-specific global longitudinal strain (GLS) possible. Prior studies have reported prognostic value of GLS in several cardiac diseases, however, the use of layer-specific strain has not been investigated in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Purpose To determine the prognostic value of layer-specific GLS for predicting all-cause mortality after CABG. Methods In this retrospective cohort study, consecutive patients undergoing isolated CABG between 2006 and 2011 were included. The patients were followed through nation-wide registries for the endpoint of all-cause mortality. Multivariable Cox regression models adjusted for clinical and echocardiographic baseline characteristics were used to assess the association between layer-specific GLS and all-cause mortality. Cumulative survival was stratified by clinical age and gender-dependent cut-off values for the layer-specific GLS, which was obtained from a large healthy population study. Results Of 641 patients included (mean age 67 years, 84% male), 70 (10.9%) died during follow-up (median 3.8 years [IQR: 2.7; 4.9 years]). Patients who died during follow-up were significantly older (71 years vs. 67 years, P = &amp;lt;0.001) and had a lower LVEF (46% vs. 51% P = &amp;lt;0.001). Endocardial GLS (GLSendo) (−14.2% vs. −16.3%, P&amp;lt;0.001), whole wall GLS (−12.1% vs. −13.9%, P&amp;lt;0.001), and epicardial GLS (GLSepi) (−10.6% vs. −12.2%, P&amp;lt;0.001) were all reduced in patients who died during follow-up, and patients with GLS below cut-off had a more than two-fold increased risk of all-cause mortality (Figure 1). The risk of dying increased linearly with decreasing absolute GLS for all layers (p&amp;lt;0.0002 for all layers), (Figure 2). In multivariable models, all layer-specific strain parameters remained significantly associated with all-cause mortality; GLSepi: HR=1.14 (1.05–1.23), p=0.002; GLS: HR=1.12 (1.04–1.20), p=0.002; GLSendo: HR=1.09 (1.03–1.16), p=0.003, per 1% absolute decrease. However, only GLSepi remained significantly associated with mortality when also adjusting for echocardiographic parameters (GLSepi: HR=1.12 (1.00–1.25), p=0.049, per 1% absolute decrease) and separately also after adjusting for the EuroScore II (GLSepi: HR=1.09 (1.00–1.18), p=0.043, per 1% absolute decrease). Conclusion Layer-specific GLS is an independent prognosticator of all-cause mortality after CABG. In multivariable models, GLSepi provided significant prognostic value after adjusting for echocardiographic parameters and EuroScore II. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: Public hospital(s). Main funding source(s): Research grant from Herlev &amp; Gentofte University Hospital's internal research funds. Figure 1. Kaplan-Meier survival estimatesFigure 2. Incidence rate of all-cause mortality

MP54-08 THE GERMAN LINGUISTIC VALIDATION OF THE WISONSIN STONE QUALITY OF LIFE QUESTIONNAIRE (WISQOL)

You have accessJournal of UrologyStone Disease: Epidemiology & Evaluation II (MP54)1 Sep 2021MP54-08 THE GERMAN LINGUISTIC VALIDATION OF THE WISONSIN STONE QUALITY OF LIFE QUESTIONNAIRE (WISQOL) Martin Gottstein, Manolis Pratsinis, Sabine Güsewell, Patrick Betschart, Dominik Abt, and Thomas Knoll Martin GottsteinMartin Gottstein More articles by this author , Manolis PratsinisManolis Pratsinis More articles by this author , Sabine GüsewellSabine Güsewell More articles by this author , Patrick BetschartPatrick Betschart More articles by this author , Dominik AbtDominik Abt More articles by this author , and Thomas KnollThomas Knoll More articles by this author View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1097/JU.0000000000002084.08AboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareFacebookLinked InTwitterEmail Abstract INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: WisQoL (Wisconsin Stone Quality of Life questionnaire) is a disease specific, health related quality of life measure designed for patients who form kidney stones. The goal of this study was to develop and validate a German version of WisQoL. METHODS: The German version of the WisQoL was developed following a standardized multistep process. Patients were recruited prior to stone treatment, and completed the questionnaire as well as the SF-36v2 (36-Item Short Form Health Survey). This was repeated 1, 3 and 6 months after stone surgery. Scores of the 28 questionnaire items were summarized into sum scores for four domains and a total score. The psychometric properties of the questionnaire were statistically analyzed. RESULTS: The German WisQoL demonstrated excellent internal consistency (Cronbach’s α > 0.90 for all domains at all visits). All inter-domain associations were positive. The test-retest reliability for patients with unchanged self-reported health state was considered satisfactory (Spearman’s rho for total score 0.70 [95% CI 0.55 to – 0.80]). The German WisQoL demonstrated good convergent validity with the validated SF-36v2 (correlation between corresponding items 0.44 to 0.64). All domain scores showed significant sensitivity to change induced by stone treatment (p≤0.05). Total WisQoL scores generally improved during the first three months following stone treatment, and remained stable thereafter. CONCLUSIONS: The German WisQoL proved to be a reliable and robust instrument to evaluate health related quality of life measures of kidney stone patients in the clinical setting. It is expected to be of use for further research in patients with kidney stones. Source of Funding: Study costs were covered by unspecific internal research funds of the two recruiting study centers © 2021 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 206Issue Supplement 3September 2021Page: e951-e952 Advertisement Copyright & Permissions© 2021 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.MetricsAuthor Information Martin Gottstein More articles by this author Manolis Pratsinis More articles by this author Sabine Güsewell More articles by this author Patrick Betschart More articles by this author Dominik Abt More articles by this author Thomas Knoll More articles by this author Expand All Advertisement Loading ...