Non-university Institutions Research Articles

Sino-South Korean Scientific Collaboration Based On Co-Authored SCI Papers

Using statistic and bibliometric methods to characterize scientific cooperation between China (excluding Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan) and South Korea through their bilateral co-authored papers covered by the Science Citation Index CD-ROM, 1991-2010, in our paper we exploit the feature of their cooperation in four levels: time sequence, academic community, key fields, and institution distribution. From the time sequence we know that collaboration between China and Korea starts in 1991, reaching the first peak during 2004-2007. As for the academic community, the number of Chinese corresponding authors (2414) is slightly lower than that of Korea (2700). Regarding the 27 high yield authors, there are only 4 coming from China. Korea has a higher active level than Chinese authors. China and Korea tend to cooperate with each other on strong disciplines such as physics, chemistry, material science, engineering, mathematics, pharmaceutical, computer science and biology. Furthermore, they also attach great importance to basic research and high-tech cooperation. Besides, Chinese Academy of Sciences ranks at the top 1 among the distribution of institutions. As a majority of the collaborative institutions are universities, the participation of non-university institutions is relatively low. There are 7 Korean universities among the top ten institutions, while Yanbian University and Tsinghua University in China rank respectively as third and fourth. Seoul National University, accompanied by Korea University and Yonsei University as the three top Korean universities, is also among the top among the cooperating institutions.

Arterielle Homografts in der Gefäßchirurgie - idealer Gefäßersatz bei aortalen Gefäßprotheseninfektionen?!

Infection of vascular prostheses, particularly in the central aortic position, is a growing challenge in vascular surgery. Beside the use of extra-anatomic prosthetic bypasses the need for anatomic reconstruction with infection-resistant materials is growing. The use of arterial allografts is an established method in many centres for in situ reconstruction. Used historically as the only option for vessel replacement, allografts were seldom used once the development of synthetic prostheses started. Use as a vascular graft in infected regions began in the 1990s. Discussions about the use of "fresh" allografts without preservation were terminated by order of the European Union in 2003 (although the long-term benefits have been foreseen). Currently, because of the German Tissue Act, only "cryopreserved" allografts can be used. Larger, partially controlled studies about the outcome after cryopreserved allograft transplantation have shown similar results to the use of silver prostheses, with a significantly lower prevalence of re-infection. Questions remain about the use of immunosuppression after human allograft transplantation. Immunological interactions are mainly involved in allograft degeneration. Aneurysmal changes (most commonly late degeneration of allografts) can be treated with endovascular procedures and therefore have no direct impact on long-term results. The availability of allografts in Europe tends to be restricted, but companies based outside the EU permit a good supply. The use of allografts in non-university institutions shows the wide acceptance of the material and its suitability for routine use in vascular surgery, even if the treatment of infected vascular prostheses in the central position remains associated with high morbidity and mortality.

The Shape of the History of Science Profession, 2038: A Prospective Retrospective

Presented as a retrospective speech by the president of the History of Science Society in 2038, this essay imagines a future for the profession of the history of science in the United States. Acknowledging that self-described historians of science do not fully control the subject, it considers the place of the history of science in a future university landscape in which interdisciplinary "studies" have supplanted disciplines as the fundamental organizing structure. It then situates this academic scene within a broader professional landscape in which nonuniversity institutions play an expanded role in bringing the history of science directly to the public. Here the essay focuses on an imagined Science Heritage Center that blends commitments to innovative scholarly research, public history techniques of experiential learning, and updated technologies of virtual reality. It further suggests an unexpected direction for developing a collaborative "citizen history of science".

Academic Drift in Dutch Non-University Higher Education Evaluated: A Staff Perspective

In the context of a European knowledge economy, the Dutch non-university institutions systematically develop research activities at a higher frequency than before. With this development, they have been accused of academic drift, of striving to receive a status comparable to traditional universities. This study considers the perceptions of both managers and lecturers in non-university higher education concerning the organisational aims for research activities. The intention is to add an empirical base to the debate of academic drift, especially to the potential of academic drift on the staff level. The results show a moderate indication of potential for academic drift on the staff level. In addition, managers have more positive perceptions regarding all aims for research than lecturers, but both groups prioritise that the results of research should, first and foremost, be directed towards improving the quality of education.

Comparison of the Accuracy of Local and International Prediction Models for Massive Transfusion in Major Trauma Patients

ObjectiveTo validate a local prediction model (Rainer's score) for massive transfusion in trauma patients and compare its accuracy with international prediction models (TASH score and ABC score) using local trauma data.MethodsPatients were recruited retrospectively from the trauma registry of a regional trauma centre during the period from January 2005 to December 2010. Patients with Injury Severity Score (ISS) ≥9 and aged ≥12 years were included. Burn and drowning patients, patients with known severe anemia (haemoglobin <7 g/dL) and renal failure were excluded. Massive transfusion was defined as delivery of ≥10 units of packed red blood cells within 24 hours. The sensitivity specificity positive and negative predictive values, positive and negative likelihood ratio and accuracy were calculated for different prediction models. The overall discriminatory capacities of models were compared using the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.ResultsA total of 1030 patents met the inclusion criteria and 27 patients required ≥10 units packed cells within 24 hours. The accuracy was the best in the TASH score (97.3%) when compared to the Rainer's score (96.5%) and ABC score (95.1%). Sensitivity was better in Rainer's score (33.3%) and ABC score (33.3%) than in the TASH score (25.9%). The area under ROC curve for TASH score, Rainer's score and ABC score were 0.911, 0.886 and 0.809 respectively.ConclusionsWe validate the prediction model (Rainer's score) by a set of local, non‐university institution data. Rainer's score has high accuracy (97%) in predicting the need for massive transfusion and is comparable to TASH score and ABC score.

Die Longitudinal-Urban-Cohort-Ageing-Studie (LUCAS)

BackgroundThe interactions between rising life expectancy, morbidity and development of disability warrant interdisciplinary research on functional disability, health promotion and prevention as well as healthcare provision for older people.Therefore, the interdisciplinary LUCAS (Longitudinal Urban Cohort Ageing Study) research consortium of university and non-university institutions was established and is coordinated by the research department of the Albertinen-Haus at the University of Hamburg. The aim is to study particular aspects of functional competence, the changes with ageing, to detect pre-clinical signs of functional decline and to address questions on how to maintain functional competence and to prevent adverse outcomes. The research questions have their origin in problems of practical healthcare provision in the different settings of communities, hospitals and nursing homes. The articles of LUCAS subprojects report selected results from the first project phase (2007–2010) which was funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) (Research program“Health in the elderly”).).MethodsThe LUCAS subprojects 1–7 applied a true cohort study design with embedded randomized controlled intervention studies and cross-sectional studies for comparative purposes and to prepare intervention studies to be performed in the second project phase.ConclusionsResults from the first project phase provided new instruments to screen and to assess functional competence in older people (population-based screening). In the second project phase these will be evaluated according to practicability and usefulness. Furthermore, parts of the results will be used by the health reporting system in Hamburg and for intervention studies performed by LUCAS subprojects during the second project phase (LUCAS II).

Prevalence of substance use among college students in Eldoret, western Kenya

BackgroundSubstance use among college and university students predicts substance related problems in later life. Few studies on this phenomenon have been carried out in low income countries, and most focus on primary and secondary school students. This study therefore aimed to establish the prevalence and factors associated with drug use among university and college students in a low income country.MethodsDesign: A descriptive cross-sectional survey using the Self-Administered WHO Model Core Questionnaire to collect information on use of various drugs among students in colleges and university campuses within Eldoret Municipality in Western Kenya. Setting: Four tertiary learning institutions in Eldoret Municipality were randomly selected for inclusion in the study- three tertiary level non-university institutions and one university campus. Subjects: Five hundred students who gave consent to participate in the study, 125 from each of the four participating institutions. The mean age was 22.9 years (18-32, s.d. 2.5), and males made up 52.2% of the sample.ResultsLifetime prevalence rate of any substance use was 69.8%, and none of the socio-demographic factors was significantly associated with this. Lifetime prevalence rate of alcohol use was 51.9%, and 97.6% of alcohol users had consumed alcohol in the week prior to the study. The prevalence rate of cigarette use was 42.8%, with males having statistically significantly higher rates than females (p < 0.05). Other substances used were cannabis (2%) and cocaine (0.6%). Among those who admitted to using substances, 75.1% were introduced by a friend while 23.5% were introduced by a relative other than a member of the nuclear family. Majority of those using substances wanted to relax (62.2%) or relieve stress (60.8%). Problems associated with alcohol use included quarrelling and fights, loss and damage to property, problems with parents, medical problems and unplanned unprotected sex.ConclusionThe prevalence of substance use among college and university students in Eldoret is high and causes significant physical and psychosocial problems in this population. A large proportion of those using alcohol reported serious adverse effects, raising the necessity of targeted interventions to reduce the risk of subsequent substance dependence and other deleterious consequences.

Chapter 5: Tertiary Short-Cycle Education in Bulgaria: In Search of Identity

This chapter traces the development of short-cycle higher education in Bulgaria. An emphasis is placed on (a) the evolution of nonuniversity short-cycle institutes and (b) the challenges of bridging the gap between secondary and higher education and creating links between vocational and academic learning pathways.

Diferença entre hospitais privado e universitário na taxa de linfonodos de peça cirúrgica de câncer colorretal: o papel do patologista

Tem sido demonstrado que o número de linfonodos obtidos em peças cirúrgicas de câncer colorretal é fundamental para o adequado estadiamento da doença e, consequentemente, para a obtenção de melhores resultados oncológicos. A percepção de diferenças no número de linfonodos dissecados em peças cirúrgicas de câncer colorretal pelos mesmos cirurgiões em hospitais diferentes motivou este estudo. O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar se há diferença no número de linfonodos e em determinados parâmetros histopatológicos em peça cirúrgica de pacientes com câncer colorretal operados por dois cirurgiões que atuam tanto em hospital universitário, como em hospital privado. MÉTODO: Foram avaliados retrospectivamente 122 pacientes, obtendo-se dados relativos a tipo de instituição (universitária versus privada), aspectos demográficos, estadiamento, localização do tumor, tipo de operação, via de acesso (aberta versus laparoscópica ), indicação de radioterapia, número de linfonodos dissecados, número de linfonodos positivos e negativos, assim como o tipo histológico, presença de invasões vascular, linfática e perineural e resposta linfocítica). RESULTADOS: Sessenta e cinco pacientes foram operados em instituição universitária e 57, em instituição privada. Não houve diferença entre os grupos quanto à idade, gênero, estadiamento, localização do tumor, indicação de radioterapia e tipo de operação. A via laparoscópica foi mais comum na instituição universitária. A mediana de linfonodos dissecados foi de 25 (P25-75: 15-34) na instituição universitária versus 15 (P25-75;12-17) (p&lt;.0001). A média de linfonodos positivos foi de três na instituição universitária e de um na privada. O achado de 12 ou mais linfonodos foi mais comum em instituição universitária (55/64 versus 40/58; p=.024). A presença da informação de invasões linfática, vascular e perineural foi mais comum na instituição universitária. CONCLUSÃO: Mantendo a mesma técnica cirúrgica e com população comparável de pacientes, observou-se considerável diferença no número de linfonodos dissecados entre instituições universitária e privada e na apresentação de outros dados histopatológicos importantes para o estadiamento da doença e para a indicação de terapia sistêmica. O entrosamento entre a equipe cirúrgica e o patologista deve ocorrer em todos os tipos de instituições, sendo que a melhora da qualidade do exame anátomo-patológico deve ocorrer em instituições não-universitárias.

Australia: Evaluation and Quality in Higher Education

Modern Australia evolved from separate colonies, which came together as a federation a century ago. The balance of state/federal responsibilities is relevant to most aspects of Australian life. This includes higher education, where universities are largely state owned but federally funded (with government funding declining), while the other higher education institutions are largely under state oversight. The article begins by describing the evolution of the higher education sector and the various approaches taken to addressing its quality over the years. Ten years ago, the Australian Universities Quality Agency (AUQA) was established as the national quality agency with responsibility for auditing universities (emphasising good processes and achievement of objectives within the universities, and diversity between them) and the state accreditation agencies (with emphasis on national consistency of treatment of the non-university institutions). The article describes AUQA's approach and actions that have led to effectiveness nationally and internationally, and an international reputation. The article also refers to other issues, including funding, rankings and standards. It concludes with an outline of the Federal Government's current plans to bring AUQA and the state agencies into a single national agency.

The Struggle for Legitimacy: Academic Colleges on the Map of Higher Education in Israel

This article addresses a unique relationship evolving between the two major categories of higher learning institutions in Israel: the country's universities, and the colleges that were established in their shadow. The history of higher education is outlined, stressing the initial dominance of the research universities, and explaining the gradual transformation of its elitist orientation into a more populist one. The article further explains how that transformation led to the establishment of colleges as affiliates of their ‘parent’ universities, functioning under their full supervision, describing how that model eventually led the Council for Higher Education (CHE) to encourage (in 2000) the development of non-university higher education institutions to secure equal opportunities to broad groups of population. The article goes on to analyze the methods of curricula and teaching development in the colleges, touching upon the development of graduate programs in non-university institutions. It concludes that the initial intention of the CHE to establish a dual system of research universities and popular colleges is developing into a monistic system following the research university concept and model.

Public Research in Regional Networks of Innovators: A Comparative Study of Four East German Regions

Graf H. and Henning T. Public research in regional networks of innovators: a comparative study of four East German regions, Regional Studies. Universities and public research organizations are said to be integrative and essential elements of a functioning innovation system. Four East German regional networks of innovators are analysed and the characteristic role of public research within these networks is investigated by applying methods of social network analysis using patent data. The results show that universities and non-university institutions of public research are key actors in all regional networks. Differences between regional innovative performance seem to be related to differences in the structural properties of the networks. Graf H. et Henning T. La recherche publique sur les réseaux régionaux d'innovateurs: une étude comparative de quatre régions situées en Allemagne de l'Est, Regional Studies. On dit que les universités et les établissements de recherche publics constituent des parties intégrantes et essentielles d'un système d'innovation opérationnel. Ici, on analyse quatre réseaux régionaux d'innovateurs en Allemagne de l'Est et à examiner le rôle type de la recherche publique au sein de ces réseaux en employant des méthodes qui cherche à analyser les réseaux sociaux à partir des données sur les brevets. Les résultats laissent voir que les universités et les établissements de recherche publique en dehors des universités sont des éléments clé de tout réseau régional. Il semble que les différences de la performance régionale d'innovation se rapportent aux différences des propriétés structurelles des réseaux. Réseaux d'innovateurs Recherche publique Coopération en R et D Mobilité des scientifiques Graf H. und Henning T. Öffentliche Forschung in regionalen Netzwerken von Innovatoren: eine vergleichende Studie von vier ostdeutschen Regionen, Regional Studies. Universitäten und öffentliche Forschungseinrichtungen gelten als integrative und wesentliche Bestandteile eines funktionierenden Innovationssystems. Wir analysieren vier ostdeutsche regionale Netzwerke von Innovatoren und untersuchen die charakteristische Rolle der öffentlichen Forschung innerhalb dieser Netzwerke, indem wir unter Verwendung von Patentdaten Methoden der Sozialnetzwerkanalyse anwenden. Unsere Ergebnisse zeigen, dass Universitäten und nichtuniversitäre Einrichtungen der öffentlichen Forschung in sämtlichen regionalen Netzwerken zentrale Akteure darstellen. Die Unterschiede zwischen der regionalen innovativen Leistung scheinen mit Unterschieden hinsichtlich der strukturellen Eigenschaften der Netzwerke zusammenzuhängen. Netzwerke von Innovatoren Öffentliche Forschung Zusammenarbeit bei F&E Mobilität von Wissenschaftlern Graf H. y Henning T. Investigación pública en las redes regionales de innovadores: un estudio comparativo de cuatro regiones de Alemania del Este, Regional Studies. Las universidades y las organizaciones de investigación públicas se consideran elementos integradores e indispensables de un sistema de innovación en funcionamiento. Analizamos cuatro redes regionales de innovadores de Alemania del Este e investigamos el rol característico de la investigación pública en estas redes con ayuda de métodos analíticos de redes sociales usando datos de patentes. Nuestros resultados indican que las instituciones universitarias y no universitarias de investigación pública son los participantes clave de todas las redes regionales. Las diferencias entre el desempeño innovador regional parecen estar relacionadas con las diferencias en las propiedades estructurales de las redes. Redes de innovadores Investigación pública Cooperación de I + D Movilidad científica

Polypharmacy in psychiatric inpatients: Data from AMSP, a European pharmacovigilance system

Material and methods The AMSP study is a drug safety program that ensures the continuous assessment of severe adverse drug reactions (ADR) in psychiatric inpatients under the natural conditions of routine clinical treatment. Furthermore on two reference days per hospital and per year, the following data are recorded for all patients on the wards under AMSP surveillance: all drugs applied on that day with the daily dosage for psychotropic drugs, ICD diagnosis, age, and sex. Data is stored at the study center in Munich. Due to the increasing number of participating clinics over the years only data of 33 hospitals (5 austrian, 22 german and 6 swiss institutions including university and non-university institutions) who participated since 2003 will be presented.

Gerontologie- und Geriatrieausbildung in Österreich

This article describes the situation of academic study programs in gerontology and geriatrics in Austria. University formation in these areas is at the very beginning. Due to the lack of institutionalization of gerontology and geriatrics at the university level, the study programs were developed by non-university institutions. The studies are mostly at the post-gradual level and are practice-oriented.

American Thoracic Society Annual International Congress

The 2007 International Congress of the American Thoracic Society (ATS) was held in San Francisco, California. It is one of the most important conferences in pulmonary medicine. It provides an annual forum for scientists and clinical investigators from academia and non-university institutions including private practices and pharmaceutical companies to share information on many aspects of pulmonary and critical care medicine, sleep disorders, pulmonary infectious diseases, malignancies of the chest and numerous aspects of diagnostic and interventional procedures in that field. This year ∼ 5500 abstracts were presented and ∼ 15,000 participants attended the ATS congress. Research areas covered all aspects of pulmonary diseases. Traditionally obstructive pulmonary diseases (e.g., chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma) were again the main focus. The general impression from the meeting was that the focus this year shifted more to basic research of pulmonary diseases, new diagnostic techniques and tools to approximate disease progression rather than presenting new drugs for treatment. Furthermore, new ATS policies for permitting industry sponsored satellite symposia – among other possible reasons – seemed to discourage pharmaceutical companies organizing such evening meetings when compared with previous ATS conferences. When up to five of such symposia used to be normal per night in previous years, just three of these sponsored sessions per night, which were labeled as ‘evening postgraduate seminars’, were offered at this meeting.

Industry work experience and inventive capacity of South African academic researchers

The inventive capacity of South African universities and researchers is investigated through analysis of university patent applications. Patent applications to the South African Patent office from 1996 to 2006 are used as an indicator of inventive capacity. The investigation determines, for the first time, patenting activities of local universities at the South African Patent Office for the past 10 years and it identifies the performance of faculties and departments. We suggest that patent analysis of local patent offices in developing countries provides a more comprehensive picture of inventive activity than the analyses in the main patent offices in USA and Europe. The assertion that industrial experience affects the inventiveness of academic staff is also investigated. The study finds that most inventors or co-inventors held at least one position in industry, or in some cases, specialized parastatals (non-university institutions) prior to patent application. The study supports the idea that experience and the professional trajectory of scientists through migration from industry to university leads to an increase of researchers’ scientific and technical human capital which is convertible into high performance or inventive capacity. We argue that this linkage is valid equally in developed and developing countries (like South Africa) and that universities internationally wishing to improve their entrepreneurial character should aim to employ academic with industrial prior experience.

Meeting highlights of the European Respiratory Society annual congress

In pulmonary medicine, there are two major international meetings held annually: the annual meeting of the American Thoracic Society (ATS), and that of the European Respiratory Society (ERS). The 2006 ERS Annual Congress was held in Munich, Germany. Both meetings provide an annual forum for scientists and clinical investigators from academia, non-university institutions (including private practices) and pharmaceutical companies to share information on many aspects of pulmonary and critical-care medicine, sleep disorders, pulmonary infectious diseases, malignancies of the chest, and numerous aspects of diagnostic and interventional procedures in these fields. With > 5000 abstracts and ~ 17,000 participants, the 2006 ERS-congress outnumbered even the 2006 ATS meeting. Research areas covered all aspects of pulmonary diseases, although this year (as in previous years) obstructive pulmonary diseases such as COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and asthma were clearly the main focus.

Continuing Education in Non-University Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria: Emerging Roles and Challenges

Institutional continuing education practices have received widespread attention in literature on adult and continuing education. However, the research community seems to restrict continuing education to universities. This paper reviews the contribution of non-university tertiary institutions to continuing education in Nigeria, using the Federal College of Education in Yola as a case study. In this instance, the impact of non-university tertiary institutions has been pronounced, especially in extending access to further education and training to teachers and mid-level workers in general. The paper advocates for more time and resources to study continuing education programs of non-university institutions. Non-university institutions are encouraged to diversify their programs and place more emphasis on research and development.

The School of Law and Economics in Tel Aviv, 1948-1956: The Failure of the Professional-Academic College Model in Israel

This article focuses on the practices that led to the elimination of the possibility of establishing an independent academic sector—professional-academic colleges—in the first years after the founding of the State of Israel in 1948. This sector, the "service tradition" of non-university institutions, focuses on meeting economic and social needs through professional and vocational education. The only academic model in Israel that evolved under the control of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HUJ) was the comprehensive university model. By describing the ongoing problems of the School of Law and Economics (SLE) in Tel-Aviv, we can learn about the close relations that were established between politicians and the HUJ and the paradox that has resulted in the rapid growth of the SLE but also its integration with the comprehensive university.

Biomedical Industrial Sponsorship and Its Impact on the Medical Literature

The pharmaceutical industry plays a vital role in the development of new drugs. The industry is involved at two levels. The first is in the design and discovery of new drugs, which may occur in their own laboratories or in the university environment. The second is the research and development that brings a drug onto the market as a result of clinical trials; the latter take place in the clinic in both university and nonuniversity institutions and, for the most part, are sponsored by industry. The pharmaceutical industry is enormous, with an estimated annual worldwide budget of $6 billion for drug development. To put this into perspective, the market for prescription drugs in the United States was $130 billion during the year 2000, and in 2001 it was $150 billion plus £7 billion in the United Kingdom. 1,2 The cost of bringing each new drug to market is estimated to range from $250 million to $800 million; and it is estimated that, on average, each day’s delay in U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of a new drug costs $1 million per day. 2 This is an enormous expenditure, but of course the potential profits are also enormous. Without question many drugs of significant value to mankind have arisen from the endeavors of the pharmaceutical industry. Nevertheless, it has also resulted in many drugs of the same type with similar efficacy and similar safety profiles (‘‘me too’’ drugs) competing for the same population of patients. In the United Kingdom, the annual expenditure of the pharmaceutical industry on research, both basic and clinical, is £3.3 billion; and 90% of all clinical drug trials are financed by the pharmaceutical industry. 3 If most drug trials are sponsored by the pharma