Four guiding principles for choosing frameworks and indicators to assess research impact

Selecting a framework for assessing research impact can be difficult, especially for interdisciplinary studies and research in fields that do not have established forms impact assessment. In this post, Elena Louder, Carina Wyborn, Christopher Cvitanovic, Angela T. Bednarek, outline four principles for researchers designing impact assessment criteria for their work and suggest how a closer appreciation of how assessment frameworks are dependent on particular forms of knowledge production and dissemination is critical to making the right choice

Perinatal and 2-year neurodevelopmental outcome in late preterm fetal compromise: the TRUFFLE 2 randomised trial protocol

Introduction: Following the detection of fetal growth restriction, there is no consensus about the criteria that should trigger delivery in the late preterm period. The consequences of inappropriate early or late delivery are potentially important yet practice varies widely around the world, with abnormal findings from fetal heart rate monitoring invariably leading to delivery. Indices derived from fetal cerebral Doppler examination may guide such decisions although there are few studies in this area. We propose a randomised, controlled trial to establish the optimum method of timing delivery between 32 weeks and 36 weeks 6 days of gestation. We hypothesise that delivery on evidence of cerebral blood flow redistribution reduces a composite of perinatal poor outcome, death and short-term hypoxia-related morbidity, with no worsening of neurodevelopmental outcome at 2 years. Methods and analysis: Women with non-anomalous singleton pregnancies 32+0 to 36+6 weeks of gestation in whom the estimated fetal weight or abdominal circumference is <10th percentile or has decreased by 50 percentiles since 18-32 weeks will be included for observational data collection. Participants will be randomised if cerebral blood flow redistribution is identified, based on umbilical to middle cerebral artery pulsatility index ratio values. Computerised cardiotocography (cCTG) must show normal fetal heart rate short term variation (≥4.5 msec) and absence of decelerations at randomisation. Randomisation will be 1:1 to immediate delivery or delayed delivery (based on cCTG abnormalities or other worsening fetal condition). The primary outcome is poor condition at birth and/or fetal or neonatal death and/or major neonatal morbidity, the secondary non-inferiority outcome is 2-year infant general health and neurodevelopmental outcome based on the Parent Report of Children's Abilities-Revised questionnaire. Ethics and dissemination: The Study Coordination Centre has obtained approval from London-Riverside Research Ethics Committee (REC) and Health Regulatory Authority (HRA). Publication will be in line with NIHR Open Access policy. Trial registration number: Main sponsor: Imperial College London, Reference: 19QC5491. Funders: NIHR HTA, Reference: 127 976. Study coordination centre: Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0HS with Centre for Trials Research, College of Biomedical & Life Sciences, Cardiff University. IRAS Project ID: 266 400. REC reference: 20/LO/0031. ISRCTN registry: 76 016 200

Co-productive agility and four collaborative pathways to sustainability transformations

Co-production, the collaborative weaving of research and practice by diverse societal actors, is argued to play an important role in sustainability transformations. Yet, there is still poor understanding of how to navigate the tensions that emerge in these processes. Through analyzing 32 initiatives worldwide that co-produced knowledge and action to foster sustainable social-ecological relations, we conceptualize ‘co-productive agility’ as an emergent feature vital for turning tensions into transformations. Co-productive agility refers to the willingness and ability of diverse actors to iteratively engage in reflexive dialogues to grow shared ideas and actions that would not have been possible from the outset. It relies on embedding knowledge production within processes of change to constantly recognize, reposition, and navigate tensions and opportunities. Co-productive agility opens up multiple pathways to transformation through: (1) elevating marginalized agendas in ways that maintain their integrity and broaden struggles for justice; (2) questioning dominant agendas by engaging with power in ways that challenge assumptions, (3) navigating conflicting agendas to actively transform interlinked paradigms, practices, and structures; (4) exploring diverse agendas to foster learning and mutual respect for a plurality of perspectives. We explore six process considerations that vary by these four pathways and provide a framework to enable agility in sustainability transformations. We argue that research and practice spend too much time closing down debate over different agendas for change – thereby avoiding, suppressing, or polarizing tensions, and call for more efforts to facilitate better interactions among different agendas

Co-productive agility and four collaborative pathways to sustainability transformations

Co-production, the collaborative weaving of research and practice by diverse societal actors, is argued to play an important role in sustainability transformations. Yet, there is still poor understanding of how to navigate the tensions that emerge in these processes. Through analyzing 32 initiatives worldwide that co-produced knowledge and action to foster sustainable social-ecological relations, we conceptualize ‘co-productive agility’ as an emergent feature vital for turning tensions into transformations. Co-productive agility refers to the willingness and ability of diverse actors to iteratively engage in reflexive dialogues to grow shared ideas and actions that would not have been possible from the outset. It relies on embedding knowledge production within processes of change to constantly recognize, reposition, and navigate tensions and opportunities. Co-productive agility opens up multiple pathways to transformation through: (1) elevating marginalized agendas in ways that maintain their integrity and broaden struggles for justice; (2) questioning dominant agendas by engaging with power in ways that challenge assumptions, (3) navigating conflicting agendas to actively transform interlinked paradigms, practices, and structures; (4) exploring diverse agendas to foster learning and mutual respect for a plurality of perspectives. We explore six process considerations that vary by these four pathways and provide a framework to enable agility in sustainability transformations. We argue that research and practice spend too much time closing down debate over different agendas for change – thereby avoiding, suppressing, or polarizing tensions, and call for more efforts to facilitate better interactions among different agendas

Astrophysical Origins of Ultrahigh Energy Cosmic Rays

In the first part of this review we discuss the basic observational features at the end of the cosmic ray energy spectrum. We also present there the main characteristics of each of the experiments involved in the detection of these particles. We then briefly discuss the status of the chemical composition and the distribution of arrival directions of cosmic rays. After that, we examine the energy losses during propagation, introducing the Greisen-Zaptsepin-Kuzmin (GZK) cutoff, and discuss the level of confidence with which each experiment have detected particles beyond the GZK energy limit. In the second part of the review, we discuss astrophysical environments able to accelerate particles up to such high energies, including active galactic nuclei, large scale galactic wind termination shocks, relativistic jets and hot-spots of Fanaroff-Riley radiogalaxies, pulsars, magnetars, quasar remnants, starbursts, colliding galaxies, and gamma ray burst fireballs. In the third part of the review we provide a brief summary of scenarios which try to explain the super-GZK events with the help of new physics beyond the standard model. In the last section, we give an overview on neutrino telescopes and existing limits on the energy spectrum and discuss some of the prospects for a new (multi-particle) astronomy. Finally, we outline how extraterrestrial neutrino fluxes can be used to probe new physics beyond the electroweak scale.Comment: Higher resolution version of Fig. 7 is available at http://www.angelfire.com/id/dtorres/down3.html. Solicited review article prepared for Reports on Progress in Physics, final versio

Dams and decision -making: Socioeconomic and ecological considerations

Dams provide an important opportunity to gain clearer insights into the issues involved in incorporating socioeconomic and ecological considerations into decisions about the environment. Socioeconomic and ecological needs for rivers are rarely congruent and dams pose serious risks to humans and ecosystems. Dam removal and environmental mitigation of the impacts of dams are two management options that attempt to balance the socioeconomic and ecological needs for dams. Dam removal can have a number of positive environmental benefits. A literature review included in Chapter 1 suggested that biotic diversity can increase through restoration of the natural flow regime. Riffle/pool sequences, gravel, and cobble may reappear. Fish passage can also be improved. Dam mitigation can also have positive environmental effects, which I examined in Chapter 2. The Tennessee Valley Authority\u27s Reservoir Releases Improvement (RRI) Program was an attempt to improve minimum flow and dissolved oxygen in their tailwaters while still maintaining socioeconomic services. My analysis of long-term TVA monitoring data indicated that dissolved oxygen and flow did increase following the RRI program and the biological response appeared to include a shift in the composition of the macroinvertebrate community towards taxa that prefer higher water quality. In Chapter 3, I examined the relative importance of ecological and socioeconomic rationales for dam removal. Interviews of state dam safety officials and an examination of Pennsylvania dam removal permits indicated that while dam removal is taking place in most states, it is occurring primarily in response to socioeconomic concerns, such as dam deterioration, obsolescence and repair costs. Environmental rationales are playing a role in some states, but usually in a secondary position. In Chapter 4, I explained that the variation among dams and the tradeoffs of each of the management alternatives and decision-aiding tools make it difficult to make decisions about dams. One of the most promising tools is adaptive ecosystem management, which explicitly addresses ecosystem complexity and stakeholder input. To improve the decision-making process for dams, we need to continue to attempt to forge functioning models of how all of the pieces fit together

Dams and decision -making: Socioeconomic and ecological considerations

Dams provide an important opportunity to gain clearer insights into the issues involved in incorporating socioeconomic and ecological considerations into decisions about the environment. Socioeconomic and ecological needs for rivers are rarely congruent and dams pose serious risks to humans and ecosystems. Dam removal and environmental mitigation of the impacts of dams are two management options that attempt to balance the socioeconomic and ecological needs for dams. Dam removal can have a number of positive environmental benefits. A literature review included in Chapter 1 suggested that biotic diversity can increase through restoration of the natural flow regime. Riffle/pool sequences, gravel, and cobble may reappear. Fish passage can also be improved. Dam mitigation can also have positive environmental effects, which I examined in Chapter 2. The Tennessee Valley Authority\u27s Reservoir Releases Improvement (RRI) Program was an attempt to improve minimum flow and dissolved oxygen in their tailwaters while still maintaining socioeconomic services. My analysis of long-term TVA monitoring data indicated that dissolved oxygen and flow did increase following the RRI program and the biological response appeared to include a shift in the composition of the macroinvertebrate community towards taxa that prefer higher water quality. In Chapter 3, I examined the relative importance of ecological and socioeconomic rationales for dam removal. Interviews of state dam safety officials and an examination of Pennsylvania dam removal permits indicated that while dam removal is taking place in most states, it is occurring primarily in response to socioeconomic concerns, such as dam deterioration, obsolescence and repair costs. Environmental rationales are playing a role in some states, but usually in a secondary position. In Chapter 4, I explained that the variation among dams and the tradeoffs of each of the management alternatives and decision-aiding tools make it difficult to make decisions about dams. One of the most promising tools is adaptive ecosystem management, which explicitly addresses ecosystem complexity and stakeholder input. To improve the decision-making process for dams, we need to continue to attempt to forge functioning models of how all of the pieces fit together

Practice at the Boundaries: Summary of a workshop of practitioners working at the interfaces of science, policy and society for environmental outcomes

These proceedings provide an overview of a workshop that brought together people involved in the dayto-day practice of managing interactions between science, society, and policy, i.e., boundary-spanning. The workshop was co-sponsored by the environmental science division at The Pew Charitable Trusts, the Luc Hoffmann Institute, the California Ocean Science Trust, and the Science and Resilience Institute at Jamaica Bay, and held at The Pew Charitable Trusts, in Washington, D.C., on February 10-11, 2016. Participants were invited in recognition of their practical work as boundary-spanners. The 49 participants came from many different kinds of organizations, some explicitly boundary organizations and some not, and included nonprofits, foundations, government, academia, and professional societies. They displayed a strong commitment to, and rich knowledge about, many aspects of boundary-spanning. They highlighted the wide variety of boundary-spanning institutional homes and work in the environmental domain

Glyceraldehyde 3-Phosphate Dehydrogenase on the Surface of Candida albicans and Nakaseomyces glabratus Cells—A Moonlighting Protein That Binds Human Vitronectin and Plasminogen and Can Adsorb to Pathogenic Fungal Cells via Major Adhesins Als3 and Epa6

Candida albicans and other closely related pathogenic yeast-like fungi carry on their surface numerous loosely adsorbed “moonlighting proteins”—proteins that play evolutionarily conserved intracellular functions but also appear on the cell surface and exhibit additional functions, e.g., contributing to attachment to host tissues. In the current work, we characterized this “moonlighting” role for glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH, EC 1.2.1.12) of C. albicans and Nakaseomyces glabratus. GAPDH was directly visualized on the cell surface of both species and shown to play a significant part in the total capacity of fungal cells to bind two selected human host proteins—vitronectin and plasminogen. Using purified proteins, both host proteins were found to tightly interact with GAPDH, with dissociation constants in an order of 10−8 M, as determined by bio-layer interferometry and surface plasmon resonance measurements. It was also shown that exogenous GAPDH tightly adheres to the surface of candidal cells, suggesting that the cell surface location of this moonlighting protein may partly result from the readsorption of its soluble form, which may be present at an infection site (e.g., due to release from dying fungal cells). The major dedicated adhesins, covalently bound to the cell wall—agglutinin-like sequence protein 3 (Als3) and epithelial adhesin 6 (Epa6)—were suggested to serve as the docking platforms for GAPDH in C. albicans and N. glabratus, respectively